[Role and mechanism of IL-6/STAT3/Th17 signaling pathway in the intervention of forsythia in acute lung injury of septic rats].

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of interleukin-6 (IL-6) /signal transducers and activators of transcriptional 3 (STAT3) /helper T cell 17 (Th17) signaling pathway in lung injury of rats with sepsis intervened by forsythia, with a view to provide experimental basis for the role and mechanism of forsythia in the treatment of sepsis. Methods: In July 2021, 30 healthy Wistar male rats were selected and randomly divided into sham operation group, model group and treatment group, with 10 rats in each group. The rat model of sepsis was established by cecal ligation and puncture. 2 h after recovery, the rats were given traditional Chinese medicine forsythia orally, twice a day at an interval of 12 h. The wet/dry mass ratio (W/D) of lung tissue was detected 24 h after surgery. The morphological changes of lung tissue were detected by HE staining. Flow cytometry was used to detect Th17 population in peripheral blood. The expression levels of IL-6 and interleukin-17A (IL-17A) in serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mRNA expression levels of IL-17A and IL-6 in lung tissues were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The expression levels of STAT3 and IL-17A in lung tissue were determined by Western blotting. Results: Compared with model group, the W/D of lung tissue in treatment group was decreased, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). HE staining of lung tissue showed that compared with the model group, the degree of lung lesion and injury was reduced in the treatment group. Compared with sham operation group, the proportion of Th17 cells in CD4 lymphocytes in peripheral blood of rats in model group was significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with model group, the proportion of Th17 cells in CD4 lymphocytes in peripheral blood of rats in treatment group was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with sham operation group, peripheral blood serum IL-6 and IL-17 of rats in model group were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with model group, IL-6 and IL-17 in peripheral blood serum of rats in treatment group were decreased (P<0.05). Compared with sham operation group, the expressions of IL-17A and IL-6 mRNA in lung tissue of model group were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with model group, the expressions of IL-17A and IL-6 mRNA in lung tissue of rats in treatment group were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with sham operation group, the protein expressions of STAT3 and IL-17A in lung tissue in model group were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with model group, the pritein expressions of STAT3 and IL-17A in lung tissue in treatment group were significantly decreased (P<0.05) . Conclusion: Forsythia plays a role in alleviating lung injury by down-regulating the expressions of the signaling pathway IL-6/STAT3/Th17, which providing a new target for the treatment of sepsis induced lung injury.

[Effect of Liangge powder on expression of inflammatory mediators and hepatic and renal function in rats with sepsis].

Objective: To investigate the effect of Liangge powder on the expression of inflammatory mediators and hepatic and renal function in rats with sepsis via a preliminary analysis. Methods: A total of 195 Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group (15 rats) , model group (90 rats) , and treatment group (90 rats) using a random number table, and according to the time point after modeling, the model group and the treatment group were further divided into 24, 48, and 72 hour subgroups, with 30 rats in each subgroup. Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) was performed to establish a rat model of sepsis, and solid-phase sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10) , interleukin-1 (IL-1) , interleukin-4 (IL-4) , and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at 24, 48, and 72 hours after CLP. An automatic biochemical analyzer was used to measure the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) , aspartate aminotransferase (AST) , blood urea nitrogen (BUN) , and creatinine (Cr) . Results: Compared with the sham-operation group, the model group had significant increases in the serum levels of IL-1, IL-4, IL-10, LPS, BUN, Cr, AST, and ALT at 24, 48, and 72 hours after CLP (P<0.05) . Compared with the model group, the treatment group had a significant reduction in the serum level of IL-1 at 24, 48, and 72 hours after CLP, a significant increase in the serum level of IL-4 at 24 and 48 hours after CLP, and a significant increase in the serum level of IL-10 and a significant reduction in the serum level of LPS at 24 and 72 hours after CLP (P<0.05) . Compared with the model group, the treatment group had a significant reduction in ALT at 24 hours after CLP, significant reductions in BUN and Cr at 48 hours after CLP, and a significant reduction in AST at 72 hours after CLP (P<0.05) . Conclusion: In the early stage of sepsis, imbalance between pro-inflammation and anti-inflammation and immunosuppression may cause hepatic and renal impairment in rats with sepsis. The traditional Chinese medicine Liangge powder can regulate inflammatory response, restore the balance between pro-inflammation and anti-inflammation, and improve hepatic and renal function in rats with sepsis.

[Evolution of the Origin of Herba Schizonepetae].

Herba Schizonepetae was firstly recorded in the Sheng nong ben caojing (Shennong's Materia Medica) with the title Jiasu. It could be sure that the original plant of Jiasu is Ocimumbasilicum L. ofLabiatae based on the record of Jiasu's name, morphology, edible property before the Song Dynasty. Beginning from the Ben cao tu jing (Illustrated Classic of Materia Medica) in the Song Dynasty, the source of this drug evolved as SchizonepetatenuisfoliaBriq. ofLabiatae, and it has been in use until now. Hence, the sources of Jiasu should be both O. basilicum L. and the co-existence of S. tenuisfolia Briq in the Qing Dynasty. It is claimed that the hometowns of those herb writers who considered the source ofOcimumbasilicum L. to be the producing areas of cultivation of the edible Ocimumbasilicum L. It was found that the source of Jiasu recorded in the Sheng nong ben cao jing should be O. basilicum L. , hence, it is suggested the title Jiasu should be recorded for the source of O. basilicum L, and the original plant of Herba Schizonepetae was Schizonepetatenuisfolia Briq. of Labiatae, and this medicine should be separately recorded. In fact, Jiasu and Herba Schizonepetae were two different kinds of medicines.

Herb-drug interactions: methods to identify potential influence of genetic variations in genes encoding drug metabolizing enzymes and drug transporters.

Herbal supplements are often used concomitantly with conventional medications resulting in considerable potential for herb-drug interactions. These interactions, which are generally through interfering with pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic pathways, may result in beneficial effects or more often adverse reactions such as toxicity or treatment failure and may be influenced by multiple environmental and/or genetic factors. The pharmacogenetic approach may help to identify some interactions which may be more pronounced or only occur in specific groups of subjects although the complex nature of the herbal medicines may limit the discovery of such an interaction. Preclinical studies such as gene expression profiling in rodent liver may help to define metabolic pathways influenced by herbal medicines and facilitate more accurate targeting of human in vivo studies. This review discusses the mechanisms of herb-drugs interaction and the potential influence of genetic variation on herb-drug interactions based on available clinical evidence.

Effects of perilla extract on productive performance, serum values and hepatic expression of lipid-related genes in Shaoxing ducks.

1. The aim of this study was to identify the effect of perilla extract, a source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, on lipid metabolism and expression of lipid-related genes in livers of Shaoxing ducks. 2. Two hundred and forty 28-week-old laying ducks received a commercial diet with perilla extract added at 0 (control) or 200 mg/kg of feed. 3. Ducks fed on a diet with perilla extract had increased laying rates compared with control ducks. 4. Serum concentrations of triglycerides were reduced by perilla extract, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total serum cholesterol increased. 5. The expression of genes involved in hepatic lipogenesis, sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1, acetyl CoA carboxylase, stearoyl CoA desaturase, fatty acid synthase, apolipoprotein B, and apolipoprotein very low density lipoprotein, were decreased in the perilla group. 6. The mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor alpha and acyl-coenzyme A oxidase was enhanced following treatment with perilla extract, and a similar tendency was observed in the expression of liver fatty acid-binding protein. 7. The results show that a diet with 200 mg/kg perilla extract regulated fat metabolism of Shaoxing ducks by improving egg laying, altering serum lipid profiles, stimulating lipid catabolic gene expression and inhibiting lipogenic gene expression in the liver.

[Studies on protective effect of total flavonoids of Astragalus on liver damage induced by paracetamol].

OBJECTIVE: To study the protective effect of total flavonoids of Astragalus (TFA) on the liver against large doses of paracetamol in mice. METHOD: After oral administration of TFA or Vitamin C 1 h prior to giving large dose of paracetamol in mice, the changes of paracetamol-induced mortality rate, serum enzyme level and liver damage degree were observed. RESULT: Paracetamol produced 80% mortality, within 24 hours of the administration of a dose of 1000 mg.kg-1 to the mice. Pre-treatment of the animals with TFA (100 mg.kg-1) or Vitamin C (1,000 mg.kg-1) reduced the death rate to 20% and 0% respectively. There was also a significant rise in the serum enzyme level of alanine transaminase (P < 0.001) and the area of liver necrosis (P < 0.001), 24 h after paracetamol (400 mg.kg-1) treatment. With pre-treatment with either TFA or Vitamin C, there was an obvious dose-dependent decrease in ALT levels and the area of hepatocellular necrosis. CONCLUSION: TFA has potential protecting effect against the paracetamol-induced hepatic damage.

[Protection against paracetamol-induced hepatic damage using total flavonoids of Astragalus].

OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanism of the protection by total flavonoids of Astragalus protection against paracetamol-induced hepatic damage. METHOD: Analysing paracetamol and its metabolites in mice urine by HPLC and studying the mechanism of anti-damage induced by paracetamol using experiment module of pentobarbital-induced sleeping time. RESULT: Administration of large doses of paracetamol to C57BL/6J mice produced significant hepatic injury with marked elevation in serum ALT activity and severe hepatocellular necrosis. TFA showed a good protective capability against paracetamol-induced hepatic injury. TFA had no marked effect on paracetamol and its metabolites except for the mercapturate-conjugate. The concentration of mercapturate change decreased with increasing TFA dose. TFA had no effect on the pentobarbital metabolites (P > 0.05). However, paracetamol (400 mg.kg-1) prolonged the sleeping time (by 110 min relative to the controls, P < 0.001). The TFA (P < 0.005) caused significant reduction in paracetamol-prolonged pentobarbital-induced sleep. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanism of TFA's protective effect against the paracetamol-induced damage may be related to the inhibition of some metabolism progress of paracetamol and the reduction of the toxicity metabolite such as mercapturate-conjugate.

Complete mapping of crystallization pathways during cholesterol precipitation from model bile: influence of physical-chemical variables of pathophysiologic relevance and identification of a stable liquid crystalline state in cold, dilute and hydrophilic bile salt-containing systems.

Using complementary physical-chemical techniques we defined five different crystallization pathways as functions of time (30 days) and increasing lecithin (egg yolk) content in pathophysiologically relevant model biles super-saturated (cholesterol saturation indices, 1.2 - 2.7) by dilution of approximately equal to 29 g/dl bile salt-lecithin-cholesterol micellar solutions. As evidenced by quasi-elastic light-scattering spectroscopy, supersaturation was heralded by the appearance of unilamellar vesicles. With the lowest lecithin contents, arc-like crystals with habit and density (d 1.030 g/mL) consistent with anhydrous cholesterol appeared first and evolved via helical and tubular crystals to form plate-like cholesterol monohydrate crystals (d 1.045 g/mL). With higher lecithin fractions, cholesterol monohydrate crystals appeared earlier than arc and other transitional crystals. With typical physiological lecithin contents, early liquid crystals (d 1.020 g/mL) were followed by cholesterol monohydrate crystals and subsequent appearances of arc and other intermediate crystals. With higher lecithin contents, liquid crystals were followed by cholesterol monohydrate crystals only, and at the highest lecithin mole fractions, liquid crystals appeared that did not generate solid crystals. Added calcium increased solid crystal number in proportion to its concentration (5 - 20 mM) but did not influence appearance times, crystallization pathways, or micellar cholesterol solubilities. Decreases in temperature (37 degrees --> 4 degrees C), total lipid concentration (7.3 --> 2.4 g/dL), and bile salt hydrophobicity (3 alpha, 12 alpha --> 3 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha --> 3 alpha, 7 beta hydroxylated taurine conjugates) progressively shifted all crystallization pathways to lower lecithin contents, retarded crystallization, and decreased micellar cholesterol solubilities. The lecithin content of mother biles decreased markedly during crystallization especially where liquid crystals were a coexisting phase at equilibrium. This systematic study provides a framework for understanding cholesterol crystallization in human and animal biles and for examining factors that influence the kinetics of phase separation.

[The effect of honey-frying on anti-oxidation activity of Astragalus mongholicus Bunge].

The anti-free radical effects of water extracts of crude Astragalus mongholicus (CAWE) and honey-fried Astragalus mongholicus (HAWE) have been studied. Both extracts have similar effects in scavenging 0.2 in Xan/Xo system. The effect of CAWE is stronger than that of HAWE in scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by PMA and stimulated by PMN and also in scavenging OH engendered by Fentons reaction. This suggests that frying process may decrease the ROS scavenging activities of Astragalus mongholicus.

[Medicinal plants of Asarum in Anhui Province].

This paper deals with the identification of botanical origins of Asarum produced in Anhui. Two analytical keys to eight species and one variety of the original plants are given.

[Studies on saponins from the leaves of Panax japonicus var. bipinnatifidus(Seem.)Wu et Feng].

Two new saponins, bipinnatifidusoside F1(XII) and F2(XIII), were isolated along with eleven known saponins from the dried leaves of Panax japonicus var.bipinnatifidus(Seem.)Wu et Feng collected in the Range of Qinling Mountains in China. By spectrometric analysis(FAB-MS,1H and 13CNMR,1H-1H COSY), their structures were elucidated as dammar-25(26)-ene-3 beta, 12 beta, 20(S),24 zeta-tetraol-(20-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-3-O- beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (bipinnatifidusodie F1) and dammar-22(23) ene-3 beta, 12 beta, 20(S),24 zeta-tetraol-(20-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-3-O-beta- D-glucopyranosyl(1-2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (bipinnatifidusoside F2), respectively. The known saponins were identified as ginsenoside F1,F2,F3,Rg2,Re,Rd,Rb1,Rb3, 24(S)-pseudoginsenoside F11, panasenoside and majoroside F1. Compared with bipinnatifidusoside F2, majoroside F3 was corrected as dammar-22(23)-ene-3 beta, 12 beta,20(S),24 zeta-tetraol-(20-O-beta-D- glucopyranosyl)-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside.

[Further study on dammarane saponins of leaves of Panax japonicus var. major collected in Quinling Mountains China].

In continuation of our studies on the leaves of Panax japonicus var. major (Burk.) Wu et Feng, two new dammarane saponins are isolated. By means of FAB-MS and 13CNMR, their structures were elucidated as dammar-22(23)-ene-3 beta, 6 alpha, 12 beta, 20(S), 24 section-pentaol- (20-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-6-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-2)-beta-D- glucopyranoside (majorosids F5) and dammar-23(24)-ene-3 beta, 6 alpha, 12 beta, 20(S), 25-pentaol-(20-O-beta-D- glucopyranosyl)-6-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (majoroside F6).