Quality Evaluation Of Semen Celosiae

Semen celosiae, originated from the dried ripening seeds of Celosia argentea L. （Amaranthaceae）, which is therophyte herb, was firstly recorded in ’Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic’ and also accepted by Chinese Pharmacopeia. It is bitter in taste, belongs to the liver meridian with the effectiveness of improving acuity of vision and protection of hepatic injury, etc.Semen celosiae was distributed throughout China with great diversity in morphous and chemical constituents for long-term natural and artificial selection, the material quality varies with different habitat. So it is imperative to make the quality evaluation criteria and screen superior germplasm resource of Semen celosiae.1. Based on the early research, a typical compound, Celosin A, was chosen to investigate protection to mouse hepatic injury which was induced by the model of CCl₄. The results indicates the conspicuous function of prophylaxis, which was relevant to the antioxidation of Celosin A, to the raise of AST, ALT and ALP induced by CCl₄.2. The assaying method of four saponin compounds Celosin A, Celosin B, Celosin C and Celosin D by HPLC-ELSD was established for the first time and the content of these four compounds was also determined. The results indicated the material variance of twenty-two different habitats and eight commodities. Besides, two adulterants of Semen celosiae which make the material market in a mess were detected. Therefore, it is important to ensure the constancy of material quality with retained habitat.3. For preferable authentication and regulation of material quality of Semen celosiae, HPLC fingerprint spectrum of different habitat was studied. Similarity evaluation system for chromatographic fingerprint of TCM （Version 2004 A） was applied to analysis the similarity of the fingerprint of diverse habitat. The similarity results were verified by SPSS （Statistical Package for the Social Science）. The fingerprint with high individuality and specificity could be applied in the identification and quality control of the material of Semen celosiae.4. On the basis of the research of chemical constituents and pharmacodynamics, study on preparation procedure of effective fraction of the saponins in Semen celosiae was carried out, including optimization of extraction and purification procedures. In which, extraction yield of the saponins exceeded 90%, and the content of the four saponin compounds was beyond 70%.The studies in this thesis provided information for the quality control criteria of crude drug, screening of superior germplasm resource, effective utilization of natural resources and research and development of new drugs for hepatic protection.