Reference Genes Screening and Gene Expression Patterns Analysis Involved in Gelsenicine Biosynthesis under Different Hormone Treatments in Gelsemium elegans.

Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is an accurate method for quantifying gene expression levels. Choosing appropriate reference genes to normalize the data is essential for reducing errors. Gelsemium elegans is a highly poisonous but important medicinal plant used for analgesic and anti-swelling purposes. Gelsenicine is one of the vital active ingredients, and its biosynthesis pathway remains to be determined. In this study, G. elegans leaf tissue with and without the application of one of four hormones (SA, MeJA, ETH, and ABA) known to affect gelsenicine synthesis, was analyzed using ten candidate reference genes. The gene stability was evaluated using GeNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, ∆CT, and RefFinder. The results showed that the optimal stable reference genes varied among the different treatments and that at least two reference genes were required for accurate quantification. The expression patterns of 15 genes related to the gelsenicine upstream biosynthesis pathway was determined by RT-qPCR using the relevant reference genes identified. Three genes 8-HGO, LAMT, and STR, were found to have a strong correlation with the amount of gelsenicine measured in the different samples. This research is the first study to examine the reference genes of G. elegans under different hormone treatments and will be useful for future molecular analyses of this medically important plant species.

Selection of Reference Genes in Evodia rutaecarpa var. officinalis and Expression Patterns of Genes Involved in Its Limonin Biosynthesis.

E. rutaecarpa var. officinalis is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant known for its therapeutic effects, which encompass the promotion of digestion, the dispelling of cold, the alleviation of pain, and the exhibition of anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. The principal active component of this plant, limonin, is a potent triterpene compound with notable pharmacological activities. Despite its significance, the complete biosynthesis pathway of limonin in E. rutaecarpa var. officinalis remains incompletely understood, and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unexplored. The main purpose of this study was to screen the reference genes suitable for expression analysis in E. rutaecarpa var. officinalis, calculate the expression patterns of the genes in the limonin biosynthesis pathway, and identify the relevant enzyme genes related to limonin biosynthesis. The reference genes play a pivotal role in establishing reliable reference standards for normalizing the gene expression data, thereby ensuring precision and credibility in the biological research outcomes. In order to identify the optimal reference genes and gene expression patterns across the diverse tissues (e.g., roots, stems, leaves, and flower buds) and developmental stages (i.e., 17 July, 24 August, 1 September, and 24 October) of E. rutaecarpa var. officinalis, LC-MS was used to analyze the limonin contents in distinct tissue samples and developmental stages, and qRT-PCR technology was employed to investigate the expression patterns of the ten reference genes and eighteen genes involved in limonin biosynthesis. Utilizing a comprehensive analysis that integrated three software tools (GeNorm ver. 3.5, NormFinder ver. 0.953 and BestKeeper ver. 1.0) and Delta Ct method alongside the RefFinder website, the best reference genes were selected. Through the research, we determined that Act1 and UBQ served as the preferred reference genes for normalizing gene expression during various fruit developmental stages, while Act1 and His3 were optimal for different tissues. Using Act1 and UBQ as the reference genes, and based on the different fruit developmental stages, qRT-PCR analysis was performed on the pathway genes selected from the "full-length transcriptome + expression profile + metabolome" data in the limonin biosynthesis pathway of E. rutaecarpa var. officinalis. The findings indicated that there were consistent expression patterns of HMGCR, SQE, and CYP450 with fluctuations in the limonin contents, suggesting their potential involvement in the limonin biosynthesis of E. rutaecarpa var. officinalis. This study lays the foundation for further research on the metabolic pathway of limonin in E. rutaecarpa var. officinalis and provides reliable reference genes for other researchers to use for conducting expression analyses.

The Effect and Safety of Xuefu Zhuoyue Prescription for Coronary Heart Disease: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.

Background: In China, the traditional Chinese medicine compound Xuefu Zhuoyue prescription (XFZY) has been widely used in the therapy of coronary heart disease (CHD). Currently, several systematic reviews (SRs)/meta-analyses (MAs) of XFZY for the treatment of CHD have been published. This overview aims to evaluate the existing SRs/MAs and provide a scientific basis for evaluating the efficacy and safety of XFZY for the therapy of CHD. Methods: The SRs/MAs of XFZY for the treatment of CHD were obtained from 7 electronic databases with the search date set at March 7, 2022. Two researchers independently assessed the methodological quality, reporting quality, and evidence quality of the included SRs/MAs using the following tools: the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2), the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 (PRISMA 2020), and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. Results: A total of 11 SRs/MAs were included in this overview. All SRs/MAs assessed by means of AMSTAR-2 had more than one critical defect, so all SRs/MAs were rated low. Regarding the assessment of reporting quality, the results of PRISMA 2020 showed that none of the SRs/MAs were fully reported. In addition, the results of the GRADE assessment of the quality of evidence indicated that only one outcome was rated as high quality across all SRs/MAs. Conclusion: Current evidence suggests that XFZY is effective and safe for the management of patients with CHD. However, the high risk of bias of the original clinical studies and the low quality of the SRs/MAs reduced the reliability of the results.

Quality of Evidence Supporting the Role of Curcuma Longa Extract/Curcumin for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis: An Overview of Systematic Reviews.

Background: Well known for its good anti-inflammatory effect, curcuma longa extract (CLE)/curcumin (C) has a potential effect on osteoarthritis (OA), and a large number of researchers have completed several systematic reviews/meta-analyses (SRs/MAs) in this research area. However, the methodological and evidentiary quality of these SRs/MAs need to be further evaluated, and whether these findings provide reliable evidence for clinicians remains controversial. Methods: Two researchers collected data from seven databases for SRs/MAs that are about randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on CLE/C for OA. Assessment was made for the SRs/MAs included in this article by means of the Assessment System for Evaluating Methodological Quality 2 (AMSTAR-2), the Risk of Bias in Systematic (ROBIS) scale, the list of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. Results: Nine published SRs/MAs were included in our study. According to the results of the AMSTAR-2 assessment, only one SR/MA was assessed as high quality. According to the ROBIS evaluation results, only 2 SRs/MAs have a low risk of bias. According to the results of the PRISMA checklist assessment, only 2 SRs/MAs studies fully reported the checklist, while other studies had reporting flaws. According to GRADE, a total of 59 effect sizes extracted from the included SRs/MAs were evaluated, among which no effect size was rated as high. Conclusions: CLE/C may be an effective and safe complementary treatment for OA. However, further standard SRs/MAs and RCTs are needed to provide an evidence-based medical rationale for this.

Quality of Evidence Supporting the Role of Supplement Curcumin for the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis: An Overview of Systematic Reviews.

OBJECTIVES: Curcumin is a potential complementary treatment for ulcerative colitis (UC). This overview systematically summarizes and evaluates the existing evidence of curcumin in the treatment of UC. METHODS: Two researchers searched seven databases for systematic reviews (SRs)/meta-analyses (MAs) which are about randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on curcumin for UC. Two researchers use the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2), the Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews (ROBIS) scale, the list of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system to assess the included SRs/MAs. RESULTS: Seven published SRs/MAs were included in our study. According to the results of the AMSTAR-2 assessment, all SRs/MAs are considered to be of very low quality. According to the ROBIS evaluation results, no SR/MA has been assessed as a low risk of bias. According to the results of the PRISMA checklist assessment, no SR/MA has been fully reported on the PRISMA checklist. According to GRADE, a total of 19 outcome indicators extracted from the included SRs/MAs were evaluated. The quality of evidence was 10 moderate, 6 low, and 3 very low. CONCLUSIONS: Curcumin may be an effective and safe complementary treatment for UC. However, further standard and comprehensive SRs/MAs and RCTs are needed to provide an evidence-based medical rationale for this.

The Effects of Yuan-Zhi Decoction and Its Active Ingredients in Both In Vivo and In Vitro Models of Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion by Regulating the Levels of Aß and Autophagy.

Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) is closely related to the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the elderly. CCH can induce overactivation of autophagy, which increases the deposition of amyloid-ß (Aß) plaques in the brain, eventually impairing the cognitive function. Yuan-Zhi decoction (YZD) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulation that is used to treat cognitive dysfunction in the elderly, but the specific mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we simulated CCH in a rat model through bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) and treated the animals with YZD. Standard neurological tests indicated that YZD significantly restored the impaired cognitive function after BCCAO in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, YZD also decreased the levels of Aß aggregates and the autophagy-related proteins ATG5 and ATG12 in their hippocampus. An in vitro model of CCH was also established by exposing primary rat hippocampal neurons to hypoxia and hypoglycemia (H-H). YZD and its active ingredients increased the survival of these neurons and decreased the levels of Aß1-40 and Aß1-42, autophagy-related proteins Beclin-1 and LC3-II, and the APP secretases BACE1 and PS-1. Finally, both Aß aggregates showed a positive statistical correlation with the expression levels of the above proteins. Taken together, YZD targets Aß, autophagy, and APP-related secretases to protect the neurons from hypoxic-ischemic injury and restore cognitive function.

Chinese Herbal Complex 'Bu Shen Jie Du Fang' (BSJDF) Modulated Autophagy in an MPP+-Induced Cell Model of Parkinson's Disease.

Autophagy plays an important role in the development of Parkinson disease (PD). Previous studies showed that autophagy could protect cells from α-synuclein toxicity and promote functional coupling of mitochondria. But it is still a question whether modulating autophagy can be used to treat PD. In traditional Chinese medicine, a specific Chinese herbal complex called Bu Shen Jie Du Fang (BSJDF) has a long history of treating motor impairments similar to Parkinson disease, while its mechanism is still unclear. As a pilot study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and its mechanism of Bu Shen Jie Du Fang in an MPP+-induced cell model of Parkinson's disease. And the phase contrast microscope (PCM) revealed that the BSJDF group had the greatest surviving cell counts compared with all other treated cell groups except the normal group. And Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK8) assays showed a similar result. In BSJDF group, 3.7 ×107 cells/dish was identified by hemocytometer counts, which was significantly higher than other groups except the normal cells (p<0.05). In the BSJDF group, autophagy can be observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Protein expression of Atg12 and LC3 in the BSJDF group was upregulated compared to the PD model group (p<0.05). Atg12 mRNA expression was also upregulated in the BSJDF group (p<0.05). In conclusion, our study indicated that the therapeutic mechanisms of BSJDF may be mediated by stimulating autophagy, and modulating autophagy can be used to treat PD.

Atorvastatin Improves Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiac Dysfunction by Modulating Hsp70, Akt, and MAPK Signaling Pathways.

Atorvastatin is a lipid-regulating drug that is commonly used in clinical practice and can stabilize plaques. Increasing evidence shows that statins have anti-heart failure (HF) effects, but their specific mechanism is not clear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cardioprotective effects of atorvastatin on HF in rats and its mechanism. Continuous intraperitoneal injection of 2.5 mg/kg/w doxorubicin for 6 weeks, with a cumulative dose of 15 mg/kg, was used to induce a rat model of HF. Then, the rats were treated with low-dose atorvastatin, high-dose atorvastatin, or saline for 4 weeks. In the DOX-treated groups, echocardiography showed decreases in left ventricular ejection fraction and fractional shortening and increases in left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and left ventricular posterior wall thickness compared with those in the control group, and increased levels of brain natriuretic peptide and Hsp70 were also found in the doxorubicin-treated groups. Compared with saline intervention, atorvastatin ameliorated left ventricular ejection fraction, fractional shortening, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, and left ventricular posterior wall thickness (a significant difference was observed only in the high-dose group) and reduced serum brain natriuretic peptide. Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed that atorvastatin ameliorated myocardial injury. The improvement in cardiac function induced by atorvastatin was accompanied by increased Hsp70 expression, decreased p-ERK and p-JNK expression, and a reduction in myocardial fibrosis shown by Masson staining. In addition, atorvastatin had a protective effect on the myocardial apoptosis signaling pathway, with increased p-Akt expression and downregulated cleaved caspase-3 expression, and the reduction in myocardial apoptosis was confirmed by a TUNEL assay. Therefore, our experiments demonstrated that atorvastatin may protect cardiac function by modulating Hsp70, p-Akt, p-ERK, and p-JNK signaling to reduce myocardial fibrosis and myocardial apoptosis.

Gold nanostars for cancer cell-targeted SERS-imaging and NIR light-triggered plasmonic photothermal therapy (PPTT) in the first and second biological windows.

Cancer cell-targeted imaging and efficient therapy are vital for tumor diagnosis and treatments. However, the development of multifunctional plasmonic nanoparticles with high-performance SERS-imaging and NIR light-triggered plasmonic photothermal therapy (PPTT) of cancer cells in both the first (NIR-I) and second (NIR-II) biological windows is still a big challenge. In the present work, gold nanostars which possess a broad NIR absorption band covering the NIR-I and NIR-II windows with good NIR SERS activity and photothermal effects were synthesized by a seed-mediated growth method, using gold chloride (HAuCl4), ascorbic acid (AA) and (1-hexadecyl) trimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) as growth solutions. The gold nanostars were further designed to be multifunctional nanoagents by labeling Raman molecules and then conjugating arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD), which can serve as cancer cell-targeted SERS-imaging tags and photothermal nanoagents in both the NIR-I and NIR-II windows. The investigation of in vitro SERS-mapping and PPTT of the A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells indicates that the proposed multifunctional gold nanostars have great potential for a wide spectrum of light-mediated applications, such as optical imaging and image-guided phototherapy in both the NIR-I and NIR-II biological windows.

Neuroprotective effects of tenuigenin on neurobehavior, oxidative stress, and tau hyperphosphorylation induced by intracerebroventricular streptozotocin in rats.

BACKGROUND: Tenuigenin (TEN), a major active component of the Chinese herb Polygala tenuifolia root, has been used to improve memory and cognitive function in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries. PURPOSE: The present study was designed to explore the possible neuroprotective effect of TEN on the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced rat model of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (sAD). METHODS: STZ was injected twice intracerebroventrically (3 mg/kg, ICV) on alternate days (day 1 and day 3) in Rats. Daily treatment with TEN (2, 4, and 8 mg/kg) starting from the first dose of STZ for 28 days. Memory-related behaviors were evaluated using the Morris water maze test. Hyperphosphorylation of tau proteins in hippocampus were measured by western blot assay. Superoxide dismutase activities, malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal adducts contents were also measured in the hippocampus. RESULTS: Treatment with TEN significantly improved STZ-induced cognitive damage, markedly reduced changes in malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal adducts, and significantly inhibited STZ-induced reduction in superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in the hippocampus. In addition, TEN decreased hyperphosphorylation of tau resulting from intracerebroventricular STZ (ICV-STZ) injection, and Nissl staining results showed that TEN has protective effects on hippocampal neurons. CONCLUSION: These results provide experimental evidence demonstrating preventive effect of TEN on cognitive dysfunction, oxidative stress, and hyperphosphorylation of tau in ICV-STZ rats. This study indicates that TEN may have beneficial effects in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as AD.

Atheroprotective effects and molecular targets of bioactive compounds from traditional Chinese medicine.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has served the Chinese people since antiquity, and is playing an important role in today's healthcare. However, there has been controversy in the use of these traditional herbs due to unclear components and absence of scientific proof. As China plans to modernize traditional medicine, successful attempts to better understand the molecular mechanisms of TCM have been made by focusing on isolating active ingredients from these remedies. In this review, we critically examined the current evidence on atheroprotective effects of bioactive compounds from TCM using in vitro or in vivo models in the past two decades. A total of 47 active compounds were included in our review, which were introduced in the order of chemical structures, source, model, efficacy and mechanism. Notablely, this review highlighted the cellular and molecular mechanisms of these active compounds in prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis. Two compounds were also involved in double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials (RCTs). Besides, we introduced the legislations of the People's Republic of China ensuring quality and safety of products used in TCM. In summary, studies on bioactive compounds from TCM will provide a new approach for better management of atherosclerosis.

Herbal Medicine Cordyceps sinensis Improves Health-Related Quality of Life in Moderate-to-Severe Asthma.

Moderate-to-severe asthma has a substantial impact on the health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) of the patients. Cordyceps sinensis is a traditional Chinese medicine that is evaluated clinically for the treatment of many diseases, such as chronic allograft nephropathy, diabetic kidney disease, and lung fibrosis. In order to investigate the effects of Cordyceps sinensis on patients with moderate-to-severe persistent asthma, 120 subjects were randomized to receive Corbin capsule containing Cordyceps sinensis for 3 months (treatment group, n = 60), whereas the control group (n = 60) did not receive treatment with Corbin capsule. Inhaled corticosteroid and as-needed ß-agonists were used in the treatment of both groups. HR-QOL was measured with the Juniper's Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ). The incidence of asthma exacerbation, pulmonary function testing, and serum measurements of inflammatory mediators were also evaluated. The results showed that the treatment group indicated a significant increase in AQLQ scores and lung function compared with the control group. The expression levels of the inflammation markers IgE, ICAM-1, IL-4, and MMP-9 in the serum were decreased and IgG increased in the treatment group compared with the control group. Therefore, the conclusion was reached that a formulation of Cordyceps sinensis improved the HR-QOL, asthma symptoms, lung function, and inflammatory profile of the patients with moderate-to-severe asthma. This trial is registered with ChiCTR-IPC-16008730.

DaoTan decoction (DTD) inhibits tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), p53 and p21, in human umbilical vein endothelia cells (HUVECs).

CONTEXT: DTD is a Chinese herb prescription used for centuries to treat atherosclerosis or dizziness. Previous studies show that DTD could inhibit ICAM-1 expression induced by TNF-α. However, its mechanism has never been clearly described. OBJECTIVE: To examine the hypothesis that DTD might inhibit TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression through regulating the expression of p53 and p21. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The rats were orally treated with DTD for 3 d (2.3 g/kg per day), and then the serum was collected. HUVECs were cultured and stimulated by TNF-α with or without DTD serum (5, 10, and 20%). The expression of ICAM-1 mRNA was examined by RT-PCR and the expression of p53 and p21 was examined by western blot analysis. RESULTS: The ICAM-1 mRNA levels induced by TNF-α were significantly reduced from 23 to 47%, and the expression of p53 and p21 mRNA levels were significantly reduced from 13 to 43% and 14 to 42%, as the concentration of DTD serum increased. In western blot, TNF-α-induced the expression of p53 and was inhibited from 15 to 53%, by DTD serum in a concentration-dependent manner. TNF-α-induced expression of p21 was inhibited from 2 to 37%, by DTD serum in a concentration-dependent manner. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: DTD has a function of "dissolving phlegm", thus it is chosen for the treatment of atherosclerosis. This study demonstrated that DTD could significantly inhibit the expression of ICAM-1, p53 and p21, which are important factors of atherosclerosis. Therefore, the present study indicates the pharmacological basis for treatment of atherosclerosis with DTD.

Parkin reverses TDP-43-induced cell death and failure of amino acid homeostasis.

The E3 ubiquitin ligase Parkin plays a central role in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases. Parkin promotes specific ubiquitination and affects the localization of transactivation response DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), which controls the translation of thousands of mRNAs. Here we tested the effects of lentiviral Parkin and TDP-43 expression on amino acid metabolism in the rat motor cortex using high frequency ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. TDP-43 expression increased glutamate levels, decreased the levels of other amino acids, including glutamine, aspartate, leucine and isoleucine, and impaired mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid cycle. TDP-43 induced lactate accumulation and altered the balance between excitatory (glutamate) and inhibitory (GABA) neurotransmitters. Parkin restored amino acid levels, neurotransmitter balance and tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolism, rescuing neurons from TDP-43-induced apoptotic death. Furthermore, TDP-43 expression led to an increase in 4E-BP levels, perhaps altering translational control and deregulating amino acid synthesis; while Parkin reversed the effects of TDP-43 on the 4E-BP signaling pathway. Taken together, these data suggest that Parkin may affect TDP-43 localization and mitigate its effects on 4E-BP signaling and loss of amino acid homeostasis.

Antidepressant-like effects of curcumin in chronic mild stress of rats: involvement of its anti-inflammatory action.

Mounting evidence suggests that inflammation may contribute to the pathophysiology of depression. Curcumin, a polyphenol extracted from the plant Curcuma longa, exhibits a number of pharmacological properties, including potent anti-inflammatory action. Hence, the current study aimed to explore the immunomodulatory effects of curcumin in an animal model of chronic mild stress (CMS). Rats were subjected to CMS protocol for a period of 21 days to induce depressive-like behavior. The body weight, sucrose preference and locomotor activity were evaluated. Both RT-PCR and ELISA were used to determine the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Modulation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation was assessed by western blotting. Chronic treatment with curcumin significantly reversed the CMS-induced behavioral abnormalities (reduced sucrose preference and decreased locomotor activity) in stressed rats. Additionally, curcumin effectively inhibited cytokine gene expression at both the mRNA and the protein level and reduced the activation of NF-κB. The study revealed that curcumin exerted antidepressant-like effects in CMS rats, partially due to its anti-inflammatory aptitude.

Dao-Tan decoction inhibits tumor necrosis factor-α-induced intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression by blocking JNK and p38 signaling pathways in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

CONTEXT: Dao-Tan decoction (DTD) is a Chinese herb prescription used to treat atherosclerosis or dizziness for centuries. Previous study shows that DTD could inhibit intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression induced by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). However, its mechanism has never been clearly described. OBJECTIVE: To examine the hypothesis that DTD might inhibit TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression through regulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, involving Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The rats were orally administrated with DTD for 3 days (2.3 g/kg per day), then the serum was collected. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured and stimulated by TNF-α with or without DTD serum. The expression of ICAM-1 mRNA was examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and the expression of p38 and JNK was examined by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: DTD serum significantly inhibits TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression by 17-41% on HUVECs. TNF-α-induced JNK and p38 activations, which were involved in ICAM-1 expression, were significantly inhibited with DTD serum treatment by 10-50% on HUVEC. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Based on the theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is caused by "blood" and "phlegm" attached on blood vessels. DTD has a function of "dissolving phlegm", thus it is chosen for the treatment of atherosclerosis. This study demonstrated that DTD could inhibit the expression of ICAM-1, by significantly preventing the activation of JNK and p38, which are important factors of atherosclerosis. Therefore, the present study indicates the pharmacological basis for treatment of atherosclerosis with DTD.

Tenuigenin promotes proliferation and differentiation of hippocampal neural stem cells.

The present study was to investigate the influence of tenuigenin, an active ingredient of Polygala tenuifolia Willd, on the proliferation and differentiation of hippocampal neural stem cells in vitro. Tenuigenin was added to a neurosphere culture and neurosphere growth was measured using MTT assay. The influence of tenuigenin on the proliferation of neural progenitors was examined by Clone forming assay and BrdU detection. In addition, the differentiation of neural stem cells was compared using immunocytochemistry for ß III-tubulin and GFAP. The results showed that addition of tenuigenin to the neural stem cell medium increased the number of newly formed neurospheres. More neurons were also obtained when tenuigenin was added in the differentiation medium. These findings suggest that tenuigenin is involved in regulating the proliferation and differentiation of hippocampal neural stem cells. This result may be one of the underlying reasons for tenuigenin's nootropic and anti-aging effects.

[Effects of naokang erhao decoction on cognitive ability and hippocampal apoptosis-related proteins in diabetic rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Naokang Erhao decoction on the cognitive ability and the expression of Caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2 proteins in hippocampus of type 2 diabetic rats. METHOD: The diabetes mellitus (DM) rat model was produced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin and fed with high fat and sucrose diet. The Naokang Erhao-treated rats were intragastrically given different doses of Naokang Erhao, whereas the control and DM model groups were given double distilled water for 4 consecutive weeks. Learning and memory abilities of rats were tested with the Morris water maze. The expression of Caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2 proteins in hippocampal CA1 region was measured by immunohistochemistry. RESULT: Both escape latency and swimming distance of type 2 DM rats were significantly prolonged in comparison of those in normal control (P < 0.01), and swimming time in the platform of previous quadrant was significantly shorter in model group (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the expression of Bcl-2 protein was decreased, while Caspase-3 and Bax in the hippocampus were increased compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Four weeks of treatment with Naokang Erhao decoction remarkably improved the learning and memory abilities of DM rats, increased the expression of Bcl-2 and decreased the expression of Caspase-3 and Bax in hippocampal CA1 region of model rats (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Naokang Erhao decoction may inhibit apoptosis by increasing the expression of Bcl-2 and reducing the expression of Caspase-3 and Bax in the hippocampus, and this may be one of the mechanisms by which Naokang Erhao decoction improves cognitive ability in DM rats.

Tenuigenin protects cultured hippocampal neurons against methylglyoxal-induced neurotoxicity.

Methylglyoxal is a metabolite of glucose. Since serum methylglyoxal level is increased in diabetic patients, methylglyoxal is implicated in diabetic complications such as cognitive impairment. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of tenuigenin, an active component of roots of Polygala tenuifolia Willdenow, on methylglyoxal-induced cell injury in a primary culture of rat hippocampal neurons. MTT and Hoechst 33342 staining, together with flow cytometric analysis using annexin-V and propidium (PI) label, indicated that tenuigenin pretreatment attenuated methylglyoxal -induced apoptotic cell death in primary cultured hippocampal neurons, showing a dose-dependent pattern. Furthermore, 2, 7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate was used to detect the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species. Tenuigenin decreased the elevated reactive oxygen species induced by methylglyoxal. In addition, tenuigenin inhibited activation of caspase-3 and reversed down-regulation of the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax, both of which were induced by methylglyoxal stimulation. The results suggest that tenuigenin displays antiapoptotic and antioxidative activity in hippocampal neurons due to scavenging of intracellular reactive oxygen species, regulating Bcl-2 family and suppressing caspase-3 activity induced by methylglyoxal, which might explain at least in part the beneficial effects of tenuigenin against degenerative disorders involving diabetic cognitive impairment.

[Risk factors of traditional Chinese medical syndromes in moderate and advanced lung cancer patients with concurrent fungal pneumonia].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between traditional Chinese medical syndromes and fungal pneumonia for moderate and advanced lung cancer patients. METHODS: We retrospected 115 moderate and advanced lung cancer patients with different syndromes in traditional Chinese medicine (qi deficiency, yin deficiency, blood deficiency, yang deficiency, blood stasis, phlegm dampness, phlegm heat, damp heat, cold dampness, qi stagnation, heat toxin), who had the concurrent fungal pneumonia, and used regression analysis method to analyze the data. RESULTS: When the patients had the phlegm heat syndrome, they got a significantly higher risk of having fungal pneumonia (P < 0.01); and when they had the heat toxin syndrome, they also had a high risk of having fungal pneumonia (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The phlegm heat and heat toxin syndromes are the risk factors for moderate and advanced lung cancer patients having concurrent fungal pneumonia.