Anti-obesity effect of total phenylpropanoid glycosides from Ligustrum robustum Blume in fatty diet-fed mice via up-regulating leptin.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In Chinese folk medicine, the leaves of Ligustrum robustum Blume (LR) were commonly used in the treatment of obesity and hyperlipidemia. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-obesity effect and mechanisms of total phenylpropanoid glycosides from Ligustrum robustum Blume (LRTPG) in fatty diet-fed C57BL/6J mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were divided randomly into 6 groups, i.e., control, model, positive (Orlistat 0.12g/kg), and LRTPG at three dosages (0.3, 0.6 or 1.2g/kg), respectively. Control mice were fed with standard diet; the others were fed with fatty diet. After 4 weeks׳ modeling, therapy mice were intragastrically administrated with positive drug or LRTPG for 5 weeks, respectively. Pharmacodynamic effects including body weight, fat weight, Lee׳s index, serum lipid levels, morphological changes and adipocyte area ratio were evaluated. The mechanisms were explored as the factors related to lipids metabolism in gene expressions by real-time PCR, and assured as the protein level of differential gene by Western blotting. RESULTS: The anti-obesity effects of LRTPG in all treated mice were shown as decreased body weight, fat mass, Lee׳s index, total cholesterol (TC) level, and adipocyte area. The mechanisms were demonstrated as elevated mRNA and protein levels of adipose leptin, and consequently decreasing mRNA of adipose acyl coenzyme A: diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) with increasing mRNA of hepatic cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1), which led to inhibition of triglyceride (TG) synthesis and promotion of cholesterol catabolism. CONCLUSIONS: The anti-obesity effect of LRTPG in fatty diet-fed mice was related to the up-regulation of leptin, which may provide scientific evidence supporting the traditional usage of LR on obesity in China.

Anticancer effect of total annonaceous acetogenins on hepatocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To confirm the anticancer effect of total annonaceous acetogenins (TAAs) abstracted from Annona squamosa Linn. on human hepatocarcinoma. METHODS: The inhibitory effect of TAAs was demonstrated in H22-bearing mice. The potency of TAAs was confirmed as its 50% inhibiting concentration (IC50) on Bel-7402 cell under Sulfur Rhodamine B staining. Both underlying mechanisms were explored as cellular apoptosis and cell cycle under flow cytometry. Mitochondrial and recipient apoptotic pathways were differentiated as mitochondrial membrane potential under flow cytometry and caspases activities under fluorescence analysis. RESULTS: The inhibitory rate of TAAs in mice was 50.98% at 4 mg/kg dose. The IC50 of TAAs on Bel-7402 was 20.06 µg/mL (15.13-26.61µg/mL). Effective mechanisms of TAAs were confirmed as both of arresting cell cycle at G1 phase and inducing apoptosis dose- and time-dependently. Mitochondrial and recipient pathways involved in apoptotic actions of TAAs. CONCLUSION: TAAs is effective for hepatocarcinoma, via inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis.

[Review about mechanisms of anti-cancer of Solanum nigrum].

This paper gave a brief introduction of the effect of Solanum nigrum on anti-cancer. The experimental results showed that the total alkaloid isolated from S. nigrum interfered structure and function of tumor cell membrane, disturbed the synthesis of DNA and RNA, changed the cell cycle distribution, so that total alkaloids could play in inhibabition to tumor cells, while the glycoprotein (150 x 10(3)) isolated from S. nigrum might have shown anti-cancer abilities by blocking the anti-apoptotic pathway of NF-kappaB, activating caspase cascades reaction and increasing the production of nitric oxide.

Effects of L.F04, the active fraction of Lycopus lucidus, on erythrocytes rheological property.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of L.F04, the active fraction of Lycopus lucidus, on erythrocytes rheological property so as to investigate its mechanism in promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. METHOD: The effects of L.F04 (used for treatment for 10 days in different dosages) on deformability, aggregation and membrane liquidity of erythrocytes (MLE) as well as whole blood apparent viscosity (eta(b)) were examined on the basis of rat model of blood-stasis syndrome induced by venous injection of high molecular weight dextran. RESULT: As compared with the normal control group, the model group's RBC deformability and MLE were lower, and the aggregation of erythrocytes and eta(b) were higher. Compared with the model group, both L.F04 0.612 g/kg and 0.306 g/kg showed significant effect in improving deformability and inhibiting aggregation of red blood cells (RBC) and reducing blood viscosity. The trend of improving MLE was also shown. CONCLUSION: L.F04 could significantly improve the abnormal rheological property of erythrocytes.

[Primary research of pharmacological effects of PEC on mice].

OBJECTIVE: To study pharmacological effects of PEC (the oral liquid which consists of Panax quinquefolium, Epimedium brevicornum, Schisandra chinensis Bail and Cervus eplaphus) on mice. METHOD: Experiments were carried out through swimming test, step-through, spontaneous activity and sleeping time. RESULT: When 5-10 mL x kg(-1) of PEC was given orally for 7 days, it could prolong swimming duration of mice in water tank, and increase the tolerant ability against oxygen-deficiency. PEC could also improve cognitive-deficiency induced by taking off sleep with force in mice after given orally for 7 days. The PEC could increase the spontaneous activity in mice, antagonize the inhabitation induced by Valium, and shorten the sleeping time caused by sodium pentobarbital. CONCLUSION: PEC has strong potential neuro-pharmacological activities such as anti-fatigue, improving cognitive-deficiency in mice.

Effects of active fractions from Lycopus lucidus L. F04 on platelet aggregation and thrombus formation.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of active fractions from Lycopus lucidus (L. F04) on platelet aggregation and thrombus formation so as to investigate its mechanism of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. METHOD: The effects of Lycopus lucidus L. F04 on platelet aggregation induced by ADP in vivo, and thrombosis of artery-vein by-pass and thrombus formed in circuitous loop in vitro were examined using the blood stasis animal model of rats made by injecting high molecular weight dextran (HMWD). RESULT: The increase of maximum platelet aggregation rate induced by ADP in vivo in HMWD model was evidently inhibited with 0.408 g/kg or 0.204 g/kg or L. F04, and the effect showed a trend of concentration-dependence. As compared with the control, the thrombus weight in rat model of blood stasis increased clearly and its length showed only a trend of increase. Both 0.408 g/kg and 0.204 g/kg of L. F04 had the effect of resisting the thrombus formation, while 0.408 g/kg showed better effects of reducing the thrombus dry weight and wet weight. Both 0.408 g/kg and 0.204 g/kg of L. F04 could inhibit the thrombosis in artery-vein by-pass; the inhibition rates were 27.41% and 27.14% respectively. CONCLUSION: Lycopus lucidus L. F04 could significantly inhibit platelet aggregation and thrombus formation.

[Effects of active fractions from Lycopus lucidus L. F04 on erythrocyte rheology [correction of erythrocyterheology]].

Objective. To study the effects of active fractions from Lycopus lucidus (L. F04) on erythrocyte rheology so as to investigate its mechanism of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. Method. The effects of L. F04 on erythrocytes deformability, aggregation, liquidity of membrane were examined in the present study and the blood stasis animal model of rats made by injecting high molecular weight dextran (HMWD) was used. Result. HMWD injection decreased red blood cells deformability (P<0.05) and liquidity of membrane (P<0.01) and increased erythrocytes aggregation (P<005). Compared with the model, both L. F04 0.612 g/kg and 0.306 g/kg improved red blood cells deformability (P<0.05), inhibited erythrocytes aggregation (P<0.05), and showed the trend of improving liquidity of membrane. But there was no concentration-dependence. Conclusion. L. F04 can significantly improve the deviant erythrocyte rheology characteristics.