Folium Sennae and emodin reverse airway smooth muscle contraction.

The objective of this project was to find a bronchodilatory compound from herbs and clarify the mechanism. We found that the ethanol extract of Folium Sennae (EEFS) can relax airway smooth muscle (ASM). EEFS inhibited ASM contraction, induced by acetylcholine, in mouse tracheal rings and lung slices. High-performance liquid chromatography assay showed that EEFS contained emodin. Emodin had a similar reversal action. Acetylcholine-evoked contraction was also partially reduced by nifedipine (a selective inhibitor of L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, LVDCCs), YM-58483 (a selective inhibitor of store-operated Ca2+ entry, SOCE), as well as Y-27632 (an inhibitor of Rho-associated protein kinase). In addition, LVDCC- and SOCE-mediated currents and cytosolic Ca2+ elevations were inhibited by emodin. Emodin reversed acetylcholine-caused increases in phosphorylation of myosin phosphatase target subunit 1. Furthermore, emodin, in vivo, inhibited acetylcholine-induced respiratory system resistance in mice. These results indicate that EEFS-induced relaxation results from emodin inhibiting LVDCC, SOCE, and Ca2+ sensitization. These findings suggest that Folium Sennae and emodin may be new sources of bronchodilators.

[Characteristics of soil nematode community of different agricultural areas in Jiangsu Province, China].

This paper investigated the genus diversity of soil nematodes of different agricultural areas in Jiangsu Province, analyzed the relationship between soil nematodes and soil environmental factors, and discussed the roles of soil nematodes as biological indicators of soil health. The results showed that, a total of 41 nematode genera were found in all six agricultural areas, belonging to 19 families, 7 orders, 2 classes. The numbers and community compositions of nematodes were obviously influenced by soil texture, fertilization and tillage practices. In all six agricultural areas, the numbers of nematodes in coastal agricultural area (400 individuals per 100 g dry soil) were significantly larger than that in Xuhuai, Ningzhenyang, and riverside agricultural areas. While the smallest number of nematodes was found in Yanjiang agricultural area (232 individuals per 100 g dry soil), which might be due to the differences in soil texture, annual rainfall and annual air temperature and other factors. The dominant genera of nematodes were similar in the adjacent agricultural areas. Correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between the number of soil nematodes and levels of soil nutrients (soil organic matter, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, available potassium and available phosphorus). Redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated the total nitrogen, available potassium and pH obviously affected some soil nematode genera. The analysis of spatial distribution characteristics of soil nematode community in farmland of Jiangsu Province could provide data for health assessment of agricultural ecosystems.

Contribution of the renin-angiotensin system in chronic foot-shock induced hypertension in rats.

AIMS: Chronic foot shock has been demonstrated to induce hypertension. The present study was designed to explore whether the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a role in this process and the possible mechanisms involved in chronic-foot-shock-induced hypertension. MAIN METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a two-week foot shock with or without an angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 receptor blocker (ARB, candesartan) or an angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI, captopril). The expression of RAS components in the central nervous and circulatory systems was examined. Antioxidant levels in the plasma were monitored. KEY FINDINGS: Two-week foot shock significantly increased systolic blood pressure (SBP). Angiotensinogen, angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE)-1, ACE-2, angiotensin type 1a and type 1b receptors, and vasopressin (VAP) mRNA expression in the cerebral cortex and hypothalamus were increased along with the concentration of renin and Ang II in the plasma; these changes were accompanied by decreased glutathione peroxidase activity and increased lipid peroxidation levels and plasma corticosterone concentrations. Both candesartan and captopril suppressed not only the increases in SBP but also the increases in VAP expression in the hypothalamus and RAS components in the central nervous system and the circulatory system. The decreases in antioxidant levels and the increases in lipid peroxidation and corticosterone levels were also partially reversed by candesartan or captopril treatment. SIGNIFICANCE: Chronic foot shock increases expression of the main RAS components, which play an important role in the development of high blood pressure through increased VAP levels, oxidative stress levels and stress hormone levels.

[Study on chemical constituents of volatile oil from rhizomes and leaves of Pileostegia viburnoides var. glabrescens by GC-MS].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the chemical constituents of volatile oil from the rhizomes and leaves of Pileostegia viburnoides var. glabrescens by GC-MS. METHODS: The volatile oil was extracted from the rhizomes and leaves of Pileostegia viburnoides var. glabrescens by steam distillation. The constituents of volatile oil were identified by GC-MS technology. RESULTS: 37 compounds were identified from the oil of rhizomes. 36 compounds were identified from the oil of leaves. The rhizomes and leaves volatile oil had 18 compounds in common. CONCLUSION: This study is the first one to report the volatile components of Pileostegia viburnoides var. glabrescens. It can provide a scientific basis for rational use of the rhizomes and leaves of Pileostegia viburnoides var. glabrescens.

[Basic rules and characteristics of acupoint application therapy based upon data mining].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the basic characteristics of effects of acupoint application therapy in order to guide clinical decision better. METHODS: A database on acupoint application therapy was established first by collection, sorting, screening, recording, collation, data extraction, and statistical analyses of the related literature published in recent 60 years, and using modern computer system. Then, its predominant indications and application rules in clinical practice were analyzed using data mining techniques. RESULTS: Outcomes of data mining showed that the acupoint application therapy was extensively utilized in the treatment of a variety of diseases or clinical conditions (142 in total) in different clinical departments, particularly in the internal medicine which contains 51 types of clinical conditions or diseases (accounting for 35.92%). Among them, the top 3 are asthma, cough, and abdominal pain, with the appearance frequency being 161, 79 and 45 times (= articles) in the domestic journals, respectively. The second one is the paediatric department, containing 30 kinds of diseases or clinical conditions (accounting for 21.13%). Among them, cough (106 articles), asthma (104 articles) and diarrhoea (82 articles) are frequently seen. The surgery department takes the third place, involving 27 disorders (accounting for 19.01%), with lumbago-leg pain being the most (31 articles). In the departments of ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology, 14 types of disorders (accounting for 9.86%) have been reported, with nasosinusitis being the most (56 papers). This therapy has also been used to treat 10 types of gynecopathy (7.04%) and 10 kinds of dermopathy (7.04%), with dysmenorrhea (37 articles) and shingles (6 articles) being the most. For acupoint application, complex prescriptions of Chinese herbal medicines in the forms of paste and cataplasm are frequently adopted, but with fewer application of enhancer of cutaneous penetration. Regarding the utilized acupoint, local points are often chosen. In the light of the collected papers, the highest effective rate is for dermopathy, followed by surgical problems, gynecopathy, paediatric conditions, and disorders of the internal medicine, ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology. CONCLUSION: Acupoint application therapy has been used for 142 kinds of disorders of different clinical departments, with the dominant indications being asthma, cough, abdominal pain, facial paralysis and constipation in the internal medicine, cough, asthma and diarrhoea in the paediatrics, lumbago-leg pain in the surgery, nasosinusitis in the otorhinolaryngology, and dysmenorrhea of gynecopathy.