Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill () Reduces Coronary Microembolization in Rats via Regulation of Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore Opening and AKT-GSK3ß Phosphorylation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effects of Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill (, STDP) following sodium laurate-induced coronary microembolization (CME) in rats. METHODS: Forty rats were divided into 4 groups: the control (sham) group, CME group, low-dose STDP pretreatment group (20 mg·kg-1·d-1), and high-dose STDP pretreatment group (40 mg·kg-1·d-1). The rats were intragastric administrated with STDP 2 weeks before operation. Moreover, the histopathological alterations were observed using optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Antioxidant biomarkers were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Mitochondrial functions including the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) mtDNA copy number were determined and proteins of AKT/GSK3ß were analyzed by Western blot. RESULTS: The rats in the CME group showed a significant increase in the fibrinogen-like protein 2 expression level and mitochondrial dysfunction and a decrease in the expression level of antioxidant biomarkers (superoxide dismutase and catalase, P<0.01 for all). In contrast, the rats in the low- and high-dose STDP pretreatment groups showed a significant decrease in coronary microthrombi (P<0.05); moreover, STDP restored the antioxidant-related protein activities and mitochondrial function, inhibited mPTP opening, decreased AKT-Ser473 phosphorylation, and increased GSK3ß-Ser9 phosphorylation (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION: STDP may be useful for treatment of CME, possibly via regulation of mPTP opening and AKT/GSK3ß phosphorylation.

[Changes of pigment components in Dendrobium catenatum flower under different storage conditions].

The flower color of Dendrobium catenatum(D. officinale) tends to fade during storage. In order to clarify the influence of storage conditions on the pigment components in flowers, two conditions were applied:temperature and illumination. The contents of pigments in the D. catenatum flower were determined by UV-Vis spectrophotometry and HPLC, and the changes of them during storage were analyzed. The results showed that illumination and temperature had an effect on the pigments of D. catenatum flower during sto-rage. Illumination significantly promoted the degradation of pigments. The contents of total chlorophyll, carotenoids and anthocyanins in the light samples were significantly lower than those in the dark. The total chlorophyll, carotenoids and anthocyanins in the light samples were decreased by 46.5%, 63.4%, and 69.2% respectively. Illumination had a greater effect on fat-soluble pigments than water-soluble pigments. Among the three temperature treatments, the contents of chlorophyll, carotenoid and anthocyanin were as follows:-20 ℃>4 ℃>room temperature, it is indicated that-20 ℃ was the best temperature to maintain the stability of pigment composition. The contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, ß-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin in the light samples decreased by 34.8%, 69.0%, 72.5%, 61.6%, 36.1%, respectively. After storage for 5 months, the contents of chlorophyll, carotenoid and anthocyanin constituent at-20 ℃ was significantly higher than those at 4 ℃ and room temperature. The results show that light avoiding and low-temperature can effectively slow down the degradation of pigment components. Therefore, it is suggested that D. catenatum flower should be stored in light avoiding and low-temperature conditions in actual production and processing, which can prolong the usable time.