The Crystalline Changes of Starch from Rhizoma Dioscorea by Acid Hydrolysis

The changes in crystalline properties of starch from Rhizoma Dioscorea by acid hydrolysis was characterized by X-Ray diffractometry （XRD）. The results revealed that the crystalline type of Rhizoma Dioscorea starch changed from C-type to A-type after 16 days of the acid hydrolysis. This phenomenon was different from that of other starches subjected to the acid hydrolysis. The results revealed that the B-polymorphs of C-type starch constituted the amorphous regions while the crystalline areas were mainly composed of A-polymorphs. The degree of crystallinity of the acid-thinned starch increased gradually with the time of acid hydrolysis.

Advanced Studies on Rhizoma Dioscoreae Collettii

Rhizoma Dioscoreae Collettii,is known as Huang Dioscorea collettii,Rhizoma Coptidis Brevisepalae or yellow ginger.It is neutral in nature and bitter in taste which is described to Gan(Liver)meridian,Wei(Stomach)meridian and Pangguang(Bladder)meridian.It was often used in the treatment of chyloid stranguria,gonorrhea,leucorrhagia,rheumatism arthralgia pain,joints disable,and lumbar knee pain syndrome in clinical.

Mitochondria are Main Targets of Time/Dose-Dependent Oxidative Damage-Based Hepatotoxicity Caused by Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae in Mice

Background:Rhizoma Dioscoreae bulbiferae could cause liver damage,which limited its application in the clinic.Aims and Objectives:To explore the mechanism of hepatotoxicity of Rhizoma Dioscoreae bulbiferae in mice.Materials and Methods:In the present study,the water extraction of Rhizoma Dioscoreae bulbiferae(W.E.R)was administrated via intragastrical with Low(19.6 g/kg),Middle(28.0 g/kg),and High(40.0 g/kg)dose in mice.At each time point 14 days,21 days,and 28 days,the body weight,liver coefficient,indexes of liver function alkaline phosphatase(ALP),alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate transaminase(AST),various biochemical biomarkers of liver tissue and mitochondria were detected and analyzed.Results:We found that W.E.R could decrease the body weight,increase the liver coefficient and the expression levels of indexes of liver function in mice.Next,we investigated that W.E.R could increase the expression levels of reactive oxygen species(ROS)and malondialdehyde(MDA),decrease the expression levels of adenosine triphosphate(ATP)and improve the enzyme activities of total superoxide dismutase(SOD).Third,we found that W.E.R could increase the enzyme activities of manganese-superoxide dismutase,decrease the enzyme activities of sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase(Na+-K+-ATPase)and calcium-magnesium adenosine triphosphatase(Ca 2+-Mg 2+-ATPase).Finally,we analyzed that there were significant negative correlations between body weight,expression level of ATP,activity of Na+-K+-ATPase,activity of Ca 2+-Mg 2+-ATPase and time,dose.There were significant positive correlations between liver coefficient,ALP,ALT,AST,expression levels of ROS,MDA and time,dose.Conclusion:All the results above indicated that W.E.R could cause the hepatotoxicity based on the oxidative damage in mice,which and mitochondria might be the main targets.