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Glucomannans from Bletilla striata (bletillan) were used as excipient for controlled deliveries of drugs, genes and tissue engineering. In the present study, a controlled acetylation method was developed to improve water solubility of bletillan 70 (BT) firstly, by reacting with acetic anhydride (AA) in N,N-dimethylformamide solvent. The preparation parameters, such as reaction temperature, reaction time and molar ratio of BT/AA, were optimized based on degrees of acetyl group in addition. IR and (1)H NMR spectra were applied to elucidate the reaction process and substitution pattern, which indicated that the acetylation took place at C-6 and C-2 of the hexose units in a ratio of 2:1, with DS up to 0.83. Relative viscosity analysis revealed that the resulted products had improved water solubilities. This novel method is simple, economic and easily controlled., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Phytochemical investigation of methanol extract from the whole plants of Patrinia scabiosifolia Fisch. resulted in the isolation of three new triterpenoid saponins (1-3) along with twelve known triterpenoids (4-15). The structures of the new compounds were established as 11α, 12α-epoxy-3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-olean-28, 13β-olide (1), 11α, 12α-epoxy-3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-D-xylopyranosyl-olean-28, 13β-olide (2), and 3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-D-xylopyranosyl oleanolic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3) on the basis of various spectroscopic analyses (including different 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopies and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry) and chemical evidences.

Phytochemical investigation of the methanol extract from the whole plants of Patrinia scabiosaefolia Fisch. resulted in the isolation of four new triterpenoid saponins (1-4) along with six known compounds (5-10). On the basis of spectroscopic and chemical methods, the structures of the new compounds were established as 3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-xylopyranosyl-12β,30-dihydroxy-olean-28,13β-olide (1), 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-xylopyranosyl-12β,30-dihydroxy-olean-28,13β-olide (2), 3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-12β, 30-dihydroxy-olean-28,13β-olide (3), and 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-xylopyranosyl-oleanolic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), respectively. Compounds 1-3 possess a novel 12β,30-dihydroxy-olean-28,13β-lactone aglycone and a 12β-hydroxy substituent that is rarely found in this kind of triterpenoid saponin., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to prepare ursodeoxycholic acid-phospholipid complex (UDCA-PLC) to enhance oral bioavailability of UDCA, and the physicochemical properties of the complex were studied. Compared with those of UDCA tablet after oral administration in rats, the main pharmacokinetic characteristics and bioavailability of UDCA-PLC orally administered were evaluated. Tetrahydrofuran was used as a reaction medium, UDCA and phospholipids were resolved into the medium, and UDCA-PLC was formed after the organic solvent was evaporated off under vacuum condition. The physicochemical properties of the complex were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction, particle size distribution analysis, and n-octanol/water partition coefficient (P) study. The blood concentrations of UDCA-PLC and UDCA tablet at different time points after oral administration in rats were assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after derivatization. The pharmacokinetic parameters were computed by software program 3p87. The X-ray diffraction and DSC studies showed that UDCA and phospholipids in the UDCA-PLC were combined by noncovalent bond, not forming a new compound, and n-octanol/water partition coefficient (P) of UDCA-PLC was effectively enhanced. The mean serum concentration-time curves of UDCA after oral administration of UDCA-PLC and UDCA tablet in rats were both in accordance with open two-compartment model. Pharmacokinetic parameters of UDCA tablet and the PLC in rats were T(max) 1.9144 and 1.5610 h, C(max) 0.0576 and 0.1346 microg/mL, and AUC(0-infinity) 4.736 and 11.437 microg h/mL, respectively. The bioavailability of UDCA in rats was significantly different (p < .05) compared with those of UDCA tablet after administration. The UDCA-PLC would be more prospective formulation in future.

The purpose of this research was to study whether the bioavailability of ursodeoxycholic acid could be improved by administering ursodeoxycholic acid-phospholipid complex (UDCA-PLC) orally to rats. A central composite design approach was used for process optimization in order to obtain the acceptable UDCA-PLC. The physicochemical properties of the complex obtained by optimal parameters were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The pharmacokinetic parameters and bioavailability studies were conducted in rats of UDCA after oral administration of UDCA-PLC and UDCA tablet. Multiple linear regression analysis for process optimization revealed that the acceptable UDCA-PLC was obtained wherein the optimal values of X(1), X(2) and X(3) were 3, 60 degrees C and 3 h, respectively. The XRD studies of UDCA-PLC obtained by the optimal parameters demonstrated that UDCA and phospholipids in the UDCA-PLC were combined by non-covalent bonds, not form new compounds. But pharmacokinetic parameters of the complex in rats were T(max) 1.6 h, C(max) 0.1346 microg/ml, AUC(0-infinity) 11.437 microg x h/ml, respectively. The relative bioavailability of UDCA of UDCA-PLC was increased by 241%,compared with the reference ursodeoxycholic acid tablet.