Progress on traditional Chinese medicine in treatment of ischemic stroke via the gut-brain axis.

Ischemic stroke is a common issue that severely affects the human health. Between the central nervous system and the enteric system, the " Gut-Brain " axis, the bidirectional connection involved in the neuro-immuno-endocrine network, is crucial for the occurrence and development of ischemic stroke. Ischemic stroke can lead to change in the gut microbiota and gastrointestinal hormones, which will then reversely affect the disease development. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has unique advantages with reference to the treatment for ischemic stroke. The latest research revealed that a significant portion of medicines and prescriptions of TCM exert their therapeutic effects by improving the gut microbiota and regulating the secretion of gastrointestinal hormones. The present review summarized the Chinese medicines that play a therapeutic role in cerebral ischemia through regulating the "Gut-Brain" axis and described the corresponding mechanisms. This study attempts to provide reference for clinical selection of Chinese medicines and helps better understand the relevant mechanisms of action.

Molecular Mechanism of Polysaccharides Extracted from Chinese Medicine Targeting Gut Microbiota for Promoting Health.

The accumulating evidence revealed that gut microbiota plays an important role in pathological process of disease including obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, heart failure, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Polysaccharides extracted from Chinese medicine (CM) can not only alleviate pathological status but also promote health by anti-inflammatory, regulating immunity, lowering blood glucose and lipids, anti-cancer, and anti-oxidation. The alterations of gut microbiota composition and metabolism pathways are the potential mechanisms of CM polysaccharides treatment. In addition, they exert functions through gut-organ axis or play an indirect role by synergistic actions with other drugs or components mediated by gut microbiota. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms of CM polysaccharides interacted with intestinal microbial inhabitants as potential prebiotics for promoting health.

[Acupuncture up-regulates MCT2 expression of peri-ischemic cortex in middle cerebral artery occlusion rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of manual acupuncture (MA)＋ electroacupuncture (EA) on changes of neurological function and expression of monocarboxylate transporter 2(MCT2)in cerebral ischemia (CI) rats, so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of ischemic cerebrovascular disease. METHODS: Eighty male Wistar rats were equally randomized into four groups: normal control (normal), sham operation (sham), model and acupuncture. The CI model was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with a thread embolus. Manual acupuncture stimulation (mild twisting reinforcing-reducing method) was applied to "Baihui"(GV20)and "Fengfu"(GV16) for 10 min. EA (1 mA, 2 Hz /15 Hz) was respectively applied to bilateral "Quchi" (LI11) and "Zusanli"(ST36) for 20 min, once per day for 7 days. The neurological deficit severity was evaluated according to Zea Longa's methods. The activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), fructose-6-phosphate kinase (PFK) and pyruvate kinase (PK) in the peri-ischemic cortex tissue was detected by enzymatic chemistry, and the expression of MCT2 detected by immunofluorescence histochemistry, Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR, separately. RESULTS: After CI and in comparison with the normal and sham groups, the Zea Longa's score, the fluorescence intensity and the expression level of MCT2 protein were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the activity of LDH, PFK and PK in the peri-ischemic cortex was significantly decreased in the model group (P<0.01). There was no significant change in the relative expression of MCT2 mRNA (P>0.05). Following the intervention and in comparison with the model group, the Zea Longa's score was considerably decreased in the acupuncture group (P<0.01), the activity of LDH, PFK and PK，and the expression levels of MCT2 protein and mRNA were considerably or further up-regulated in the acupuncture group (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture intervention can improve neurological function in CI rats, which is possibly related with its effects in up-regulating the expression of MCT2 and promoting the utilization of lactate in peri-ischemic cortex.

[Effect of Electroacupuncture Intervention on Constipation-predominant Irritable Bow l Syndrome and Colonic CGRP and SP Expression in Rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) intervention on constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (C-IBS) and colonic calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) expression levels in IBS rats, so as to reveal its mechanism underlying improvement of lBS. METHODS: A total of 32 male Wistar rats were equally ran-domized into normal control, model, EA-Shangjuxu (ST 37) and EA-Dachangshu (BL 25) groups. The C-IBS model was established according to Peng's methods (2004). EA (2 Hz/100 Hz, 0.1-0.2 mA) was applied to bilateral ST 37 and BL 25 for 30 min, once daily for 7 days. The stool properties (hardness or softness, water content, etc.) were typed (1-7 points) and the fecal water content was calculated by wet weight minus dry weight. The relative expression levels of CGRP and SP proteins in the colon tissues were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the stool property score and stool water content were significantly lower in the model group (P < 0.01). After EA intervention, both stool property scores and stool water contents were obviously higher in the EA-ST 37 and EA-BL 25 groups than in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The expression levels of colonic CGRP and SP proteins were significantly higher in the model group than in the control group, and obviously down-regulated in the two EA intervention groups (P < 0.01). No significant differences were found between the EA-ST 37 and EA-BL 25 groups in the stool property score and stool water content, and colonic CGRP and SP protein expression levels (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: EA intervention can ameliorate the fecal property in C-IBS rats, which may be associated with its function in inhibi-ting the expression of colonic CGRP and SP proteins.

[Effects of two phenolic acids on root zone soil nutrients, soil enzyme activities and pod yield of peanut]. / ä¸¤ç§é šé ¸ç±»ç‰©è´¨å¯¹èŠ±ç”Ÿæ ¹éƒ¨åœŸå£¤å »åˆ†ã€é ¶æ´»æ€§å’Œäº§é‡çš„å½±å“.

In order to investigate the relationship between the accumulation of phenolic acids in peanut continuous cropping soil and the continuous cropping obstacle of peanut, the effects of p-hydroxy benzoic acid and cinnamic acid on peanut root zone soil nutrients, soil enzyme activities and yield of peanut were studied by pot experiment at three stages of peanut, i.e. the pegging stage of peanut (45 days after seedling), the early podding (75 days after seedling) and the end of podding (105 days after seedling) stages. The results showed that the peanut root zone soil nutrients and enzyme activities changed obviously under the two phenolic acids treatment, especially at the pegging stage of peanut. The soil alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, and soil enzyme activities (urease, sucrose, neutral phosphatase) were decreased significantly. At the early and end of podding stages of peanut, the effects of the two phenolic acids on peanut root zone soil nutrients and soil enzyme activities were under a weakening trend. The allelopathy of cinnamic acid was stronger than that of p-hydroxy benzoic acid at the same initial content. The pod yield per pot was reduced by 45.9% and 52.8%, while the pod number of per plant was reduced by 46.2% and 48.9% at higher concentration (80 mg·kg-1 dry soil) of p-hydroxy benzoic acid and cinnamic acid treatments, respectively.

[Effect of electroacupuncture intervention on neurological function, cerebral blood flow and cerebral cytochrome P 450 2 C 11 mRNA expression in rats with focal cerebral ischemia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) intervention on changes of neurological function and expression of cerebral cytochrome P 450 2 C 11 (CYP 2 0 11) mRNA in focal cerebral ischemia (FCI) rats, so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of ischemic cerebral vascular disease. METHODS: Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal, model, EA and EA+ 17-ODYA (17-Octadecynoic acid, an inhibitor for the metabolism of arachidonic acid by cytochrome P 450) groups. Focal cerebral ischemia rats were induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with thread embolus. EA was applied to bilateral "Neiguan"(PC 6 ) and "Quchi" (LI 11) after MCAO. Zea Longa's score and beam walking test (BWT) score of rats were used to evaluate the neurological impairment. Local cerebral blood flow (LCBF) of the pial tissue was moni- tored using Laser-Doppler Flowmetry. The expression of cerebral CYP 2 C 11 mRNA was examined by Real-time Quantitative PCR (qPCR). RESULTS: In comparison with the normal group, BWT score and LCBF of the model group were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and Zea Longa's score and cerebral CYP 2 C 11 mRNA expression level of the model group were significantly increased (P<0.05). While in comparison with the model group, BWT score, LCBF and cerebral CYP2 C 11 mRNA levels were considerably up-regulated and Zea Longa's score was down-regulated in the EA group (P<0.05) rather than in the EA + 17- ODYA group (P<0.05). H.E. stainshowed that the nerve impairment of the ischemic cerebral tissue including the neuronal degeneration, necrosis, apoptosis, etc. was relatively milder in the EA group. CONCLUSION: EA intervention can improve cerebral blood flow and up-regulate cerebral CYP 2 C 11 mRNA expression in FCI rats, which may contribute to its action in improving neu- rological impairment.

Eight new bibenzyl derivatives from Dendrobium candidum.

Eight bibenzyl derivatives, namely dendrocandins J-Q (1-8), were isolated from the stems of Dendrobium candidum. Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR experiments and mass spectrometry. Compounds 1-8 were examined for antioxidant activity by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging assay, and the IC50 values were 36.8, 70.2, 45.0, 60.5, 87.6, 50.4, 22.3, and 30.3 µM, respectively.

Seed-specific silencing of OsMRP5 reduces seed phytic acid and weight in rice.

Phytic acid (PA) is poorly digested by humans and monogastric animals and negatively affects human/animal nutrition and the environment. Rice mutants with reduced PA content have been developed but are often associated with reduced seed weight and viability, lacking breeding value. In the present study, a new approach was explored to reduce seed PA while attaining competitive yield. The OsMRP5 gene, of which mutations are known to reduce seed PA as well as seed yield and viability, was down-regulated specifically in rice seeds by using an artificial microRNA driven by the rice seed specific promoter Ole18. Seed PA contents were reduced by 35.8-71.9% in brown rice grains of transgenic plants compared to their respective null plants (non-transgenic plants derived from the same event). No consistent significant differences of plant height or number of tillers per plant were observed, but significantly lower seed weights (up to 17.8% reduction) were detected in all transgenic lines compared to null plants, accompanied by reductions of seed germination and seedling emergence. It was observed that the silencing of the OsMRP5 gene increased the inorganic P (Pi) levels (up to 7.5 times) in amounts more than the reduction of PA-P in brown rice. This indicates a reduction in P content in other cellular compounds, such as lipids and nucleic acids, which may affect overall seed development. Put together, the present study demonstrated that seed specific silencing of OsMRP5 could significantly reduce the PA content and increase Pi levels in seeds; however, it also significantly lowers seed weight in rice. Discussions were made regarding future directions towards producing agronomically competitive and nutritionally valuable low PA rice.

[Effects of electroacupuncture intervention on neurological function, blood glucose and insulin levels in rats with focal cerebral ischemia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) intervention on dynamic changes of neurological function, blood glucose and insulin levels in rats with focal cerebral ischemia (CI), so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of ischemic cerebral vascular disease. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal, sham-operation (sham), model and EA. CI model was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The four groups were further randomized into 5 subgroups according to time-points of MCAO: 6 hour, day 1, day 3, day 7 and day 14 (8 rats/ group). EA (2 Hz/15 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to bilateral "Neiguan" (PC 6) and "Quchi" (LI 11) for 30 min, once daily for 1 day to 14 days. Neurological impairment was evaluated by Zea Longa 5-point scoring system. Local cerebral blood flow (LCBF) of the cerebral pia mater was determined using Laser Doppler Flowmetry. The levels of abdominal cavity venous blood glucose and serum insulin were measured by using a glucose meter and radioimmunoassay, respectively. RESULTS: In comparison with the normal and sham groups, the rats' body weights and LCBF levels at time-points of day 1, 3, 7 and 14, and blood glucose and serum insulin levels at most time-points of 6 h, day 1, 3, 7 and 14 after CI were significantly decreased in the model group (P < 0.05), and neurological scores at time-points of 6 h, day 1, 3, 7 and 14 were markedly increased in the model group (P < 0.05). After EA intervention, compared with the model group, the rats' body weights at time points of day 3, 7 and 14, LCBF levels on day 7 and 14, blood glucose on day 14, and serum insulin contents at time-points of day 1, 3, 7 and 14 were considerably increased in the EA group (P < 0.05), while Zea Longa scores at time-points of day 3 and 7 were evidently decreased in the EA group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EA intervention is effective in improving neurological function in CI rats, which is probably associated with its functions in improving cerebral blood flow, and up-regulating blood glucose and insulin levels.