[Preliminary study on effect of Phellinus igniarius ethanol extract on serum uric acid metabolism and gut microbiome in rats].

The aim of this paper was to investigate the effect of ethanol extract of Phellinus igniarius in lowering uric acid and changing the gut microbiome in hyperuricemia rats. A total of 36 SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model control group, positive drug control group, and high-dose, middle-dose and low-dose P. igniarius ethanol extract groups, with 6 rats in each group. Hyperuricemia rats were established by D-fructose combined with oteracil potassium(OAPS). One week later, the positive control group was given allopurinol 50 mg·kg~(-1) intragastrically, and P. igniarius ethanol extract groups were treated with 30, 60 and 90 mg·kg~(-1) drugs for 14 consecutive days. Body weight, blood glucose and serum uric acid(SUA) were monitored every week. After the model rats were administered with the ethanol extracts of P. igniarius by gavage for two weeks, the activities of creatinine, BUN, xanthine oxidase(XOD) and adenosine deaminase(ADA) were detected. The right kidney was taken to analyze the histological and morphological changes and the degree of damage to main organs of the extract of P. igniarius. The 16 S rDNA gene sequence technique was used to analyze the guts microbiota composition in feces. The results indicated that ethanol extract of P. igniarius could significantly lower the SUA level(P<0.01), while inhibiting the activities of XOD and ADA(P<0.05, P<0.01). Histological examination showed that the allopurine group showed slight renal tubular dilation and inflammatory cell infiltration compared with the normal group, with no significant difference between the P. igniarius ethanol extract groups and the normal group. The 16 S sequencing results showed that the composition of gut microbiota has changed in each group. Therefore, ethanol extracts of P. igniarius may reduce the level of SUA in rats by inhibiting the activities of XOD and ADA, with a certain effect on the composition of gut microbiota.

Inhibitory effects of α-pinene on hepatoma carcinoma cell proliferation.

BACKGROUND: Pine needle oil from crude extract of pine needles has anti-tumor effects, but the effective component is not known. METHODS: In the present study, compounds from a steam distillation extract of pine needles were isolated and characterized. Alpha-pinene was identified as an active anti-proliferative compound on hepatoma carcinoma BEL-7402 cells using the MTT assay. RESULTS: Further experiments showed that α-pinene inhibited BEL-7402 cells by arresting cell growth in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, downregulating Cdc25C mRNA and protein expression, and reducing cycle dependence on kinase 1(CDK1) activity. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these findings indicate that α-pinene may be useful as a potential anti-tumor drug.

Scientific evaluation of the subchronic toxicity of Musca domestica larvae extracts in Sprague Dawley rats.

Musca domestica larvae extracts (MDLE) is a potential drug used to treat lipopolysaccharide-induced atherosclerosis pro-inflammatory responses. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the safety of MDLE via a 13-week repeated dose subchronic toxicity test in rats. Both male and female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups, eight animals each from the control and high-dose group (33.0 g/kg) were allocated into recovery groups. The four groups of rats were administrated with MDLE (0, 13.2, 22.0, 33.0 g/kg) in the diet for 13weeks respectively. During the experimental period, the rats were observed for symptoms and signs of gross toxicity daily, food consumption and body weight were measured weekly. Urinalysis, thrombotest, blood biochemical and hematological analyses were performed regularly; Expression of peroxide dismutase gene in liver was quantified and a histopathological examination was also performed. There were no MDLE-induced abnormalities in any of the groups during or after the 13 weeks except the relative weight of liver of high-dose group and middle-dose group was significantly higher than that of control group in male rats (P<0.05). The results indicate a no observed adverse effect level for MDLE is 13.2 and 33.0 g/kg bw/day in male and female rats, respectively.

Inflammatory Regulation Effect and Action Mechanism of Anti-Inflammatory Effective Parts of Housefly (Musca domestica) Larvae on Atherosclerosis.

The protein-enriched extracts of housefly larvae were segregated by gel-filtration chromatography (GFC) and then anti-inflammatory activity screening in RAW264.7 (induced by LPS) was carried out. After acquire the anti-inflammatory effective parts, its anti-atherosclerotic properties in vivo were then evaluated. Results showed that the anti-inflammatory effective parts of housefly larvae were low-molecular-weight parts. After treated with the effective parts oral gavaged for 4 weeks, the atherosclerotic lesions of the mouse were significantly decreased. The inflammatory and lipid parameters were also reduced (except HDL which was increased). Western blot analysis demonstrated that the effective parts exerted potent inhibitory effect on expression of p65 in nucleus and cytoplasm. The results of immunofluorescence microscopy analysis also showed that the expressions of p65 both in cytoplasm and nucleus were significantly reduced. The hypothesis that the anti-inflammatory effective parts of housefly larvae possessed anti-atherosclerosis activity in mouse and the possible mechanism could be associated with the inhibition of expression and nuclear transfer of NF- κ B p65 could be derived.

[Comparison of the effects of traditional and modern processing methods on antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects of Musca domestica].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the different effects of traditional and modern processing methods onantibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects of Musca domestica. METHODS: Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects of traditional and modem processing products were carried out on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and macrophage RAW264.7 which activated by LPS. RESULTS: The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects were more pronounced in modern processing product treatment group than those of traditional processing product treatment group. CONCLUSION: Modern processing technology can protect the substances in Musca domestica which have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.