Rapid Screening and Characterization of Triterpene Saponins from the Root of Phytolacca acinosa Roxb by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Electrospray Ionization and Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry.

Triterpene saponins (TSs) are important bioactive constituents with structural diversity widely distributed in many plants. The root of Phytolacca acinosa Roxb (RPa) has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine. However, TSs as the main active ingredients in RPa have not been fully characterized. Here, we profiled TSs from RPa by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS). We tentatively identified 29 TSs, including 13 that had not been reported previously from this plant. This study indicates that HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS is an effective and rapid method for the characterization of complicated TSs in herbal extracts.

Clinical effects of different anesthesia methods in lateral episiotomy.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical effects of different anesthesia methods in lateral episiotomy. Providing the guidance of choosing the appropriate anesthesia method in clinical operation. METHODS: A total of 300 primiparas with vaginal delivery were enrolled into this study. These primiparas were divided into three groups (n=100, each), according to the different methods of anesthesia: group A (pudendal nerve block anesthesia + stepwise dissection and incisional local anesthesia), group B (bilateral pudendal nerve block anesthesia), and group C (pudendal nerve block anesthesia + local infiltration anesthesia). The pain score of these primiparas at the time of perineal dissection and suturing, as well as suturing time and bleeding volume, were observed and compared among these three groups. RESULTS: In respect of pain scores at the time of suturing in lateral episiotomy, maternal pain score was significantly lower in group A than in groups B and C; and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). In respect of the time required for suturing in lateral episiotomy, suturing time was shorter in group A than in groups B and C; and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). In respect of the bleeding volume in lateral episiotomy, maternal bleeding volume was lesser in group A than in groups B and C; and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Among these three commonly used methods of anesthesia in lateral episiotomy, the pudendal nerve block anesthesia + stepwise dissection and incisional local anesthesia method used in group A had the best analgesic effect, the shortest suturing time, and the lowest wound blood loss. KEY WORDS: Lateral episiotomy, Pudendal nerve block anesthesia, Local anesthesia, Pain score.

Cryptotanshinone possesses therapeutic effects on ischaemic stroke through regulating STAT5 in a rat model.

CONTEXT: Cryptotanshinone (CT), a lipophilic compound extracted from roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Lamiaceae) (Danshen), has multiple properties in diseases, such as pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer, and osteoarthritis. Our previous findings suggest that CT plays a protective role in cerebral stroke. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying CT protection in ischaemic stroke remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study examines the effect of CT on ischaemic stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat (Sprague-Dawley rats, 200 ± 20 g, n = 5) model with a sham operation group was treated as negative control. MCAO rats were treated with 15 mg/kg CT using intragastric administration. Moreover, TGF-ß (5 ng/mL) was used to treat MCAO rats as a positive control group. RESULTS: The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of CT on CD4+ cell damage was 485.1 µg/mL, and median effective concentration (EC50) was 485.1 µg/mL. CT attenuates the infarct region in the MCAO model. The percentage of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Treg cells in the peripheral blood of the MCAO group was increased with CT treatment. The protein level of FOXP3 and the phosphorylation of STAT5 were recovered in the CD4+CD25+ Treg cells of model group after treated with CT. Importantly, the effects of CT treatment were blocked by treatment with the inhibitor STAT5-IN-1 in CD4+ T cells of the MCAO model. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our findings not only enhance the understanding of the mechanisms underlying CT treatment, but also indicate its potential value as a promising agent in the treatment of ischaemic stroke. Further study will be valuable to examine the effects of CT on patients with ischaemic stroke.

Salvianolic acid A ameliorates the integrity of blood-spinal cord barrier via miR-101/Cul3/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Salvianolic acid A (Sal A), a bioactive compound isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Danshen, is used for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, the protective function of Sal A on preserving the role of blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) after spinal cord injury (SCI) is unclear. The present study investigated the effects and mechanisms of Sal A (2.5, 5, 10mg/kg, i.p.) on BSCB permeability at different time-points after compressive SCI in rats. Compared to the SCI group, treatment with Sal A decreased the content of the Evans blue in the spinal cord tissue at 24h post-SCI. The expression levels of tight junction proteins and HO-1 were remarkably increased, and that of p-caveolin-1 protein was greatly decreased after SCI Sal A. The effect of Sal A on the expression level of ZO-1, occluding, and p-caveolin-1 after SCI was blocked by the HO-1 inhibitor, zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP). Also, Sal A inhibited the level of apoptosis-related proteins and improved the motor function until 21days after SCI. In addition, Sal A significantly increased the expression of microRNA-101 (miR-101) in the RBMECs under hypoxia. AntagomiR-101 markedly increased the RBMECs permeability and the expression of the Cul3 protein by targeting with 3'-UTR of its mRNA. The expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and HO-1 was significantly increased after agomiR-101 treatment. Therefore, Sal A could improve the recovery of neurological function after SCI, which could be correlated with the repair of BSCB integrity by the miR-101/Cul3/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.