[Molecular mechanism of Mylabris for colorectal cancer based on integrative pharmacology].

At present, the disjointing situation is generally present between "systemic"and "local", "macro" and "micro", "in vivo process" and "activity evaluation" in the study of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). An urgent task for the modernization of TCM is to establish new strategies and methods which can reflect the overall characteristics of TCM. The introduction of integrative pharmacology provided a feasible approach to solve the problem of the fragmentation of TCM. Internet-based computation platform method was adopted in this study to explore the active molecular mechanism of Mylabris in the treatment of colorectal cancer. Based on the analysis of the functional integration of internet-based computation platform V1.0 version software, the "core components-key target- main pathway" multidimensional network of Mylabris in treatment of colorectal cancer disease was constructed to explore the potential molecular mechanism of Mylabris in treatment of colorectal cancer from multiple perspectives. The results showed that Mylabris can treat the colorectal cancer and the mechanism might be associated with amino acid metabolism, NF-κB signaling pathway, immune system, endocrine system, nervous system, and chemokine signal transduction pathway, epithelial cell signaling in helicobacter pylori infection, T cell receptor signaling pathway, B cell receptor signaling pathway and so on.

[Correlation analysis of "compound-target-pathway" of Yinchenhao decoction for cirrhosis based on computed prediction].

Chinese medicine prescription is the main form and means to treat diseases in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, the disjointing situation is generally present between "systemic" and "local", "macro" and "micro", "in vivo process" and "activity evaluation" in the study of TCM at present. An urgent task for the modernization of TCM is to establish new strategies and methods which can reflect the overall characteristics of TCM. The introduction of integrative pharmacology provided a feasible approach to solve the problem of the fragmentation of TCM. Internet-based computation platform method was adopted in this study to explore the active molecular mechanism of Yinchenhao decoction in the treatment of cirrhosis. Based on the analysis of the functional integration of Internet-based Computation Platform V1.0 version software, the "core components-key target- main pathway" multidimensional network of Yinchenhao decoction in treatment of cirrhosis disease was constructed to explore the potential molecular mechanism of Yinchenhao decoction in treatment of cirrhosis from multiple perspectives. The molecular mechanism analysis of Yinchenhao decoction showed that Yinchenhao decoction can achieve the therapeutic effect on cirrhosis and the mechanism might be associated with oxidative phosphorylation, energy metabolism, circulatory system, glycerophospholipid metabolis, lipid metabolism and other pathways. Yinchenhao decoction in treatment of cirrhosis may be associated with energy metabolism and lipid metabolism.

Protective effect of Rhizoma Dioscoreae extract against alveolar bone loss in ovariectomized rats via regulation of IL-6/STAT3 signaling.

The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of Rhizoma Dioscoreae extract (RDE) on preventing rat alveolar bone loss induced by ovariectomy (OVX), and to determine the role of interleukin-6 (IL-6)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway in this effect. Female Wistar rats were subjected to OVX or sham surgery. The rats that had undergone OVX were treated with RDE (RDE group), vehicle (OVX group) or 17ß-estradiol subcutaneous injection (E2 group). Subsequently, bone metabolic activity was assessed by analyzing 3-D alveolar bone construction, bone mineral density, as well as the plasma biomarkers of bone turnover. The gene expression of alveolar bone in the OVX and RDE groups was evaluated by IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway polymerase chain reaction (PCR) arrays, and differentially expressed genes were determined through reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. The inhibitory effect of RDE on alveolar bone loss in the OVX group was demonstrated in the study. In comparison with the OVX group, the RDE group exhibited 19 downregulated genes and 1 upregulated gene associated with the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway in alveolar bone. Thus, RDE was shown to relieve OVX-induced alveolar bone loss in rats, an effect which was likely associated with decreased abnormal bone remodeling via regulation of the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Rhizoma Dioscoreae extract protects against alveolar bone loss by regulating the cell cycle: A predictive study based on the protein­protein interaction network.

Rhizoma Dioscoreae extract (RDE) exhibits a protective effect on alveolar bone loss in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The aim of this study was to predict the pathways or targets that are regulated by RDE, by re­assessing our previously reported data and conducting a protein­protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. In total, 383 differentially expressed genes (≥3­fold) between alveolar bone samples from the RDE and OVX group rats were identified, and a PPI network was constructed based on these genes. Furthermore, four molecular clusters (A­D) in the PPI network with the smallest P­values were detected by molecular complex detection (MCODE) algorithm. Using Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) tools, two molecular clusters (A and B) were enriched for biological process in Gene Ontology (GO). Only cluster A was associated with biological pathways in the IPA database. GO and pathway analysis results showed that cluster A, associated with cell cycle regulation, was the most important molecular cluster in the PPI network. In addition, cyclin­dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) may be a key molecule achieving the cell­cycle­regulatory function of cluster A. From the PPI network analysis, it was predicted that delayed cell cycle progression in excessive alveolar bone remodeling via downregulation of CDK1 may be another mechanism underling the anti­osteopenic effect of RDE on alveolar bone.

Effect of curcumin on aged Drosophila melanogaster: a pathway prediction analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To re-analyze the data published in order to explore plausible biological pathways that can be used to explain the anti-aging effect of curcumin. METHODS: Microarray data generated from other study aiming to investigate effect of curcumin on extending lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster were further used for pathway prediction analysis. The differentially expressed genes were identified by using GeneSpring GX with a criterion of 3.0-fold change. Two Cytoscape plugins including BisoGenet and molecular complex detection (MCODE) were used to establish the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network based upon differential genes in order to detect highly connected regions. The function annotation clustering tool of Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) was used for pathway analysis. RESULTS: A total of 87 genes expressed differentially in D. melanogaster melanogaster treated with curcumin were identified, among which 50 were up-regulated significantly and 37 were remarkably down-regulated in D. melanogaster melanogaster treated with curcumin. Based upon these differential genes, PPI network was constructed with 1,082 nodes and 2,412 edges. Five highly connected regions in PPI networks were detected by MCODE algorithm, suggesting anti-aging effect of curcumin may be underlined through five different pathways including Notch signaling pathway, basal transcription factors, cell cycle regulation, ribosome, Wnt signaling pathway, and p53 pathway. CONCLUSION: Genes and their associated pathways in D. melanogaster melanogaster treated with anti-aging agent curcumin were identified using PPI network and MCODE algorithm, suggesting that curcumin may be developed as an alternative therapeutic medicine for treating aging-associated diseases.

Design and application of pulse information acquisition and analysis system with dynamic recognition in traditional Chinese medicine.

BACKGROUND: To design the pulse information which includes the parameter of pulse-position, pulse-number, pulse-shape and pulse-force acquisition and analysis system with function of dynamic recognition, and research the digitalization and visualization of some common cardiovascular mechanism of single pulse. METHODS: To use some flexible sensors to catch the radial artery pressure pulse wave and utilize the high frequency B mode ultrasound scanning technology to synchronously obtain the information of radial extension and axial movement, by the way of dynamic images, then the gathered information was analyzed and processed together with ECG. Finally, the pulse information acquisition and analysis system was established which has the features of visualization and dynamic recognition, and it was applied to serve for ten healthy adults. RESULTS: The new system overcome the disadvantage of one-dimensional pulse information acquisition and process method which was common used in current research area of pulse diagnosis in traditional Chinese Medicine, initiated a new way of pulse diagnosis which has the new features of dynamic recognition, two-dimensional information acquisition, multiplex signals combination and deep data mining. CONCLUSIONS: The newly developed system could translate the pulse signals into digital, visual and measurable motion information of vessel.

[Non-isoflavonoid compounds of Iris tectorum].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate non-isoflavonoid compounds of Iris tectorum. METHODS: The compounds were isolated by column chromatography on silica gel and purified by Sephadex LH-20. Structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectral analysis and physiochemical properties. RESULTS: Five non-isoflavonoid compounds were isolated and their stuctures were identified as: tetradecanoicacid (1), dihydro-kaempferide (2), apocynin (3), diapocynin (4), tectorusid (5). CONCLUSION: Compound 1 is isolated from this plant for the first time. Compound 5 is isolated from natural plant for the first time.

Genipin stimulates glucose transport in C2C12 myotubes via an IRS-1 and calcium-dependent mechanism.

Genipin, a compound derived from Gardenia jasminoides Ellis fruits, has been used over the years in traditional Chinese medicine to treat symptoms of type 2 diabetes. However, the molecular basis for its antidiabetic effect has not been fully revealed. In this study, we investigated the effects of genipin on glucose uptake and signaling pathways in C(2)C(12) myotubes. Our study demonstrates that genipin stimulated glucose uptake in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The maximal effect was achieved at 2 h with a concentration of 10 µM. In myotubes, genipin promoted glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) translocation to the cell surface, which was observed by analyzing their distribution in subcellular membrane fraction, and increased the phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), AKT, and GSK3ß. Meanwhile, genipin increased ATP levels, closed K(ATP) channels, and then increased the concentration of calcium in the cytoplasm in C(2)C(12) myotubes. Genipin-stimulated glucose uptake could be blocked by both the PI3-K inhibitor wortmannin and calcium chelator EGTA. Moreover, genipin increases the level of reactive oxygen species and ATP in C(2)C(12) myotubes. These results suggest that genipin activates IRS-1, PI3-K, and downstream signaling pathway and increases concentrations of calcium, resulting in GLUT4 translocation and glucose uptake increase in C(2)C(12) myotubes.

Therapeutic effect of aqueous extract from Ecliptae herba on bone metabolism of ovariectomized rats.

OBJECTIVE: Ecliptae herba (EH) has long been used in China to strengthen bones. Accumulating evidence indicates that EH may have antiosteoporotic effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of aqueous EH extract (EHE) on rats that had osteoporosis-like features induced by ovariectomy, using aqueous Fructus Ligustri Lucidi extract as positive control agent. METHODS: Three-month-old female rats that underwent ovariectomy were treated with EHE (1.4 g/kg per day). After 12 weeks, bone mineral density and bone histomorphometric indices of tibiae were measured. Protein and messenger RNA expressions of osteoprotegerin and receptor activator of nuclear factor κ-B ligand (RANKL) in tibiae were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. In addition, serum concentrations of osteocalcin, interleukin-1ß, interleukin-6 (IL-6), calcitonin (CT), and parathyroid hormone were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: EHE treatment prevented body weight gain and loss of uterine wet weight in ovariectomized rats. It remarkably increased bone mass in ovariectomized rats compared with ovariectomized controls. EHE treatment significantly down-regulated RANKL expression in tibiae from ovariectomized rats compared with controls; however, it had no significant effect on osteoprotegerin expression. In addition, EHE treatment significantly reduced serum IL-6 levels and remarkably increased CT levels but had no effect on parathyroid hormone. CONCLUSIONS: EHE increases bone mass in ovariectomized rats by inhibiting bone loss: down-regulated RANKL expression in tibiae and IL-6 level in serum, and up-regulated CT level in serum. This suggests that EHE may be developed as an alternative therapeutic agent for osteoporosis induced by postmenopause.

The chemical composition of human milk from Inner Mongolia of China.

In Inner Mongolia, China, the chemical composition of 66 breast milk samples at three lactation stages was analysed. Except for total nitrogen content, the contents of total solid, fat, NPN, lactose and ash were not significantly different between colostral, transitional and mature milk. Fatty acids did not vary over the three lactation stages, while unsaturated fatty acids accounted for 59.95-63.22% of the total fatty acids. Relatively low contents of vitamins were in the milk because the volunteer mothers did not take any vitamin supplementation over the entire lactation period. Besides sodium and phosphate, the concentrations of most minerals in the breast milk remained fairly constant across the three lactation stages.

[Studies on the isoflavonoids of Iris tectorum].

OBJECTIVE: To study the isoflavonoids of Iris tectorum. METHODS: The compounds were isolated by columm chromatography on silica gel and purified by Sephadex LH-20. Structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectral analysis and phytochemical properties. RESULTS: Six isoflavonoids were isolated from Iris tectorum, which were tectoridin (I), tectorigenin (II), iristectorin A (III), iristectorigenin A (IV), iristectorin B (V), 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-6,3'-dimethoxy isoflvone (VI). CONCLUSION: Compound VI is isolated from this plant for the first time.

[Effects of Gadol and Ganoderma spores on the adiponectin signal pathway in hypertrophic myocardium of spontaneous hypertensive rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the alteration of the adiponectin signal pathway in hypertrophic myocardium of spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) and to observe the effects of Gadol (GD) and Ganoderma spores (GS) on the hemodynamic parameters and the adiponectin signal pathway of SHR. METHODS: SHRs, 8 weeks old, were randomly divided into four groups: the untreated group, and the three treated groups treated with GD, GS, and GD + GS respectively by gastrogavage for 4 weeks. Controlled with 8-week-old WKY rats, the hemodynamic parameters in all rats were recorded through the carotid artery intubation; the serum level of adiponectin was determined with ELISA; the mRNA expressions of adiponectin receptors (AdipoRs) and carnitine palmitoyl transferase (CPT-1) were determined by RT-PCR; and the protein expression of adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK), both phosphorylated and un-phosphorylated, was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the WKY rats, the systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and myocardial hypertrophy index (MHI) in SHR were significantly higher; the serum levels of adiponectin and phosphorylated AMPK, mRNA expressions of AdipoR1 and CPT-1 in SHR heart tissue were lower (P < 0.05). Compared with the SHR, medication of GD and GS, either alone or in combination, could reduce SBP, DBP and MHI significantly (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and elevate the mRNA expression of CPT-1 (P < 0.05) in heart, but levels of adiponectin, AdipoR1 and phosphorylated AMPK could only be raised by combined use of the two (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Adiponectin signal transduction pathway alteration presents in the myocardium of SHR, which might be one of the molecular mechanisms that cause hypertrophic metabolic abnormality. GD and GS could improve the hemodynamic index in SHR, and enhance the level of adiponectin and the expression of its related signal transduction molecules.

[A new opinion on detection methods for pulse shape and pulse force].

Pulse shape and pulse force are difficult to detect in pulse taking study. But the application of visualized technology extends the space acquisition of pulse taking information, and it is possible to realize the objective detection of pulse shape and pulse force. Rational research thoughts and strategies could be informed by combining image information and other data, and it is a necessary method in implementing the objective detection of pulse.

[Effect of preparation on the major chemical constituents of Polygonum multiflorum].

OBJECTIVE: To study the dynamic changes of Emodin, Physcion, Emodin-8-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, Physcion-8-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside and 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydtoxysilbene-2-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside in Polygonum multiflorum during preparation and analyze their changing laws. METHODS: Five major constituents before and after preparation were determined by RP-HPLC methods. RESULTS: The five ingredients decreased significantly after preparation. CONCLUSION: The major chemical constituents of Polygonum multiflorum decrease significantly, suggesting the necessarity of prepared Polygonum multiflorum in clinical application worth studying.

[A new chromone glycoside from Cassia siamea lam].

AIM: To study the chemical constituents of the stem of Cassia siamea. METHODS: The compounds were isolated by chromatography on silica gel, and identified on the basis of spectral analysis. RESULTS: Five compounds were isolated and identified as: beta-sitosterol (I), sucrose (II), n-octacosanol (III), 2-methyl-5-(2'-hydroxypropyl)-7-hydroxy-chromone-2'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (IV) and piceatannol (V). CONCLUSION: Compound IV is a new compound. Compounds II, III and V were obtained from this plant for the first time.