Effects of tetra-arsenic tetra-sulfide on BXSB lupus-prone mice: a pilot study.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease of uncertain etiology that affects multiple tissues and organs. Arsenic trioxide (ATO) has been used in lupus-prone mice with a regulatory effect on immune abnormality. Tetra-arsenic tetra-sulfide (As4S4), a traditional Chinese medicine, is effective on acute promyelocytic leukemia with mild side effects than ATO. In this study, a pilot study was performed to investigate the effects and the mechanism of As4S4 on the lupus-prone BXSB mice. Improvement of monocytosis (p<0.05) in spleen and decreased serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) (p=0.0277) were observed with As4S4 treatment. As4S4-treated mice exhibited amelioration of skin, liver and renal disease with mild side effects. Histological analysis revealed that As4S4 suppressed immune complex deposition, mesangial proliferation and inflammatory cell infiltration in kidney and liver. Our study support that As4S4 selectively suppresses cutaneous lupus and nephritis in BXSB mice and might be a potential treatment for SLE.

Molecular basis of Fas and cytochrome c pathways of apoptosis induced by tartary buckwheat flavonoid in HL-60 cells.

In a previous study, we showed that tartary buckwheat flavonoid (TBF) induced HL-60 leukemic cell apoptosis, most likely via a caspase 3 activating pathway. The aim of this study was to further investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in TBF-induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells. Thus, death receptor Fas expression on HL-60 cells was detected by flow cytometry (FCM). We also studied the effect of TBF on intranuclear DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB, as well as release of mitochondrial cytochrome c into the cytosol in HL-60 cells by FCM. The results suggest that TBF-induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells may be stimulated by the release of cytochrome c to the cytosol, upregulation of Fas expression on the cell surface, and through a caspase-3-dependent mechanism. Furthermore, TBF-induced apoptosis may be partly regulated through the inactivation of NF-kappaB in HL-60 cells. The induction of apoptosis by TBF may be attributed to its cancer chemopreventive activity.

The inhibitory effects of mangiferin, a naturally occurring glucosylxanthone, in bowel carcinogenesis of male F344 rats.

Mangiferin, 1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone-C2-beta-D-glucoside, is one of xanthone derivatives and C-glucosylxanthones, is widely distributed in higher plants and is one of constituents of folk medicines. Recent studies showed that mangiferin has a potential as an anti-oxidant and an anti-viral agent. In this study, we examined the effects of mangiferin in rat colon carcinogenesis induced by chemical carcinogen, azoxymethane (AOM). We performed two experiments: a short-term assay to investigate the effects of mangiferin on the development of preneoplastic lesions by AOM, aberrant crypt foci (ACF), and the following long-term assay for the influence of mangiferin on tumorigenesis induced by AOM. In the short-term assay, 0.1% mangiferin in a diet significantly inhibited the ACF development in rats treated with AOM compared to rats treated with AOM alone (64.6+/-22.0 vs. 108.3+/-43.0). In the long-term assay, the group treated with 0.1% mangiferin in initiation phase of the experimental protocol had significantly lower incidence and multiplicity of intestinal neoplasms induced by AOM (47.3 and 41.8% reductions of the group treated with AOM alone for incidence and multiplicity, respectively). In addition, the cell proliferation in colonic mucosa was reduced in rats treated with mangiferin (65-85% reductions of the group treated with AOM alone). These results suggest that mangiferin has potential as a naturally-occurring chemopreventive agent.

Tartary buckwheat flavonoid activates caspase 3 and induces HL-60 cell apoptosis.

It has been proposed that flavonoids may have potential as anticancer agents. In this study, we showed that tartary buckwheat flavonoid (TBF) obviously inhibits the growth of human acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) HL-60 cells by MTT assay. The inhibitory effect of TBF on the proliferation of HL-60 cells is related to the induction of apoptosis, which is confirmed by DNA ladder formation on gel electrophoresis and apoptosis morphological changes under light microscope. Furthermore, HL-60 cells undergo rapid apoptosis upon treatment with TBF, as indicated by increased annexin V binding capacity and caspase 3 activation with flow cytometric analysis. Thus, our data provide a potential mechanism for the chemopreventive activity of tartary buckwheat flavonoid and suggest that it may have a potentially therapeutic role for human leukemia.

Cytotoxic azadirachtin-type limonoids from Melia azedarach.

Four new limonoids, 1-tigloyl-3,20-diacetyl-11-methoxymeliacarpinin, 3-tigloyl-1,20-diacetyl-11-methoxymeliacarpinin, 1-cinnamoyl-3-hydroxy-11-methoxymeliacarpinin, and 1-deoxy-3-methacrylyl-11-methoxymeliacarpinin, together with a known limonoid, 1-cinnamoyl-3-acetyl-11-methoxymeliacarpinin, were isolated from the extract of the root bark of Melia azedarach. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopy.

Cytotoxic limonoids and tetranortriterpenoids from Melia azedarach.

The ethanolic extract of the root bark of Melia azedarach exhibited cytotoxic activity against lymphocytic leukemia P388 cell lines in vitro. Systematic fractionation of the extract monitored by cytotoxic bioassay led to the isolation of two new azadirachtin-type limonoids, 1-tigloyl-3-acetyl-11-methoxymeliacarpinin (1) and 1-acetyl-3-tigloyl-11-methoxymeliacarpinin (2), together with three highly cytotoxic sendanin-type limonoids, 29-isobutylsendanin (3), 12-hydroxyamoorastin (4) and 29-deacetylsendanin (5). The acetylated derivatives of 4 also underwent cytotoxic bioassay.

Electrodermal and microcirculatory activity in patients with fibromyalgia during baseline, acoustic stimulation and cold pressor tests.

The peripheral sympathetic activity was studied in 27 patients with fibromyalgia and 29 healthy controls through simultaneous measurements of electrodermal variables and blood flow at palmar skin sites during baseline, acoustic stimulation, and cold pressor tests. Compared to the controls, the patient group showed a significantly larger overall increase in the skin electrical conductance and less vasoconstriction during acoustic stimulation and cold pressor tests. These findings imply an increased activity of cholinergic and decreased activity of adrenergic components of the peripheral sympathetic nervous system in patients with fibromyalgia.

[Isolation and identification of antibiotic constituents of propolis from Henan].

Sinapic acid, isoferulic acid, caffeic acid and chrysin were isolated from the alcoholic extraction of propolis and identified by spectrometric methods. The first three compounds were shown with inhibitive effect of against Staphylococcus aureus, while chrysin was ineffective.

[Comparison with the pharmacological actions of Morinda officinalis, Damnacanthus officinarum and Schisandra propinqua].

There are three kinds of plants, Morinda officinalis (1), Damnacanthus officinarum (2), and Schisandra propinqua (3) whose roots have been used since the ancient time. In this paper, some of their pharmacological actions that are related to tonifying and invigorating Yang were examined and compared. The body weight, the thymus weight, the amount of leukocyte in the blood, and the continuing swimming times of the young mice could be increased with the oral administration of the water extractions of (1) and (2) (P less than 0.05-0.001). The Rt of M-receptor in the brains of the hypothyroidism mice were decreased after administration of the water extracts of (1) and (2) (P less than 0.05). (1) could also increased the amount of leukocyte in the blood of leukocytopenia mice caused by radiation of gamma-ray (P less than 0.01). (3) has not shown the obvious effects (P greater than 0.05). The results indicate that (1) and (2) have the ability of anti-fatigue, improving the immunological action of the young mice, and reducing the excitability of the para-sympathetic nervous system of the hypothyroidism mice through decreasing the Rt of M-receptor in their brains. All of them did not show acute toxicity, inducing mutation, and sexual hormone like actions.

Altered sympathetic nervous system response in patients with fibromyalgia (fibrositis syndrome).

Twenty-seven female patients with fibromyalgia and 29 female healthy controls underwent an auditive stimulation test and a left hand cold pressor test at 10 and 4 degrees C. The microcirculatory changes observed, indicate that, as a response to 80 dB, 1000 Hz, 2 seconds sounds and cooling with associated pain, the vasoconstrictory responses are less in patients with fibromyalgia than in normal controls. This could indicate altered sympathetic nervous activity in patients with fibromyalgia and that the cutaneous manifestations previously interpreted as Raynaud's phenomenon should be reconsidered.

[A study of the effect of pathologic factors on the TcBM readings].

Three hundred twenty two transcutaneous bilirubin measurements (TcBM) were performed in 124 Chinese newborns with hyperbilirubinemia and jaundice in evidence. The effect of pathologic factors on the relationship between TcBM readings and total serum bilirubin (SB) levels was analyzed by multiple regression. The results of regression showed that the relationship between TcBM readings and total SB levels was affected by anemia, phototherapy, ABO and Ph hemolytic disease, and premature. Multiple stepwise regression showed that, after adjusting for each other, anemia, phototherapy and Rh hemolytic disease were the significant factors affecting the relationship between the TcBM readings and total SB levels. A practical multiple regression equation for estimation of total SB levels through TcBM readings considering the significant pathologic factors was suggested.