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The anticancer effects of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have attracted the attention of the public vis-à-vis existing cancer therapies with various side effects. Lycium barbarum fruit, commonly known as Gou Qi Zi in China, is a potential anticancer agent/adjuvant. Its major active ingredients, L. barbarum polysaccharides (LBP), scopoletin and 2- O-β- d-glucopyranosyl- l-ascorbic acid (AA-2βG), are found to have apoptotic and antiproliferative effects on cancer cell lines. Moreover, LBP also contributes to body's immunomodulatory effects and enhances effects of other cancer therapies. It is not known whether there are any undesirable effects. Further studies on its pharmacological mechanisms and toxicology could facilitate a safe usage of this TCM herb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A validated high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with dual wavelength detection was developed and applied to the determination of chlorogenic acid in rat plasma. Elution was performed on C18 column at 27°C with acetronitrile-water (0.2% phosphoric acid, pH = 2.0) at different proportions according to a time scheduled programme and pumped at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min-1. The eluent was detected at 325 nm for chlorogenic acid and 370 nm for the internal standard, kaempferol. The intra-day and inter-day precisions were better than 3.58% and 3.66%, respectively. The standard curve for chlorogenic acid was linear (r2 = 0.9993) in the concentration range of 0.1-15 μg mL-1. Accuracy in the measurement of samples ranged from 91.97 to 101.81%. The limit of detection and the limit of quantification for chlorogenic acid in plasma were 30 and 90 ng mL-1, respectively. This assay has been successfully applied in the pharmacokinetic study of chlorogenic acid through oral and intravenous administration in rats. It showed that the low bioavailability of chlorogenic acid and an intravenous administration route is a better dosage regimen. It is a simple and sensitive analytical method with good accuracy and reproducibility. The current method also demonstrated that an internal standard with different optimal UV absorbance from that of the analyte can also be used in an analytical method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Chinese communities, regular consumption of Chinese-medicated diets (CMD) (usually in the form of soup) is a traditional practice to promote health and prevent disease development. The overall improvement of health conditions is believed to be correlated with the anti-oxidant potentials of these herbs. Huangqin, roots of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (Lamiaceae), is one of the herbs commonly used in CMD. In this study, the anti-oxidant capacities of Huangqin extracts (water, ethanol and ether extracts) were evaluated and compared to commonly used CMD herbs, Heshouwu, roots of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb (Polygonaceae) and Renshen (or Ginseng), roots of Panax ginseng CA Meyer (Araliaceae). The anti-oxidant capacities were measured by using both cell-free assay [ferric reducing/anti-oxidant power (FRAP)] and biological methods [2,2'-azobis-(2-amidinopropane) (AAPH)-induced haemolysis assay and H2O2-induced cell damage on H9C2 cells]. Additionally, the total phenolic content was measured using Folin-Ciocalteu methods. Water extract of Huangqin has the highest anti-oxidant activities compared to the ethanol and ether extracts. A positive relationship between the anti-oxidant effects and total phenolic contents of extracts was demonstrated. This shows that Huangqin could be an effective dietary anti-oxidant that can be consumed regularly as a functional food for the prevention of oxidant/free radical-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]