Total Flavonoids of Astragalus Inhibit Activated CD4[Formula: see text] T Cells and Regulate Differentiation of Th17/Th1/Treg Cells in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Mice by JAK/STAT and NF[Formula: see text]B Signaling Pathways.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory disease characterized by CD4[Formula: see text] T cell-mediated immune cell infiltration and demyelination in the central nervous system (CNS). The subtypes of CD4[Formula: see text] T cells are T helper cells 1 (Th1), Th2, Th17, and regulatory T cells (Treg), while three other types of cells besides Th2 play a key role in MS and its classic animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Tregs are responsible for immunosuppression, while pathogenic Th1 and Th17 cells cause autoimmune-associated demyelination. Therefore, suppressing Th1 and Th17 cell differentiation and increasing the percentage of Treg cells may contribute to the treatment of EAE/MS. Astragali Radix (AR) is a representative medicine with immunoregulatory, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and neuroprotective effects.The active ingredients in AR include astragalus flavones, polysaccharides, and saponins. In this study, it was found that the total flavonoids of Astragus (TFA) could effectively treat EAE in mice by ameliorating EAE motor disorders, reducing inflammatory damage and demyelination, inhibiting the proportion of Th17 and Th1 cells, and promoting Tregs differentiation by regulating the JAK/STAT and NF[Formula: see text]B signaling pathways. This novel finding may increase the possibility of using AR or TFA as a drug with immunomodulatory effects for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Effects of Eucommia ulmoides extract against renal injury caused by long-term high purine diets in rats.

Diets of overloaded purine-rich foods for a long time are one of the important reasons to cause renal lesions. Eucommia ulmoides is one of the traditional Chinese medicine herbs, which has been used to recover functions of the kidney. However, its mechanism remains unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the effects and protective mechanism of Eucommia ulmoides extract on renal injury caused by long-term high purine diets in rats. SD rats underwent an intragastric adenine (200 mg kg-1 d-1) administration for 9 weeks and were treated for 15 weeks. The results demonstrated that Eucommia ulmoides extract significantly reduced serum Cre and BUN levels in rats. H&E and Masson's trichrome stains showed notable lowering of the infiltration of inflammatory cells, the formation of fibrous tissues and collagen fibers, and improvement in the pathological morphology of kidneys. It also suppressed the protein and mRNA expressions of TGF-ß1 and α-SMA and enhanced E-cadherin expression. Meanwhile, Eucommia ulmoides extract prominently inhibited the mRNA expression of Col I, Col III, Col IV, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 and promoted expressions of MMP-1, MMP-2 and MMP-9. Through our study, it is the first time to prove that Eucommia ulmoides extract could ameliorate renal interstitial fibrosis and may involve in the regulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation enzyme (MMPs/TIMPs) system, promotion of the expression of E-cadherin, and suppression of expressions of TGF-ß1 and α-SMA. The results provide a significant implication for the utilization of Eunomia Ulmoides extract as functional foods to enhance renal functions and improve renal injury caused by high purine diets.

[Correlation between color of Scutellariae Radix pieces and content of five flavonoids after softening and cutting by different methods].

Scutellariae Radix is one of the commonly used heat-clearing and damp-drying drugs in clinical practice. Establishment of the quality evaluation system for Scutellariae Radix is of great significance to ensure safety and effectiveness of clinical drug use.Scutellariae Radix pieces were prepared under different processing conditions with 3 softening methods: boiling,atmospheric steaming and pressurized steaming. High performance liquid chromatography( HPLC) method was used to determine the content of five flavonoids in Scutellariae Radix,and L*,a*,b*values representing color chromaticity of Scutellariae Radix powder were measured by colorimeter,then total color value E*was calculated. Simple correlation and canonical correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between color of Scutellariae Radix powder and content of five flavonoids. The results showed that the contents of baicalin and wogonoside were significantly positively correlated with L*,b*and E*values,but negatively correlated with a*value. The contents of wogonin,apigenin,and melaleuca A were positively correlated with a*value,but negatively correlated with L*,b*,and E*values( P<0. 01). There was a significant negative correlation between the content of flavonoid glycosides and flavonoid aglycones( P<0. 01).All of these indicated that the color of Scutellariae Radix powder was significantly correlated with content of five flavonoids. The experiment results proved that when color difference between Huangqin pieces and medicinal materials was kept at ΔL*<6,Δb*<3,ΔE*<6,the total amount of the two glycosides in the pieces was about ±1. 5% of the medicinal materials; in this case,the total amount of the two glycosides was relatively high and stable,indicating that the color of Huangqin decoction pieces is a concrete manifestation of its intrinsic quality,and the chromaticity value detected by colorimeter can be used as a means to quickly evaluate the quality of Scutellariae Radix pieces. The results provide a new detection index for the characteristic quality evaluation system of Scutellariae Radix pieces.