The objective of this study was to produce artificial antigens for astragaloside IV that could be used to prepare antibodies against astragaloside IV screened in Radix astragali (Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch) Bunge, Fabaceae) and its preparations, using an indirect ELISA. Astragaloside IV was coupled to carrier proteins, bovine serum albumin and ovalbumin using the sodium periodate method and was then evaluated using SDS-PAGE, MALDI-TOF MS and animal immunizations. The coupling ratio of astragaloside IV to bovine serum albumin ratio was determined to be thirteen, and the indirect ELISA demonstrated that three groups of mice immunized with astragaloside IV-bovine serum albumin produced anti-astragaloside IV- bovine serum albumin-specific antibody, with a minimum serum titer of 1:9600. A method for synthesizing highly immunogenic astragaloside IV artificial antigens was successfully developed thus indicating its feasibility in the establishment of a fast immunoassay for astragaloside IV content determination in Radix astragali and its products.

Mulberry leaves Flavones Pharmacokinetics Metabolites Rutin Quercetin Mulberry leaves, a traditional Chinese medicine, are effective in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Rutin and quercetin are the main components of total flavones of mulberry leaf extract. To study the pharmacokinetics of rutin and quercetin in rat plasma and their metabolites in rat urine and feces after oral administration of total flavones of mulberry leaf extract. At different timepoints after oral administration of total flavones of mulberry leaf extract in rats, plasma concentrations of rutin and quercetin were determined by RP-HPLC. The main pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using 3P97 software. The metabolites in rat urine and feces were determined by using UPLCESI-QTOF/MS and estimated MetaboLynxTM software. The plasma concentration-time curves of rutin and quercetin both were best fitted with a two-compartment model. Rutin and quercetin were absorbed rapidly and then slowly decreased. Two prototype compounds and seven metabolites were identified. The pharmacokinetic and metabolic results may be useful for further studies of the bioactive mechanism of mulberry leaf flavones and potential development of a new TCM.