Peach Kernel Extracts Inhibit Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Activation of HSC-T6 Hepatic Stellate Cells.

There is an important role for hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in liver fibrosis. As it stands, many traditional Chinese medicine formulations can effectively improve liver fibrosis, whether it is clinically used or in animal studies; however, the efficacy and mechanism of the main formulations remain unclear, including the peach kernel, which contains numerous phytochemicals with a wide range of biological activities. The purpose of this study was to investigate peach kernel's anti-liver fibrosis effects. In this study, peach kernel extracts inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activation in HSC-T6 cells and the expression of α-smooth muscle actin and connective tissue growth factor induced by LPS in HSC-T6 cells. Furthermore, peach kernel extracts inhibited signal transducers involving protein kinase B and mitogen-activated protein kinase, which regulate downstream genes associated with inflammation. As a result, peach kernel extracts inhibited inflammatory responses and subsequently inhibited LPS-induced transformation of activated HSC-T6 cells.

Alleviative Effect of Ruellia tuberosa L. on Insulin Resistance and Abnormal Lipid Accumulation in TNF-α-Treated FL83B Mouse Hepatocytes.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disease, and most patients with T2DM develop nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Both diseases are closely linked to insulin resistance (IR). Our previous studies demonstrated that Ruellia tuberosa L. (RTL) extract significantly enhanced glucose uptake in the skeletal muscles and ameliorated hyperglycemia and IR in T2DM rats. We proposed that RTL might be via enhancing hepatic antioxidant capacity. However, the potent RTL bioactivity remains unidentified. In this study, we investigated the effects of RTL on glucose uptake, IR, and lipid accumulation in vitro to mimic the T2DM accompanied by the NAFLD paradigm. FL83B mouse hepatocytes were treated with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) to induce IR, coincubated with oleic acid (OA) to induce lipid accumulation, and then, treated with RTL fractions, fractionated with n-hexane or ethyl acetate (EA), from column chromatography, and analyzed by thin-layer chromatography. Our results showed that the ethyl acetate fraction (EAf2) from RTL significantly increased glucose uptake and suppressed lipid accumulation in TNF-α plus OA-treated FL83B cells. Western blot analysis showed that EAf2 from RTL ameliorated IR by upregulating the expression of insulin-signaling-related proteins, including protein kinase B, glucose transporter-2, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha in TNF-α plus OA-treated FL83B cells. The results of this study suggest that EAf2 from RTL may improve hepatic glucose uptake and alleviate lipid accumulation by ameliorating and suppressing the hepatic insulin signaling and lipogenesis pathways, respectively, in hepatocytes.

Effects of pollen extract EA-10, P5 on chronic prostatitis or infertility with chronic prostatitis.

AIM: To determine the drug action mechanism of pollen extract EA-10, P5 on the treatment of chronic prostatitis (CP) or infertility with CP. METHODS: Malondiadehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and nitrogen monoxide (NO) were measured by biochemical assay, and zinc content was assayed by atomical spectrophotography in the pre-treatment and post-treatment of CP or infertility with CP. RESULTS: Compared with control group, leukocytes in expressed protatic secretion (LEPS), MDA, and NO were increased, and zinc content and SOD were decreased significantly in the pre-treatment of CP. After the treatment, LEPS was improved, and MDA and NO were reduced, while zinc content were increased apparently and the alteration of SOD was not evident (P>0.05). In the pre-treatment of infertility with CP, LEPS, MDA, NO, sperm viability, and seminal leukocytes were obviously higher and seminal plasma SOD, zinc content, and sperm motility were obviously lower than those in control group. After the treatment, LEPS, sperm motility, and sperm viability were improved, MDA, NO, and seminal leukocytes were decreased, SOD and zinc content were increased markedly. CONCLUSION: There was inter-correlation between oxygen free radicals (OFR) and occurrence, development, and recovery of CP; Change of OFR may be involved in the drug action mechanism of EA-10, P5 in the treatment of CP or infertility with CP.