[Protective effects of galacto-oligosaccharide and polydextrose on Caco-2 intestinal cell barrier injury model].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the protective effect of different ratios of galactose oligosaccharide(GOS) and polydextrose(PDX) on intestinal cell barrier damage model of Caco-2. METHODS: The same batch of Caco-2 cells were cultured to form a cell barrier model and randomly divided into damaged model group without calcium, calcium-containing blank control group(1.8 mmol/L Ca~(2+)), low-ratio/low-dose group(1.8 mmol/L Ca~(2+)+2 mg/mL GOS+2 mg/mL PDX) and low-ratio/medium-dose group(1.8 mmol/L Ca~(2+)+4 mg/mL GOS+4 mg/mL PDX), low-ratio/high-dose group(1.8 mmol/L Ca~(2+)+8 mg/mL GOS+8 mg/mL PDX) and high-ratio/low-dose group(1.8 mmol/L Ca~(2+)+0.8 mg/mL GOS+3.2mg/mL PDX), high-ratio/medium-dose group(1.8 mmol/L Ca~(2+)+1.6 mg/mL GOS+6.4 mg/mL PDX), high-ratio/high-dose group(1.8 mmol/L Ca~(2+)+3.2mg/mL GOS+12.8 mg/mL PDX), a total of 8 groups, three parallel groups were performed in each group. The Trans Epithelial Electrical Resistance value and apparent permeability coefficient value of each group were determined after 4 d culture, and the morphology of tight junction proteins ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-1 were observed by immunofluorescence method, and the expression levels of inflammatory related factors in each group were determined by protein microarray method. RESULTS: Compared with damaged model group, TEER ratio in calcium-containing blank control group was significantly increased(P<0.05), while Papp value was significantly decreased(P<0.05);Compared with calcium-containing blank control group, TEER ratio in low-ratio/medium-dose group and high-ratio/high-dose group was significantly increased(P<0.05) while Papp value was significantly decreased(P<0.05), and they could significantly down-regulate some inflammatory response related cytokines. The cell barrier was intact in all groups except for the compact junction protein structure in the model group. CONCLUSION: Compared with Ca~(2+) alone, the combination of two prebiotics can enhance the density of Caco-2 cell barrier and reduced the permeability of cell bypass. And it can significantly reduce the expression level of some inflammatory cytokines and effectively protect the intestinal cell barrier.

Effects of Menaquinone-7 on the Bone Health of Growing Rats under Calcium Restriction: New Insights from Microbiome-Metabolomics.

Insufficient calcium intake during growth is a global public health concern. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary menaquinone-7 (MK-7) on bone accrual in growing Sprague-Dawley rats under calcium restriction. Following 13 weeks of treatment, various bone quality parameters, including microarchitecture, were measured. Fecal and cecal samples were subjected to microbiome (16S rRNA gene sequencing) analyses, while metabolomics analysis of the cecum and humerus samples was analyzed based on UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS. We found that calcium deficiency diminished the richness of the microbiome and disrupted microbiome composition, accompanied by an elevation in the relative abundance of Parasutterella. Furthermore, calcium insufficiency escalated the level of isovaleric acid and modified the metabolic profiles. MK-7 supplementation significantly increased the cortical thickness, cortical bone area, and the calcium content of the femur. Apart from improving bone calcium deposition and diminishing bone resorption, the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of MK on bone quality also involve the modulation of the host's metabolic pathways and the composition of gut microbiota. The gut-bone axis holds promise as an efficacious target for ameliorating calcium deficiency in children's bone quality, and MK-7 is a promising dietary supplement from this perspective.

General toxicity and genotoxicity of alternariol: a novel 28-day multi-endpoint assessment in male Sprague-Dawley rats.

Alternariol (AOH) is one of the toxins of Alternaria, and it has been widely detected in a variety of foods. It has been reported to be cytotoxic, dermally toxic, genotoxic, and potentially carcinogenic in vitro. However, in vivo toxicity data are lacking. This study used a novel in vivo 28-day multi-endpoint (Pig-a assay + micronucleus test + comet assay) genotoxicity evaluation system to evaluate the general toxicity and genotoxicity of AOH. A total of 42 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly distributed into three AOH-treated groups (5.51, 10.03, and 22.05 µg/kg bw), one AOH high-dose recovery group (AOH-HR, 22.05 µg/kg bw), one positive control group (N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea, 40 mg/kg bw), and two vehicle control groups (corn oil and PBS). Treatments were administered by oral gavage for 28 consecutive days. Histopathological lesions were observed in the liver, kidney, and spleen in all AOH-treated groups. No statistical difference was found in each genotoxicity index within 28 days in the AOH-treated groups compared with those in the corn oil group. On day 42, in the AOH-HR group, the rate of Pig-a mutant phenotype reticulocytes (RETCD59-) significantly increased. On day 56, both RETCD59- and the rate of Pig-a mutant phenotype erythrocytes (RBCCD59-) were significantly reduced. These findings indicated that AOH might cumulatively induce genetic mutations.

Bioactivity-guided isolation of compounds from Sophora flavescens with antibacterial activity against Acinetobacter baumannii.

Bioactivity-guided fraction of an extract of Sophora flavescens to identify antibacterial compounds against Acinetobacter baumannii, led to the isolation of two new compounds, (2″R)-5-methoxy-7-hydroxy-8-lavandulylchromone (13) and (2S,ßS)-(-)-sophobiflavonoid CE (19), and 18 known flavonoids, (6aR,11aR)-(-)-maackiain (1), (2S)-(-)-8-prenylnaringenin (2), (2S)-(-)-exiguaflavanone K (3), (2S)-(-)-sophoraflavanone G (4), (2S)-(-)-leachianone A (5), (2S)-(-)-kushenol E (6), (2S)-(-)-leachianone G (7), (±)-kushenol F (8), (2S)-(-)-kurarinone (9), (2S)-(-)-kurarinol (10), (2 R,3R)- (+)-3,7,4'-trihydroxy-5-methoxy-8-prenylflavanone (11), (2S)-(-)-isoxanthohumol (12), (2S)-(-)-2'-methoxykurarinone (14), (2 R,3R)-(+)-kushenol I (15), calycosin (16), kuraridin (17), (2S)-(-)-kushenol A (18), and trifolirhizin (20). Their structures were elucidated based on NMR, MS, and CD spectroscopic analysis. Among them, 1, 2, 5, and 15 exerted modest antibacterial activity against A. baumannii, with MIC95 of 128-256 µg/mL for 2 and 256-512 µg/mL for 1, 5 and 15.

Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis Induced by Chenopodium ambrosioides L. Essential Oil in Human Normal Liver Cell Line L02 via the Endogenous Mitochondrial Pathway Rather Than the Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress.

Chenopodium ambrosioides L. (C. ambrosioides) has been used as dietary condiments and as traditional medicine in South America. The oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides L. (C. ambrosioides) can be used as a natural antioxidant in food processing. It also has analgesic, sedating, and deworming effects, and can be used along with the whole plant for its medical effects: decongestion, as an insecticide, and to offer menstruation pain relief. This study was conducted to investigate the cytotoxicity and apoptosis effects of an essential oil from C. ambrosioides in vitro. The cytotoxicity evaluation of the essential oil from C. ambrosioides on human normal liver cell line L02 was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. AO/EB dual fluorescent staining assay and Annexin V-FITC were used for apoptosis analysis. The changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were analyzed with 5,5,6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1,3,3,-tetraethyl-imidacarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) dye under a fluorescence microscope. The level of apoptosis related protein expression was quantified by Western blot. The L02 cells were treated with the essential oil from C. ambrosioides at 24, 48, and 72 h, and the IC50 values were 65.45, 58.03, and 35.47 µg/mL, respectively. The AO/EB staining showed that viable apoptotic cells, non-viable apoptotic cells, and non-viable non-apoptotic cells appeared among the L02 cells under the fluorescence microscope. Cell cycle arrest at the S phase and cell apoptosis increased through flow cytometry in the L02 cells treated with the essential oil. MMP decreased in a concentration-dependent manner, as seen through JC-1 staining under the fluorescence microscope. In the L02 cells as shown by Western blot and qPCR, the amount of the apoptosis-related proteins and the mRNA expression levels of cytochrome C, Bax, Caspase-9, and Caspase-3 increased, Bcl-2 decreased, and Caspase-12, which is expressed in the endoplasmic reticulum, showed no obvious changes in protein amount or mRNA expression level. The essential oil form C. ambrosioides had a cytotoxic effect on L02 cells. It could inhibit L02 cell proliferation, arrest the cell cycle at the S phase, and induce L02 cell apoptosis through the endogenous mitochondrial pathway.

A plant-based medicinal food inhibits the growth of human gastric carcinoma by reversing epithelial-mesenchymal transition via the canonical Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Natural products, especially those with high contents of phytochemicals, are promising alternative medicines owing to their antitumor properties and few side effects. In this study, the effects of a plant-based medicinal food (PBMF) composed of six medicinal and edible plants, namely, Coix seed, Lentinula edodes, Asparagus officinalis L., Houttuynia cordata, Dandelion, and Grifola frondosa, on gastric cancer and the underlying molecular mechanisms were investigated in vivo. METHODS: A subcutaneous xenograft model of gastric cancer was successfully established in nude mice inoculated with SGC-7901 cells. The tumor-bearing mice were separately underwent with particular diets supplemented with three doses of PBMF (43.22, 86.44, and 172.88 g/kg diet) for 30 days. Tumor volumes were recorded. Histopathological changes in and apoptosis of the xenografts were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling staining, respectively. Serum levels of TNF-α, MMP-2, and MMP-9 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mRNA expression levels of ß-catenin, GSK-3ß, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, MMP-2/9, Snail, Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-3/9, and Cyclin D1 were evaluated via real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The protein expression levels of GSK-3ß, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Ki-67 were determined by immunohistochemistry staining. RESULTS: PBMF treatment efficiently suppressed neoplastic growth, induced apoptosis, and aggravated necrosis in the xenografts of SGC-7901 cells. PBMF treatment significantly decreased the serum levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and significantly increased that of TNF-α. Furthermore, PBMF treatment notably upregulated the mRNA expression levels of GSK-3ß, E-cadherin, Bax, Caspase-3, and Caspase-9 but substantially downregulated those of ß-catenin, N-cadherin, MMP-2, MMP-9, Snail, and Cyclin D1 in tumor tissues. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was upregulated at the mRNA level. Moreover, PBMF treatment remarkably increased the protein expression levels of GSK-3ß and E-cadherin but notably reduced those of Ki-67 and N-cadherin in tumor tissues. CONCLUSIONS: The PBMF concocted herein exerts anti-gastric cancer activities via epithelial-mesenchymal transition reversal, apoptosis induction, and proliferation inhibition. The underlying molecular mechanisms likely rely on suppressing the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

Total and Sn-2 Fatty Acid Profile in Human Colostrum and Mature Breast Milk of Women Living in Inland and Coastal Areas of China.

INTRODUCTION: Although lipid is the major energy source and exerts beneficial effects on infant growth, research on the composition of fatty acid (FA) at the sn-2 position of human milk (HM) in China and abroad is limited. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the FA positional distribution in colostrum and mature HM of women living in the inland and coastal areas of China and explore the potential influences of geographical region and lactation stage on the FA profile of Chinese women. METHODS: Colostrum milk (n = 61) and mature milk (n = 56) samples were obtained longitudinally from healthy lactating women in Guangzhou and Chengdu, China. Gas chromatography was used to determine the total and sn-2 FA composition. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in the FA profile of HM between different regions and lactation stages, with differences in polyunsaturated FA levels being the most pronounced. Nearly 70% of sn-2 FAs were saturated FAs, of which C16:0 accounted for approximately 75%. C8:0, C10:0, C18:0, C20:0, C22:0, and all of the unsaturated FAs were mainly located at the sn-1 and sn-3 positions, while C14:0, C15:0, and C16:0 were mainly at the sn-2 position. The proportion of C12:0 and C17:0 at sn-2 was approximately equivalent to that at the sn-1, 3 positions. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate the variability in the FA profile of HM between regions and lactation stages. The contents of polyunsaturated FAs and sn-2 FAs, especially palmitic acid, should be paid more attention when optimizing infant formula.

Effects of Malania oleifera Chun Oil on the Improvement of Learning and Memory Function in Mice.

BACKGROUND: The fruits of Malania oleifera Chun & S. K. Lee have been highly sought after medically because its seeds have high oil content (>60%), especially the highest known proportion of nervonic acid (>55%). Objective of the Study. The objective was to explore the effects of different doses of Malania oleifera Chun oil (MOC oil) on the learning and memory of mice and to evaluate whether additional DHA algae oil and vitamin E could help MOC oil improve learning and memory and its possible mechanisms. METHODS: After 30 days of oral administration of the relevant agents to mice, behavioral tests were conducted as well as detection of oxidative stress parameters (superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, and glutathione peroxidase) and biochemical indicators (acetylcholine, acetyl cholinesterase, and choline acetyltransferase) in the hippocampus. RESULTS: Experimental results demonstrated that MOC oil treatment could markedly improve learning and memory of mouse models in behavioral experiments and increase the activity of GSH-PX in hippocampus and reduce the content of MDA, especially the dose of 46.27 mg/kg. The addition of DHA and VE could better assist MOC oil to improve the learning and memory, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of oxidative stress and restrain the activity of AChE and also increase the content of ACh. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that MOC oil treatment could improve learning and memory impairments. Therefore, we suggest that MOC oil is a potentially important resource for the development of nervonic acid products.

Effects of Tart Cherry Powder on Serum Uric Acid in Hyperuricemia Rat Model.

Hyperuricemia, as a critical risk factor for various adverse clinical outcomes, shows a trend of increasing prevalence among young-aged population. Dietary adjuvant therapy by function foods, such as tart cherry, is promising. Thus, effects of tart cherry powder specialized in hyperuricemia were explored via establishing a hyperuricemia model in Sprague Dawley rats by cotreatment with oteracil potassium and adenine. The results indicated that low dose of tart cherry powder (0.17 g/kg·bw) showed effects on hyperuricemia by slightly decreasing serum uric acid and improving kidney injury, whereas high dose of tart cherry powder (0.50 g/kg·bw) could merely alleviate kidney injury. Meanwhile, adenosine deaminase activity rather than xanthine oxidase activity was affected at low dose, which reveals low dose of tarty cherry powder may be beneficial to hyperuricemia through reduction of ADA activity, and its reported potentials on antioxidation or anti-inflammation provide clues for further study.

Effects of Astaxanthin Supplementation on Oxidative Stress.

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in six databases from 1948 to 2015 to assess the antioxidant activity of astaxanthin in humans. Nine randomized controlled trials were included in the systematic review. Results of meta-analysis revealed a borderline significant antioxidant effect of astaxanthin between the intervention and control groups, with a malondialdehyde-lowering effect for lipid peroxidation (p = 0.050). However, the data included here are insufficient. When compared with the baseline in intervention groups, the meta-analysis suggested that astaxanthin supplements significantly decreased plasma malondialdehyde {Standard mean difference (SMD) -1.32 µmol/L [95% CI -1.92, -0.72]; p < 0.0001} and isoprostane (SMD -3.10 ng/mL [95% CI -4.69, -1.51]; p < 0.0001). However, they increased superoxide dismutase (SMD 1.57 U/mL [95% CI 0.57, 2.56]; p = 0.002) and total antioxidant capacity (SMD 0.77 mmol 95% CI [0.12, 1.43]; p = 0.018). For dosage subgroup analysis, high dose (≥20 mg/day) of astaxanthin showed significant antioxidant effect (on total antioxidant capacity, isoprostane, and superoxide dismutase, p < 0.05). However, low dose (<20 mg/day) showed no significant effect (p > 0.05). Further duration subgroup analysis indicated that astaxanthin showed antioxidant effect after a 3-week intervention (p < 0.001), whereas this effect was not observed after a 12-week or 3-month intervention (on isoprostane and superoxide dismutase, p > 0.05). This review suggested that the antioxidant effect of astaxanthin on humans is unclear.

Effects of Alismatis Rhizoma and Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae Decoction on Hyperuricemia in Rats.

The combination of Alismatis Rhizoma (AR) and Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae (RSG), as Chinese herb medicine, has been used for their uric acid-lowering effect. However, the effects and mechanism of the combination of the two medicines have not been fully reported. Therefore, to explore the effects of AR-RSG combination decoction on the treatment of chronic hyperuricemia (HUA) in rats as well as the underlying mechanisms, in this study, at the first stage, a long-term HUA rats model was established by gavage of oteracil potassium plus adenine; allopurinol was used as the positive control, and the uric acid-lowering effects of AR or RSG decoction alone with low and high dose were evaluated, respectively. Serum uric acid (UA) and xanthine oxidase (XOD) were determined mainly, and pathological analysis of the kidney and liver was carried out after sacrifice of the animals. And then, at the second stage, four dose groups of AR-RSG combination treatment were investigated in HUA rats. In addition to the indicators measured at the first stage, the expression of urate anion exchanger 1 (URAT1) in rat kidney was determined by immunohistochemistry. We discovered that the UA levels of the model group in both stages were significantly and steadily higher than those of control groups. AR and RSG alone or in combination possess ability to decrease serum UA level of HUA rats, with effects more marked in the combination groups. The uric acid-lowering mechanism of AR-RSG combination may be related to its inhibiting activity of XOD, improving kidney damage and downregulating the expression of URAT1 in kidney.

A Compound of Chinese Herbs Protects against Alcoholic Liver Fibrosis in Rats via the TGF-ß1/Smad Signaling Pathway.

Alcoholic liver fibrosis (ALF) has become a major public health concern owing to its health impacts and the lack of effective treatment strategies for the disease. In this study, we investigated the effect of a compound composed of Chinese herbs Pueraria lobata (Willd.), Salvia miltiorrhiza, Schisandra chinensis, and Silybum marianum on ALF. An ALF model was established. Rats were fed with modified Lieber-Decarli alcohol liquid diet and injected with trace CCl4 at late stage. The rats were then treated with several doses of the compound. Biochemical and fibrosis-relevant parameters were measured from the sera obtained from the rats. Liver tissues were obtained for hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome staining. Matrix metalloproteinase-13 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 were determined by immunohistochemistry assays. The mRNA and protein expression levels of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1), Smad2, Smad3, and Smad7 on the livers were also measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Results showed that the compound treatment alleviated pathological lesions in the liver, decreased the serum levels of hyaluronan, laminin, and hydroxyproline, and diminished the expression of hepatic tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1. Compound treatment also increased hepatic matrix metalloproteinase-13 expression and inhibited the TGF-ß1/Smad signaling pathway. In conclusion, the compound has a protective effect against ALF in rats, and an underlying mechanism is involved in the TGF-ß1/Smad signaling pathway.

Treatment of Sewage Using a Constructed Soil Rapid Infiltration System Combined with Pre-Denitrification.

The activated sludge process of the anaerobic/oxic (A/O) process has a good denitrification performance because it can make full use of the carbon source in the original sewage, and the denitrification can provide alkalinity for aerobic nitrification. The traditional constructed soil rapid infiltration (CSRI) system, on the other hand, has a poor nitrogen removal effect. Dividing the traditional CSRI system into two sections, one performs denitrification as an anoxic section, while the other performs nitrification as an aerobic section and is placed after the anoxic section. The nitrification liquid of the effluent from the aerobic section is mixed with the original wastewater and enters the anoxic section for denitrification. We expected that this would be improved by combining CSRI with a pre-denitrification step that would make full use of the carbon source in the original sewage. In a small-scale experimental model, the removal efficiencies of nitrogen, in the form of ammonium, nitrate, and total nitrogen (TN), as well as chemical oxygen demand (COD), were determined. The hydraulic load was varied, while the backflow reflux capacity was kept constant, to determine the effect on the pre-denitrification process. An average removal rate of 95.4% for NH4⁺-N and 96% for COD could be obtained when a hydraulic load of 80 cm³(cm²·d)-1 and a reflux ratio of 75% were applied. Under these conditions, the average removal rate of TN was 77.4%, which is much higher than what can be typically achieved with conventional CSRI systems.

Lycopene/tomato consumption and the risk of prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies.

Lycopene/tomato has been discussed as a potential effecter in the prevention and therapy of prostate cancer; however, no systematic review has been reported to illustrate its effect recently. In the present study, a meta-analysis was carried out to determine whether intake of lycopene and tomato/tomato products could reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Eleven cohort studies and six nested case-control studies were identified through searching of international journal databases and reference lists of relevant publications. Two reviewers independently assessed the study quality and extracted data from each identified study; only studies with sufficient quality were included in the review. The main outcome of interest was incidence of prostate cancer. Compared with consumers of lower raw tomato intake, the odds ratio (OR) of incidence of prostate cancer among consumers of higher raw tomato intake was 0.81 [95% confidential interval (CI) 0.59-1.10]; for consumers of higher level of cooked tomato intake versus lower cooked tomato intake, this OR was 0.85 (95% CI 0.69-1.06); the OR of higher lycopene intake versus lower lycopene intake for prostate cancer was 0.93 (95% CI 0.86-1.01) and the OR for higher level of serum lycopene versus lower serum lycopene level was 0.97 (95% CI 0.88-1.08). It's suggested that tomato may play a modest role in the prevention of prostate cancer. Further research would be needed to determine the type and quantity of tomato products regarding their potential in preventing prostate cancer.

Effect of lycopene supplementation on oxidative stress: an exploratory systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Lycopene is a potentially useful compound for preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases and cancers. Studies on the effects of lycopene on oxidative stress offer insights into its mechanism of action and provide evidence-based rationale for its supplementation. In this analysis, randomized controlled trials of the effects of oral lycopene supplementation on any valid outcomes of oxidative stress were identified and pooled through a search of international journal databases and reference lists of relevant publications. Two reviewers extracted data from each of the identified studies. Only studies of sufficient quality were included. Twelve parallel trials and one crossover trial were included in the systematic review, and six trials provided data for quantitative meta-analysis. Our results indicate that lycopene supplementation significantly decreases the DNA tail length, as determined using comet assays, with a mean difference (MD) of -6.27 [95% confidence interval (CI) -10.74, -1.90] (P=.006) between the lycopene intervention groups and the control groups. Lycopene supplementation does not significantly prolong the lag time of low-density lipoprotein (MD 3.76 [95% CI -2.48, 10.01]; P=.24). Lycopene possibly alleviates oxidative stress; however, biomarker research for oxidative stress needs be more consistent with the outcomes in lycopene intervention trials for disease prevention.

[Protective effects of tianji capsule on vascular endothelial cells from oxidative injury induced by hydrogen peroxide in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To study the protective effects of Tianji capsule (TJ) on vascular endothelial cells from oxidative injury induced by hydrogen peroxide and its possible mechanism of anti-oxidation. METHODS: The effect of TJ on the proliferation of normal human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) as well as its cytotoxicity was evaluated with methylthiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. After the establishment of oxidative injury model of HUVECs, control, oxidative injury model, TJ and CoQ10 treatment groups were set up. HUVECs were incubated with 37.5, 75, 150 and 300 microg/mL TJ or 100 microg/mL CoQ10 for 24 h, and 0.1 mmol/L H2O2 (final concentration) was added to HUVECs in each groups for 30 min. Then collected the cells for proliferation detection with MTT assay, and the levels of MDA and NO, the activities of SOD, GSH-Px and NOS, as well as the releasing rate of LDH in HUVECs were also determined. RESULTS: No cytotoxicity was observed in HUVECs with less than 400 microg/ mL TJ incubated for 48 h, but increased proliferation rates were noticed. Pretreated with TJ (37.5, 75, 150 and 300 microg/mL), increased proliferation rate, the activities of SOD, GSH-Px, NOS were observed, but the decreased level of MDA and releasing rate of LDH were also found. CONCLUSION: TJ could protect HUVECs against oxidative injury induced by H2O2.

[Study on protective effect of Tianji soft capsule on blood lipids, internal antioxidant system and vascular endothelial system in hyperlipidemia rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the protective effects of Tianji soft capsule (TJSC) on blood lipids, internal antioxidant system and vascular endothelial system in hyperlipidemia rats. METHODS: Seventy two healthy male rats were divided into six groups. The rats in control group were administered with ordinary diet. The rats in model group were fed with high cholesterol/lipid diet to induce hyperlipidemia. The rats in TJSC and CoQ10 groups were fed with high cholesterol/lipid diet, and treated with TJSC at different doses of 83 (low-dose group, L), 250 (middle-dose group, M), 750 (high-dose group, H) mg/kg, and CoQ10 at the dose of 83 mg/kg, respectively. All animals were put to death after four weeks, effects on lipid level; antioxidant system and endothelial system were evaluated through detection of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), atherogenic index (AI), malondidehyde (MDA) and plasma endothelin (ET), HDL/TC ratio, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and nitric oxide (NO). RESULTS: Compared with model group, serum TC, TG, VLDL, AI, MDA and ET reduced and the HDL/TC ratio increased, meanwhile activities of SOD and NO were enhanced. CONCLUSION: TJSC can regulate the lipid metabolism, enhance antioxidant system and protect the vascular endothelia system in hyperlipiemic rats.