Three new cytotoxic oleanane triterpenoid saponins from Cylindrokelupha dalatensis.

Three new minor oleanane triterpenoid saponins, cylindrosides B (1), C (2), and D (3), were isolated from the seed of Cylindrokelupha dalatensis using chromatographic method. Their structures were established on the basis of the chemical and spectroscopic evidences. They displayed significant antitumor activity in vitro against HL60 cancer cell lines and IC50 values were 7.15 ± 0.63, 10.07 ± 0.97, and 4.74 ± 0.57 µM, respectively, by MTT method.

[Effect of Aralia echinocaulis containing serum on Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway of primary osteoblast].

This paper was aimed to investigate the effect of Aralia echinocaulis containing serum on expression of ß-catenin, Wnt-1, Frizzed-2, TCF and Axin in Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway of primary osteoblasts. SD healthy female rats (n=80) were used to make A. echinocaulis containing serum by gastric perfusion for seven days with distilled water, A. echinocaulis decoction high dosage, middle dosage, and low dosage. In vitro, primary osteoblasts were cultured and identified. The third generation primary osteoblasts were taken and cultured for 48 h, then cells were treated with the different drug serums for 10 days and calcified nodules were counted by alizarin red staining. The cells were collected after treatment for 48 h and the expression levels of ß-catenin, Wnt-1, Frizzled-2, TCF and Axin were detected by Real-time PCR and Western blot. The results suggested that the in vitro cells were primary osteoblasts; and after treatment, various doses groups could promote the mineralization ability of primary osteoblasts, up-regulate the mRNA and protein expression levels of ß-catenin, Wnt-1, Frizzled-2, and TCF, and down-regulate the mRNA and protein expression levels of Axin. These findings indicated that A. echinocaulis containing serum can enhance the differentiation and proliferation of osteoblasts by regulating the expression levels of ß-catenin, Wnt-1, Frizzled-2, TCF and Axin in Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway of primary osteoblasts.

[Applications and approved projects on traditional Chinese medicine in National Natural Science Foundation of China in 2010].

In this article, the authors firstly summarized the number of applications submitted to and projects supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) in the field of traditional Chinese medicine research in 2010. Then they described the district distribution, research direction layout and allotment of the approved projects in the three primary disciplines (traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese materia medica and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine) and their 43 subdisciplines. The targeting suggestions for improvement were given respectively by concluding the reason of disapproved projects from the point of view of applicants and supporting institution, and by stating the common problems existing in the review process from the perspectives of fund managers and evaluation experts. Lastly, the major funding fields in the near future were predicted in the hope of providing guidance for applicants.

[Determination of eight metal elements in Cichorium glandulosum Boiss et Huet by microwave digestion-FAAS].

The Cichorium glandulosum Boiss et Huet is a traditional Uighur natural herbal medicine, but has not been analyzed and studied in terms of its metal elements. In the experiment, the Cichorium glandulosum Boiss et Huet powder was digested with HNO3 by microwave digestion before determination. The eight metal elements, potassium, nickel, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper and zinc, in Cichorium glandulosum Boiss et Huet were determined by FAAS. The working conditions, accuracy and precision of the method were studied. The linear correlations of standard curves are good (r = 0.999 1-0.999 9). The recovery (n = 6) is 92.25%-110.5%, and the RSD (n = 6) is 0.7%-3.88%. The results showed that there were comparatively rich metal elements, among which are comparatively high calcium (65.84 mg x g(-1)), iron (24.38 mg x g(-1)), magnesium (278.17 mg x g(-1)) and potassium (18.50 mg x g(-1)), in Cichorium glandulosum Boiss et Huet, and the contents of other elements are nickel of 0.004 38 mg x g(-1), manganese of 0.52 mg x g(-1), copper of 0.016 5 mg x g(-1) and zinc of 0.18 mg x g(-1). This provided useful data for discussing the relationship between the content of the metal elements in Cichorium glandulosum Boiss et Huet and its clinical application in cardiovascular and osteoporosis disease.

[Influence of aqueous extract of Aralia echinocaulis Hand.-Mazz on the expression of fracture healing-related factor receptors].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of aqueous extract of Aralia echinocaulis Hand.-Mazz on the expression of fracture healing-ralated factor receptors. METHODS: Single factor model was set up in SD rat. Selecting 14 and 28 days in the experiment. Immunohistochemistry was employed to determine the expression of Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2), Fms-like tyrosine kinase (Flt-1) and Fetal licer kinase (Flk-1) at 14 and 28 days after model establishing. RESULTS: The expression of Flt-1 and Flk-1 at 14 days (the latter was more remarkable) were obviously promoted in High dose group of aqueous extract of Aralia echinocaulis Hand.-Mazz, and higher than that in normal group and model group. The expression of FGFR2 in the high dose group of Aralia echinocaulis Hand -Mazz was also promoted visibility, close to that in the compare group (traditional Chinese medicine), but higher than than in the model group. There was no significant difference among them. At 28 days, the expression of FGFR2, Flt-1 and Flk-1 in all groups decreased except normal group, and got higher expression in model groups than each control groups. CONCLUSION: Aqueous extract of Aralia echinocaulis Hand.-Mazz can promote angiogenesis in fracture healing, improve the activity and aggregation of fibroblasts, osteoblasts and chondrocytes. It also helps to quicken ossification in the cartilage and promote fracture healing.

[Effects of Astaxanthin on the damage of osteoblast induced by H2O2].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Astaxanthin on enhancing the function of anti-oxidative damage in osteoblast. METHODS: MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts were randomly divided into five groups, including control group, model group, Astaxanthin group [low-dose (1 x 10(-7) mol/L), middle-dose (1 x 10(-6) mol/L), high-dose (1 x 10(-5) mol/L)], in which the activity of cells, activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid oxygen (LPO) and membrane fluidity were tested and compared. RESULTS: Compared with Astaxanthin groups, the activity of cells, SOD activity and membrane fluidity in the model group were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). However, the contents of ROS and LPO were significantly raised (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: H2O2 can cause oxidative damage of MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts, but Astaxanthin can prevent or decrease its influence.

[Influence of canthaxanthin on D-galactose induced osseous changes of rat].

OBJECTIVE: To study the influence of canthaxanthin on D-galactose induced osseous changes of rat. METHODS: Forty-five six-week-old Wistar male rats were randomly divided into model group, canthaxanthin group and young control group. In addition, 15 sixteen-month-old Wistar male rats were used as old control group. Model group and canthaxanthin group were given injections of D-galactose for 5 months (20 mg/kg/once per-day) to cause aging of rat. Then routine osseous parameters were tested and compared among the 4 groups. RESULTS: Compared with young control group, the BMD, parameters of structural mechanics and biomechanics, bone calcium, manganese, magnesium and the content of hydroxyproline in the model group decreased significantly (P < 0.01), however, the content of bone phosphorus, the activity of bone and serum ALP increased significantly (P < 0.01). Those changes of the model group were the same as the old control group,but the changes in the canthaxanthin group significantly differed with the model group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The high does of D-galactose intake can cause aging and osteoporosis at the same time in rat, but canthaxanthin can prevent and inhibit D-galactose induced osseous changes.