Abstract: Some embodiments described herein are methods, systems, and kits using tetra-primer ARMS-PCR for identifying processed material and detecting adulterant in the material under a unified condition with high specificity and sensitivity. In some embodiments, the tetra-primer ARMS-PCR includes a pair of inner primers and a pair of outer primers, wherein one or both inner primers have a 5? end random nucleic acid modification and/or a 3? end phosphorothioate bond modification.

Abstract: Method for relieving cough using an effective antitussive chemical compound belonging to stemoamide or tuberostemospironine and method for manufacturing pharmaceutical compositions for treating or relieving cough in human and animal subjects which including a stemoamide or tuberostemospironine compound. In addition, the antitussive property of the compounds provides a method for assessing the quality of herbs traditionally used in treating cough by analyzing the content of the effective chemical ingredient, i.e., compounds of stemoamide type and/or tuterostemospironine type. It further provides a method for identifying medicinal herbs which may be used for relieving cough by phytochemical determination of the existence of compounds that are of stemoamide or tuterostemospironine type.

Abstract: A method for authenticating herbs or plants based on sequences in trnL and/or 5S rRNA coding region. Using this method, the sequences from samples to be authenticated and samples of known identity herbs or plants are compared based on similarity percentage calculation. The authentication may also be based on phylogenetic trees or parsimonious trees generated based on DNA sequence analyses.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: This present invention provides a new use of tanshinone derivatives as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and in treating diseases associated with the depletion of acetylcholine such as cognitive impairment including Alzheimer's disease, insomnia, vascular dementia, memory loss, disorders of attention and other sleeping disorders. The active compounds commonly found in the root of Salvia genus, particularly Salvia miltiorrhiza, Danshen.

Abstract: 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.