[Research progress of Gastrodiae Rhizoma machining processing, composition analysis and in vivo metabolism].

Steaming method is a traditional processing method for Gastrodiae Rhizoma(GR). The current studies on the steaming method's mechanism of GR are mainly focused on facilitating softening slice, destroying the ß-glycosidic bond enzymes to reduce the decomposition of gastrodia glycosides (killing enzyme and protecting glycosides). The researches on the processing mechanism are still incomplete, while revealing and analyzing the active components in the body's metabolic process are important channels and new models to clarify the mechanism of traditional medicine processing. In order to provides a reference for the in-depth study of the processing mechanism of GR, we have reviewed the relevant literature at home and abroad in recent years and briefly summarized the processing, composition analysis and in vivo metabolism of GR in this study.

Heat-killed Lactobacillus Reuteri GMNL-263 Prevents Epididymal Fat Accumulation and Cardiac Injury in High-Calorie Diet-Fed Rats.

High-calorie diet-induced obesity leads to cardiomyocyte dysfunction and apoptosis. Impaired regulation of epididymal fat content in obese patients has been known to increase the risk of cardiac injury. In our study, a lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263, was evaluated for its potential to reduce body weight and body fat ratio and to prevent heart injury in rats with high-fat diet-induced obesity. Lactic acid bacteria supplementation restored the cardiac function and decreased the physiological changes in the heart of the obese rats. In addition, the Fas/Fas-associated protein pathway-induced caspase 3/e Poly polymerase mediated apoptosis in the cardiomyocytes of the obese rats was reversed in the Lr263-treated rats. These results reveal that fed with Lr-263 reduces body fat ratio, inhibits caspase 3-mediated apoptosis and restores cardiac function in obese rats through recovery of ejection fraction and fractional shortening. Our results indicated that the administration of Lr263 lactic acid bacteria can significantly down-regulate body fat and prevent cardiomyocyte injury in obese rats.

Submerged-Culture Mycelia and Broth of the Maitake Medicinal Mushroom Grifola frondosa (Higher Basidiomycetes) Alleviate Type 2 Diabetes-Induced Alterations in Immunocytic Function.

Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a disease with impaired glucose, protein and lipid metabolism, low-grade chronic inflammation, and immune dysfunction, is a global public health crisis. We previously demonstrated that Grifola frondosa has bioactivities in improving glycemic responses in diabetic rats. Herein, we investigated the immunomodulatory effects of the submerged-culture mycelia and broth of G. frondosa on the peripheral blood cells (PBL) and splenocytes. Male Wistar rats were administered with saline (normal rats) or streptozotocin plus nicotinamide (T2DM rats) and were intragastrically administered with placebo, fermented mycelia, broth, or mycelia plus broth (1 g kg-1 day-1) for two weeks. In normal rats, ingestion of mycelia significantly decreased monocytes and ingestion of mycelia and broth significantly decreased the productions of interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-4 from the PBL and splenocytes. In T2DM rats, ingestion of mycelia, broth, and mycelia plus broth significantly alleviated the increases in 2 h postprandial blood glucose and the productions of IFN-γ from the T-leukocytes, IL-4, and IL-6 from the monocytes and IL-4 from the T-splenocytes, as well as significantly improved the productions of tumor-necrosis factor-α from the macrophages. In conclusion, submerged-culture mycelia and broth of G. frondosa may decrease cell-medicated immunity in normal rats and improve hyperglycemia and diabetes-induced alterations in cell-medicated and innate immunities in T2DM rats.

[Effect of compound gardenia oil and jujube seed oil on learning and memory in ovariectomized rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of compound of gardenia oil and jujube seed oil learning and memory in ovariectomized rats and its mechanism. METHODS: Animals were randomly divided into six groups: sham group, model group, estrogen group, low dose group, middle dose group and high dose group. The ovariectomized rat models were established by resection of the lateral ovaries. The effect of compound of gardenia oil and jujube seed oil on learning and memory in ovariectomized rats was observed by means of Morris water maze. Acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activities in rat brain were determined. RESULTS: The compound of gardenia oil and jujube seed oil could shorten the incubation period of appearance in castration rats and increase the number passing through Yuan Ping table in ovariectomized rats. As the training time extended, the incubation period of appearance was gradually shortened. The compound of gardenia oil and jujube seed oil could increase NOS activity, and decrease AChE activity in brain of ovariectomized rats. CONCLUSION: The compound of jujube seed oil and gardenia oil could promote the learning and memory in ovariectomized rats. This effect may be related with the increase in activities of NOS, AchE in rat brain.

Appropriate dose of parenteral arginine enhances immunity of peripheral blood cells and splenocytes in rats with subacute peritonitis.

BACKGROUND: Arginine deficiency and chronic inflammation may cause immune dysfunction. The authors previously showed that a pharmacological dose of parenteral arginine facilitates ornithine rather than nitric oxide production in subacute peritonitis. Herein, they investigated the effects of different doses of parenteral arginine supplementation on immunocytic subpopulation distribution and function. MATERIALS: Male Wistar rats that underwent cecal punctures for induction of subacute peritonitis were infused with conventional parenteral nutrition solution (1.61% of total calories as arginine) or solutions supplemented with low-, medium-, or high-dose arginine (2.85%, 4.08%, and 6.54% of total calories, respectively) for 7 days. Distributions of T cells, B cells, and monocytes/macrophages and cytokine productions of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and splenocytes were analyzed. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in circulating white blood cell numbers and serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-γ concentrations among groups. Serum nitrate/nitrite (NOx) and interleukin (IL)-2 levels were significantly decreased by arginine in a dose-dependent manner. Animals supplemented with parenteral arginine had significantly decreased productions of concanavalin (Con) A- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated TNF-α in PBLs and splenocytes, spontaneous IL-6 and LPS-stimulated IFN-γ in PBLs, and LPS-stimulated IL-6 in splenocytes. In addition, low-dose arginine significantly increased production of spontaneous IFN-γ in PBLs and splenocytes. High-dose arginine significantly increased spontaneous TNF-α, and Con A stimulated IL-4 and IL-6 in PBLs. CONCLUSION: Parenteral arginine administration at approximately 4% of total calories may alter PBLs and splenocytic immunity, and >6% of total calories might not be of benefit in rats with subacute peritonitis.

[Sedative, hypnotic and antiseizure effects of compound gardenia oil and jujube seed oil in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To study the sedative, hypnotic and antiseizure effects of the compound preparation of gardenia oil and jujube seed oil in mice and investigate the interaction of the two drugs in this preparation. METHODS: The compound preparation was administered intragastrically in mice, whose spontaneous activity was observed along with their tolerance of the preparation after long-term administration. The hypnotic effect of the compound was assessed by investigating the changes in the pentobarbital sodium-induced sleeping. The compound was tested for its antiseizure effect in mice with pentetrazole-induced clonic and tonic convulsion. Diazepam was used as the standard control in all experiments. RESULTS: The jujube seed oil, the gardenia oil and their compound all inhibited spontaneous activities of the mice. Compared with diazepam, the compound showed slow action in producing the sedative effect, which increased gradually with prolonged drug administration without obvious drug tolerance responses. The compound and the two oils all showed synergistic action with pentobarbital sodium in inducing sleeping of the mice. Prescription study showed that the compound produced stronger sedative and hypnotic effects than either of the oils. The two oils and the compound did not show significant antiseizure effects in mice. CONCLUSION: The compound of jujube seed oil and gardenia oil has sedative and hypnotic effects in mice, and the two oils in the compound show obvious synergistic effect.