[Network pharmacology study of Tibetan medicine Corydalis Herba against acute myocardial ischemia].

In this study, the compound search was completed through SciFinder and CNKI databases, and the drug-like properties were screened in FAFdrugs4 and SEA Search Server databases. In addition, based on the target sets related to acute myocardial ischemia(AMI) searched in disease target databases such as OMIM database, GeneCards database and DrugBank, a network diagram of chemical component-target-pathway-disease was established via Cytoscape to predict the potential active components of Corydalis Herba, a traditional Tibetan herbal medicine which derived from the aerial parts of Corydalis hendersonii and C. mucronifera against AMI. A protein-protein interaction(PPI) network was constructed through the STRING database and the core targets in the network were predicted. And the enrichment analyses of core targets were completed by DAVID database and R software. Furthermore, a molecular docking method was used to verify the binding of the components with core targets using softwares such as Autodock Vina. The present results showed that there were 60 compounds related to AMI in Corydalis Herba, involving 73 potential targets. The GO functional enrichment analysis obtained 282 biological processes(BP), 49 cell components(CC) and 78 molecular functions(MF). KEGG was enriched into 85 pathways, including alcoholism pathway, endocrine resistance pathway, calcium signaling pathway, cAMP signaling pathway, vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathway and adrenergic signaling transduction pathway of myocardial cells. The results of network topology analysis showed that the key components of anti-AMI of Corydalis Herba might be tetrahydropalmatine, etrahydrocolumbamine, N-trans-feruloyloctopamine, N-cis-p-coumaroyloctopamine, N-trans-p-coumaroylnoradrenline and N-trans-p-coumaroyloctopamine, and their core targets might be CDH23, SCN4 B and NFASC. The results of molecular docking showed that the key components of Corydalis Herba had stable binding activity with the core targets. This study provides reference for further elucidation of the pharmacological effects of Corydalis Herba against AMI, subsequent clinical application, and development.

[Research progress on terpenes and pharmacological effects of Saussurea lappa].

Saussurea lappa originates in India, and now mainly grow in Yunnan, Sichuan and other places in China. It is one of the commonly used traditional herbal medicines in Tibet and other minority regions, with effects in regulating qi to relieve pain and invigo-rating spleen to promote food. It has been used in clinic for gastrointestinal diseases, such as Qi stagnation syndrome of spleen and stomach, diarrhea and tenesmus. More than 200 compounds have been identified from S. lappa. Among them, sesquiterpenoids attracted much attention. In terms of the number of compounds, eudesmanetype is dominant, guaiane and germacranetypes have also been reported frequently. Pharmacological studies have involved extracts, volatile oils and monomeric components represented by dehydrocostus lactone. Anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effects on digestive system have attracted great attention. However, due to the complex sources of S. lappa and widely used in clinical practice, there is few research progress on relevant chemical constituents and pharmacological activities. This paper systematically summarizes terpenes and the pharmacological effects of S. lappa, in order to provide basis for further studies and clinical applications.

[Effect of electroacupunctu-e intervention on serum IL-17 and IL-23 contents in rheumatoid arthritis rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Kunlun" (BL 60) on serum and knee-joint IL-17 and IL-23 contents in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rats so as to study its underlying mechanism in improving RA. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were randomly allocated to normal control, RA model, EA and Prednisolone groups (n = 8 in each group). The RA model was established by intra-planta injection of incomplete Freund's adjuvant and type II collagen. EA (2 Hz/100 Hz,1-2 mA)was applied to bilateral "Zusanli"(ST 36) and "Kunlun"(BL 60) for 30 min, once daily for 10 days. The rats' ankle diameter was measured, and IL-17 and IL-23 contents in the serum and the knee-joint cavity were assayed by ELISA and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: In comparison with the normal control group, the rats' ankle diameter, serum IL-17 and IL-23 contents and knee-joint IL-17 and IL-23 protein expression levels were significantly increased in the model group (P < 0.05). After EA and Prednisolone treatment, compared with the model group, all the rats' ankle diameter, serum IL-17 and IL-23 contents and knee-joint IL-17 and IL-23 protein expression levels were decreased remarkably (P < 0.05). No obvious differences were found between the EA and Prednisolone groups in the aforementioned indexes (P > 0.05), except IL-17 protein expression level (being markedly lower in the Prednisolone group than in the EA group). CONCLUSION: EA intervention can reduce inflammatory reaction of the ankle-joint in RA rats, which may be related to its effects in down-regulating serum and knee-joint IL-17 and IL-23 levels.