A previously published molecular phylogeny of Chinese species of Stephania (Menispermaceae) showed that none of the sections sensu Luo, recognised based on flower, inflorescence, leaf, and tuber traits, was monophyletic. In order to assess the use of an additional vegetative character for supraspecific classification in Stephania, we conducted an analysis of leaf micromorphology. Leaf epidermal features of 34 out of the c. 40 Chinese species of Stephania were investigated using light and scanning electron microscopy. Leaf epidermal characters were found to be constant at species level, but variable among species. The distribution pattern of papillae on the epidermal cells of the adaxial and abaxial sides of the leaves revealed three groups in Stephania, fitting with the recognition of three subgenera. Combined with the latter character, the shape of anticlinal cell walls proved to be useful to discriminate between sections, at least in subgenus Stephania. In addition, our results show that S. chingtungensis (subg. Stephania) exhibits leaf micromorphological states characteristic of subgenus Tuberiphania. The systematic position of the recently described S. novenanthera and of the taxonomically challenging S. excentrica within subgenus Tuberiphania is suggested by leaf epidermal features.

INTRODUCTIONThe tuberous roots of Stephania kwangsiensis, which contain bioactive alkaloids, are used as a traditional Chinese medicine. Overexploitation of the roots has made the plant increasingly rare, and the abundant leaves of the same plant may offer a potential alternative. However, there is insufficient phytochemical information for a comparison of alkaloid compositions in the two parts.OBJECTIVETo characterise and compare the alkaloids in the leaves and roots of S. kwangsiensis.METHODSThe alkaloids in S. kwangsiensis were characterised using high pressure liquid chromatography coupled with positive electrospray ionisation quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-(+)ESI-QTOF-MS/MS). The alkaloid compositions in the leaves and roots were compared by visual inspection combined with principal component analysis (PCA) of the HPLC-MS data.RESULTSSeventy-five alkaloids comprising aporphine-, proaporphine-, protoberberine-, benzylisoquinoline-, bisbenzylisoquinoline- and morphine-type alkaloids were identified or tentatively identified in the roots and leaves of S. kwangsiensis. Sixty-three of these alkaloids have not been previously reported in this species, and three have not been previously reported in the literature. The roots and leaves had similarities in alkaloid composition but differences in the peak intensities of most alkaloids. The PCA revealed that the samples were clustered into two distinct groups, which corresponded to leaves and roots.CONCLUSIONThis study further clarified the chemical constituents in the roots of S. kwangsiensis, and revealed that diverse alkaloids were also present in the leaves. The comparative chemical profiling of the two parts provides useful information on their potential medicinal use. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

INTRODUCTION Plants in the genus Stephania can produce diverse bioactive alkaloids. Stephania hainanensis is a medicinal plant that contains effective alkaloids. However, only 10 alkaloids have been reported in this species. OBJECTIVE To characterise the alkaloids in Stephania hainanensis using liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS/MS). METHODS An LC-QTOF-MS/MS method was developed for structural characterisation of the alkaloids in Stephania hainanensis. The chromatographic separation was performed on a phenyl column with gradient elution, and the tandem mass spectra were obtained by using an electrospray ionisation (ESI) interface in positive ionisation mode. Compound identification was based on the exact masses, fragmentation pathways, retention behaviours and related botanical biogenesis. RESULTS A total of 37 tetrahydroprotoberberine-, quaternary protoberberine-, aporphine-, proaporphine-, benzylisoquinoline- or bisbenzylisoquinoline-type alkaloids were identified or tentatively identified in a single LC run. Twenty-seven of these alkaloids, including the benzylisoquinoline-type of alkaloids, have not been previously reported in Stephania hainanensis. The possible fragmentation pathways of different types of alkaloids were proposed. Besides the general fragmentations, the characteristic losses of CH3 N = CH2 were observed for the benzylisoquinoline and aporphine alkaloids with two methyl groups on the nitrogen. CONCLUSION The LC-QTOF-MS/MS method enabled profiling and rational, but tentative, identification of diverse alkaloids in Stephania hainanensis. The results obtained may be helpful for understanding the bioactivity of S. hainanensis and evaluating the quality of this plant. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A procedure involving microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) followed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) was established for the extraction and purification of three bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids from Stephania cepharantha, and a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed for the quantification of the target alkaloids. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Phenomenex Luna Phenyl-Hexyl column. Prior to the HPLC analysis, the alkaloids were rapidly extracted by an optimized MAE process using 0.01 mol/L hydrochloric acid as the solvent. The MAE extract was subsequently purified by SPE using a cation-exchange polymeric cartridge. The MAE-SPE procedure extracted the three alkaloids with satisfactory recoveries ranging from 100.44 to 102.12%. In comparison with the MAE, Soxhlet and ultrasonic-assisted extractions, the proposed MAE-SPE method showed satisfactory cleanup efficiency. Thus, the validated MAE-SPE-HPLC method is specific, accurate and applicable to the determination of alkaloids in S. cepharantha.

Many species of Stephania Lour. are used traditionally in South-east Asia as medicinal plants. Understanding and predicting their therapeutic properties could be improved, provided that the evolutionary relationships among lineages are clarified. We present the first molecular phylogeny of the genus Stephania, focusing on the species occurring in China on the basis of nuclear (internal transcribed spacer, ITS) and chloroplast (trnL–F) markers sequenced from 29 species of Stephania. Our results showed that S. subgenus Stephania and S. subgenus Tuberiphania are not monophyletic, owing to the phylogenetic placement of a single species (S. mashanica). The relationships with the third subgenus, S. subgenus Botryodiscia, are not resolved. None of the sections in our analyses is monophyletic. Our study calls for further phylogenetic investigations including more accessions from the whole distribution area of the genus. A taxonomic revision of the genus Stephania, which would reassess the appropriateness of the macromorphological characters used so far to distinguish among subgenera (e.g. flower merism, size and aspect of the rootstock and main root), and sections (e.g. inflorescence morphology, sessiliflorous or not), is much needed.

•An MAE method was developed for the extraction of alkaloids from Stephania sinica.•The MAE method is fast, energy-saving and environmental-friendly.•An HPLC method was developed for the quantitation of the target alkaloids.•The MAE–HPLC method is applicable to the analysis of the alkaloids in S. sinica.

Cicada,used as a Chinese medicine,has a long history in China.In Chinese medicine market,10 species of cicada slough are circulated.In species part the diagnosis of each taxa is given.The illustrations of antennae and fore leg of cicada slough are provided.

An elevated serum cholesterol level is an important risk factor in cardiovascular disease,and a drug which could lower this level would be an important prophylactic against cardiovascular diseases.Most of the cholesterol is biosynthesized in the liver,and the control of the biosynthetic pathway is a strategy to lower the serum cholesterol level.Since the first HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor,mevastatin,was isolated from Penicillinum citrinum in 1973 and its analogue,pravastatin,became a new type of hyperlipidemic drug,many HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors were successively developed.Natural products have made vital contributions to drug discovery in the past.Some perspective on the potential of the natural products for future drug discovery was discussed.

Method for quantitative analysis of chloramphenicol in royal jelly by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been developed.Sample preparation involves a solid phase extraction (SPE).The linear calibration range for chloramphenicol was 0.1～10 μg/mL.The recovery of chloramphenicol was 80.6～90.3% with the relative standard derivation (RSD) ranging from 3.48 to 5.63% (n=3).This method was proposed as a simple and reliable method for the determination of residues of chloramphenicol in royal jelly products.

Purpose: To study the adsorption properties and the application of macroporous resin for the purification of alkaloids in Aconitum kusnezoffii. Methods: Colorimetric analysis with acid dye was used to determine the concent of total alkaloids. Results: The results of or a thogonal experiments showed that the appropriate adsorption conditions were: macroporous resin SIP1300 better than macroporous resin AB-8, the concentration of extract solution at 0.2 g/mL crude drug, pH = 5 and the flow rate at 4 BV/h. 80 % alcohol was satisfactory eluant for desorption. Conclusions: Macroporous resin was suitable for the purification of alkaloids in Aconitum kusnezoffii.

对凌霄Campsisgrandiflora（Thunb .）K .Schum .的干燥花进行了化学成分研究 ,分离获得了 10个化合物 ,并且根据它们的物理化学性质及各种光谱数据鉴定了其中的 9个化合物。它们分别是 :三十一烷醇、α ,β 香树脂醇、β 谷甾醇、15 巯基 2 十五烷酮、芹菜素、胡萝卜甙、齐墩果酸、桂皮酸、acteoside。另一结构待定的化合物 ,暂定名为CG 10。除了其中的 β 谷甾醇、芹菜素和齐墩果酸外 ,其他化合物均首次从凌霄的花中获得。除化学成分的研究以外 ,我们还进一步考察了凌霄花乙醇浸膏的石油醚、乙酸乙酯、丙酮、丙酮 :甲醇 （1∶1）、甲醇 5部分的提取部位 ,以及分到的齐墩果酸、胡萝卜甙、acteoside及CG 10等 4个化合物收缩离体孕小鼠子宫肌条的活性。首次报道了凌霄花抗生育活性部位的抗生育活性 ,其中丙酮 :甲醇 （1∶1）提取部位可以极显著的增强孕小鼠的离体子宫肌条的收缩强度 （P <0 .0 0 1）。这个研究结果提示在临床上可能有一定的应用价值。

Chinese drugLing Xiao Hua,the dried flower of Campsis grandiflora (Thunb.)K.Schum.was specified as Flos Campsis in Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2000).Hentriacontanol(1),α ,β amyrin(2),β sitosterol(3),oleanolic acid(4),apigenin(5),cinnamic acid(6),15 mercapto 2 pentadecanone(7),daucosterol(8)and acteoside(9) were separated and identified by physiochemical and spectroscopic analyses.Besides β sitosterol,oleanolic acid and apigenin,the other 7 compounds were the first time separated from the dried flower of Campsis grandiflora (Thunb.)K.Schum.We also investigated the contraceptive effect of the five fractions of petroleum ether(60～90 ℃ PE),EtOAc(EA),Me 2CO(AC),Me 2CO∶CH 3OH(1∶1 AC∶ME=1∶1),and CH 3OH(ME),and three compounds,oleanolic acid,daucosterol,and acteoside.We found that EA,AC,AC∶ME(1∶1),and ME fractions (0.02 mg/ml)all can distinctly improve the contractive effect on the isolated pregnancy rat's uterine muscle( P 0.01).And AC,AC∶ME(1∶1) fraction had the most distinctly effect on improve the contractive strength of the isolated pregnancy rat's uterine muscle( P 0.01).

In this paper,the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Chinese drug "Zicao"(roots of Arnebia euchroma(Royle) Johnst.,Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb.et Zucc.and A.guttata Bunge)were summarized with 37 references.

The methods for the determination of Aconitum alkaloids in Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii were established. Volumetric analysis with the indicator of methyl red-bromcresol green and colorimetric analysis with acid dye of bromecresol green under the wavelength of 416 nm were used for the assay of total alkaloids. Colorimetric analysis of hydroxamic acid-Fe was for the assay of total ester-diterpene type Aconitum alkaloids. Three kinds of diester-diterpene type Aconitum alkaloids (aconitine, hypaconitine and mesaconitine) were determined by HPLC method. The HPLC system consisted of C18 as the stationary phase and acetonitrile: buffer (acetic acid-triethylamine, pH 6.25) = 71:29 as the mobile phase. The wavelength was 235 nm.

From the roots of Arnebia euchroma (Royle) Johnst., dipotassium rabdosiin 1 , potassium rosmarinate 2, sodium rosmarinate 3 and sodium ferulate 4, were isolated by means of reversed phase chromatography. Their structures were identified by spectral analyses (UV, IR, MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR). Compound 1 exhibited conspicuous contraceptive effect. Compound 2,3 and 4 were discovered in the roots of A.euchroma firstly.

Chemical pattern recognition was applied to three Chinese herbal medicines from the genus Stephania Lour., viz. S. kwangsiensis Lo, S. viridiflavens Lo and M. Yang and S. mashanica Lo and B.N. Chang. Based on the chemical features obtained from HPLC, SIMCA program was carried out and the results showed that the classification accuracy was 100%. In addition, the obtained features showed three major classes by NLM. The results of both methods were consistent with those of plant taxonomical identification. It suggested that chemical pattern recognition could be a helpful method to classify and identify Chinese herbal medicines.