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Objective To investigate the effects of cornel iridoid glycoside (CIG) on the learning-memory ability and pathological changes in the brain of vascular dementia (VD) rats; To discuss relevant mechanism of action. Methods SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group, model group, positive medicine group, CIG groups low-, medium- and high-dose groups. The animal model of VD was replicated by permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (2VO) in rats. Drugs were intragastrically administered 6 h after surgery and then once a day for 3 months. Morris water maze test was used to detect spatial learning-memory ability, and recognition memory was measured by the object recognition test. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the neuronal survival and the expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in the brain. Results Three months after permanent 2VO operation, the model rats showed a longer escape latency in Morris water maze, a lower discrimination index in the object recognition test, and a decrease in NeuN positive neuronal survival and ChAT expression in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Compared with the model group, intragastric administration of CIG for 3 months shortened the escape latency in Morris water maze, elevated the discrimination index in the object recognition test, and increased the NeuN positive neuronal survival in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex and ChAT expression of 2VO rats. Conclusion CIG can improve the cognitive impairment of VD model rats through protecting neurons and promoting ChAT expression.
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The plants of Nigella genus distribute worldwide among Southwest Asia, South Europe and North Africa rigions. Their seeds are applied extensively as both traditional food additives and medicinal herbs in all Islamic countries since ancient time. In the past three decades, Nigella seeds were reported to contain fatty acids, volatile oil, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, and other constituents. It had pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, anti-infective, anti-tumor, anti-platelet aggregation effects, etc. In this paper, the chemical composition and pharmacological effects of Nigella seeds in the recent five years are reviewed, which may be helpful for further investigations of these valuable herbs.
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AIM@#To analyze the composition of the Chinese herbal medicine Sanjie Zhentong Capsule (SJZTC) and test the therapeutic efficacy of each component in a rat model of endometriosis.@*METHODS@#A rapid resolution liquid chromatography (RRLC) method coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (Q-TOF MS) has been developed for the analysis of SJZTC. Two main ingredients, Drac(h)onis sanguis and saponin, were tested in the endometriosis model. Sixty Lewis female rats were in the estrous cycle stage when endometriosis was experimentally initiated by peritoneal implantation of endometrial tissue. Four weeks later, a second laparotomy was performed and implant volumes were measured. After that, the implanted rats were randomized into five study groups: control group (treatment with saline), anastrozole group (treatment with anastrole, 18 μg per day), loureirin A group (treated with loureirin A, 97.2 mg), ginsenoside Re group (treated with ginsenoside Re, 64.8 mg), and SJZTC groups (treated with SJZTC, 86.4 mg) administered once a day for 4 weeks via gastric gavage. After four weeks of treatment, a third laparotomy was performed, implant volumes were re-measured, and the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were tested.@*RESULTS@#A total of 38 compounds including, both the target and unknown compounds, were rapidly predicted in the capsule extract by the developed method. Compared with the control group, the anastrozole group, loureirin A group, ginsenoside Re group, and SJZTC treated group showed smaller implant volumes, as well as lower levels of VEGF and TNF-α in the peritoneal focus (P < 0.01 for all comparisons). Furthermore, parameters in the groups treated with SJZTC, loureirin A and ginsenoside Re were significantly better than the control group and the anastrozole group. These results indicate that SJZTC and its two main components are effective in reducing the development of endometriosis.
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Animals , Female , Humans , Rats , Capsules , Chemistry , Disease Models, Animal , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Chemistry , Endometriosis , Drug Therapy , Rats, Inbred LewABSTRACT
Because of the proposed importance of mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase (COX) decrease in Alzheimer's disease (AD) , the protective effect of Shenwu capsule on mitochondrial deficiency model rats and its pharmacological mechanism were investigated in present study. Rats were administered with azide at 1 mg . kg-1 . h-1 subcutaneously via an Alzet minipump for 30 days. Tweny-four hours after the operation, the rats were administered intragastrically by Shenwu capsule with the dose of 0. 45, 0. 9 and 1. 8 g . kg-1 . d-1 for one month. Then learning-memory ability was determined by the watermaze test and passive avoidance tests. The activity of choline-acetyl-transfertase(ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in hippocampus and cortex of rats were measured by radiochemical method and hydroxylamine colorimetry separately. M-cholinergic receptor binding ability (M-binding) was assayed by radio binding. Chronic infusion of sodium azide via minipump induced learning-memory deficiency of rats. Both ChAT activity and M-binding decreased in hippocampus and cortex of model rats, however, the activity of AChE increased in hippocampus and was not affected at the cortex. As the result, the cholinergic function of the brain decreased in model rats. Shenwu capsule significantly improved learning and memory ability and the mechanism may be related with the improved cholinergic function in model brain: ChAT activity and M-binding significantly increased in Shenwu treated groups compared with model group; and the increased activity of AChE in hippocampus returned to normal. Mitochondria, especially mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase, may play the key role in the early event of AD. Chronic, partial in vivo inhibition of mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase in rats provides a suitable model mimicking several aspects of AD. Shenwu capsule indicate effectiveness in AD-like mitochondrial deficiency model rats, so it would be applied in the treatment of AD.