Anti-inflammatory effects of Rhodiola rosea L.: A review.

Rhodiola rosea L., a worldwide botanical adaptogen, has been confirmed to possess protective effects of inflammatory injury for many diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, sepsis, and cancer. This paper is to review the recent clinical and experimental researches about the anti-inflammatory effects and the related mechanisms of Rhodiola rosea L. extracts, preparations, and the active compounds. From the collected information reviewed, this paper will provide the theoretical basis for its clinical application, and provide the evidences or guidance for future studies and medicinal exploitations of Rhodiola rosea L.

[Design and development of sustained and controlled release preparations in traditional Chinese medicine based on quality by design( QbD)].

In this paper,the design and development of sustained and controlled release preparations in traditional Chinese medicine( TCM) based on quality by design( QbD) was put forward,aiming at the current situation that the final product quality is affected by multiple factors during the development of sustained and controlled release preparations in TCM. The important development of sustained and controlled release preparations in western medicine in recent years was summarized. According to the complex process of TCM,the concept of QbD was proposed to design and develop sustained and controlled release preparations in TCM. QbD concept was used to analyze the complex factors affecting sustained and controlled release preparations in TCM,and determine the high risk factors affecting the quality of the final product. The high risk factors were controlled from the process to achieve the goal of quality control.This article could provide research ideas for the sustained and controlled release preparations with complex components in TCM,so as to promote the research and development of sustained and controlled release preparations in TCM.

[Research of hospital preparations based on QbD concept: whole process optimization strategy of gynecological antipruritic lotion].

The stable quality of hospital preparations is the basis for their clinical efficacy. Gynecological antipruritic prescription is widely used in gynecology clinics of Chinese medicine hospitals. Therefore,in this study,the production process of gynecological antipruritic lotion was optimized based on the concept of quality by design( QbD). The production process of the gynecological antipruritic lotion was developed to ensure its process stability and reliable quality,and enhance its clinical applicability. With total amount of matrine and oxymatrine used as the critical quality attribute( CQA) of the production process,parameter levels were designed based on production practice of hospital preparations,and Plackett-Burman and Box-Behnken experiments were used to optimize the water extraction and alcohol precipitation process of antipruritic lotion based on CQA of intermediates and final product. The soaking time,the first extraction time,and the second extraction time were determined as the critical process parameters( CPPs) of the production process. The optimal preparation process was as follows: water volume of 8 times,soaking for 0. 5 h,extraction for 2 times,the first extraction for 30 min,the second extraction for 56 min,alcohol concentration of 50%,and alcohol precipitation for 3 h. Furthermore,the design space was established based on the binomial regress model between CPPs and CQA,so as to set the optimization target and risk range; and the control space was displayed by overlay plot. The results of three repeated experiments in the control space showed that the relative standard deviation( RSD) of CQA was 4. 70%,and the similarity of chromatogram for gynecological antipruritic lotion was 0. 978,0. 974,and 0. 998,respectively. The above results indicated that the operation in the control space can guarantee the quality and stability of gynecological antipruritic lotion,suitable for practical application.

Baicalein attenuates pancreatic inflammatory injury through regulating MAPK, STAT 3 and NF-κB activation.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common acute abdominal disease with local or systemic inflammatory response, caused by abnormal activation of digestive enzymes. Baicalein has been shown to exert anti-inflammatory effects and to attenuate the pathological changes of AP. The aim of the research was to investigate the effects of baicalein on caerulein induced pancreatitis, and to elucidate the putative underlying mechanism. In this study, the therapeutic potential of baicalein and its mechanism were investigated in a caerulein-induced AP in vivo and in vitro model. The results indicate that baicalein treatment alleviates the caerulein-induced pathological damage in the pancreas. Baicalein decreased the expression level of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines of the pancreas in caerulein treated mice and of isolated pancreatic acinar cells. Moreover, baicalein inhibited the expression of NF-κB p65 and the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) as well as STAT 3, which indicates that baicalein exerts its anti-inflammatory effects via dampening the NF-κB, MAPK and STAT 3 signaling pathways. Together, this study provides experimental evidence for the clinical application of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi or baicalein and indicates that baicalein may be a promising candidate for treatment of AP patients in the future.

Expression of AQP2, AQP4 and AQP 8 in mouse intestine induced by unprocessed and processed Euphorbia lathyris.

The present research was designed to study expression of AQP2, AQP4 and AQP8 in mouse intestines induced by unprocessed and processed Euphorbia lathyris. KM mice were given by different dose lavage of unprocessed and processed Euphorbia lathyris, Euphorbia factor L1, Euphorbia factor L2, Euphorbia factor L3. Samples of mouse intestine were collected for protein levels of AQP2, AQP 4 and AQP 8 which were assessed by immunohistochemical staining and mRNA expression of AQP2, AQP 4 and AQP 8 which were quantified by Real Time-PCR. Comparing to the normal control group, the protein levels of AQP2, AQP 4 and AQP 8 were significantly decreased (P<0.05)by Semen Euphorbiae group and Semen Euphorbiae Pulveratum group (unprocessed and processed Euphorbia lathyris) induced. Protein expression of AQP2, AQP 4 and AQP 8 in the Euphorbia factor L1, Euphorbia factor L2 and Euphorbia factor L3 group were not significantly lower than normal control group. There had no differences on the levels of AQP2 and AQP 8 mRNA expressions between the high-dose group of semen Euphorbiae group, semen Euphorbiae Pulveratum group and positive control group, while significantly lower than normal control group (P<0.05). Expression of AQP4 mRNA in the Semen Euphorbiae group and Semen Euphorbiae Pulveratum group has not significantly decreased. But levels of AQP2, AQP 4 and AQP 8 mRNA in the Euphorbia factor L1 group had no significant differences in normal control group and positive control group. These findings suggest that semen Euphorbiae could regulate expression of AQP2, AQP 4 and AQP 8 protein and mRNA, which may be the possible one reason of semen Euphorbiae induces diarrhea. The semen Euphorbiae group has more significant effects on the levels of AQP2, AQP 4 and AQP 8 protein and mRNA than semen Euphorbiae Pulveratum group, which may be one of the mechanisms of processing attenuation.

[Stiletto needle and needle-knife for influence of gravity index in treating knee osteoarthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore stiletto needle and needle-knife for influence of double sufficient weight in treating knee osteoarthritis patients. METHODS: One hundred and thirteen early and medium term knee osteoarthritis patients were randomly divided into three groups, including stiletto needle group(38 cases), needle-knife group (38 cases) and voltaren group (37 cases). In stiletto needle group, there were 13 males and 25 females with an average of(55.87±7.72) years old, treated by stiletto needle once a week, and 2 weeks were a course; there were 11 males and 27 females in needle-knife group with an average of(57.11±7.07) years old, treated by acupotome once a week, and 2 weeks were a course; there were 12 males and 25 females in voltaren group with an average age of(57.62±8.08) years old, treated by votalin emulsion smearing 3 to 5 cm on painful area of knee joint, three times a day for 2 weeks; 36 patients in normal group, including 11 males and 25 females with a mean age of (55.28±7.55) years old, treated with nothing. Gravitational four lattice used to measure bipedal back and forth load before and after treatment in further observe weight-bearing situation among three groups, d value, which was the distance from center of gravity to original point, was measured as a obvervational index, JOA score was used to evaluate clinical effect. RESULTS: Five patients were fall out, including 2 patients in stiletto needle group, 2 patients in needle-knife group and 1 patient in voltaren group. Other 108 patients were followed-up from 28 to 35 d with an average of 30 d, and without untoward effect. There was significant difference in d value between treatment group and control group at 1 month after treatment(P<0.05); there was significant difference in d value among treatment group at 1 month after treatment(P>0.05), and d value was decreased before treatment than that of after treatment. There was no significant difference in JOA score among treatment group after treatment at 1 month(P<0.05); while had significant difference between groups(P>0.05) after treatment at 1 month. CONCLUSIONS: Stiletto needle, needle-knife and voltaren for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis at early and middle stage, center of gravity is closer to original point, and weight-bearing is improved. It is a easy method of four lattice to measure change of weight-bearing in KOA patients after treatment.

[Chromatographic fingerprint analysis of Toosendan Fructus by HPLC-CAD coupled with chemometrics methods].

A new method was developed for the chromatographic fingerprint analysis of Toosendan Fructus by HPLC coupled with the charged aerosol detector (CAD) in the present study. Samples were well separated on an Agilent ZOBAX SB C18 column (4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 µm) by gradient elution using acetonitrile and water containing 0.1 % formic acid (v/v) at the flow rate of 1.0 mL·min−1. The column temperature was 30 ℃ and the injection volume was 5 µL. The nitrogen inlet pressure of the charged aerosol detector (CAD) was 35 psi, and the nebulizer chamber temperature was 35 ℃. In addition, the method of the chromatographic fingerprints combined with multivariate statistical analysis was effective and reasonable lead to an accurate classification of 20 batches of samples from different locations. The results showed that 28 common peaks were observed in the fingerprint and the samples were classified into three clusters. The established method was well validated, and showed high precision, good repeatability, and satisfactory stability. It may serve in the quality control and evaluation of Toosendan Fructus.

Puerarin protects against Staphylococcus aureus-induced injury of human alveolar epithelial A549 cells via downregulating alpha-hemolysin secretion.

Alpha-hemolysin, a secreted pore-forming toxin, plays an indispensable role in the pathogenicity of Staphylococcus aureus. In this study, the antimicrobial activity of puerarin against S. aureus was investigated; as a result, puerarin showed no influence on the growth of this organism. However, hemolysis and western blotting assays showed that puerarin concentration dependently inhibited the secretion of alpha-hemolysin at low concentrations. Real-time RT-PCR assay was further employed to evaluate the transcriptional level of hla, the gene encoding alpha-hemolysin, and RNAIII, an effector molecule of the agr system. The results indicated that the RNAIII expression and subsequent hla transcription were also inhibited by puerarin in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, puerarin significantly prevented human alveolar epithelial A549 cells from S. aureus-induced injury. Thereby, puerarin may be considered as a potential candidate for the development of antivirulence drugs in the treatment of S. aureus-mediated infections.

[Dynamics of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus storage of three dominant marsh plants in Hangzhou Bay coastal wetland].

Salt marshes perform important ecosystem functions in carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus recycling. The plant biomass, content and pools of C, N and P were measured seasonally in three marsh species Phragmites australis, Spartina alterniflora and Scirpus mariquezer in Hangzhou Bay coastal wetland for the dynamics of C, N and P storage. The results showed that seasonal variation of aboveground biomass displayed a unimodal curve. The seasonal variability of plant OC content in the aboveground part of the plants was not significant, while the TN and TP content decreased significantly from spring to winter. The seasonal variability of plant C, N and P pools was significant. And there was a significant relationship between plant C/N/P pools and biomass. The pools among plant species were significantly different. S. mariqueter had the lowest C/N/P pools. TN pool in the aboveground part of P. australis was higher than that of S. aterniflora, but its TP pool was lower than that of S. alterniflora, and there was no significant difference for OC pools between P. australis and S. alterniflora. C fixation of the three marsh species was 380%, 376% and 55.5% of the average C fixation of terrestrial vegetations in China, and 463%, 458% and 67.7% of the average C fixation of terrestrial vegetations of the world. Considering the purification capacity of N and P, July would be the best harvest time of the study area for three plants. And the harvest of S. alterniflora could remove the biggest amount of P, since P was a limiting nutrient for phytoplankton growth. In conclusion, the marsh plants had strong C fixation and N/P purification ability.

[Multicentral randomized controlled study on effects of acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) and Xuanzhong (GB 39) on cerebrovascular function in the patient of ischemic stroke].

OBJECTIVE: To explore effect of acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) and Xuanzhong (GB 39) on cerebrovascular function in the patient of ischemic stroke. METHODS: Three central, single blind, randomized controlled trial method was adopted, and 160 cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a control group, 80 cases in each group. The two groups were treated by routine treatment for ischemic stroke with acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) and Xuanzhong (GB 39) added in the acupuncture group. Changes of TCD cerebrovascular blood flow indexes before and after treatment were evaluated. RESULTS: After treatment, TCD indexes significantly improved in the acupuncture group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) with a significant difference as compared with that in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) and Xuanzhong (GB 39) can significantly improve cerebral vasomotoricity, cerebral blood flow auto-regulative function, cerebral hemisphere collateral circulation comprehental function in the patient of ischemic stroke.