Chinese Pharmacopoeia Revisited: A Review of Anti-Depression Herbal Sources

Depression, which can be accompanied by many fatal diseases and a low life quality, has become the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide. However, Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the most authoritative and evidence-based encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), could contain leads and insights into the development of new antidepressant drugs. In this work, nine herbal medicines with ‘dispel melancholy functions’ specifically documented in Chinese Pharmacopoeia have been comprehensively reviewed with respect to clinical trials, and phytochemical and pharmacological aspects. The nine drugs are Rosae Chinensis Flos, Croci Stigma, Albiziae Cortex and Flos, Roase Rugosae Flos, Curcumae Radix, Hyperici Perforati Herba, Cyperi Rhizoma and Bupleuri Radix. The mechanisms of action of their functional antidepressant compounds, including gallic acid, hypericin, kaempferol, crocetin, crocin, quercetin, luteolin, isorhamnetin, curcumin, hyperforin, adhyperforin, catechin, rutin, puerarin, and saikosaponins A and D, have been collected and discussed. These traditional Chinese herbs and their active compounds provide a promising resource to develop effective new antidepressant drugs in future. Moreover, mechanistic investigations, safety verification and large-scale clinical trials are still expected to finally transform such TCM-based antidepressant resources to new drugs for patients suffering from depression.

Genetic diversity and main functional composition of Lingzhi strains from main producing areas in China

In this study, we used genotyping by sequencing (GBS) to examine the genetic diversity of 22 strains of Lingzhi and the quality differences in 15 fruit bodies of Lingzhi from different Chinese regions. The phylogenetic trees of 22 strains were constructed based on ITS (Internal transcribed spacer) and SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism). Moisture, ash, water-soluble extracts, alcohol-soluble extracts, polysaccharides, and triterpenoids from 15 fruit bodies of Lingzhi were detected and analyzed based on Chinese Pharmacopoeia and the US Pharmacopoeia references. Moreover, the monosaccharide composition of polysaccharides was studied using PMP-HPLC, and the effect of polysaccharides on the proliferation rate of splenocytes was investigated in vitro. The identification results of these strains by the phylogenetic trees which were constructed based on ITS sequences and SNPs showed that most of the strains applied in the main producing areas of Lingzhi in China were accurate except for a few inaccurate strains. The moisture, ash, water and alcohol soluble extractive, polysaccharide and triterpenoid content of all samples were meet the requirements of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, while the polysaccharide and triterpenoid content of less than half of the samples meet the requirements of the U.S. Pharmacopoeia. The polysaccharide extracted from these samples have different effects on the proliferation rate of spleen cells. To sum up, this is the first study that reported on the differences in Lingzhi strains from the main producing areas in China. The quality of some fruit bodies did not meet the pharmacopeia requirements, and wrong strains were used in some production areas; thus, strains should be given special attention before legal processing.

Screening of Concentration and Antimicrobial Effectiveness of Antimicrobial Preservative in Betastatin Besylate Nasal Spray

Objective. To explore the optimal concentration and antimicrobial effectiveness of antimicrobial preservative in betastatin besylate nasal spray. Methods. By using Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger as test strains, the antimicrobial effectiveness of betastatin besylate nasal spray containing different concentrations of antimicrobial preservative (0.02%, 0.0125%, and 0.005% benzalkonium chloride, respectively) was determined by using bacteriostatic effect test (Chinese Pharmacopoeia, 2015 edition). Results. The antimicrobial effectiveness of betastatin besylate nasal spray containing 0.02% and 0.0125% benzalkonium chloride, respectively, complied with the regulations of Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015 Edition) against five test strains. However, the antimicrobial effectiveness of betastatin besylate nasal spray containing 0.005% benzalkonium chloride against P. aeruginosa did not meet the requirements of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Conclusion. Benzalkonium chloride at a concentration of 0.125% can be used as an added antimicrobial preservative in betastatin besylate nasal spray.

Screening of Concentration and Antimicrobial Effectiveness of Antimicrobial Preservative in Betastatin Besylate Nasal Spray

OBJECTIVE To explore the optimal concentration and antimicrobial effectiveness of antimicrobial preservative in betastatin besylate nasal spray. METHODS By using Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Candia albicans, and Aspergillus niger as test strains, the antimicrobial effectiveness of betastatin besylate nasal spray containing different concentrations of antimicrobial preservative (0.02%, 0.0125%, and 0.005% benzalkonium chloride, respectively) was determined by using bacteriostatic effect test (Chinese Pharmacopoeia, 2015 edition).RESULTS The antimicrobial effectiveness of betastatin besylate nasal spray containing 0.02% and 0.0125% benzalkonium chloride, respectively, complied with the regulations of Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015 Edition) against five test strains. However, the antimicrobial effectiveness of betastatin besylate nasal spray containing 0.005% benzalkonium chloride against P. aeruginosa did not meet the requirements of Chinese Pharmacopoeia.CONCLUSION Benzalkonium chloride at a concentration of 0.125% can be used as an added antimicrobial preservative in betastatin besylate nasal spray.

Study on chemical constituents of different species of Dendrobium

The objective of this study is to determine the erianin of 10 species of Dendrobium by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Processing techniques were washed, dried and ground. The research method for determining the content of erianin was adopted from Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2015 Edition. Acetonitrile-0.05% phosphoric acid (37:63) was used as mobile phase. The samples were separated on Sharpsil-TC18 column(4.6*150mm;5μm) at a flow rate of 1.2mL/min and detected at 230nm, and the column temperature was kept at 30℃. The injection volume was 20μL. The number of theoretical plates was not less than 6000 according to the chromatographic peak of erianin. The result of the study showed erianin was detected only in Dendrobium chrysotoxum among the 10 species of Dendrobium. and the content was 0.098%. Conclusion: The content of erianin in Dendrobium chrysotoxum met the specification of no less than 0.03% in the 2015 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia.

The Trend Analysis and Quality Evaluation of Live Attenuated Yellow Fever Vaccine in China from 2011 to 2018

To summarize the lot release of live attenuated yellow fever vaccine in China during 2011-2018 and evaluate the total quality as well as problem in quality control of the vaccine. By reviewing the data and laboratory test，34 batches of live attenuated yellow fever vaccine were determined for virus titer according to the standard for license, of which 52 batches were determined for ovalbumin residue by ELISA, and 14 batches for moisture. The determination results were subjected to statistical and quality trend analyses, and compared with those by the manufacturers，based on which the general status of vaccine quality was reviewed. All the determination results of virus titer, ovalbumin residue and moisture met the requirements in Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and there is no difference in those by the manufacturers and those by the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control . The quality of live attenuated yellow fever vaccine was stable, which met the requirements in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The implementation of lot release, batch inspection and trend analysis may effectively regulate and supervise the vaccine production．