Total glucosides of paeony (TGP) alleviates constipation and intestinal inflammation in mice induced by Sjögren's syndrome.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease and can cause gastrointestinal disorders such as constipation and intestinal inflammation. As a kind of medicinal material, Paeonia lactiflora Pall has a variety of pharmacological effects, and it is also an indispensable component in many pharmaceutical preparations, which has been widely concerned by the medical and pharmaceutical circles. Total glucosides of paeony (TGP) is a mixture of biologically active compounds extracted from the root of Paeonia lactiflora Pall and has therapeutic effects on a variety of autoimmune diseases. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the therapeutic effect of TGP on constipation and intestinal inflammation in mice modeled by SS, and to provide a basis for clinical research. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The SS model was set up by submandibular gland (SMG) immune induction method and then treated with TGP for 24 weeks. The fecal characteristics were observed and the fecal number and moisture content were measured. Colonic pathology was observed by H&E staining. The levels of serum P substance (SP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), interleukin (IL)-1ß, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, nuclear factor (NF)-κB, nitric oxide (NO), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and microplate method, respectively. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to analyze the mRNA expression of c-kit and stem cell factor (SCF) in colon. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, the dry and rough condition of the feces was improved, and the fecal gloss, number and moisture content significantly increased after the administration of TGP capsules. Meanwhile, TGP treatment improved colonic pathological damage, inhibited the serum concentrations of NO, NOS, IL-1ß, TNF-α, NF-κB and SP, increased serum VIP concentration, and up-regulated mRNA expression of SCF and c-kit in colon. CONCLUSIONS: TGP could obviously attenuate SS-mediated constipation and intestinal inflammation in mice by acting on some intestinal motility related factors and inflammatory factors.

Antifungal activity of crude extracts and fat-soluble constituents of Holotrichia diomphalia larvae.

In this study, chemical compositions of fatty oils and bioactivity of crude extracts from Holotrichia diomphalia larvae as Chinese materia medica were investigated for the first time. The chemical compositions of the fatty oils were obtained by two different methods and determined by GC/MS. In total, the petroleum ether extract produced 21 compounds (96.3%) while the supercritical fluid extract produced six compounds (99.53%) for identification. The effect of petroleum ether and other crude extracts on Pyricularia oryzae was also examined. Results indicated that ethanol and petroleum ether extracts had excellent antifungal activities. These findings demonstrated that fatty oils from H. diomphalia larvae had great potential to be used as a source for natural health products.

[Study on the anticancer activities of the Clematis manshrica saponins in vivo].

OBJECTIVE: To study the anticancer activity of the Clematis manshrica saponins in vivo. METHOD: Anticancer activities were tested in mice with experimental tumor (S180, HepA and P388) in vivo. RESULT: The Clematis manshrica saponins showed a significant anticancer activities on Sarcoma-180, HepA and P388 implanted in mice. In S180 sarcoma, the average tumor inhibition rates were 42.78%, 52.06% and 58.25% (P < 0.05-0.01) respectively; The mean inhibition rates were 37.44%, 52.05% and 59.36% (P < 0.05-0.001) in Hep A tumor separately; while in P388 tumor, the mean inhibition rates were 34.50%, 46.78% and 54.39% (P < 0.05-0.01), respectively. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that Clematis manshrica has obvious antitumor effects against various transplanted tumor in mice.