Herbal Textual Research of Inulae Flos in Chinese Classic Prescription

The herbal textual research of Inulae Flos was carried out from the aspects of name,origin,habit and distribution,nature and flavor,meridian,efficacy and indications by referring to ancient Chinese herbal books and different editions of Pharmacopoeia of People’s Republic of China.After textual research,Inulae Flos has been named as"Inulae Flos"since Shennong Bencaojing(Shennong’s Herbal Classic).Its original plant is Inula japonica Thunb.or I.britannica L.,which is easy to multiply and widely distributed.Inulae Flos is used medically with clean and dry capitulum,and there is also honey-burning method.The description of Inulae Flos in Pharmacopoeia of People’s Republic of China,such as nature and flavor,meridian,efficacy and indications,is generally consistent with the records in traditional herbal books.

Study on Quality Markers and Action Mechanisms of Inulae Flos on Anti-Hepatitis Through Network Pharmacology and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Fingerprints

Objective:The objective of the study is to combine network pharmacology with high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)to screen for quality markers(Q-markers)of Inulae Flos and predict mechanism on anti-hepatitis.Materials and Methods:Active ingredient library of Inulae Flos is structured using databases and the literature.“Compound-target-pathway”network on anti-hepatitis and protein–protein interaction(PPI)network are constructed using network pharmacology.Next,chromatographic fingerprints of Inulae Flos in 7 origins are obtained through HPLC,and chemometric analysis is implemented to identify chemical markers,which is combined with network pharmacology to identify Q-markers and detect content.Results:1,6-O,O-Diacetylbritannilactone,Ivangustin,and Inulanolide A are key ingredients of Inulae Flos to interact with 82 potential targets related to anti-hepatitis.Furthermore,signal transducer and activator of transcription 3,tumor necrosis factor,interleukin-6,and transcription factor AP-1 are the core targets in the PPI network.Chromatographic fingerprints of the Inulae Flos define 20 common peaks and identify 8 peaks using reference substances.Through partial least square discriminant analysis,7compounds including caffeic acid,chlorogenic acid,and 1,6-O,O-Diacetylbritannilactone were main chemical markers for variability.1,6-O,O-Diacetylbritannilactone is both a key ingredient and exclusive chemical marker.Therefore,1,6-O,O-diacetylbritannilactone is a Q-marker of Inulae Flos,and the average content is 1.82 mg/g.Conclusion:1,6-O,O-diacetylbritannilactone is determined to be a Q-marker of Inulae Flos.