Modified Hongyu Decoction promotes wound healing by activating the VEGF/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Wound healing is a considerable problem for clinicians. Ever greater attention has been paid to the role of Chinese herbal monomers and compounds on wound healing. This study aims to elucidate the wound healing mechanism of Modified Hongyu Decoction (MHD) in vivo and in vitro. MHD wound healing activity in vivo was evaluated using an excision rat model. H and E staining, Masson's staining and immunofluorescence of wound tissue on days 7 and 14 were performed to evaluate the efficacy of MHD on wound healing. Subsequently, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used to evaluate wound healing characteristics in vitro. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and scratch assays were conducted to assess the effects of MHD on the proliferation and migration of HUVECs. The involvement of the VEGF/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway was assessed by western blotting. The rats in the MHD group displayed more neovascularization and collagen fibers. Western blotting of wound tissue showed that VEGF, PI3K, p-Akt and p-eNOS expression were significantly increased (p<0.05) in the MHD group. Cell Counting Kit-8 and scratch assays demonstrated that MHD promoted HUVECs proliferation and migration. MHD treatment significantly increased VEGF, PI3K, p-Akt and p-eNOS expression in HUVECs (p<0.05), which was inhibited by LY294002. Both in vivo and in vitro data indicated that MHD promotes wound healing by regulating the VEGF/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Leojaponic acids A and B, two new homologous terpenoids, isolated from Leonurus japonicus.

The present study aimed at isolation and purification of the bioactive terpenoids from the herb of Leonurus japonicus by chromatographic separations such as silica gel, sephadex LH-20 and C18 reversed phase silica gel, as well as preparative HPLC. As a result, leojaponic acids A (1, C17H24O4) and B (2, C18H26O4), two homologous terpenoids, together with (-)-loliolide (3), 1-(3-ethylphenyl) ethane-1, 2-diol (4) and dibutyl phthalate (5), were isolated from the EtOH extract of L. japonicus. All the chemical structures of the isolates were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR analyses. Compounds 1 and 2 were new terpenoids, and Compounds 3 and 4 were isolated and identified for the first time from this plant. In addition, the α-glucosidase and tyrosinase inhibitory activity of the new compounds were evaluated.

[Effects of granules for nourishing kidney and strengthening brain on main symptoms of kidney-yin deficiency and blood stasis syndrome and hemorrheological characteristics of brain atrophy].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influence of granules for nourishing kidney and strengthening brain (GNKSB) on main symptoms of kidney-yin deficiency and blood stasis syndrome and the hemorrheological characteristics of brain atrophy patients. METHODS: Ninety patients of brain atrophy with kidney-yin deficiency and blood stasis syndrome were randomly divided into two groups. Sixty cases in treatment group were treated with GNKSB, and the 30 cases in control group were treated with piracetam for 8 weeks. RESULTS: The effective rate of treatment group was 73.3%, with significant difference as compared with 46.6% of the control group (P<0.01). The scores of symptom-assessment of the two groups were also significantly different (P<0.01). The mini-mental state examination of treatment group was obviously improved, and was significantly different as compared with the control group (P<0.01). The scores of Hasegawa's dementia scale and activities of daily living were increased, but without significant difference as compared with the control group. The platelet aggregation rate was improved, with significant difference as compared with the control group (P<0.05). The whole blood viscosity was also improved obviously, but without significant difference as compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: GNKSB is effective for kidney-yin deficiency and blood stasis syndrome of brain atrophy patients and can improve their mental state and the hemorrheological indexes.