Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Volume 2015 (2015), Article ID 565364, 12 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/565364

Research Article

Biothermodynamic Assay of Coptis-Evodia Herb Couples

Hongbo Yang,¹ Min Su,¹ Qi Yao,¹ Yanling Zhao,² Danhong Chen,² and Lei Jia²

¹Yunnan Institute of Materia Medica, Kunming 650111, China
²Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, PLA 302 Hospital, Beijing 100039, China

Received 10 April 2015; Accepted 2 July 2015

Academic Editor: Victor Kuete

Copyright © 2015 Hongbo Yang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Objective. To illustrate the difference in cold/hot natural properties and therapeutic effect of coptis-evodia herb couples by using cold/hot plate differentiating technology and microcalorimetry combined with material basis analysis in vivo and in vitro. It showed that animal retention ratio in hot pad significantly decreased along with the decrease in coptis proportion in coptis-evodia herb couples. In addition, Zuojin wan markedly reduced the retention ratio of gastritis mice in the hot pad, while Fanzuojin wan displayed an opposite result. Further, Mg²⁺-ATPase, Ca²⁺-ATPase, and T-AOC activity significantly weakened in coptis-treated group in the livers of the mice. In the gastric cells from the gastritis mice, Fanzuojin wan remarkably increased calorific value for growth and metabolism, while Zuojin wan significantly reduced the calorigenic effect. It suggested that the changes in the major chemical compositions (especially alkaloids) were the material base-induced transformation between “cold” and “hot” syndromes. The material basis which affected the transformation between “cold” and “hot” syndromes might be X₂, X₃, X₄, X₈, epiberberine hydrochloride, jatrorrhizine hydrochloride, coptisine sulphate, palmatine hydrochloride, and berberine hydrochloride. The CHPD combined with microcalorimetry technology is a good method to determine the differences in the “cold” and “hot” natural properties of coptis-evodia herb couples.

1. Introduction

The “cold” (Han) or “hot” (Re) property of traditional Chinese medicine is determined by its therapeutic effect on “cold” or “hot” syndrome which involves physiological, biochemical, metabolic, and pathological changes [1, 2].

A study has shown that “cold” medicines significantly suppress thyroid, adrenal, ovaries, and other endocrine systems, while “hot” drugs enhance the functions of these endocrine systems in animal experiments [3]. A kind of “cold” drug containing anemarrhena and gypsum was successfully used to copy a “cold” rat model, and a “hot” drug containing aconite, ginger, Codonopsis, and Astragalus cured the “cold” symptom. Some studies suggested that luteinizing hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels significantly elevated in the “cold” animal model, while the “hot” drugs attenuated the increased hormone levels [4–6].

Clinical studies have shown low basal metabolism in patients with “cold” syndrome and high metabolism in the “hot” patients. It was proposed that that “cold” or “hot” syndrome might be a typical reaction of the body and the “cold”/“hot” drugs could change the current state [7]. Since mitochondria are major organelles providing cells with energy, succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) activity increases in the status of being “hot,” suggesting a positive correlation between “hot” symptom and body energy metabolism. As expected, after being treated with the “cold” drugs, the SDH activity was significantly attenuated, facilitating the recovery of mitochondrial respiration in liver. It has been well documented that SDH, adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), and adenosine kinase (ADK) activity is significantly enhanced in “hot” rats compared with the “cold” ones.

Coptis-evodia herb couples including Zuojin wan, Ganlu san, Zhuyu wan, and Fanzuojin wan are composed according to different proportions. It is well known that Coptis-evodia herb couples mainly are used to treat gastrointestinal diseases. Gastric acid secretion inhibition, affecting gastrointestinal motility, and analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties have been widely reported in Zuojin wan and its similar formulae. Further, c-fos and corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) mRNAs markedly are downregulated after Zuojin wan treatment. And Zuojin wan could elevate the gastric PH value and ulcer index (UI) [8, 9]. It was confirmed that Zuojin wan or Ganlu san efficiently eliminated “hot” or aggregated “cold” symptom. Furthermore, Zuojin wan and Ganlu san significantly attenuated Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase and Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-ATPase activity in rat’s erythrocyte membrane and reduced serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and stimulating hormone (TSH) levels.

In the present study, we used “cold”/“hot” plate differentiating (CHPD) technology combined with biothermodynamics analysis to determine the transformation of “hot” and “cold” syndromes in vivo and in vitro in the absence or in the presence of coptis-evodia herb couples. Further, the components for the activity materials were also analyzed by ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) fingerprints [10–12]. Based on this, we expect to build an efficient method to determine the “hot” and “cold” properties of traditional Chinese medicines coptis-evodia herb couples.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Preparation of Coptis-Evodia Herb Couples

Rhizoma Coptidis and Fructus Evodiae used in the present study were purchased from Beijing Lvye Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (batch number 20070601). They were identified to be dried rhizomes of Coptis chinensis Franch. and ripe fruit of Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth by Professor Xiong Xiaohe, Research Institute of TCM, PLA 302 Hospital (Beijing, China).

The herbs were washed, dried, and crushed to powder: weighed Rhizoma Coptidis and Fructus Evodiae powder, respectively. Then weighted different proportions (Rhizoma Coptidis and Fructus Evodiae) of Zuojin wan similar formulae are prepared according to the following criteria: 10 : 1 and 6 : 1 for Zuojin wan, 4 : 1 and 2 : 1 for Ganlu san, 1 : 1 for Zhuyu wan, 1 : 2, 1 : 4, and 1 : 6 for Fanzuojin wan. The weight of each sample was 210 g. The samples were added in 10 volumes of deionized water at 40°C for 30 min and extracted for three times (2 h for 10 times amount of water, 1 h for 8 times amount of water, and 0.5 h for 6 times amount of water). After that, the extracts were combined and concentrated under reduced pressure at 75°C. Finally, the extracts were dried under vacuum drying conditions at 50°C until constant weight.

2.2. Main Reagents

ATPase, total antioxidant capability (T-AOC), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) biochemical assay kits were purchased from Nanjing Jiancheng Bioengineering Institute (Nanjing, China).

2.3. Experimental Animals

Specific pathogen-free (SPF) KM mice weighing 18–22 g were provided by the Experimental Animal Center of Academy of Military Medical Sciences (Beijing, China). The animal room was maintained at °C and 30%–60% relative humidity. The rats were given free access to food and water. All the experiments were conducted in accordance with the national guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals. This study was approved by the Ethnic Committee of Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology (Kunming, China).

2.4. Temperature Tropism Assay in Normal Mice

The normal mice were divided into a vehicle group, a coptis group (5.0 g/kg), a Zuojin wan group (5.0 g/kg), a Ganlu san group (5.0 g/kg), a Zhuyu group (5.0 g/kg), a Fanzuojin wan group (5.0 g/kg), and a Zhuyu wan group (5.0 g/kg) (6 animals in each group). The animals were administrated for 7 days and once a day. 30 min after the administration, the animals were placed in a temperature tropism intelligent monitoring instrument (patent number ZL2008200004444.2) (Figure 1) [13–16]. At room temperature of °C, the cold or hot pad was set at 25°C or 40°C, respectively. When the actual temperature is reached, 6 mice (labeled with 16) were placed within different channels of the instrument. The mice were tracked by the software camera (15 frames per second). The experiment was repeated for 7 days and once a day. Retention ratio is residence time in hot pad/the total monitoring time 100%.

Figure 1: Intelligent animal temperature tropism behavior monitoring system.

2.5. Temperature Tropism Assay in Cold Sodium Hydroxide-Induced Gastric “Cold” Model and 10% Pepper-Ethanol Solution-Induced Gastric “Hot” Model

The mice were divided into a vehicle group, a “cold” model group, a “cold” model plus Zuojin wan group (5.0 g/kg), a “cold” model plus Ganlu san group (5.0 g/kg), a “cold” model plus Zhuyu wan (5.0 g/kg) group, a “cold” model plus Fanzuojin wan (5.0 g/kg) group, a “hot” model group, a “hot” model plus Zuojin wan group (5.0 g/kg), a “hot” model plus Ganlu san group (5.0 g/kg), a “hot” model plus Zhuyu wan (5.0 g/kg) group, and a “hot” model plus Fanzuojin wan (5.0 g/kg) group.

To establish gastric “cold” symptom, the animals were given cold water (4°C) for three days and once a day. After fasting for 24 h, the mice were administrated with 4°C NaOH (0.3 mol/L, 10 mL/kg). Then they received various treatments for 7 days and once a day. To copy gastric “hot” symptom, the animals were administrated with 10% ethanol pepper solution (20 mL/kg) for 3 days and once a day. 10% pepper-ethanol solution was prepared as follows. Pepper oil was purchased from Tashuifang Co., Ltd. 3 mL of pepper oil was then dissolved by 10% ethanol solution to reach a total volume of 30 mL. After that, the animals received various treatments for 7 days and once a day.

2.6. General Status of Animals

During the experiment, the body, food intake, water intake, and oxygen consumption of the mice were recorded for 7 days successively.

2.7. Biochemical Assay of Live Tissue

Prepared 10% liver homogenates and performed biochemical assay of Na⁺-K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ATPase, T-AOC, and SOD are in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturers by using ultraviolet spectrophotometer.

2.8. Microcalorimetry Assay of Mouse Gastric Cells [17]

The mice model with gastric “cold” or “hot” symptom was established as described previously. Briefly, the mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Then the peritoneal cavity was open and the stomach was removed and placed in cold normal saline. The stomach was cut off along with the greater curvature. Food debris and blood were washed from the stomach. After that, the cells passing a sheet of cell sieve were cultured in prepared Dulbecco’s modified eagle’s medium (DMEM).

Under aseptic conditions, DMEM containing gastric cells (appropriate gastric cells from 2 mice weighing 18–22 g) were added to each ampule and then Zuojin wan and its similar formulae were added, respectively. Then the ampule was sealed and placed in a microcalorimetry instrument at a constant temperature of 37°C. The thermogram was not recorded until the curve returns to baseline. Maximum power output () is calculated in accordance with the following formula: ( presents cell growth rate constant during the exponential growth phase and presents the initiation time).

2.9. Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatogram (UPLC) Assay of the Material Basis in Coptis-Evodia Herb Couples [12]

ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column (50 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) (Waters, Milford, USA) was used for this part experiment. The column temperature was set at °C. The mobile phase was 0.05% phosphoric acid/water (v/v)-acetonitrile. The measurement wave was 270 nm. The injection volume was 1 μL. Number of theoretical plates was more than 3000 according to berberine hydrochloride.

3. Results

3.1. Zuojin Wan Increases the Retention Ratio of Normal Mice in Hot Pad

It is shown that the retention ratio in the hot pad decreased along with the decrease in coptis proportion in coptis-evodia herb couples. The order of the retention ratio in the hot pad was coptis > Zuojin wan > Ganlu san ≈ Zhuyu wan > Fanzuojin wan > evodia. The results demonstrated that Zuojin wan had a significant thermotaxis effect, while Fanzuojin wan and evodia markedly increased the tendency to being cold in normal mice (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Retention ratio of normal mice in hot pad after the treatments of coptis-evodia herb couples. Data are presented as mean () ± SD. ZJW: Zuojin wan; GLS: Ganlu san; ZYW: Zhuyu wan; FZJ: Fanzuojin wan. , versus control (-test).

3.2. General Status of Normal Mice after Being Treated with Coptis-Evodia Herb Couples

The body weight, food intake, and water intake significantly increased in the normal mice treated with Zhuyu wan and Fanzuojin wan, while the oxygen consumption markedly reduced in Zuojin wan-treated mice (Figure 3). Furthermore, the difference was enlarged along with the prolongation of the time. In addition, Ganlu san and evodia had no similar effects.

Figure 3: General status of normal mice after the treatments of coptis-evodia herb couples. ZJW: Zuojin wan; GLS: Ganlu san; ZYW: Zhuyu wan; FZJ: Fanzuojin wan.

3.3. Changes in Related Biochemical Parameters in the Liver of Normal Mice Treated with Coptis-Evodia Herb Couples

The Mg²⁺-ATPase, Ca²⁺-ATPase, and T-AOC activity was significantly weakened in coptis-treated group, while being enhanced in Evodia-, Fanzuojin wan-, and Zhuyu wan-treated groups. Compared with the control, Fanzuojin wan significantly attenuated the SOD activity in the liver, while Zhuyu wan remarkably enhanced the SOD activity (Table 1).

Table 1: Related biochemical parameters in the liver of the normal mice after coptis-evodia herb couples treatment (, ).

Group
Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase
(μmol⋅mg⁻¹⋅h⁻¹)
Mg²⁺-ATPase
(μmol⋅mg⁻¹⋅h⁻¹)
Ca²⁺-ATPase
(μmol⋅mg⁻¹⋅h⁻¹)
T-AOC
(U/mgprot)
SOD
(U/mgprot)

Control
5.13 ± 0.40
5.22 ± 0.48
6.11 ± 0.41
0.2351 ± 0.0437
89.38 ± 9.56

Coptis
4.92 ± 0. 36
3.78 ± 0.60
4.75 ± 0.44
0.1696 ± 0.0523
86.31 ± 13.22

ZJW
4.84 ± 0.34
4.59 ± 0.23
5.10 ± 0.35
0.2003 ± 0.0340
99.21 ± 11.27

GLS
5.10 ± 0.52
4.77 ± 0.49
5.61 ± 0.31
0.2591 ± 0.0580
92.64 ± 11.82

ZYW
5.66 ± 0.36
5.12 ± 0.32
6.09 ± 0.60
0.3428 ± 0.0845
100.15 ± 14.44

FZJ
5.73 ± 0.39
6.33 ± 0.63
7.10 ± 0.48
0.3594 ± 0.0595
82.67 ± 12.53

Evodia
5.44 ± 0.80
5.39 ± 0.58
6.60 ± 0.60
0.3608 ± 0.0270
89.99 ± 10.44

ZJW: Zuojin wan; GLS: Ganlu san; ZYW: Zhuyu wan; FZJ: Fanzuojin wan. P < 0.05, < 0.01 versus control (-test).

3.4. The Establishment of Mice Model with Gastric “Cold” or “Hot” Symptom

The normal mouse stomach was smooth and pink. However, red and white gastric mucosa, red or purple surface damage, and clear vascular permeability were observed in the mice with gastric “cold” symptom. Meanwhile, significant congestion and ulcers were seen in the mice with “hot” symptom (Figure 4).

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 4: Naked eye observation of stomachs of mice. (a) Normal mouse; (b) mouse with gastric “cold” symptom; (c) mouse with gastric “hot” symptom.

3.5. Zuojin Wan Increases Retention Ratio of Mice with Gastric “Hot” Symptom, While Fanzuojin Wan Increases Retention Ratio of Mice with Gastric “Cold” Symptom in Hot Pad

The results revealed that the retention ratio in hot pad was significantly higher in the mice with gastric “cold” symptom than that in the normal controls. In the mice with gastric “cold” symptom, Ganlu san, Zhuyu wan, and Fanzuojin wan significantly reduced the retention ratio in hot pad at 4 day (Figure 5(a)). In the gastric “hot” model, Zuojin wan markedly increased the animal retention ratio in hot pad compared with the model group. And the effect was gradually enhanced along with the prolongation of the time (Figure 5(b)).

(a)

(b)

Figure 5: Retention ratio of mice in hot pad after treatments of coptis-evodia herb couples. Data are presented as mean () ± SD. (a) CM: cold model; Z: Zuojin wan; G: Ganlu san; ZH: Zhuyu wan; F: Fanzuojin wan; (b) HM: hot model; Z: Zuojin wan; G: Ganlu san; ZH: Zhuyu wan; F: Fanzuojin wan. , versus control; , versus CM or HM (ANOVA).

3.6. General Status of Gastric “Cold” or “Hot” Mice after Being Treated with Coptis-Evodia Herb Couples

The water intake significantly increased and the water intake remarkably decreased in mice with gastric “hot” symptom. The body weight was slowly increased in both animal models (Figure 6).

Figure 6: General status of mice in hot pad after treatments of coptis-evodia herb couples. CM: “cold” model; HM: “hot” model; Z: Zuojin wan; G: Ganlu san; ZH: Zhuyu wan; F: Fanzuojin wan.

Zuojin wan significantly increased food intake and body weight and decreased water intake in the mice with gastric “hot” symptom, while Fanzuojin wan markedly increased food intake, body weight, and water intake in the mice with gastric “cold” symptom (Figure 6).

The oxygen consumption was markedly reduced in Zuojin wan-treated gastric “cold” mice, while being increased in Fanzuojin wan-treated animals (Figure 6).

3.7. Changes in Related Biochemical Parameters in the Liver of Gastric “Cold” or “Hot” Mice Treated with Coptis-Evodia Herb Couples

The Na⁺-K⁺-, Mg²⁺-, Ca²⁺-ATPase, T-AOC, and SOD activity was significantly weakened in the gastric “cold” mice but enhanced in the gastric “hot” mice (Table 2).

Table 2: Changes in related biochemical parameters in the liver of the mice with gastric “cold” or “hot” symptom after being treated with coptis-evodia herb couples (, ).

Group
Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase
(μmol⋅mg⁻¹⋅h⁻¹)
Mg²⁺-ATPase
(μmol⋅mg⁻¹⋅h⁻¹)
Ca²⁺-ATPase
(μmol⋅mg⁻¹⋅h⁻¹)
T-AOC
(U/mgprot)
SOD
(U/mgprot)

Control
4.38 ± 0.72
3.96 ± 0.48
3.72 ± 0.63
0.2381 ± 0.539
87.36 ± 12.11

CM
2.58 ± 0.44
1.97 ± 0.23
2.57 ± 0.25
0.1515 ± 0.0357
68.37 ± 8.39

CM + ZJW
2.43 ± 0.38
1.87 ± 0.36
2.45 ± 0.49
0.1244 ± 0.0721
64.81 ± 15.00

CM + GLS
3.13 ± 0.53
2.04 ± 0.25
2.29 ± 0.38
0.1493 ± 0.0435
72.02 ± 11.13

CM + ZYW
3.04 ± 0.22
3.00 ± 0.34
2.88 ± 0.42
0.2982 ± 0.0386
98.24 ± 9.37

CM + FZJ
4.73 ± 0.51
4.35 ± 0.85
3.56 ± 0.38
0.2523 ± 0.0265
85.62 ± 11.08

Control
4.96 ± 0.64
3.84 ± 0.51
3.94 ± 0.67
0.2377 ± 0.254
94.75 ± 10.48

HM
5.63 ± 0.77
5.36 ± 0.66
4.97 ± 0.46
0.4168 ± 0.1152
148.71 ± 13.20

HM + ZJW
4.72 ± 0.70
3.38 ± 0.50
3.90 ± 0.54
0.2428 ± 0.1198
99.36 ± 10.51

HM + GLS
4.38 ± 0.62
4.33 ± 0.39
4.61 ± 0.38
0.2404 ± 0.0368
89.28 ± 9.34

HM + ZYW
5.74 ± 0.82
4.23 ± 0.78
4.53 ± 0.17
0.5644 ± 0.0269
122.58 ± 10.98

HM + FZJ
5.18 ± 0.56
4.64 ± 0.82
5.09 ± 0.72
0.5676 ± 0.0596
151.81 ± 17.72

CM: cold model; HM: hot model; ZJW: Zuojin wan; GLS: Ganlu san; ZYW: Zhuyu wan; FZJ: Fanzuojin wan. P < 0.05, P < 0.01 versus control, P < 0.05, and P < 0.01 versus CM or HM (ANOVA).

Fanzuojin wan markedly enhanced the Na⁺-K⁺-, Mg²⁺-, and Ca²⁺-ATPase activity in the gastric “cold” mice, while Fanzuojin wan attenuated the activity of these enzymes. Ganlu san, Zhuyu wan, and Fanzuojin wan significantly weakened Na⁺-K⁺ and Mg²⁺-ATPase activity in the gastric “hot” mice (Table 4).

Fanzuojin wan and Ganlu san significantly reduced the T-AOC and SOD activity of the mice with gastric “hot” symptom. And Zhuyu wan and Fanzuojin wan markedly enhanced the T-AOC and SOD activity of the gastric “cold” mice (Table 2).

3.8. Thermogenic Assay of Normal Mouse Gastric Cells Treated with Coptis-Evodia Herb Couples

The thermogenic curve was shown in Figure 7 and maximum power output () data were present in Table 3. It was found that the was gradually increased with the increase in evodia proportion. The in FZJ-treated normal mouse gastric cell was higher than that in ZJW-treated cell.

Table 3: The values of normal mouse gastric cell treated with coptis-evodia herb couples.

Drug
/(mW)

Control
0.216

Coptis
0.159

ZJW
0.196

GLS
0.254

ZYW
0.284

FZJ
0.324

Evodia
0.370

ZJW: Zuojin wan; GLS: Ganlu san; ZYW: Zhuyu wan; FZJ: Fanzuojin wan.

Table 4: The values of “cold” or “hot” symptom mouse gastric cells treated with coptis-evodia herb couples.

Drug
/(mW) (cold/hot)

Control
0.247/0.196

Coptis
0.129/0.324

ZJW
0.159/0.200

GLS
0.200/0.254

ZYW
0.220/0.284

FZJ
0.242/0.370

ZJW: Zuojin wan; GLS: Ganlu san; ZYW: Zhuyu wan; FZJ: Fanzuojin wan.

Figure 7: Thermogenic curves of normal mouse gastric cells treated with coptis-evodia herb couples. ZJW: Zuojin wan; GLS: Ganlu san; ZYW: Zhuyu wan; FZJ: Fanzuojin wan.

3.9. Thermogenic Assay of “Cold” or “Hot” Symptom Mouse Gastric Cells Treated with Coptis-Evodia Herb Couples

The thermogenic curve was shown in Figure 8 and maximum power output () data were present in Table 4. It revealed that Fanzuojin wan increased in “cold” symptom mouse gastric cells, whereas Zuojin wan decreased in “hot” symptom mouse gastric cells.

(a)

(b)

Figure 8: Thermogenic curves of gastric “cold” or “hot” mouse gastric cells treated with coptis-evodia herb couples. CM: “cold” model; HM: “hot” model; Z: Zuojin wan; G: Ganlu san; ZH: Zhuyu wan; F: Fanzuojin wan.

3.10. UPLC Assay of the Material Basis in Coptis-Evodia Herb Couples

According to the information provided by the HPLC fingerprints of coptis-evodia herb couples, we compared the fingerprints and confirmed 23 specific fingerprint peaks. Among them, the area of 14 peaks was about 90% of the total area. Thus, these 14 peaks were confirmed to be specific peaks (Figure 9).

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Figure 9: Fingerprint of Zuojin wan and its formulae. (a) Zuojin wan; (b) Ganlu san; (c) Zhuyu wan; (d) Fanzuojin wan. 11—hydroevodiamine; 15—epiberberine; 16—jatrorrhizine; 17—coptisine; 19—palmatine; 20—berberine; 22—evodiamine; 23—rutaecarpine; other unknown materials.

For the area of berberine hydrochloride peak (wave 20#) was largest in the total area (10% or more) with the highest peak height and relative stability, it was selected for the control wave. Under the above chromatographic conditions, 1 μL of coptis-evodia herb couples solutions was injected to record the chromatograms (Figure 10).

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 10: Chromatogram of coptis, evodia, and mixed standard solution. (a): coptis; (b): evodia; (c): mixed standard solution. 11—hydroevodiamine; 15—epiberberine; 16—jatrorrhizine; 17—coptisine; 19—palmatine; 20—berberine; 22—evodiamine; 23—rutaecarpine; 1–10, 12–14, 18, and 21—other unknown materials.

After that, we used external standard method to calculate alkaloids dissolution rate per unit area of a single herb in berberine, evodia, and Zuojin wan and its similar formulae (Table 5).

Table 5: Contents of investigated compounds in coptis, evodia, and coptis-evodia herb couples (mg/g).

Alkaloids
Coptis
Coptis-evodia herb couples
Evodia

Fanzuojin wan
Ganlu san
Zhuyu wan
Fanzuojin wan

EPI
5.58
3.71
3.00
2.31
0.34
—

JAT
3.45
2.68
2.05
1.57
0.20
—

COP
10.38
6.67
5.03
3.83
0.53
—

PAL
13.54
13.21
8.12
6.01
1.00
—

BER
44.78
36.22
25.61
18.65
2.40
—

HYD
—
+

±
0.15
0.17

EVO
—

0.58
1.78
2.08

RUT
—

0.97
1.23

Total
77.73
62.49
43.81
32.95
7.37
3.48

a: no detection; b: below the detection limit; c: below the quantification limit.

Among four similar formulae, the resemblance of Zuojin wan, Ganlu san, Zhuyu wan, and Fanzuojin wan to control fingerprint was gradually decreased, suggesting differences in chemical compositions among the four formulae.

4. Discussion

To the best of our knowledge, it is first time for us to investigate the “cold” and “hot” properties of coptis-evodia herb couples by biothermodynamics method. Biothermodynamics is a science focusing on energy transfer and thermal variations in metabolic process of life systems [18, 19]. Its principal idea is displaying the energy metabolism process by the means of thermodynamic functions [19].

Energy metabolism in a living body system will change in the presence of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Thus, it is necessary to obtain the changes in thermodynamic parameters to reflect the differences in biological activity of various reagents measured.

Microcalorimetry (MCM) is an important method for biothermodynamics. Currently, it is becoming a key approach to studying body metabolism characteristics and rules, preliminary activity screening of drugs, drug interactions, and taxonomic identification [20–23]. In the present study, we used MCM in the cold/hot properties of TCM in the early studies [24].

In this study, we selected coptis-evodia herb couples for the biothermodynamic assay. Coptis-evodia herb couples are consisted of berberine and evodia. The therapeutic effect is completely different if the proportion changes. Secondly, the active ingredients (mainly alkaloids) are identified. Thirdly, the two herbs berberine and evodia have distinct “cold” and “hot” properties. Thus, this formula is typical and representative in some degree.

In the temperature tropism experiment, we found that animal retention ratio in hot pad decreased along with the decrease in coptis proportion in coptis-evodia herb couples. In the mice with gastric “cold” symptom, Ganlu san, Zhuyu wan, and Fanzuojin wan significantly reduced the retention ratio in hot pad, while in the gastric “hot” model Zuojin wan markedly increased the animal retention ratio in hot pad compared with the model group. Meanwhile, related biochemical parameters changed in the normal, “cold” symptom, and “hot” symptom mice. These above results reflected differences in “cold” and “hot” properties of Zuojin wan and its similar formulae.

In vitro study revealed thermogenic changes in coptis-evodia herb couples. It showed that coptis-evodia herb couples had different effects on the growth and metabolism of the gastric cells. Zuojin wan reduced the heat production in the gastric cells from the mice with gastric “hot” symptom, while Fanzuojin wan increased the heat production in the gastric “cold” symptom cells. From the principal component analysis, we could draw that the difference in the formulae was determined by thermodynamic parameters like and .

Principal component analysis by UPLC showed that the composition differences in coptis-evodia herb couples were , , , , epiberberine hydrochloride, jatrorrhizine hydrochloride, coptisine sulphate, palmatine hydrochloride, and berberine hydrochloride. Further, changes in dissolution rate might be involved in them. These might be the material basis for the transfer of “cold” and “hot” properties in coptis-evodia herb couples.

In summary, the CHPD combined with microcalorimetry technology is a good method to determine the differences in the “cold” and “hot” natural properties of coptis-evodia herb couples. Further, UPLC is efficient to confirm the material basis.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests in this study.

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