Biochemical analysis reveals the systematic response of motion sickness mice to ginger (Zingiber officinale) extract's amelioration effect.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: As a common medicinal and edible plant, Zingiber officinale Roscoe (ginger) is often used for the prevention of motion sickness. However, the mechanism of its anti-motion sickness remains to be elucidated. AIM OF THE STUDY: To explore novel treatment for motion sickness with less side effects, anti-motion sickness effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) extract (GE) and the possible molecular mechanisms were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anti-motion sickness effect of ginger was evaluated through mice animal experimental models. Components of ginger that might contribute to the anti-motion sickness effect were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Subsequently, biochemical analysis integrated with serum metabolomic profiling were performed to reveal the systematic response of motion sickness mice to ginger extract's amelioration effect. RESULTS: Exhaustive swimming time of mice in the GE group reached 8.9 min, which was 52.2% longer than that in the model group. Motion sickness index scores and time taken traversing balance beam of mice in the GE group were decreased by 53.2% and 38.5%, respectively. LC-MS/MS analysis suggested that various active ingredients in GE, such as gingerol, ginger oil and terpenoids, might contribute to its appealing anti-motion sickness activity. Biochemical analysis revealed that GE can relieve motion sickness through reducing histamine and acetylcholine release in vestibular system, regulating fatty acid oxidation, sugar metabolism and bile acid metabolism in mice. CONCLUSION: Gavage of mice with GE can effectively relieve the symptoms of autonomic nervous system dysfunction, improve the balance and coordination ability and ameliorate the ability to complete complex work after rotation stimulation. GE has attractive potential for development and utilization as novel anti-motion sickness food or drugs.

Protective effect of coix seed seedling extract on 60 Co-γ radiation-induced oxidative stress in mice.

Exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) can cause oxidative damage to human body, leading to various diseases and even death. In this study, the potential radioprotective effect of coix seed seedling extract (CSS-E) was studied through a model of 60 Co-γ radiation-induced oxidative stress in mice. Overall radioprotective effect of CSS-E against radiation-induced damage was evaluated by biochemical analysis and histopathological analysis. The results showed that CSS-E could significantly reduce the IR-induced damage to the hematopoietic system. CSS-E-M (200 mg/kg BW) pretreatment could increase the activities of superoxide dismutase in serum, liver, and spleen increased by 31.68%, 45.10%, and 56.67%, respectively, and the glutathione peroxidase levels in serum, liver, and spleen of mice were improved by 19.17%, 41.97%, and 130.56%, respectively. Meanwhile, the glutathione levels of serum, liver, and spleen in CSS-E-M group were increased by 17.10%, 35.06%, and 40.71%, respectively. The contents of MDA in different tissues and serum could be reduced by CSS-E-M treatment to the normal level. Moreover, CSS-E could markedly reduce the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in radiation mice, among which CSS-E-M group showed maximum restoration with decreased AST and ALT levels by 20.13% and 32.76% as compared against IR group. In conclusion, these results indicated that CSS-E could be used as a potential natural radioprotectant against IR-induced damage.

Comparative analysis of the main medicinal substances and applications of Echium vulgare L. and Echium plantagineum L.: A review.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Echium vulgare L. and Echium plantagineum L. originated in the Mediterranean, and were later domesticated in Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania, where they were widely used to treat many diseases including cough, urinary tract infection, fever, inflammation and muscle strain. AIM OF THE STUDY: The purpose of this review is to provide scientific literature on the traditional uses, bioactive chemical components and pharmacological activities of two species of Echium, and to critically analyze the information provided, so as to understand the current work on these two species and explore the possible prospect of this plant in pharmaceutical research. METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to Prisma guidelines, and the related literatures searched on Google Academic, Science Direct, Baidu Scholars and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) up to June 2021 were reviewed. The key words used are: Echium, E.vulgare, E.plantagineum, plant components, chemical components, pharmacological activities, pharmaceutical products and applications. Thereafter all eligible studies are analyzed and summarized in this review. The selection of manuscripts is based on the following inclusion criteria: the article has years of research or publication, is published in English, Portuguese or Spanish and Chinese, and there are keywords in the title, abstract, keywords or full text of the article. For the selection of manuscripts, first, select articles according to titles, then summarize them, and finally, analyze the full text of the publication. Elimination criteria: 1. Duplicate reports; 2. There are research design defects and poor quality; 3. Incomplete data and unclear ending effect; 4. The statistical method is wrong and cannot be corrected. RESULTS: The pharmacological characteristics of E.vulgare and E.plantagineum can basically support their traditional use, but the medicinal substances contained in them are quite different in composition and content, and the development and application of corresponding products are also different. CONCLUSIONS: At present, there is little clinical data about drugs related to the two species, and more research is needed in the future, especially human experiments and clinical trials, to evaluate the cellular and molecular mechanisms based on pharmacological, biological activity and safety studies, and to provide more powerful scientific basis for their traditional medicinal properties. In addition, the further application and development of the medicinal products of E.vulgare and E.plantagineum still need to be precise and identified, so as to give full play to their medicinal potential.

Effects of parathyroid hormone and vitamin D supplementation on stroke among patients receiving peritoneal dialysis.

BACKGROUND: Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients have a high incidence of stroke and commonly have increased parathyroid hormone levels and vitamin D insufficiency. We seek to investigate the incidence of stroke and the role of parathyroid hormone and vitamin D supplementation in stroke risk among CAPD patients. METHODS: This study employed a retrospective design. We enrolled a Chinese cohort of 980 CAPD patients who were routinely followed in our department. The demographic and clinical data were recorded at the time of initial CAPD and during follow-up. The included patients were separated into non-stroke and stroke groups. The effects of parathyroid hormone and vitamin D supplementation on stroke in CAPD patients was evaluated. The primary endpoint is defined as the first occurrence of stroke, and composite endpoint events are defined as death or switch to hemodialysis during follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 757 eligible CAPD patients with a mean follow-up time of 54.7 (standard deviation, 33) months were included in the study. The median incidence of stroke among our CAPD patients was 18.9 (interquartile range, 15.7-22.1) per 1000 person-years. A significant nonlinear correlation between baseline iPTH and hazard of stroke (p-value of linear association = 0.2 and nonlinear association = 0.002) was observed in our univariate Cox regression analysis, and low baseline iPTH levels (≤150 pg/ml) were associated with an increased cumulative hazard of stroke. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated a significant interaction effect between age and iPTH after adjusting for other confounders. Vitamin D supplementation during follow-up was a predictive factor for stroke in our cohort. CONCLUSIONS: CAPD patients suffered a high risk of stroke, and lower iPTH levels were significantly correlated with an increased risk of stroke. Nevertheless, vitamin D supplementation may reduce the risk of stroke in these patients.

Hepatoprotective effects of Ganoderma lucidum peptides against D-galactosamine-induced liver injury in mice.

Ganoderma lucidum (GL), a traditional Chinese medicinal mushroom, has been widely used for the treatment of chronic hepatopathy of various etiologies. The hepatoprotective activity of peptides from Ganoderma lucidum (GLP) was evaluated against d-galactosamine (d-GalN)-induced hepatic injury in mice. GLP was administered via gavage daily for 2 weeks at doses of 60, 120 and 180 mg/kg, respectively. Control groups were given the same amount of physiological saline synchronously. Then the mice from d-GalN control and GLP-treated groups were treated with d-GalN (750 mg/kg) suspended in normal saline by intraperitoneal injection. d-GalN-induced hepatic damage was manifested by a significant increase in the activities of marker enzymes (AST, ALT) in serum and MDA level in liver (P<0.01), and by a significant decrease in activity of SOD and GSH level in liver (P<0.01). Pretreatment of mice with GLP reversed these altered parameters to normal values. The biochemical results were supplemented by histopathological examination of liver sections. The best hepatoprotective effects of GLP were observed after treatment with the dose of 180 mg/kg as it was evidenced from biochemical parameters and liver histopathological characters which were similar to those of normal control group. Results of this study revealed that GLP could afford a significant protection in the alleviation of d-GalN-induced hepatocellular injury.