Novel wine in an old bottle:Preventive and therapeutic potentials of andrographolide in atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases / 药物分析学报

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease(ASCVD)frequently results in sudden death and poses a serious threat to public health worldwide.The drugs approved for the prevention and treatment of ASCVD are usually used in combination but are inefficient owing to their side effects and single therapeutic targets.Therefore,the use of natural products in developing drugs for the prevention and treatment of ASCVD has received great scholarly attention.Andrographolide(AG)is a diterpenoid lactone compound extracted from Andrographis paniculata.In addition to its use in conditions such as sore throat,AG can be used to prevent and treat ASCVD.It is different from drugs that are commonly used in the prevention and treatment of ASCVD and can not only treat obesity,diabetes,hyperlipidaemia and ASCVD but also inhibit the pathological process of atherosclerosis(AS)including lipid accumulation,inflammation,oxidative stress and cellular abnormalities by regulating various targets and pathways.However,the pharmaco-logical mechanisms of AG underlying the prevention and treatment of ASCVD have not been corrobo-rated,which may hinder its clinical development and application.Therefore,this review summarizes the physiological and pathological mechanisms underlying the development of ASCVD and the in vivo and in vitro pharmacological effects of AG on the relative risk factors of AS and ASCVD.The findings support the use of the old pharmacological compound('old bottle')as a novel drug('novel wine')for the pre-vention and treatment of ASCVD.Additionally,this review summarizes studies on the availability as well as pharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic properties of AG,aiming to provide more information regarding the clinical application and further research and development of AG.

Effects of andrographolide on angiogenesis in diabetic foot rats and its mechanism / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of andrographolide （Andro） on angiogenesis in rats with diabetic foot and to explore its mechanism of action based on the Hippo-Yes-associated protein （YAP） signaling pathway. METHODS The rat model of type 2 diabetes was established by using low-dose streptozotocin combined with high-fat and high-glucose diet. On the basis of successful modeling， the rat model of diabetes foot was established by scalding. Model rats were randomly divided into 5 groups with 12 rats in each group： model group， Andro low-dose， medium-dose， and high-dose groups （1， 10， and 20 mg/kg）， as well as inhibitor group （20 mg/kg Andro+100 mg/kg of verteporfin， an specific inhibitor of Hippo-YAP signaling pathway）； other 12 healthy rats were included in the Control group. Rats in each group were intragastrically and intraperitoneally injected with solvents or corresponding drugs， once a day， for 2 consecutive weeks. The wound healing， fasting blood glucose （FBG） and fasting insulin （FINS） were detected in rats after medication. HE staining was performed to observe the tissue damage and capillary number of rat trauma； the number of endothelial progenitor cells （EPCs） in peripheral blood of rats was counted by using flow cytometry； the contents of serum total cholesterol （TC）， triglyceride （TG）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C） and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C） in rats were determined by fully automatic biochemical analyzer； the expressions of hypoxia- inducible factor 1α （HIF-1α）， vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） and Hippo-YAP signaling pathway-related proteins in the traumatic tissues of rats in each group were detected by Western blot. RESULTS Compared with Control group， the wound healing rate， capillary number， the proportion of EPCs， HDL-C content， as well as the protein expression levels of HIF-1α and VEGF and the phosphorylation levels of mammalian Ste20-like kinase 1， large tumor suppressor gene 1 and YAP proteins were significantly reduced in the model group， while the FBG， FINS levels and TC， TG and LDL-C contents were significantly increased （P＜0.05）. Compared with model group， the above indexes were significantly reversed in Andro low-dose， medium-dose and high-dose group， in a dose-dependent manner （P＜ 0.05）； verteporfin attenuated the above reversal effect of Andro （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Andro has the effects of lowering blood glucose and blood lipids， promoting blood vessel formation and wound healing in rats with diabetic foot， and its mechanism of action may be related to the activation of Hippo-YAP signaling pathway.

Andrographolide protects against atrial fibrillation by alleviating oxidative stress injury and promoting impaired mitochondrial bioenergetics / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia seen in clinical settings, which has been associated with substantial rates of mortality and morbidity. However, clinically available drugs have limited efficacy and adverse effects. We aimed to investigate the mechanisms of action of andrographolide (Andr) with respect to AF. We used network pharmacology approaches to investigate the possible therapeutic effect of Andr. To define the role of Andr in AF, HL-1 cells were pro-treated with Andr for 1 h before rapid electronic stimulation (RES) and rabbits were pro-treated for 1 d before rapid atrial pacing (RAP). Apoptosis, myofibril degradation, oxidative stress, and inflammation were determined. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to investigate the relevant mechanism. Andr treatment attenuated RAP-induced atrial electrophysiological changes, inflammation, oxidative damage, and apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro. RNA-seq indicated that oxidative phosphorylation played an important role. Transmission electron microscopy and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content assay respectively validated the morphological and functional changes in mitochondria. The translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) to the nucleus and the molecular docking suggested that Andr might exert a therapeutic effect by influencing the Keap1-Nrf2 complex. In conclusions, this study revealed that Andr is a potential preventive therapeutic drug toward AF via activating the translocation of Nrf2 to the nucleus and the upregulation of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) to promote mitochondrial bioenergetics.

Efficacy of nebulized inhalation andrographolide sulfonate in children with moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome / 中国小儿急救医学

Objective:To explore the efficacy of andrographolide sulfonate(ADS) nebulized inhalation on pediatric moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS) requiring invasive mechanical ventilation.Methods:We conducted a prospective randomized controlled single-blind study.Children with moderate-to-severe ARDS admitted to the PICU at Beijing Children′s Hospital of Capital Medical University from November 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019, aging from 29 days to 18 years, and requiring invasive mechanical ventilation therapy were collected.The experimental group received ADS, while the control group received normal saline.Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was collected to detect cytokines before and after the experiment.The differences of demography, cytokines and management between two groups were analyzed.Results:Twenty children with a median age of 2.15(1.48, 8.01)years were included and 15(75.00%)cases were boys.Median score of pediatric index of mortality-2 was 12.25(4.53, 16.30). There was no significant differences in demography, basic clinical data and prognosis between two groups( P>0.05). Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 decreased in the experimental group while increased in the control group with statistic difference[967.50(119.25, 5 206.00)pg/mL vs.-945.00(-3 935.50, 495.09)pg/mL, P=0.041]. Interleukin(IL)-8 decreased in the experimental group but increased in the control group[303.22(-452.00, 1 172.38)pg/mL vs.-490.14(-780.25, 240.52)pg/mL, P=0.151]; and the IL-6 increase of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group[-24.53(-501.76, 135.27)pg/mL vs.-325.85(-633.22, 133.75)pg/mL, P=0.364]; all with no statistic differences( P>0.05). The oxygenation index[11.35(6.00, 15.83) vs.20.65(6.23, 38.35), P=0.374] and the improvement rate of ARDS(80%vs.60%, P=0.628) of the experimental group was better than that of the control group, but with no statistic difference( P>0.05). There was no statistic difference of mortality and mechanical ventilation time between two groups( P>0.05). Conclusion:Inhalation of ADS might reduce the increase of IL-6 and the concentration of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and IL-8 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of children with ARDS, and might improve pulmonary oxygenation function.Further research is needed to verify the above conclusion.

Effect of carrier materials on the properties of the andrographolide solid dispersion

Abstract In the work the andrographolide (AG)-solid dispersions (SDs) were prepared by the spray-drying method, using polyethylene glycol 8000 (PEG8000), Poloxamer188, polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 (PVPK30), Soluplus® as carrier materials. The effect of different polymers as carrier materials on the properties of the AG-SDs were studied. The results showed obvious differences in intermolecular interaction, thermal stability, drug state, powder properties, dissolution behavior, and so on of AG-SDs prepared using different polymers as carrier materials. AG-PEG8000-SD was a partial-crystalline and partial-amorphous powder with smaller surface area and pore volume, but it was easy to wetting and did not swell in contact with dissolved medium. AG-Soluplus®-SD was completely amorphous powder with larger specific surface area and pore volume, but it swelled in contact with water. Therefore, the dissolution profile of AG in AG-PEG8000-SD was similar to that in AG-Soluplus®-SD. Soluplus® and PEG8000 were suitable polymers to design AG-SDs, considering both physicochemical properties and dissolution behaviors. The results of this reseach showed that when selecting carrier materials for SD, we should not only consider the state of drugs in SD and the powder properties of SD, but also consider whether there is swelling when the carrier materials are in contact with the dissolution medium.

Pharmacological Effect and Mechanism of Andrographolide： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Andrographolide， a diterpene lactone， is the important material basis for the pharmacological effect of the Chinese medicinal Andrographis paniculata （Burm.f.）Nees. Modern pharmacological research has shown that andrographolide has many pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammation， bacteriostat， anti-virus， anti-tumor， protecting liver， promoting the function of gallbladder， and protecting the cardiovascular system and nervous system. It has significant anti-inflammatory activity which involves multiple targets. To be specific， it can inhibit nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， signal transduction and activator of transcription 3 （STAT3）， and other signaling pathways， reduce the synthesis and release of downstream inflammatory mediators， and regulate oxidative stress and immune response to achieve anti-inflammatory effect on various inflammatory diseases. At the same time， it suppresses a variety of tumor cells by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation， blocking cell cycle， and inducing tumor cell apoptosis. Its anti-tumor mechanism involves cellular signaling pathways such as Notch， phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B （PI3K/Akt）， NF-κB， and secreted glycoprotein/β-catenin （Wnt/β-catenin）. In addition， it can also alleviate diabetes by regulating glucose metabolism. According to related research， it often exerts pharmacological effects through multiple pathways and multiple targets， but the specific targets are unclear. Therefore， this article summarizes the relevant studies on the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of andrographolide in the past three years and puts forward the future research directions， which is expected to serve as a reference for the further in-depth research and development and utilization of andrographolide.

Andrographolide Inhibits Proliferation and Promotes Apoptosis in Bladder Cancer Cells by Interfering with NF- κ B and PI3K/AKT Signaling In Vitro and In Vivo / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the influences of andrographolide (Andro) on bladder cancer cell lines and a tumor xenograft mouse model bearing 5637 cells.@*METHODS@#For in vitro experiments, T24 cells were stimulated with Andro (0-40 µmol/L) and 5637 cells were stimulated with Andro (0 to 80 µmol/L). Cell growth, migration, and infiltration were assessed using cell counting kit-8, colony formation, wound healing, and transwell assays. Apoptosis rate was examined using flow cytometry. In in vivo study, the antitumor effect of Andro (10 mg/kg) was evaluated by 5637 tumor-bearing mice, and levels of nuclear factor κ B (NF- κ B) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT related-proteins were determined by immunoblotting.@*RESULTS@#Andro suppressed growth, migration, and infiltraion of bladder cancer cells (P⩽0.05 or P⩽0.01). Additionally, Andro induced intrinsic mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in bladder cancer cell lines. Furthermore, Andro inhibited bladder cancer growth in mice (P⩽0.01). The expression of p65, p-AKT were suppressed by Andro treatment in vitro and in vivo (P⩽0.05 or P⩽0.01).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Andrographolide inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis in bladder cancer cells by interfering with NF- κ B and PI3K/AKT signaling in vitro and in vivo.

Identification and expression analysis of R2R3-MYB gene family in Andrographis paniculata / 中国中药杂志

The plant growth, development, and secondary metabolism are regulated by R2 R3-MYB transcription factors. This study identified the R2 R3-MYB genes in the genome of Andrographis paniculata and analyzed the chromosomal localization, gene structure, and conserved domains, phylogenetic relationship, and promoter cis-acting elements of these R2 R3-MYB genes. Moreover, the gene expression profiles of R2 R3-MYB genes under abiotic stress and hormone treatments were generated by RNA-seq and validated by qRT-PCR. The results showed that A. paniculata contained 73 R2 R3-MYB genes on 21 chromosomes. These members belonged to 34 subfamilies, 19 of which could be classified into the known subfamilies in Arabidopsis thaliana. The 73 R2 R3-MYB members included 36 acidic proteins and 37 basic proteins, with the lengths of 148-887 aa. The domains, motifs, and gene structures of R2 R3-MYBs in A. paniculata were conserved. The promoter regions of these genes contains a variety of cis-acting elements related to the responses to environmental factors and plant hormones including light, ABA, MeJA, and drought. Based on the similarity of functions of R2 R3-MYBs in the same subfamily and the transcription profiles, ApMYB13/21/35/67/73(S22) may regulate drought stress through ABA pathway; ApMYB20(S11) and ApMYB55(S2) may play a role in the response of A. paniculata to high temperature and UV-C stress; ApMYB5(S7) and ApMYB33(S20) may affect the accumulation of andrographolide by regulating the expression of key enzymes in the MEP pathway. This study provides theoretical reference for further research on the functions of R2 R3-MYB genes in A. paniculata and breeding of A. paniculata varieties with high andrographolide content.

DNA damage repair promotion in colonic epithelial cells by andrographolide downregulated cGAS‒STING pathway activation and contributed to the relief of CPT-11-induced intestinal mucositis

Gastrointestinal mucositis is one of the most debilitating side effects of the chemotherapeutic agent irinotecan (CPT-11). Andrographolide, a natural bicyclic diterpenoid lactone, has been reported to possess anti-colitis activity. In this study, andrographolide treatment was found to significantly relieve CPT-11-induced colitis in tumor-bearing mice without decreasing the tumor suppression effect of CPT-11. CPT-11 causes DNA damage and the release of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) from the intestine, leading to cyclic-GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)‒stimulator of interferon genes (STING)-mediated colitis, which was significantly decreased by andrographolide both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistic studies revealed that andrographolide could promote homologous recombination (HR) repair and downregulate dsDNA‒cGAS‒STING signaling and contribute to the improvement of CPT-11-induced gastrointestinal mucositis. These results suggest that andrographolide may be a novel agent to relieve gastrointestinal mucositis caused by CPT-11.

Investigating pharmacological mechanisms of andrographolide on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH): A bioinformatics approach of network pharmacology / 中草药·英文版

Objective: To investigate the mechanisms of andrographolide against non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) based on network pharmacology, so as to provide a reference for further study of andrographolide in the treatment of NASH and other metabolic diseases. Methods: The methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced NASH mice were treated by administration of andrographolide, and serum transaminase and pathological changes were analyzed. The network pharmacology-based bioinformatic strategy was then used to search the potential targets, construct protein–protein interaction (PPI) network, analyze gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment, and conduct molecular docking to explore the molecular mechanisms. Results: The predicted core targets TNF, MAPK8, IL6, IL1B and AKT1 were enriched in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) signaling pathway and against NASH by regulation of de novo fatty acids synthesis, anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation. Conclusion: This work provides a scientific basis for further demonstration of the anti-NASH mechanisms of andrographolide.

Sulfite as the substrate of C-sulfonate metabolism of α, β-unsaturated carbonyl containing andrographolide: analysis of sulfite in rats' intestinal tract and the reaction kinetics of andrographolide with sulfite / 中国天然药物

One-sixth of the currently known natural products contain α, β-unsaturated carbonyl groups. Our previous studies reported a rare C-sulfonate metabolic pathway. Sulfonate groups were linked to the β-carbon of α, β-unsaturated carbonyl-based natural compounds through this pathway. However, the mechanism of this type of metabolism is still not fully understood, especially whether it is formed through enzyme-mediated biotransformation or direct sulfite addition. In this work, the enzyme-mediated and non-enzymatic pathways were studied. First, the sulfite content in rat intestine was determined by LC-MS/MS. The results showed that the amount of sulfite in rat intestinal contents was from 41.5 to 383 μg·g

Dengue virus infections and anti-dengue virus activities of Andrographis paniculata

Dengue is a debilitating disease that poses a perpetual threat to human health and increases the global economic burden every year. Despite advances in medical sciences, dengue virus (DENV) infects approximately 200 million people every year. To date, no effective antiviral is valiable to treat DENV in individuals despite great efforts in accomplishing these goals. Numerous approaches have been used in the search for dengue antiviral like screening of combinatorial compounds against DENV enzymes and structure-based computational discovery. In recent years, investigators have turned their focus into medicinal plants, trying to identify compounds that can be used as dengue antiviral. Nature represents a great reservoir of potential substances that can be explored with the aim of discovering new drugs that can be either used directly as pharmaceuticals or can provide drug leads, which can be scrutinized further for the development of new anti-dengue natural product. Many previous investigations have dealt with numerous plant extracts or bioactive principles for their antiviral property as they normally considered being safer when compared to synthetic drugs. Andrographis paniculata belongs to family Acanthaceae and is generally known as 'king of bitters'. Diverse bioactive compounds from this plant such as diterpenes, flavonoids, xanthones, noriridoides and other miscellaneous compounds have exhibited their potential as therapeutics for various chronic as well as infectious diseases. This review is based on literature review on scientific journals, books and electronic sources, which highlights the pathogenesis of DENV and describe an assortment of bioactive principles that have been possessing antiviral potential, which include dengue and discuss the therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of action of Andrographis paniculata. However, a detailed and more comprehensive clinical trial on mammalian tissues and organs is needed in future studies.

Dengue virus infections and anti-dengue virus activities of Andrographis paniculata

Dengue is a debilitating disease that poses a perpetual threat to human health and increases the global economic burden every year. Despite advances in medical sciences, dengue virus (DENV) infects approximately 200 million people every year. To date, no effective antiviral is valiable to treat DENV in individuals despite great efforts in accomplishing these goals. Numerous approaches have been used in the search for dengue antiviral like screening of combinatorial compounds against DENV enzymes and structure-based computational discovery. In recent years, investigators have turned their focus into medicinal plants, trying to identify compounds that can be used as dengue antiviral. Nature represents a great reservoir of potential substances that can be explored with the aim of discovering new drugs that can be either used directly as pharmaceuticals or can provide drug leads, which can be scrutinized further for the development of new anti-dengue natural product. Many previous investigations have dealt with numerous plant extracts or bioactive principles for their antiviral property as they normally considered being safer when compared to synthetic drugs. Andrographis paniculata belongs to family Acanthaceae and is generally known as 'king of bitters'. Diverse bioactive compounds from this plant such as diterpenes, flavonoids, xanthones, noriridoides and other miscellaneous compounds have exhibited their potential as therapeutics for various chronic as well as infectious diseases. This review is based on literature review on scientific journals, books and electronic sources, which highlights the pathogenesis of DENV and describe an assortment of bioactive principles that have been possessing antiviral potential, which include dengue and discuss the therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of action of Andrographis paniculata. However, a detailed and more comprehensive clinical trial on mammalian tissues and organs is needed in future studies.

Theoretical basis and effect characteristics of andrographolide against COVID-19 / 中草药

Since December 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly in China. National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China and local departments have released a number of diagnosis and treatment plans for COVID-19. Some plans recommend Xiyanping Injection for the clinical treatment of COVID-19. The active component of the drug is the total sulfonate of andrographolide, which is a derivative of andrographolide. This paper summarized the pharmacological action and clinical application of andrographolide, and proposed that it has the functions of clearing heat and detoxification, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory, and definite therapeutic effect on respiratory system diseases including viral pneumonia and upper respiratory tract infection, and a large number of clinical data have been accumulated. Andrographolide has a potential antiviral effect on the treatment of COVID-19, and can reduce the level of inflammation in patients, improve respiratory symptoms, inhibit concurrent bacterial infection, and improve the body immunity. At the same time, it will not bring the immunosuppressive effect of hormone drugs, and the incidence of adverse reactions is low. In addition, Andrographolide has certain hepatoprotective effects and clinical value for treating cardiovascular diseases in clinical experience, suggesting that it may have some protective effects on drug-induced liver injury, heart injury and liver injury caused by durgs against COVID-19, but further clinical verification is needed. The pharmacological action and clinical application of andrographolide are summarized. This paper also analyzes the etiology, pathogenesis and dialectical treatment of COVID-19 from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, and points out that the treatment of COVID-19 with andrographolide is consistent with the theory of traditional Chinese medicine.

Formulation optimization of andrographolide self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system and effect of precipitation inhibitor on its phase behavior / 中草药

Objective: To investigate the effect of HPMC, PVP k30 and PEG 4000 on the phase behavior of andrographolide self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (AG-SNEDDS) dispersed in Fasted-state simulated intestinal fluid (FaSSIF). Methods: The preparation technology of andrographolide AG-SNEDDS was optimized by central composite design. The effect of three types of precipitation inhibitors (PVP-k30, HPMC, PEG 4000) on the supersaturation behavior of AG-SNEDDS dispersed in FaSSIF was investigated with the degree of supersaturation as an evaluation index. The precipitated phase was evaluated by polarized light microscopy (PLM). Results: The results showed that the best prescription of AG-SNEDDS was Capryol 90-Cremophor EL:Tween-20 (1:1)-Transcutol HP (12.9:40.5:46.6). The self-microemulsion was uniform, the drug loading was (6.93 ± 0.04) mg/g. The emulsification time was (22.33 ± 0.33) s, the average particle size was (14.25 ± 0.65) nm. HPMC and PEG 4000 can maintain the supersaturation of AG-SNEDDS after being dispersed in FaSSIF, and the effect was positively correlated with their concentration. As for PVP k30, it reduced the degree of supersaturation at a low concentration, but can maintain supersaturation at medium and high concentration. Using any of the three precipitation inhibitors can reduce the particle size of the precipitated particles. Conclusion: Precipitation inhibitors can maintain the supersaturation of AG when disperse AG-SNEDDS in FaSSIF. The ability to maintain supersaturation varies with the types and concentration of precipitation inhibitor.

Andrographolide as a potent and promising antiviral agent / 中国天然药物

Andrographolide is a labdane diterpenoid extracted and purified from the aerial parts of plants belonging to genus Andrographis (Acanthaceae). The research has shown the plant based compound is low cytotoxic, having antimicrobial, anti-cancer, antiviral and anti-parasitic effects. Andrographolide both prevent spread as well as transmission of virus to neighboring cells by interfering with different cell signaling pathways. In addition to its medicinal value, plant has been found having nutritional value. Therefore being cost effective, easy availability and having nutritional value as a natural supplement, can be used to improve the quality of life in countries having low standard of living. Due to the limited number of effective vaccines, the plant-based antiviral drugs have provided considerable hope for fighting against the viral infections. The plant-derived compound when produced in large quantities is cost effective with low cytotoxic effects. However, much deep insight research at the molecular level is needed to develop the molecules against the viral infection. This paper aims to highlight the antiviral role of Andrographolide that can made significant contributions toward the improvement of human health and will also summarize the current status and future strategies concerning the therapeutic applications of Andrographolide to combat different viral disease in humans.

Antipyretic effect of Xiyanping injection on bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide-induced fever in rabbits / 药学学报

This paper mainly studied the effect of Xiyanping injection on the bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced fever in rabbits, preliminarily investigated the mechanisms, and provided pharmacological basis for the clinical application. The rabbit model of endotoxin-induced fever was established by using LPS as the inducer; The changes of rectal temperature were measured; The levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and phospholipaseA2 (PLA2) in the serum were measured; The levels of PGE2, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and arginine vasopressin (AVP) in cerebrospinal fluid as well as hypothalamus were detected. The animal welfare and experimental process are in accordance with the regulations of the Animal Ethics Committee of China Pharmaceutical University in this study. The results showed that Xiyanping injection (12.5, 25, and 50 mg·kg-1) could significantly reduce LPS-upregulated body temperature of rabbits, and the duration of action could reach 5.5-8.5 h. At the doses of 25 and 50 mg·kg-1, the antipyretic effect of Xiyanping injection was comparable to that of analgin injection (50 mg·kg-1). Furthermore, Xiyanping injection and analgin injection both reduced the levels of PGE2, IL-1β, TNF-α, and PLA2 in the serum of febrile rabbits to the varying degrees. In addition, Xiyanping injection also down-regulated the levels of PGE2, cAMP, and AVP in the hypothalamus, and PGE2 and cAMP in the cerebrospinal fluid. The level of AVP in the cerebrospinal fluid was up-regulated. This study indicated that Xiyanping injection could significantly improve the endotoxin-induced fever in rabbits, and mechanisms were closely related to the regulation of the levels of PGE2, TNF-α, IL-1β, PLA2, cAMP, and AVP in serum, hypothalamus, and cerebrospinal fluid.

Role of semi-purified andrographolide from Andrographis paniculata extract as nano-phytovesicular carrier for enhancing oral absorption and hypoglycemic activity / 中草药·英文版

Objective: Andrographis paniculata is a well-known medicinal plant in Southeast Asia, India and China. The plant contains andrographolide (AN), a very important phytochemical used in various health problems. However, AN is low in oral absorption bioavailability of AN due to the rapid clearance and high protein binding capacity. Methods: The present study was aimed to develop a nano-phytovesicular formulation of semi-purified AN extracts from a naturally occurring phospholipid (soya phosphatidylcholine) in order to increase the oral absorption and antihyperglycemic activity in rats. Results: The nano-phyto vesicle of semi-purified AN extracts equivalent to 25 mg /kg AN significantly protected the hyperglycemic condition of rats. The in vitro and in vivo experiments results proved that the nano- phytovesicular system of plant extracts containing AN produced better oral absorption, bioavailability and improved antihyperglycemic activity compared with that of free AN at dose of 50 mg/kg. Conclusion: Hence, the prepared semi-purified extract nano-phytovesicular system is helpful in solving the problem of rapid clearance of AN.

Fecundity Studies Of Andrographis Paniculata On Drosophila Melanogaster

Objective: Andrographis paniculata is widely used in Asia for various medicinal purposes. The plant has a major bioactive chemical constituent Andrographolide, which exhibits various essential pharmacological properties. Recently, to enhance immunity against viral fevers especially dengue viral fever during monsoon season, Tamil Nadu state government has advised rural health centres to provide a tea or kashayam made from a mixture containing this plant leaf along with selected plant roots and leaves. However, there is concern among the general public population that this plant extract may have a negative impact on potency. This study is being done to investigate the toxic effects of Andrographis paniculata on fecundity and physiological properties of Drosophila melanogaster. Methods: The flies were treated and mated in pure and mixed form of Andrographis paniculata separately. Results: The results were obtained in the form of egg count, which was compared to control and the conclusion was obtained that Andrographis paniculata might affect the fecundity and at the same time, it was observed that the developmental span from an egg to an adult fly increased upon treatment in successive generations. More importantly, the effect of pure form plant on the fecundity was found to be significant, while that of the mixed form was not. On mating a treated male with an untreated female and an untreated male with a treated female when the treatment is being discontinued, it can be very well seen that there is no effect on the fecundity of the flies. Conclusion: Since the continuity of the treatment played a major role on the effect of fecundity, highlighting the importance of the period of treatment and the exposure time of the compound on the fly system, therefore this research suggests that the conception of tea or kashayam extracted from mixed plant content could not have the same effect as the similar concentration of pure Andrographis paniculata and it does not have any acute effect on the fecundity when being consumed over a short period of time in Drosophila melanogaster model.

Anti-Oxidation Mechanism of Andrographolide on HaCaT Cells Via Nrf2/ARE Pathway / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anti-oxidant mechanism of andrographolide on HaCaT cells via Nrf2/ARE signal pathway. METHODS: The effect of andrographolide on the viability of HaCaT cells and the effect of H2O2-induced cell viability were measured by CCK-8. HaCaT cells were pretreated with andrographolide of different concentration for 24 h. The protein and mRNA expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1, AKR1C1 and NQO1 in HaCaT cells were detected by Western blot and RT-qPCR, respectively. The expression of Nrf2 protein in the nucleus was analyzed by nuclear cytoplasmic separation and immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Andrographolide had no significant effect on cell viability and dose-dependently decreased H2O2-induced cell death, the difference was statistically significant. Andrographolide significantly enhanced the expression of protein and mRNA of antioxidant enzymes Nrf2, HO-1, AKR1C1, NQO1, increased the distribution of Nrf2 in the nucleus, and up-regulated the expression of ARE. Besides, andrographolide upregulated the phosphorylation level of the upstream protein kinase AMPKα (p-AMPKα). CONCLUSION: Andrographolide could decrease H2O2-induced cell death, and its mechanism may be through the activation of Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway, thereby regulating the expression levels of HO-1, AKR1C1, and NQO1.