Determination of quinolizidine alkaloids inSophora flavescens and its preparation using capillary electrophoresis

Capillary electrophoresis fingerprints combined with Linear Quantitative Profiling Method to monitor the quality consistency and predict the antioxidant activity of Alkaloids of Sophora flavescens

Alkaloids of Sophora flavescens (ASF) has various pharmacological effects, and it is widely used in clinical practice. The aim of this research was to develop an environmentally friendly methodology that enables not only identification but also the quality consistency assessment of Alkaloids of Sophora flavescens. A background electrolyte composed of 50 mmol/L sodium tetraborate solution, 500 mmol/L boric acid and 1.2 mmol/L citric acid was used to conduct the fingerprint analysis coupled with quantitative determination of three components. Linear quantitative profiling method was used for comprehensive quality discrimination of the test samples from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives, and the 27 batches of samples were well differentiated. In addition, the fingerprint-efficacy relationship between chemical components and antioxidant activity in vitro was established using partial least squares regression model, which provided important medicinal efficacy information for quality control.

Sophora flavescens Ait.: Traditional usage, phytochemistry and pharmacology of an important traditional Chinese medicine

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Sophora flavescens (Fabaceae), also known as Kushen (Chinese: ), has been an important species in Chinese medicine since the Qin and Han dynasties. The root of Sophora flavescens has a long history in the traditional medicine of many countries, including China, Japan, Korea, India and some countries in Europe. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Sophora flavescens has been used extensively, mainly in combination with other medicinal plants in prescriptions to treat fever, dysentery, hematochezia, jaundice, oliguria, vulvar swelling, asthma, eczema, inflammatory disorders, ulcers and diseases associated with skin burns. The aim of this review is to provide updated and comprehensive information regarding the botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, biological activities and toxicology of Sophora flavescens and to discuss possible trends and opportunities for further research on Sophora flavescens.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We systematically searched major scientific databases (PubMed, Elsevier, SpringerLink, Google Scholar, Medline Plus, ACS, "Da Yi Yi Xue Sou Suo (http://www.dayi100.com/login.jsp)", China Knowledge Resource Integrated (CNKI) and Web of Science) for information published between 1958 and 2015 on Sophora flavescens. Information was also acquired from local classic herbal literature, conference papers, government reports, and PhD and MSc dissertations.

RESULTS

The broad spectrum of biological activities associated with Sophora flavescens has been considered a valuable resource in both traditional and modern medicine. Extracts are taken either orally or by injection. More than 200 compounds have been isolated from Sophora flavescens, and the major components have been identified as flavonoids and alkaloids. Recent in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that at least 50 pure compounds and crude extracts from Sophora flavescens possess wide-ranging antitumor, antimicrobial, antipyretic, antinociceptive, and anti-inflammatory pharmacological abilities. The anticancer and anti-infection abilities of these components are especially attractive areas for research.

CONCLUSIONS

Sophora flavescens is a promising traditional medicine, but there is a need for more precise studies to test the safety and clinical value of its main active crude extracts and pure compounds and to clarify their mechanisms of action. Moreover, some existing studies have lacked systematic methods and integration with the existing literature, and some of the experiments were isolated, used small sample sizes and were unreliable. More validated data are therefore required.

Intestinal transport of sophocarpine across the Caco-2 cell monolayer model and quantification by LC/MS

Sophocarpine is a biologically active component obtained from the foxtail-like sophora herb and seed that is often orally administered for the treatment of cancer and chronic bronchial asthma. The aim of this study was to develop a rapid and specific LC/MS method for the determination of sophocarpine and to explore its transcellular transport mechanism across the Caco-2 (the human colon adenocarcia cell lines) monolayer cell transwell model. Caco-2 cells were seeded on permeable polycarbonate membranes and incubated for 21 days. Before the experiment, the trans-epithelial electric resistance, integrity and alkaline phosphatase activity of the Caco-2 monolayers were verified and used in subsequent experiments. In the Caco-2 model constructed, many influencing factors were investigated, including time, concentration, pH and different protein inhibitors. The results suggested that sophocarpine was transported mainly by passive diffusion. The flux of sophocarpine was time- and concentration-dependent, and the pH also had an effect on its transportation. The PappBA was higher than PappAB , indicating that a polarized transport might exist for sophocarpine. MK-571 and reserpine, inhibitors of the multidrug resistance associated protein 2 and the breast cancer resistance protein, decreased the efflux of sophocarpine, while verapamil had no effect on its transport. These results revealed that sophocarpine is absorbed mainly by passive diffusion, and that a carrier-mediated mechanism is also involved in the transport of sophocarpine.

Enhanced fluorescence quenching in an acridine orange - alizarin red system through matrine and its analytical application

This study shows that alizarin red (AR) only slightly quenched fluorescence for acridine orange (AO) in an AR/AO mixed solution at pH=5-6. The reduced fluorescent signal was closely and linearly associated with the level of MT added to the system, which is the basis for a new quantitative MT assay method using the fluorescence quenching reaction in the AO-AR system. The results show that under optimal conditions, this method had a 14.9-43.5 mg L(-1) linear detection range with a 1.38 mg L(-1) detection limit and 1.24% precision. In addition, this method was used to determine the MT levels in the commercially available MT-containing pesticides and suppositories, which showed a 96.6-103% recovery. Therefore, this method has multiple advantages, including simple and fast operation, high accuracy and low cost. Moreover, herein, we investigated the underlying mechanism in-depth using an ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopic technique.

A current update on the rule of alternative and complementary medicine in the treatment of liver diseases

There is a vast body of knowledge which is ever-increasing about the treatment of liver disease with alternative and complementary medicine for which hundreds of thousands of literatures have been documented. Liver disease is a general term. This term covers all the potential problems that cause the liver to fail to perform its specified operations. Liver disease has a variety of presentations and causes a great public health problem worldwide which threatens the wellness of billions of people. Incidences of many types of liver disease are currently rising. Although there is still a debate about the entity of alternative and complementary medicine, it is now widely used and it is improving. And it covers the shortages and compensates for the weaknesses of conventional methods in the treatment of liver diseases. Alternative and complementary medicine for liver diseases provides benefits by regulating immunity, controlling disease progression, improving quality of life, and prolonging survival. This paper reviews the increasing interest and growing research into alternative and complementary medicine for liver diseases, with a look at the rough classification, principle of management, evidence-based applications, and issues for prescription and perspectives.

Effect of Sophora flavescens Aiton extract on degranulation of mast cells and contact dermatitis induced by dinitrofluorobenzene in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The dried root of Sophora flavescens Aiton (Sophorae radix, SR) has long been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of fever and swelling in eastern countries.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study investigated the anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects of SR using 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced contact dermatitis mouse model and in vitro using RBL-2H3 cells.

RESULTS

In mice, the topical application of 10 mg/mL of SR effectively inhibited enlargement of ear thickness and weight induced by repeated painting with DNFB. Topical application of SR also inhibited hyperplasia, edema, spongiosis and infiltration of mononuclear cells in ear tissue. In addition, production levels of interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were decreased by SR in vivo. Finally, the release of histamine and β-hexosaminidase, and migration were inhibited by treatment with SR.

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate the potential of SR in treating patients with allergic skin diseases and also suggest that related mechanisms are involved in anti-inflammatory action on the Th 1 skewing reaction and inhibition against recruitment and degranulation of mast cells.

Subcritical water extraction of alkaloids in Sophora flavescens Ait. and determination by capillary electrophoresis with field-amplified sample stacking

The extraction and determination of cytisine, sophocarpine, matrine, sophoridine and oxymatrine in Sophora flavescens Ait. were performed using subcritical water extraction and capillary electrophoresis with field-amplified sample stacking. The effects of extraction temperature, pressure, time and cycle number on the extraction yields were investigated systematically for accelerated solvent extraction with ethanol (ASE) and accelerated solvent extraction with water (subcritical water extraction, SWE). The extraction yields obtained using SWE, ASE, water ultrasonic extraction and chloroform soaking extraction methods were compared. The electrophoresis separation buffer was monosodium phosphate (pH 3.0; 110 mM)-isopropanol (85:15, v/v). The effect of phosphoric acid added to the sample matrix on the reproducibility of the peak heights of the analytes was also examined. Cytisine, sophoridine and oxymatrine showed good linearity (R(2)>0.999) within 0.125-4.0 μg/mL, and sophocarpine and matrine exhibited good linearity (R(2)>0.998) within 0.0625-2.0 μg/mL, with the detection limits in the range of 0.004-0.0013 μg/mL. The five alkaloid contents in medicinal plants from different sources and Sophora instant granule were determined and compared.

Hepatoprotective effects of marine and kuhuang in liver transplant recipients

We aimed to assess the effects of traditional Chinese medicine; marine (MT) and kuhuang (KH), either alone or in combination, on the early graft function of the recipients and overall patient survival rate after liver transplantation (LT) by using diammonium glycyrrhizinate (DG) as a positive control. A total of 151 subjects undergoing LT were included in this prospective study. According to the different regimens given in the first two post-transplant weeks, they were divided into DG group (n = 49), DG + KH group (n = 36), MT group (n = 42) and MT + KH group (n = 24). The graft function in the early post-transplant period and patient survival rate were examined. During the first two post-transplant weeks, there was no significant difference in total bilirubin, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, serum creatinine, and prothrombin time between MT group and DG group. Patient survivals in these two groups were also similar. Compared to DG group, DG + KH group showed a significantly lower total bilirubin value on post-transplant day 5 (3.2 +/- 2.1 mg/dL vs. 5.7 +/- 5.6 mg/dL, p < 0.01) and day 7 (2.8 +/- 1.8 mg/dL vs. 5.8 +/- 6.1 mg/dL, p < 0.01), and higher patient survival. There was no significant difference between DG + KH group and MT + KH group. In conclusion, MT provides an alternative to DG after LT. The combination of MT and KH is highly effective in decreasing the total blirubin in the early post-transplant period and improving patient survival.

Isoflavone tetraglycosides from Sophora japonica Leaves

Two new isoflavone tetraglycosides ( 1 and 2) and six known compounds were isolated from the leaves of Sophora japonica. The new glycosides are genistein 7- O-beta- d-glucopyranoside-4'- O-(6'''- O-alpha- l-rhamnopyranosyl)-beta-sophoroside ( 1) and genistein 7- O-alpha- l-rhamnopyranoside-4'- O-(6'''- O-alpha- l-rhamnopyranosyl)-beta-sophoroside ( 2). The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were established primarily by NMR experiments and chemical methods, and they are the first reported naturally occurring isoflavone glycosides with four attached sugar residues.