Study on the mechanism of anti-MIRI action of total flavones of Fructus Chorspondiatis by PET/CT imaging.

BACKGROUND: To investigate anti myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI) action of total flavones of Fructus Chorspondiatis (TFFC) in rats by 13N-ammonia micro PET/CT imaging, etc. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups. Micro PET/CT imaging was performed before and after modeling to calculate the volume (VOI) and SUVmean of myocardial ischemic area. The oxidative stress index [(superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA)] and the marker enzymes [creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)] of myocardial injury were detected. The pathological changes of myocardial were observed via HE staining. A MIRI model of rat cardiomyocytes in vitro was established, the damage and apoptosis of myocardial cells in each group were observed, and the apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes was detected. RESULTS: The imaging viscosities of the imaging agents were observed at 24 and 48 h in each group. The VOI of 24 h imaging was (6.33±2.02), (6.01±1.56) and (3.32±0.86) mm3, respectively. The VOI of 48 h imaging was (3.31±1.33), (2.61±1.01) and (1.32±0.58) mm3. The 72 h imaging medium and high dose group recovered, while the low dose group still saw sparseness with (1.26±0.68) mm3 VOI. The ischemic (SUVmean) gradually increased with time. Metabolism gradually recovered (F=121.82, 450.82, 435.75, P<0.05). The three doses of TFFC can eliminate free radicals and reduce the damage of myocardial injury. Amongst them, the high-dose group had a better effect on SOD, and the middle-dose group had a better effect on MDA and LDH. The low-dose group affected CK, and a significant difference was observed compared with the control group (P<0.05). After administration, the morphology of myocardial cells in each dose group was improved to some extent. Nuclear pyknosis, rupture, the apoptosis rate, etc. were significantly reduced, the number of cells increased. The high dose group showed the most obvious improvement. CONCLUSIONS: The PET/CT imaging method can detect non-invasive, in vivo and dynamic MIRI, and can accurately evaluate the protective effect of traditional Mongolian medicine TFFC on MIRI. The Anti-MIRI of TFFC can scavenge free radicals, reduce oxidative stress damage, inhibit apoptosis, affect the activity of related enzymes.

In vitro antioxidant activity and in vivo antifatigue effect of layered double hydroxide nanoparticles as delivery vehicles for folic acid.

Folic acid antioxidants were successfully intercalated into layered double hydroxides (LDH) nanoparticles according to a previous method with minor modification. The resultant folic acid-LDH constructs were then characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The in vitro antioxidant activities, cytotoxicity effect, and in vivo antifatigue were examined by a series of assays. The results showed that folic acid-LDH antioxidant system can scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and hydroxyl free radicals and chelate pro-oxidative Cu(2+). The in vitro cytotoxicity assays indicated that folic acid-LDH antioxidant system had no significant cytotoxic effect or obvious toxicity to normal cells. It also prolonged the forced swimming time of the mice by 32% and 51% compared to folic acid and control groups, respectively. It had an obvious effect on decreasing the blood urea nitrogen and blood lactic acid, while increasing muscle and hepatic glycogen levels. Therefore, folic acid-LDH might be used as a novel antioxidant and antifatigue nutritional supplement.

Lipid production by Rhodosporidium toruloides Y2 in bioethanol wastewater and evaluation of biomass energetic yield.

The oleaginous yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides Y2 was employed to remove waste nutrients from bioethanol wastewater while simultaneously producing biomass enriched in microbial lipids. Under optimal conditions, the COD degradation ratio, biomass and lipid content reached 72.3%, 3.8 g/l and 34.9%, respectively. For accelerating biomass and lipid accumulation, different feeding strategies of substrate were conducted. The biomass and lipid production increased by 39.5% and 53.8%, respectively, when glucose at 1.2g/(ld) was added during the last three days of the cultivation. An equation was established to estimate biomass energetic yield. Under optimal conditions, the biomass energetic yield was 50.9% and an increase of 26.0% was obtained by feeding glucose at 1.2g/(ld) during the last three days. The fatty acid composition of the lipids was similar to that from plant oils and other microbial lipids, and could thus be used as raw material for feed additives and biodiesel production.

Enhanced bioavailability and efficiency of curcumin for the treatment of asthma by its formulation in solid lipid nanoparticles.

Curcumin has shown considerable pharmacological activity, including anti-inflammatory, but its poor bioavailability and rapid metabolization have limited its application. The purpose of the present study was to formulate curcumin-solid lipid nanoparticles (curcumin-SLNs) to improve its therapeutic efficacy in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic rat model of asthma. A solvent injection method was used to prepare the curcumin-SLNs. Physiochemical properties of curcumin-SLNs were characterized, and release experiments were performed in vitro. The pharmacokinetics in tissue distribution was studied in mice, and the therapeutic effect of the formulation was evaluated in the model. The prepared formulation showed an average size of 190 nm with a zeta potential value of -20.7 mV and 75% drug entrapment efficiency. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the amorphous nature of the encapsulated curcumin. The release profile of curcumin-SLNs was an initial burst followed by sustained release. The curcumin concentrations in plasma suspension were significantly higher than those obtained with curcumin alone. Following administration of the curcumin-SLNs, all the tissue concentrations of curcumin increased, especially in lung and liver. In the animal model of asthma, curcumin-SLNs effectively suppressed airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammatory cell infiltration and also significantly inhibited the expression of T-helper-2-type cytokines, such as interleukin-4 and interleukin-13, in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid compared to the asthma group and curcumin-treated group. These observations implied that curcumin-SLNs could be a promising candidate for asthma therapy.