[Metabolomics study of Berberidis Radix in intervening ulcerative colitis based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS].

The effect of Tujia medicine Berberidis Radix on endogenous metabolites in the serum and feces of mice with ulcerative colitis(UC) induced by dextran sulfate sodium(DSS) was analyzed by metabolomics technology to explore the metabolic pathway and underlying mechanism of Berberidis Radix in the intervention of UC. The UC model was induced in mice by DSS. Body weight, disease activity index(DAI), and colon length were recorded. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-10(IL-10) in colon tissues were determined by ELISA. The levels of endogenous metabolites in the serum and feces were detected by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). Principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) were employed to characterize and screen differential metabolites. The potential metabolic pathways were analyzed by MetaboAnalyst 5.0. The results showed that Berberidis Radix could significantly improve the symptoms of UC mice and increase the level of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10. A total of 56 and 43 differential metabolites were identified in the serum and feces, respectively, belonging to lipids, amino acids, fatty acids, etc. After the intervention by Berberidis Radix, the metabolic disorder gradually recovered. The involved metabolic pathways included biosynthesis of phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan, linoleic acid metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. Berberidis Radix can alleviate the symptoms of mice with DSS-induced UC, and the mechanism may be closely related to the re-gulation of lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and energy metabolism.

Euonymus alatus and its monomers alleviate liver fibrosis both in mice and LX2 cells by blocking TßR1-Smad2/3 and TNF-α-NF-κB pathways.

This study aimed to investigate the protective effects, effective constituents and preliminary mechanisms of Euonymus alatus on liver fibrosis and screen new high-efficacy drug for fibrosis. 112 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 14 groups: control group (CG), CCL4 group (CTG), low/medium/high dose of Euonymus alatus ethanol extracts (EAE), catechin (CA), dihydroquercetin (DHQ) and kaempferol (KA) groups. The study lasted for 30 days by injecting CCL4 in peritoneal cavity to make fibrosis model, all mice were sacrificed to observe morphological changes and collagenous fiber by HE and Masson staining, to test liver index, ALT, AST, to measure the expression of α-SMA and collagen I by immunohistochemistry and western blotting, to discuss the pathways of TßR1-Smad2/3 and TNF-α-NF-κB by WB and Elisa; after being evaluated the efficacy, anti-fibrosis drug of highest efficacy was chosen to repeat these indexes in human hepatic stellate cells-LX2. Results showed that EAE/CA/DHQ/KA prevented increases in liver index, ALT, AST, α-SMA, collagen I, TßR1, Smad2/3, TNF-α and p-NF-κB caused by CCL4 in dose-dependence, they also improved the liver morphology, decreased inflammatory cell infiltration and collagenous fiber in dose-dependence, CA' efficacy was best in mice; in LX-2, CA also decreased the expression of α-SMA, collagen I, TGF-ß, Smad2/3. All findings suggested that Euonymus alatus could alleviate liver inflammation and fibrosis by inhibiting TßR1-Smad2/3 and TNF-α-NF-κB pathways, flavonoid were effective constituents and catechin was screened as a new star for its best performance.

[Screening of effective fraction on experimental gastric ulcer from Pongamia pinnata roots].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of extract from Pongamia pinnata roots on experimental gastric ulcer and screen the effective fraction. METHOD: The models of gastric mucosa damage were induced by absolute alcohol in rats and reserpine in mice to observed the effect of ethyl alcohol extract from P. pinnata roots (PRE) and different parts on experimental gastric ulcer. RESULT: PRE, acetic ether extract and n-butanol extract could significantly inhibit the gastric mucosa damage induced by absolute alcohol in rats and reserpine in mice. In absolute alcohol models the gastric ulcer rates of inhibition were 86.4%, 85.4%, 11.5%, respectively. In reserpine models the gastric ulcer rates of inhibition were 37.8%, 33.8%, 19.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: PRE, acetic ether extract and n-butanol extract could significantly inhibit the gastric mucosa damage induced by absolute alcohol in rats and reserpine in mice. Acetic ether extract from P. pinnata roots has the best effect on experimental gastric ulcer.

[Effect of Pongamia pinnata root flavonoids on the quality of ulcer healing and expression of EGF and TGF-alpha in the rat model of gastric ulcer induced by acetic acid].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects and mechanisms of Pongamia pinnata root flavonoids (PRF) on the experimental gastric ulcer induced by acetic acid and to study the mechanism of PRF on the quality of ulcer healing. METHODS: The models were established by acetic acid erosion, the quality of ulcer healing of PRF on the model of gastric ulcer were observed. The contents of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in serum were determined by radioimmunoassay. The expression of EGF and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) were detected by immunohistochemistry (SP). RESULTS: PRF significantly inhibited ulcerative formation induced by acetic acid (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). PRF could significantly increase the EGF and TGF-alpha (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) expression of para-ulcer mucosa tissue and improve the EGF contents in blood serum (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: PRF increases the contents of EGF in serum and the expression of EGF and TGF-alpha in the tissue around gastric ulcer which might be one of possible mechanisms that PRF improves quality of ulcer healing.