Flavonoid profiling of a traditional Chinese medicine formula of Huangqin Tang using high performance liquid chromatography

The quality control processes for herbal medicines have been problematic. Flavonoids are the major active components of Huangqin Tang(HQT, a traditional Chinese medicine formula). In this study, we used a combinative method approach consisting of chromatographic fingerprinting(high performance liquid chromatography; HPLC), quantitative methods and a pharmacodynamic evaluation model to analyze the flavonoids of HQT obtained from different sources. Ten batches of HQT were analyzed by the HPLC fingerprinting method and 26 common peaks were detected, of which 23 peaks corresponded with the chemical profile of HQT. In addition, 11 major compounds were identified by LC–MS analysis(liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometer; LC–MS^n) and quantified by the HPLC quantitative method approach. The studied10 batches of HQT were found to be homogeneous in their composition with a similarity between 0.990 and1.000. The distribution of the 11 identified compounds was found to be very similar among the batches. Only slight pharmacodynamic differences were detected between the different batches, confirming the homogeneity of HQT. The results of this study prove that the combination of chromatographic fingerprinting and quantitative analysis can be readily used for comprehensive quality control of herbal medicines.

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory potential of Nardostachys jatamansi rhizome in experimental rodents

Objective:To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of Nardostachys jatamansi(N.jatamansi)rhizome against acute,subacute and chronic models of inflammation in experimental animals.Methods:N.jatamansi rhizome extract(150 and 300 mg/kg,p.o.)and the reference drugs phenylbutazone(100 mg/kg,p.o.)and acetylsalicylic acid(300 mg/kg,p.o.)were evaluated using models for inflammation(autacoids induced hind paw oedema,formaldehyde induced hind paw oedema,carrageenin-induced paw oedema,cotton pellet granuloma and subcutaneous air pouch model).Results:In acute inflammation as produced by carrageenin 29.06%and 55.81%,by histamine 25.0%and 39.28%,by 5-hydroxytryptamine 21.37%and 36.95%and by prostaglandin E2-induced hind paw oedema 31.03%and 44.82%protection was observed.While in subacute anti-inflammatory models using formaldehyde-induced hind paw oedema(after 1.5 h)13.88%and 33.33%and in chronic anti-inflammatory model using cotton pellet granuloma 7.4%and 17.58%protection from inflammation was observed.N.jatamansi rhizome extract also inhibited the inflammatory mediators(nitric oxide by 12.81%and 38.41%,by prostaglandin E212.58%and 47.82%while by TNF-α13.51%and 41.89%)produced in the pouch.Conclusions:The results of this study strongly indicate the protective effect of N.jatamansi rhizome extract against acute,subacute and chronic models of inflammation,which may be attributed to its anti-inflammatory potential.