The protective role of IMM-H004 on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice / 药学学报

This study investigates the protective role of IMM-H004, a novel coumarin derivative, on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) in mice. All animal experiments in this paper have been approved by the Ethics Committee of Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. The experimental animals were divided into three groups, including sham group, model group, and IMM-H004 treatment group. Serum biochemical indicators were detected and H&E staining was used to assess liver damage. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) was performed to analysis the mRNA content of inflammatory factors. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to observe neutrophil infiltration. Western blot was used to examine the protein levels of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 (caspase-1), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). The results showed that IMM-H004 could significantly reduce the serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). H&E results showed IMM-H004 could alleviate liver damage caused by HIRI. The mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-1β, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were decreased by IMM-H004 administration. Meanwhile, IMM-H004 could markedly inhibit neutrophil infiltration. Furthermore, IMM-H004 could significantly down-regulate the protein expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, and IL-1β, inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Our results confirmed that IMM-H004 could protect mice from HIRI and provide a theoretical foundation for IMM-H004 application for treating HIRI.

Advances of Akkermansia muciniphila in regulating host functions / 中国中药杂志

Akkermansia muciniphila, abbreviated as AKK and found in 2004, is an oval-shaped gram-negative bacterium isolated from a human feal. A. muciniphila is widely present in the intestinal tract of human. Its specialization in mucin degradation makes it a key organism at the mucosal interface between the lumen and host cells. More and more studies have shown that it can play the role of probiotics. Notably, declined levels of A. muciniphila have been observed in patients with diabetes, liver disease, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, neurodegenerative diseases, etc. In addition, A. muciniphila combined with traditional Chinese medicine, exhibited higher effect on regulating host functions, but the underlying mechanism was still unclear, requiring further in-depth research. Therefore, the aims of this review are to summarize the main effects of A. muciniphila on host health and its relationship with traditional Chinese medicine, summarize the main problems, and provide a reference for the further research of A. muciniphila and traditional Chinese medicine.

Research progress on anti-depression effects of ginsenosides / 药学学报

Ginseng is a traditional Chinese medicine known as the "king of herbs" since ancient time in China. It was found in animal experiments that total saponins, ginsenoside monomers or glycosides from ginseng extraction all showed antidepressant effects in chronic unpredictable stress, corticosterone or lipopolysaccharide induced depression models. Taking ginsenosides as the focus, we reviewed the antidepressive mechanisms from the perspectives of various hypotheses, such as regulations of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, monoamine neurotransmitter and neuroplasticity related to the pathogenesis of depression. The mechanism, target and pharmacodynamic targets of ginsenosides for anti-depression were summarized, in order to provide references for multi-targets and multi-level development of new anti-depression drugs, and improvement of diagnosis and treatment of depression from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine and natural products.

Advances in immunotherapy of Alzheimer's disease with traditional Chinese medicine / 药学学报

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a type of common neurodegenerative disease. The main clinical symptom of the disease is progressive cognitive dysfunction, which has no effective therapy yet. With the in-depth immunology study in the central nervous system, studies in different fields such as preclinical phase, genetics and bioinformatics have shown that immune dysfunction contribute to the pathogenesis of AD, including the beginning, maintenance and deterioration stage in AD. China has a wealth of natural medicine resources and clinical experiences. A large number of natural drugs and effective components both can regulate the immune function and ameliorate the symptoms in AD. This review summarizes the researches of ameliorating the symptoms in AD through immunization regulation in recent years with an aim to provide new ideas and clues in the study of new anti-AD drugs using natural medicines.

Advances in pharmacological studies of Panax notoginseng saponins on brain ischemia-reperfusion injury / 药学学报

Sanqi in Chinese herbal medicine is the root and rhizoma of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H.Chen, which belongs to genus Panax in the Araliaceae family and is widely used as a tonic medicine in the traditional Chinese medicine. The main active constituents of sanqi are Panax notoginseng saponins, including ginsenoside Rg1, Rb1 and notoginsenoside R1. A wide variety of pharmaceutical applications of Panax notoginseng saponins have been reported in the regulation of blood circulation system, cardiovascular system and nervous system. Ischemic stroke, the most common form of stroke, leads to a high risk of morbidity and disability, which evolves serious medical, social and economic problems. Ischemia-reperfusion injury is the most important part in the progress of ischemic stroke. Abnormal energy metabolism, disturbance of the ion metabolism, free radical injury, inflammatory reactions all participate in the complex pathological mechanisms of ischemiareperfusion injury. Over the past few decades, substantial studies demonstrated that Panax notoginseng saponins possessed a significant protective effect on ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of the protective effects. In order to develop a new medicine from Panax notoginseng, we provide a review of the major literatures on the pharmaceutical actions and molecular mechanisms of Panax notoginseng and Panax notoginseng saponins in the protection of ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Oil of Piper longum unsaponifiable matter prevents cholesterol gallstone formation / 药学学报

To observe the effect of various doses of oil of Piper longum unsaponifiable matter (OPUM) to cholesterol gallstones in experimental mice. C57BL/6 mice (n = 60) were randomly divided into 6 groups: control group, model group, OPUM (15, 30 and 60 mg x kg(-1)) group and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA, 60 mg x kg(-1)) group, administered for 10 weeks. The level of serum lipid and liver function enzymes were tested. The gallbladder was removed and bile was obtained by centrifugation. Next, the levels of the bile total cholesterol (TC), phospholipid (PL) and bile acid (TBA) were measured. The indicators of lipid peroxidation were determined and cholesterol saturation index (CSI) was calculated. The liver histological changes were observed by HE staining. The results showed that serum TC, TG (triglycerides) and AST (aspartate transaminase) contents, gallbladder cholesterol crystallization and CSI increased significantly (P < 0.05). In addition, the activity of SOD decreased significantly and MDA content increased significantly in liver (P < 0.05). HE staining results showed that the hepatic cord disorder and intracellular lipid droplets increased significantly. All results indicate that lithogenic diet lead to the formation of cholesterol gallstones. In OPUM (30 and 60 mg x kg(-1)) group, serum TC, TG and AST content, gallbladder cholesterol crystallization and CSI decreased significantly, the activity of SOD increased significantly and MDA content decreased significantly. HE staining results showed that OPUM can improve the morphology of liver cell, reduce the degree of hepatic cord disorders and restore the cell morphology close to normal. The cause of OPUM prevents cholesterol gallstone formation maybe due to protect the integrity of the liver cells, lower CSI, and reduce cholesterol crystal formation and hence prevent cholesterol gallstone formation.

Comparison of the action of isolichenin and methanol extract of saffron on long-term potentiation in hippocampal dentate gyrus in vivo / 药学学报

Long-term potentiation (LTP) is thought as a generative mechanism underlying learning and memory via storing information in central nervous system. Electro-neurophysiological assay for LTP is generally used in screening the drugs that can facilitate learning and memory. By using in vivo LTP technique, isolichenin was found to facilitate LTP induction by a tetanic stimulation (20 pulses/100 Hz) in dentate gyrus. This tetanic stimulation by itself, however, cannot induce LTP. Previous study showed the reagent being able to facilitate LTP-induction, like methanol extract of saffron (MES), usually can antagonize the inhibiting effect of 30% ethanol on LTP induction (30 pulses/60 Hz). Isolichenin may also fall into such kind of drugs. Interestingly, comparatively study showed that isolichenin failed to antagonize the inhibiting effect of 30% ethanol on LTP induction (30 pulses/60 Hz). This result indicates a different unknown mechanism existing in the effect of isolichenin on LTP or memory formation.

Comparison of the inhibitory activities of salvianolic acid B and Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 on neurotoxicity of beta-amyloid peptide / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To compare the effects of salvianolic acid B (Sal B) and Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 on beta-amyloid peptide (beta-AP) fibril formation and cytotoxicity to PC12 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The inhibitory effects of Sal B and EGb 761 on beta-AP1-40 fibril formation were determined by using fluorescence analysis with Thioflavin T (ThT) and electron microscopic image. beta-AP25-35 was aged by incubating at 37 degrees C for 7 d, then the protein was incubated with PC12 cells. The protective effects of Sal B and EGb 761 against cytotoxicity induced by aged beta-AP25-35 in PC12 cells were evaluated by MTT reduction assay and flow cytometric analysis. beta-AP25-35-induced accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was determined by fluorescence analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Both Sal B and EGb 761 inhibited the formation of amyloid fibrils, protected PC12 cells from beta-AP25-35-induced cytotoxicity, and decreased ROS accumulation caused by beta-AP25-35. The effective doses of Sal B were far lower than those of EGb 761.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sal B was much more efficient than EGb 761 in inhibiting beta-AP aggregation and in protecting PC12 cells from beta-AP-induced cytotoxicity.</p>