Effect of electroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) on duodenal mast cells, NGF and NTRK1 in rats with functional dyspepsia / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Zusanli" (ST 36) on duodenal mast cells, nerve growth factor (NGF) and neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor type 1 (NTRK1), and to explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) on functional dyspepsia (FD).@*METHODS@#Sixty SPF-grade 10-day-old SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a ketotifen group and an EA group, 15 rats in each group. The FD model was prepared by iodoacetamide combined with rat tail clamping method in the model group, the ketotifen group and the EA group. The rats in the ketotifen group were injected intraperitoneally with ketotifen (1 mg•kg-1•d-1) for 7 days; the rats in the EA group were treated with EA at bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36), with disperse-dense wave, frequency of 2 Hz/50 Hz and intensity of 0.5 mA, 20 min each time, once a day for 14 days. The gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate in each group were observed; the morphology of duodenal mucosa was observed by HE staining; the toluidine blue staining was used to observe the number and degranulation of mast cells in duodenal mucosa; the protein and mRNA expressions of NGF, NTRK1 in duodenum were detected by Western blot and real-time PCR; the level of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in duodenum was measured by ELISA.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the normal group, the gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate in the model group were decreased (P<0.01); compared with the model group, the gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate in the ketotifen group and the EA group were increased (P<0.01); the small intestinal propulsion rate in the EA group was higher than that in the ketotifen group (P<0.01). In the model group, local defects in duodenal mucosa were observed with a small amount of inflammatory cell infiltration; no obvious abnormality was found in duodenal mucosa of the other groups. Compared with the normal group, the mast cells of duodenal mucosa in the model group were increased significantly with significant degranulation; compared with the model group, the mast cells of duodenal mucosa in the ketotifen group and the EA group were decreased significantly, and the degranulation was not obvious. Compared with the normal group, the protein and mRNA expressions of NGF, NTRK1 as well as the level of IL-1β in duodenum in the model group were increased (P<0.01); compared with the model group, the protein and mRNA expressions of NGF, NTRK1 as well as the levels of IL-1β in duodenum in the ketotifen group and the EA group were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05); compared with the ketotifen group, the mRNA expression of NGF, as well as the protein and mRNA expressions of NTRK1 in duodenum in the EA group were decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#EA at "Zusanli" (ST 36) could inhibit the activation of duodenal mast cells and regulate the expressions of NGF and its receptor to improve the low-grade inflammatory response of duodenum, resulting in treatment effect on FD.

ISSR analysis on genetic diversity of traditional medicinal plant Stemona tuberosa / 中草药

Objective To analyze the relationship and genetic diversity of Stemona tuberosa in different populations. Methods ISSR molecular technique was be used to decipher the genetic diversity of S. tuberosa in South of the Yangtze River, The genetic relationships among different populations were analyzed based on software POPGEN32 and the DNA molecular dendrogram was structured according to the software NTSYSpc-2.10E. Results Seventy-four obvious bands of different S. tuberosa populations were amplified with seven suitable ISSR primers, 74 of them were polymorphic sites, and the percentage of polymorphism bands reached to 100%; Effective number of alleles (Ne) is 1.524 4, the average Nei's genetic diversity (He) index is 0.314 6, the average Shannon's information index is 0.478 6, the genetic distance among populations is 0-0.950 2, and the average distance is 0.416 3. Conclusion The study revealed that a relative high genetic diversity occurred in different populations of S. tuberosa, the genetic variation is related to geographical distance in different populations of S. tuberosa. The study will throw light on how to introduce and cultivate traditional Chinese medicinal plant, how to screen peculiar pyrrolidine alkaloids from S. tuberosa, and how to build to scientific standards and theoretical basis for traditional geo-authentic crude drug in China.

Effect of Modified Baizhu Powder on Gastrointestinal Functions in Mouse Models with Stomach-cold Functional Dyspepsia / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of modified Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae) powder on the gastrointestinal function in mouse models with stomach-cold functional dyspepsia. Meanwhile,the mouse models were administered with Shihu (dendrobium), a traditional Chinese drug with cold nature and flavour, to explore the way via which it exert its effect on specific symptoms. Methods: Mouse models with stomach-cold functional dyspepsia were established by ice water and ice NaOH. The effects of modified Baizhu powder and dendrobium on mice were observed in terms of water intake, weight change,small intestine propulsion rate, intestinal absorption function, and effects on ghrelin and motilin.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The modified Baizhu powder effectively increased food intake, water intake, body weight (P<0.05) and swimming time (P<0.01), increased the small intestine propulsion rate and serum D-xylose content (P<0.05), and up-regulated ghrelin (P<0.05). Also, it showed a trend to down-regulate the motilin, although the change was not statistically significant (P>0.05). In contrast,the use of Shihu aggravated symptoms in the mouse models. Conclusion: The changes in ghrelin and motilin levels may be the neuro-endocrine mechanisms via which the modified Baizhu powder and Shihu exert their effects on mouse models.</p>

Cytotoxic constituents from the leaves of Broussonetia papyrifera / 中国天然药物

AIM@#To investigate the chemical constituents from the leaves of Broussonetia papyrifera.@*METHODS@#The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by macroporous adsorptive resin D101, silica gel, and ODS column chromatography and preparative HPLC. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR analyses. In addition, their cytotoxic activity against human hepatoma carcinoma cells (HepG-2) were evaluated by the MTT method. Furthermore, RP-HPLC and colorimetric methods were used for the analysis of cosmosiin and total flavonoids.@*RESULTS@#A new lignan, together with five known compounds were obtained, and their structures were characterized as (+)-pinoresinol-4'-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-4″-O-β-D-apiofuranoside (1), cosmosiin (2), luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), liriodendrin (4), 3, 5, 4'-trihydroxy-bibenzyl-3-O-β-D-glucoside (5), and apigenin-6-C-β-D-glucopyranside (6). Furthermore, RP-HPLC and colorimetric methods were established for the analysis of cosmosiin and total flavonoids.@*CONCLUSION@#Compound 1 was a new lignan, and compounds 5 and 6 were isolated for the first time from the title plant. Compounds 1, 4 and 6 showed definite activities against HepG-2, while the other compounds didn't show inhibitory effects. The optimal harvest time of B. papyrifera (L.) Vent. is September.

Effects of 5-FU combined compound ginseng and astragalus on biological behavior of human gastric cancer MGC-803 cells / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the in vitro effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) combined Compound Ginseng and Astragalus (CGA) on the biological behaviors such as the proliferation, the cloning, apoptosis and migration of human gastric cancer MGC-803 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The cell proliferation inhibition rate was detected by MTT assay, and the median effective concentrations of different drugs used alone/combination were calculated. The cell cycle and apoptosis were observed by flow cytometry. The formation of the cell colony was detected by Giemsa staining. The drugs' inhibition on cell migration was detected by cell scratch experiment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CGA and 5-FU both could inhibit the growth of the human gastric cancer cell line MGC-803 cells, and their effects were enhanced along with increased drug concentrations. Compared with CGA or 5-FU alone, CGA +5-FU got higher cell growth inhibition rate (P<0.05), and the effects were enhanced along with increased concentrations. CGA and 5-FU both could induce the apoptosis of MGC-803 cells, inhibit the formation of cell cloning, block cells at G0/G1 phase, and inhibit the cell migration. Compared with CGA or 5-FU alone, CGA + 5-FU got higher apoptosis rate of MGC- 803 cells, and more cells blocked at G0/G1 phase (P<0.05). Besides, the MGC-803 cells were inhibited at G0/G1 phase. Compared with CGA or 5-FU alone, CGA +5-FU obviously lowered formation of cell cloning and area of cell migration (P<0.05). The median effective concentration of CGA +5-FU was less than the sum of the median effective concentration of CGA and 5-FU.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compared with CGA or 5-FU alone, CGA +5-FU could better inhibit the cell growth of human gastric cancer MGC- 803 cells, suppress the formation of cell cloning, induce cell apoptosis, block the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase, and inhibit the cell migration.</p>