Protective effect of qingxin kaiqiao fang containing cerebrospinal fluid on PC12 cell injury induced by Abeta25-35 / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the protective effect of Qingxin Kaiqiao Fang containing cerebrospinal fluid on PC12 cell injury induced by Abeta25-35, in order to provide basis for clinical application of the formula.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Sprague Dawley rats were orally administration with Qingxin Kaiqiao Fang (7.9 g x kg(-1)) twice a day for 3.5 days to prepare Qingxin Kaiqiao Fang containing cerebrospinal fluid. The nerve cell injury model was established by PC12 cells and Abeta25-35 with the concentration of 10 micromol x L(-1). The expressions of Bax, Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 mRNA were detected by immunohistochemical method in the PC12 cells.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The Qingxin Kaiqiao Fang group showed a significant higher PC12 cell activity than the model group, with decrease in Bax mRNA and Caspase-3 mRNA expressions and increase in Bcl-2 mRNA expression. There was a significant difference from the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Qinxin Kaiqiao Fang shows a significant protective effect on Abeta25-35-induced nerve cell injury.</p>

Effects of α-lipoic acid and vitamin C on oxidative stress in rat exposed to chronic arsenic toxicity / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore arsenic-induced oxidative stress and the protective efficacy of α-lipoic acid and vitamin c.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>50 male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups. Ten rats (the control group) were exposed to deionized water for 6 weeks, and the others were alone exposed to sodium arsenite (50 mg/L water) for 6 weeks, at the same time, three group rats were administered intragastrically (i.g.) with α-lipoic acid 10 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1) and vitamin C 25 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1) either alone or in combination. At the end of experiment, blood was drawn from abdominal aorta, and then the blood, brain and liver of rats were used for biochemical assays, including blood glutathione (GSH), δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ-ALAD ), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) level. At the same time, the super oxide dismutase (SOD) activity, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, catalase (CAT) activity, ATPase activity of brain and liver were determined. The caspase activity of brain were also determined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were a significant increase in ROS level (P < 0.05), but a significant decrease in δ-ALAD activity (P < 0.01) in the chronic arsenic toxicity model group compared with the control group. These alterations were marginally restored by co-administration of vitamin C and α-lipoic acid individually, while significant recovery was observed in the animals supplemented with both the antioxidants together with arsenite in rat (P < 0.05). At the same time, there was a significant increase in the ROS and TBARS level of the brain and liver (P < 0.05), and caspase activity of the brain (P < 0.05), while there was a significant decrease in antioxidant enzymes and ATPase activity on arsenite exposure in rats (P < 0.05). These alterations were also marginally restored by co-administration of vitamin C and α-lipoic acid individually, while significant recovery was observed in the animals supplemented with both the antioxidants together with arsenite in rat (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Arsenite-induced oxidative stress can be significantly protected by co-administration of α-lipoic acid and vitamin C individually, but the best effects could be observed with combined administration of two antioxidants during arsenite exposure in animals. The dietary intervention of or supplementation with natural dietary nutrients is possible to prevent the effects of arsenic in populations of risk.</p>