[Effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction and its simple prescription (Naojian tablet) on CDK4/Cyclin D1 expression of rats with cerebral ischemia].

To evaluate the regulating effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction and its simple prescription (Naojian tablet) on CDK4/Cyclin D1 expression in hippocampus tissues of rats with cerebral ischemia, SD rats were divided into the sham-operation group, the model group, the Buyang Huanwu decoction group (ig, 3.15 g · kg⁻¹) and the simple prescription group (ig, 2.41 g · kg⁻¹). Each group was further divided into five subgroups based on time points after the administration, i. e. 1 d, 3 d, 7 d, 14 d and 28 d, respectively. CDK4/Cyclin D1 expressions of the group at different time points were examined by using immunohistochemistry and real-time qPCR. According to the results, the cerebral ischemia model group showed higher CDK4/Cyclin D1 expression than the sham-operation groups (P < 0.05), suggesting that the cell cycle signal pathway would be activated by the cerebral ischemic injury. Both Buyang Huanwu decoction and simple prescription groups showed significantly lower cyclin expression than the model group at 3 d, 7 d, 14 d, 28 d (P < 0.05), indicating both Buyang Huanwu decoction and its simple prescription could play the neuroprotective effect through the cell cycle signal pathway.

Buyang Huanwu Decoction () reduces infarct volume and enhances estradiol and estradiol receptor concentration in ovariectomized rats after middle cerebral artery occlusion.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction (, BYHWD) on estradiol (E2) and estradiol receptor (ER) in serum and brain in ovariectomized rats after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). METHODS: Adult female rats were ovariectomized and focal cerebral ischemic was induced by MCAO. Rats were randomly divided into normal, ovariectomy (OVX), MCAO, OVX+MCAO, OVX+MCAO+E2, and OVX+MCAO+BYHWD group. Rats were administered BYHWD 5 g/kg daily, estradiol valerate 500 µg/kg per day or distilled water for 7 consecutive days. Neuronal function and infarct volume were measured on day 7 after artery occlusion, and E2 and ER concentration in serum and brain were checked by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: BYHWD significantly improved the neurological behavior, reduced the infarction volume, increased E2 concentration in serum and brain, and increased ER concentration in the brain in ovariectomized rats after MCAO. CONCLUSION: The neuroprotective effects of BYHWD are associated with estrogen and its receptor.

Comparative analysis of essential oil components of Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. var. officinalis (Dode) Huang and Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth.

Essential oils from the fruit of two species of Evodia rutaecarpa from China (Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. var. officinalis (Dode) Huang and Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth.) have been obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in order to discern the differences and similarities between the volatile chemical compositions of these species. More than 21 components were identified in essential oils of the studied plants. In the oil of E. rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. var. officinalis (Dode) Huang, the main essential oil ingredients were ß-myrcene (44.43%) and ß-pinene (39.88%). ß-pinene (72.82%), 1R-α-pinene (8.90%) and ß-myrcene (1.99%) were the major compounds in the oil of E. rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. The chemical compounds of the essential oils showed that there are only six common compounds between the two species.

[Effect of ultra-micronized Buyang Huanwu decoction on neurological function, quality of life, and serum vascular endothelial growth factor in patients convalescent from cerebral infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To study effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction (BYHWD) on neurological function, quality of life, and serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients convalescent from cerebral infarction, and to evaluate the effect of ultra-micronized BYHWD. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty-one patients met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to traditional BYHWD (TB) group (n=83), ultra-micronized BYHWD (UB) group (n=85) and the control group (n=83) according to time of entrance into the study with 1:1:1. All patients received rehabilitation training, but for patients in the TB and UB groups, traditional BYHWD (15 g, twice a day) or ultra-micronized BYHWD (5 g, twice a day) was given respectively, for a course of 12 weeks. Clinical curative effect and curative effect of syndrome according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) were evaluated. Nerve function and quality of life in patients were evaluated, serum VEGF was determined before and after treatment. The level of VEGF in 23 healthy volunteers was also determined to serve as normal control. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 83.5%, 85.5% and 77.1% in UB group, TB group and the control group, respectively, and the total symptomatic effective rate in TCM was 87.0%, 89.2% and 77.1%, respectively. Compared with the control group, there was significant difference in UB or TB group (all P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between UB and TB groups (both P >0.05). Serum VEGF levels (ng/L) were significantly lower before treatment in control group, TB group and UB group than those in normal control group (79.87±2.81, 80.19±3.23, 80.23±3.18 vs. 68.13±3.39, all P<0.05). Neurologic deficit score (NDS), quality of life and serum VEGF were improved after treatment in three groups, but they were better in UB or TB group than the control group [NDS: 11.95±5.03, 12.68±4.67 vs. 15.23±5.12, quality of life score: 64.71±6.73, 63.56±6.53 vs. 59.09±6.81, serum VEGF (ng/L): 76.38±3.02, 76.84±3.18 vs. 70.26±3.15 , all P<0.05], but there was no significant difference between UB and TB groups (all P >0.05). CONCLUSION: BYHWD can improve neurological function and quality of life, and increase serum VEGF in patients convalescent from cerebral infarction, and ultra-micronized BYHWD, the dosage can be decreased.

[Effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction on interleukin-1ß and tumor necrosis factor-α expression in rats after cerebral infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction (BYHWD) on pro-inflammatory cytokines in rats after focal cerebral infarction. METHODS: Adult Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into following groups: normal control, sham, model, BYHWD. The rats in latter three groups were subdivided into subgroups of 1, 3, and 7 days after medication, with 5 rats in each group. The right side focal cerebral infarction model was reproduced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The rats in BYHWD group were gavaged with BYHWD of 10 ml/kg (14.2 g/kg, once a day) 2 hours after operation. Animals were sacrificed at corresponding time points. The protein and mRNA expression of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: There were low levels expression of IL-1ß and TNF-α protein and mRNA in normal control group and the sham group. After cerebral infarction, the protein and mRNA expression of IL-1ß and TNF-α began to increase in rats 1 day after the insult, and the protein and mRNA expression of IL-1ß reached the peak on 3rd day, and then lowered, and the protein and mRNA expression of TNF-α reached the peak on 7th day. Compared with model group on 1st, 3rd and 7th day, the protein expression of IL-1ß (ng/L: 90.290±8.693 vs. 102.556±13.934 on 1st day, 129.632±11.050 vs. 150.117±8.552 on 3rd day, 66.185±9.020 vs. 91.362±9.901 on 7th day) and TNF-α (ng/L: 210.341±19.247 vs. 236.887±20.137 on 1st day, 267.503±21.006 vs. 322.659±15.068 on 3rd day, 299.637±17.717 vs. 386.678±16.297 on 7th day), and mRNA expression of IL-1ß (1 day: 0.54±0.09 vs. 0.64±0.11, 3 days: 0.80±0.06 vs. 0.89±0.07, 7 days : 0.70±0.09 vs. 0.78±0.08) and TNF-α (1 day: 0.64±0.09 vs. 0.73±0.11, 3 days: 0.74±0.13 vs. 0.85±0.07 , 7 days : 0.82±0.07 vs. 0.93±0.08], were all decreased obviously in BYHWD group ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION: BYHWD could reduce the protein and mRNA expressions of IL-1ß and TNF-α in levels after cerebral infarction. The result shows that it protects brain by modulating expression of pro-inflammatory mediators.