Danshao Shugan Granule therapy for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND: Danshao Shugan Granules (DSSG), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is given to protect the liver. The objective is to evaluate the mechanisms of the effects of DSSG on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS: 260 patients with NAFLD were randomly allocated to positive control drugs rosiglitazone (n = 30) and Silibinin (n = 50) as well as DSSG (n = 130) and combined DSSG/Silibinin (n = 50) groups, from which 90 patients in the DSSG group were further subdivided into 3 groups (n = 30, each) depending on the severity of symptoms. In total 33 Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to normal (n = 10) or 45% high-fat diet (n = 23) groups, from which 9 rats served as negative controls, 10 as model controls and 10 were treated with DSSG. RESULTS: DSSG medications had significantly highest effects on B-ultrasonography finding improvements, and reductions of total cholesterol, triglyceride, aspartate transaminase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase in NAFLD patients. Silibinin application only led to significantly highest alanine transaminase reductions and rosiglitazone medication to significantly highest fasting plasma glucose reductions. In a murine in vivo NAFLD model glucose (GLU), total cholesterol (TC) triacylglycerol (TG) as well as glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) serum concentrations were all significantly reduced (P < 0.001) and the expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF­κB) was significantly decreased in DSSG treated compared to untreated NAFLD animals (P < 0.001). In addition, the DSSG treated rats exhibited increased superoxide dismutase activity and reduced malondialdehyde values. CONCLUSIONS: DSSG was effective for treating NAFLD patients, which could be attributed to increased activity of superoxide dismutase, a decrease of malondialdehyde as well as reduced NF­κB activity in a NAFLD rat model.

Liuwei Dihuang Pill Attenuates Diabetic Nephropathy by Inhibiting Renal Fibrosis via TGF-ß/Smad2/3 Pathway.

Among all the complications of diabetes, diabetic nephropathy is a significant factor causing the end-stage renal disease associated with high death rates. Current treatment fails to produce an ideal outcome. Thus, searching for a new preventive drug is urgently needed. Liuwei Dihuang pill (LDP), a popular ancient Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, has been applied to treat DN-like syndromes according to TCM theory. Here, we had established an animal model with DN and LDP therapy was put into use to assess its therapeutic effect in vivo. Our data showed that oxidative stress and TGF-ß/Smad2/3 pathway-induced renal fibrosis could be observed in the DN animal model. However, the treatment of LDP impeded the generation of ROS and attenuated renal fibrosis-related proteins in damaged kidneys through interference in the TGF-ß/Smad3 pathway. Our results indicated that LDP attenuated oxidative stress, accompanied by preventing the production of renal fibrosis through inhibiting the TGF-ß/Smad2/3 pathway.

Efficacy and Safety of Ejiao (Asini Corii Colla) in Women With Blood Deficient Symptoms: A Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Equus asinus L [Equidae; Asini Corii Colla] (donkey-hide gelatin, Ejiao), a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used to nourish the blood, especially for women. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of Ejiao in blood-deficient patients. A total of 210 participants were recruited and randomly allocated into the placebo control group and Ejiao-treated group (6 g/day). The primary outcomes on the efficacy of Ejiao included traditional Chinese medicine symptom scores, blood indicators, and SF-36. The secondary outcomes were changes in fireness and safety evaluation. Results showed that Ejiao treatment for 8 weeks had significantly improved dizziness symptoms. Among the tested 24 blood biochemical parameters, the hematocrit and red blood cell numbers decreased in the placebo control group, but decreased significantly less in the Ejiao treatment group. The white blood cell and neutrophil counts increased in the Ejiao group but were within the normal range. In addition, the quality of life improved as the scores in SF-36 domains were significantly higher in the Ejiao group. At the same time, there was no significant change in the fire-heat symptoms score or other safety parameters. Considering all these, our study showed that Ejiao has a promising effect in women suffering from blood deficiency without obvious adverse effects.

Effects of Shaoyao-Gancao Decoction on Infarcted Cerebral Cortical Neurons: Suppression of the Inflammatory Response following Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion in a Rat Model.

The mechanisms by which Shaoyao-Gancao decoction (SGD) inhibits the production of inflammatory cytokines in serum and brain tissue after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (CI-RP) in rats were investigated. A right middle cerebral artery occlusion was used to induce CI-RP after which the rats were divided into model (n = 39), SGD (n = 28), clopidogrel (n = 25) and sham operated (n = 34) groups. The Bederson scale was used to evaluate changes in behavioral indices. The levels of IL-1ß, TNF-α, MCP-1, IL-10, RANTES, VEGF, and TGF-ß1 in the serum and infarcted brain tissues were measured. Nissl body and immunohistochemical staining methods were used to detect biochemical changes in neurons, microglial cells, and astrocytes. Serum levels of VEGF, TNF-α, MCP-1, IL-1ß, and IL-10 increased significantly 24 h after CI-RP. In brain tissue, levels of TNF-α and IL-1ß significantly increased 24 h after CI-RP, whereas levels of TGF-ß1 and MCP-1 were significantly higher 96 h after CI-RP (P < 0.05). SGD or clopidogrel after CI-RP reduced TNF-α and IL-1ß levels in brain tissue and serum levels of MCP-1, IL-1ß, and IL-10. SGD increased the number of NeuN-positive cells in infarcted brain tissue and reduced the number of IBA1-positive and GFAP-positive cells. The efficacy of SGD was significantly higher than that of clopidogrel.