In the present study, we aimed to detect and quantify cyclo-dopa amides in Portulaca oleracea L. Together with four known ones （oleracein A-D）, we further identified eight new cyclo-dopa amides, named oleracein H-O, using an HPLC-DAD combined with an improved HPLC-ESI-MS/MS method. A standardized HPLC fingerprint of cyclo-dopa amides was generated for the first time through analyzing 11 batches ofP. oleracea. Simultaneously, the contents of two major amides, oleracein A （OA） and oleracein B （OB）, and the total amides （TID） were determined. Our results showed that the contents of OA and OB of P. oleracea ranged from 35.00 to 151.93 mg/kg and from 40.00 to 150.44 mg/kg, respectively. Moreover, TID ranged from 314.16 to 928.60 mg/kg （calculated by OA）, or from 475.83 to 1393.00 mg/kg （calculated by OB）. Taken together, our newly develooed method could be used for the aualitv assessment and oualitv control of this herb.
Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase （ACHE） is one of the approaches for the treatment of Alzheimer＇s disease （AD）. In this paper the AChE inhibitory activities of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of 48 traditional Chinese medicinal herbs were evaluated. These traditional Chinese medicines have intelligence-promoting, anti-insomnia, sedative, neurotonic or tonic effects. Microplate assay indicated that ethanolic extracts of 28 traditional Chinese medicinal herbs and water extracts of 11 herbs showed AChE inhibitory activities. Among them, ethanolic extracts of Herba Moslae, Fructus Alpiniae Oxyphyllae, Radix Rehmanniae and Folium Nelumbinis showed most potent AChE inhibitory activities at the concentration of 0.1 mg/mL, with （68.63±1.12）%, （44.49±3.66）%, （43.78±4.76）%, and （42.63±8.31）% inhibition, respectively. The AChE inhibitory activities were also confirmed by TLC bioautographic assay. These results partially validate the traditional uses of some medicinal herbs for cognitive improvement.
