Lipidomic Profiling of Ipsilateral Brain and Plasma after Celastrol Post-Treatment in Transient Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Mice Model.

Celastrol, a pentacyclic triterpene isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F., exhibits effectiveness in protection against multiple central nervous system (CNS) diseases such as cerebral ischemia, but its influence on lipidomics still remains unclear. Therefore, in the present study, the efficacy and potential mechanism of celastrol against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury were investigated based on lipidomics. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) followed by reperfusion was operated in mice to set up a cerebral I/R model. TTC staining and TUNEL staining were used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of celastrol. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS) was employed for lipidomics analysis in ipsilateral hemisphere and plasma. Celastrol remarkably reduced cerebral infarct volume and apoptosis positive cells in tMCAO mice. Furthermore, lipidomics analysis showed that 14 common differentially expressed lipids (DELs) were identified in brain and five common DELs were identified in plasma between the Sham, tMCAO and Celastrol-treated tMCAO groups. Through enrichment analysis, sphingolipid metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism were demonstrated to be significantly enriched in all the comparison groups. Among the DELs, celastrol could reverse cerebral I/R injury-induced alteration of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and sulfatide, which may be responsible for the neuroprotective effect of celastrol. Our findings suggested the neuroprotection of celastrol on cerebral I/R injury may be partially associated with its regulation of lipid metabolism.

Proteomics-based screening of the target proteins associated with antidepressant-like effect and mechanism of nimesulide.

Nimesulide is an inhibitor of COX-2 with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, few studies have explored the antidepressant mechanism of nimesulide. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of nimesulide on CUMS rats. iTRAQ technology was used to identify the differentially expressed protein in the hippocampus between CUMS and nimesulide-treated rats to identify the possible molecular mechanism of its effects. We found that nimesulide had positive effects on depressive-like behaviors and inflammatory factors in depressed rats. Using proteomics technologies, we screened 16 differentially expressed proteins in CUMS-exposed rats after nimesulide treatment, 5 of which were related to inflammation. Overall, these results show that nimesulide might mediate its antidepressant effect on depressed rats through the inhibition of oxidative stress inflammatory response.

The protective effect of caffeic acid on global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

Ischemic stroke is a major cause of death and disability all over the world. Ischemic stroke results from a temporary or permanent reduction of cerebral blood flow that leads to functional and structural damage in different brain regions. Despite decades of intense research, the beneficial treatment of stroke remains limited. In light of this, the search for effective means ameliorating cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) is one of the major problems of experimental medicine and biology. Recently, the 5-Lipoxygenase (5-LO, a key enzyme metabolizing arachidonic acid to produce leukotrienes) inhibitors have been showed to protect brain against ischemic damage in animal model of cerebral ischemia. Caffeic acid, an inhibitor of 5-LO, is a phenolic compound widely distributed in medicinal plants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of caffeic acid on global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. The study was carried out on 45 rats that were randomly divided into five groups: the sham group (n = 9), I/R non-treated group (n = 9), I/R-caffeic acid group (10 mg · kg(-1)) (n = 9), I/R-caffeic acid group (30 mg · kg(-1)) (n = 9) and I/R-caffeic acid group (50 mg · kg(-1)) (n = 9). Global cerebral ischemia was induced by bilateral carotid artery occlusion for 20 min followed by reperfusion. Spatial learning and memory was evaluated using Morris water maze. Histopathological changes of hippocampus neurons was observed using HE staining. Superoxide dismutase (SOD, the antioxidant enzyme) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA, an oxidative stress biomarker) contents were detected. NF-κBp65 expression was detected by the methods of immunohistochemistry. Caffeic acid markedly reduced the escape latency, relieved hippocampal neurons injury and increased neuron count compared with those of I/R non-treated rat. NF-κBp65 expression and MDA content decreased significantly, and SOD activities increased significantly in hippocampus. Compared with sham group, 5-LO expression increase significantly in I/R non-treated group rat, and caffeic acid markedly reduced 5-LO expression. The results of the study suggest that caffeic acid has a significant protective effect on global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. The neuroprotective effects is likely to be mediated through the inhibition of 5-LO.

Effect of Berberine on PPAR α /NO Activation in High Glucose- and Insulin-Induced Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy.

Rhizoma coptidis, the root of Coptis chinensis Franch, has been used in China as a folk medicine in the treatment of diabetes for thousands of years. Berberine, one of the active ingredients of Rhizoma coptidis, has been reported to improve symptoms of diabetes and to treat experimental cardiac hypertrophy, respectively. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential effect of berberine on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in diabetes and its possible influence on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor- α (PPAR α )/nitric oxide (NO) signaling pathway. The cardiomyocyte hypertrophy induced by high glucose (25.5 mmol/L) and insulin (0.1 µ mol/L) (HGI) was characterized in rat primary cardiomyocyte by measuring the cell surface area, protein content, and atrial natriuretic factor mRNA expression level. Protein and mRNA expression were measured by western blot and real-time RT-PCR, respectively. The enzymatic activity of NO synthase (NOS) was measured using a spectrophotometric assay, and NO concentration was measured using the Griess assay. HGI significantly induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and decreased the expression of PPAR α and endothelial NOS at the mRNA and protein levels, which occurred in parallel with declining NOS activity and NO concentration. The effect of HGI was inhibited by berberine (0.1 to 100 µ mol/L), fenofibrate (0.3 µ mol/L), or L-arginine (100 µ mol/L). MK886 (0.3 µ mol/L), a selective PPAR α antagonist, could abolish the effects of berberine and fenofibrate. N (G) -nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (100 µ mol/L), a NOS inhibitor, could block the effects of L-arginine, but only partially blocked the effects of berberine. These results suggest that berberine can blunt HGI-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in vitro, through the activation of the PPAR α /NO signaling pathway.

The pharmacokinetical study of plant alkaloid tetrandrine with a simple HPLC method in rabbits.

A simple HPLC method was developed to quantify rabbit plasma tetrandrine (Tet) with propranolol (Pro) as internal standard. Based on the established method Tet and Pro were eluted at 7.1 and 12.0 min, respectively. It was shown that the concentration-time data of Tet fit the classical two-compartment model, no matter the drug was administered intravenously or orally to rabbits. The values of AUC(0 → ∞), clearance (Cl(0 → ∞)), volume of distribution (Vd), and elimination half-life (t(1/2ß)) of Tet were 59861.149 ± 26962.196 µg/L⁎min, 0.503 ± 0.173 L/min/kg, 179 ± 76.185 L/kg, and 283.808 ± 162.937 min for intravenous injection of 5mg/kg, or 18986.217 ± 7462.308 µg/L⁎min, 0.805 ± 0.267 L/min/kg, 110.284 ± 94.176 L/kg, and 732.919 ± 847.32 min for gavage administration of 10mg/kg , respectively. The results indicate that Tet displays a limited absorption in intestinal tract, even though it has a favorable pharmacokinetic profile after oral or intravenous administration.

Berberine and total base from rhizoma coptis chinensis attenuate brain injury in an aluminum-induced rat model of neurodegenerative disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effects of the total base from rhizoma coptis chinensis (CTB) and berberine (Ber) on neurodegeneration induced by aluminum overload in rats. METHODS: The study took place in the Department of Pharmacology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China, between February 2005 and May 2007. Wistar rats were divided into control group, model group, Ber-treated group, CTB (55 mg/kg and 110 mg/kg)-treated group, and nimodipine-treated group (n=20). A rat brain damage model was established via intragastric administration of 400 mg/kg element aluminum once a day, 5 days a week for 12 weeks. The CTB, Ber, and nimodipine were intragastrically administered 4 hours after each aluminum administration for 12 weeks. The morphological changes of the neurons of the rat hippocampus and the changes of rat learning and memory functions were observed. The superoxide dismutase (SOD), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), acetylcholinesterase (AchE), and monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, as well as the MAO-B expression in the rat brain were examined. RESULTS: The CTB, Ber, and nimodipine significantly improved the learning and memory ability impairment and hippocampal neuronal death. The CTB, Ber, and nimodipine also significantly blunted the decrease of SOD and ChAT activities, and the increase of MDA content, AchE activities, and MAO-B expressions and activity in the aluminum-overload rats. CONCLUSION: The CTB and Ber have protective effects on neurodegeneration induced by aluminum overload. The CTB (110 mg/kg) has more powerful neuroprotection than Ber.

Protective effects and mechanism of total coptis alkaloids on a beta 25-35 induced learning and memory dysfunction in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of total coptis alkaloids (TCA) on beta -amyloid peptide (A beta 25-35) induced learning and memory dysfunction in rats, and to explore its mechanism. METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: the control group, the model group, the TCA low dose (60 mg/kg) group and the TCA high dose (120 mg/kg) group, 10 in each. A beta 25-35 (5microl, 2 microg/microl) was injected into bilateral hippocampi of each rat to induce learning and memory dysfunction. TCA were administered through intragavage for consecutive 15 days. Morris Water Maze test was used to assess the impairment of learning and memory; concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in cerebral cortex was determined by thiobarbituric acid reactive substance to indicate the level of lipid peroxidation in brain tissues; activity of manganese-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) in cerebral cortex was determined by xanthine-oxidase to indicate the activity of the enzyme; and NF- kappa B protein expression in cerebral cortex was measured by SP immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: (1) Morris Water Maze test showed that, during the 4 consecutive days of acquisition trials, the rats in the model group took longer latency and searching distance than those in the control group (P<0.01), which could be shortened by high dose TCA (P<0.05); during the spatial probe trial on the fifth day, the rats in the model group took shorter searching time and distance on the previous flat area than those in the control group (P<0.01), which could be prolonged after TCA treatment (for low dose group, P<0.05; for high dose group, P<0.01). (2) Analysis of cerebral cortical tissues showed that, compared with the control group, MDA level got significantly increased and Mn-SOD activity decreased in the model group (both P<0.01). After having been treated with TCA, the MDA level got significantly decreased (P<0.05 and P<0.01 respectively for low and high dose group), while relative increase of Mn-SOD activity only appeared in high dose group (P<0.05). (3) Immunohistochemistry analysis showed the protein expression of NF- kappa B got significantly increased after modeling, while high dose TCA can significantly inhibit it. CONCLUSION: TCA could improve A beta 25-35 induced dysfunction of learning and memory in rats, and its protective mechanism is associated with its actions in decreasing MDA level, increasing Mn-SOD activity and inhibiting the expression of NF-kappa B in cerebral cortex.

[Protective effects of total alkaloids from rhizoma Coptis chinensis on alcohol-induced gastric lesion in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of total alkaloids(TA) from rhizoma Coptis chinensis on alcohol-induced gastric lesion in rats and the possible mechanisms. METHOD: The experimental gastric damges were established by intragastric(ig) absolute ethanol, and possible protective effects of TA given orally previously were evaluated by following parameters: gastric damage indexes, gastric juice volume, acidity, and mucus quantity. The contents of NO, MDA, *OH, and SOD activity were also measured in gastric mucosa. RESULT: TA showed significantly inhibitive effects on gastric damages induced by ig ethanol in a dose dependent manner. The effects of TA (120 mg x kg(-1)) were stronger than that of both cimitidine(70 mg x kg(-1)) and berberine(100 mg x kg(-1)), the quantity of later was equal to TA as calculated with berberine. TA significantly suppressed secretion of gastric acid caused by ethanol without clear influences on gastric juice volume and mucus secretion. TA obviously blunted ethanol-induced elevation of MDA and *OH, as well as decrease of NO level and SOD activity from gastric mucosa. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that the TA is a potent protective agent against ethanol-induced gastric damages. The mechanism of actions may be related with inhibiting the secretion of gastric acid and blunting the increase of MDA and *OH, as well as the decrease of NO level and SOD activity from gastric mucus.

Effects of nimodipine and fructose-1,6-diphosphate on cerebral damage in carbon monoxide poisoning mice.

OBJECTIVE: To study the dose- and time-dependent protective effects and the synergistic effects of nimodipine (NMDP) and fructose-1,6-diphosphate (FDP) against cerebral damage induced by acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in mice. METHODS: Male mice were exposed to CO 170 mL/kg, i.p. After CO intraperitonealy exposure, mortality of mice, change in memory function estimated by passive avoidance test, the pathomorphologic observation of brain tissue slices, as well as changes of activities of monoamine oxidase (MAO)-B and Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase in cerebral tissue were studied. In dose-dependent protective effect study, NMDP (10.6, 5.3, 2.7 mg/kg) and FDP (2.6, 1.3, 0.67 g/kg) was injected ip, respectively 15 min after CO exposure. To study the time-effect relationship of drugs, NMDP (5.3 mg/kg) and FDP (1.3 g/kg) were administered ip respectively 15 minutes, 45 minutes and 120 minutes after CO exposure. The combination of NMDP (2.7 mg/kg) and FDP (0.67 g/kg) was administered ip15 minutes, 45 min and 120 minutes after CO exposure to study the synergism of the two drugs. RESULTS: Either NMDP (10.6, 5.3 mg/kg) or FDP (2.6, 1.3 g/kg) administered ip within 15 minutes after CO exposure significantly decreased the impairment of memory function and mortality rate induced by CO, inhibited the decrease of Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase activity, blunted the rising of MAO-B activity and prevented the delayed hippocampal neuronal death in poisoning mice. To our surprise, the combined use of NMDP (2.7 mg/kg) and FDP (0.67 g/kg) within 15 minutes after CO exposure had similar effects to that in NMDP (10.6, 5.3 mg/kg) and FDP (2.6, 1.3 g/kg). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the impairment of CO on brain can be attenuated if NMDP or FDP are administered sufficiently and quickly as soon as possible after CO exposure and there exists a synergism of FDP and NMDP against CO poisoning damage.