Effect of compound Maqin decoction on TGF-ß1/Smad proteins and IL-10 and IL-17 content in lung tissue of asthmatic rats.

In this research, compound Maqin decoction (CMD) has been shown to positively affect in airway inflammation of asthma models. We evaluated the effects of CMD on the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1/Smad proteins, interleukin (IL)-17, and IL-10 in lung tissue of asthmatic rats. Asthma was induced in a rat model using ovalbumin. After a 4-week treatment with CMD, rats were killed to evaluate the expression of TGF-ß1 and Smad proteins in lung tissue. IL-10 and IL-17 levels in lung tissue homogenates were determined by ELISA. The expression of TGF-ß1 and Smad3 protein increased, whereas expression of Smad7 protein decreased upon high-dose or low-dose treatment with CMD or by intervention with dexamethasone, compared to the control. There was a significant difference between treatment with a high dose CMD and the control treatment, but no significant difference was found between high-dose CMD treatment and dexamethasone intervention. The expression of TGF-ß1 and Smad7 protein increased, whereas the expression of Smad3 protein decreased in the model group compared to other groups. In the CMD high-dose group, low-dose group, and dexamethasone intervention group, the IL-17 concentrations in lung tissue homogenates were decreased, while IL-10 levels were increased. Again, there was a significant difference between CMD high-dose and control treatment, but not between CMD high-dose treatment and dexamethasone intervention. Thus, positive effects of CMD against asthmatic airway remodeling may be due to its regulatory effect on TGF-ß1, Smad3, and Smad7 protein levels and on cytokines such as IL-10 and IL-17.

Effect of puerarin on the expression of NMU, NPY, and POMC genes in the hypothalamus.

The hypothalamus is an important component of the nervous system, and neuropeptide Y (NPY), proopiomelanocortin (POMC), and neuromedin U (NMU) are key players in physiological regulation. Puerarin is important for nerve regulation. We investigated the effect of puerarin on the expression of NMU, NPY, and POMC genes in the hypothalamus. The results showed that the puerarin low-dose group and the other groups were significantly different (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in NMU, POMC, and NPY among the groups.

Chronopharmacology of analgesic effect and tolerance induced by six narcotic analgesics in mice.

Narcotic analgesics, especially morphine, exert significantly different effects depending on the time within one day. The objective of this study was to observe whether the dosing time of 6 narcotic analgesics in mice affected their efficacy, pain tolerance and recovery of tolerance. The chronopharmacology of these 6 narcotics was evaluated using a hot-plate model. Maximum possible effect (MPE) of morphine showed a significant 24 h rhythm, which was higher during the dark phase and lower during the light phase (P<0.05). Conversely, MPEs of fentanyl and bucinnazine groups during the light phase exceeded those during the dark phase (P<0.05). Pain tolerance developed after drug administration at 9:00 am or 9:00 pm for 5 days, of which bucinnazine produced lower tolerance at 9:00 am. After a 2-day washout period, the mice rapidly recovered from tolerance at 3:00 pm for 5-day morphine dosing at 9:00 pm, and for fentanyl dosing at 9:00 am. Not all narcotic analgesics displayed significant circadian variations, and the dosing time-dependent effects also depended on the types of narcotics. Therefore, the time of administration is crucial in clinical pain treatment. Chronotherapy may be more effective to relieve pain while reducing side effects.

Effects of andrographolide on the pharmacokinetics of aminophylline and doxofylline in rats.

Andrographolide, which is one of the main pharmaceutical ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine Andrographis paniculata, can clear heat, detoxify human body, cool blood and reduce swelling, etc. Respiratory tract infectious diseases have been treated with the combination of andrographolide and theophyllines clinically. As andrographolide inhibits the CYP1A2 activity in vitro, it potentially interacts with theophyllines that are mainly metabolized by CYP1A2. Therefore, we herein studied the effects of andrographolide on the pharmacokinetics of aminophylline and doxofylline in rats. The blood drug concentrations of aminophylline, doxofylline and its metabolite theophylline were determined by HPLC. The theophylline AUC(0-t) was significantly elevated confronting the combination of andrographolide and aminophylline compared to that of the control group (P<0.05). Meanwhile, when only aminophylline was used, the theophylline clearance rate was significantly higher than those in the case of combination (P<0.05). The pharmacokinetics parameters of doxofylline and its metabolite theophylline in the individual administration group showed no significantly different from that combined with andrographolide. The results suggest that andrographolide and aminophylline should not be simultaneously administered because the former may raise the risks of side effects by inhibiting the clearance of the latter. In contrast, it is more secure to combine doxofylline with andrographolide owing to the almost intact pharmacokinetics.

Effects of mushroom and herb polysaccharides, as alternatives for an antibiotic, on growth performance of broilers.

(1) This in vivo trial was conducted to study the effects of polysaccharide extracts of two mushrooms, Lentinus edodes (LenE) and Tremella fuciformis (TreE), and a herb, Astragalus membranaceus (AstE) on growth performance, and the weights of organs and the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of broiler chickens. (2) Three extracts (LenE, TreE and AstE) were supplemented at inclusion rates of 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 4 g/kg from 7 to 14 d of age and compared with an antibiotic treatment group (20 mg/kg, virginiamycin (VRG) as well as a group of non-supplemented birds. (3) Body weight (BW) gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of the extract-supplemented groups were not significantly different from those of the antibiotic group. Significant effects of type of extract and concentration on growth performance were found from 7 to 28 d of age. Generally, birds fed with LenE showed higher BW gain and lower FCR from 7 to 28 d of age than those fed with TreE and AstE and 2 g/kg LenE was considered the optimal inclusion rate for enhanced broiler growth. However, the extracts had no significant effect on the relative weights of organs and GIT compared with the antibiotic group. (4) The birds fed the extracts showed better growth performance than the non-supplemented birds, but were not significantly different from those fed VRG. Of the three extracts, LenE appeared to be a potential growth promoter. Future studies are needed to investigate whether the extracts can be used as alternatives for antibiotic growth promoters in challenged birds, and to elucidate the mechanisms for potentially enhanced growth performance in poultry.

Effects of mushroom and herb polysaccharides, as alternatives for an antibiotic, on the cecal microbial ecosystem in broiler chickens.

An in vivo experiment was conducted to study the potential prebiotic effects of mushroom and herb polysaccharide extracts, Lentinus edodes extract (LenE), Tremella fuciformis extract, and Astragalus membranaceus Radix extract, on chicken growth and the cecal microbial ecosystem, as compared with the antibiotic Apramycin (APR). This investigation was carried out in terms of a dose-response study. The chickens were naturally infected with avian Mycoplasma gallisepticum prior to the experiment. The BW gain, cecal pH, viscosity, and predominant microbial populations were measured 1 wk after the extract and APR treatments. The extracts and APR significantly stimulated growth of the chickens infected with avian Mycoplasma gallisepticum. The average BW gain of the groups fed with the extracts was significantly lower than that of the antibiotic group. The extracts had no significant effect on cecal pH. However, cecal viscosity and microbial populations were significantly affected by feeding extracts and antibiotic. In contrast to APR, the extracts stimulated the number of the potentially beneficial bacteria (bifidobacteria and lactobacilli), while reducing the number of the potentially harmful bacteria (Bacteroides spp. and Escherichia coli). Of the 3 extracts, LenE was associated with the most cecal bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. With each increase in the LenE dose, birds tended to have higher BW gain and total aerobe and anaerobe counts. Numbers of predominant cecal bacteria, in particular, E. coli, bifidobacteria, and lactobacilli, were significantly increased with increases in the LenE dose. It would seem that these specific mushroom and herb polysaccharide extracts hold some promise as potential modifiers of intestinal microbiota in diseased chickens.

New bisabolane sesquiterpenes from Ligularia songarica.

Phytochemical investigation of Ligularia songarica (Compositae) afforded seven new bisabolane-type sesquiterpenes. Their structures were confirmed on the basis of spectroscopic methods, especially 2D-NMR techniques, and compound 7 showed stronger antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas acruginosa and Salmonella pullorum.

[Experimental study on anti-senility of the 4 famous Chinese herbs produced in Huaiqing area].

The effects of each of the four famous Chinese herbs and the combination of them on the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and lipid peroxide (LPO) in the blood of young mice were studied. These four famous Chinese herbs produced in Huaiqing area were radix Achyranthis Bidentatae, Flos Chrysanthemi, Rhizoma Dioscoreae and radix Rehmanniae. The results indicated that the combination of the four herbs can evidently increase the activity of SOD and GSH-Px, and can apparently reduce LPO in the blood of young mice. Even each of the four herbs alone can increase the activity of GSH-Px and reduce LPO. It is indicated that these four famous Chinese herbs have the effects on anti-senility.

[Experimental studies on the significance of processing Eucommia ulmoides Oliv].

The inhibitory action on isolated uterus of middle-pregnancy mice have been compared in Eucommia ulmoides and its salt water processed product. It has been found that after processing the inhibitory action on the automatic contraction of isolated uterus, the antagonism on spasmodis contraction caused by acetylcholine are increased, but the antagonism on spasmodis contraction caused by pituitarium posterius and the Pb content are decreased.

[Comparison of some trace element contents of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. and its processed products].

A comparison of the contents of 7 trace elements (Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, Ca, P, Pb) in Eucommia ulmoides and its processed products has been made, and the significance of processing Eucommia ulmoides is discussed in light of the experimental results.