The neurotoxicity of ß-amyloid peptide toward rat brain is associated with enhanced oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis, all of which can be attenuated by scutellarin.

This study was designed to investigate the processes underlying the neurotoxicity induced by ß-amyloid peptide (Aß) in the rat brain, as well as to examine whether scutellarin (Scu) can prevent this neurotoxicity. Thirty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, i.e., untreated (control), treated with Aß and treated with both Aß and Scu. The treated rats were subjected to bilateral intracerebroventricular injection of Aß(25-35) with or without subsequent dietary exposure to Scu. Learning and memory were assessed with the Morris water maze test; the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and monoamine oxidase (MAO) were assayed biochemically; expression of the interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) proteins was determined by immunohistochemistry; and neuronal apoptosis was detected with Annexin staining followed by flow cytometry. The animals treated with Aß exhibited impaired learning and memory; reduced SOD and elevated MAO activity, elevated protein levels of IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α; and a higher percentage of apoptotic neurons in the brain. Interestingly, all of these effects were ameliorated by administration of Scu. These findings indicate that the deficits in learning and memory demonstrated by the rats receiving Aß are due to elevated oxidative stress and inflammation, which result in apoptosis and that Scu may prevent these deleterious effects.

Chemical form of metals in traditional medicines underlines potential toxicity in cell cultures.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) are frequently found in traditional medicines as sulfides, such as cinnabar (HgS) and realgar (As(4)S(4)). There is a general perception that any medicinal use of such metal-containing remedies is unacceptable. An opposing opinion is that different chemical forms of arsenic and mercury have different toxic potentials. AIM OF THE STUDY: To clarify this question, cinnabar, realgar, and cinnabar- and realgar-containing traditional medicine An-Gong-Niu-HuangWan (AGNH), were compared to well-known mercurials (HgS, HgCl(2) and MeHg) and arsenicals (As(2)S(2), As(2)O(3), NaAsO(2), and Na(2)HAsO(4)) for their cytotoxicity in human and rodent cell lines. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Cultured cells derived from target organs such as brain (HAPI) and liver (Hep3B, HepG2 and TRL1215) were treated with chemicals for 48 h and cytotoxicity was determined by the MTS assay. RESULTS: MeHg was most toxic with LC(50) of 4-20µM, followed by NaAsO(2) (LC(50), 25-250 µM) and HgCl(2) (LC(50,) 50-100 µM), Na(2)HAsO(4)(LC(50), 60-400µM), As(2)O(3)(LC(50), 30-900 µM), and As(2)S(2) (LC(50), 100-500 µM). In comparison, the LC(50) of realgar ranged from 250 to1500 µM; whereas cinnabar or HgS were approximately 20,000 µM and the toxicity of AGNH was in the range of 1500-8000 µM. Approximately 5000-fold differences exist between MeHg and HgS, and over 10-fold differences exist between NaAsO(2) and As(4)S(4). CONCLUSIONS: Chemical forms of metals are important factor in determining their toxicity in traditional medicines, both cinnabar and realgar are much less toxic than well-known mercurial and arsenicals.

[Analysis of Belamcanda chinensis with space flight mutagenesis by FTIR].

The amorphous active components of the space mutagenesis Belamcanda chinensis and the ground group were measured, compared and analyzed. The purpose was to get a comprehensive understanding of the changes in quality of the 4th generation space mutagenesis Belamcanda chinensis, accumulate data for further studies, and try to establish the quality criterions of space mutagenesis Belamcanda chinensis. The result shows that the FTIR spectra of the space sample are almost the same as that of the ground one in terms of the main absorption peaks positions and shapes, but there are obvious differences in intensities. The intensity of the absorption peak at 1 642 and 1 318 cm(-1) of the space group was remarkably enhanced than the ground group, but at 1 541, 1 456, 1 417 and 1 051 cm(-1) it was decreased compared to the ground group. At the same time, the peak at 1 642 cm(-1) of the stretching vibration of C=O, the characteristic absorption of the keto, was remarkably enhanced. The peaks at 1 541 and 1 456 cm(-1) were assigned to C-C groups, the peak at 1 417 cm(-1) was due to the -CH2- groups, the peak at 1 318 cm(-1) was the characteristic absorption of calcium oxalate monohydrate, and the peak at 1 051 cm(-1) was assigned to C-O groups. It was shown that the relative content of flavone was increased distinctly. Space mutation breeding is conducive to breeding new varieties of highly active ingredients, it is also one of the ways to innovate germplasm resources of Chinese medicines efficiently. The effect of the space group is expected to be enhanced than the ground group, but it needs to be proved through further research.

[Study on spaceflight mutagenesis Platycodon grandiflorum via FTIR].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method for analyzing amorphous organic compound components of space Platycodon grandflorum rapidly. METHOD: FTIR was applied for measuring and comparing P. grandflorum of comparison group,the ground group and the 4" generation of space group. RESULT: Several active components (platycodin, polysaccharide etc.) contents of space group are increased obviously. CONCLUSION: The major components and the structures remained inextenso,and the effictive component contents are enhanced in the space P. grandiflorum. FTIR is a fast method to analyze the changes of amorphous organic compound components of the space traditional Chinese medicines.

[Research on the fourth generation of Saposhnikovia divaricata by XRF].

To cultivate oriented new varieties, Saposhnikovia divaricata seeds were carried by Shenzhou "3" satellite and filtered when they were being brought back. In the present paper, X-ray fluorescence(XRF) was used to mensurate and analyze the contents of elements of the two samples from the ground group and the 4th generation of space Saposhnikovia divaricata (space group) that have advantages in branches and leaves and yields. The contents of the main mineral elements in the two samples are the same basically. But the contents of the elements Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu from the outer group are higher than the ground group. Especially the contents of Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu concerning the curative effect in the space group increase 4.39, 1.23, 0.84 and 0.9 times as compared to the ground group. In the space group the contents and proportions of the mineral elements are improved and optimized. XRF method can be used for overall element analysis of and research on Chinese herbal medicines. Space flight breeding is an effective method for the selection of new Saposhnikovia divaricata breed.

[Measurement and analysis of platycodon grandiflorum with space flight mutagenesis breeding by XRF].

X-ray fluorescence spectrum (XRF) analytic method was used to analyze and compare the contents of various mineral elements in the ground group platycodon grandiflorum, the comparison group platycodon grandiflorum and the fourth generation platycodon grandiflorum with space flight mutagenesis breeding. The result indicated that the contents of microelements Zn, Mn and Fe in the outer space group increase by 1.9, 2.4 and 0.6 times respectively, compared with those in the ground group. Microelements Zn, Mn and Fe concern curative effect such as expectorant effect in the Chinese traditional medicine. And the elements Zn and Mn increase by 0.6 and 1.9 times respectively, compared with the comparison group. The outer space group is closer and/or superior to the comparison group compared with the ground group. To conclude, the performance of the outer space group platycodon grandiflorum was upgraded obviously. X-ray fluorescence spectrum analytic method has many advantages, such as quickness, simpleness, high sensitivity, wide measure range, and easy reappearance etc. The method could be applied to the mensuration and analysis of the other traditional Chinese medicines which could be ground into powder.