[Characterization and identification of chemical constituents from Schizonepetae Spica based on UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS technique].

The chemical constituents of Schizonepetae Spica were qualitatively analyzed by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. An Agilent poroshell 120 SB-C_(18) column(3.0 mm×100 mm, 2.7 µm) was used for gradient elution with 0.1% formic acid water(A)-acetonitrile(B) solution as mobile phase at the flow rate of 0.4 mL·min~(-1) and column temperature of 45 ℃. The data were collected by scanning in positive and negative ion modes, and the compounds were identified by comparison of reference materials and PeakView software. Ninety-seven compounds were identified from Schizonepetae Spica, including 28 flavonoids, 23 phenolic acids, 23 fatty acids, 15 terpenoids, and 8 other compounds. The UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS method established in this study can identify the chemical components of Schizonepetae Spica rapidly, accurately, and comprehensively, and provide a basis for the basic study of pharmacodynamic substances of Schizonepetae Spica.

Astragalus Polysaccharide Eases G1 Phase-Correlative Bystander Effects through Mediation of TGF- ß R/MAPK/ROS Signal Pathway After Carbon Ion Irradiation in BMSCs.

Although Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) has been shown to have various pharmacological effects, there have been no studies concerning the inhibitory effects of APS on the radiation-induced bystander effects (RIBE). The aim of this study was to investigate whether APS could suppress RIBE damage by inhibiting cell growth, micronucleus (MN) formation and 53BP1 foci number increased in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), named bystander cells, as well as to explore its mechanism. In this study, APS decreased proliferation and colony rate of bystander cells by inducing cell cycle arrest at G1 phase via extrinsic and intrinsic DNA damage. Regarding mechanism, APS inhibited mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathway by down-regulating the expression of the key proteins, phosphorylated JNK (p-JNK), phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK) but not phosphorylated P38 (p-P38), and down-regulating their downstream function protein and molecule, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, in bystander cells, APS inhibits expression of transforming growth factor ß receptor II (TGF- ß R II), a cell membrane receptor, resulting in lower ROS production and secretion via TGF- ß R-JNK/ERK-COX-2/ROS not P38 signaling. They gave a hint that the decreased RIBE damage induced by APS treatment involved TGF- ß R-JNK/ERK-COX-2/ROS down-regulation.

Arthrobacter liuii sp. nov., resuscitated from Xinjiang desert soil.

A Gram-stain positive, aerobic, non-motile actinobacterium, designated DSXY973(T), was isolated from soil samples collected from Xinjiang desert using medium supplemented with resuscitation-promoting factor, and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic investigation. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that DSXY973(T) belonged to the genus Arthrobacter and was most closely related to Arthrobacter oryzae JCM 15922(T) with 97.1 % similarity. The DNA G+C content was 67.6 %. Cells of strain DSXY973(T) mainly contained MK-9(H2), and the cell wall contained l-lysine as the primary diamino acid. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0. Strain DSXY973(T) was positive for catalase and negative for oxidase activity. On the basis of its phylogenetic position and phenotypic properties, strain DSXY973(T) represents a novel species of the genus Arthrobacter, for which the name Arthrobacter liuii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DSXY973(T) ( = CGMCC1.12778(T) = JCM 19864(T)).

Artesunate exerts an anti-immunosuppressive effect on cervical cancer by inhibiting PGE2 production and Foxp3 expression.

Artesunate (ART), derived from a common traditional Chinese medicine, has beeen used an antimalarial for several years. In this study, the effect and mechanism of ART on anti-human cervical cancer cells was examined. The level of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 ) and the population of CD4+CD25+Foxp3 regulatory T cells (Treg) in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. In vivo antitumor activity was investigated in mice with cervical cancer by the subcutaneous injection of various concentrations of ART. The concentrations of PGE2 in the supernatants of CaSki cells were measured using an ELISA kit. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and Foxp3 expression were determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blot analysis. The effect of ART on the viability of CaSki and Hela cells was evaluated with a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. It was identified that the level of PGE2 and the population of CD4+CD25+Foxp3 Treg cells in the peripheral blood were significantly higher in cervical cancer patients and mice with cervical cancer. ART was capable of inhibiting orthotopic tumor growth, which correlated with a decrease in the level of PGE2 and the percentage of Treg cells in mice with cervical cancer. Furthermore, ART decreased COX-2 expression and the production of PGE2 in CaSki and Hela cells. Notably, the supernatants of CaSki cells treated with ART lowered the expression of Foxp3 in Jurkat T cells, which was capable of being reversed by exogenous PGE2 . Our data revealed that ART may elicit an anti-tumor effect against cervical cancer by inhibition of PGE2 production in CaSki and Hela cells, which resulted in the decrease of Foxp3 expression in T cells. Therefore, ART may be an effective drug for immunotherapy of cervical cancer.

Ophiobolins P-T, five new cytotoxic and antibacterial sesterterpenes from the endolichenic fungus Ulocladium sp.

Five ophiobolane sesterterpenes, ophiobolins P-T, and three known compounds, 6-epi-21,21-O-dihydroophiobolin G, 6-epi-ophiobolin G and 6-epi-ophiobolin K, were isolated from the acetone extract of the endolichenic fungus Ulocladium sp. by using OSMAC method. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configuration of the 18,19-diol moieties in ophiobolin Q was assigned using the Frelek's method. The cytotoxic effects on KB and HepG2 cell lines, antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacille Calmette-Guerin were evaluated for all isolated compounds. Ophiobolin T and 6-epi-ophiobolin G exhibited the most potent cytotoxic activity against HepG2 with IC50 of 0.24 and 0.37 µM, respectively. In antibacterial assay, ophiobolins P and T showed moderate antibacterial activity against B. subtilis and meticillin-resistant S. aureus. Ophiobolin T also displayed moderate antibacterial activity against the Bacille Calmette-Guerin strain.

Tricycloalternarenes F-H: three new mixed terpenoids produced by an endolichenic fungus Ulocladium sp. using OSMAC method.

Three new mixed terpenoids, tricycloalternarenes (TCAs) F-H (1-3), together with ten known tricycloalternarenes (4-13), were isolated from the Czapek's culture of an endophytic fungus Ulocladium sp. Their structures were identified by extensive spectroscopic experiments (NMR and MS) and comparison with literature data. TCA 1b (5) showed weak activity against the Bacille Calmette-Guerin strain with the MIC of 125µg/mL. TCA 9b (10) exhibited strong cytotoxic activity against Hela cell line with IC50 of 8.58µM.

A randomized controlled trial comparing total glucosides of paeony capsule and compound glycyrrhizin tablet for alopecia areata.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy and safety of total glucosides of paeony capsule (TGPC) in patients with mild and moderate alopecia areata. METHODS: A total of 86 outpatients were randomly allocated into two groups of TGPC (treatment, 44 cases) and compound glycyrrhizin tablet (control, 42 cases). The treatment group was given oral TGPC, three times daily and 600 mg per time; the control group was given oral compound glycyrrhizin tablets, three times daily and 50 mg per time. In addition, both groups were given 10 mg of vitamin B(2) and tapped the bold patches with massage. The treatment course was three months for both groups. Peripheral blood T-cell subsets (CD3(+)CD4(+), CD3(+)CD8(+), Th, Ts, Th/Ts) of 10 patients randomly selected from each group respectively were tested before and after three months of treatment. The effectiveness and adverse reaction of all cases were observed each month. The safety was evaluated according to the incidence rate of adverse reaction. RESULTS: In the treatment group, the cured and markedly effective rate was 36.36% (16/44), 50.00% (22/44) and 68.18% (30/44) at the end of first, second and third month of treatment, respectively, and the incidence rate of adverse reaction was 13.64% (6/44). In the control group, the cured and markedly effective rate was 38.10% (16/42), 57.14% (24/42) and 71.43% (30/42), respectively, and the incidence rate of adverse reaction was 16.67% (7/42). The cured and markedly effective rate and the incidence rate of adverse reaction were similar in both groups (P>0.05). TGPC and compound glycyrrhizin tablet can inhibit CD3(+)CD4(+) and CD3(+)CD8(+), and decrease the ratio of Th/Ts (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: TGPC is effective and safe in the treatment of alopecia areata.

Polyketides with antimicrobial activity from the solid culture of an endolichenic fungus Ulocladium sp.

Two new polyketides, 7-hydroxy-3, 5-dimethyl-isochromen-1-one (1) and 6-hydroxy-8-methoxy-3a-methyl-3a,9b-dihydro-3H-furo[3,2-c]isochromene-2,5-dione (2), along with eleven known compounds, 5'-methoxy-6-methyl-biphenyl-3,4,3'-triol (3), 7-hydroxy-3-(2-hydroxy-propyl)-5-methyl-isochromen-1-one (4), rubralactone (5), isoaltenuene (6), altenuene (7), dihydroaltenuenes A (8), altenusin (9), alterlactone (10), 6-O-methylnorlichexanthone (11), norlichexanthone (12), and griseoxanthone C (13) were isolated from the culture of the endolichenic fungus Ulocladium sp. Compound 2 was obtained as a racemate with an unprecedented chemical skeleton. The NMR data assignments for 3 and 4 were achieved for the first time. Compounds 1-13 were screened for their antimicrobial and radical scavenging activities. Compound 1 showed some antifungal activity against Candida albicans SC 5314 with IC(50) of 97.93 ± 1.12 µM. Compounds 11-13 showed strong activity against Bacillus subtilis with IC(50) in the range of 1-5 µM. Compound 12 significantly inhibited the growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with IC(50) of 20.95 ± 1.56 µM. Compounds 9 and 10 showed strong radical scavenging activity in comparison with vitamin C. The plausible biosynthetic pathways for compounds 1, 2, and 4-8 were discussed.

Chemical constituents from endophytic fungus Fusarium oxysporum.

A new oxysporidinone analogue (1) and a new 3-hydroxyl-2-piperidinone derivative (2), along with the known compounds (-)-4,6'-anhydrooxysporidinone (3), (+)-fusarinolic acid (4), gibepyrone D (5), beauvercin (6),cerevisterol (7), fusaruside (8), and (2S,2'R,3R,3'E,4E,8E)-1-O-D-glucopyranosyl-2-N-(2'-hydroxy-3'-octadecenoyl)-3-hydroxy-9-methyl-4,8-sphingadienine (9) were isolated from Fusarium oxysporum. Compounds 1-9 were evaluated for cytotoxicity using the MTT method against cancer cell lines, PC-3, PANC-1, and A549. Beauvericin showed cytotoxicity against PC-3, PANC-1, and A549 with IC(50) value of 49.5 ± 3.8, 47.2 ± 2.9, and 10.4 ± 1.6µM, respectively. Beauvericin also exhibited anti-bacterial activity towards methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MIC=3.125 µg/mL) and Bacillus subtilis (MIC=3.125 µg/mL).

Literature research of Chinese medicine recipes for the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris with blood-heat syndrome type.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze and investigate the rules for drug utilization of Chinese medicine for the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris with blood-heat syndrome. METHODS: The literatures that met the following inclusion criteria were screened out from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) from January 1998 to December 2008, including the compositions and dosages of the recipes reported completely and accurately, the sample size being [Symbol: see text] 30 cases and the total effective rate being [Symbol: see text] 70%. RESULTS: In total, 289 papers meeting the inclusion criteria were retrieved, involving 301 recipes; in which 111 recipes consisting of 145 individual drugs were the function for clearing the heat, accounting for 52.84%. The three drugs with the highest utilized frequency were Radix Rehmanniae, Radix Arnebiae seu Lithospermi and Cortex Moutan. Meridian adscription of the drugs was mainly the Gan-meridian. CONCLUSION: There were rules for the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris of blood-heat syndrome with Chinese medicine prescriptions.

Effect of Chinese herbal medicine combined with acitretin capsule in treating psoriasis of blood-heat syndrome type.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical curative effect of Chinese herbal medicine combined with acitretin capsule in treating psoriasis of blood-heat syndrome (P-BH). METHODS: Eighty patients of P-BH were randomly assigned to two groups, 39 in Group A and 41 in Group B. Both was treated with Chinese herbal medicines for clearing heat, cooling blood and removing toxic substance, and acitretin capsule was given to Group A additionally, with 8 weeks as one therapeutic course. The clinical curative effect was compared between groups, and the change of psoriasis activity severe index (PASI) scores before and after treatment was observed. RESULTS: The total effective rate in Group A was 84.2% and that in Group B 68.2%, also showing significance between groups (P<0.01). PASI score lowered significantly after treatment in both groups, showing statistical significance (P<0.01), but no significant difference between groups. Little adverse reaction was found in Group B, while in Group A, the adverse reaction was of even milder degree, which could be alleviated by adjusting the herbal medicine and symptomatic treatment administration. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of Chinese herbal medicine combined with acitretin capsule was superior to Chinese herbal medicine alone in treating P-BH, but the adverse reaction of acitretin capsule could be alleviated by adjusting the herbs used. However, the result is waiting to be verified further by larger samples.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on apoptosis of hippocampus tissue in mice with vascular dementia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on hippocampal apoptosis and learning-memory ability in vascular dementia (VD) mice so as to investigate its underlying mechanism in the treatment of VD patients. METHODS: Kunming mice were randomly divided into sham-operation (sham, n = 13), model (n = 15), EA (n = 16) and Nimodipine (intragastric gavage, 30 mg/kg for 15 days, n = 15) groups. VD model was duplicated by occlusion of bilateral carotid arteries and reperfusion. EA (2-80 Hz, 2 mA) was applied to "Dazhui" (GV 14), "Baihui" (GV 20), "Geshu" (BL 17) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) for 10 min, once daily for 15 days. Step-down and step-up tests were performed to assess the animal's memory and learning abilities separately; and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-nick end-labeling (TUNEL) method was used to display the apoptotic cells of the hippocampus tissue. RESULTS: In comparison with sham group, the animals' reaction time upon electric shock stimulation, both step-up and step-down error times, and hippocampal apoptosis number in model, EA and Nimodipine groups increased significantly (P<0.01), while the reaction latency upon electric shock of model, EA and Nimodipine groups decreased significantly (P<0.01). Compared with model group, the reaction time, both step-up and step-down error times and hippocampal apoptosis number of both EA and Nimodipine groups decreased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01); while the reaction latency of EA and Nimodipine groups increased considerably (P<0.01). Comparison between EA and Nimodipine groups showed that the reaction latency of EA group was obviously longer than that of the later group (P<0.01), and the step-down error times of EA group was markedly lower than that of Nimodipine group (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between these two groups in other indexes (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: EA can ameliorate VD mice's learning-memory ability, which may be closely related to its effect in reducing hippocampal apoptosis.

Theoretical modeling study of the necrotic field during high-intensity focused ultrasound surgery.

BACKGROUND: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a type of micro-invasive treatment of tumor. It is important to create a guideline for the volume and position of the necrotic field by means of a theoretical model, this being one of the key problems in the clinic application of HIFU. MATERIAL/METHODS: Based on cellular thermo-necrotic theory, a computational model of temperature distribution and, therefore, the necrotic field was developed. A multi-transducer system with non-interferential and self-focused property was devised to provide experimental verification of the theoretical model. RESULTS: The necrotic field resulting from the modeling simulation did not show any evident difference from that of the experiment. The necrotic field of the same heating duration (4 seconds) was found with both modeling and experiment to be spheroid, with its center at the system's geometric focus and a volume of 1x1x2 cm3. CONCLUSIONS: The model of this study may predict the practical volume of the necrotic field as well as the time needed for it to form.