Comparative proteomic profiling of hippocampi in mice treated with Jingui Shenqi Pills and Liuwei Dihuang Pills / 中国中药杂志

The effects of Jingui Shenqi Pills(Jingui) and Liuwei Dihuang Pills(Liuwei) which respectively tonify kidney Yang and kidney Yin on brain function have attracted great attention, while the differences of protein expression regulated by Jingui and Liuwei remain to be studied. This study explored the difference of protein expression profiles in the hippocampi of mice orally administrated with the two drugs for 7 days. The protein expression was quantified using LC-MS/MS. The results showed that among the 5 860 proteins tested, 151, 282 and 75 proteins responded to Jingui alone, Liuwei alone, and both drugs, respectively. The ratio of up-regulated proteins to down-regulated proteins was 1.627 in Jingui group while only 0.56 in Liuwei group. The proteins up-regulated by Jingui were mainly involved in membrane transport, synaptic vesicle cycle, serotonergic synapse, dopaminergic synapse and so on, suggesting that Jingui may play a role in promoting the transport of neurotransmitter in the nervous system. The proteins down-regulated by Liuwei were mainly involved in membrane transport, synapse, ion transport(potassium and sodium transport), neurotransmitter transport, innate and acquired immune responses, complement activation, inflammatory response, etc. In particular, Liuwei showed obvious down-regulation effect on the members of solute carrier(SLC) superfamily, which suggested that Liuwei had potential inhibitory effect on membrane excitation and transport. Finally, consistent results were obtained in the normal mouse and the mouse model with corticosterone-induced depressive-like behavior. This study provides an experimental basis for understanding the effect of Jingui and Liuwei on brain function from protein network.

Pomegranate leaf attenuates lipid absorption in the small intestine in hyperlipidemic mice by inhibiting lipase activity / 中国天然药物

Pomegranate leaf (PGL) has a definite role in regulating lipid metabolism. However, pharmacokinetic results show the main active ingredient, ellagic acid, in PGL has lower oral bioavailability, suggesting that the lipid-lowering effect of PGL may act through inhibiting lipid absorption in the small intestine. Our results demonstrated that pomegranate leaf and its main active ingredients (i.e., ellagic acid, gallic acid, pyrogallic acid and tannic acid) were capable of inhibiting pancreatic lipase activity in vitro. In computational molecular docking, the four ingredients had good affinity for pancreatic lipase. Acute lipid overload experiments showed that a large dosage of PGL significantly reduced serum total cholesterol (TG) and triglycerides (TC) levels in addition to inhibiting intestinal lipase activity, which demonstrated that PGL could inhibit lipase activity and reduce the absorption of lipids. We also found that PGL could reverse the reduced tight-junction protein expression due to intestinal lipid overload, promote Occludin and Claudin4 expression in the small intestine, and enhance the intestinal mucosal barrier. In conclusion, we demonstrated that PGL can inhibit lipid absorption and reduce blood TG and TC by targeting pancreatic lipase, promoting tight-junction protein expression and thereby preventing intestinal mucosa damage from an overload of lipids in the intestine.

Effects of Angelica dahurica on obesity and fatty liver in mice / 中国天然药物

Angelica dahurica (A. dahurica) is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant being used in clinical practice. The present study demonstrated that A. dahurica could reduce white-fat weight in high-fat-diet hyperlipidemic mice, decrease total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in the livers of both high-fat-diet and Triton WR1339 induced hyperlipidemic mice, and enhance the total hepatic lipase activities of them. These findings were further supported by the results derived from the experiments with HepG2 cells in vitro. In addition, the proteins related to lipids metabolism were investigated using LC-MS/MS, indicating that genes of lipid metabolism and lipid transport were regulated by A. dhurica. The results from LC-MS/MS were further conformed by Western blot and real time PCR assays. A. dahurica could down-regulate the expression of catalase (CAT) and sterol carrier protein2 (SCP2) and up-regulate the expression of lipid metabolism related genes-lipase member C (LIPC) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). In the Triton WR1339 mouse liver and HepG2 cells in vitro, A. dahurica was able to increase the expression of LIPC and PPARγ, confirming the results from in vivo experiments. Imperatorin showed the same activity as A. dahurica, suggesting it was one of the major active ingredients of the herb. In conclusion, our work represented a first investigation demonstrating that A. dahurica was able to regulate lipid metabolism and could be developed as a novel approach to fighting against fatty liver and obesity.

Brazilein inhibits neuronal inflammation induced by cerebral ischemia and oxygen-glucose deprivation through targeting NOD2 expression / 中国天然药物

Brazilein is reported to have immunosuppressive effect on cardiovascular and cerebral-vascular diseases. The essential roles of innate immunity in cerebral ischemia are increasingly identified, but no studies concerning the influence of brazilein on the innate immunity receptors have been reported. The present study was designed to investigate the regulation of NOD2 (Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2) by brazilein for its protection of neuron in cerebral ischemia in vivo and oxygen-glucose deprivation in vitro. The results showed that brazilein could reverse the elevated expression of NOD2 and TNFα (tumor necrosis factor alpha) elicited by cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. This reduction could also be detected in normal mice and C17.2 cells, indicating that this suppressive effect of brazilein was correlated with NOD2. The results from GFP reporter plasmid assay suggested brazilein inhibited NOD2 gene transcription. In conclusion, brazilein could attenuate NOD2 and TNFα expression in cerebral ischemia and NOD2 may be one possible target of brazilein for its immune suppressive effect in neuro-inflammation.

Reproductive toxicity of brazilein in ICR mice / 中国天然药物

Brazilein is an active small molecular compound extracted from Caesalpinia sappan L. with favorable pharmacological properties on immune system, cardiovascular system, and nervous system. C. sappan has been used as a traditional medicine in China for hundreds of years for various diseases. However, the general reproductive toxicity of brazilein is still unknown. The purpose of the present study was to thoroughly evaluate the general reproductive toxicity of brazilein in ICR mice to support the future drug development and modernization of this potent traditional Chinese medicine. The results showed that, although no apparent toxicity on the reproducibility of the male was observed, brazilein might cause considerable risks to the fetuses and females as indicated by the ratios of dead fetuses and reabsorptions. In conclusion, our results from the present study provided some useful insights about the safety profile of brazilein, suggesting that brazilein should be used with caution in pregnant women.

Understanding differences between Rheum palmatum and R. franzenbachii from perspective of chemistry, efficacy and toxicity / 中国中药杂志

Rheum franzenbachii (called Tudahuang in local) has some similarities with R. palmatum (rhubarb) collected by "China Pharmacopoeia" and is often used as a substitute of rhubarb. Can Tudahuang simply replace rhubarb in the application or whether is there difference between Tudahuang and rhubarb, and what is the difference it is important to verify the difference and understand its proper application in the field of clinical practice. In this paper, we discussed the differences of the two herbs from the views of chemistry, efficacy and toxicity based on the author's previous research work as well as literatures, by using the major role of the rhubarb "diarrhea" as the basic point. The analysis result showed that the role of diarrhea Tudahuang was much weaker than that of rhubarb. The reason lies in the difference between the contents of combined anthraquinones component. While acute toxicity in mice of Tudahuang is stronger than that of rhubarb. Thus, Tudahuang should not simply replace rhubarb in practice.

Transmembrane transport behavior of in vitro HepG2 cells of ananas and its effect on lipids and glucose distribution / 中国中药杂志

Pineapple (Ananas comosus) leaves contain mainly phenolic components with antioxidant and hypolipidemic effects. One of the principle components is p-coumaric acid. In this study, the transport behavior of p-coumaric acid, was observed after the administration of pineapple leaf phenols in vitro. Simultaneously, the effect of the phenols on glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides transportation and metabolism in HepG2 cells was also observed. The results showed that the phenols had good transport characteristics. 5 min after the administration, p-coumaric acid of the phenols could be detected, and the content of p-coumaric acid reached the peak concentration after 60 min of the administration. p-coumaric acid of phenols have time-and dose-dependent manner. While promoting glucose transporter (GLUT4) and low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) expression, the phenols decreased intracellular lipid content. This reduction of intracellular lipid content was highly correlated with the promotion of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL) expression, while the reduction of intracellular glucose levels was correlated with glycogen synthesis in the cells.

Euphorbia kansui roots induced-diarrhea in mice correlates with inflammatory response / 中国天然药物

AIM@#Euphorbia kansui (E. KS) is a traditional medicine used in China for thousands of years with the effect of propulsion in the gastrointestines. However, there is no reported study of E. KS on gastrointestinal motility until now. The aim of this work is to study the effect of E. KS on the propulsion of gastrointestines, and to elucidate the possible mechanism of action.@*METHODS@#E.KS was prepared as a 30% ethanol extract and used for the experiment of small and large intestines of mice by oral administration with three different dosages (1.2, 0.6 and 0.3 g·kg(-1)). The feces were observed in vivo. The morphology was carried out to detect if there are any changes in the intestines after the extract of E. KS administration. The assays of mRNA and protein expression were employed to observe IL-1β, TNFα and caspase 3.@*RESULTS@#It was shown that the extract of E.KS promoted diarrhea in mouse feces after administration, inhibited the contraction of smooth muscle of mouse small intestine and caused the inflammatory exudation on the mucosa of the intestines, enhanced the expression of both mRNA and the protein levels of IL-1β and TNFα in the small or large intestines.@*CONCLUSION@#The results showed that the extract of E. KS acted on the intestinal smooth muscle with propulsion of feces involving the irritation of the intestines with acute inflammatory reactions.

New cerebroside from leaves of pineapple / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the chemical constituents of the leaves of pineapple.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Chromatographic methods were used to isolate compounds from the leaves of pineapple and spectral methods were used to identify the structures of the isolated compounds.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compound 1 was isolated from the leaves of pineapple. It was identified as 1-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(2S, 3R, 4E, 11E)-2-[(2(R)-hydroxydocosanoyl) amido]-4, 11-hexadecanediene-1, 3-diol.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compound 1 was a new compound.</p>

Studies on phenolic constituents from leaves of pineapple (Ananas comosus) / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the phenolic constituents of the leaves of pineapple.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Chromatographic methods were used to isolate compounds from the leaves of pineapple and spectroscopic methods were used to identify the structures of the isolated compounds.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>7 compounds, ananasate (1), 1-O-caffeoylglycerol (2), 1-O-p-coumaroylglycerol (3), caffeic acid (4), p-coumaric acid (5), beta-sitosterol (6) and daucosterol (7), were isolated from the leaves of pineapple.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>1 was a new compound, and others were obtained from this plant for the first time.</p>

Analysis of the volatile components of YL2000 decoction by GC-MS / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the volatile components of YL2000 decoction, which contain four herbs: rhizome and root of the Notopterygium incisum, the root of the Angelica pubescens f. biserrata, Scutellaria baicalensis and Coptis chinensis and investigate the changes of volatile constituents from those four herbs before and after compatibility of the herbal medicines.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The volatile components of YL2000 decoction were extracted by water-steam distillation, separated and identified by GC-MS. The relative percent content of each volatile component was quantified by area normalization method. The volatile components of YL2000 decoction were compared with the composition of the volatile oil from individual herb respectively.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>39 of the 146 separated constituents in volatile oil of YL2000 decoction, accounting for 85.66%, were identified and quantified. After compatibility of the herbal medicines, most volatile oil components reported by high proportion in individual herb were not detected, in the mean time, some components in volatile oil of YL2000 decoction have never been reported before in those of all four herbs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The changes of volatile oil from those four herbs before and after compatibility of the herbal medicines indicate that solubilization, chemical reactions and evaporation of some volatile components during decocting may induce changes of several components.</p>

Chemical constituents from the rhizoma of Arundina graminifolia / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To isolate and elucidate the chemical constituents from the tuber of Arundina graminifolia.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The compounds were extracted by 95% alcohol and isolated by column chromatography on silica gel, SephedaxLH-20 and ODS. The structures were determined by UV, IR, NMR and MS spectral analysis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Five compounds were isolated, and their structures were identified as (2E)-, 2-propenoic acid, 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-decosyl ester (I), p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (II), triacontanol (III) and p-hydroxybenzylethyl ether (IV), 3-hydroxy-5-methoxybibenzyl (V), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>All compounds were isolated from the genus of Arundina for the first time.</p>

Determination of isoimperatorin and osthol in ganmao yixiaoshi capsule by RP-HPLC / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop a method for the determination of isoimperatorin and osthol in Ganmao Yixiaoshi capsule by RP-HPLC.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The chromatographic conditions included Hypersil C18 column and the mobile phase consisting of a mixture of acetonitrile-water (42.5:57.5). The detection wavelength was at 320 nm.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The calibration curve was linear over the concentration range of 0-0.3975 microg for isoimperatorin and 0-0.3825 microg for osthol respectively. The correlation coefficient was r = 0.9999 and r = 0.9997. The average recovery of isoimperatorin was 98.1% and that of osthol was 99.8%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method sensitive, simple and accurate for the determination of isoimperatorin and osthol concentrations in Ganmao Yixiaoshi capsule.</p>

Content of inorganic elements of Salvia miltiorrhiza root in different area and physicochemical properties of its growing soil / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To provide basis of environmental factors of genuine crude drug, Salvia miltiorrhiza root.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>On-the-spot investigation and indoor chemical analysis were made to study the physicochemical properties of growing soil and content of inorganic elements of S. miltiorrhiza, and obtained data were analysed with SPSS 10.0 software.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>S. miltiorrhiza root of high harvest area accumulated Cu and Zn. In soil principal component analysis, no principal component was obvious. So the drug has good adaptability in ecological environment of soil.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ecological environment of soil isn't leading factor in forming genuine crude S. miltiorrhiza.</p>

Isolation and elucidation of chemical constituents with antiviral action from yinqiaosan on influenza virus / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the chemical constituents with antiviral action from Yinqiaosan on influenza virus.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Constituents were isolated by different kinds of column chromatography and their structures were elucidated with chemical and spectral methods.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Eleven chemical constituents were isolated and elucidated as arctiin, phillyrin, forsythiaside, liquiritigenin, liquiritin, genistein, formononetin, daidzein, glycitrin, 3,3',4-tri-omethlellagic acid and chlorogenic acid.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Genistein, daidzein, glycitrin and 3,3',4-tri-omethlellagic acid were isolated from Yinqiaosan for the first time.</p>

Study on the physicochemical properties of cultivated soil of genuine crude and no-enuine crude Chinese Angelica / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To provide basis for environmental factors of genuine crude Chinese angelica.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>On-the-spot investigation and indoor chemical analysis were made to study the physicochemical properties of cultivated soil of Chinese angelica.</p><p><b>RESULT AND CONCLUSION</b>The physical properties and the organic matte and mineral nutrition of cultivated soil of Chinese angelica are best in Min County, Gansu Province. The ecological environment is the leading factor in forming genuine crude Chinese angelica.</p>