RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Berberine (BBR) has been widely used to treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The metabolites of BBR were believed to contribute significantly to its pharmacological effects. Oxyberberine (OBB), a gut microbiota-mediated oxidative metabolite of BBR, has been firstly identified in our recent work. PURPOSE: Here, we aimed to comparatively investigate the anti-NAFLD properties of OBB and BBR. METHODS: The anti-NAFLD effect was evaluated in high-fat diet-induced obese NAFLD rats with biochemical/ELISA tests and histological staining. The related gene and protein expressions were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blotting respectively. Molecular docking and dynamic simulation were also performed to provide further insight. RESULTS: Results indicated OBB remarkably and dose-dependently attenuated the clinical manifestations of NAFLD, which (100 mg/kg) achieved similar therapeutic effect to metformin (300 mg/kg) and was superior to BBR of the same dose. OBB significantly inhibited aberrant phosphorylation of IRS-1 and up-regulated the downstream protein expression and phosphorylation (PI3K, p-Akt/Akt and p-GSK-3ß/GSK-3ß) to improve hepatic insulin signal transduction. Meanwhile, OBB treatment remarkably alleviated inflammation via down-regulating the mRNA expression of MCP-1, Cd68, Nos2, Cd11c, while enhancing Arg1 mRNA expression in white adipose tissue. Moreover, OBB exhibited closer affinity with AMPK in silicon and superior hyperphosphorylation of AMPK in vivo, leading to increased ACC mRNA expression in liver and UCP-1 protein expression in adipose tissue. CONCLUSION: Taken together, compared with BBR, OBB was more capable of maintaining lipid homeostasis between liver and WAT via attenuating hepatic insulin pathway and adipocyte inflammation, which was associated with its property of superior AMPK activator.
Assuntos
Berberina/uso terapêutico , Hepatopatia Gordurosa não Alcoólica/tratamento farmacológico , Quinases Proteína-Quinases Ativadas por AMP , Tecido Adiposo Branco/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Dieta Hiperlipídica , Homeostase , Inflamação/tratamento farmacológico , Insulina/metabolismo , Fígado/efeitos dos fármacos , Masculino , Simulação de Acoplamento Molecular , Obesidade , Oxirredução , Fosforilação , Proteínas Quinases/metabolismo , Ratos , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Berberine (BBR) is the most abundant and major active constituent of Rhizoma Coptidis (RC), which has been widely used to treat inflammatory diseases in traditional oriental medicine. Despite BBR has been found to exhibit pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, the anti-inflammatory activities of its natural derivatives were sparsely dissected out. PURPOSE: To comparatively investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of BBR, and its natural oxoderivative (oxyberberine, OBB) and reduced derivative (dihydroberberine, DHBB) in vitro and in vivo, and delineate the possible underlying mechanism. METHODS: LC-MS/MS was used to identify the natural derivatives of BBR in RC. The potential anti-inflammatory properties of BBR and its natural derivatives were comparatively evaluated in vitro by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophages cells, and in vivo via three typical acute inflammation murine models. Some important inflammation-related molecules were analyzed by ELISA, qRT-PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: LC-MS/MS led to the identification of BBR, OBB and DHBB in RC ethyl acetate extract. The in vitro assay indicated that BBR, OBB and DHBB (1.25, 2.5 and 5⯵M) pretreatment significantly decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), prostaglandinE2 (PGE2) and nitricoxide (NO), and inhibited the mRNA expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitricoxide synthase (iNOS) in a dose-dependent manner, with relative efficiency of OBB > BBR > DHBB. Furthermore, OBB, BBR and DHBB remarkably inhibited the phosphorylation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 and inhibitory kappa Bα (IκBα). In vivo, BBR (20â¯mg/kg) and OBB (5, 10, and 20â¯mg/kg) pretreatment significantly ameliorated the xylene-induced ear edema, carrageenan-stimulated paw edema, and acetic acid-elicited vascular permeability in mice in a dose-dependent manner, with OBB exhibiting superior anti-inflammatory effect at the same dose (20â¯mg/kg). Histopathological analysis indicated that OBB and BBR could markedly attenuate the inflammatory deterioration and decrease the cellular infiltration in paw tissues. Additionally, the carrageenan-induced increases in TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, PGE2 and NO productions, and COX-2 and iNOS mRNA expressions were effectually and concentration-dependently suppressed by OBB and BBR pretreatment. CONCLUSION: The anti-inflammatory activity of BBR and its natural derivatives was in the order of OBB > BBR > DHBB. OBB was for the first time found to be endowed with pronounced anti-inflammatory property, which was probably associated with suppressing the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway, and the subsequent gene expressions and productions of pro-inflammatory mediators. The results might contribute to illuminating the pharmacodynamic underpinnings of RC and provide evidence for developing OBB as a safe and promising natural lead compound in inflammation treatment.
Assuntos
Anti-Inflamatórios/farmacologia , Berberina/farmacologia , Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas/farmacologia , Animais , Berberina/análogos & derivados , Carragenina/efeitos adversos , Coptis chinensis , Ciclo-Oxigenase 2/metabolismo , Dinoprostona/metabolismo , Edema/induzido quimicamente , Edema/tratamento farmacológico , Feminino , Inflamação/tratamento farmacológico , Interleucina-1beta/metabolismo , Interleucina-6/metabolismo , Lipopolissacarídeos , Macrófagos/efeitos dos fármacos , Masculino , Camundongos , Inibidor de NF-kappaB alfa/metabolismo , Óxido Nítrico/metabolismo , Estresse Oxidativo/efeitos dos fármacos , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Células RAW 264.7 , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacos , Fator de Transcrição RelA/metabolismo , Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/metabolismoRESUMO
According to the GC-MS analysis, compositional variation was observed between samples of patchouli oil, of which an unknown compound identified as patchoulene epoxide (PAO) was found only in the long-stored oil, whose biological activity still remains unknown. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the potential anti-inflammatory activity with three in vivo inflammatory models: xylene-induced ear edema, acetic acid-induced vascular permeability, and carrageenan-induced paw edema. Further investigation into its underlying mechanism on carrageenan-induced paw edema was conducted. Results demonstrated that PAO significantly inhibited the ear edema induced by xylene, lowered vascular permeability induced by acetic acid and decreased the paw edema induced by carrageenan. Moreover, PAO markedly decreased levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and nitric oxide (NO), but increased levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10). PAO was also shown to significantly downregulate the protein and mRNA expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS). Western blot analysis revealed that PAO remarkably inhibited p50 and p65 translocation from the cytosol to the nucleus by suppressing IKKß and IκBα phosphorylation. In conclusion, PAO exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity probably by suppressing the activation of iNOS, COX-2 and NF-κB signaling pathways.
Assuntos
Compostos de Epóxi/uso terapêutico , Inflamação/tratamento farmacológico , Óleos de Plantas/química , Pogostemon/química , Animais , Carragenina/toxicidade , Ciclo-Oxigenase 2/metabolismo , Dinoprostona/metabolismo , Edema/induzido quimicamente , Edema/tratamento farmacológico , Compostos de Epóxi/química , Feminino , Cromatografia Gasosa-Espectrometria de Massas , Inflamação/induzido quimicamente , Interleucina-10/metabolismo , Interleucina-4/metabolismo , Interleucina-6/metabolismo , Masculino , Camundongos , NF-kappa B/metabolismo , Óxido Nítrico/metabolismo , Óxido Nítrico Sintase Tipo II/metabolismo , Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/metabolismoRESUMO
Bleomycin (BLM), a family of anti-tumor drugs, was reported to exhibit severe side effects limiting its usage in clinical treatment. Therefore, finding adjuvants that enhance the anti-tumor effect and reduce the detrimental effect of BLM is a prerequisite. Chrysanthemum indicum, an edible flower, possesses abundant bioactivities; the supercritical-carbon dioxide fluid extract from flowers and buds of C. indicum (CISCFE) have strong anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and lung protective effects. However, the role of CISCFE combined with BLM treatment on tumor-bearing mice remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the potential synergistic effect and the underlying mechanism of CISCFE combined with BLM in the treatment of hepatoma 22 (H22) tumor-bearing mice. The results suggested that the oral administration of CISCFE combined with BLM could markedly prolong the life span, attenuate the BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis, suppress the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6), tumor necrosis factor-α, activities of myeloperoxidase, and malondiadehyde. Moreover, CISCFE combined with BLM promoted the ascites cell apoptosis, the activities of caspases 3 and 8, and up-regulated the protein expression of p53 and down-regulated the transforming growth factor-ß1 by activating the gene expression of miR-29b. Taken together, these results indicated that CISCFE could enhance the anti-cancer activity of BLM and reduce the BLM-induced pulmonary injury in H22 tumor-bearing mice, rendering it as a potential adjuvant drug with chemotherapy after further investigation in the future.
Assuntos
Antibióticos Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Bleomicina/farmacologia , Chrysanthemum/química , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Animais , Antibióticos Antineoplásicos/efeitos adversos , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Bleomicina/efeitos adversos , Dióxido de Carbono , Caspase 3/metabolismo , Caspase 8/metabolismo , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Citocinas/biossíntese , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Sinergismo Farmacológico , Fibrose , Extração Líquido-Líquido/métodos , Pulmão/metabolismo , Pulmão/patologia , Camundongos , MicroRNAs/genética , MicroRNAs/metabolismo , Neoplasias/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias/mortalidade , Neoplasias/patologia , Estresse Oxidativo/efeitos dos fármacos , Extratos Vegetais/química , Fator de Crescimento Transformador beta1/genética , Fator de Crescimento Transformador beta1/metabolismo , Carga Tumoral/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteína Supressora de Tumor p53/genética , Proteína Supressora de Tumor p53/metabolismo , Ensaios Antitumorais Modelo de XenoenxertoRESUMO
Millettiae speciosae Champ. Leguminosae (MSC), is a well-known Chinese herb traditionally used as food material and medicine for enhancing physical strength. Our preliminary study found that the aqueous extract of this herb (MSE) had an anti-fatigue effect. In this paper, we further separated MSE into total polysaccharides (MSP) and supernatant (MSS) by alcohol precipitation, and explored which fraction was active for its anti-fatigue effect. Mice were orally administered with MSP or MSS at the doses of 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg for 20 days and the anti-fatigue effect was assessed by exhaustive swimming exercise (ESE). The biochemical parameters related to fatigue after ESE and the in vitro antioxidant activity of active fraction were determined. Our results showed that MSP, instead of MSS, significantly extended the swimming time to exhaustion (p < 0.05), indicating that MSP is responsible for the anti-fatigue effect of MSE. In addition, MSP treatment increased the levels of glucose (Glu) and muscle glycogen, whereas it decreased the accumulations of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and lactic acid (Lac). Moreover, ESE increased the levels of creatine phosphokinase (CK), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) but reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) in plasma. In contrast, MSP inhibited all the above changes relating to fatigue. Furthermore, an in vitro antioxidant test revealed that MSP dose-dependently scavenged ·OH and DPPH free radicals. Taken together, these findings strongly suggested that MSP was able to alleviate physical fatigue by increasing energy resources and decreasing accumulation of detrimental metabolites. The antioxidant activity may crucially contribute to the observed anti-fatigue effect of MSP.
Assuntos
Antioxidantes/uso terapêutico , Fabaceae/química , Fadiga/tratamento farmacológico , Resistência Física/efeitos dos fármacos , Fitoterapia , Polissacarídeos/uso terapêutico , Animais , Antioxidantes/metabolismo , Antioxidantes/farmacologia , Fadiga/metabolismo , Masculino , Camundongos , Extratos Vegetais/química , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Extratos Vegetais/uso terapêutico , Polissacarídeos/isolamento & purificação , Polissacarídeos/farmacologia , NataçãoRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of Kangai injection on the enzyme activities of macrophages and morphology of spleen and thymus from rats. METHODS: Twenty four male SD rats were randomly divided into two groups (n = 12), normal control group and experimental group. The rats in experimental group were injected with Kangai injection at the dosage of 5 ml/kg x d for 30 days peritoneally and those in control group were injected with nomal saline at the same volume. The content of supermicro protein was assayed by BCA method, the activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) from alveolar macrophages(AM) and peritoneal macrophages (PM) were detected biochemically. The activities of acid phosphatase (ACP), superoxide dismutase(SOD) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) from AM and PM were detected by ELISA. The morphology of spleen and thymus were observed by light microscopy. RESULTS: The activities of LDH, GSH-Px and iNOS within AM and PM from experimental group were increased significantly compared with those of control group (P < 0.05). The activities of ACP, SOD and SDH in AM and PM from experimental group were also higher than those from control group (P < 0.05). Microscopically, there was thickening of peripheral arterial lymphatic sheath, enlargement of splenic lymphoid nodules with expended germinal center in the spleen of experimental group. There was no significant difference in the mophology of thymus between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Kangai injection may improve immune function by activating macrophages.