State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, P. R. China.
Phytochem Anal. 2020 Nov;31(6):968-981. doi: 10.1002/pca.2969. Epub 2020 Jul 8.
The diversity and complexity of components are important reasons for the unstable efficacy and safety of Chinese materia medica (CMM) in quality control. The good and stable quality control may be related to the quality markers with structural composition of multi-components.
In the present study, we take Eclipta prostrata L. as a representative example. The 11 samples were collected from the different areas in China, and the discrepancy in bioactivity and chemical composition of these samples were compared. DOX (doxorubicin hydrochloride)-induced ICR mice were established for in vivo nephrotic syndrome experiments. The biochemical indicators including 24-h urine protein, triglyceride (TG), etc. were measured and the pathological change of kidney tissue was observed. MPC-5 cells damage model was induced to compare the difference of these samples in bio-activity. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for 11 EEP (extract of Eclipta prostrata L.) samples were performed to analyse the content of the quality markers.
In vivo experiments, EEP could mitigate the content or activity of urine protein, TG, etc. compared with the positive group (TG content was 2.53 ± 0.39 mmol/L, urinary protein quantification on 35th day was 16.79 ± 2.32 mg). In vitro experiments, CCE (coumestans component of Ecliptae) and EEP had equivalent effects on biochemical indicators such as cell viability, etc. According to the HPLC analysis, the content of wedelolactone was 45.88% and demethylwedelolactone was 23.74% in CCE.
The CCE with a ratio of 2:1 can be considered as a quality marker of Eclipta prostrata L.. This research may provide a perspective for quality control of CMM.
中药成分的多样性和复杂性是其在质量控制中功效和安全性不稳定的重要原因。良好且稳定的质量控制可能与具有多成分结构组成的质量标志物有关。
本研究以鳢肠（Eclipta prostrata L.）为例，采集了来自中国不同地区的 11 个样本，比较了这些样本的生物活性和化学成分的差异。采用盐酸多柔比星（DOX）诱导 ICR 小鼠建立体内肾病综合征模型，检测 24 小时尿蛋白、甘油三酯（TG）等生化指标，观察肾脏组织的病理变化。诱导 MPC-5 细胞损伤模型，比较这些样本在生物活性方面的差异。采用高效液相色谱法（HPLC）对 11 个 EEP（鳢肠提取物）样品进行分析，测定质量标志物的含量。
体内实验中，EEP 可降低阳性组的尿蛋白、TG 等含量或活性（TG 含量为 2.53±0.39 mmol/L，第 35 天尿蛋白定量为 16.79±2.32 mg）。体外实验中，CCE（鳢肠的香豆素成分）和 EEP 对细胞活力等生化指标有同等的影响。根据 HPLC 分析，CCE 中芝麻素的含量为 45.88%，去甲芝麻素的含量为 23.74%。
CCE 中 2:1 的比例可作为鳢肠的质量标志物。本研究可为中药质量控制提供新视角。
