Metabolic Insight Into the Neuroprotective Effect of Tao-He-Cheng-Qi (THCQ) Decoction on ICH Rats Using Untargeted Metabolomics.

Tao-He-Cheng-Qi decoction (THCQ) is an effective traditional Chinese medicine used to treat intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). This study was performed to investigate the possible neuroprotective effect of THCQ decoction on secondary brain damage in rats with intracerebral hemorrhage and to elucidate the potential mechanism based on a metabolomics approach. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into five groups: the sham group, collagenase-induced ICH model group, THCQ low-dose (THCQ-L)-treated group, THCQ moderate-dose (THCQ-M)-treated group and THCQ high-dose (THCQ-H)-treated group. Following 3 days of treatment, behavioral changes and histopathological lesions in the brain were estimated. Untargeted metabolomics analysis with multivariate statistics was performed by using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS). THCQ treatment at two dosages (5.64 and 11.27 g/kg·d) remarkably improved behavior (p < 0.05), brain water content (BMC) and hemorheology (p < 0.05) and improved brain nerve tissue pathology and inflammatory infiltration in ICH rats. Moreover, a metabolomic analysis demonstrated that the serum metabolic profiles of ICH patients were significantly different between the sham group and the ICH-induced model group. Twenty-seven biomarkers were identified that potentially predict the clinical benefits of THCQ decoction. Of these, 4 biomarkers were found to be THCQ-H group-specific, while others were shared between two clusters. These metabolites are mainly involved in amino acid metabolism and glutamate-mediated cell excitotoxicity, lipid metabolism-mediated oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction caused by energy metabolism disorders. In addition, a correlation analysis showed that the behavioral scores, brain water content and hemorheology were correlated with levels of serum metabolites derived from amino acid and lipid metabolism. In conclusion, the results indicate that THCQ decoction significantly attenuates ICH-induced secondary brain injury, which could be mediated by improving metabolic disorders in cerebral hemorrhage rats.

[Traditional medicinal knowledge in Lancang-Mekong River:a case study in Lancang Lahu autonomous county].

Lancang Lahu autonomous county, where the Lancang-Mekong River flows by, was selected as the case site to investigate the traditional medicinal knowledge(TMK). A comparison of TMK between Lancang county and other places in the Lancang-Mekong sub-region was conducted. Research on TMK has been seldom reported although there are abundant medicinal resources in this sub-region. The key informant interview and other methods have been adopted in the field surveys in the past six years. The investigation revealed that there was rich TMK and various herbal medicine resources in Lancang county. A total of 220 folk prescriptions have been collected, which were normally simple with easy processing methods and usages, and most raw materials were freshly used. As for medicinal plants, 121 species in 67 families have been documented. Other findings included that TMK in Lancang county was remained at the level of medication based on experience only. The processing methods of herbal medicines were simple and the bioactive ingredients were not clear. Without text and cultural support for self-teaching, coupled with conservative inheritance, it resulted in massive losses of TMK. The folk doctors have accumulated their factions based on self-study or ancestral experience. There was different treatment experience among folk doctors, but the safety and effectiveness should be paid attention to. The folk doctors used various herbal medicines, but there was a lack of standards or specifications for quality control. Given the problems existing in inheritance and development, conservation strategies were proposed in the present study.

Syringaresinol Protects against Type 1 Diabetic Cardiomyopathy by Alleviating Inflammation Responses, Cardiac Fibrosis, and Oxidative Stress.

SCOPE: Syringaresinol (SYR) is a phenolic compound, which could be found in various cereals and medicinal plants. It exerts both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant pharmacological properties. However, little is known about the effect of SYR on modulating diabetic cardiomyopathy. The present study aimed to investigate the pharmacodynamic effect of SYR on diabetic cardiomyopathy and the underlying molecular mechanism. METHODS AND RESULTS: In STZ-induced type 1 diabetic mice, orally administration with SYR in every other day for 8 weeks significantly improves cardiac dysfunction and preventes cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. The macrophage infiltration and oxidative stress biomarkers are also suppressed by SYR without affecting hyperglycemia and body weight. In neonatal cardiomyocytes, high glucose-induced cell apoptosis and fibrosis are potently decreased by SYR, and the inflammatory response and oxidant stress are also alleviated by SYR incubation. Mechanistically, SYR may exert protective effects by restoring suppression of antioxidant kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)/nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) system and abnormal activation of transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß)/mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (Smad) signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that SYR could be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy by inhibiting inflammation, fibrosis, and oxidative stress. The signaling pathway of Keap1/Nrf2 and TGF-ß/Smad could be used as therapeutic targets for diabetic complications.

Combination therapy of Chinese herbal medicine Fructus Ligustri Lucidi with high calcium diet on calcium imbalance induced by ovariectomy in mice.

CONTEXT: Our previous biological study demonstrated that Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL), the fruit of Ligustrum lucidum Ait. (Oleaceae), could be used to maintain calcium balance and prevent age-related osteoporosis since it effectively decreased calcium loss and increased calcium retention in rats. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the combination effect of the Chinese herbal medicine FLL and a high calcium diet on calcium imbalance induced by ovariectomy in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ovariectomized (OVX) mice were orally treated with vehicle, FLL extract (700 mg/kg), milk powder (5 g/mice) fortified with calcium (1.0% Ca) and the combination of FLL with milk powder. After 6 weeks of treatment, urine, serum, and tibia were preserved for biochemical analysis and kidneys were taken for gene expression analysis. RESULTS: The combination treatment of FLL and a high calcium diet significantly increased bone calcium content (6.80 ± 0.34 mg) by 22% (p < 0.05) and decreased urine calcium excretion (0.099 ± 0.009 mg/mg) by 62% (p < 0.01) as compared with those of the OVX group (bone Ca, 5.57 ± 0.31 mg; urine Ca/Cr, 0.261 ± 0.017 mg/mg). The mRNA expression of renal calcium-binding protein-9k (CaBP-9k) and calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) in combination treatment group was significantly up-regulated and down-regulated, respectively, as compared with those of the OVX group. CONCLUSION: The beneficial effects of this combination therapy on calcium balance of OVX mice were, at least partially, attributed to its regulation on mRNA expression of CaBP-9k and CaSR in kidney.