Therapeutic effects of Chinese medicine Di-Long (Pheretima vulgaris) on rheumatoid arthritis through inhibiting NF-κB activation and regulating Th1/Th2 balance.

Chinese medicine Di-Long, the dried body of Pheretima vulgaris (Chen) has been used for the treatment of joint inflammation, arthralgia and numbness of limbs for many years. This study was to investigate the anti-rheumatoid arthritis (RA) effects of Di-Long and to explore its possible mechanisms. The identification and quantification of representative components in Di-Long extracts (DL) were carried out by HPLC analysis. The anti-RA effects and mechanisms of DL were studied in CIA mice, RAW 264.7 macrophages and spleen T lymphocytes. The Th1/Th2 cell ratio in CIA mice spleens were determined by Flow cytometry. The cytokine levels were determined by ELISA method. The expressions of p-NF-κB p65 in ankle joints of CIA mice were detected by Immunohistochemistry analysis. The phosphorylation of NF-κB signaling pathway in RAW 264.7 macrophages and expressions of T-bet and GATA-3 in CIA mice spleens were determined by Western blots. The treatment with DL significantly decreased the paw thickness, arthritis scores and inflammatory cells infiltration in CIA mice. The TNF-α, IL-6 concentrations in both mice serum and macrophages secretion were markedly reduced with the treatment of DL, as well as the phosphorylation of NF-κB pathway. DL inhibited the expressions of T-bet and GATA-3 and decreased Th1/Th2 cells ratio in CIA mice spleens. DL reduced IFN-γ, IL-2 levels in mice serum and spleen T lymphocytes, and increased IL-4 levels in CIA mice serum. Chinese medicine Di-Long have significant anti-RA effects. The mechanisms might be inhibiting the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway and regulating the balance of Th1/Th2 cells.

[Clinical efficacy and action mechanism of mild moxibustion combined with salt-separated moxibustion for gastrointestinal response in breast-cancer chemotherapy patients].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and partial action mechanism of mild moxibustion combined with salt-separated moxibustion for gastrointestinal discomfort caused by chemotherapy for breast cancer. METHODS: A total of 48 patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 24 cases in each group. The patients in the control group were treated with intravenous infusion of tropisetron hydrochloride (5 mg), once a day for three days; the patients in the observation group were additionally treated with mild moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36), Zhongwan (CV 12), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6) and salt-separated moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8), 15 min per treatment, once a day for 7 days. Before treatment and on the 7th day of chemotherapy, the levels of pepsinogenⅠ(PGⅠ), pepsinogenⅡ (PGⅡ), the ratio of PGⅠto PGⅡ (PGR) and gastrin 17 (G-17) in serum were measured. Before treatment and on the 3rd, 5th, 7th day of chemotherapy, the gastrointestinal reactions (nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea) were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: On the 7th day of chemotherapy, the serum levels of PGⅠ, PGⅡand G-17 in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05), and the difference in the level of PGR in serum between the observation group and the control group was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The total scores of nausea, vomiting and constipation during chemotherapy in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The mild moxibustion combined with salt-separated moxibustion could effectively improve the symptoms of nausea, vomiting and constipation caused by chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer, and its mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of the levels of PGⅠ, PGⅡ and G-17 in serum.

[Identification of effective components from Naoxintong Capsules intestinal absorption liquid in inhibiting ADP-induced platelet aggregation].

Intestinal absorption liquid was prepared by using everted intestinal sac method; meanwhile, its recipes were decomposed or restructured. Platelet aggregation activity was examined by biochemical tests and a microplate reader. One or more kinds of Chinese medicines which displayed inhibiting activity in Naoxintong Capsules were screened through separation and combination of prescription. The results showed that Naoxintong Capsules could inhibit ADP-induced platelet aggregation. Recipe decomposition and restructuring results showed that Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Paeoniae Radix Rubra, Cinnamomi Ramulus and Hirudo were the main effective medicines in inhibiting platelet aggregation. Furthermore, Cinnamomi Ramulus played a vital role in inhibiting activity among those four kinds of Chinese medicines. Coumarin derived from intestinal absorption liquid of Cinnamomi Ramulus had inhibiting activity in the range of 50-200 µmol·L⁻¹, and other ingredients such as cinnamyl alcohol and cinnamaldehyde also had inhibiting activities. In conclusion, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Paeoniae Radix Rubra, Cinnamomi Ramulus and Hirudo are the main components for inhibiting ADP-induced platelet aggregation, and Cinnamomi Ramulus has the most strongest inhibiting activity in Naoxintong Capsules.

[Analysis on composition regularity of carthami flos-containing traditional Chinese medicines].

To analyze the composition regularity of Carthami Flos-containing prescriptions of the Drug Standards of Ministry of Health of People's Republic of China-Traditional Chinese Medicine Preparations (the ministerial standards for Traditional Chinese Medicine) based on the traditional Chinese medicine inheritance support system (TCMISS, RZDZ No. 0389952). Efforts were made to identify 331 prescriptions containing Carthami Flos and summarize 16 attending functions and 10 commonly used drug combinations. Three commonly used drug combinations were selected for an in-depth analysis on Carthami Flos's combined administration regularity. Based on Carthami Flos's attending functions, its effects in paralysis, traumatic injuries and dysmenorrheal were compared to analyze Carthami Flos's core drug combinations for treating different diseases. The regularity of clinical administration and the characteristics of commonly used drug combinations were summarized to provide reference for Carthami Flos's clinical application and new ideas for new drug R&D. Carthami Flos prescriptions was mainly used to treat blood stasis and pain and mostly combined with drugs that could activate blood, promote the circulation of qi and dispel pathogenic wind to treat Qi-stagnation and blood stasis caused by various pathogenic factors such as wind, cold and dampness.

[Study on absorption location of four components from Naoxintong capsule].

OBJECTIVE: To study the absorption characteristics of four components from Naoxintong capsule in intestines. METHOD: In vitro everted gut sac method was adopted for preparing the intestinal absorption solution of Naoxintong capsule. UPLC was used to detect the content of chemical components in different intestinal segments, and comparing the results with the absorption of chemical components of Naoxintong capsule in each intestinal segment. The time-accumulative absorption curve was drawn to observe the changes in the accumulative absorption concentration with time. RESULT: Four ingredients of Naoxintong capsule can be detected in intestinal absorption solution, they are ferulic acid, paeoniflorin, salvianolic acid B and hydroxysafflor yellow A. Specifically, the accumulative absorption concentrations of ferulic acid, salvianolic acid B and paeoniflorin in ileum and rear jejunum segments were higher than that in front and middle jejunum segments; the absorption of ferulic acid, paeoniflorin, salvianolic acid B and hydroxysafflor yellow A did not reach saturated conditions in 3 hours. CONCLUSION: Ferulic acid, paeoniflorin, salvianolic acid B and hydroxysafflor yellow A are absorbed in the whole intestine. Ferulic acid, paeoniflorin and salvianolic acid B may be absorbed in specific segments.