Comparing the effects of different exercises on blood pressure and arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of different exercises on systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) in postmenopausal women. We searched the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang database, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane library databases, up to July 2022. The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were selected following the inclusion criteria. We assessed study quality with the PEDro scale. The Stata software was used for statistical analysis. Twenty-three papers (26 RCTs) and 729 participants were included. Meta-analysis demonstrated that exercise decreased SBP (WMD = -6.74 mmHg, 95%CI: -9.08, -4.41, p = 0.000), DBP (WMD = -4.13 mmHg, 95%CI: -5.78, -2.48, p = 0.000) and aortic PWV (WMD = -0.79 m/s, 95%CI: -1.02, -0.56, p = 0.000). Aerobic exercise can significantly decrease SBP (WMD = -7.97 mmHg, 95%CI: -12.99, -2.60, p = 0.003) and DBP (WMD = -5.97 mmHg, 95%CI: -8.55, -3.39, p = 0.000). Resistance exercise can significantly decrease SBP (WMD = -5.62 mmHg, 95%CI: -9.00, -2.23, p = 0.001), DBP (WMD = -1.87 mmHg, 95%CI: -2.75, -0.99, p = 0.000) and aortic PWV (WMD = -0.67 m/s，95%CI: -0.98, -0.36, p = 0.000). Combined aerobic and resistance exercise can significantly decrease SBP (WMD = -5.42 mmHg, 95%CI: -10.17, -0.68, p = 0.025). The efficacy of mind-body exercise (Tai Chi/Yoga) on SBP, DBP, and aortic PWV were not obvious (p > 0.05). Exercise significantly improved SBP, DBP, and aortic PWV in postmenopausal women. Aerobic exercise decreased SBP and DBP. Resistance exercise decreased SBP, DBP, and aortic PWV. Additionally, further research is required to confirm the efficacy of mind-body exercise (Tai Chi/Yoga) on blood pressure and arterial stiffness.

Hyperoside: A review on its sources, biological activities, and molecular mechanisms.

Hyperoside is a natural flavonol glycoside in various plants, such as Crataegus pinnatifida Bge, Forsythia suspensa, and Cuscuta chinensis Lam. Medical research has found that hyperoside possesses a broad spectrum of biological activities, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antidepressant, and organ protective effects. These pharmacological properties lay the foundation for its use in treating multiple diseases, such as sepsis, arthritis, colitis, diabetic nephropathy, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion, pulmonary fibrosis, and cancers. Hyperoside is obtained from the plants and chemical synthesis. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of hyperoside on its sources and biological activities to provide insights into its therapeutic potential, and to provide a basis for high-quality studies to determine the clinical efficacy of this compound.

Lamiophlomis herba: A comprehensive overview of its chemical constituents, pharmacology, clinical applications, and quality control.

Lamiophlomis rotata (Benth.) Kudo (LR) is an extensively used Chinese herbal medicine. It contains a variety of chemical constituents with significant biological activities that were first recorded in the classical masterpiece of Tibetan Medicine, Somaratsa. In this review, we summarize the information regarding the traditional uses, chemical constituents, pharmacological effects, clinical applications, quality control, toxicology, and pharmacokinetics of LR. At least 223 chemical constituents have been isolated from LR, including phenylethanoid glycosides, flavonoids, iridoids, volatile oils, et al. Their various physiological activities have been demonstrated as analgesic, hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, marrow-supplementing, anti-bacterial, and immunity-strengthening. The clinical applications of LR and quality control are also discussed, as well as some existing problems. This article aims to provide more comprehensive information on the chemical composition, pharmacological activity, and clinical application of LR, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the further reasonable development of LR in clinical practice and of new drugs.

Comparison of volatile profiles and bioactive components of sun-dried Pu-erh tea leaves from ancient tea plants on Bulang Mountain measured by GC-MS and HPLC.

To explore the volatile profiles and the contents of ten bioactive components (polyphenols and caffeine) of sun-dried Pu-erh tea leaves from ancient tea plants on Bulang Mountain, 17 samples of three tea varieties were analyzed by headspace-solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A total of 75 volatile components were tentatively identified. Laomaner (LME), Laobanzhang (LBZ), and other teas on Bulang Mountain (BL) contained 70, 53, and 71 volatile compounds, respectively. Among the volatile compounds, alcohols (30.2%-45.8%), hydrocarbons (13.7%-17.5%), and ketones (12.4%-23.4%) were qualitatively the most dominant volatile compounds in the different tea varieties. The average content of polyphenol was highest in LME (102.1 mg/g), followed by BL (98.7 mg/g) and LBZ (88.0 mg/g), while caffeine showed the opposite trend, 27.3 mg/g in LME, 33.5 mg/g in BL, and 38.1 mg/g in LBZ. Principal component analysis applied to both the volatile compounds and ten bioactive components showed a poor separation of samples according to varieties, while partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) showed satisfactory discrimination. Thirty-four volatile components and five bioactive compounds were selected as major discriminators (variable importance in projection (VIP) >1) among the tea varieties. These results suggest that chromatographic data combined with multivariate analysis could provide a useful technique to characterize and distinguish the sun-dried Pu-erh tea leaves from ancient tea varieties on Bulang Mountain.

Plant-Derived Alkaloids: The Promising Disease-Modifying Agents for Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) represents a group of intestinal disorders with self-destructive and chronic inflammation in the digestive tract, requiring long-term medications. However, as many side effects and drug resistance are frequently encountered, safer and more effective agents for IBD treatment are urgently needed. Over the past few decades, a variety of natural alkaloids made of plants or medicinal herbs have attracted considerable interest because of the excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; additionally, these alkaloids have been reported to reduce the colonic inflammation and damage in a range of colitic models. In this review paper, we summarize the recent findings regarding the anti-colitis activity of plant-derived alkaloids and emphasize their therapeutic potential for the treatment of IBD; obvious improvement of the colonic oxidative and pro-inflammatory status, significant preservation of the epithelial barrier function and positive modulation of the gut microbiota are the underlying mechanisms for the plant-derived alkaloids to treat IBD. Further clinical trials and preclinical studies to unravel the molecular mechanism are essential to promote the clinical translation of plant-derived alkaloids for IBD.

[The Extract from Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Leaves Promotes Apoptosis and Impairs Metastasis in Prostate Cancer Cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of pomegranate leaves extract(PLE)on proliferation,apoptosis and metastasis of prostate cancer cells. METHODS: The proliferation of TRAMP-C1,DU145,PC3 prostate cancer cells treated with different concentrations of PLE (final mass concentrations were 12.5,25,50,100, 200 µg/mL,respectively) for different time (24,48,72 h) was detected by MTT assay. Colony formation assay was performed to verify the long-term effects of PLE on the proliferation of DU145 and PC3 cells.After being treated with PLE for 48 h,Hoechst-33258 staining was used to observe the changes in the nucleus,the cell apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry,and wound-healing migration assay was perform to test the change of migration. RESULTS: In comparison with the control group,PLE in the range of 12.5-200 µg/mL had a certain inhibitory effect on the proliferation of TRAMP-C1,DU145 and PC3 cells ( P<0.05).In the range of 6.25-100 µg/mL,the number of colony formation of DU145 and PC3 was significantly reduced( P<0.01).After PLE treated for 48 h, the apoptotic features of nuclear fragmentation and the formation apoptotic body was observed in PC3. With the increase of concentration,the apoptotic rate increased gradually ( P<0.05),and the ability of cells to migrate to the scratch area was significantly weaker than the control group ( P<0.01). CONCLUSION: PLE has effect on proliferation,apoptosis and metastasis of prostate cancer cells.

Paris chinensis dioscin induces G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells.

AIM: To investigate the anti-tumor effects of Paris chinensis dioscin (PCD) and mechanisms regarding cell cycle regulation and apoptosis in human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells. METHODS: Cell viability was analyzed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry and laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) using Annexin-V/propidium iodide (PI) staining, and the cell cycle was evaluated using PI staining with flow cytometry. Intracellular calcium ions were detected under fluorescence microscope. The expression of cell cycle and apoptosis-related proteins cyclin B1, CDK1, cytochrome C and caspase-3 was measured by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: PCD had an anti-proliferation effect on human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. After treatment of SGC-7901 cells with PCD, apoptosis appeared in SGC-7901 cells. Morphological changes typical of apoptosis were also observed with LSCM by Annexin V/PI staining, and the cell number of the G0/G1 phase was decreased, while the number of cells in the G2/M phase was increased. Cell cycle-related proteins, such as cyclin B1 and CDK1, were all down-regulated, but caspase-3 and cytochrome C were up-regulated. Moreover, intracellular calcium accumulation occurred in PCD-treated cells. CONCLUSION: G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis induced by PCD are associated with the inhibition of CDK-activating kinase activity and the activation of Ca(2+)-related mitochondrion pathway in SGC-7901 cells.

[Effects of Shengmai injection on testicular injury after torsion/detorsion in rats of different ages].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the different effects of Shengmai injection on testicular injury after testis torsion/detorsion in rats of different ages. METHODS: Sixteen healthy male SD rats aged 3, 6 and 12 weeks were equally randomized into an experimental group (testicular torsion/detorsion plus Shengmai injection) and a control group (testicular torsion/detorsion plus saline). The rat models of testicular torsion were killed 24 h after surgery for the measurement of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the testis. RESULTS: Compared with the controls, the 3- and 6-week-old rats of the experimental group showed no significant changes in T-AOC, SOD activity and MDA content (P > 0.05), while the 12-week-old experimental rats exhibited a remarkable increase in SOD and T-AOC and an obvious decrease in MDA content (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Shengmai injection has a protective effect against acute ischemia-reperfusion testicular injury after torsion/detorsion in rats, but the effect varies with the age, more obvious in older ones.