[Antioxidant mechanism of diallyl sulfide in inhibiting leucopenia in peripheral blood induced by benzene in rats].

Objective: To investigate the antioxidant mechanism of diallyl sulfide (DAS) in antagonizing the reduction in peripheral blood white blood cells (WBC) induced by benzene in rats. Methods: A total of 60 specific pathogen-free adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, with a body weight of 180-220 g, were selected, and after 5 days of adaptive feeding, they were randomly divided into blank control group, DAS control group, benzene model group, benzene+low-dose DAS group, benzene+middle-dose DAS group, and benzene+high-dose DAS group, with 10 rats in each group. The rats in the benzene+low-dose DAS group, the benzene+middle-dose DAS group, the benzene+high-dose DAS group, and the DAS control group were given DAS by gavage at a dose of 40, 80, 160, and 160 mg/kg·bw, respectively, and those in the blank control group and the benzene model group were given an equal volume of corn oil; 2 hours later, the rats in the benzene model group, the benzene+low-dose DAS group, the benzene+middle-dose DAS group, and the benzene+high-dose DAS group were given a mixture of benzene (1.3 g/kg·bw) and corn oil (with a volume fraction of 50%), and those in the blank control group and the DAS control group were given an equal volume of corn oil. The above treatment was given once a day for 4 consecutive weeks. At 1 day before treatment, anticoagulated blood was collected from the jugular vein for peripheral blood cell counting. After anesthesia with intraperitoneally injected pentobarbital (50 mg/kg·bw), blood samples were collected from the abdominal aorta, serum was isolated, and the thymus, the spleen, and the femur were freed at a low temperature to measure oxidative and antioxidant indices. The femur at one side was freed for WBC counting in bone marrow. Results: Compared with the blank control group, the benzene model group had significant reductions in the volume, weight, and organ coefficient of the spleen and the thymus (P<0.05) ; compared with the benzene model group, the benzene+low-dose DAS group, the benzene+middle-dose DAS group, and the benzene+high-dose DAS group had significant increases in the volume of the spleen and the thymus and the weight and organ coefficient of the spleen (P<0.05), and the benzene+middle-dose DAS group and the benzene+high-dose DAS group had significant increases in the weight and organ coefficient of the thymus (P<0.05). Compared with the blank control group, the benzene model group had a significant reduction in WBC count in peripheral blood and bone marrow (P<0.05), and compared with the benzene model group, the benzene+middle-dose DAS group and the benzene+high-dose DAS group had a significant increase in WBC count in peripheral blood and bone marrow (P<0.05). Compared with the blank control group, the benzene model group had a significant increase in the serum level of malondialdehyde (MDA) (P<0.05) and significant reductions in total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity, reduced glutathione (GSH) level, GSH/oxidized glutathione (GSSG) ratio, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (P<0.05) ; compared with the benzene model group, the benzene+high-dose DAS group had a significant reduction in the serum level of MDA and significant increases in T-SOD activity, GSH level, GSH/GSSG ratio, and T-AOC (P<0.05). Compared with the blank control group, the benzene model group had a significant increase in the level of MDA (P<0.05) and significant reductions in GSH level, GSH/GSSG ratio, and T-AOC (P<0.05) in the spleen; compared with the benzene model group, the benzene+low-dose DAS group, the benzene+middle-dose DAS group, and the benzene+high-dose DAS group had a significant reduction in MDA level (P<0.05) and significant increases in GSH level and T-AOC (P<0.05), and the benzene+high-dose DAS group had significant increases in T-SOD activity and GSH/GSSG ratio (P<0.05). Compared with the blank control group, the benzene model group had a significant increase in the level of MDA in bone marrow cells (BMCs) and peripheral blood mononucleated cells (PBMCs) (P<0.05) and a significant reduction in T-AOC in PBMCs (P<0.05) ; compared with the benzene model group, the benzene+low-dose DAS group, the benzene+middle-dose DAS group, and the benzene+high-dose DAS group had a significant reduction in the level of MDA in BMCs and PBMCs (P<0.05), and the benzene+high-dose DAS group had significant increases in GSH level and GSH/GSSG ratio (P<0.05) . Conclusion: DAS can antagonize the benzene-induced reduction in peripheral blood WBC, possibly by exerting an anti-oxidative stress effect.

[The historical materials of stomatology in the All Things, Prescriptions of Fifty-two Diseases and Yinshu].

All Things, Prescriptions of Fifty-two Diseases and Yinshu were three bamboo and silk medical manuscripts which form-time was no later than the late Warring States period. From the visible bamboo and silk, the ancient Chinese knew the relationships between some drugs and the volume of saliva and used compound drugs to treat dental caries. Some oral and maxillofacial diseases, such as inflammation and pain of oromaxillo-facial region, temporomandibular dislocation and the methods of treatment were descriped in these books. Mouth-rinsing and tooth-picking were the more often used methods for maintaining oral hygiene. Kouchi(clicking the tooth)was also used for prevention and/or treatment of caries. Most of these knowledge were the first documents in ancient China.

[Effects of San-huang-sheng-fu oil on peripheral circulatory disorders and foot ulcers in diabetic rats and the mechanisms].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of San-huang-sheng-fu oil (S) on peripheral circulatory disorders and foot ulcers in diabetic rats and the relevant mechanisms. METHODS: (1) Twenty-five Wistar rats were divided into non-diabetes (N), diabetes and sham treatment (DS), metformin (M), S, and combined treatment (CT) groups according to the random number table, with 5 rats in each group. Rats in group N were injected with sodium citrate buffer solution, while rats in the other 4 groups were injected with 10 mg/mL streptozotocin to induce diabetes. In post injection week (PIW) 3, feet of rats in all the 5 groups received an ice-cold stimulation to induce peripheral circulatory disorders. From PIW 9 to 12, rats in groups N and DS were gavaged with saline and applied with sesame oil on pelma of both hind limbs; rats in group M were gavaged with diluted M and applied with sesame oil on pelma of both hind limbs; rats in group S were gavaged with saline and applied with S on pelma of both hind limbs; rats in group CT were gavaged with diluted M and applied with S on pelma of both hind limbs. In PIW 9 before treatment (hereinafter referred to as before treatment) and post treatment week (PTW) 1, 2, and 3, plantar temperature and hot pain threshold of rats were detected by infrared thermometer and foot tester respectively. (2) Another 25 rats were divided and induced with diabetes (expect for group N) as above. In PIW 9, rats in the 5 groups were inflicted with foot ulcer in the left pelma of hind limb by steam and received the corresponding treatment. On post treatment day (PTD) 3, 7, 21, and 35, the general condition and area of wounds were observed and measured respectively. All the rats were sacrificed on PTD 35, and wound tissue was collected for histomorphological observation and determination of expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) using HE staining and immunohistochemical staining respectively. Data were processed with analysis of variance for repeated measurement, one-way analysis of variance, and Bonferroni post hoc test. RESULTS: (1) The experiment of peripheral circulatory disorders in diabetes. Compared with the plantar temperature of rats in group N, except for that in group CT in PTW 2 and groups M, S, and CT in PTW 3 (with t values from 0.258 to 2.647, P values above 0.05), the plantar temperature of rats with diabetes in the 4 groups at each time point was lowered significantly (with t values from 2.811 to 6.066, P values below 0.05). Compared with the plantar temperature of rats in group DS, except for that in group CT in PTW 2 and 3 significantly increased (with t values respectively 3.419 and 2.863, P values below 0.05), the plantar temperature of rats in groups M, S, and CT showed no significant difference at each time point (with t values from 0.128 to 1.654, P values above 0.05). The plantar hot pain threshold of rats was significantly decreased in group N than in the other 4 groups before treatment and group S in PTW 1 (with t values from 2.836 to 4.456, P values below 0.05). The plantar hot pain thresholds of rats in groups M, S, and CT were close to the hot pain threshold in group DS (with t values from 0.312 to 1.611, P values above 0.05). (2) The experiment of diabetic foot ulcers. Edema existed in all the wounds of rats on PTD 3. The wound areas of all the rats continued to increase with swelling and scar formation on PTD 7. On PTD 21, the scar of rats in groups N, S, and CT fell off; the wounds of rats in group DS were still swollen; scar of rats did not fall off with dark red in the skin around the wound in group M. On PTD 35, wounds of rats in groups N, S, and CT were nearly healed; while wounds of rats in groups DS and M were still swollen and the scar around the wound failed to fall off. On PTD 3 and 7, the wound areas of rats with diabetes in the 4 groups were close to those in group N (with t values from 0.111 to 1.476, P values above 0.05). On PTD 21, the wound area of rats in group DS was significantly larger than that in group N (t=5.502, P<0.01), while the wound areas of rats with diabetes in the other 3 groups were close to the area in group N (with t values from 0.544 to 1.676, P values above 0.05). On PTD 21, the wound area of rats in group M was close to that in group DS (t=1.895, P>0.05), while the wound areas of rats in groups S and CT were significantly smaller than the area in group DS (with t values respectively 5.809 and 3.426, P<0.05 or P<0.01). On PTD 35, the wound areas of rats in groups DS and M were significantly larger than the area in group N (with t values respectively 8.495 and 4.108, P values below 0.01), while the wound areas of rats in groups S and CT were close to the area in group N (with t values respectively 0.291 and 2.195, P values above 0.05). On PTD 35, the wound area of rats in group M was close to that in group DS (t=0.897, P>0.05); while the wound areas of rats in groups S and CT were significantly smaller than the area in group DS (with t values respectively 6.923 and 6.583, P values below 0.01). On PTD 35, the structures of wound tissue were in better integrity with less inflammatory cells and more regularly arranged collagen fibers around the wounds of rats in groups N, S, and CT than in groups DS and M. On PTD 35, the expression levels of COX-2 and VEGF in the wounds of rats in group DS [respectively (222±89)% and (55±12)%] were close to those in group M [respectively (137±24)% and (94±36)%, with t values respectively 3.046 and 2.653, P values above 0.05]. On PTD 35, the expression level of COX-2 in the wounds of rats in group DS was significantly higher than the expression levels of COX-2 in groups N, S, and CT [respectively (100±35)%, (91±42)%, and (109±17)%, with t values from 4.039 to 4.653, P values below 0.01], while the expression level of VEGF in the wounds of rats in group DS was significantly lower than the expression levels of VEGF in groups N, S, and CT [respectively (100±28)%, (143±12)%, and (120±13)%, with t values from 3.363 to 5.905, P<0.05 or P<0.01]. CONCLUSIONS: S can improve the plantar temperature decrease and pain dysesthesia of rats caused by diabetic peripheral circulatory disorders. It also can promote wound healing of diabetic foot ulcers in rats with down-regulation of COX-2 and up-regulation of VEGF.

First Report of Tomato yellow leaf curl China virus with Betasatellite Infecting Panax notoginseng.

Panax notoginseng, an important medicinal herb commonly known as notoginseng, san qi, or tian qi, is in the family Araliaceae. The herb is mainly cultivated in Guangxi and Yunnan provinces of southern China for its root, which is used in Chinese herbal medicine to treat various blood disorders. In December 2012, Panax yellowing was observed in several notoginseng farms with prevalence of 5 to 10% in Wenshan, Yunnan Province. Foliar symptoms included yellowing, shrinking, curling, and blistering. Leaf samples collected from 15 symptomatic plants were initially tested by negative staining electron microscopy, and no distinct virions were observed. Total nucleic acids were extracted from these samples by a CTAB method and used as templates in RT-PCR for presence of criniviruses, tobamoviruses, and tospoviruses, but results were negative. Infestation of whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) has been a problem on these farms in recent years, suggesting a whitefly-transmitted begomovirus as potential causal agent. To explore this possibility, the samples were tested by PCR using degenerate primers BegoAFor1 and BegoARev1 described by Ha et al. (3). Amplicons of ~1.2 kbp were obtained from 12 out of 15 samples, indicating the presence of a putative begomovirus. These amplicons were cloned and sequenced in both directions. BLAST search showed that they had high sequence identities (94 to 95%) to the genome of Tomato yellow leaf curl China virus (TYLCCNV). A pair of virus-specific primers, TYLCCNVFa (5'-TGRTAGGWACYTGAGTAGAGTGG-3') and TYLCCNVRa (5'-TCRTCCATCCATATCTTCCCAA-3'), was then designed and used to amplify the remaining genomic sequence. The full-length genomic sequence of one isolate, YWSh03, was determined to be 2,733 nt (KJ477327). Sequence comparison showed that the genome of YWSh03 shared 96.2% nucleotide sequence identity with that of TYLCCNV-[G102] (AM050555). PCR using primers Beta01 and Beta02 (1) was also tested for the association of betasatellite with this virus. A DNA fragment was obtained from isolate YWSh03, and its sequence was determined to be 1,336 bp (KJ477326). This sequence has 99.9% nucleotide sequence identity to Tomato yellow leaf curl China betasatellite (TYLCCNB) [Y10] (AJ421621). The results show that TYLCCNV, a virus infecting tomato, tobacco, kidney bean, and several weeds (2), is also associated with the yellowing disease in P. notoginseng. To determine whether TYLCCNV and TYLCCNB might cause disease on P. notoginseng, infectious clones of TYLCCNV and TYLCCNB provided by Dr. Xueping Zhou (Zhejiang University, China) were used to inoculate to 44 healthy P. notoginseng plants by an Agrobacterium-mediated method. Thirty-four inoculated plants showed typical symptoms of yellowing, curling, and stunting, confirming TYLCCNV and TYLCCNB are the causal agents of the disease. To further investigate the distribution and incidence of the virus, 258 symptomatic P. notoginseng samples were collected from 18 fields in Wenshan, Honghe, Qujing, and Kunming of Yunnan Province and tested by PCR with TYLCCNV-specific primers of TYLCCNVdF (5'-CCTGTATATGCGACTTTGAAAGT-3') and TYLCCNVdR (5'-CCCAATTCCAGCTATAAAGAGTA-3'). The virus was detected in 149 samples (57.8%), indicating that TYLCCNV infection of P. notoginseng is common. However, the agent causing the disease in the 109 symptomatic plants lacking TYLCCNV remains under investigation. To our knowledge, this is the first report of TYLCCNV with TYLCCNB infecting P. notoginseng and the family Araliaceae. References: (1) R. W. Briddon et al. Mol Biotechnol. 20:315, 2002. (2) J. H. Dong et al. Plant Pathol. 56:342, 2007. (3) C. Ha et al. J. Gen. Virol. 87:997, 2006.

Investigation on maternal physiological and psychological factors of cheilopalatognathus.

OBJECTIVE: Case-control study on mothers of cheilopalatognathus children was conducted, to investigate the maternal physiological and psychological factors for occurrence of cheilopalatognathus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred ten mothers of cheilopalatognathus children who were scheduled for one-stage surgery were selected as a research group, and 110 mothers of normal children served as a normal control group at the same time. Trait Anxiety Inventory (T-AI), Life Events Scale (LES), Trait Coping Style Questionnaire (TCSQ), Type C Behavior Scale (CBS), adult Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), and homemade general questionnaire survey were employed for the investigation. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the scores for negative event tension value, anxiety, and depressive factors were higher in the study group (p < 0.05); while the scores for positive event tension value, intellect, optimism, and social support factors were lower (p < 0.05). Regression analysis found that physiological factors included were five: education, changes in body weight during pregnancy, the intake amount of milk and beans, and intake of healthcare products, and supplementary folic acid taken or not, while the psychological factors included were four: positive event stimulation, negative event stimulation, the amount of social support, as well as introvert and extrovert personalities. CONCLUSION: The study results suggest that pregnant women's physiological and psychological factors can cause changes in cheilopalatognathus incidence, which is expected to be guidance for healthcare during pregnancy, to prevent the occurrence of cheilopalatognathus.

Effects of chito-oligosaccharide supplementation on performance, nutrient digestibility, and serum composition in broiler chickens.

A total of 196 day-old male broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 1 of 4 treatments in a study conducted to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of chito-oligosaccharide (COS) on growth, nutrient digestibility, and serum composition. The experimental diets consisted of an unsupplemented control diet based on corn, soybean meal, and fish meal or similar diets supplemented with either chlortetracycline, 50 mg/kg of COS, or 100 mg/kg of COS. Each treatment was fed to 7 replicate pens of birds, with 7 birds per pen. Broiler performance, nutrient digestibility, cecal microbial concentrations, and serum indices were measured at the end of the starter (d 21) and grower phases (d 42). During the starter period and overall, broilers fed 50 or 100 mg/kg of COS had better (P<0.05) average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and feed conversion than the control birds. The performance of birds fed chlortetracycline was generally intermediate between that of the control and the 2 COS treatments. Compared with the birds in the control or chlortetracycline treatments, the birds receiving 100 mg/kg of COS had better nutrient digestibility of DM, energy, calcium, and phosphorus; higher (P<0.05) concentrations of cecal Lactobacillus; and lower (P<0.05) serum triglyceride and total cholesterol during the starter phase. During the grower phase, the birds fed 100 mg/kg of COS had higher (P<0.05) calcium digestibility and CP retention than those fed the chlortetracycline treatment, and lower concentrations of cecal Escherichia coli than birds in the control treatment. The serum growth hormone level in birds fed 50 mg/kg of COS was higher (P<0.05) than in the other treatments. The birds fed 100 mg/kg of COS had lower (P<0.05) serum triglyceride, higher (P<0.05) serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and higher serum total protein content than birds in the other treatments. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with COS appeared to improve the average daily gain of broilers by increasing the average daily feed intake and nutrient digestibility and modulating the concentrations of cecal microbial flora. Additionally, COS increased serum protein and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and decreased serum triglyceride.

Potentiating effects of L-type Ca(2+) channel blockers on pentobarbital-induced hypnosis are influenced by serotonergic system.

In order to elucidate the mechanism(s) behind the interactions between barbiturates and Ca(2+) antagonists, the effects of three structurally diverse types of Ca(2+) antagonists combined or not with 5-HT on pentobarbital-induced hypnosis in mice were investigated. The results showed that dihydropyridine derivative nifedipine (10.0 and 20.0 mg/kg, p.o.) and other types of Ca(2+) antagonist, verapamil (5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg, p.o.) and diltiazem (2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg, p.o.) increased both the sleeping time in hypnotic dosage of pentobarbital (45 mg/kg, i.p.) treated mice and the rate of sleep onset in the sub-hypnotic dosage of pentobarbital (28 mg/kg, i.p.) treated mice in a dose-dependent manner, respectively, and these effects were significantly augmented by 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), the immediate precursor of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). Pretreatment with p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA, 300 mg/kg, s.c.), an inhibitor of tryptophan hydroxylase, significantly decreased pentobarbital-induced sleeping time and nifedipine (10.0 mg/kg, p.o.), verapamil (5.0 mg/kg, p.o.) and diltiazem (2.5 mg/kg, p.o.) abolished this effect. From these results, it should be presumed that the augmentative effect of L-type Ca(2+) channel blockers on pentobarbital-induced sleep may be influenced by serotonergic system.

Effect of dietary conjugated linoleic acid on the fatty acid composition of egg yolk, plasma and liver as well as hepatic stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase activity and gene expression in laying hens.

A total of 216 Brown Dwarf laying hens (1.62 +/- 0.06 kg BW and 60 wk old) were fed 1 of 3 corn-soybean meal-based diets containing 0, 2.5, or 5.0% conjugated linoleic aicd (CLA) to explore its effects on the fatty acid composition of egg yolk, plasma, and liver as well as hepatic stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase-1 (SCD-1) activity and its mRNA gene expression. Four hens were placed in wired-floored cages (45 x 40 x 45 cm) and 3 cages were grouped as 1 replicate, resulting in 6 replicates per treatment. The experimental diets were fed for 54 d, and then eggs were collected to determine the fatty acid composition of egg yolk. Four eggs were randomly selected from the total day's production for each replicate, and the contents were pooled prior to analysis. On d 56, one randomly chosen hen from each replicate (6 hens per replicate and a total of 18 hens) was bled via heart puncture and then killed in order to collect liver samples to measure the fatty acid profile of plasma and liver tissue as well as hepatic SCD-1 activity and its mRNA abundance. Dietary supplementation of CLA resulted in a significant deposition of CLA in egg yolk, plasma, and liver lipids (P < 0.01). As the dietary level of CLA increased, the concentration of saturated fatty acids in egg yolk, plasma, and liver also increased (P < 0.05). However, the concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids in these same tissues decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with the control, the activity of SCD-1 was reduced by feeding 2.5% CLA (P < 0.05) without a change in SCD-1 mRNA gene expression. However, feeding 5% CLA reduced both SCD-1 activity and mRNA abundance (P < 0.05). These results indicate that the conversion of saturated to monounsaturated fatty acids in egg yolk, plasma, and liver might be modulated directly at hepatic mRNA gene expression levels, or may be indirectly regulated at the downstream post-transcriptional levels.

Inhibition of polyglutamine aggregation in R6/2 HD brain slices-complex dose-response profiles.

Huntington's disease (HD) is a late onset neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG/polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat expansion. PolyQ aggregates can be detected in the nuclei and processes of neurons in HD patients and mouse models prior to the onset of symptoms. The misfolding and aggregation pathway is an important therapeutic target. To better test the efficacy of aggregation inhibitors, we have developed an organotypic slice culture system. We show here that the formation of polyQ aggregates in hippocampal slices established from the R6/2 mouse follows the same prescribed sequence as occurs in vivo. Using this assay, we show that Congo red and chrysamine G can modulate aggregate formation, but show complex dose-response curves. Oral administration of creatine has been shown to delay the onset of all aspects of the phenotype and neuropathology in R6/2 mice. We show here that creatine can similarly inhibit aggregate formation in the slice culture assay.

[Effect of panaxatriol saponins isolated from Panax notoginseng (PTS) on myocardial ischemic arrhythmia in mice and rats].

PTS, one of the major effective components of Panax notoginseng was found to exert remarked antiarrhythmic activities on coronary artery ligation induced ischemic and reperfused arrhythmias in rats. PTS also reduced the size of myocardial infarct. For i.v. CaCl2-Ach induced atrial fibrillation and/or flutter in mice, PTS produced a significant protective effect. In addition, PTS showed an action of prolonging the life under the condition of normobaric hypoxia.

[A new alkaloid of Menispermum dauricum DC--dauriciline].

A new phenolic dauricine-type alkaloid, named "dauriciline", was isolated from the rhizome of Menispermum dauricum DC. It is a pale yellow powder. Based on spectrometric analysis (UV.FAB-MS and 1HNMR) and chemical reaction the structure of the new alkaloid was elucidated as RR,7,7'-demethyldauricine (VI).

Scavenging effect of schizandrins on active oxygen radicals.

The reactive oxygen radicals produced from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) stimulated with PMA (phorbol myristate acetate), hydroxyl radicals generated by a Fenton reaction, and superoxide anion radicals produced by irradiating solutions of riboflavin in the presence of EDTA have been taken as the models for production of oxygen radicals. With the use of the electron spin resonance spin trapping method, the scavenging effects of schizandrol A (solA) (5 x 10(-4) M) and schizandrin B (sinB) (5 x 10(-4) M) have been studied and compared with the effects of vitamin E (5 x 10(-4) M) and vitamin C (5 x 10(-4) M). It has been found that in cell system the scavenging effects of sinB and solA, as judged by ESR spin trappings, on hydrpxyl radicals (.OH) are greater than vitamin E and vitamin C and the scavenging effects on superoxide anion (O2) are greater than vitamin E but lower than vitamin C. With respect to the Fenton reaction, sinB has the strogest scavenging effect on .OH (77%) and solA has strong scavenging effect on .OH (63%), both of them larger than that of vitamin E (35%) and vitamin C (56%). In the riboflavin/EDTA system, the scavenging effect of sinB (46%) is smaller than that of vitamin C (96%) but larger than that of vitamin E (23%); the scavenging effect of solA is not obvious (14%). With the use of spin probe oximetry, the oxygen consumption during the respiratory burst of stimulated PMN has been measured when exposed to schizandrins. The experiment results demonstrated that they do not affect the activity of production of active oxygen radicals in the respiratory burst of PMN stimulated with PMA.

Scavenging effects on active oxygen radicals by schizandrins with different structures and configurations.

We have studied the scavenging effects of different structures and configurations of schizandrins isolated from Fructus Schizandrae, a traditional Chinese herb, on active oxygen radicals with the method of spin-trapping technique. The active oxygen radicals were produced from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). In addition, the scavenging effects of schizandrins on hydroxyl radicals (.OH) in Fenton's reaction and the scavenging effects on superoxide anions (O2-.) in both riboflavin/EDTA and xanthine/xanthine oxidase systems have also been studied. They are compared with the scavenging effects of both Vitamin C (Vc) and Vitamin E (VE). The experimental results have shown that the scavenging effect of schizandrin B (Sin B) on the active oxygen radicals is stronger than that of S(-) Sin B and R(+) Sin B. For schizandrins of the same molecular structures with different stereoconfigurations the scavenging effects of S type of the benzene ring on active oxygen radicals are stronger than those of R type and for schizandrins of the same stereoconfigurations with different structures the scavenging effects of schizandrin C (Sin C) on the active oxygen radicals are stronger than those of Sin B.

Transient effects of subcutaneously administered prostaglandin E2 on cancellous and cortical bone in young adult dogs.

The transient effects of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on cancellous and cortical bone in iliac crests and mid-tibial shafts of nine intact young adult dogs were evaluated following 31 days of treatment. Histomorphometric bone changes were characterized from in vivo fluorescent double-labeled undecalcified bone specimens. PGE2 caused an increase in cancellous bone remodeling evidence by increased in activation frequency; increased percent eroded and formation surfaces; increased mineral apposition and bone formation rates; and shortened resorption, formation, and total bone remodeling periods. Activated cancellous bone remodeling did not lead to decreased cancellous bone mass, indicating an imbalance between bone resorption and formation in favor of formation (activation----resorption----stimulated formation; A----R----F increases) at remodeling sites. The PGE2 treatment activated bone modeling in the formation mode (activation----formation; A----F) at the periosteal and endocortical surfaces and increased activation frequency of intracortical bone remodeling in the tibial shaft. Increased modeling activation converted quiescent bone surfaces to formation surfaces with stimulated osteoblastic activity (i.e., increased percent labeled periosteal and endocortical surfaces, mineral apposition rates, and woven and lamellar trabecular bone formation) leading to 9- to 26-fold increases in newly formed bone mass in subperiosteal, subendosteal, and marrow regions, compared to controls. However, increased intracortical bone remodelling elevated remodeling space (i.e., increased cortical porosity), producing a bone loss that partially offsets the bone gain. The combined events lead to a positive bone balance in PGE2-treated cortical bone, compared to a negative bone balance in control bones. Collectively our data suggest that in vivo PGE2 is a powerful activator of cancellous and cortical bone formation, which may be able to build a peak bone mass to prevent and/or correct the skeletal defects to cure osteoporosis.

[Scavenging effects of probimane on active oxygen free radicals by electron spin resonance].

Probimane, dl-1,2-bis (4-morpholine-methyl-3, 5-dioxopiperazin-1-yl) propane, is a new antitumor agent synthesized by Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The scavenging effects of probimane on active oxygen radicals produced in 3 different systems were studied with the ESR spin trapping methods. In Fenton's reaction, probimane remarkably scavenged hydroxyl radicals (.OH) and the rate of scavenging .OH by probimane 0.05 mmol/L was 47%, compared to 5% by vitamin E (VE) and 30% by ascorbic acid (AA). In irradiation riboflavin system, in which superoxide (O2-.) was produced, the agent also had the scavenging effects on O2(-.). The rate of scavenging O2-. by probimane 0.05 mmol/L was 13%, higher than that by VE (7%) but lower than that by AA (90%). In cell system where the active oxygen radicals were produced during the respiratory burst of human neutrophils (Neu) stimulated by TPA (tetradecanoylphorbol acetate), probimane exhibited a dose-dependent scavenging action on the radicals. The rate of the radical scavenging by probimane 0.05 mmol/L was 37%, much higher than that by VE (9%) but lower than that by AA (68%). Probimane had no effect on the rate of oxygen consumption by human Neu, measured with spin probe oxymetry.

Scavenging effect of extracts of green tea and natural antioxidants on active oxygen radicals.

With the use of the spin trapping methods, the scavenging effects of the extracts of green tea and other natural foods are studied. In stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) system, water extract fraction 6 (F6) from green tea and green tea polyphenols (GTP) have the strongest scavenging effect on the active oxygen radicals, much stronger than vitamin C (Vc) and vitamin E (VE). Rosemary antioxidants (RA) and Curcumin (Cur) have weaker scavenging effects than Vc, but stronger than VE. In Fenton Reaction, Cur has the strongest scavenging effect (69%) on hydroxyl radicals. In irradiation, riboflavin system F6(74%) and GTP(72%) have very strong scavenging effects that are weaker than Vc, but much stronger than VE (23%). With the use of spin probe oxymetry, the oxygen consumption in respiratory burst of stimulated PMN were measured when the antioxidants existed in these systems. The results demonstrated that these antioxidants did not affect the respiratory burst of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes stimulated with PMA.

[Effects of glycyrrhiza flavonoid on lipid peroxidation and active oxygen radicals].

The antiperoxidant activity of glycyrrhiza flavonoid (FG) was studied by using colorimetric estimation of lipid peroxide (MDA) formation. The scavenging effects of FG on O2-. and OH. was investigated by using chemiluminescence method and spin trapping technique in different systems. The results were as follows: FG 2.8-25 micrograms/ml effectively inhibited MDA formation induced by incubating mice liver homogenate at 37 degrees C for 1 h; FG 0.265-26.5 micrograms/ml or 2.58-258 micrograms/ml was shown to markedly scavenge O2-. in alkaline/DMSO or xanthine/xanthine oxidase systems, respectively in a concentration-dependent manner. FG 144 micrograms/ml or 258 micrograms/ml also significantly scavenged the active oxygen radicals produced by PMN stimulation with PMA or OH. produced in Fenton's reaction respectively. The results suggest that FG may be used as an antioxidant.