Microscopic anatomy and ultrastructure of the resin ducts of Ferula ferulaeoides (Steud.) Korov. in Xinjiang.

Ferula ferulaeoides (Steud.) Korov. is a perennial herb that belongs to Umbelliferae (Apiaceae). Its resin and roots have extensive commercial and medicinal value in the Xinjiang region. However, the resin-secreting resin ducts (RDs) of F. ferulaeoides have not been studied in detail. This study used optical and transmission electron microscopy to explore the anatomical features, including the distribution, size, and structure, of the RDs among different organs of F. ferulaeoides. The microstructure data revealed that the RDs consisted of a round lumen, a layer of secretory cells, and multiple layers of sheath cells. Notably, the RDs in stem were arranged alternatively in a multilayered ring with vascular bundles of three distinct sizes. The ultrastructural analysis revealed that organelles in the secretory cells potentially play important roles in resin secretion. Those data may be of great significance to understanding the anatomy of the RDs in Ferula L. and Umbelliferae.

A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial Testing the Efficacy and Safety of Pterygopalatine Fossa Puncture Using One Acupuncture Needle for Moderate-to-Severe Persistent Allergic Rhinitis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of pterygopalatine fossa puncture using one acupuncture needle inserted through the temporal fossa (intervention) and Chinese verum acupuncture (VA) in patients with moderate-to-severe persistent allergic rhinitis. METHODS: The patients were randomized to an intervention group receiving pterygopalatine fossa puncture with one acupuncture needle for 4 weeks (once or twice weekly, 4-8 sessions in total, with a second course performed if required) or to a control group receiving individualized VA for 4 weeks (twice weekly, eight sessions in total). Patients were followed up 4 weeks later. RESULTS: Ninety-six participants were assigned to intervention (n = 48) or VA (n = 48) or VA (P > 0.05 in all cases). Compared with the VA, the time to onset of effect in the intervention group was shorter and the duration of effectiveness was longer. The mean clinical waiting time was significantly shorter in the intervention group than in the control group (6.640 ± 3.035 min and 31.19 ± 10.216 min, respectively). The total number of sessions in the VA group was 384; 7 episodes of subcutaneous bleeding occurred but did not require treatment. The total number of sessions in the intervention group was 185. Two cases of subcutaneous bleeding (one of local hematoma during the intervention and the other one of bruising in the palpebra inferior on the day after intervention) resolved upon withdrawal from the study. CONCLUSIONS: Pterygopalatine fossa puncture using one acupuncture needle resulted in a shorter time to onset of effect, a longer duration of effectiveness, and less clinical waiting time when compared with VA. Though the significant differences for TNSS and TNNSS were shown within intervention and VA groups, there were no differences between the two groups. Although the rate of subcutaneous bleeding was low, these adverse events may influence patient compliance. This trial is registered with ISRCTN21980724.

5, 7, 2', 4', 5'-Pentamethoxyflavanone regulates M1/M2 macrophage phenotype and protects the septic mice.

Flavonoids have been reported to exert protective effect against many inflammatory diseases, while the underlying cellular mechanisms are still not completely known. In the present study, we explored the anti-inflammation activity of 5, 7, 2', 4', 5'-pentamethoxyflavanone (abbreviated as Pen.), a kind of polymethoxylated flavonoid, both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Pen. was showed no obvious toxicity in macrophages even at high dosage treatment. Our results indicated that Pen. significantly inhibited both mRNA and protein level of proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α and iNOS, which was characteristic expressed on M1 polarized macrophages. These effects of Pen. were further confirmed by diminished expression of CD11c, the M1 macrophage surface marker. Further researches showed that the mechanism was due to that Pen. downregulated the activity of p65, key transcription factor for M1 polarization. On the other hand, Pen. also enhanced M2 polarization with upregulation of anti-inflammatory factors and increase of M2 macrophage surface markers, which lead to the balance of M1 and M2 macrophages. Moreover, in vivo research verified that Pen. treatment alleviated LPS-induced sepsis in mice by increasing survival rate, decreasing inflammatory cytokines and improving lung tissue damage. In summary, our results suggested that Pen. modulated macrophage phenotype via suppressing p65 signal pathway to exert the anti-inflammation activity.