Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Appropriate conditions for storage of Artemisia argyi leaves reduce irritation during treatment and increase the active ingredient content. Naturally aged A. argyi leaves (≥1 year) are optimal for moxibustion; however, this process is time-consuming and costly. A comprehensive understanding of the conditions for artificial aging of A. argyi leaves and the mechanism of quality-marker conversion are required to guarantee A. argyi quality and moxibustion efficacy.
OBJECTIVE: To identify the optimal conditions for artificial aging of A. argyi leaves and clarify the mechanism of quality-marker conversion.
METHODS: Gas chromatography (GC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), colorimeter (CD), and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) were used to determine the chemical composition of A. argyi leaves before and after artificial and natural (1 year) aging and to determine the optimal artificial aging conditions. The effects of both artificially and naturally aged A. argyi leaves were then evaluated in a mouse model of ulcerative colitis (UC). The main chemical components of aged A. argyi leaves were then analyzed to determine quality-markers and the transformation mechanism.
RESULTS: Comprehensive analysis of volatile and non-volatile components, color values, and characteristic near-infrared spectra revealed that the quality of artificially aged A. argyi leaves was similar to that of naturally aged A. argyi leaves. In the mouse model, artificially and naturally aged A. argyi leaves not only improved the symptoms of UC with the same therapeutic effects, but also safeguarded the barrier of the colonic mucosa and prevented the release of colitis-related substances. In addition, the content of caffeic acid converted from L-phenylalanine in A. argyi leaves increased during the aging process.
CONCLUSIONS: Conditions for artificial aging of A. argyi leaves were identified for the first time, and the equivalent efficacy of artificially aged A. argyi leaves and naturally aged A. argyi leaves for improving UC was confirmed. This method for artificial aging of A. argyi leaves not only reduces the time and cost associated with this process, but also provides technical support to ensure the quality and stability of artificially aged A. argyi leaves. In addition, caffeic acid was identified as a potential quality-marker for establishing standards and specifications for aging A. argyi leaves for the first time, and its possible transformation mechanism was preliminarily elucidated.
OBJECTIVE: To identify the optimal conditions for artificial aging of A. argyi leaves and clarify the mechanism of quality-marker conversion.
METHODS: Gas chromatography (GC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), colorimeter (CD), and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) were used to determine the chemical composition of A. argyi leaves before and after artificial and natural (1 year) aging and to determine the optimal artificial aging conditions. The effects of both artificially and naturally aged A. argyi leaves were then evaluated in a mouse model of ulcerative colitis (UC). The main chemical components of aged A. argyi leaves were then analyzed to determine quality-markers and the transformation mechanism.
RESULTS: Comprehensive analysis of volatile and non-volatile components, color values, and characteristic near-infrared spectra revealed that the quality of artificially aged A. argyi leaves was similar to that of naturally aged A. argyi leaves. In the mouse model, artificially and naturally aged A. argyi leaves not only improved the symptoms of UC with the same therapeutic effects, but also safeguarded the barrier of the colonic mucosa and prevented the release of colitis-related substances. In addition, the content of caffeic acid converted from L-phenylalanine in A. argyi leaves increased during the aging process.
CONCLUSIONS: Conditions for artificial aging of A. argyi leaves were identified for the first time, and the equivalent efficacy of artificially aged A. argyi leaves and naturally aged A. argyi leaves for improving UC was confirmed. This method for artificial aging of A. argyi leaves not only reduces the time and cost associated with this process, but also provides technical support to ensure the quality and stability of artificially aged A. argyi leaves. In addition, caffeic acid was identified as a potential quality-marker for establishing standards and specifications for aging A. argyi leaves for the first time, and its possible transformation mechanism was preliminarily elucidated.
摘要：
背景:艾蒿叶的适当储存条件减少了处理期间的刺激并增加了活性成分含量。自然年龄的阿吉叶（≥1年）是艾灸的最佳选择；然而，这个过程既耗时又昂贵。必须全面了解艾叶人工老化的条件和质量标记转换的机理，以保证艾叶的质量和艾灸效果。
目的：确定艾叶人工老化的最佳条件，并阐明质量-标记转化的机理。
方法：气相色谱法（GC），高效液相色谱(HPLC),色度计(CD),采用近红外光谱(NIRS)技术对人工和自然(1年)陈化前后的艾叶化学成分进行了测定,并确定了最佳的人工陈化条件。然后在溃疡性结肠炎(UC)的小鼠模型中评价人工和自然老化的A.argyi叶的作用。然后分析了老化的A.argyi叶片的主要化学成分，以确定质量标记和转化机理。
结果：挥发性和非挥发性成分的综合分析，颜色值,和特征近红外光谱表明，人工老化的A.argyi叶的质量与自然老化的A.argyi叶的质量相似。在老鼠模型中，人工和自然老化的A.argyi叶不仅改善了UC的症状，具有相同的治疗效果，而且还保护了结肠粘膜的屏障，并防止了结肠炎相关物质的释放。此外,在衰老过程中，艾叶中L-苯丙氨酸转化的咖啡酸含量增加。
结论：首次确定了A.argyi叶片人工老化的条件，并且证实了人工老化的A.argyi叶和自然老化的A.argyi叶对改善UC的等效功效。这种人工老化A.argyi叶的方法不仅减少了与此过程相关的时间和成本，同时也为保证人工老化艾叶的质量和稳定性提供了技术支持。此外,咖啡酸首次被确定为建立阿吉叶老化标准和规范的潜在质量标志，并初步阐明了其可能的转化机制。
目的：确定艾叶人工老化的最佳条件，并阐明质量-标记转化的机理。
方法：气相色谱法（GC），高效液相色谱(HPLC),色度计(CD),采用近红外光谱(NIRS)技术对人工和自然(1年)陈化前后的艾叶化学成分进行了测定,并确定了最佳的人工陈化条件。然后在溃疡性结肠炎(UC)的小鼠模型中评价人工和自然老化的A.argyi叶的作用。然后分析了老化的A.argyi叶片的主要化学成分，以确定质量标记和转化机理。
结果：挥发性和非挥发性成分的综合分析，颜色值,和特征近红外光谱表明，人工老化的A.argyi叶的质量与自然老化的A.argyi叶的质量相似。在老鼠模型中，人工和自然老化的A.argyi叶不仅改善了UC的症状，具有相同的治疗效果，而且还保护了结肠粘膜的屏障，并防止了结肠炎相关物质的释放。此外,在衰老过程中，艾叶中L-苯丙氨酸转化的咖啡酸含量增加。
结论：首次确定了A.argyi叶片人工老化的条件，并且证实了人工老化的A.argyi叶和自然老化的A.argyi叶对改善UC的等效功效。这种人工老化A.argyi叶的方法不仅减少了与此过程相关的时间和成本，同时也为保证人工老化艾叶的质量和稳定性提供了技术支持。此外,咖啡酸首次被确定为建立阿吉叶老化标准和规范的潜在质量标志，并初步阐明了其可能的转化机制。
