Limonoids From Choerospondias axillaris

Eight limonoids (1-8), including 1 new compound named as axillariol A (1), were isolated from the dichloromethane extract of Choerospondias axillaris branches and leaves using various chromatographic separations. Their structures were confirmed by detailed analysis of the 1-dimensional (1D), 2D nuclear magnetic resonance, and high-resolution electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectra. In addition, toonaciliatins N (6) and toonaciliatins O (7) showed selective and significant cytotoxicity on the rhabdomyosarcoma human cancer cell line with half-maximal inhibitory concentration values of 9.12 and 7.79 µM, respectively.

Triterpenoids

This review covers newly isolated triterpenoids that have been reported during 2015.

Hemostasis and uterine contraction promoting effect of the extract from drugs in the Zi-Yin-Tiao-Jing granule, a traditional Chinese compound preparation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Zi-Yin-Tiao-Jing granule (ZG) is a traditional Chinese medicine compound preparation for perimenopausal dysfunctional uterine bleeding. It is made from 9 Chinese crude drugs based on a modified traditional Chinese prescription recorded in Fu Qingzhu Nvke as Guben Zhibeng Tang.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the hemostasis and uterine contraction promoting effect of quality controlled ZG extract on animals as a preclinical study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

ZG extract was quality controlled by determining the contents of asperosaponin Ⅵ and tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside (TSG) with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the contents of total tannins, total saponins and total flavonoids with ultraviolet spectrophotometry (UV). Bleeding time, clotting time, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and fibrinogen (FIB) content were assayed to test the hemostasis effect of ZG extract on sixty healthy female Kunming mice. In addition, ten healthy female Sprague-Dawley rats were used to test the effect of ZG extract on uterine contractions in vitro with the BL-420 Biological Function Experiment System.

RESULTS

The ZG extract contained 0.81mgg^-1 asperosaponin Ⅵ, 0.15mgg^-1 TSG, 1.98mgg^-1 total tannins, 1.83mgg^-1 total saponins, and 4.09mgg^-1 total flavonoids. Compared with placebo, the ZG extract shortened the bleeding time at a dosage of 1.2gkg^-1 and 2.4gkg^-1, and shortened the clotting time at 0.6gkg^-1, 1.2gkg^-1 and 2.4gkg^-1 in mice (P < 0.01). It also decurtated the APTT at a dosage of 0.6gkg^-1 (P < 0.05) and raised the content of FIB in the plasma at a dosage of 2.4gkg^-1 (P < 0.05). However, the PT showed no changes after the administration of ZG extract (P > 0.05). In addition, ZG extract at the doses of 1.8mgmL^-1, 3.6mgmL^-1, and 5.4mgmL^-1 increased the amplitude and motoricity of uterine contractions of rats (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) but maintained the frequency as unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS

The ZG extract was quality controllable by assaying for asperosaponin Ⅵ, TSG, total tannins, total saponins and total flavonoids. It could promote the hemostasis of mice in vivo, as well as the uterine contractions of rats in vitro. Therefore, it may be a promising preparation for clinical treatment of perimenopausal dysfunctional uterine bleeding.