Effect of a seaweed extract on fatty acid accumulation and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

This study was to determine the effect of a seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum extract (SE) containing 220 mg g(-1) phlorotannins on differentiation and fatty acid accumulation in differentiating 3T3-L1 adipocytes. 3T3-L1 cells (2 x 10(4) mL(-1)) were seeded to 24-well plates and proliferated to reach confluence and then were treated with media containing 0, 12.5, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mug mL(-1) SE for 8 days. Dexamethasone, methyl-isobutylxanthine and insulin (DMI) were added to the media in the first 2 days to induce cell differentiation. On day 8 the adipocytes were harvested for measuring cellular fatty acid concentration and the activity of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH). It was found that treatment with SE increased (P < 0.01, n = 6) cellular myristoleic acid (C14:1), palmitoleic acid (C16:1) and oleic acid (C18:1) and total monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) without significantly affecting the cell number and saturated fatty acid (SFA). Ratios of MUFA/SFA, C14:1/C14:0, C16:1/C16:0 and C18:1/C18:0 in cellular lipids increased (P < 0.05, n = 6) with the SE treatment in a dose dependent manner (P < 0.001). Treatment with 75 microg mL(-1) SE depressed (P < 0.05) cellular GPDH activity. The results indicate that the biological factors in the SE may be involved in differentiation and MUFA accumulation in adipocytes.

Kuwanon G: an antibacterial agent from the root bark of Morus alba against oral pathogens.

Kuwanon G was isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of methanol extract of Morus alba and its structure was elucidated by 13C-NMR, 1H-NMR and FAB-MS. Antibacterial activity of kuwanon G was investigated by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test and the viable cell count method. MIC of kuwanon G against Streptococcus mutans causing dental caries was determined to be 8.0 microg/ml. The bactericidal test showed that kuwanon G completely inactivated S. mutans at the concentration 20 microg/ml in 1 min. Kuwanon G also significantly inhibited the growth of other cariogenic bacteria such as Streptococcus sobrinus and Streptococcus sanguis, and Porpyromonas gingivalis causing periodontitis. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of kuwanon G treated cells demonstrated remarkable morphological damage of the cell wall and condensation of the cytoplasm.

[Effects of di-zhen granules on catecholamine transmitter and gonadotropin of clamacteric rats with deficiency of yin brings about the interior heat-syndrome].

Fifteen-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats were given with some kinds of hot property of herb to produce model of Deficiency of yin brings about the interior heat-syndrome. The weight, water drinking volume, and body temperature of model rats were observed at the process of producing model and the treatment of di-zhen granules. Hypothalamic NE, DA and plasma NE, E concentration were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography, and serum E2, FSH, LH levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. The results were that after having been given the hot property of herbs for 2 weeks, the model rats increased water drinking volume and body temperature, which is similar to the appearance of patients with Deficiency of yin brings about the interior heat syndrome, and after having been treated with di-zhen granules, the water drinking volume and temperature of model rats decreased significantly (P < 0.01). The hypothalamic NE, DA, plasma NE, E, and the serum FSH, LH of the group treated with di-zhen granules were significantly lower than that of the model group and the normal group(P < 0.01). The results show that our model mentioned above possesses some characteristic features of the human climacteric syndrome which exhibits Deficiency of yin brings about the interior heat-syndrome. Di-zhen granules may regulate the function of GnRH neurons and other neurotic nucleus in hypothalamus, and then rectify the endocrine disorders of climacteric.

[Analysis of dynamic blood pressure of essential hypertension patients with Ganyang shangkangzheng or Gan-shengyinxuzheng].

Inspecting twenty-four hours dynamic blood pressure of sixty-two essential hypertension patients with Ganyang shangkangzheng or Gan-shengyinxuzheng in normal conditions and analysing blood pressure's dynamic regularity of the two groups with different traditional Chinese medicine Zheng type, we found that the blood pressure of Ganyang shangkangzheng patients was higher in the daytime than that at night, and the Gan-Shengyinxuzheng patients had the reverse results. The results suggest that the dynamic blood pressure value may be an objective index for differential diagnosis of traditional Chinese medicine Zheng types of patients with essential hypertension.

Effects of glycyrrhizae and glycyrrhizic acid on cellular immunocompetence in low-dose gamma-ray irradiated mice.

BACKGROUND: For both animals and human beings, it is important to prevent damage from ionizing radiation and to restore immunocompetence following irradiation. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of glycyrrhizae (GL) and glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) on cellular immunocompetence in low dose gamma-ray-irradiated mice. METHODS: Six- to 8-week-old ICR strain' Crl:CD-1-ICR (BR) strain male mice, bred in the Institute of Cancer Research, U.S.A., were chosen and divided into four groups. Group A was the normal control. Group B, the experimental control, received 1 Gy of whole body gamma-ray irradiation. Groups C and D, the experimental groups, were treated with 500 mg/kg of GL (orally) and 5 mg/kg body weight of GA (i.p.), respectively, once a day, 5 days a week for 2 weeks after gamma-irradiation. The tested mice were killed, at 6 different intervals to measure their leukocyte and differential counts. Cellular immunocompetence was measured by the 3H-thymidine uptake in each group. RESULTS: One gray of gamma-ray irradiation had evident inhibition on the leukocyte and differential counts and the cellular immunity of mice. GL and GA could help to restore the decreased leukocyte counts and the cellular immunocompetence in low dose gamma-irradiated mice. CONCLUSION: GL and GA could help to restore decreased leukocyte counts and the cellular immunocompetence in low-dose gamma-ray-irradiated mice.

Taurine protects the liver against lipid peroxidation and membrane disintegration during rat hepatocarcinogenesis.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of taurine supplementation on both hepatic morphological changes and the extent of hepatic lipid peroxidation and membrane disintegration during rat hepatocarcinogenesis. Sprague Dawley rats were fed high fat diets containing 15% corn oil and were maintained on drinking water with or without 1% taurine. Two weeks after the appropriate feeding regimen, hepatocarcinogenesis was induced by a modification of the Solt and Farber method. This involved a 8 week protocol, including diethylnitrosamine initiation, 3 weeks of 2-acetylaminofluorene feeding and finally a 70% partial hepatectomy. Morphological changes of the hepatocyte were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Hepatocytes of the carcinogen-treated rat not exposed to taurine contained normal nuclei, but the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the mitochondria (Mi) were almost destroyed. By contrast, although the hepatocytes from the taurine supplemented group contained some irregular contour nuclei, the ER and Mi were normal. In the carcinogen-treated groups, lipid peroxidation was decreased because of the activation of several detoxifying enzymes. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity increased in the carcinogen-treated groups but less so in the group supplemented with taurine before treatment with the carcinogen. In the group supplemented with taurine prior to treatment with the carcinogen, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity was higher than in the carcinogen-treated group lacking taurine exposure. Consistent with the severe destruction to the membrane in the carcinogen-treated rats, hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) activity, an index of membrane stability, was also decreased. However, both the fall in G6Pase activity and the degree of membrane damage was reduced in the carcinogen-treated animals receiving oral taurine. These results suggest that taurine appears to inhibit lipid peroxidation, to alter the activity of the defense enzymes and to protect the liver against membrane disintegration during rat hepatocarcinogenesis.

Effects of taurine supplementation on lipid peroxidation, blood glucose and blood lipid metabolism in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of taurine on several complications of diabetes, including oxidative stress, glucose intolerance and blood lipid profile. Sprague Dawley male rats were fed an experimental diet for 7 weeks, at which time they were maintained on drinking water with or without 1% taurine. The experimental period was 7 weeks and the rats were administered streptozotocin (STZ) to induce diabetes. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content was increased following the STZ injection, but was lowered by prior treatment with taurine. The primary diabetic symptoms, such as polydipsia and polyuria, were ameliorated in rats supplemented with taurine before the STZ injection. Plasma triglyceride (TG) levels of the diabetic group were decreased by taurine supplementation, although plasma total cholesterol (T-chol) and HDL cholesterol (HDL-chol) were not different among the groups. LDL cholesterol (LDL-chol) levels of the control group were significantly decreased by taurine supplementation, however, the time of taurine administration affected the response of the diabetic group; only diabetic rats treated with taurine after the administration of STZ showed a decrease in LDL cholesterol. Therefore, taurine inhibits lipid peroxidation and decreases blood TG and LDL-chol levels, however, the time and dose of taurine supplementation are variables that need to be considered in the treatment of diabetes.

The use of Chinese herbal medicine on experimental fracture healing.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of Ru-Yih-Jin-Huang-Saan (RYJHS) and Jie-Guu-Saan (JGS) on experimental fracture healing in rats. Seventy-five rats were fractured in the middle of the left tibia and fibula. They were randomly divided into experimental and control groups and injected with Ringer's solution and applied with Ru-Yih-jin-Huang-Saan externally or fed with Jie-Guu-Saan respectively. The animals were sacrificed at 4, 8 and 12 days after fracture. The contents of hydroxyproline and the synthesis of DNA, RNA and protein were observed. The results demonstrate that groups treated with herbal medicine were more rapidly and thoroughly healed than the control group in respect to collagen formation and bone cell metabolism.

Combined effects of chuling (Polyporus umbellatus) extract and mitomycin C on experimental liver cancer.

Chuling (Polyporus umbellatus), one of the commonly used Chinese medical herbs, was combined with mitomycin C and then studied against intrahepatic implantation of sarcoma 180 tumor cells in mice. Oral administration of chuling extract, intraperitoneal injection of mitomycin C and the combination of both increased the life span of tumor-bearing mice 71.6%, 70.1% and 119.9%, respectively. The same treatments were found to be cytotoxic to Sarcoma-180-induced liver tumor cells. The synthetic rates of DNA, RNA and protein were all inhibited measurably by the combined treatment. Histopathological studies showed that lymphocytes infiltrated and surrounded the cancer cells, and there was some fibrosis found in normal cells and cancer cells. These results indicate the potential use of chuling as an anticancer agent.

Combined therapy of mitomycin C and Chinese medical herbs on experimental liver cancer.

In this research, ICR male mice were chosen for intrahepatic implantation of sarcoma 180 tumor cells (1 x 10(7)). The mice were randomly divided into various groups 24 hours after implantation. One of the groups was the tumor control, the others were singly or combinedly treated with mitomycin C (MMC) and Shih Chuan-Ta-Pu-Tang (SCTPT) or Shi-Hung-One (SHO). The results revealed that the mortality rate (MR60) in the tumor control was 100% and the mean survival time (MST60) was 21.11 +/- 10.69 days. The best therapeutic effect appeared in the group treated with the combination of MMC and SHO, its MR6o was 55.0% and MST 60 was 47.0 +/- 13.4 days.