[Study on Identification of Three Medicinal Plant Leaves from Elaeagnus Genus by Infrared Spectroscopy].

OBJECTIVE: To study and identify the three species of dry medicinal plant leaves trom Elaeagnus genus (E. pungens, E. lanceolata and E. henryi) by Infrared Spectroscopy(IR). METHODS: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and second derivative infrared spectroscopy were used to study and compare the characteristics of leaves of three Elaeagnus medicinal plants. RESULTS: The IR spectra and second derivative infrared spectra of the three Elaeagnus plants leaves were similar on the whole, the intensity or ratio of intensity of some absorption peaks still had certain distinctions, and the differences of the second derivative infrared spectra were more obvious. There were only slight differences between large and small leaf type of samples of Elaeagnus lanceolata; the differences of the plant leaves of one species collected in different harvest periods were far smaller than those of others belonging to the same genus. CONCLUSION: IR can be relatively reliably used for identification of the three Elaeagnus leaves.

Baicalin attenuates focal cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury by inhibition of protease-activated receptor-1 and apoptosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the neuro-protective effects of baicalin in Wistar rats with focal cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury. METHODS: Ninety adult male Wistar rats weighing 320-350 g were randomly divided into the following groups (n=5): (a) sham control group; (b) vehicle group, subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion and received vehicle intraperitoneally; (c-e) baicalin groups, which were subjected to the middle cerebral artery occlusion and treated with baicalin 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively. The neurological scores were determined at postoperative 1, 3 and 7 d after the treatment. The expression of protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1), PAR-1 mRNA and Caspase-3 were determined using Western blot, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) analysis and immunohistochemistry, respectively. RESULTS: Significant decrease was noted in the neurological score in the baicalin group compared with that of the vehicle group (P<0.01). Additionally, down-regulation of PAR-1 mRNA, PAR-1 and Caspase-3 was observed in the baicalin groups compared with those obtained from the vehicle group (P<0.01). Compared with the low-dose baicalin group (25 mg/kg), remarkable decrease was noted in neurological score, and the expression of PAR-1 mRNA, PAR-1 as well as Caspase-3 in the high-dose group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Baicalin showed neuro-protective effects in focal cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury through inhibiting the expression of PAR-1 and apoptosis.

Baicalin attenuates brain edema in a rat model of intracerebral hemorrhage.

Baicalin is a flavonoid compound purified from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis, which possesses multiple biological activities. Previous studies have shown that baicalin is protective in ischemic cerebral diseases. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of baicalin on brain injury in a rat model of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and to explore the possible mechanisms. Intracerebral hemorrhage was induced in male Wistar rats by injection of 0.5 U collagenaseVII to the caudate nucleus. Sham operation rats were injected with equal volume of saline. After the induction of ICH, the rats were randomly divided into four groups and administered with different dose of baicalin (0, 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg in saline) through peritoneal injection. The brain tissues around the hemorrhage areas were collected on days 1, 3, and 5 after treatment. Brain edema was analyzed by desiccation method; the metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) protein and mRNA expression were determined by western blotting and real time RT-PCR, respectively. Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) protein expression was analyzed by western blotting. IL-1ß and IL-6 levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Blood-brain barrier permeability was determined by Evans blue leakage method. The results showed that baicalin reduced brain edema following ICH in a dose-dependent manner, with concomitant inhibition of NF-κB activation and suppression of MMP-9 expression. In addition, baicalin also reduced IL-1ß and IL-6 production, as well as blood-brain barrier permeability. The above results indicated that baicalin prevents against perihematomal edema development after intracerebral hemorrhage possibly through an anti-inflammatory mechanism.

[Protective effect of Noningkang Granule on brain in intracerebral hemorrhagic rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Naoningkang Granule (NG), a Chinese medicinal preparation formulated for clearing heat and detoxication, on brain tissue in intracerebral hemorrhagic (ICH) rats. METHODS: Rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: the sham operated group, the model group and the high-, medium- and low-dose NG groups. Collagenase VII was injected into caudate nucleus to induce rat model of ICH, corresponding dosage of NG was started to give to the 3 NG groups by gastrogavage 2 h after modeling, and saline of equal volume was given to the other 2 groups instead. The brain tissue of rats was taken in batches at the 3rd and 7th day for pathomorphological observation using HE stain, and detection of thrombin receptor-1 (PAR-1) expression and nerve cell apoptosis in the peripheral tissue of hemorrhagic brain with immunohistochemistry and TUNEL assay, as well as for measurement of water content in brain tissue by wet-to-dry weight method. RESULTS: PAR-1 expression elevated in the model rats. As compared with the model group, the pathomorphological changes significantly improved, PAR-1 expression decreased, apoptotic cells re-duced and brain edema alleviated in the 3 NG groups. CONCLUSION: Overexpression of PAR-1 in the brain tissue might mediate the nerve cell apoptosis and brain edema in ICH rats. The mechanism of NG in protecting hemor-rhagic brain tissue might be related with its actions in inhibiting the post-cerebral high PAR-1 expression to re-duce cell apoptosis and relieve brain edema.

[Clinical study of fuzheng jiangnian capsule in improving pre-thrombosis correlated factors in patients with coronary heart disease].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of Fuzheng Jiangnian Capsule (FZJN) on the pre-thrombosis correlated factors in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: Ninety patients with CHD complicated with blood hyperviscosity syndrome were treated with conventional treatment and randomly divided into three groups by the additional treatment, i. e. the FZJN group (FZJN, a preparation with action of invigorating Pi, supplementing Shen, and activating blood circulation), the CSDP group [Compound Salviae droplet pill, CSDP) with the action of activating blood circulation to remove blood stasis) and the aspirin (ASP) group, 30 patients in each group. After two months of treatment, clinical efficacy, the levels of endothelin (ET), nitric oxide (NO), coagulation factor I (Fib), D-dimer (DD), thrombocytic granule membranous glucoprotein (CD62p), superoxide dismutase (SOD), high- and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C, LDL-C) in patients before and after treatment were observed and compared with those in the healthy control group. RESULTS: Compared with the healthy control group, the levels of Fib, DD, ET, CD62p were significantly higher, NO and SOD significantly lower (P<0.05, P<0.01) in all the patients with CHD. Compared with the same group before treatment, the levels of Fib, DD, ET, CD62p, LDL-C in the FZJN group lowered significantly, while NO and SOD raised significantly (P <0.05, P <0.01). ET and CD62p in the CSDP group lowered significantly, while SOD raised significantly (P < 0.05), CD62p in the ASP group lowered significantly (P < 0.05). No statistical difference was found in comparison of DD or ET, though certain improvement was shown. The total effective rate in relieving TCM syndromes and angina pectoris, and the decrease or stop rate of nitrate esters medication were superior in FZJN group to those in the CSDP group and the ASP group, respectively (P <0.05). The rate of electrocardiogram improvement in the FZJN and CSDP group was superior to that in the ASP group (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: Increase of Fib, DD, ET, CD62p, and decrease of NO and SOD levels were found in patients with CHD in prethrombosis stage. Compared with ASP, compound Chinese medicinal herbs can act on the prethrombosis manner of CHD patients through multi-paths, multi-links. FZJN showed better efficacy in improving correlated blood molecule markers and clinical syndromes than CSDP, suggesting that the possible mechanism of FZJN might be related to its actions in dilating blood vessels, improving microcirculation, alleviating endothelial cell damage, inhibiting activity of blood platelet, regulating coagulation-fibrolysis balance, improving metabolism of free radicals as well as lowering the level of LDL-C.