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Seven undescribed labdane diterpenoids, japonicones A-G, were isolated from the aerial parts of Leonurus japonicus Houtt. Japonicones C-G contained two keto carbonyl groups in their structures attached to C-3 and C-7, which are rare for labdane diterpenoids. The structures and absolute configurations of japonicones A-G were established by means of spectroscopic analyses (HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR, and ECD). Their anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated by measuring their inhibitory effects on PGE2 production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Japonicones A-D and G showed inhibition of PGE2 production with IC50 values in the range of 8.62–30.71 μM (the positive control paracetamol showed an IC50 = 5.79 μM).

Two new labdane diterpenoids, Leojaponin E (1) and F (2), together with three known compounds were isolated from the dried herb of Leonurus japonicus Houtt., Lamiaceae. Their structures were determined based on extensive spectroscopic analyses. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were elucidated on the basis of experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism spectra. In addition, compounds 1 and 2 exerted inhibition of LPS-induced PGE2 production in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations ranging from 5 to 20 μM.

To discuss the synergistic mechanism of compatible use of two medicinal herbs,Panax notoginseng and Bletilla striata, an HPLC was established to determine two ginseng saponins (20S)-ginseng saponin Rg₃ and ginseng saponin Rh₄ contained in single decoction of Panax notoginseng as well as in compound decoction of Panax notoginseng and Bletillastriata in different compatibility ratio (1∶0.5, 1∶1, 1∶2), followed by analyzing the impact of amount of notoginsenosides after compatibility. As a result, compared with the single decoction of Panax notoginseng, the contents of ginseng saponin Rg₃ and ginseng saponin Rh₄ in the compound decoction of Panax notoginseng and Bletillastriata were on the rise as the increasement of the amount of Bletillastriata. The contents of the notoginsengsaponin R₁, ginseng saponin Rg₁ and ginseng saponin Rb₁ of Panax notoginseng single decoction were significantly decreased after compatibility. Therefore, after compatibility, it was more easy to produce (20S)-ginseng saponin Rg₃ and ginseng saponin Rh₄.This study can extend to a method of preparation of (20S)-ginseng saponin Rg₃ and ginseng saponin Rh₄. Furthermore, after compatibility, two ginseng saponins which had lipase inhibitory effect were both increased significantly, indicating that the compatibility of these two herb medicines may have effect on losing weight.

Four Astragalus polysaccharides (APS1-APS4) were isolated from the water extract of Radix Astragali and purified through ethanol precipitation with 20 %, 40 %, 60 % and 80 % ethanol, respectively. The total sugar content was measured by sulfuric acid-phenol method. Their molecular weight was determined using high performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC) and their monosaccharide composition was analyzed by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after pre-column derivatization. Then the immunobiologic activity of APS was evaluated by the experiment of spleen lymphocytes proliferation in vitro. The data suggested that precipitation by different concentration of ethanol will obtain different molecular weight APS, the higher concentration of ethanol the smaller molecular weight for APS. The molecular weights of four APS were 257.7 kDa, 40.1 kDa, 15.3 kDa and 3.2 kDa. Monosaccharide composition analysis indicated that APS1 consisted of glucose only, and APS2 all consisted of arabinose. APS3 consisted of rhamnose, glucose, galactose and arabinose and APS4 consisted of galactose and arabinose, in a molar ratio of 1:10.76:6.55:12 and 3.02:1. The result of immunobiologic activity assay showed that both APS2 and APS3 can effectively stimulate normal spleen lymphocyte proliferation in vitro. Apart from this, the effect of APS2 also showed dose dependent tendency from 6.25 μg/mL to 800 μg/mL. The result of this research indicated that Astragalus polysaccharides, which consist of arabinose and their molecular weight between 15.2 kDa to 40.1 kDa, neither too high nor too low, had significant immune activity.