[Quality evaluation of Huocao based on UPLC fingerprint and multi-component content determination].

Huocao(a traditional Chinese herbal medicine) moxibustion is a characteristic technology in Yi medicine suitable for cold-dampness diseases. Huocao, as the moxibustion material, is confusedly used in clinical practice and little is known about its quality control. In this study, UPLC method was used to establish the chemical fingerprint of non-volatile components in Huocao, and the contents of eight phenolic acids such as chlorogenic acid were determined. Multivariate statistical analysis was performed to obtain the indicator components of Huocao for quality evaluation, and thus a comprehensive evaluation system for the quality of Huocao was built. The UPLC fingerprints of 49 batches of Huocao were established, and there were 20 common peaks, of which eight phenolic acids including neochlorogenic acid and chlorogenic acid were identified. Except for three batches of Huocao, the similarity of the other 46 batches was higher than 0.89, suggesting that the established fingerprint method could be used for quality control of the medicinal herb. The correlation coefficient between entropy weight score of the eight phenolic acids and comprehensive fingerprint score in Huocao was 0.875(P<0.01), which indicated that the eight phenolic acids could be used as indicator components for the quality evaluation of Huocao. Furthermore, in multivariate statistical analysis on the common peaks of fingerprint and the contents of the eight phenolic acids, chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid A and isochlorogenic acid C were screened to be the indicator components. The results revealed that the proposed method achieved a simple and accurate quality control of Huocao based on UPLC fingerprint and multi-component content determination, which provided useful data for establishing the quality standard of Huocao.

[Main components from cultivated and wild Nardostachyos Radix et Rhizoma by LC-MS and GC-MS].

In this study, ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS) were combined with non-targeted metabonomic analysis based on multivariate statistics analysis, and the content of five indicative components in nardosinone was determined and compared by UPLC. The main chemical components of Nardostachyos Radix et Rhizoma with imitative wild cultivation and wild Nardostachyos Radix et Rhizoma were comprehensively analyzed. The results of multivariate statistical analysis based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS) and GC-MS were consistent. G1 and G2 of the imitative wild cultivation group and G8-G19 of the wild group were clustered into category 1, while G7 of the wild group and G3-G6 of the imitative wild cultivation group were clustered into category 2. After removing the outlier data of G1, G2, and G7, G3-G6 of the imitative wild cultivation group were clustered into one category, and G8-G19 of the wild group were clustered into the other category. Twenty-six chemical components were identified according to the positive and negative ion modes detected by LC-MS. The content of five indicative components(VIP>1.5) was determined using UPLC, revealing that chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid C, linarin, nardosinone, and total content in the imitative wild cultivation group were 1.85, 1.52, 1.26, 0.90, 2.93, and 2.56 times those in the wild group, respectively. OPLS-DA based on GC-MS obtained 10 diffe-rential peaks. Among them, the relative content of α-humulene and aristolene in the imitative wild cultivation group were extremely significantly(P<0.01) and significantly(P<0.05) higher than that in the wild group, while the relative content of 7 components such as 5,6-epoxy-3-hydroxy-7-megastigmen-9-one, γ-eudesmol, and juniper camphor and 12-isopropyl-1,5,9-trimethyl-4,8,13-cyclotetrade-catriene-1,3-diol was extremely significantly(P<0.01) and significantly(P<0.05) lower than that in the wild group, respectively. Therefore, the main chemical components of the imitative wild cultivation group and wild group were basically the same. However, the content of non-volatile components in the imitative wild cultivation group was higher than that in the wild group, and the content of some volatile components was opposite. This study provides scientific data for the comprehensive evaluation of the quality of Nardostachyos Radix et Rhizoma with imitative wild cultivation and wild Nardostachyos Radix et Rhizoma.

Treatment duration of wrist-ankle acupuncture for relieving post-thyroidectomy pain: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Treatment duration of wrist-ankle acupuncture (WAA) is uncertain for post-thyroidectomy pain relief. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effect of different WAA treatment duration on post-operative pain relief and other discomforts associated with thyroidectomy. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTION: This randomized controlled trial was conducted at a single research site in Guangzhou, China. A total of 132 patients receiving thyroidectomy were randomly divided into the control group (sham WAA, 30 min) and three intervention groups (group 1: WAA, 30 min; group 2: WAA, 45 min; group 3: WAA, 60 min), with group allocation ratio of 1:1:1:1. Acupuncture was administered within 1 hour of leaving the operating room. OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Primary outcome was patients' pain at the surgical site assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) at the moment after acupuncture treatment (post-intervention). Secondary outcomes included the patients' pain VAS scores at 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after the thyroidectomy, the 40-item Quality of Recovery (QoR-40) score, the grade of post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and the use of additional analgesic therapy. RESULTS: The adjusted mean difference (AMD) in VAS scores from baseline to post-intervention in group 1 was -0.89 (95% confidence interval [CI], -1.02 to -0.76). The decrease in VAS score at post-intervention was statistically significant in group 1 compared to the control group (AMD, -0.43; 95% CI, -0.58 to -0.28; P < 0.001), and in groups 2 and 3 compared to group 1 (group 2 vs group 1: AMD, -0.65; 95% CI, -0.81 to -0.48; P < 0.001; group 3 vs group 1: AMD, -0.66; 95% CI, -0.86 to -0.47; P < 0.001). The VAS scores in the four groups converged beyond 24 h after the operation. Fewer patients in group 2 and group 3 experienced PONV in the first 24 h after operation. No statistical differences were measured in QoR-40 score and the number of patients with additional analgesic therapy. CONCLUSION: Compared with the 30 min intervention, WAA treatment with longer needle retention time (45 or 60 min) had an advantage in pain relief within 6 h after surgery. WAA's analgesic effect lasted for 6-12 h post-operatively. Please cite this article as: Han XR, Yue W, Chen HC, He W, Luo JH, Chen SX, Liu N, Yang M. Treatment duration of wrist-ankle acupuncture for relieving post-thyroidectomy pain: A randomized controlled trial. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(2): 168-175.

[UPLC fingerprint and indicator components of Boenninghausenia albiflora var. albiflora].

The fingerprint of Boenninghausenia albiflora var. albiflora was established by ultra performance liquid chromatography(UPLC), and the content of 12 active components including chlorogenic acid was determined. Multivariate statistical analysis was used to explore the indicator components of B. albiflora var. albiflora and a comprehensive evaluation system was created for the quality of B. albiflora var. albiflora. In this study, 33 batches of B. albiflora var. albiflora with different sources were collected and studied, and the UPLC fingerprint of B. albiflora var. albiflora was developed. There were 37 common peaks, of which 12 components were identified, and the content of these 12 components was measured. In combination of the common peaks and the content of chemical components, multivariate statistical analysis was performed, and the results showed that 6 components [daphnoretin, isoimperatorin, astragalin, imperatorin, neochlorogenic acid, and isoquercitrin(weight coefficient>0.1)] were selected as chemical markers for the quality of B. albiflora var. albiflora. Technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution(TOPSIS) analysis and chemometrics revealed that the quality of S32, S28 and S29 were superior, while that of S12, S7 and S16 were inferior. The quality evaluation method of B. albiflora var. albiflora constructed in this study was accurate and reliable, with simpleness and easiness to operate. It is suggested that the 6 above-mentioned active components could be used as indicator components for quality control of B. albiflora var. al-biflora. The samples were harvested during the flowering and fruiting period, which is from the beginning of July to the end of August.

Branched-chain amino acid supplementation impairs insulin sensitivity and promotes lipogenesis during exercise in diet-induced obese mice.

OBJECTIVE: Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are popular dietary supplements for exercise. However, increased BCAA levels positively correlate with obesity and diabetes. The metabolic impact of BCAA supplementation on insulin sensitivity during exercise is less understood. METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice were fed for 12 weeks with a high-fat diet, normal chow diet, or BCAA-restricted high-fat diet. They were subjected to running exercise with or without BCAA treatment for another 12 weeks. RESULTS: Exercise reduced body weight, improved insulin sensitivity, lowered BCAAs in plasma, and inhibited the upregulation of BCAAs and metabolites caused by BCAA supplementation in the subcutaneous white adipose tissue (sWAT) of obese mice. BCAA supplementation reversed insulin sensitivity ameliorated by exercise. The phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Ser473 and Ser474) was decreased by BCAAs in the sWAT of obese mice. However, BCAA supplementation had no such effects in lean mice. BCAAs also increased the expression of fatty acid synthase and other lipogenesis genes in the sWAT of exercised obese mice. BCAA restriction had no effect on body weight and insulin sensitivity in obese mice. CONCLUSIONS: BCAA supplementation impaired the beneficial effect of exercise on glycolipid metabolism in obese but not lean mice. Caution should be taken regarding the use of BCAAs for individuals with obesity who exercise.

[Kinetics and variation of volatile components of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma during hot-air drying].

The present study explored the kinetics and variation of volatile components of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma during the hot-air drying process to obtain the optimal process parameters under multiple goals such as drying efficiency and drying quality. The dry basis moisture content and drying rate curves along with the change of drying time of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma were investigated at five levels of drying air temperatures(30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 ℃). The relationship between moisture ratio and time in the drying process of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma was fitted and verified by Midilli model, Page model, Overhults model, Modified Page model, Logaritmic model, Two terms Exponential model, and Newton model. Meanwhile, the effective diffusion coefficient of moisture(D_(eff)) and activation energy(E_a) in Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma were calculated under different drying air temperatures. GC-MS was used to determine the volatile components and content changes of the fresh Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and dried products at different temperatures. The dry basis moisture content and drying rate of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma were closely related to the temperature of the drying medium, and the moisture of the Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma decreased with the prolonged drying time. As revealed by the drying rate curve, the drying rate increased with the increase in hot air temperature, and the migration of moisture was accelerated. The comparison of the correlation coefficient(R~2), chi-square(χ~2), and root mean standard error(RMSE) of each model indicated that the parameter average of the Midilli model had the highest degree of fit, with R~2=0.999 2, χ~2=8.78×10~(-5), and RMSE=8.20×10~(-3). Besides, the D_(eff) at 30-70 ℃ was in the range of 1.04×10~(-9)-6.28×10~(-9) m~2·s~(-1), and E_a was 37.47 kJ·mol~(-1). The volatile components of fresh Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and dried products at different temperatures were determined by GC-MS, and 18, 18, 18, 17, 17, and 18 compounds were identified respectively, which accounted for more than 84.76% of the volatile components. In conclusion, the hot-air drying of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma can be model-fitted and verified and the variation law of the moisture and volatile components of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma with temperature is obtained. This study is expected to provide new ideas for exploring the drying characteristics and quality of aromatic Chinese medicine.

Dietary betaine prevents obesity through gut microbiota-drived microRNA-378a family.

Betaine is a natural compound present in commonly consumed foods and may have a potential role in the regulation of glucose and lipids metabolism. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of its action remains largely unknown. Here, we show that supplementation with betaine contributes to improved high-fat diet (HFD)-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis and increases anti-obesity strains such as Akkermansia muciniphila, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium. In mice lacking gut microbiota, the functional role of betaine in preventing HFD-induced obesity, metabolic syndrome, and inactivation of brown adipose tissues are significantly reduced. Akkermansia muciniphila is an important regulator of betaine in improving microbiome ecology and increasing strains that produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Increasing two main members of SCFAs including acetate and butyrate can significantly regulate the levels of DNA methylation at host miR-378a promoter, thus preventing the development of obesity and glucose intolerance. However, these beneficial effects are partially abolished by Yin yang (YY1), a common target gene of the miR-378a family. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that betaine can improve obesity and associated MS via the gut microbiota-derived miR-378a/YY1 regulatory axis, and reveal a novel mechanism by which gut microbiota improve host health.

Application of the new at-column dilution (ACD) modulator for the two-dimensional RP×HILIC analysis of Buddleja davidii.

The focus of this study was the analysis of the complex chemical composition from different parts of Buddleja davidii, whose species are commonly known as ornamental plants and herbal medicines in many countries. As an herbal medicine, it has been utilized for stroke treatments, headache, wound healing, neurological disorder, etc. However, the understanding of its chemical matrices is still insufficient. Therefore, an online two-dimensional reversed phase liquid chromatography x hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (RPLCxHILIC) system coupled with mass spectrometry was applied for further detailed investigation of the chemical constituents in Buddleja dividii. In this two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC) method, a new at-column dilution (ACD) modulator was introduced in the 2D-LC system to solve the incompatibility problem of the mobile phase between two dimensions, which resulted in a 2D-LC analysis with high orthogonality. For the root extract, as one of the analyzed samples, the optimization of the 1D and 2D gradients was carried out carefully. With this new modulator, much better peak separation and better peak shape were achieved compared to two-dimensional liquid chromatography system using a traditional standard (TS) modulator. With a similar approach, the other four parts of Buddleja davidii were well separated. Comparing the different analyzed parts, flowers and leaves showed the most complex profiles. MS and MS/MS data were obtained successfully, which demonstrated the potential of the proposed RPLCxHILIC-MS system in the constituents' analysis of herbal medicine. However, due to the lack of reported reference information, 24 compounds could be tentatively identified.

Pharmacological basis and new insights of resveratrol action in the cardiovascular system.

Resveratrol (trans-3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene) belongs to the family of natural phytoalexins. Resveratrol first came to our attention in 1992, following reports of the cardioprotective effects of red wine. Thereafter, resveratrol was shown to exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and angio-regulatory effects against atherosclerosis, ischaemia, and cardiomyopathy. This article critically reviews the current findings on the molecular basis of resveratrol-mediated cardiovascular benefits, summarizing the broad effects of resveratrol on longevity regulation, energy metabolism, stress resistance, exercise mimetics, circadian clock, and microbiota composition. In addition, this article also provides an update, both preclinically and clinically, on resveratrol-induced cardiovascular protection and discusses the adverse and inconsistent effects of resveratrol reported in both preclinical and clinical studies. Although resveratrol has been claimed as a master anti-aging agent against several age-associated diseases, further detailed mechanistic investigation is still required to thoroughly unravel the therapeutic value of resveratrol against cardiovascular diseases at different stages of disease development. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed section on The Pharmacology of Nutraceuticals. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v177.6/issuetoc.

The complete chloroplast genome of Morus alba (Moraceae: Morus), the herbal medicine species in China.

Morus alba is commonly called white mulberry, which is native to China and is the tender branch of mulberry as a herbal medicine in China. In this study, we presented and annotated the complete chloroplast genome of M. alba. The whole chloroplast genome is 159,050 bp in size, exhibiting a large single copy region (87,762 bp), a small single-copy region (19,876 bp) and a pair of inverted-repeat regions (25,706 bp). The overall nucleotide composition is: 31.4% of A, 32.4% of T, 18.4% C, and 17.8% G, with a total A + T content of the chloroplast genome 63.8% and G + C content of 36.2%. The whole chloroplast genome of M. alba contains 126 genes, including 82 protein-coding genes (PCG), 36 transfer RNA (tRNAs), and 8 ribosome RNA (rRNAs). Phylogenetic Maximum-Likelihood (ML) tree based on 15 species chloroplast genomes that Morus alba is closely related to Morus cathayana. This complete chloroplast genomes can be used for medicinal value and clinical drug development that also can have a great significance for future to continue research.

Phylogenetic analysis of the chloroplast genome for Magnolia liliflora (Magnoliaceae), an endemic species to China.

Magnolia liliflora is commonly called lily magnolia and its buds are used as the herbal medicine; it is an endemic species to China. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of M. liliflora has been presented and annotated. The whole chloroplast (cp) genome is 158,177 bp in size, which exhibits a large single-copy region (LSC) of 88,134 bp, a small single-copy region (SSC) of 19,876 bp and two inverted-repeat regions (IRs) 25,706 bp in each one. The overall nucleotide composition is: 30.0% of A, 30.9% of T, 19.9% C, and 19.2% G, with the GC content of the chloroplast genome 39.1%. The cp genome of M. liliflora contains 129 genes, which includes 86 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 35 transfer RNA (tRNAs), and 8 ribosome RNA (rRNAs). The maximum-likelihood (ML) tree result showed that M. liliflora is closely related to two Magnoliaceae family species of M. dealbata and M. glaucifolia in phylogenetic relationship. This complete chloroplast genomes will be useful for medicinal study in the future.

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of Lonicera japonica (Caprifoliaceae), a long history herb species plant from China.

Lonicera japonica is a common ornamental and medicinal plant in North America and East Asia. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of L. japonica was presented and annotated. The chloroplast genome of L. japonica is 155,078 bp in length, which has a large single-copy (LSC) region of 88,859 bp, a small single-copy region (SSC) of 18,647 bp, and a pair of inverted-repeat (IRs) regions of 23,786 bp in each one. The overall nucleotide composition is 30.2% of A, 31.2% of T, 19.6% C, and 19.0% G, with a total A + T content of the chloroplast genome 61.4% and G + C content of 38.6%. The chloroplast genome of L. japonica contains 130 genes, including 83 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 39 transfer RNA (tRNAs), and 8 ribosome RNA (rRNAs). Phylogenetic relationship used the maximum-likelihood (ML) method that L. japonica is closely related to Lonicera macranthoides. This study can use for medicinal valuable and clinical drug development for the future.

Prognostic Factors for Survival After Transarterial Chemoembolization Combined with Sorafenib in the Treatment of BCLC Stage B and C Hepatocellular Carcinomas.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze prognostic factors for survival after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with sorafenib for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages B and C. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical data of 198 patients with BCLC stage B and C HCCs who underwent TACE combined with sorafenib between June 2012 and January 2017 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Survival curves were detected using log-rank test. Univariate analysis was performed using log-rank test with respect to 11 prognostic factors potentially affecting survival. All statistically significant prognostic factors identified by univariate analysis were entered into a Cox proportion hazards regression model to identify independent predictors of survival. P values were two-sided and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: By the end of this study, the median follow-up duration was 43.6 months. The median overall survival (OS) of the patients was 21.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 16.94-25.05), and the 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year OS rates were 72%, 43%, 28%, and 4%, respectively. Tumor size (χ2 = 33.607, P < 0.0001), tumor number (χ2 = 4.084, P = 0.043), Child-Pugh class (χ2 = 33.187, P < 0.0001), BCLC stage (χ2 = 50.224, P < 0.0001), portal vein tumor thrombus (χ2 = 88.905, P < 0.0001), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (χ2 = 98.007, P < 0.0001), extrahepatic spread (χ2 = 34.980, P < 0.0001), TACE times (χ2 = 8.350, P = 0.015), and sorafenib treatment strategy (χ2 = 81.593, P < 0.0001) were found to be significantly associated with OS by univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis showed that BCLC stage (95% CI: 1.133-3.982, P = 0.019), extrahepatic spread (95% CI: 1.136-2.774, P = 0.012), and sorafenib treatment duration (95% CI: 0.352-0.574, P = 0.000) were independent prognostic factors associated with OS. There were no serious treatment-related adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that extrahepatic spread was a risk factor, and sorafenib treatment and superior BCLC stage were protective factors. Therefore, the study indicated that TACE combined with sorafenib was an effective and safe treatment for patients with BCLC stage B HCC without extrahepatic spread.

Morning breathing exercises prolong lifespan by improving hyperventilation in people living with respiratory cancer.

Disturbance of oxygen-carbon dioxide homeostasis has an impact on cancer. Little is known about the effect of breath training on cancer patients. Here we report our 10-year experience with morning breathing exercises (MBE) in peer-support programs for cancer survivors.We performed a cohort study to investigate long-term surviving patients with lung cancer (LC) and nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) who practiced MBE on a daily basis. End-tidal breath holding time (ETBHT) after MBE was measured to reflect improvement in alveolar O2 pressure and alveolar CO2 pressure capacity.Patients (female, 57) with a diagnosis of LC (90 patients) and NPC (32 patients) were included. Seventy-six of them were MBE trainees. Average survival years were higher in MBE trainees (9.8 ±â€Š9.5) than nontrainees (3.3 ±â€Š2.8). The 5-year survival rate was 56.6% for MBE trainees and 19.6% for nontrainees (RR = 5.371, 95% CI = 2.271-12.636, P < 0.001). Survival probability of the trainees further increased 17.9-fold for the 10-year survival rate. Compared with the nontrainees, the MBE trainees shows no significant differences in ETBHT (baseline, P = 0.795; 1-2 years, P = 0.301; 3-4 years, P = 0.059) at baseline and within the first 4 years. From the 5th year onwards, significant improvements were observed in ETBHT, aCO2%, PaCO2, and PaO2 (P = 0.028). In total, 18 trainees (40.9%) and 20 nontrainees (74.1%) developed new metastasis (RR = 0.315, 95% CI = 0.108-0.919, P = 0.031).MBE might benefit for the long-term survival in patients with LC and NPC due to improvement in hyperventilation.

Involvement of endoplasmic reticulum stress in capsaicin-induced apoptosis of human pancreatic cancer cells.

Capsaicin, main pungent ingredient of hot chilli peppers, has been shown to have anticarcinogenic effect on various cancer cells through multiple mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the apoptotic effect of capsaicin on human pancreatic cancer cells in both in vitro and in vivo systems, as well as the possible mechanisms involved. In vitro, treatment of both the pancreatic cancer cells (PANC-1 and SW1990) with capsaicin resulted in cells growth inhibition, G0/G1 phase arrest, and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Knockdown of growth arrest- and DNA damage-inducible gene 153 (GADD153), a marker of the endoplasmic-reticulum-stress- (ERS-) mediated apoptosis pathway, by specific siRNA attenuated capsaicin-induced apoptosis both in PANC-1 and SW1990 cells. Moreover, in vivo studies capsaicin effectively inhibited the growth and metabolism of pancreatic cancer and prolonged the survival time of pancreatic cancer xenograft tumor-induced mice. Furthermore, capsaicin increased the expression of some key ERS markers, including glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), phosphoprotein kinase-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (phosphoPERK), and phosphoeukaryotic initiation factor-2 α (phospho-eIF2 α ), activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) and GADD153 in tumor tissues. In conclusion, we for the first time provide important evidence to support the involvement of ERS in the induction of apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells by capsaicin.

Antiangiogenic effects of oxymatrine on pancreatic cancer by inhibition of the NF-κB-mediated VEGF signaling pathway.

Oxymatrine, the main alkaloid component in the traditional Chinese herbal medicine Sophora japonica (Sophora flavescens Ait), has been reported to have antitumor properties. However, the mechanisms of action in human pancreatic cancer are not well established to date. In the present study, we investigated the antiangiogenic effects of oxymatrine on human pancreatic cancer as well as the possible mechanisms involved. The results of the cell viability assay showed that treatment of PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells with oxymatrine resulted in cell growth inhibition in a dose- and time-dependent manner. To investigate the possible mechanisms involved in these events, we performed western blotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. The results revealed that oxymatrine decreased the expression of angiogenesis-associated factors, including nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Finally, the antiproliferative and antiangiogenic effects of oxymatrine on human pancreatic cancer were further confirmed in pancreatic cancer xenograft tumors in nude mice. In conclusion, our studies for the first time suggest that oxymatrine has potential antitumor effects on pancreatic cancer via suppression of angiogenesis, probably through regulation of the expression of the NF-κB-mediated VEGF signaling pathway.

Emodin induces Panc-1 cell apoptosis via declining the mitochondrial membrane potential.

In this study, we investigated the apoptotic effect of emodin on human pancreatic cancer cell line Panc-1 in vitro and in vivo as well as the possible mechanisms involved. In vitro, human pancreatic cancer cell line Panc-1 was exposed to varying concentrations of emodin (0, 10, 20, 40 or 80 µmol/l). Then the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was analyzed by JC-1 staining, cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM) and cell proliferation was analyzed by MTT. In vivo, nude mice orthotopically implanted were randomly divided into five groups to receive treatments by different doses of emodin: control group (normal saline 0.2 ml), E10 group (emodin 10 mg/kg), E20 group (emodin 20 mg/kg), E40 group (emodin 40 mg/kg) and E80 group (emodin 80 mg/kg). Each mouse was treated 5 times by intraperitoneal injection of emodin every 3 days. During the treatment, the feeding stuff was recorded. One week after the last treatment, we recorded the body weight and the maximum diameter of tumor in each group before the mice were sacrificed. Then the cell apoptosis of the tumor was tested by TUNEL assay. The results in vitro showed that the MMP of the cells declined and the apoptosis rate increased with the emodin concentration increasing and the cell proliferation of each group was inhibited in a dose- and time-dependent manner by emodin. The feeding stuff curve did not decline significantly in E40 group and the apoptosis rate of the tumor cells in this group was higher than the lower-dose groups. Taken together, our results demonstrate that emodin may induce the pancreatic cancer cell apoptosis via declining the MMP and a moderate dose of emodin improved the living state of the model mice.

[Emodin combined gemcitabine inhibited the growth of pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo and its mechanisms study].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of emodin combined gemcitabine on the growth of pancreatic cancer in vivo and in vitro as well as its mechanisms. METHODS: After human pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990 was treated with emodin (40 micromol/L), gemcitabine (20 micromol/L), and emodin combined gemcitabine, the cell proliferation was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells was detected using the flow cytometry (FCM). The protein expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 were detected using Western blot. SW1990 cells were injected subcutaneously into nude mice to establish pancreatic xenograft tumors. The mice were then treated by emodin, gemcitabine, and emodin combined gemcitabine, respectively. The changes of tumor volume were monitored. The positive expressions of Ki-67, Bax, and Bcl-2 in the xenograft tumors were detected using immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: Emodin combined with gemcitabine induced a higher percentage of growth inhibition and apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990 than that of gemcitabine or emodin alone (P < 0.05). The protein expression of Bax was up-regulated and that of Bcl-2 down-regulated in the emodin group and the emodin combined gemcitabine group when compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Emodin combined with gemcitabine could significantly inhibit the growth of pancreatic xenograft tumors, increase the positive expression of Bax in tumor tissues, obviously decrease the positive expressions of Ki-67 and Bcl-2 (P < 0.05). The optimal effects were obtained in the emodin combined gemcitabine group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Emodin could potentiate the inhibition of pancreatic cancer growth induced by gemcitabine both in vitro and in vivo, which might be achieved by up-regulating the expression of Bax and down-regulating the expression of Bcl-2.

[Suspension culture of protocorm-like bodies from the endangered medicinal plant Dendrobium huoshanenese].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of growth, and water-soluble polysaccharide and total alkaloid accumulation in protocom-like bodies (PLBs) of Dendrobium huoshanenese in liquid culture system. METHOD: PLBs were suspended in liquid medium and growth kinetics was analyzed. Water-soluble polysaccharide and total alkaloid content in PLBs were determined by colorimetry. RESULT: PLBs were induced from stem explants of D. huoshanenese regenerants cultured on MS medium supplemented with NAA or NAA and KT at different concentrations. Basal MS medium was suitable for propagation of PLBs. When PLBs were suspended in liquid medium, mumax was 0.044.d-1, t(d) was 15.8 d and the optimum growth time was 4 weeks. Water-soluble polysaccharide and total alkaloid contents in PLBs were 3.75% and 0.0261%, respectively. CONCLUSION: PLBs in liquid culture system show a potential for rapid growth and high metabolite synthesis, which provides possibility for exploiting resources of D. huoshanenese by large scale culture of PLBs.