Pharmacodynamics and intestinal flora research on different processed products of Puerariae Lobatae Radix and Puerariae Thomsonii Radix / 中国中药杂志

This study aims to explore the pharmacodynamic differences of Puerariae Lobatae Radix(PLR), Puerariae Thomsonii Radix(PTR) and their different processed products and the influences of these medical materials on the diversity of intestinal flora. The Sennae Folium-induced diarrhea model, streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetes model and L-nitro-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME)-induced hypertension model were used to compare the pharmacodynamic differences in anti-diarrhea, blood glucose reduction and blood pressure lowering among raw, roasted and vinegar-processed PLR and PTR. The effects of raw and processed PLR and PTR on intestinal flora diversity of rats were evaluated by 16 S rDNA high-throughput sequencing. The roasted PLR and PTR performed better in anti-diarrhea, especially the former. PLR and its processed products all presented the efficacy of reducing blood glucose, and the vinegar-processed PLR was the most outstanding. The raw PTR was not that effective in reducing blood glucose, whereas its efficacy was improved after roasting and vinegar processing. Both PLR and PTR were capable of lowering blood pressure to a certain extent, and PLR is superior to PTR in this aspect. Further, the vinegar-processed PLR showed the best effect. The diversity of intestinal flora was different among rats to which different products of PLR and PTR were administered. The roasted PLR led to the highest abundance of Lactobacillus, which was closely related to its best antidiarrheal effect. The highest abilities of vinegar-processed PLR to lower blood glucose and blood pressure were associated with the high abundance of Blautia and Prevotella_9. This study lays a foundation for elucidating the processing mechanisms of PLR and PTR and provides a basis for their further development and application.

Herbal Textual Research and Modern Research Progress of Succus Bambusae / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Succus Bambusae， regarded as the holy medicine for the treatment of phlegm by traditional Chinese medicine experts， has the functions of clearing heat and resolving phlegm， resuscitating and relieving convulsions. In clinical practice， it is mainly used to treat phlegm-heat cough， phlegm yellow and shortness of breath， stroke with exuberant phlegm and other syndromes. The research of its processing procedure and quality standard is the key issue to realize the process modernization and quality standardization of this traditional medicine resource. On the basis of literature research， this paper conducted the herbal textual research on Succus Bambusae， sorted out its medicinal history， and compared the advantages and disadvantages of its traditional and modern preparation procedure. Based on the historical records， it is pointed out that there are still many problems in the traditional and modern processing procedure of Succus Bambusae， such as low-yield processing procedure and extensive production technology that cannot meet the requirements of large-scale green manufacturing. At present， there are a lot of literature on the comparative study of the origin， variety and processing procedure of Succus Bambusae， but most of them are limited to the chemical components， and lack of in-depth study on its pharmacodynamic substance basis and mechanism. Meanwhile， the pharmacological effects of Succus Bambusae are mostly limited to antitussive and expectorant， and few other pharmacological effects have been reported. Based on the above analysis， it is suggested that the follow-up research work can be carried out from these five aspects：①Clarifying the original source， enriching and perfecting the medicinal resources. ②Standardizing the processing procedure， establishing relevant quality standards. ③Clarifying the pharmacological mechanism， strengthening the basic research on the pharmacological effect and clinical application. ④Inheriting ancient processing， researching and developing special preparation equipment and standardizing production operation rules. ⑤Comprehensive utilization of the by-products in preparation process.

Analysis of Water Adsorption and Thermodynamic Properties of Three Rhei Radix et Rhizoma Decoction Pieces / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To investigate the moisture adsorption and thermodynamic characteristics of raw products， wine-processed products and fried charcoal products of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma， in order to guide their drying and storage. Method:Static isotherm weighing method was used to determine the adsorption isotherm curves of three Rhei Radix et Rhizoma decoction pieces at 25， 35， 45 ℃， and the test data were fitted with 7 commonly used water adsorption models to determine the best model for studying the adsorption thermodynamic parameters of these decoction pieces. Result:The best adsorption models of these three decoction pieces were all GAB model. At 25， 35， 45 ℃， the absolute safe moisture content of fried charcoal products was 7.43%， 6.79% and 6.20%， of wine-processed products was 8.68%， 8.17% and 7.03%， of raw products was 9.88%， 9.36% and 7.77%， respectively. At 25， 35， 45 ℃， the relative safe moisture content of fried charcoal products was 9.46%， 8.63% and 8.21%， of wine-processed products was 11.49%， 11.03% and 9.74%， of raw products was 13.49%， 12.66% and 11.14%， respectively. The net equivalent heat of adsorption （Qst） and differential entropy （Sd） of these three kinds of decoction pieces all decreased with the increase of equilibrium moisture content， Qst and Sd were in accordance with the entropy-enthalpy complementary theory. The constant velocity temperatures of raw products， wine-processed products and fried charcoal products of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma were 386.66， 391.15， 394.34 K （unit conversion of 1 K=-272.15 ℃）， their Gibbs free energies were 0.372 2， 0.406 0， 0.372 2 kJ·mol-1， respectively. Their adsorption processes were an unspontaneous process driven by enthalpy. Conclusion:The orders of equilibrium moisture content， monomolecular layer moisture content， Qst and Sd of three Rhei Radix et Rhizoma decoction pieces are all raw products>wine-processed products>fried charcoal products. The moisture absorption capacity of the decoction pieces is ranked as raw products>wine-processed products>fried charcoal products. The frying and roasting process significantly affects the hygroscopicity and thermodynamic properties of the three decoction pieces， the reason for this difference may be that the high temperature of the stir-frying results in the decrease of the hygroscopic groups and the increase of the hydrophobic materials in raw products， and the change in the texture of the decoction pieces. The research on the water adsorption characteristics of three Rhei Radix et Rhizoma decoction pieces can provide reference for selecting their storage conditions and drying process.

Varieties textual research, resource investigation and identification of commercial drugs on Cuscutae Semen / 中国中药杂志

Through the textual research, resource investigation, literature reviews (including Flora of China, municipal Flora, pharmacopoeia of China and municipal drug standards) and identification of commercial drugs on Cuscutae Semen, it was found the species described in the herbal textual was Cuscuta chinensis, with good quality from Shandong and Henan Province. The identification of commodities showed the majority drugs were from C. australis, varied from the ancient herbal textuals .Mordern literature reviews indicate that it was necessary to strengthen the research on Cuscutae Semen from C. australis, C. chinensis and C. japonica because of their differences in resources, macroscopical and microscopical characters, while wrong descriptions in some literatures. It was suggested that the two species (C. australis and C. chinensis) should be separated in pharmacopoeia of China. The study provides scientific basis for the development and utilization of Cuscutae Semen.

Effect of Polydatin on Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Human Alveolar Epithelium A549 Cells Induced by TGF-β1 / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of polydatin on the growth of TGF-β₁induced humanalveolar epithelium A549 cells and the mechanism of polydatin for inhibiting the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A549 cells in vitro cultured were randomly divided into five groups, i.e., the blank group, the control group, the low dose polydatin group, the middle dose polydatin group, the high dose polydatin group. Common culture fluid was added in A549 cells of the blank group. Five ng/mLTGF-β₁contained culture fluid was added in A549 cells of the control group. 50, 100, and 150 μmol/mL of polydatin plus 5 ng/mL TGF-β₁contained culture fluid was added in A549 cells of low, middle, and high dosepolydatin groups, respectively. Morphological changes were observed and recorded at different time points. The optimal concentration of polydatin was determined by MTT method. Protein and mRNA expressions of E-cad epithelial cell marker) and Vimentin (mesenchymal cell marker) were detected by Western blot and Real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Under inverted phase contrast microscope, A549 cells turned from previous pebble shape to fusiform shape after intervened by polydatin and TGF-β1. The intercellular space was enlargedand the intercellular connection became loose. These phenomena were more obviously seen in the control group. A549 cells were more satiated in low, middle, and high dose polydatin groups than in the control group. The EMT inhibition was most obviously seen in the middle dose polydatin group at 48 h. Protein and mRNA expressions of E-cad showed an overall descending tendency after intervened by polydatin and TGF-β1 (P < 0.05). But compared with the control group, protein and mRNA expressions of E-cad were down-regulated in a lesser amplitude in each intervened group. Besides, the tendency was more obviously seen at 48 h than at 24 h. Protein and mRNA expressions of Vimentin showed an overall up-regulating tendency. But compared with the control group, protein and mRNA expressions of Vimentin were down-regulated in a lesser amplitude in each intervened group. Besides, the tendency was more obviously seen at 48 h than at 24 h (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Polydatin could inhibit TGF-β1 induced EMT process of A549 cells time- and dose-dependently. It also played roles in inhibiting pulmonary fibrosis.</p>

Oxidation status and γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase expression in the kidney of MRL/lpr lupus mice / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>[corrected] To investigate the role of glutathione (GSH) and γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS) in lupus nephritis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Spectrophotometry was used to measure the oxidative/anti-oxidative indices including malonyldialdehyed (MDA) and GSH in the kidney of MRL/lpr lupus mice. Quantitative PCR and Western blotting were used to detected the expression of γ-GCS.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The level of GSH was lowered whereas the level of MDA increased significantly in the kidney tissue of MRL/lpr lupus mice as compared with that in normal control mice. The expression of γ-GCS mRNA and protein was significantly decreased in MRL/lpr lupus mice (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MRL/lpr lupus mice have abnormal oxidative stress in the kidney tissue, where the expression of γ-GCS decreased to lead to reduced GSH production, damaged antioxidative capacity, and eventually exacerbation of oxidative damage in the kidney.</p>

Change of peripheral blood CD5~+B cells in systemic lupus erythematosus patients / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To explore change of peripheral blood CD5+B cells in the systemic lupus ery- thematosus(SLE)patients and the association of this change with the disease activity,Methods The percent- age of CD5~+B ceils in peripheral blood in 57 patients with SLE and 35 healthy controls was determined by flow eytometry.Levels of anti-dsDNA,complement C3 and C4,anti-nuclear antibody(ANA),anticardiolipin anti- body(ACL),were also measured.Results The percentage of CD5~+B cell in SLE patients(2.1?0.4)% was high- er than that in normal controls [(1.5?0.4)%](P＜0.05).In active disease group,the percentage of CD5~+B cells [(2.5?0.5)%] was significantly higher than that in inactive SLE patients [(1.4?0.5)% ](P＜0.01).The percent- age of CD5~+B cell associated with anti-dsDNA,ANA,ALA positively,with C3 negatively and had no associa- tion with C4.Conclusion The percentage of CD5~+B cells in the SLE is significantly high and has correlation and some relationship with the SLE.