Active fraction combination from Liuwei Dihuang decoction improves adult hippocampal neurogenesis and neurogenic microenvironmentin cranially irradiated mice / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE Cranial radiotherapy is clinically used in the treatment of brain tumors;however, the conse?quent cognitive and emotional dysfunctions seriously impair the life quality of patients. LW-AFC, an active fraction combi?nation extracted from classical traditional Chinese medicine prescription Liuwei Dihuang decoction, can improve cogni?tive and emotional dysfunctions in many animal models;however, the protective effect of LW-AFC on cranial irradiation-induced cognitive and emotional dysfunctions has not been reported. Recent studies indicate that impairment of adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) and alterations of the neurogenic microenvironment in the hippocampus constitute crit?ical factors in cognitive and emotional dysfunctions following cranial irradiation. Here, our research further investigated the potential protective effects and mechanisms of LW-AFC on cranial irradiation-induced cognitive and emotional dys?functions in mice. METHODS LW-AFC (1.6 g·kg-1) was intragastrically administered to mice for 14 d before cranial irra?diation (7 Gyγ-ray). AHN was examined by quantifying the number of proliferative neural stem cells and immature neu?rons in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus. The contextual fear conditioning test, open field test, and tail suspension test were used to assess cognitive and emotional functions in mice. To detect the change of the neurogenic microenvi?ronment, colorimetry and multiplex bead analysis were performed to measure the level of oxidative stress, neurotrophic and growth factors, and inflammation in the hippocampus. RESULTS LW-AFC exerted beneficial effects on the contex?tual fear memory, anxiety behavior, and depression behavior in irradiated mice. Moreover, LW-AFC increased the num?ber of proliferative neural stem cells and immature neurons in the dorsal hippocampus, displaying a regional specificity of neurogenic response. For the neurogenic microenvironment, LW-AFC significantly increased the contents of superox?ide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, and catalase and decreased the content of malondialdehyde in the hippocampus of irradiated mice, accompanied by the increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor, insulin-like growth factor-1, and interleukin-4 content. Together, LW-AFC improved cognitive and emotional dysfunctions, promoted AHN preferentially in the dorsal hippocampus, and ameliorated disturbance in the neurogenic microenvironment in irradiated mice. CONCLUSION LW-AFC ameliorates cranial irradiation-induced cognitive and emotional dysfunctions, and the underlying mechanisms are mediated by promoting AHN in the dorsal hippocampus and improving the neurogenic micro?environment. LW-AFC might be a promising therapeutic agent to treat cognitive and emotional dysfunctions in patients receiving cranial radiotherapy.

Characteristics of the traditional Liu-Wei-Di-Huang prescription reassessed in modern pharmacology / 中国天然药物

Liu-Wei-Di-Huang (LW) is a Yin nourishing and kidney tonifying prescription in traditional Chinese medicine with promising pharmacological characteristics that can be further exploited and developed in modern medicine. We provide a comprehensive and detailed literature report on the clinical and experimental pharmacology of LW, including its quality control parameters, phytochemistry, pharmacokinetics, and toxicology. Our literature review indicates that the LW prescription possesses a unique combination of pharmacological characteristics that can be safely used for treating very different diseases. Quality control and pharmacokinetic parameters of LW are mostly based on its major bioactive phytochemical constituents. We postulate that modulating or rebalancing the neuroendocrine immunomodulation network in the body is the underlying mechanism of the multiple pharmacological activities displayed by LW.

Research progresses in pharmacological effects of rhynchophylline and its isomers on nervous system / 药学学报

Uncaria rhynchophylla is one of the frequently used herbs in China, it is mainly used for heat-clearance, suppression of hyperactive liver, calming endogenous wind and arresting convulsion in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Alkaloids are the main active materials in Uncaria rhynchophylla, pharmacological studies have shown that Uncaria rhynchophylla and its alkaloids have comprehensive biological effects on the nervous system. Rhynchophylline is one of the most abundant alkaloids in Uncaria rhynchophylla. The recent studies demonstrate that rhynchophylline and its isomers (isorhynchophylline, corynoxine, corynoxine B) may be good drug candidates for treatment of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, etc. Although the structures of the 4 alkaloids are very similar, they have different effects on nervous system. For example, corynoxine and corynoxine B exhibit better sedative effects than isorhynchophylline. Rhynchophylline and isorhynchophylline have been extensively studied. For development and utilization of rhynchophylline for nervous system disease, more studies are needed to unveil the structure-function relationship and the underlying mechanisms. Here, we summarizes the progresses the effects of rhynchophylline and its isomers on the nervous system.

New situation and new strategies——research and development and internationalization of new drugs and health products of traditional Chinese medicine / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

The 2017 China (Lianyungang) International Medical Technology Conference was held in Lianyungang,Jiangsu Province during November 15-17,2017.During this conference,the Division for Traditional Chinese Medicine and Natural Products Pharmacology of Chinese Pharmacological Society (CNPHARS) and Jiangsu Kanion Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.jointly held the Forum on R&D and Interna-tionalization of New Drugs and Health Products of Traditional Chinese Medicine.The forum was co-chaired by Professor ZHANG Yong-xiang, President of CNPHARS, Chair of Division for Traditional Chinese Medicine and Natural Products Pharmacology of CNPHARS,and Chair of the Natural Product Section of Inter-national Union of Basic&Clinical Pharmacology(IUPHAR), Professor DU Guan-hua,former President of CNPHARS and Vice-Chair of Division for Traditional Chinese Medicine and Natural Products Pharmacology of CNPHARS,and Dr.XIAO Wei,Chairman of the Board of Jiangsu Kanion Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. And Vice-Chair of Division for Traditional Chinese Medicine and Natural Products Pharmacology of CNPHARS. More than 70 scholars attended the forum, including four foreign experts [Michael SPEDDING, Secretary-General of IUPHAR; Professor Valérie B. SCHINI-KERTH, Vice-Chair of the Natural Product Section of IUPHAR; Professor Cherry WAINWRGHT, Director of Centre for Natural Product Drugs of Robert Gordon University; Professor InKyeom KIM, Director of the Korean Society of Pharmacology], members of the Division for Traditional Chinese Medicine and Natural Products Pharmacology of CNPHARS and leading researchers at Jiangsu Kanion Pharmaceutical Co.,Ltd.GU Jin-hui,Director of the Division of National Science and Technology Major Project for Drug Innovation,Department of Health Science,Technology and Education,National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China was also invited to attend the forum. Representatives discussed the R&D and internationalization of new drugs and health products of traditional Chinese medicine.The summary of views and advice of some experts was published here for the purpose of promoting domestic and overseas academic exchange, and playing an active role in improving the level of R&D and internationalization of new drugs and health products of traditional Chinese medicine in China.

Ideas of systems biology on study of traditional Chinese medicine / 中国中药杂志

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the scientific therapeutics derived from the traditional Chinese physician's considerable clinical practice during the long history, with the characteristic of significant clinical therapeutic effects. The therapeutic philosophy of TCM is integrative medicine and pattern differentiation. The ideas of systems biology on the study of TCM were formed after the micro-and macro-outcome of systems biology being used into the practice of study on TCM. It is very important for the inheritance and development of TCM to disclose the basic mechanism of the clinical therapeutic effects of TCM and find new drugs, from the herbal preparation, pharmacology and pharmacokinetic to drug development using modern science technologies based on the theory of TCM.

A new monoterpene glycoside from active fraction (DSS-A-N-30) of Danggui Shaoyao San / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the chemical constituents of an active fraction (DSS-A-N-30) from Danggui Shaoyao San.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>DSS-A-N30 was prepared by macroporous resin chromatography, the compound was isolated by column chromatography on silica gel and RPC-18, the structure was elucidated by spectroscopic methods.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>A new monoterpene glycoside was isolated and identified from DSS-A-N-30.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The new monoterpene glycoside was identified as 4"-hydroxyl-albiflorin.</p>

Randomized double-blinded and controlled clinical trial on treatment of HIV/AIDS by Zhongyan-4 / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the efficacy and safety of Zhongyan-4 (ZY-4, a Chinese herbal preparation worked out according to the therapeutic principle of supplementing qi, nourishing Yin, clearing heat and detoxication) in treating HIV/AIDS patients in the early or middle stage.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Adopted was randomized double-blinded and placebo-parallel-controlled method, with 72 HIV/AIDS patients randomly divided into the ZY-4 group (36 patients) treated with ZY-4 and the control group (36 patients) treated with placebo. The treatment course was six months. The index of CD(4)(+), CD(8)(+) counts, body weight, clinical symptom scoring were estimated at 4 time points (0, 1, 3 and 6 month in the course), and also the viral load before and after treatment. The whole course of observation was completed in 63 patients, 30 in the ZY-4 group and 33 in the control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CD(4)(+) count in the ZY-4 group got elevated by 7.70 +/- 150.96/mm(3) on average, while that in the control group lowered by 27.33 +/- 85.28/mm(3). Fifteen out of the 30 patients in the ZY-4 group had their CD(4)(+) count increased, which was evidently much higher than that in the control group (8/33, P < 0.05), suggesting that the efficacy of ZY-4 is superior to that of placebo in elevating CD(4)(+) count. Moreover, ZY-4 showed actions in elevating CD(45)RA(+) and CD(8)(+) count, reducing HIV virus load, improving clinical symptom/sign and increasing body weight of patients. No obvious adverse reaction was found in the clinical trial.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ZY-4 has an immunity-protective and/or rebuilding function in HIV/AIDS patients in the early and middle stage, and also shows effects in lowering viral load, increasing body weight and improving symptoms and signs to a certain degree.</p>

Age-related changes in the oestrous cycle and reproductive hormones in senescence-accelerated mouse.

To investigate age-related changes in the oestrous cycle and reproductive hormone levels in senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM), we examined these parameters in 3-, 5-, 7-, 9- and 11-month-old female SAM-prone/8 (SAMP8) and SAM-resistant/1 (SAMR1) strains. Levels of beta-endorphin (beta-EP) and substance P (SP) in the hypothalamus were also measured. The oestrous cycle and dioestrus of 9-month-old SAMP8 mice were significantly prolonged compared with age-matched SAMR1 mice. Furthermore, the concentration of serum oestradiol was lower and the level of pituitary luteinising hormone was higher in SAMP8 mice compared with SAMR1 mice. This characterises the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary (HPO) axis of the SAMP8 strain as hypergonadotropic-hypogonad. The levels of beta-EP and SP in the SAMP8 hypothalamus were lower than in the SAMR1 hypothalamus. These results indicate that the function of the HPO axis in SAMP8 mice declines early and this may be attributed, in part, to the decline in beta-EP and SP concentrations in the hypothalamus.

Determination of glycosides in traditional Chinese medicine liu-wei di-huang by RP-HPLC / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a RP-HPLC method for determination of glycosides in Traditional Chinese Medicine Liu-wei Di-huang.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The samples were analyzed on an ODS column at 30 degrees C, with mobile phase of methanol/water (33:67) at flow rate 1.0 mL.min and detection at wavelength of 236 nm.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Three major components reached base-line separation and were identified to be mononiside, loganin, paeoniflorin. Respectively for the three components, linear correlations were found between peak areas and concentrations in the ranges of 7.4-60, 7.7-62 mg.L-1 and 8.5-68 mg.L-1, and the recoveries were 98.8%, 98.3%, 99.6%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The established method is proved to be suitable for simultaneous quantification of three major glycosidic components in Liuwei Dihuang decoction and can be used for evaluation of the quality of Liuwei Dihuang preparations.</p>