Structurally Diverse Sesquiterpenoids from the Genus of Ainsliaea.

The genus of Ainsliaea embraces approximately 70 recognized species, many of which have been used to treat various diseases in folklore medicines. As the main metabolites of Ainsliaea plants, Ainsliaea sesquiterpenoids have drawn considerable attention in related scientific communities due to their intriguing structures and a variety of bioactivities. In this review, we intend to provide a full-aspect coverage of sesquiterpenoids reported from the genus of Ainsliaea, including 145 monomeric sesquiterpenoids and 30 oligomeric ones. Multiple aspects will be summarized, including their classification, distributions, structures, bioactivities, and biomimetic syntheses. In addition, their possible biosynthetic pathway will be discussed in detail.

Association of iron homeostasis biomarkers in type 2 diabetes and glycaemic traits: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND: Mendelian randomization (MR) studies show iron positively associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) but included potentially biasing hereditary haemochromatosis variants and did not assess reverse causality. METHODS: We assessed the relation of iron homeostasis with T2D and glycaemic traits bidirectionally, using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of iron homeostasis biomarkers [ferritin, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation (TSAT) (n ≤ 246 139)], T2D (DIAMANTE n = 933 970 and FinnGen n = 300 483), and glycaemic traits [fasting glucose (FG), 2-h glucose, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting insulin (FI) (n ≤ 209 605)]. Inverse variance weighting (IVW) was the main analysis, supplemented with sensitivity analyses and assessment of mediation by hepcidin. RESULTS: Iron homeostasis biomarkers were largely unrelated to T2D, although serum iron was potentially associated with higher T2D [odds ratio: 1.07 per standard deviation; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.99 to 1.16; P-value: 0.078) in DIAMANTE only. Higher ferritin, serum iron, TSAT and lower TIBC likely decreased HbA1c, but were not associated with other glycaemic traits. Liability to T2D likely increased TIBC (0.03 per log odds; 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.05; P-value: 0.005), FI likely increased ferritin (0.29 per log pmol/L; 95% CI: 0.12 to 0.47; P-value: 8.72 x 10-4). FG likely increased serum iron (0.06 per mmol/L; 95% CI: 0.001 to 0.12; P-value: 0.046). Hepcidin did not mediate these associations. CONCLUSION: It is unlikely that ferritin, TSAT and TIBC cause T2D although an association for serum iron could not be excluded. Glycaemic traits and liability to T2D may affect iron homeostasis, but mediation by hepcidin is unlikely. Corresponding mechanistic studies are warranted.

Application of omics technology to investigate the mechanism underlying the role of San Hua Tang in regulating microglia polarization and blood-brain barrier protection following ischemic stroke.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE: San Hua Tang (SHT) was first mentioned in the book "The Collection of Plain Questions about Pathogenesis, Qi, and Life." SHT has the effect of dispelling wind and dredging collaterals, dredging viscera, and guiding stagnation, and is used in the treatment of ischemic stroke (IS). SHT is composed of Rheum palmatum L., Magnolia officinalis Rehder & E.H.Wilson, Citrus assamensis S.Dutta & S.C.Bhattacharya, and Notopterygium tenuifolium M.L.Sheh & F.T.Pu, which is the traditional prescription of the Tongxia method for the treatment of stroke. Tongxia is one of the "eight methods" used in traditional Chinese medicine, which plays a role in treating diseases by promoting gastrointestinal peristalsis and defecation. Studies have demonstrated a close relationship between gut microbiota metabolism and cerebral stroke; however, the role of SHT in IS treatment through gut microbiota or intestinal metabolites is unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: To explore the connotation of the Xuanfu theory and clarify the mechanism underlying SHT-mediated opening Xuanfu methods. Through metabolomics, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and molecular biology techniques, research on the changes in the gut microbiota and blood-brain barrier (BBB) will highlight greater strategies for the treatment of stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used pseudo-germ-free (PGF) rats combined with an ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) rat model for the follow-up experimental research. PGF rats were prepared by the intragastric administration of an antibiotic cocktail for 6 days, following which SHT was administered for 5 consecutive days. The I/R model was performed 1 day following the concluding administration of SHT. We detected the neurological deficit score, cerebral infarct volume, serum inflammatory factor levels (interleukin IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, and tumor necrosis factor alpha), tight junction-related proteins (Zonula occludens-1, Occludin, and Claudin-5), and small glue plasma cell-associated proteins (Cluster of Differentiation 16/Cluster of Differentiation 206, Matrix metalloproteinase, ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1, and C-X3-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 1) 24 h following I/R. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and non-targeted metabolomics analysis, we explored the relationship between fecal microecology and serum metabolites. Eventually, we analyzed the correlation between the gut microbiota and plasma metabolic profile as well as the mechanism underlying the SHT-mediated regulation of gut microbiota to protect the BBB following stroke. RESULTS: In IS treatment, SHT is principally involved in reducing neurological injury and the volume of cerebral infarction; protecting the intestinal mucosal barrier; increasing the levels of acetic acid, butyric acid, and propionic acid; promoting the transformation of microglia to the M2 state; reducing inflammatory reactions; and enhancing tight junctions. These therapeutic effects were not observed in the group treated with antibiotics alone or that treated with SHT in combination with antibiotics, thereby indicating SHT plays a therapeutic role through the gut microbiota. CONCLUSION: SHT regulates the gut microbiota, inhibits pro-inflammatory factors in rats with IS, alleviates an inflammatory injury of the BBB, and plays a protective role in the brain.

Berberine plays a cardioprotective role by inhibiting macrophage Wnt5a/ß-catenin pathway in the myocardium of mice after myocardial infarction.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the diseases with high fatality rate. Berberine (BBR) is a monomer compound with various biological functions. And some studies have confirmed that BBR plays an important role in alleviating cardiomyocyte injury after MI. However, the specific mechanism is unclear. In this study, we induced a model of MI by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery and we surprisingly found that BBR significantly improved ventricular remodeling, with a minor inflammatory and oxidative stress injury, and stronger angiogenesis. Moreover, BBR inhibited the secretion of Wnt5a/ß-catenin pathway in macrophages after MI, thus promoting the differentiation of macrophages into M2 type. In summary, BBR effectively improved cardiac function of mice after MI, and the potential protective mechanism was associated with the regulation of inflammatory responses and the inhibition of macrophage Wnt5a/ß-catenin pathway in the infarcted heart tissues. Importantly, these findings supported BBR as an effective cardioprotective drug after MI.

Network pharmacology and the experimental findings of Bushenhuoxue formula for improving hippocampal neuron injury in vascular demented rats.

We used network pharmacology to predict the correlation between the pathway of Bushenhuoxue formula in the treatment of vascular dementia and carried out experiments to verify the correlation between drug composition and disease. By screening the active components and key targets through various databases and drawing the topological network diagram, we obtained 502 effective compound targets, 601 disease targets, 95 disease-related compound targets, and 162 pathways. The pathway related to vascular dementia may be neurodegeneration-multiple diseases, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, Mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, or HIF-1 signaling pathway. By detecting the learning and memory ability of vascular dementia rats, the morphology of the hippocampus under the electron microscope, the degree of neuronal damage, and autophagy-related proteins, the results showed that the Bushenhuoxue formula could improve the neuronal injury induced by ischemia in the hippocampus, down-regulate the level of autophagy, and thereby improve learning and memory. Therefore, the Bushenhuoxue formula may improve the ischemic injury of neurons by regulating the mechanism of neuronal autophagy.

Modulation of hand motor skill performance induced by motor practice combined with matched or mismatched hand posture motor imagery.

Motor imagery (MI), the mental rehearsal of a movement without muscle activation, combined with motor practice (MP) improves the performance of athletes and promotes rehabilitation of motor function among patients with brain injury. The actual hand posture influences the mental simulation of hand movements such that the ability of MI to affect corticospinal excitability is enhanced when the actual hand posture is consistent with the imagined movement of the hand. However, how MP combined with matched or mismatched hand posture MI modulates hand motor skill performance and the underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. Thus, we first investigated whether MI hand posture that was compatible or incompatible with the actual MP influenced motor performance and corticospinal excitability induced by MI combined with MP. Twenty-eight healthy young adults repeatedly imagined either (1) closing their right hand into a fist with the thumb on top of the fingers and then opening the hand before actually performing that exact motor action or (2) performing the same motor skill but first imagining the right thumb touching the little finger before opening the hand . Changes in the peak acceleration of the hand grasp were measured to assess motor performance. The amplitudes of motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) in a target muscle were obtained using transcranial magnetic stimulation to assess corticospinal activation, a measure of primary cortex stimulation, before, immediately after, and 20 min after the performance. When the results of two-way repeated-measures analyses of variance assessing the effects of the protocols and time on the various measurements were found to be significant, post hoc paired t tests with Bonferroni corrections for multiple comparisons were applied. The results showed that both peak grasp acceleration and corticospinal excitability significantly increased immediately and 20 min after task completion (p < 0.05 for all) only when the MI hand posture matched with that of the actual MP. We then determined whether this increased corticospinal activity was associated with decreased short-interval intracortical inhibition, as measured using paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation. Similar to our previous results, we found that short-interval intracortical inhibition was significantly decreased immediately and 20 min after task completion (p < 0.05 for both) only when MI matched MP. We concluded that the increased motor performance and corticospinal excitability induced by MI and MP depended on the match between the hand posture in the MI and MP, and that this increased corticospinal excitability was associated with disinhibition of the primary motor cortex activity.

Genomic Variance and Transcriptional Comparisons Reveal the Mechanisms of Leaf Color Affecting Palatability and Stressed Defense in Tea Plant.

Leaves are one of the most important organs of plants, and yet, the association between leaf color and consumable traits remains largely unclear. Tea leaves are an ideal study system with which to investigate the mechanism of how leaf coloration affects palatability, since tea is made from the leaves of the crop Camellia sinensis. Our genomic resequencing analysis of a tea cultivar ZiJuan (ZJ) with purple leaves and altered flavor revealed genetic variants when compared with the green-leaf, wild type cultivar YunKang(YK). RNA-Seq based transcriptomic comparisons of the bud and two youngest leaves in ZJ and YK identified 93%, 9% and 5% expressed genes that were shared in YK- and ZJ-specific cultivars, respectively. A comparison of both transcript abundance and particular metabolites revealed that the high expression of gene UFGT for anthocyanin biosynthesis is responsible for purple coloration, which competes with the intermediates for catechin-like flavanol biosynthesis. Genes with differential expression are enriched in response to stress, heat and defense, and are casually correlated with the environmental stress of ZJ plant origin in the Himalayas. In addition, the highly expressed C4H and LDOX genes for synthesizing flavanol precursors, ZJ-specific CLH1 for degrading chlorophyll, alternatively spliced C4H and FDR and low photosynthesis also contributed to the altered color and flavor of ZJ. Thus, our study provides a better molecular understanding of the effect of purple coloration on leaf flavor, and helps to guide future engineering improvement of palatability.

Children Exposed to Maternal Obesity or Gestational Diabetes Mellitus During Early Fetal Development Have Hypothalamic Alterations That Predict Future Weight Gain.

OBJECTIVE: Exposure in utero to maternal obesity or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is linked to a high risk for obesity in offspring. Animal studies suggest that these exposures disrupt the development of the hypothalamus, a brain region that regulates body weight, predisposing offspring to develop obesity. This study tested the hypothesis in humans that in utero exposure to maternal obesity and/or GDM is associated with alterations in the hypothalamic response to glucose and the altered hypothalamic response would predict greater increases in child adiposity 1 year later. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Participants were 91 children aged 7-11 years with and without in utero exposure to GDM. Maternal prepregnancy BMI and GDM exposures were determined from electronic medical records. Arterial spin labeling MRI was used to determine the child's hypothalamic blood flow response to oral glucose. Anthropometric measures were acquired in all children at their initial visit and again 1 year later in a subset of 44 children. RESULTS: Children exposed to GDM diagnosed at ≤26 weeks' gestation had increased hypothalamic blood flow (a marker of hypothalamic activation) in response to glucose when compared with unexposed children, and results remained after adjustments for child age, sex, BMI, and maternal prepregnancy BMI. Maternal prepregnancy BMI was positively associated with the child's hypothalamic response to glucose. Greater hypothalamic response to glucose predicted greater increases in child's BMI 1 year later. CONCLUSIONS: Increased glucose-linked hypothalamic activation during childhood represents a possible mechanism by which exposure to maternal metabolic disorders during fetal development increases future risk for obesity.

The Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation on Inflammatory Response in Patients Undergoing Limb Ischemia-Reperfusion.

Reperfusion after tourniquet use can induce inflammation and cause remote organ injury. We evaluated the therapeutic effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on inflammatory mediators and lung function in patients receiving lower limb tourniquets. Forty patients undergoing unilateral lower extremity surgery with tourniquet were randomly assigned to two groups: the TEAS group and ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) group. The C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and arterial blood gas analysis were measured preoperatively and 6 h after tourniquet removal. The levels of CXCL8, IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, and CCL2 were significantly increased compared to baseline values in both groups, but the increase was significantly smaller in the TEAS group. In the TEAS group, the partial pressure of oxygen and arterial-alveolar oxygen tension ratio were significantly decreased, and the alveolar-arterial oxygen tension difference and respiratory index were significantly increased, compared to those in the I/R group at 6 h after reperfusion. In conclusion, TEAS diminished the upregulation of proinflammatory factors in response to lower limb ischemia-reperfusion and improved pulmonary gas exchange.

Resting state hypothalamic response to glucose predicts glucose-induced attenuation in the ventral striatal response to food cues.

Feeding behavior is regulated by a complex interaction of central nervous system responses to metabolic signals that reflect nutrient availability and to food cues that trigger appetitive responses. Prior work has shown that the hypothalamus is a key brain area that senses and responds to changes in metabolic signals, and exposure to food cues induces the activation of brain areas involved in reward processing. However, it is not known how the hypothalamic responses to changes in metabolic state are related to reward responses to food cues. This study aimed to understand whether changes in hypothalamic activity in response to glucose-induced metabolic signals are linked to food-cue reactivity within brain areas involved in reward processing. We combined two neuroimaging modalities (Arterial Spin Labeling and Blood Oxygen Level Dependent) to measure glucose-induced changes in hypothalamic cerebral blood flow (CBF) and food-cue task induced changes in brain activity within reward-related regions. Twenty-five participants underwent a MRI session following glucose ingestion and a subset of twenty individuals underwent an additional water session on a separate day as a control condition (drink order randomized). Hunger was assessed before and after drink consumption. We observed that individuals who had a greater reduction in hypothalamic CBF exhibited a greater reduction in left ventral striatum food cue reactivity (Spearman's rho = 0.46, P = 0.048) following glucose vs. water ingestion. These results are the first to use multimodal imaging to demonstrate a link between hypothalamic metabolic signaling and ventral striatal food cue reactivity.

Effects of Bufei Yishen Granules Combined with Acupoint Sticking Therapy on Pulmonary Surfactant Proteins in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Rats.

Our previous studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of Bufei Yishen granules combined with acupoint sticking therapy (the integrated therapy) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Dysfunction of pulmonary surfactant proteins (SPs, including SP-A, SP-B, SP-C, and SP-D) may be included in pathophysiology of COPD. This study aimed to explore the mechanism of the integrated therapy on SPs. COPD rat models were established. The treatment groups received Bufei Yishen granules or acupoint sticking or their combination. Using aminophylline as a positive control drug. The levels of SPs in serum, BALF, and lung were measured. The results showed that the integrated therapy markedly reduced the levels of SPs in serum and increased these indicators in the lung. The integrated therapy was better than aminophylline in reducing the levels of SPs and was better than Bufei Yishen granules in reducing SP-A, SP-C, and SP-D in serum. The integrated therapy was better than aminophylline and Bufei Yishen granules in increasing SP-A, SP-B, and SP-D mRNA in the lung. SP-A and SP-D in BALF were positively correlated with PEF and EF50. The levels of SPs are associated with airway limitation. The beneficial effects of the integrated therapy may be involved in regulating pulmonary surfactant proteins.

Bufei Yishen granules combined with acupoint sticking therapy suppress oxidative stress in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease rats: Via regulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma signaling.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is clinically used under the guidance of its unique theory system. Bufei Yishen (BY) granules, an oral Chinese herbal formula, is confirmed effective for treating the syndrome of lung-kidney qi deficiency in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Shu-Fei Tie ointment is another prescription for acupoint sticking (AS) therapy based on the theory of treating an internal disease by external treatment on proper acupoints. The beneficial effects of BY granules combined with Shu-Fei Tie have been proved in previous clinical trials. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The present study was initiated to explore the antioxidative mechanism of the integrated therapy of BY granules and acupoint sticking via regulating by peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) signaling in a cigarette-smoke/bacterial exposure induced COPD rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were randomized into Control, Model, BY, AS, BY+AS and aminophylline (APL) groups. COPD rats were induced by cigarette-smoke and bacterial exposures, and were administrated with normal saline, BY granules, AS, BY+AS or aminophylline from week 9 and sacrificed at week 20. Activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and levels of methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA) in peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined by hydroxylamine and thiobarbituric acid methods. The gene and protein expressions of PPARγ in the lung tissues were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot. RESULTS: Serum and BALF SOD decreased significantly in Model group (P<0.01), while MDA increased (P<0.01). Compared to COPD rats, serum SOD was higher in all treatment groups (P<0.01), and BALF SOD was higher in BY and BY+AS groups (P<0.01); serum and BALF MDA was lower in all treatment groups (P<0.01). Serum and BALF SOD was higher in BY+AS group than in AS group, while MDA was lower (P<0.05). BALF SOD increased in BY+AS group compared with APL group, while MDA decreased (P<0.05). PPARγ mRNA and protein and the phosphorylation of PPARγ (p-PPARγ) decreased in COPD rats (P<0.01), and increased in all treatment groups (P<0.01). PPARγ mRNA was higher in BY+AS group than in AS group (P<0.05), PPARγ and p-PPARγ were higher in BY+AS group than in AS and APL groups (P<0.05, P<0.01); PPARγ protein was higher in BY group than in APL group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Bufei Yishen granules, Shu-Fei Tie and their combination have beneficial effects in stable COPD, and can attenuate the oxidative stress, and the activation of PPARγ signaling might be involved in the underlying mechanisms, but there are no obvious synergistic effect of Bufei Yishen granules and Shu-Fei Tie.

Bufei Yishen granule combined with acupoint sticking improves pulmonary function and morphormetry in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease rats.

BACKGROUND: The integrated therapy of Bufei Yishen granule and acupoint sticking has been used in the treatment of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) clinically, with remarkable benefits. This study was initiated to observe the effects of the combination of Bufei Yishen granule and acupoint sticking on pulmonary function and morphormetry in a COPD rat model. METHODS: Rats were randomized into Control, Model, Bufei Yishen (BY), Acupoint sticking (AS), Bufei Yishen + Acupoint sticking (BY + AS) and aminophyline (APL) groups. COPD rats were duplicated by repeated cigarette smoke and bacterial exposures. The rats were treated with normal saline, Bufei Yishen granule, acupoint sticking, Bufei Yishen + Acupoint sticking and aminophylline, respectively, from week 9 through 20. Pulmonary function was measured by using a whole body plethysmograph every 4 weeks. The rats were sacrificed at the end of week 20, and lung tissue histology and ultrastructure was observed under light and electron microscopes. RESULTS: The pulmonary function, including tidal volume (VT), peak expiratory flow (PEF) and expiratory flow at 50 % tidal volume (EF50), was markedly decreased from week 8 in COPD rats (P < 0.05). At week 20, VT, PEF and EF50 were significantly lower in Model group (P < 0.05). Compared with Model group, VT, PEF and EF50 were higher in BY and BY + AS groups (P < 0.05), and EF50 was higher in AS group, while VT was higher in APL group (P < 0.05). Markedly histological and ultrastructural changes, including respiratory membrane thickening, volume density of lamellar corpuscle decreasing, mitochondria reducing in type II alveolar cell, were found in COPD rats and were alleviated in the treated groups, especially in BY and BY + AS groups. CONCLUSION: Bufei Yishen granule and acupoint sticking can improve pulmonary function and lung pathological impairment in COPD rats, the curative effect of the combination is better than acupoint sticking or aminophylline only.

[Inhibitory effect of Panax notoginseng saponins on alveolar epithelial to mesenchymal transition].

In the study, the effects of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on alveolar epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and extracellular matrix degradation were observed in a type of human alveolar epithelial cell, A549 cells, stimulated by TGF-beta1. Firstly, MTT method was applied to evaluation of cellular proliferation and found that PNS from 12.5 mg x L(-1) to 200 mg x L(-1) dosage could not inhibit significantly cellular proliferation. Then, cells were divided into five groups, normal group, TGF-beta1 group, TGF-beta1 + 50 mg x L(-1) PNS group, TGF-beta1 + 100 mg x L(-1) PNS group and TGF-beta1 + 200 mg x L(-1) PNS group. Normal cells were not stimulatec by TGF-beta1; TGF-beta1 cells were only stimulated by TGF-beta1 and the other cells were stimulated by TGF-beta1 with different doses of PNS, respectively. After stimulation, cells and supernatants were collected for assays. Cellular roundness was applied to quantitative evaluation of morphological change. Immunocytochemistry was applied to examine E-cadherion, a-SMA and FN proteins expression in the cells. Enzyme linked-immunosorbent assay was applied to MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels. The results showed that EMT of A549 cells was induced by TGF-beta1, showing significant change of roundness, E-cadherion, alpha-SMA and FN (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared to TGF-beta1, PNS significantly inhibited the changes of roundness (P < 0.05), FN and alpha-SMA (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and not significantly inhibited the change of E-cadherion. Furthermore, MMP-9 levels were significantly increased by TGFbeta1 stimulation (P < 0.05), without significant change of TIMP-1. Compared with TGF-beta1, PNS could significantly increase MMP-9 level (P < 0.05) and decrease TIMP-1 levels (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In conclusion, PNS could inhibit alveolar epithelial cell EMT induced by TGF-beta1, with increase of extracellular matrix degradation ability, which showed anti-fibrosis of lung ability.

[The effect of Banxia Baizhu Tianma decoction on renal protein expression in spontaneously hypertensive rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Banxia Baizhu decoction on the spontaneously hypertensive rats and its possible mechanism. METHODS: Male SHRs of 6 weeks old were randomly and equally divided into two groups, the control SHR group and the group treated with BXBZTMD, the treated group were treated with BXBZTMD orally for 18 weeks, the control SHR group and normotensive WKY group were fed with the same amount of distilled water. Rats' blood pressure was measured through carotid artery catheterization, and protein of kidney tissues was analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis after extraction and purification. Different protein spots expressed significantly which were anlyzed by PDQuest software were then identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF MS. The protein expressions of peroxidase 2 and Cu-Zn superoxide in kidney were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared SHR with WKY, 12 protein spots were changed. BXBZTMD could adjust kidney protein expression such as Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase, peroxidase 2 and may change kidney protein expression such as the alpha-beta-crystallin, which were closely related to oxidative stress. These discoveries of the target proteins suggested that BXBZTMD had curative effect by anti-oxidative stress. CONCLUSION: Oxidative stress plays an important role in the process of hypertensive renal injury. BXBZTMD can play a therapeutic role to oxidative stress. The discovery of the target protein provides a theoretical basis for the mechanism of the therapeutic effect of BXBZTMD.

[Normal light and fluorescence microscopy for authentication of Delphinii Brunoniani Herba of Tibet].

Dried herb of Delphinium brunonianum Royle (Ranunculaceae) has long been used under the herbal name "Xiaguobei" (Delphinii Brunoniani Herba) in traditional Tibetan medicine and prescribed for the treatment of influenza, itchy skin rash and snake bites. In order to find a useful and convenient method for the identification of microscopic features, the technique of fluorescence microscopy was applied to authenticate "Xiaguobei" of Tibet. The transverse sections of stem and leaf, as well as the powder of "Xiaguobei" were observed to seek for typical microscopic features by normal light and fluorescence microscopy. A style-like, single-cell glandular hair containing yellow secretions on the leaf, young stem and sepal of "Xiaguobei" was found. Under the fluorescence microscope, the xylem and pericycle fiber group emitted significant fluorescence. This work indicated that fluorescence microscopy could be an useful additional method for the authentication work. Without the traditional dyeing methods, the main microscopic features could be easily found by fluorescence microscopy. The results provided reliable references for the authentication of "Xiaguobei".

Normal light and fluorescence microscopy for authentication of Delphinii Brunoniani Herba of Tibet / 药学学报

Dried herb of Delphinium brunonianum Royle (Ranunculaceae) has long been used under the herbal name "Xiaguobei" (Delphinii Brunoniani Herba) in traditional Tibetan medicine and prescribed for the treatment of influenza, itchy skin rash and snake bites. In order to find a useful and convenient method for the identification of microscopic features, the technique of fluorescence microscopy was applied to authenticate "Xiaguobei" of Tibet. The transverse sections of stem and leaf, as well as the powder of "Xiaguobei" were observed to seek for typical microscopic features by normal light and fluorescence microscopy. A style-like, single-cell glandular hair containing yellow secretions on the leaf, young stem and sepal of "Xiaguobei" was found. Under the fluorescence microscope, the xylem and pericycle fiber group emitted significant fluorescence. This work indicated that fluorescence microscopy could be an useful additional method for the authentication work. Without the traditional dyeing methods, the main microscopic features could be easily found by fluorescence microscopy. The results provided reliable references for the authentication of "Xiaguobei".

[Effect of banxia baizhu tianma decoction on the vascular endothelial function of spontaneous hypertensive rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the vascular endothelial function recovery and its mechanism of Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction (BBTD). METHODS: 54 SH rats were randomly divided into three groups: the blank control group, BBTD group and Captopril treatment group. BBTD (at the daily dose of 4. 320 g crude drug/kg) and Captopril (at the daily dose of 3.375 g/kg) was administered from the 7th week to the 24th week. Another eighteen Wistar-Kyoto rats of the same ages were taken as the control. Medication was discontinued and effects were observed until the 32nd week. The blood pressure was determined by arterial carotis cannula. The concentration of serum NO2(-) and total anti-oxidation were determined by Griess and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). The acetylcholine (Ach)-dependent relaxation of superior mesenteric artery was detected using in vitro vascular ring. The mRNA expressions of IL-1, IL-6 and iNOS were detected by Real-time PCR at the 18th, 24th, and 32nd week. RESULTS: BBTD could significantly lower blood pressure of SHR and the concentration of serum NO2(-) at the 18th and 24th week (P<0.05). The total anti-oxidation of SH rats increased at the 18th week (P<0.01), and ACh-dependent relaxation of superior mesenteric artery increased at the 24th week. The mRNA expressions of IL-1 was markedly suppressed by BBTD at the 18th, 24th, and 32nd week (P<0.05), while IL-6 and iNOS mRNA expression were significantly lowered only at the 32nd week (P< 0.01). Captopril could significantly lower blood pressure of SHR at the 18th and 24th week (P<0.05). It significantly increased the total anti-oxidation of SH rats at the 18th week (P<0.01). However, it could not increase ACh-dependent relaxation of superior mesenteric artery and regulate the concentration of NO2(-) at the 18th, 24th, and 32nd week. The mRNA expression of iNOS was markedly suppressed by Captopril at the 24th and 32nd week, while mRNA expressions of IL-1 and IL-6 were significantly lower only at the 32nd week (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: BBTD showed similar effect in decreasing the blood pressure to captopril, but it showed better effect in improving the mesenteric endothelial dysfunction of SHR, which may be associated with its inhibition on NO and IL-1 expression, and improvement of the oxidative stress state.

[Effect of banxia baizhu tianma decoction on the left ventricular hypertrophy of hypertrophied myocardium in spontaneously hypertensive rat].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes in renin angiotensin system (RAS) in hypertrophied myocardium of spontaneous hypertensive rat (SHR), and the effect of Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction (BBTD) on the changes in haemodynamic parameters and mRNA of signaling molecules of RAS at different periods. METHODS: Fifty-four male SHRs of 6 weeks old were randomly and equally divided into three groups: the untreated control group, the test group, and the positive control group, and they were treated respectively with distilled water, BBTD and captopril by dissolving in equal volume of water administrated via gavage for 18 weeks. Besides, 18 age matched Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats treated with distilled water were allocated in a normal control group. Rats were managed in batches at their age of 18, 24, and 32 weeks old. Rat's hemodynamic parameters were measured through carotid artery catheterization, myocardial pathology was observed, and their mRNA expressions of angiotensin (AGT), angiotensin-converting (ACE) and angiotension-converting 2 (ACE2) were determined by Real-time PCR. RESULTS: Compared with WKY rats, the arterial pressure and left ventricular mass index (LVMI)in SHR were significantly higher at 18, 24 and 32 weeks respectively (P < 0.01); average cycle rate showed in electrocardiogram was higher (P < 0.05), though the blood stream was similar; mRNA expressions of AGT and ACE in heart tissue were markedly higher (P < 0.01), but that of ACE2 at 18 and 24 weeks were lower (P < 0.01). Compared with untreated SHR, arterial pressure at 18 and 24 weeks was lower (P < 0.05); cardiac muscle structure was improved; LVMI at 24 weeks was improved (P < 0.05); the mRNA expressions of AGT and ACE were suppressed but that of ACE2 increased at 18, 24,and 32 weeks significantly in the test group after BBTD treatment (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Changes in RAS in the hypertrophied myocardium of SHR may be one of the molecular mechanisms for hypertension leading to left ventricular hypertrophy. BBTD can improve the hemodynamic parameters, regulate RAS, so as to lower the arterial pressure.

Five new compounds from Dendrobium crystallinum.

Five new compounds, dencryol A (1), dencryol B (2), crystalltone (3), crystallinin (4), and 3-hydroxy-2-methoxy-5,6-dimethylbenzoic acid (5), together with six known compounds, dendronobilin B (6), syringic acid (7), apigenin (8), isoviolanthin (9), 6'''-glucosyl-vitexin (10), and palmarumycin JC2 (11), have been isolated from the stems of Dendrobium crystallinum, of which compounds 9-11 were isolated from the genus Dendrobium for the first time, and all the other compounds were first obtained from this plant. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and literature data.