Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, Cortex Moutan, Dogwood Microscopic Quantitative Study

Purpose: (1) The determination of contents of Cortex Moutan in Liuweidihuangwan is studied through the method of quantitative microscopic identification. (2) The determination of contents of Fructus Corni in Liuweidihuangwan is studied through the method of quantitative microscopic identification. (3) The relative analysis of the microscopic characteristic constants of calcium cluster crystals of Cortex Moutan and paeonol has been done. (4) The relative analysis of the microscopic characteristic constants of pericarp epidermis cells of Fructus Corni and loganin has been done.Material and method: (1) Experimental materials: Cortex Moutan, Fructus Corni and Liuweidihuangwan of different resources which have been identified by Professor Yanjun Zhai from Authentication of Chinese Medicine Department in Pharmacy college of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. (2) Methods:①The values of microscopic characteristic constants are determined through capacity analysis methods. Methods in details, shatter medical materials, sieve them completely and misce bene. Then weigh certain amount of drug powder accurately, put it in a clean mortar and levigate for several times with little chloral hydrate. Transfer to volumetric flask of 25mL, clean the mortar for several times with chloral hydrate, then unite into the same volumetric flask. Put propotional amount of glycerine, meter the volume with chloral hydrate, then the suspl. of the sample is completed. Take the sample of 0.02mL with microsyringe after shaked sufficiently then mount it. It is not allowed to let the liquids out and the air bubble appear while the cover glass is put on. Observe in the microscope by the shape of Chinese word "zhi" and the visual field must be observed fully and not be counted repeatly. Record the number of microscopic characteristics observed, do the same experiment for 3 times for each sample and mount for 50 pieces each time. Devide the results into 5 groups at random, compute the average values for each group and the microscopic characteristic constants.②Pre-processing method of patent medicine: shatter the patent medicine carefully and sieve by 100 meshes completely. Add proper amount of water, grind and homogenizate thoroughly, centrifugate them and remove the above liquid. Add clean water again, repeat for several times until the upper liquid is clear. Take the precipitation out after centrifugalization, put it over the watch-glass and dry it below 60℃. Grind it and sieve by 100 meshes after dried thoroughly, then it is ready for usage.③Determination of the content of paeonol: It is applied according to the content determination item by HPLC of Cortex Moutan in Chinese Pharmacopoeia of 2005.④Determination of the content of loganin: It is applied according to the content determination item by HPLC of Fructus Corni in Chinese Pharmacopoeia of 2005.Results: (1) The miscroscopic characteristics of calcium cluster crystals are negatively and moderately related to paeonol content. (2) The microscopic characteristic constants of pericarp epidermis cells of Fructus Corni are positively and hypo- related to the loganin content. (3) The results of the quantitative microscopic identification of moutan cortex and Fructus Corni in Liuweidihuangwan are as follows: most of the contents of moutan cortex and Fructus Corni are consistent with the standard of Chinese Pharmacopoiea.Conclusion: (1) The method of determining the content of moutan cortex and Fructus Corni in Liuweidihuangwan by quantitative microscopic identification is set up. (2) Fructus Corni in Liuweidihuangwan by quantitative microscopic identification has been studied for the first time. (3) The relative analysis between the microscopic characteristic constants of calcium cluster crystals in moutan cortex and paeonol has been done for the first time. (4) The relative analysis between the microscopic characteristic constants of pericarp epidermis cells of Fructus Corni and loganin has been done for the first time.