The effects of Jiao-Tai-Wan on sleep, inflammation and insulin resistance in obesity-resistant rats with chronic partial sleep deprivation.

BACKGROUND: Jiao-Tai-Wan (JTW), composed of Rhizome Coptidis and Cortex Cinnamomi, is a classical traditional Chinese prescription for treating insomnia. Several in vivo studies have concluded that JTW could exert its therapeutical effect in insomnia rats. However, the specific mechanism is still unclear. The present study aimed to explore the effect of JTW on sleep in obesity-resistant (OR) rats with chronic partial sleep deprivation (PSD) and to clarify its possible mechanism. METHODS: JTW was prepared and the main components contained in the granules were identified by 3D-High Performance Liquid Chromatography (3D-HPLC) assay. The Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats underwent 4 h PSD by environmental noise and the treatment with low and high doses of JTW orally for 4 weeks, respectively. Then sleep structure was analyzed by electroencephalographic (EEG). Inflammation markers including high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were examined in the rat plasma. Meanwhile, metabolic parameters as body weight increase rate, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting insulin (FINS) levels and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were measured. The expressions of clock gene cryptochromes (Cry1 and Cry2) and inflammation gene nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in peripheral blood monocyte cells (PBMC) were also determined. RESULTS: The result showed that the administration of JTW significantly increased total sleep time and total slow wave sleep (SWS) time in OR rats with PSD. Furthermore, the treatment with JTW reversed the increase in the markers of systemic inflammation and insulin resistance caused by sleep loss. These changes were also associated with the up-regulation of Cry1 mRNA and Cry 2 mRNA and the down-regulation of NF-κB mRNA expression in PBMC. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that JTW has the beneficial effects of improving sleep, inflammation and insulin sensitivity. The mechanism appears to be related to the modulation of circadian clock and inflammation genes expressions in PBMC.

[Study on HPCE fingerprints of Poecilobdella manillensis from Guangxi province].

OBJECTIVE: To establish fingerprints for Poecilobdella manillensis from Guangxi province using the high performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) method. METHOD: Electrophoresis was performed on a fused silica capillary column (75 microm x 56 cm), with 25 mmol x L(-1) Na2HPO4-120 mmol x L(-1) Tris-16 mmol x L(-1) SDS (adjusted to pH 12.0 with 1 mol x L(-1) NaOH ) as the running buffer. The applied voltage was 17 kV, the temperature was 25 degrees C and the detection wavelength was 254 nm. The sample's hydrodynamic injection was 3.4 kPa x 6s and the duration was 27 min. RESULT: HPCE fingerprint was established with 13 common peaks. The similarity between fingerprints of P. manillensis in 10 batches and control fingerprints was more than 0.98. CONCLUSION: The method is so precise, reproducible and stable that it could be used as a new means for the quality control of P. manillensis.

[Identification of chemical constituents in qiliqiangxin capsule by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS(E)].

In order to clarify the chemical constituents in Qiliqiangxin capsule, a rapid ultra-performance liquid chromatography/orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS(E)) method was established. Forty peaks were identified on line using this method. The herbal sources of these peaks were assigned. The results implied that triterpenoid saponins, flavonoid glycosides, C21-steroids and phenolic acids were included in the main components of Qiliqiangxin capsule. The method is simple and rapid for elucidation of the constituents of Qiliqiangxin capsule and the results are useful for the quality control of Qiliqiangxin capsule.

[Advance of pharmacological study on ginsenoside Rb1].

Ginsenoside Rb1 is a representative component of panaxadiol saponins, which belongs to dammarane-type tritepenoid saponins and mainly exists in family araliaceae. It has been reported that ginsenoside Rb1 has diverse biological activities. In this paper, the research development in recent decade on its pharmacological effects of cardiovascular system, anti-senility, reversing multidrug resistance of tumor cells, adjuvant anti-cancer chemotherapy, promoting peripheral nerve regeneration, et al, are reviewed.

Three minor novel triterpenoids from the leaves of Diospyros kaki.

Two novel 18, 19-secoursane triterpenoids, kakisaponin B (1) and kakisaponin C (2), an ursane type 28-nortriterpene, kakidiol (3) and one known triterpenoid rosamultin (4), were isolated from the leaves of Diospyros kaki. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were determined as 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-3alpha,19,24-trihydoxy-18,19-secours-11,13(18)-dien-28-oic acid (1) and 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-2alpha,3alpha,19-trihydoxy-18,19-secours-11,13(18)-dien-28-oic acid (2) by chemical methods and spectra experiments. Kakidiol (3) was characterized as a C(29)-triterpene with an aromatic E-ring in structure. This is the first report of 18,19-secoursane triterpenoids and 28-nortriterpene from family Ebenaceae.