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Danggui-Shaoyao San (DSS) is a famous Chinese formula for activating blood circulation and promoting urination. This study was to investigate the difference of material basis between a blood-associated herbs group and a water-associated herbs group. According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, the formula can be divided into a blood-associated herbs group (Angelica sinensis, Paeonia lactiflora and Ligusticum chuanxiong) and a water-associated herbs group (Atractylodes macrocephala, Alisma orientale and Poria cocos). The HPLC fingerprint of the formula was established for quality control. Serum samples from rats, orally administrated DSS, and the decomposed recipes of DSS, were analyzed by HPLC-DAD and the transitional blood components of DSS were identified. Twenty-one common peaks were identified in the fingerprint of DSS. Contents of paeoniflorin, albiflorin, ferulic acid and alisol B 23-acetate in co-decoction were significantly higher than those in individual decoction. Eleven peaks belonged to the blood-associated herbs group (four metabolites and seven prototype components; paeoniflorin and ferulic acid appeared in prototype components), whereas six peaks belonged to the water-associated herbs group (three metabolites and three prototype components). It was concluded that the serum pharmacochemistry is a meaningful approach for clarifying the difference between blood-associated and water-associated herbs in chemical composition., (Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

The production of cholesterol oxidase by 3 liter batch cultures of Nocardia rhodocrous growing on a glycerol/yeast extract medium was investigated. Cholesterol was shown to be a good inducer of the enzyme. The optimum time for cholesterol addition and the quantity to be added were determined, resulting in a 15-fold yield increase. Cholesterol oxidase synthesis was influenced by the dissolved oxygen tension. Maximum cholesterol oxidase production was obtained at 30-40% air saturation. The effect of growth conditions on the extraction of cholesterol oxidase by Triton X-100 was investigated. The scale-up of the fermentation to 800 liters in a pilot-plant fermenter is described.