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Circadian rhythm disorder (CRD) in space flight can lead to memory impairment, performance decrements and adverse health outcomes, the main manifestations of which are circadian desynchronization, sleep loss and insomnia. Sleep deprivation (SD) provide the means to evaluate these effects and the risks associated with CRD on ground. Gastrodia elata Blume (GEB) has beneficial effects on the treatment of sleep disturbances and memory loss. Fresh GEB (FG), an unprocessed raw tuber of GEB, has been used as functional health food in Asian countries for a long time. However, the research report of FG to ameliorate memory impairment caused by insomnia or lack of sleep is meager. In this study, ICR male mice were sleep-deprived continuously and water extract of FG (WFG) was orally administrated (3 and 9 g/kg/d, i.g) during the SD process lasted for 25 days, except control and model groups gavage administration with water, positive control group with modafinil (MOD, 0.1 g/kg/d, i.g). We studied the effect of WFG on CRD-induced learning and memory impairment using a set of behavioral analyses including the object location recognition test (OLRT), novel object recognition test (NORT), and the passive avoidance test (PAT). In addition, oxidative stress parameters were assessed by measuring the malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) reactivity in serum and hippocampus. Our results revealed that SD decreased discrimination index (DI) in OLRT and NORT, with shorter latency into the dark chamber in PAT. Both WFG and MOD treatment can reverse these changes (P0.05). We concluded that WFG treatment improve CRD-induced learning and memory impairment and oxidative stress damage which makes FG a promising candidate as herbal health product of memory decline in CRD.

Five herbs named as Chinese Danggui (CDG), Japanese Danggui (JDG), Korea Danggui (KDG), Lovage root (LR) and Angelica root (AR) are widely and confusedly used in eastern and western countries owing to their homonym. These herbs come from different plant species resulting in the variety of bioactive components and medical efficacy. A method combing tri-step IR macro-fingerprinting techniques with statistical pattern recognition was therefore employed discriminate the five herbs in order to assure their genuineness. A total of 26 samples were collected and identified by conventional Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, second derivative infrared (SD–IR) spectroscopy and two-dimensional correlation infrared (2D-COS IR) spectroscopy. CDG and KDG were easily differentiated from others herbs by FTIR and SD–IR spectra. The characteristic peaks of CDG were located at 1068, 1051, 990, 909 and 867 cm −1 , whilst KDG contained the peaks located at 1628, 1565, 1392, 1232 and 1136 cm −1 . By 2D-COS IR spectra, the bands in the range of 950–1110 cm −1 could be a characteristic range to identify the five herbs. There were six auto-peaks located at 978, 991, 1028 (strongest), 1061, 1071 and 1097 cm −1 for CDG, six auto-peaks at 975, 991, 1026, 1053, 1070 (strongest) and 1096 cm −1 for KDG, five auto-peaks at 970, 1009, 1037, 1070 and 1096 (strongest) cm −1 for JDG, five auto-peaks at 973 (strongest), 1009, 1033, 1072 and 1099 cm −1 for LR, and five auto-peaks at 974 (strongest), 1010, 1033, 1072 and 1099 cm −1 for AR. Classification analysis of FTIR showed that these species located in different clusters. The results indicate the tri-step infrared macro-fingerprinting combines with principle component analysis (PCA) is suitable to rapidly and nondestructively differentiate these herbs.

Objective To isolate, incubate, and identify 4-chlorophenol-degrading complex bacteria, determine the tolerance of these bacteria to phenolic derivatives and study their synergetic metabolism as well as the aboriginal microbes and co-metabolic degradation of mixed chlorophenols in river water. Methods Microbial community of complex bacteria was identified by plate culture observation techniques and Gram stain method. Bacterial growth inhibition test was used to determine the tolerance of complex bacteria to toxicants. Biodegradability of phenolic derivatives was determined by adding 4-chlorophenol-degrading bacteria in river water. Results The complex bacteria were identified as Mycopiana, Alcaligenes, Pseudomonas, and Flavobacterium. The domesticated complex bacteria were more tolerant to phenolic derivatives than the aboriginal bacteria from Qinhuai River. The biodegradability of chlorophenols, dihydroxybenzenes and nitrophenols under various aquatic conditions was determined and compared. The complex bacteria exhibited a higher metabolic efficiency on chemicals than the aboriginal microbes, and the final removal rate of phenolic derivatives was increased at least by 55% when the complex bacteria were added into river water. The metabolic relationship between dominant mixed bacteria and river bacteria was studied. Conclusion The complex bacteria domesticated by 4-chlorophenol can grow and be metabolized to take other chlorophenols, dihydroxybenzenes and nitrophenols as the sole carbon and energy source. There is a synergetic metabolism of most compounds between the aboriginal microbes in river water and the domesticated complex bacteria. 4chlorophenol-degrading bacteria can co-metabolize various chlorophenols in river water.

The herbal materials of Asian ginseng (the root of Panax ginseng ), American ginseng (the root of Panax quinquefolius ) and Notoginseng (the root of Panax notoginseng ) were differentiated by conventional Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (1D-FTIR) and two-dimensional (2D) correlation FTIR applying a thermal perturbation. Altogether 30 samples were collected and analyzed. Their entire 1D-FTIR spectra in the range of 4000–400 cm −1 and 2D-FTIR spectra in the region of 850–1530 cm −1 were generally similar based on the peaks position and intensities. This indicated the chemical constituents in these species of herbs were not distinctively different. However, variation in peak intensity were observed at about 1640 cm −1 , 1416 cm −1 , 1372 cm −1 and 1048 cm −1 in the 1D-FTIR spectra among these species for their ease differentiation. Clustering analysis of 1D-FTIR showed that these species located in different clusters. Much difference in their second derivative FTIR pattern among the three species also provided information for easy differentiation. These species of herbs were further identified based on the positions and intensities of relatively strong auto-peaks, positive or negative cross-peaks in their 2D-FTIR spectra. The findings provide a rapid and new operational procedure for the differentiation of these notable herbs. The visual and colorful 2D-FTIR spectra can provide dynamic structural information of chemical components in analyte and demonstrated as a powerful and useful approach for herbs identification.

A chemical or DNA fingerprint can be treated as a multi-dimensional vector. Correlation coefficient between two fingerprints which is easy to understand and simple to compute has been widely used to assess the similarity of fingerprints in chemical and Chinese Medicine. In the process of fingerprint examination, we are often confronted with such question on how to assess whether a new tested fingerprint is qualified or not. Usually, the mean or median fingerprint of a group of representative fingerprints measured accurately is regarded as a standard fingerprint, then correlation coefficient between the standard fingerprint and a new tested fingerprint is calculated. The critical value for the correlation coefficient is for assessment of a new tested fingerprint whether it is qualified or not. In this study, a bootstrap method is used to estimate the sampling distribution of the correlation coefficient between the standard fingerprint and a new tested fingerprint under the hypothesis that the new tested fingerprint belongs to the same group with the fingerprints used to construct standard fingerprint. Furthermore, using the simulated distribution we obtain the corresponding critical value as the criteria for fingerprint examination. This method is illustrated using Chinese Angelica (CA) fingerprint data.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) fingerprint of Chinese Angelica (CA) was developed basing on the consistent chromatograms of 40 CA samples (Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels). The unique properties of this HPLC fingerprints were validated by analyzing 13 related herbs including 4 Japanese Angelicae Root samples (JA, A. acutiloba Kitagawa and A. acutiloba Kitagawa var. sugiyame Hikino), 6 Szechwan Lovage Rhizome samples (SL, Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.) and 3 Cnidium Rhizome samples (CR, Cnidium officinale Makino). Both correlation coefficients of similarity in chromatograms and relative peak areas of characteristic compounds were calculated for quantitative expression of the HPLC fingerprints. The amount of senkyunolide A in CA was less than 30-fold of that in SL and CR samples, which was used as a chemical marker to distinguish them. JA was easily distinguished from CA, SL and CR based on either chromatographic patterns or the amount of coniferyl ferulate. No obvious difference between SL and CR chromatograms except the relative amount of some compounds, suggesting that SL and CR might have very close relationship in terms of chemotaxonomy. Ferulic acid and Z-ligustilide were unequivocally determined whilst senkyunolide I, senkyunolide H, coniferyl ferulate, senkyunolide A, butylphthalide, E-ligustilide, E-butylidenephthalide, Z-butylidenephthalide and levistolide A were tentatively identified in chromatograms based on their atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) MS data and the comparison of their UV spectra with those published in literatures.

Activity of Chinese Danggui (DG), the processed root of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, is linked to the ferulic acid content but the stability of ferulic acid during extraction for medicinal use is not known. The stabilities of ferulic acid and coniferyl ferulate were evaluated in the extracts of DG using a variety of extraction solvents. These included various combinations and proportions of methanol, water, formic acid, 1 M aqueous hydrochloric acid and 2% sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3) in water. Coniferyl ferulate was found liable to hydrolyze into ferulic acid in neutral, strongly acidic and basic solvents, where heat and water could facilitate this hydrolysis. However, the hydrolysis was relatively resisted in weakly organic acid. Based on the stability evaluation, two new terms, namely: free ferulic acid and total ferulic acid, were suggested and defined. Free ferulic acid refers to the natural content of ferulic acid in herbs. Total ferulic acid means the sum of free ferulic acid plus the amount of related hydrolyzed components. Meanwhile, the high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed to assay free ferulic acid and total ferulic acid in DG using methanol-formic acid (95:5) and methanol-2% NaHCO3 in water (95:5) as extraction solvents, respectively. Ten DG samples were investigated on their contents of free and total ferulic acid. The results indicated that the amount variety of free ferulic acid was larger than that of their counterparts, and the ratio of total ferulic acid to free ferulic acid was 4.07 +/- 2.73 (mean +/- SD, n = 10). The chemical assay of DG using total ferulic acid content would be a better choice to assess the herbal quality and was recommended.

Semistatic 96h LC50 values of 19 nitroaromatics were determined for the Carp (Cyprinus carpio), and the toxic symptoms were described. QSAR were developed using the LC50 values and six descriptors, 1XV, 1Kα, Σσ−, ELUMO; log P and I. Through muItiplicate regression analysis, one best equation was yielded: −logLC50=3.522+0.926Σσ−-+0. 1731,n= 19, r=0. 907,s=0. 271.The equation was used to estimate LC50 for 16 analogues. Inferred from the remarkable correlation between ELUMO and 1, the indicator variable (1) relates to electron effect or electron affinity of molecular essentially in the series of compounds. According to from the equations, for the compounds studied here,the dinitro compounds (their I, Σσ− and −ELUMO are all high) may be reactive, and the mononitro compounds may be less reactive or nonreactive.