The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Paul Pui-Hay But

Hsiao Chang Chan

Yiu Wa Chung

Jing Mei Song

Pang-Chui Shaw

Wai-Yan Ha

Forrest C F Yau

Ngan Fai Karenda

Shaw Pang Chui

The invention provides methods for treating medical conditions caused by abnormal chloride ion flux with compositions containing active ingredients isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Bao-Ji-Wan (BJW). The compositions comprise any one, two, or three of the following: magnolol, honokiol, imperatorin, isoimperatorin or only magnolol, honokiol, imperatorin, isoimperatorin and a physiologically acceptable carrier. In preferred embodiments, the medical conditions include disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, such as diarrhea and constipation.

Active compounds of Bao-Ji-Wan for anti-diarrhea and relieving gastrointestinal symptoms

Methods are provided for the authentication of traditional ingredients in Chinese medical materials. Arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction techniques are employed to identify genomic regions that are polymorphic between ginseng species of the genus Panax and between snake species of the family Serpentiformes. The sequence of these polymorphic regions is used to design specific primers that will amplify a unique region from the species of interest. These sequence characterized amplified regions (SCAR) may be used to rapidly amplify a diagnostic nucleic acid from herbal and medicinal materials. The present invention therefore provides rapid and sensitive methods for identifying ingredients in traditional Chinese medicines, and distinguishing them from common adulterants or ersatz ingredients.

Sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) test for the authentication of traditional Chinese medicinal materials

This invention provides a procedure for authentication of plant and animal materials used as traditional Chinese medicine is described. This method amplifies and detects the discrete and species-specific RFLP patterns in the region of rDNA. The present invention offers a reliable and definite way to identify morphologically similar Chinese medicine, using a minute amount of biological samples. Its application in the authentication of American and Oriental ginsengs is illustrated in detail.

Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism test

Growing community of inventors

Hong Kong, China

Paul Pui-Hay But