Tetramethylpyrazine attenuates atherosclerosis development and protects endothelial cells from ox-LDL.

PURPOSE: We assessed whether tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), an active ingredient of Ligusticum wallichii Franchat, attenuates atherosclerosis (AS) development in rabbits and protects endothelial cells injured by ox-LDL. METHODS: In vivo, rabbits subjected to atherosclerosis were treated with TMP (75 and 150 mg/kg) by oral gavage for 12 weeks. In vitro, rat aortic endothelial cells (RAECs) were stimulated by ox-LDL. RESULTS: TMP treatment with 75 and 150 mg/kg significantly reduced the relative atherosclerosis area ratio in the aorta (0.41 ± 0.042, 0.27 ± 0.047 vs. 0.66 ± 0.058 in AS), the ratio of intimal/medial thickness (0.54 ± 0.09, 0.39 ± 0.07 vs. 1.1 ± 0.3 in AS) and the number of monocytes in intimal (10.1 ± 2.8, 8.2 ± 2.0 vs. 14.1 ± 4.9 counts/mm(2) in AS). TMP also decreased levels of TC (15 ± 4.2 to 6.1 ± 1.2 mmol/L), TG (1.8 ± 0.3 to 1.08 ± 0.24 mmol/L), LDL-C (20.1 ± 4.3 to 10.2 ± 1.6 mmol/L) and increased HDL-C levels (0.40 ± 0.08 to 0.85 ± 0.17 mmol/L) in atherosclerosis rabbit plasma. TMP decreased the MCP-1 (187.3 ± 38.4 to 86.1 ± 17.2 pg/ml) and ICAM-1 (350.6 ± 43.7 to 260.6 ± 46.1 pg/ml) levels in plasma and inhibited LOX-1 expression in the rabbit aortas. Moreover, our in vitro study revealed that TMP suppressed monocyte adhesion to RAECs, inhibited RAEC migration, and down-regulated MCP-1 and ICAM-1 expression in ox-LDL-injured RAECs. Likewise, TMP inhibited LOX-1 and 5-LOX expression, and prevented nuclear accumulation of RelA/p65 and IκB degradation in ox-LDL-injured RAECs. Furthermore, TMP suppressed ox-LDL-induced activations of p-ERK, p-p38, and p-JNK MAPK. CONCLUSION: TMP produces a tangible protection in atherosclerosis and endothelial cells. TMP might be a potential protective agent for atherosclerosis.

Rhizoma Bletillae polysaccharide elicits hemostatic effects in platelet-rich plasma by activating adenosine diphosphate receptor signaling pathway.

Rhizoma Bletillae, the tubes of Bletilla striata, has been traditionally used in China as a hemostatic agent. In preliminary studies, the major active fraction responsible for its hemostatic effect have been confirmed to be Rhizoma Bletillae polysaccharide (RBp), but the hemostatic mechanism of action of RBp is still unknown.The main aim of this study was to clarify its mechanism of hemostatic effect. RBp was prepared by 80 % ethanol precipitation of the water extract of Rhizoma Bletillae followed by the Sevag method to remove proteins. The average molecular weight (Mw) of the crude RBp maintained at a range of 30.06-200 KDa. The hemostatic effects of RBp were evaluated by testing its effect on the platelet aggregation of rat platelet-rich plasma (PRP). PRP was dealt with different concentrations of RBp and platelet aggregation was measured by the turbidimetric method. The hemostatic mechanism of RBp was investigated by examining its effect on platelet shape, platelet secretion, and activation of related receptors (P2Y1, P2Y12 and TXA2) by electron microscopy and the turbidimetric method. RBp significantly enhanced the platelet aggregations at concentrations of 50-200 mg/L in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibitory rate of platelet aggregation was significantly increased by apyrase and Ro31-8220 in a concentration-dependent manner, while RBp-induced platelet aggregation was completely inhibited by P2Y1, P2Y12 and the PKC receptor antagonists. However, the aggregation was not sensitive to TXA2. RBp, the active ingredients of Rhizoma Bletillae responsible for its hemostatic effect, could significantly accelerate the platelet aggregation and shape change. The hemostatic mechanism may involve activation of the P2Y1, P2Y12, and PKC receptors in the adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor signaling pathway.

[Effect of Rainfall Intensity on the Content of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Components in Plateau Areas: A Case Study of the Fengyu River Watershed].

The runoff formed by rainfall carrying various land surface materials into rivers and lakes is an important factor leading to a change in water quality, and the characteristics of nitrogen and phosphorus output of rivers under different rainfall intensities are different. This study explores the impact of rainfall intensity on the water quality of the Fengyu River Watershed in the plateau agricultural region, based on the water quality monitoring data of the export section of the Fengyu River Watershed from 2011 to 2013, combined with local rainfall monitoring. The effects of four rainfall intensities (light rain, moderate rain, heavy rain, and torrential rain) on the content of different nitrogen and phosphorus components in water were analyzed. The results show that the rainfall intensity has a significant effect on the nitrogen and phosphorus emissions of the Fengyu River Watershed. The average nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations of all components are lower in light rain (<10 mm) and moderate rain (10-25 mm), and higher in heavy rain (25-50 mm) and torrential rain (50-100 mm). The percentage of NH4+-N (57.14%-76.85%) to TN is larger than that of PN (23.15%-42.86%), and the percentage of TDP (22.73%-28.00%) to TP is smaller than that of PP (72.00%-77.27%). The nitrogen concentration of different forms is:TN > NH4+-N > PN; the phosphorus concentration of different forms is:TP > PP > TDP.

[Characteristics of Nitrogen Variation and Its Response to Rainfall:A Case Study in Wuxi Port at Taihu Lake Basin].

Based on monitoring data of the water quality in the Wuxi port estuary of Taihu Lake from 2010 to 2015, we studied the temporal variation characteristics of nitrogen and its response to rainfall in Wuxi port. The results showed that the pollution level in Wuxi port is serious, with an average annual total nitrogen (TN) concentration of (4.41-5.92 mg·L-1), worse than the water environment quality grade Ⅴ standard (2 mg·L-1). The ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) concentration was 1.09-1.72 mg·L-1. The concentrations of TN and NH4+-N showed obvious seasonal variations, with the concentration of TN and NH4+-N in summer and autumn higher than in spring and winter. The concentration of TN in 2015, 2012, and 2011 was 5.92, 5.82, and 5.47 mg·L-1, respectively, which was significantly higher than in 2013 and 2014. The concentration of NH4+-N in 2011 (1.72 mg·L-1) was higher than in 2013 and 2015. With the increase of rainfall intensity, the TN concentration showed an increase after the first downward trend and then a decrease, while the NH4+-N concentration increased first and then decreased. In addition, the nitrogen concentration in the non-flood season was higher than in the flood season.

[Analysis of Spatial Variability of Water Quality and Pollution Sources in Lihe River Watershed, Taihu Lake Basin].

The source of pollutants in the Tai Lake basin and the characteristics of spatiotemporal variations were studied by conducting water quality monitoring in the Lihe River watershed to the west of Tai Lake in 2014. The dynamic changes in total phosphorus (TP), ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were studied in flood and non-flood seasons at five monitoring points from upstream to downstream. The average concentrations of TP, NH4+-N, and COD were 0.176 mg·L-1, 1.075 mg·L-1, and 10.626 mg·L-1 respectively, and the water quality was lower than the grade Ⅳ standard. From upstream to downstream, the concentrations of TP and NH4+-N gradually increased. The water quality downstream was poor, worse than the gradeⅤstandard; however, COD was low and met the grade Ⅳ standard. During the non-flood season, the pollutant concentrations gradually increased from upstream to downstream. There was no obvious trend in flood season. Concentrations of pollutants gradually increased with the increase in the area of inhabited land and decrease in the area of forest land. The population density, livestock, and poultry production were significantly correlated with the concentrations of pollutants in the river. The pollutants in the Lihe River watershed mainly originated from human activities, and livestock and poultry breeding activities.