Triterpenoid saponins from the roots of Cyathula officinalis and their inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production

Simultaneous determination of four phytoecdysteroids by LC-MS/MS: application to a comparative pharmacokinetic study in normal and adjuvant arthritis rats after oral administration of C. officinalis Kuan phytoecdysteroids extract

C. officinalis Kuan is the dry root of Cyathula officinalis Kuan. Clinically, it is used for fall and flutter injury, rheumatism and arthralgia. Phytoecdysteroids have significant anti-inflammatory effects, and the phytoecdysteroids present in C. officinalis Kuan exhibit potential for treating rheumatoid arthritis.This study first developed a selective, accurate and efficient LC-MS/MS method for 12-day pharmacokinetic studies regarding the simultaneous determination of cyasterone, 25-epi-28-epi-cyasterone, precyasterone and capitasterone from C. officinalis Kuan phytoecdysteroids extract in normal and adjuvant arthritis rats.An Agilent Eclipse Plus C18 RRHD column (1.8 µm, 50mm × 2.1 mm) with a gradient mobile phase consisting of water (A) and acetonitrile (B) was used for analysis. The mass analysis was performed in an Agilent 6430 QQQ-MS mass spectrometer with positive mode multiple reaction monitoring (MRM).The results indicated that the AUC0-t and AUC0-∞ values of the four phytoecdysteroids in adjuvant arthritis rats were different from those in normal rats on the first day, which could provide a helpful reference for pharmacological and toxicological studies, as well as clinical applications of C. officinalis Kuan in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Characterization and comparison of polysaccharides from Achyranthes bidentata, Cyathula officinalis and Achyranthes aspera by saccharides mapping

Although the roots of Achyranthes bidentata (AB), Cyathula officinalis (CO) and Achyranthes aspera (AA) are different drugs, they are always confused in clinical practice due to their similar chemical components and functions. As polysaccharides are abundant in these drugs, a systematic comparison of polysaccharides from AB, CO and AA is not only necessary to understand their similar but not identical functions, but also helpful for the quality control of them. In this study, polysaccharides from 22 batches of AB, CO and AA were compared with monosaccharide composition, molecular weight distribution and saccharide mapping. Polysaccharides of AB, CO and AA had similar monosaccharide compositions but their relative contents of fructose, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid and glucose were significant different, and could be used as key markers to distinguish them. Results from molecular weight distribution and saccharide mapping showed polysaccharides from AB, CO and AA were mainly composed of fructans with β-2,1 and β-2, 6-D-fructosidic linkages, but their degree of polymerization were different. Meanwhile, pectins were also contained in these three drugs. AB is partial to immunomodulation while CO is partial to removing blood stasis. Fructans and pectins are the similar bioactive substance basis of AB, CO and AA whereas their structural difference might be contributed to the efficacy differentia of these three drugs. This study provides a better understanding on the profiles of polysaccharides from AB, CO and AA, further guiding their clinical usage and facilitating their quality control.