The active ingredients in Chinese peony pods synergize with antibiotics to inhibit MRSA growth and biofilm formation.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a zoonotic pathogen that infects both humans and animals. The rapid spread of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and its resistance to antibiotics, along with its ability to form biofilms, poses a serious challenge to the clinical application of traditional antibiotics. Peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) is a traditional Chinese medicine with multiple pharmacological effects. This study observed the strong antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of the water extract (WE) and ethyl acetate extract (EA) of Chinese peony pods against MRSA. The combination of EA and vancomycin, cefotaxime, penicillin G or methicillin showed a synergistic or additive antibacterial and antibiofilm effects on MRSA, which is closely related to the interaction of 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-ß-D-glucose (PG) and methyl gallate (MG). The active ingredients in peony pods have been found to increase the sensitivity of MRSA to antibiotics and demonstrate antibiofilm activity, which is mainly related to the down-regulation of global regulatory factors sarA and sigB, extracellular PIA and eDNA encoding genes icaA and cdiA, quorum sensing related genes agrA, luxS, rnaIII, hld, biofilm virulence genes psma and sspA, and genes encoding clotting factors coa and vwb, but is not related to genes that inhibit cell wall anchoring. In vivo test showed that both WE and EA were non-toxic and significantly prolonged the lifespan of G. mellonella larvae infected with MRSA. This study provides a theoretical basis for further exploration of the combined use of PG, MG and antibiotics to combat MRSA infections.

Antidiabetic properties of 2,5-dihydroxy-4,3'-di(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-trans-stilbene from mulberry (Morus bombycis koidzumi) root in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

We investigated the antidiabetic properties of 2,5-dihydroxy-4,3-di(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-trans-stilbene (DGTS) isolated from Morus bombycis Koidzumi in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The DGTS prevented the increase in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and blood urea nitrogen levels in serum of diabetic rats. At doses of 200-800 mg/kg, DGTS improved hyperglycemia in the rats, and the hypoglycemic effect of DGTS was comparable to that of tolbutamide. The histological observations showed that DGTS prevented atrophy of pancreatic beta-cells and vascular degenerative changes in the islets. DGTS reversed STZ-induced diabetes and had antioxidant activity in assays of FeCl(2)/ascorbic acid-induced lipid peroxidation in the rats. Levels of cytochrome P450 2E1 mRNA, as measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, were lower in the livers of the DGTS-treated rats than those of the control group. These results suggest that DGTS might be beneficial in the treatment of type 1 diabetes.

Identification and properties of 2,5-dihydroxy-4,3'-di(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-trans-stilbene from Morus bombycis Koidzumi roots.

2,5-Dihydroxy-4,3'-di(beta-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-trans-stilbene was identified from Morus bombycis Koidzumi roots. The 2,5-dihydroxy-4,3'-di(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-trans-stilbene at a dose of 400-600 mg/kg had hepatoprotective activity comparable to the standard agent, silymarin. The biochemical assays were confirmed by histological observations showing that the 2,5-dihydroxy-4,3'-di(beta-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-trans-stilbene from Morus bombycis Koidzumi roots decreased cell ballooning in response to CCl4 treatment. These results demonstrate that the 2,5-dihydroxy-4,3'-di(beta-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-trans-stilbene component has a liver protective action against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity.

Antioxidant effects and hepatoprotective activity of 2,5-dihydroxy-4,3'-di(beta-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-trans-stilbene from Morus bombycis Koidzumi roots on CCl4-induced liver damage.

We investigated hepatoprotective activity and antioxidant effect of the 2,5-dihydroxy-4,3'-di(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-trans-stilbene that purified from Morus bombycis Koidzumi roots against CCl4-induced liver damage in rats. The 2,5-dihydroxy-4,3'-di(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-trans-stilbene displayed dose-dependent superoxide radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 430.2 microg/ml), as assayed by the electron spin resonance (ESR) spin-trapping technique. The increase in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities in serum associated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury was inhibited by 2,5-dihydroxy-4,3'-di(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-trans-stilbene and at a dose of 400 - 600 mg/kg samples had hepatoprotective activity comparable to the standard agent, silymarin. The biochemical assays were confirmed by histological observations showing that the 2,5-dihydroxy-4,3'-di(beta-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-trans-stilbene decreased cell ballooning in response to CCl4 treatment. These results demonstrate that the 2,5-dihydroxy-4,3'-di(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-trans-stilbene is a potent antioxidant with a liver protective action against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity.

Free radical scavenging and hepatoprotective actions of Quercus aliena acorn extract against CCl4-induced liver.

In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of Quercus aliena acorn extracts against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats, and the mechanism underlying the protective effects. Aqueous extracts of Quercus aliena acorn had higher superoxide radical scavenging activity than other types of extracts. The Quercus aliena acorn extracts displayed dose-dependent superoxide radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 4.92 microg/ml), as assayed by the electron spin resonance (ESR) spin-trapping technique. Pretreatment with Quercus aliena acorn extracts reduced the increase in serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. The hepatoprotective action was confirmed by histological observation. The aqueous extracts reversed CCl4-induced liver injury and had an antioxidant action in assays of FeCl2- ascorbic acid induced lipid peroxidation in rats. Expression of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) mRNA, as measured by RT-PCR, was significantly decreased in the livers of Quercus aliena acorn-pretreated rats compared with the livers of the control group. These results suggest that the hepatoprotective effects of Quercus aliena acorn extract are related to its antioxidative activity and effect on the expression of CYP2E1.

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of Morus bombycis Koidzumi on CCl4-induced liver damage.

The antioxidant activity and liver protective effect of Morus bombycis Koidzumi were investigated. Aqueous extracts of M. bombycis Koidzumi had higher superoxide radical scavenging activity than other types of extracts. The aqueous extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg showed significant hepatoprotective activity when compared with that of a standard agent. The biochemical results were confirmed by histological observations indicating that M. bombycis Koidzumi extract together with CCl(4) treatment decreased ballooning degeneration. The water extract recovered the CCl(4)-induced liver injury and showed antioxidant effects in assays of FeCl(2)-ascorbic acid-induced lipid peroxidation in rats. Based on these results, we suggest that the hepatoprotective effect of the M. bombycis Koidzumi extract is related to its antioxidative activity.