Pharmacological actions of the bioactive compounds of Epimedium on the male reproductive system: current status and future perspective.

ABSTRACT: Compounds isolated from Epimedium include the total flavonoids of Epimedium, icariin, and its metabolites (icaritin, icariside I, and icariside II), which have similar molecular structures. Modern pharmacological research and clinical practice have proved that Epimedium and its active components have a wide range of pharmacological effects, especially in improving sexual function, hormone regulation, anti-osteoporosis, immune function regulation, anti-oxidation, and anti-tumor activity. To date, we still need a comprehensive source of knowledge about the pharmacological effects of Epimedium and its bioactive compounds on the male reproductive system. However, their actions in other tissues have been reviewed in recent years. This review critically focuses on the Epimedium, its bioactive compounds, and the biochemical and molecular mechanisms that modulate vital pathways associated with the male reproductive system. Such intrinsic knowledge will significantly further studies on the Epimedium and its bioactive compounds that protect the male reproductive system and provide some guidances for clinical treatment of related male reproductive disorders.

The effects of combination of gefitinib and cisplatin on tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell lines.

OBJECTIVES: To study the inhibitory effect of combining the gefitinib with cisplatin on tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two cell lines were used, tca8113 which is a cisplatin-sensitive cell line, and tca8113/CDDP which is a cisplatin-resistant cell line established in Jiamusi University Laboratories. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was performed to calculate the IC 50 values of both drugs using both cell lines. Detection of Ras, Raf and ERK1/2 was done by using western blot technique after exposure to different concentrations of gefitinib and cisplatin. RESULTS: Tca8113/CDDP has shown more resistance to cisplatin than tca8113 and slightly more resistance to gefitinib than tca8113. Combination of the two drugs has shown to be more effective for both cell lines than when each alone even with lower concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Combination of gefitinib and cisplatin is a better choice than using each drug alone.

MicroRNA-21 accelerates hepatocyte proliferation in vitro via PI3K/Akt signaling by targeting PTEN.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in controlling hepatocyte proliferation during liver regeneration. In this study, we established the miRNAs-expression patterns of primary hepatocytes in vitro under stimulation of epidermal growth factor (EGF), and found that microRNA-21 (miR-21) was appreciably up-regulated and peaked at 12h. In addition, we further presented evidences indicating that miR-21 promotes primary hepatocyte proliferation through in vitro transfecting with miR-21 mimics or inhibitor. We further demonstrated that phosphatidylinositol 3'-OH kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling was altered accordingly, it is, by targeting phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10, PI3K/Akt signaling is activated by miR-21 to accelerate hepatocyte rapid S-phase entry and proliferation in vitro.