CGplus, a standardized herbal composition ameliorates non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in a tunicamycin-induced mouse model.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has increased by 15-39% worldwide, but no pharmaceutical therapeutics exists. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: This study investigated anti-hepatosteatotic effect of CGplus (a standardized herbal composition of Artemisia iwayomogi, Amomum xanthioides, and Salvia miltiorrhiza) and its underlying mechanisms in a tunicamycin-induced NASH model. METHODS: C57/BL6J male mice were orally administrated CGplus (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg), dimethyl dimethoxy biphenyl dicarboxylate (DDB, 50 mg/kg) or distilled water daily for 5 days. 18 h after a single injection of tunicamycin (ip, 2 mg/kg), the parameters for hepatic steatosis and inflammation were measured. RESULTS: Pretreatment with CGplus significantly attenuated the accumulation of triglycerides and total cholesterol as well as lipid peroxidation, evidenced by quantitative and histopathological analyses in liver tissues. The elevations of serum aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase were significantly ameliorated by CGplus. Also, it normalized the altered activities of pro- (TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6), anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines and lipid metabolism-related molecules in protein and gene expression analyses. CONCLUSION: Our data present experimental evidence for the potential of CGplus as an herbal therapeutic against NAFLD and NASH. Its underlying mechanisms may involve the modulations of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, but further study is required especially for the actions of CGplus on lipid metabolisms.

Antiemetic and Myeloprotective Effects of Rhus verniciflua Stoke in a Cisplatin-Induced Rat Model.

Rhus verniciflua Stoke has been commonly used in traditional medicine to treat gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction diseases. In order to investigate pharmacological properties of Rhus verniciflua Stoke water extract (RVX) on cisplatin-induced amnesia, RVX (0, 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg) was orally administrated for five consecutive days after a single intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin (6 mg/kg) to SD rat. Cisplatin injection significantly increased the kaolin intake (emesis) but reduced the normal diet intake (anorexia) whereas the RVX treatment significantly improved these abnormal diet behaviors at both the acute and delayed phase. The serotonin concentration and the related gene expressions (5-HT3 receptors and SERT) in small intestine tissue were abnormally altered by cisplatin injection, which were significantly attenuated by the RVX treatment. Histological findings of gastrointestinal tracts, as well as the proteins level of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß), revealed the beneficial effect of RVX on cisplatin-induced gastrointestinal inflammation. In addition, RVX significantly improved cisplatin-induced myelosuppression, as evidenced by the observation of leukopenia and by histological examinations in bone marrow. Our findings collectively indicated Rhus verniciflua Stoke improved the resistance of rats to chemotherapy-related adverse effects in the gastrointestinal track and bone marrow.

Determination of trace isoflavone phytoestrogens in biological materials by capillary electrochromatography.

Capillary electrochromatography using a specialty monolithic matrix was utilized in developing a rapid and highly efficient separation of isoflavones in biological materials. Without a preconcentration technique, it is relatively easy to reach ppm-ppb concentrations of these compounds in soy-based foods and verify them structurally using a photodiode array detector. With on-column preconcentration, we were able to measure low-ppb levels in human serum. Using blood samples from human volunteers, whose diet was supplemented by a soy-based product, the method has been validated for high-throughput screening of isoflavones in clinical studies.