Iron chelation effect of curcumin and baicalein on aplastic anemia mouse model with iron overload.

OBJECTIVES: The current work aimed to assess whether curcumin and baicalein can chelate iron in aplastic anemia (AA) complicated with iron overload, exploring the potential mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A mouse model of AA with iron overload complication was firstly established. Low and high-dose curcumin or baicalein treatment groups were set up, as well as the deferoxamine positive control, normal and model groups (n=8). Hemogram and bone marrow mononuclear cell detection were performed, and TUNEL and immunohistochemical staining were used to evaluate hematopoiesis and apoptosis in the marrow. ELISA, Western blot, and qRT-PCR were employed to assess serum iron (SI), serum ferritin (SF), bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP-6), SMAD family member4 (SMAD4) and transferrin receptor 2 (TfR2) amounts. RESULTS: Both curcumin and baicalein improved white blood cell (increase of 0.28-0.64×109/l in high-dose groups) and hemoglobin (increase of around 10 g/l) amounts significantly, which may related to decreased apoptosis (nearly 30%-50% of that in the model group) in the bone marrow, while their effects on platelet recovery were limited and inferior to that of deferoxamine (DFO). Both test compounds up-regulated hepcidin and its regulators (BMP-6, SMAD, and TfR2) at the protein and mRNA levels; high dosage treatment may be beneficial, being better than DFO administration in lessening iron deposition in the bone marrow. CONCLUSION: Curcumin and baicalein protect hematopoiesis from immune and iron overload-induced apoptosis, exerting iron chelation effects in vivo.

Research on scutellarin parenteral solution's protective effects in rats with severe acute pancreatitis and multiple organ injuries.

The aim of this study was to observe scutellarin parenteral solution's therapeutic effects and mechanisms in rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). We divided SD rats into four groups randomly: (1) sham-operated group, (2) model control group, (3) scutellarin-treated group, and (4) Salvia miltiorrhiza-treated group. All of those rats in the abovementioned groups are randomly subdivided into 6 and 12 h subgroups, respectively, according to the postoperative time. Rats have been mercifully killed at different time after operation, and then detected their serum amylase, contents of ALT, AST, BUN, and Cr and observed the pathologic changes of multiple organs (pancreas, liver, kidneys, and lungs). We found that the survival rates have no marked differences (P < 0.05) between model control group and two treated groups at any time points. AST and BUN serum contents have no marked difference (P > 0.05). ALT serum contents in S. miltiorrhiza-treated group (6 and 12 h) and scutellarin-treated group (12 h) are obviously less than those in model control group (P < 0.05). The serum contents of Cr and amylase in scutellarin-treated group (6 h) are obviously less than those in model control group (P < 0.05). There is a different degree of relief on the pathologic changes of multiple organs in the two treated groups compared with those in model control group, of which pancreas and liver's pathologic severity scores in scutellarin-treated group (6 and 12 h) have reduced (P < 0.01) significantly compared with those in the model control group. However, there are no significant differences between scutellarin-treated group and S. miltiorrhiza-treated group (P > 0.05). We think the scutellarin parenteral solution has a certain protective effect on SAP rats' multiple organ injuries.

Effects of Salvia miltiorrhizae on ICAM-1, TLR4, NF-kappaB and Bax proteins expression in multiple organs of rats with severe acute pancreatitis or obstructive jaundice.

To observe the protective effects of Salvia miltiorrhizae injection on multiple organs of rats with SAP or OJ. Two hundred eighty-eight rats were used for SAP-associated experiments and OJ-associated experiments. The rats were randomly divided into sham-operated, model control and treated group. According to the different time points after operation, the SAP rats in each group were subdivided into 3, 6 and 12 h groups while the OJ rats were divided into 7, 14, 21 and 28 days groups. The mortality rates, pathological changes and ICAM-1 (only in lung), TLR4 (only in liver), Bax and NF-kappaB proteins expression in multiple organs (liver, kidney, lung, intestinal mucosa, spleen, thymus and lymph nodes) were observed, respectively. The mortality rates of treated groups decreased in both SAP and OJ experiments. Compared to model control group, the pathological changes can be seen in treated groups including; (1) the pathological changes of multiple organs in SAP and OJ experiments were improved, the pathological severity scores of kidney (at 6 h), intestinal mucosa (at 12 h), spleen (at 6 and 12 h), thymus (at 3 and 6 h) and lymph nodes (at 3 and 6 h) in SAP experiment and of liver (on 21 and 28 days), lung (21 days), intestinal mucosa (on 21 and 28 days) and spleen (on 21 and 28 days) in OJ experiment significantly declined (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); (2) the positive rate of Bax protein in pancreas (at 3 h) and liver (on 6 and 12 h) in SAP experiment and in liver (on 28 days), kidney (on 21 days), and thymus (on 28 days) in OJ experiment were significantly lower (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); (3) the positive rate of NF-kappaB in liver (at 12 h) and kidney (at 6 h) in SAP experiment and in liver (on 21 days), kidney (on 28 days), intestinal mucosa (on 28 days) and thymus (on 14 days) in OJ experiment significantly decreased (P < 0.05). (4) the positive rate of ICAM-1 in lungs (at 12 h) in SAP experiment was significantly less (P < 0.05). Salvia miltiorrhizae injection can protect multiple organs of SAP or OJ rats and inhibit the expression of ICAM-1, TLR4, NF-kappaB and regulate Bax proteins. Salvia miltiorrhizae may relieve the inflammation response and enhance the immunity function of SAP and OJ rats.

Effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza on intercellular adhesion molecule 1 protein expression in the lungs of rats with severe acute pancreatitis or obstructive jaundice.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to observe the effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza on intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) protein expression in the lungs of rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) or obstructive jaundice (OJ). METHODS: A total of 288 rats were used for SAP- and OJ-associated experiments. The rats were randomly divided into sham-operated, model control, and treated group. According to the difference of time points after operation, the SAP rats of each group were subdivided into 3-, 6-, and 12-hour groups, whereas the OJ rats were divided into 7-, 14-, 21-, and 28-day groups. The contents of interleukin (IL) 6, IL-18, nitric oxide, malondialdehyde, and superoxide dismutase in serum were determined, and pathological changes and ICAM-1 protein expression in the lungs were observed. RESULTS: Compared with the respective model control groups, in treated groups of SAP and OJ rats, the numbers of dead rats declined; serum superoxide dismutase content significantly increased, and serum IL-18, IL-6, and malondialdehyde contents were significantly decreased; the positive staining intensity of ICAM-1 protein in the lungs decreased significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, or P < 0.001); and pathological changes in the lungs were relieved. CONCLUSIONS: Salvia miltiorrhiza plays a positive role in the protection of the lungs of SAP and OJ rats.

Overview the Treatment of Chronic Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Based on Qi and Yin / 浙江中医药大学学报

The understanding and treatment of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) on chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura(CITP) is prosperous,while no conclusion is yielded.By digging out documentation and summarizing clinical experience,"Qi and Yin Discrimination","Viscera Discrimination"and "Meridians Discrimination"are concluded to formulate the idea that the treatment of CIPT should bebased on Qi and Yin in this article,which aims at identifying the understanding of TCM on CITP,and then guiding clinical practice to improve therapeutic effect.