Amelioration of alcohol-induced acute liver injury in C57BL/6 mice by a mixture of TCM phytochemicals and probiotics with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects.

Background: There are many causes of acute liver injury (ALI), such as alcohol, drugs, infection, and toxic materials, which have caused major health problems around the world. Among these causes, alcohol consumption induced liver injury is a common alcoholic liver disease, which can further lead to liver failure even liver cancer. A number of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and TCM derived compounds have been used in treating the liver-associated diseases and combination use of probiotics with TCM phytochemicals has attracted interests for enhanced biological effects. Methods: This study investigated the hepatoprotective effect of TCM-probiotics complex (TCMPC) and its underlying mechanism for the treatment of ALI in mice. The TCMPC is composed of TCM phytochemicals puerarin, curcumin, ginsenosides, and 5 lactobacteria strains. We first established a mouse model of alcohol-induced ALI, then the therapeutic effects of TCMPC on alcohol-induced ALI were monitored. A series of measurements have been performed on antioxidation, anti-inflammation, and lipid metabolism regulation. Results: The results showed that TCMPC can reduce the level of liver injury biomarkers and regulate oxidative stress. Histopathological results indicated that TCMPC could ameliorate ALI in mice. In addition, it can also significantly reduce the production of inflammatory cytokines caused by ALI. Conclusion: Our research has proved the therapeutic effect of TCMPC on alcohol-induced ALI. The potential mechanism of hepatoprotective effects of TCMPC may be related to its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. Our research might provide a new way for liver disease treatment.

Aluminum ammonium sulfate dodecahydrate purified from traditional Chinese medicinal herb Korean monkshood root is a potent matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent endopeptidases and key regulators for many physiological and pathological functions. The MMP inhibitors have been shown to modulate diseases such as cancer, inflammation, and cardiovascular diseases. In this paper we tracked the MMP inhibitory activities of the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Korean Monkshood Root. The purified active ingredient was identified by the elemental analysis, infrared spectrum (IR) and X-ray diffraction as aluminum ammonium sulfate dodecahydrate. This inorganic compound showed inhibitory activities toward a number of MMP family members. In particular, it has a strong inhibitory effect toward MMP-2 and MMP-9, with IC50 values of 0.54 and 0.50 µM, respectively. Further analysis suggested that the MMP inhibitory activity is mainly due to Al(3+). Cell viability assays using human fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells showed aluminum ammonium sulfate had minimal cyto-toxicity with a concentration up to 500 µM. However, within 50 µM, it exhibited significant inhibition of cell invasion. To our knowledge, there has been no previous report of inorganic form of the MMP inhibitor with strong inhibitory activity. Our results for the first time showed that aluminum ammonium sulfate is an inorganic form of MMP inhibitor with high potency, and can be used to interfere with MMP related cellular processes.

Comparison of headspace solid-phase microextraction with conventional extraction for the analysis of the volatile components in Melia azedarach.

The volatile compositions of Melia azedarach were studied by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME). The result was compared with that obtained by soxhlet extraction (SE) and ultrasonic extraction (UAE). 79 compounds were identified in this study, among which 64 compounds were first reported. The experimental parameters including fiber type (PDMS, PDMS-DVB and CAR-PDMS), desorption time, extraction temperature and time were investigated. 37 compounds were obtained by HS-SPME, including curcumene (33.25%), α-cadinol (11.16%), α-muurolene (8.72%), copaene (5.04%), ß-bisabolene (3.41%), and α-selinene (2.97%). The result suggested that the HS-SPME method is a powerful analytic tool and complementary to traditional methods for the determination of the volatile compounds in Chinese herbs.

Evaluation of the anti-neuraminidase activity of the traditional Chinese medicines and determination of the anti-influenza A virus effects of the neuraminidase inhibitory TCMs in vitro and in vivo.

UNLABELLED: ETNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors are currently the most effective drugs to treat influenza A viruses infection. Many traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have been used in the clinics to treat influenza. The anti-viral mechanisms of these TCMs and their inhibitory effects towards NA need to be systematically tested. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the anti-NA activity of the TCMs and the anti-influenza A virus effects of the NA inhibitory TCMs in vitro and in vivo. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We tested the inhibitory activity of water extracts from 439 TCMs towards NA. The in vitro anti-influenza virus activities of the 5 TCMs were evaluated using the strain A/California/7/2009 (H1N1) NYMC X-179A of influenza A virus. A randomly selected TCM with NA inhibitory activity, Melia toosendan extract, was further evaluated using a mouse model infected with influenza A virus. RESULTS: Five TCMs, Duchesnea indica (Andr.) Focke [Fragaria indica Andr.], Liquidambar formosana Hance., Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb. et Zucc., Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc., and Prunella vulgaris L., exerted potent inhibitory activity towards NA. These TCMs in the range of 25-250 µg/mL had the ability to reduce virus-induced cytopathic effect (CPE) and the virus yield in MDCK cells. Melia toosendan significantly reduced death rate and prolonged mean day to death (MDD) of the viral infected mice. CONCLUSIONS: This study describes five TCMs exerted strong inhibitory activities towards NA, and exhibited antiviral effect against influenza A virus by reducing viral reproduction and reduced CPE of the viral infected cells. Melia toosendan, significantly reduced death rate and prolonged survival of the H1N1 viral infected mice.

Stir-baked Fructus gardeniae (L.) extracts inhibit matrix metalloproteinases and alter cell morphology.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play vital roles in many pathological conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, arthritis and inflammation. Modulating MMP activity may therefore be a useful therapeutic approach in treating these diseases. Qing-Kai-Ling is a popular Chinese anti-inflammatory formulation used to treat symptoms such as rheumatoid arthritis, acute hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage, hepatitis and upper respiratory tract infection. In this paper, we report that one of the components of Qing-Kai-Ling, Fructus gardeniae, strongly inhibits MMP activity. The IC50 values for the primary herbal extract and water extract against MMP-16 were 32 and 27 microg/ml, respectively. In addition, we show that the herbal extracts influence HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cell growth and morphology. These data may provide molecular mechanisms for the therapeutic effects of Qing-Kai-Ling and herbal medicinal Fructus gardeniae.

Components of the peptidome and transcriptome persist in lin wa pi: the dried skin of the Heilongjiang brown frog (Rana amurensis) as used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Although the ancient practice of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) utilizes predominantly herbal ingredients, many of which are now the subject of intense scientific scrutiny, significant quantities of animal tissue-derived materials are also employed. Here we have used contemporary molecular techniques to study the material known as lin wa pi, the dried skin of the Heilongjiang brown frog, Rana amurensis, that is used commonly as an ingredient of many medicines, as a general tonic and as a topical antimicrobial/wound dressing. Using a simple technology that has been developed and validated over several years, we have demonstrated that components of both the skin granular gland peptidome and transcriptome persist in this material. Interrogation of the cDNA library constructed from the dried skin by entrapment and amplification of polyadenylated mRNA, using a "shotgun" primer approach and 3'-RACE, resulted in the cloning of cDNAs encoding the precursors of five putative antimicrobial peptides. Two (ranatuerin-2AMa and ranatuerin-2AMb) were obvious homologs of a previously described frog skin peptide family, whereas the remaining three were of sufficient structural novelty to be named amurins 1-3. Mature peptides were each identified in reverse phase HPLC fractions of boiling water extracts of skin and their structures confirmed by MS/MS fragmentation sequencing. Components of traditional Chinese medicines of animal tissue origin may thus contain biologically active peptides that survive the preparation procedures and that may contribute to therapeutic efficacy.