Neuroprotective and antioxidant lanostanoid triterpenes from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma atrum.

Five new lanostanoid triterpenes were isolated from the ethanol extract of the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma atrum. The structures of the isolated compounds were established based on 1D and 2D ((1)H-(1)H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) NMR spectroscopy, in addition to high resolution mass spectrometry. The isolated compounds were tested in vitro for neuroprotective activities against 6-OHDA-induced cell death in SH-SY5Y cells and radical scavenging activities. As a result, compounds 2 and 5 exhibited potent neuroprotective activity against 6-OHDA-induced cell death in SH-SY5Y cells with the lowest IC50 value (0.5 µM) while compounds 1, 3 and 4 possessed significant neuroprotective activity with IC50 value less than 10 µM. Additionally, all tested compounds 1-6 showed the comparable free radical scavenging activities with the standard drug trolox in both ABTS (+) and DPPH experiment.

Xuebijing attenuates hypotension through the upregulation of angiotensin II type 1 receptor-associated protein 1 in rats suffering from heat stroke.

In our previous study, we demonstrated that Xuebijing (XBJ), a traditional Chinese medicine, attenuates hypotension in rats suffering from heatstroke (HS). However, the underlying mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. Thus, the current study was carried out to investigate the mechanisms underlying the effects of XBJ on hypotension n rats suffering from HS. For this purpose, 72 anesthetized rats were randomized into 3 groups and intravenously injected twice daily for 3 days with XBJ (4 ml/kg body weight, XBJ group) or phosphate­buffered saline (PBS) (HS and sham-operated groups). Models of HS were established in the HS and XBJ groups by placing the rats in a simulated climate chamber with a temperature of 40˚C and a humidity of 60%. Rectal temperature, arterial pressure and heart rate were monitored and recorded. Angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ) levels were increased during HS (shown by ELISA), and XBJ had no apparent effect on Ang Ⅱ levels. The levels of Ang Ⅱ type 1 (AT1) receptor surface expression and AT1 receptor-associated protein 1 (Arap1) were decreased during HS; however, these effects were attenuated by pre-treatment with XBJ (shown by RT-qPCR and western blot analysis). For in vitro experiments, rat macrophages pre-treated with XBJ were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Pre-treatment with XBJ induced a marked inhibitory effect on the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the LPS-stimulated macrophages. Furthermore, XBJ inhibited the activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) induced by LPS in the macrophages. Taken together, our data demonstrate that XBJ promotes Arap1 expression by inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which may be the molecular mechanisms through which XBJ alleviates blood pressure reduction in rats suffering from HS.

Curative effect of Xuebijing injection on severe pulmonary contusion.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the curative effects of Xuebijing (XBJ) injection, a Chinese patent medicine, on severe pulmonary contusion (PC). METHODS: Sixty-three patients with PC were randomized to conventional therapy plus XBJ injection (n = 33) or conventional therapy alone (n = 30). Between groups differences in corticosteroid treatment, immune regulation therapy, hemofiltration, infusion volume, transfusion volume and antibiotic period were measured, as were intensive care unit (ICU)-free time, ventilation time, 28-day mortality rate and incidence of ventilation-associated pneumonia (VAP). Serum concentrations of procalcitonin (PCT), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10, white blood cell (WBC) counts and percentages of human leukocyte antigen DR/ CD14+ (HLA-DR/CD14+) peripheral blood mononuclear cells were compared. Markers of ventilation were determined by blood gas analysis and ventilator parameters. RESULTS: WBC counts and serum concentrations of PCT, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-10 were reduced significantly more quickly, and CD14+ percentage was increased significantly earlier, in the XBJ group than in the control group (P < 0.05 each).The level of ventilation and oxygenation index were ameliorated earlier in the XBJ than in the control group (P < 0.05). XBJ treatment significantly reduced ICU-free time, ventilation time and incidence of VAP (P < 0.05 each), but had no effect on 28-day mortality rate CONCLUSION: XBJ treatment can shorten ICU-free and ventilation times and reduce the incidence of VAP, improving outcomes in patients with severe PC. XBJ may act by regulating inflammation and immunity, alleviating systemic inflammatory response syndrome induced by trauma.