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Cyclodextrins are well-known macrocyclic oligosaccharides that consist of α-(1,4) linked glucose units and have been widely used as artificial enzymes, chiral separators, chemical sensors, and drug excipients, owing to their hydrophobic and chiral interiors. Due to their remarkable inclusion capabilities with small organic molecules, more recent interests focus on organic reactions catalyzed by cyclodextrins. This contribution outlines the current progress in cyclodextrin-catalyzed organic reactions. Particular emphases are given to the organic reaction mechanisms and their applications. In the end, the future directions of research in this field are proposed.

Context: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that originates from central nervous system lesions or recessions. Current estimates suggest that this disease affects over 35 million people worldwide. However, lacking effective drugs is the biggest handicap in treating AD. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Polygala tenuifolia Willd. (Polygalaceae) is generally used to treat insomnia, memory dysfunction and neurasthenia. Objective: This review article explores the role of P. tenuifolia and its active components in anti-Alzheimer's disease. Methods: Literature for the last ten years was obtained through a search on PubMed, SciFinder, CNKI, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Science Direct and China Knowledge Resource Integrated with the following keywords: Polygala tenuifolia, polygalasaponin XXXII (PGS 32), tenuifolin, polygalacic acid, senegenin, tenuigenin, Alzheimer's disease. Results: Polygala tenuifolia and its active components have multiplex neuroprotective potential associated with AD, such as anti-Ab aggregation, anti-Tau protein, anti-inflammation, antioxidant, anti-neuronal apoptosis, enhancing central cholinergic system and promote neuronal proliferation. Conclusions: Polygala tenuifolia and its active components exhibit multiple neuroprotective effects. Hence, P. tenuifolia is a potential drug against Alzheimer's disease, especially in terms of prevention.

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With continuous development in analytical instruments over recent years, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with various detectors has become very important tools for routine analysis and quality control of TCMs and botanical medicines. As a new ''mass'' detector, charged aerosol detector (CAD) provides an alternative detection method, which ultraviolet (UV) is unable to achieve for components owning almost no chromophore in its chemical structures with the lower sensitivity. With the purpose of evaluating the applicability of CAD for the analysis of TCMs, an HPLC-CAD method for simultaneous determination of saponins in Radix et Rhizoma Notoginseng (''Sanqi'' in chinese) was established in this contribution, which was successfully applied for quantitation of seven saponins, notoginsenoside R 1 , ginsenosides Rg 1 , Re, Rb 1 , Rg 2 , Rh 1 , and Rd, in thirty batches of Sanqi samples. Meanwhile, the LODs and LOQs of UV, ELSD and CAD were compared and the results showed that the CAD method exhibited a lower LOD (0.01 $ 0.15 mg) and LOQ (0.04 $ 0.41 mg) than UV and ELSD. Furthermore, the CAD exhibited a steadier baseline in gradient elution compared with UV at 203 nm. Also, the HPLC-CAD method presents many apparent advantages of high sensitivity, steady baseline in gradient elution, easy operating, and it was expected to be a sensitive and universal method for analysis of TCMs containing weak UV absorption compounds. It was demonstrated that the content of seven saponins in Radix et Rhizoma Notoginseng did not significantly correlate with the original work nor with the conventional quality standard.

Panax notoginseng and Carthamus tinctorius are known as traditional medicinal plants, and they also have edible values. To better understand their pharmacological mechanism, the present study assessed the in vitro antioxidant activities of extracts of P. notoginseng (EPN) and C. tinctorius (ECT). In addition, the main components of EPN and ECT were determined by HPLC. The results show that EPN mainly contained saponins, which were effective in scavenging (.)OH and O(.)(2-), while showing a low activity in the DPPH(.) assay. Flavonoids were the main components of ECT and were active in scavenging all three radicals in a dose-dependent manner. In brief, the antioxidant properties of EPN and ECT are distinct and might be complementary, their combined use tending to be more effective in scavenging (.)OH (P<0.05 vs. EPN or ECT).

Coptidis rhizoma (CR), also known as “Huanglian” in Chinese, is a traditional Chinese medicine commonly used in China, and it is an important species used in medicinal and food applications. It has been processed using a variety of methods, and the processed products have been widely used in clinical practice for thousands of years. However, few reports have focused on the systematic review of its processed products and quality control. In this study, a literature search on processing and quality control of CR was performed by using several literature resources including the Flora of China official website; various scientific databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, the Web of Science, Science Direct, and China Knowledge Resource Integrated; and other web sources such as books and PhD and MS dissertations. Results showed that quality control for different processed products of CR received little or no attention. Its processing still followed ancient methods, and the quality of artifacts in different regions varied. Further attention should be paid to the study of processing technology and quality control with biomarkers. We suggest to establish a quality control mode based on traditional efficacy and with bioactive markers as detection indicators.

Two new phenolic glycosides, itosides J (1) and K (2), two new cylcohexenoyl glycosides, itosides L (3) and M (4), a new flavone glycoside, itoside N (5), and echitin (6) were isolated from the extract of the bark, twigs, and leaves of Itoa orientalis, together with 22 known compounds. The structures were elucidated by means of UV, IR, MS, and NMR techniques, and the relative configuration of compound 3 was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. NMR data for 6 are reported for the first time. Compounds 1, 3, 5, and phenolic glycosides 7- 22 were also assayed for anti-inflammatory activity against COX-2. Compounds 8, 10, 12- 14, 16, 19, 24, 26, and 27 showed significant inhibitory effects, with inhibitory rates of 49.7-85.3% at 10 microM.