ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of total flavones of Spatholobi Caulis （TFSC） against depression in rats. MethodThe fifty KM mice were randomly divided into the normal group and high-， medium-， and low-dose （1， 0.5， 0.25 g·kg-1） TFSC groups and gavaged with the corresponding drugs for 12 successive days. One hour after the last administration， the immobility time in forced swimming test and tail suspension test was recorded. The SD rats were randomly divided into the normal group， model group， fluoxetine （5 mg·kg-1） group， and high- and low-dose （1， 0.25 g·kg-1） TFSC groups. Following the exposure of rats to two different kinds of stimuli daily for inducing chronic unpredictable stress， they were administered with the corresponding drugs for 21 d. After the experiment， the levels of serum neurotransmitters and inflammatory factors in rats were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The changes in hippocampal neurons of rats were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） and Nissl staining. The mRNA expression levels of nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in the hippocampus of rats were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）， and the protein expression levels of cAMP-response element binding protein （CREB）， phosphorylated CREB （p-CREB）， and brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） in hippocampal tissues by Western blot. ResultCompared with the normal group， TFSC significantly shortened the immobility time of mice in tail suspension and swimming tests （P<0.05）. Compared with the normal group， the model group exhibited reduced sucrose intake and wilderness activity （P<0.01）， decreased 5-HT， DA， NE （P<0.05， P<0.01）， MAO， IL-6， TNF-α （P<0.05， P<0.01）， damaged neurons， increased mRNA levels of TNF-α and NF-κB （P<0.01）， and down-regulated BDNF and CREB protein expression （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， TFSC significantly enhanced sucrose intake and wilderness activity of rats （P<0.05）， increased the serum 5-HT， DA and NE （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and decreased the serum MAO， IL-6， and TNF-α （P<0.05， P<0.01） as well as NF-κB and TNF-α mRNA expression （P<0.01）， up-regulated the protein expression levels of BDNF and CREB （P<0.01）， and improved the pathological symptoms of hippocampus. ConclusionTFSC improved the hippocampal neurons of rats via CREB/BDNF signaling pathway and reduced depressive pathological damage， thus relieving depression.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the effects and mechanism of Gecko extract for treatment of depression in rats. Method:The depression rats were induced by intraperitoneal injection of reserpine （0.5 mg·kg<sup>-1</sup>）. The successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into model group， fluoxetine group （1.8 mg·kg<sup>-1</sup>）， high dose and low dose groups of Gecko extract （12， 6 g·kg<sup>-1</sup>）. The rats were given corresponding dose of drugs once a day for 10 days. After administration， the levels of neurotransmitters and inflammatory factors in serum and prefrontal cortex of rats were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The cell changes in hippocampal tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The mRNA levels of interleukin-6 （IL-6）， nuclear factor-<italic>κ</italic>B （NF-<italic>κ</italic>B）， and tumor necrosis factor （TNF-<italic>α</italic>） in the hippocampus of rats were detected by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. The protein levels of Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4） and NF-<italic>κ</italic>B in hippocampal tissues of rats were detected by Western blot. Result:Compared with the normal group， Gecko extract significantly shortened the immobility time of tail suspension and swimming in mice. Compared with model group， Gecko extract significantly reduced blepharoptosis and retention time in circles for the rats （<italic>P</italic><0.05）， increased the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT） and dopamine （DA） in serum （<italic>P</italic><0.05）， decreased the levels of Monoamine oxidase （MAO）， IL-6， and TNF-<italic>α</italic> in serum （<italic>P</italic><0.05） and prefrontal cortex （<italic>P</italic><0.05）， decreased the mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-6， NF-<italic>κ</italic>B and TNF-<italic>α</italic> and the protein expressions of TLR4 and NF-<italic>κ</italic>B in the hippocampus of rats （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic> P</italic><0.01）， and improved the pathological symptoms of the hippocampus. Conclusion:Gecko extract can significantly alleviate the pathological damage of depression and improve the symptoms of depression， and its mechanism may be due to inhibiting TLR4/NF-<italic>κ</italic>B signaling pathway and reducing the expression of NF-<italic>κ</italic>B， IL-6 and other inflammatory factors in the hippocampus of rats.
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Objective:To analyze and identify the non-medicinal parts in Zanthoxylum nitidum husk by HPLC-LTQ/Orbitrap-MS, and study the antioxidant activity, in order to provide the scientific basis for further research and development of Z. nitidum. Method:Data is collected by HPLC-LTQ/Orbitrap-MS,and high-resolution MS and MS2 spectra of mass spectrogram of chromatographic peaks were analyzed and compared with the literature database. The structure of each chromatographic peak was calculated and confirmed. The anti-oxidative activity of the Z. nitidum husk was studied by DPPH scavenging free radical ability and ABTS free radical scavenging ability. Result:Twenty-five alkaloids were identified from Z. nitidum husk. The main constituents were isoquinoline alkaloids (nitidine,liriodenine,magnocurarine),pyrrolidine alkaloid (allocryptopine,oxymatrine,oxysophocarpine),quinoline alkaloid (magnoflorine,nitidine chloride),and organic amine alkaloids (γ-sanshool). Antioxygenic activity was studied by DPPH scavenging free radical ability and ABTS free radical scavenging ability. The results showed that they were within the measured concentration range, the antioxidant activity increased with the rise of the sample concentration, a good dose dependence was presented. Conclusion:In this paper,the chemical constituents and the activity Z. nitidum husk were studied. Studies have shown a variety of alkaloids, with a good antioxidant activity. This study provides a reference for further research and development of Z. nitidum.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To observe the effect of an active fraction of Polyrhachis vicina (AFPV) on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its possible mechanism based on animal and cell models. Method: Totally 60 SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, prednisone acetate group (5 mg·kg-1), and high, medium and low-dose AFPV groups (400, 200, 100 mg·kg-1). SLE model was replicated with bovine serum albumin-Freund's complete (incomplete) adjuvant. Arthus reaction was observed to study the effect of AFPV on the diameter of back skin redness in rats with SLE. The expressions of anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibody, complements 3 (C3), complement 4 (C4), immunoglobulin M (IgM), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-31 (IL-31) and interleukin-33 (IL-33) in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. CD4+T cells were isolated from the spleens of MRL/lpr and C57BL/6J mice at the age of 16 to 18 weeks by immunomagnetic beads method. The expressions of miR-200a and miR-155 and the levels of zinc-finger-enhancer binding protein 1(ZEB1) and suppressor of cytokine signaling1(SOCS1) in CD4+T cells were observed to explore the effect of AFPV on SLE and its possible mechanism. Result: Compared with the normal group, the diameter of back skin swelling in the model group was significantly increased (PPPPPPP+T cells of MRL/lpr lupus mice. Compared with the model group, the expression of microRNA-200a increased significantly, the expression of microRNA-155 decreased significantly (PPConclusion: AFPV has therapeutic effect on rats with SLE, its mechanism may be related to the regulation of miR-200a/ZEB1 and miR-155/SOCS1.