SIRT 3 was involved in Lycium barbarum seed oil protection testis from oxidative stress: in vitro and in vivo analyses.

CONTEXT: Lycium barbarum L. (Solanaceae) seed oil (LBSO) exerts LBSO exerts protective effects in the testis in vivo and in vitro via upregulating SIRT3. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the effects and mechanism of LBSO in the d-galactose (d-gal)-induced ageing testis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats (n = 30, 8-week-old) were randomly divided into three groups: LBSO group (n = 10) where rats received subcutaneous injection of d-gal at 125 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks and intragastric administration of LBSO at 1000 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks, ageing model group (n = 10) received 8-week-sunbcutaneous injection of d-gal, and control group (n = 10) with same administration of normal saline. Lentivirus had established TM4 cells with SIRT3 overexpression or silencing before LBSO intervened in vitro. RESULTS: Treatment with LBSO, the levels of INHB and testosterone both increased, compared to ageing model. In vitro, we found the ED50 of LBSO was 86.72 ± 1.49 and when the concentration of LBSO at 100 µg/mL to intervene TM4 cells, the number of cells increased from 8120 ± 676.2 to 15251 ± 1119, and the expression of SIRT3, HO-1, and SOD upregulated. However, HO-1 and SOD were dysregulated by silencing SIRT3. On the other hand, the expression of AMPK and PGC-1α upregulated as an effect of SIRT3 overexpression by lentivirus, meanwhile the same increasing trend of that being found in cells treated with LBSO, compared to control group. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: LBSO alleviated oxidative stress in d-gal-induced sub-acutely ageing testis and TM4 cells by suppressing the oxidative stress to mitochondria via SIRT3/AMPK/PGC-1α.

Potential of thrombospondin-1 in treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome rat model: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common gynecological endocrine disease in reproductive women, and the endocrine levels are also affected by diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) on PCOS rat model. METHODS: We established the PCOS rat model, the serum hormones including TSP-1 expression were determined and morphological characteristics were investigated to evaluate the model. These above endocrine and morphological features were investigated again to evaluate the effect of TSP-1 treatment. RESULTS: In the PCOS model group, the serum hormones change (higher luteinizing hormone, testosterone and estrogen) and decreased TSP-1 expression levels were found compared with the control group. Besides, the morphological characteristics of PCOS were also observed in the model group. After TSP-1 treatment, the higher TSP-1, ANGPT2, PDGFB and PDGFD expression levels, the lower LH and T levels, decreased vessel density as well as VEGFA and ANGPT1 expression levels were found compared with the control group, and the ovary morphological changes were also observed in the TSP-1 experimental group. CONCLUSIONS: TSP-1 delivery system might be an alternative therapy for PCOS treatment.

A hepatoprotection study of Radix Bupleuri on acetaminophen-induced liver injury based on CYP450 inhibition.

We investigated the potential hepatoprotective effect of Radix Bupleuri (RB) by inducing acute liver injury (ALI) in an animal model using acetaminophen (APAP) after pretreatment with RB aqueous extract for three consecutive days. Compared to those of the APAP group, the biochemical and histological results of the RB pretreatment group showed lower serumaspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels as well as less liver damage. Pharmacokinetic study of the toxicity related marker acetaminophen-cysteine (APC) revealed a lower exposure level in rats, suggesting that RB alleviated APAP-induced liver damage by preventing glutathione (GSH) depletion. The results of cocktail approach showed significant inhibition of CYP2E1 and CYP3A activity. Further investigation revealed the increasing of CYP2E1 and CYP3A protein was significantly inhibited in pretreatment group, while no obvious effect on gene expression was found. Therefore, this study clearly demonstrates that RB exhibited significant protective action against APAP-induced acute live injury via pretreatment, and which is partly through inhibiting the increase of activity and translation of cytochrome P450 enzymes, rather than gene transcription.

Hypolipidemic and antioxidative effects of aqueous enzymatic extract from rice bran in rats fed a high-fat and -cholesterol diet.

PURPOSE: The aqueous enzymatic extract from rice bran (AEERB) was rich in protein, γ-oryzanol and tocols. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of AEERB on the regulation of lipid metabolism and the inhibition of oxidative damage. METHODS: The antioxidant activity of AEERB in vitro was measured in terms of radical scavenging capacity, ferric reducing ability power (FRAP) and linoleic acid emulsion system-ferric thiocyanate method (FTC). Male Wistar rats were fed with a normal diet and a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet with or without AEERB. After treatment, biochemical assays of serum, liver and feces lipid levels, the antioxidant enzyme activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl were determined. RESULT: AEERB is completely soluble in water and rich in hydrophilic and lipophilic functional ingredients. AEERB scavenged DPPH• and ABTS•+ and exhibited antioxidant activity slightly lower than that of ascorbic acid in the linoleic acid system. The administration of AEERB reduced serum lipid levels and the atherogenic index compared with those of the hyperlipidemic diet group (HD). The administration of AEERB significantly lowered liver lipid levels, inhibited hepatic 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase activity, and efficiently promoted the fecal excretion of total lipids and total cholesterol (TC) (p < 0.05). Dietary AEERB enhanced antioxidant status in the serum, liver and brain by increasing the antioxidant enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and decreasing the content of MDA and protein carbonyl. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that AEERB might act as a potent hypolipidemic and antioxidant functional food.

Effects of Wenxiao Decoction on the expression of interleukin-6, intercellular adhesion molecular-1 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in experimental atherosclerotic rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of different doses of Wenxiao Decoction on the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in experimental atherosclerotic rabbits and to explore the mechanism by which it alleviates atherosclerosis. METHODS: Sixty New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into six groups: a blank group, a model group, a Simvastatin group, and high-, medium-, and low-dosage Wenxiao Decoction groups. Except for those in the blank group, all rabbits were fed with a high-cholesterol diet. Carotid atherosclerosis was established by balloon-induced carotid artery endothelium injury in conjunction with the high-cholesterol diet. After 8 weeks, all animals were euthanized to evaluate levels of IL-6 and ICAM-1 expressions (by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) and of MCP-1 (by immunohistochemistry staining). RESULTS: The expressions of IL-6, ICAM-1, and MCP-1 were significantly increased in all groups except the blank group (P<0.05). However, the rabbits in the Wenxiao Decoction groups and the Simvastatin group showed significantly lower levels of IL-6, ICAM-1, and MCP-1 expression than those in the model group (P<0.05). The expressions of IL-6, ICAM-1, and MCP-1 in the highdosage Wenxiao Decoction group and the Simvastatin group were lower than those in the low-dosage Wenxiao Decoction group (P<0.05). The expression of MCP-1 in medium-dosage Wenxiao Decoction group was lower than that in the low-dosage group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: High, medium, and low doses of Wenxiao Decoction can inhibit the expressions of IL-6, ICAM-1, and MCP-1, which may prevent and stabilize atherosclerotic plaques. There may be a direct relationship between dosage and therapeutic efficacy of Wenxiao Decoction.

Effects of Wenxiao II decoction on the expression of MCP-1 and VCAM-1 in atherosclerotic rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of different doses of wenxiao II decoction on the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in an experimental model of atherosclerosis in rabbits and to explore the mechanism by which it alleviates atherosclerosis. METHODS: Sixty 3-4 month-old New Zealand rabbits of both sexes were randomly divided into six groups: simvastain; model; blank; and high-dose, mid-dose, and low-dose wenxiao II decoction groups. Except for those in the blank group, all rabbits were fed a high-cholesterol diet. Carotid atherosclerosis was established by balloon-induced injury to the endothelium of the carotid artery in conjunction with consumption of a high-cholesterol diet. After 8 weeks, all rabbits were killed to evaluate the expression of MCP-1 and VCAM-1 by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Expressions of MCP-1 and VCAM-1 were significantly decreased in all groups except the blank group compared with the model group (P < 0.05). When compared with the simvastain group only variation of MCP-1 expression in low-dose group was not appreciable, and the differences were indistinct (P < 0.05). When comparing among wenxiao II decoction groups, MCP-1 expression in the mid- and high-dose groups was significantly lower than that seen in the low-dose group (P< 0.01), but there were no differences among three dosage groups with respect to VCAM-1 expression (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: These data suggested that high, mid, and low doses of Wenxiao II Decoction can inhibit the expression of MCP-1 and VCAM-1, which may prevent the formation of or stabilize atherosclerotic plaques. There may be a direct relationship between the dosage of wenxiao II decoction and its therapeutic efficacy.

Triterpenoid saponins from the roots of Clematis chinensis Osbeck.

A new triterpenoid saponin named clematichinenoside AR(2), along with the six known compounds, was isolated and characterized from Clematis chinensis Osbeck (Ranunculaceae), a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine with anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatoid activities. The structure of the new saponin was elucidated as 3-O-beta-[(O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)-O-beta-D-ribopyranosyl-(1 --> 3)-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl)oxy]olean-12-en-21alpha-hydroxy-28-oic acid-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (1) by spectral analysis and chemical methods. The effects of two major saponins (clematichinenosides AR and AR(2)) on the secretion of TNF-alpha in murine peritoneal macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharides were further investigated. The result indicated that a majority of triterpenoid saponins of this herb may be useful in the exploration of lead compounds for the treatment of some autoimmune diseases.