Integrated adrenal and testicular metabolomics revealed the protective effects of Guilingji on the Kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Guilingji (GLJ) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription for the treatment of Kidney-Yang deficiency syndrome (KYDS). AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to address the protective effects of GLJ against KYDS in rats with pharmacodynamic indicators and target tissues (adrenal gland and testis) metabolomics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The rats were injected intraperitoneally (i.p) hydrocortisone to simulate KYDS and administered orally of GLJ for 30 days. Traditional pharmacodynamic indicators (body weight, behavioral indicators, biochemical parameters and histological examination) were performed to evaluate the efficacy of GLJ. Furthermore, adrenal gland and testis metabolic profiles obtained by UHPLC-Q Exactive Orbitrap-MS coupled with multivariate analysis were conducted to explore the metabolic regulation mechanism of GLJ. RESULTS: After administration of GLJ, the weight, levels of behavioral indicators and biochemical parameters of rats were increased compared with those of the model group, and the abnormalities of morphology in adrenal and testicular tissues were improved. Furthermore, GLJ had recovering effects via the adjustment of vitamins metabolism, which was accompanied by lipids metabolism, amino acid metabolism and nucleotides metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: The study firstly integrated the target tissues metabolic profiles, which were complementary, and GLJ had protective effects on KYDS rats via the regulation of steroid hormone biosynthesis, oxidant-antioxidant balance and energy acquisition.

[Establishment of a quantitative mathematical model of Shen-deficiency syndrome based on whole-genome transcriptional profiles].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a quantitative mathematical model of Shen-deficiency syndrome of TCM by utilizing whole-genome transcriptional profiles. METHODS: The 4, 10, 18, 24 months old SD rats were used, 24-months aged rats intervened by Epimedium Flavonoids (EF) were adopted in the experiment. Rats' hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal, lymphocytes, bone, liver, and kidney, and spleen were taken for determining whole-genome mRNA expression with gene chip, and a quantitative nerve network model was established by utilizing the gene expression profile of different aged rats, then the model was used to evaluate the effects of EF on Shen-deficiency syndrome. RESULTS: Totally 199 genes showing age-dependent characteristics were screened out from the 7 kinds of tissue, most of them were neuro-endocrine immune related genes. Evaluation based on the mathematical model showed the age of hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal, liver, kidney, bone, and spleen in the 24-months rats after EF intervention was 12.64, 10.87, 8.10, 12.70, 11.93, 13.14, and 10.13 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: A quantitative mathematical model can be established based on the gene expression profile, it is suitable for estimating the efficacy of Shen-tonifying drugs. EF can make the gene expression of elder close to the young state, suggesting that EF has action in improving Shen-deficiency syndrome and delaying senescence.

A yang-promoting Chinese herbal suppository preparation enhances the antioxidant status of red cells in male human subjects.

In the 16-week pilot study, the effect of a Yang-promoting Chinese herbal suppository preparation (VI-28) on the red cell antioxidant status was examined in 31 healthy male subjects aged 41-66 years old. VI-28 treatment for 12 weeks (one suppository (0.3 g) daily for week 1-4; one every 2 days for week 5-8; one every 3 days for week 9-12) produced a time/dose-dependent alteration in red cell antioxidant status. The VI-28-induced change is characterized by a slight depletion in cellular reduced glutathione (GSH) level and a decrease in susceptibility to peroxide-induced lipid peroxidation as well as increases in catalase (CAT) and Cu-Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. While a reversal trend of change was observed in cellular GSH level, the susceptibility to lipid peroxidation as well as the CAT activity after the cessation of treatment for 4 weeks, the SOD activity exhibited a protracted increase. The results indicate that VI-28 treatment enhances red cell antioxidant status in male subjects. The beneficial effect of VI-28 treatment on red cells may re fl ect a corresponding change in antioxidant status of peripheral tissues.

[Study on prevention and treatment of middle and aged women diabetes with kidney deficiency and bone metabolic disturbance].

OBJECTIVE: To Study the therapeutic effect of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) for supplementing Qi, activating blood circulation and tonifying Kidney on prevention and treatment of middle and aged women diabetes with Kidney Deficiency and bone metabolic disturbance. METHODS: Clinical observation was taken in 52 patients, who were divided into two groups, the control group (treated with hypoglycemic agent alone) and the treated group (treated with hypoglycemic agent and CHM). RESULTS: Before treatment, patients of both groups showed obvious higher blood alkaline phosphatase, beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-MG) level, urinary beta 2-MG, calcium and phosphorus level, but lower serum estradiol level than those in normal subjects. After 3 months' treatment, no apparent change on serum estradiol level was observed, but other parameters were all lowered obviously in the two groups, the changes revealed more obvious in the treated group. The symptoms of Kidney Deficiency, such as lumbodorsal pain, general fatigue, palpitation and vertigo, were improved after treatment, and the improvement was also more obvious in the treated group. CONCLUSION: CHM for supplementing Qi, activating blood circulation and tonifying Kidney was effective in improving Kidney Deficiency and mineral substance loss of bone in middle and aged women diabetes patients. The CHM and western drugs may acted synergistically.