Xinshuitong Capsule extract attenuates doxorubicin-induced myocardial edema via regulation of cardiac aquaporins in the chronic heart failure rats.

Doxorubicin (Dox), an effective antineoplastic drug, was limited use for cardiotoxicity. Xinshuitong Capsule (XST), a patented herbal formula, showed desirable beneficial effects in the treatment of chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. However, the drug on Dox-induced cardiotoxicity remains unclear. Ninety male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into two groups: 15 rats were selected as the normal group and 75 rats were injected intraperitoneally with Dox to establish CHF rat models, the success ones were randomly divided into five groups: low XST (LXST), medium XST (MXST) or high XST (HXST) (4.9, 9.8, or 19.6 g/kg d) administrated intragastrically twice a day for 4 weeks, with the captopril-treated group and the model group as comparison. The model group showed the cardiac functions generally impaired, and CHF mortality rate higher (47%) than those in the XST-treated groups (averaged 24%, P < 0.05). Compared with XST-treated groups, myocardial remodeling, inflammation and desarcomerization, and higher water content more severe in the cardiac tissue in the model group (P < 0.05), which was associated with higher expressions of mRNA or protein levels of AQP1, 4 and 7. Dox-impaired cardiac functions, cardiac remodeling and myocardial edema could be dose-dependently reverted by XST treatment. XST could inhibit AQP1, 4 and 7 at mRNA levels or at protein levels, which was associated with the attenuation of myocardial edema and cardiac remodeling, decreasing the ventricular stiffness and improving the cardiac functions and rats' survival. AQPs is involved in cardiac edema composed one of the mechanisms of Dox-induced cardiotoxicity, XSTvia inhibition of AQPs relieved the Dox-induced side effects.

Herbal formula Xinshuitong capsule exerts its cardioprotective effects via mitochondria in the hypoxia-reoxygenated human cardiomyocytes.

BACKGROUND: The collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) resulted in the cell apoptosis and heart failure. Xinshuitong Capsule (XST) could ameliorate left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes and the quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure in our clinical study, however, its cardioprotective mechanisms remain unclear. METHODS: Primary human cardiomyocytes were subjected to hypoxia-reoxygenation and treated with XST200, 400 and 600 µg/ml. The model group was free of XST and the control group was cultured in normal conditions. Cell viability, ΔΨm, the activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes, ATPase activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis cells were determined in all the groups. RESULTS: The cell viability in the XST-treated groups was significantly higher than that in the model group (P < 0.05). Coupled with the restoration of the ΔΨm, the number of polarized cells increased dose dependently in the XST-treated groups. XST also restored the lost activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I-IV induced by the oxidative stress. The total of mitochondrial ATPase activity was significantly elevated at XST400 and 600 µg/ml compared to the model group (P < 0.05). The levels of mitochondrial ROS and the number of apoptosis cells declined in the XST-treated groups compared to those in the model group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: XST, via restoration of ΔΨm and the mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I-IV activities, and suppression of mitochondrial ROS generation and the apoptosis cells, maintained the integrity of the mitochondrial membrane to exert its cardioprotective effects in the hypoxia-reoxygenated human cardiomyocytes.

Germanium in ginseng is low and causes no sodium and water retention or renal toxicity in the diuretic-resistant rats.

Ginseng preparations contain high concentrations of germanium (Ge), which was reported to contribute to diuretic resistance or renal failure. However, Ge content in ginseng and the influence on renal functions remain unclear. Forty rats were randomly divided into control group, low, moderate, and high Ge ginseng-treated group and observed for 25 days. Daily urine, renal functions, and serum and urine electrolytics were measured. Ge retention in the organs and renal histological changes were also evaluated. Ge content ranged from 0.007 to 0.450 µg/g in various ginseng samples. Four groups showed no difference in the daily urine output, glomerular filtration rate, urinary electrolytes excretions, 24 h-urine protein, as well as plasma and urine urea nitrogen, creatinine, osmotic pressure, and pH values. Ge did not cause any renal pathological effects in this study. No Na and water retention was detected in the ginseng-treated groups. Ge retention in various organs was found highest in spleen, followed by the kidney, liver, lung, stomach, heart, and pancreas. The total Ge contents in various ginsengs were low, and ginseng treatment did not affect renal functions or cause renal histological changes.

Chinese medicine for mental disorder and its applications in psychosomatic diseases.

With the development of modern medicine, an increasing awareness has developed regarding the limitations of a specialized and compartmentalized approach to clinical practice that largely ignores the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and spirit. Although contemporary medicine now accepts this interconnectedness, practitioners tend to think that the emotions play a secondary or excitatory role in producing disease rather than being a primary causative factor. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which stems from Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism, views the body and the spirit as inseparable. This construct provides the foundation for the whole system of TCM, and therefore constitutes the backbone of TCM. This article presents the ways in which emotion can act as an internal etiological factor that produces a pathogenic mechanism and that underlies various psychosomatic diseases. Therefore, this article intends to integrate the ancient classic treatise established in the Yellow Emperor's Canon of Internal Medicine with current data. Likewise, the authors discuss their empirical experience to illustrate the following concepts: (1) the factors contributing to emotional impairment; (2) the holistic approach to diagnosing psychosomatic disease; (3) the integrative therapy necessary to restore the balance of body and mind; and (4) the role of emotional theory in nursing care and the prevention of psychosomatic disease.