ABSTRACT
Objective: To combine macroscopical characteristic indices and chemical indices of Andrographis Herba to evaluate its quality grade. Methods: Both macroscopical characteristic indices and chemical indices (the content of four active diterpenoids and the content of ethanol-soluble extractives) of different batches of Andrographis Herba were determined. The macroscopical characteristic indices were encoded using the method of numerical taxonomy, and the content of four active diterpenoids were determined by HPLC. To screen out the appropriate indices for classification, the correlational analyses were conducted between encoded macroscopical characteristic indices and chemical indices. The quality grade was made by principal component clustering analysis according these evaluation indices, and then was analyzed through partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). Furthermore, a partial least squares (PLS) regression was constructed for the quality grade prediction of Andrographis Herba. Results: It showed that the samples could be divided into three grades according to the principal component clustering analysis, and was reasonable evaluating by PLS-DA. The PLS regression model for quality grade of Andrographis Herba was constructed as follows: grade Y=3.761-0.020×the leaf content-0.388×the content of andrographolide-1.117×the content of neoandrographolide-0.274×the content of deoxyandrographolide-0.287×the content of 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydro-andrographolide-0.302×the content of four active diterpenoids-0.104×the content of ethanol-soluble extractives-0.015×the color of stem-0.008 4×the color of leaf-0.003×the diameter of base part of stem+0.020×the number of branch+0.137×the diameter of the upper stem+0.011×plant height, if Y=0.7-1.3, the predicted quality was grade A, if Y=1.7-2.3, then B grade, and if Y=2.7-3.3, C grade or qualified product. Conclusion: The model of grade evaluation we constructed using principal component clustering analysis combing with PLS regression analysis performed well, which was applicable in evaluating the quality grade of Andrographis Herba and other traditional Chinese medicines. It also provided a new strategy for study on grade standards of traditional Chinese medicines.
ABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to explore the effect and mechanism of Bushen Huoxue recipe (BHR) on ovarian reserve in mice with premature ovarian failure (POF). Mice were divided into 3 groups: normal group, model group and BHR group. Intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide was performed to create the POF model. Primordial follicular (PDF) number, ovarian wet weight, ovarian index, and estrous cycle were analyzed to evaluate the effect of BHR on POF. Meanwhile, the mRNA and protein level of Mouse Vasa Homologue (MVH) in the bone marrow, peripheral blood and ovary were detected, to explore the underlying mechanism of the treatment efficacy of BHR on ovarian reserve. By the time of BHR treatment for 28 days, BHR increased the PDF number and shortened the estrous cycle of POF mice. BHR also decreased the mRNA level of MVH in the bone marrow, and increased mRNA and protein level of MVH in the ovary of POF mice. Our results demonstrated a treatment efficacy of BHR on POF mice, and revealed that BHR might repair the dysfunction of germline stem cells in the bone marrow, and thus to improve the ovarian reserve and enhance the ovarian function of POF mice through neo-oogenesis.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Humans , Mice , Bone Marrow , Metabolism , Cyclophosphamide , Toxicity , Disease Models, Animal , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Estrous Cycle , Gene Expression Regulation , Ovarian Follicle , Ovarian Reserve , Primary Ovarian Insufficiency , Drug Therapy , PathologyABSTRACT
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disease. The pathogenesis of AD is unclear, and it is presently incurable. Medicines currently available for AD treatment are only for improving the cognitive symptoms, but not able to stop or delay disease progression. Here, we summarized the interventions in early phases of AD in clinical trial. As a complex disease, AD is difficult to be restored through a treatment on a single target. Multi-target and cocktail drugs might be a strategy for development of AD therapies. In addition, AD is characterized by progressive neuronal loss in the cortex and hippocampus. The induction of neurogenesis by small molecule compounds has drawn attention in the AD field. The study of natural products in China is leading the way in the AD world. Numerous natural products have been identified for pharmacological effects on multi-targets in the regulation of neurogenic activity, which may open up a new avenue for AD treatments.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of Guishen Pill (GSP) on expression levels of Oct-4, MVH, and Egr-1 in mice with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 40 female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, the normal control group, the model group, the GSP group, and the dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) group, 10 in each group. Pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG), human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) were sequentially administrated to produce superovulation. The DOR model was established by exposing to ozone inhalation. Mice in the GSP group were intragastrically administered with GSP at 0.3 mL. Those in the DHEA group were intragastrically administered with DHEA at 0.3 mL. Equal volume of normal saline was intragastrically administered to mice in the normal control group and the model group. All mice wer treated for 21 days. Serum levels of estrogen (E2), progestogen (P), and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) were measured by ELISA. Changes of Oct-4, anti-AMH, and early growth response gene-1 (Egr-1) mRNA in ovaries were dtected by Real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the model group, serum levels of E2, P, and AMH, as well as contents of estrogen receptor (ER), progestogen receptor (PR), MVH, and Oct-4 mRNA significantly increased in the GSP group and the DHEA group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GSP could improve expression levels of Oct-4, MVH, and Egr-1 mRNA in DOR mice and their ovarian function.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Mice , Pregnancy , Anti-Mullerian Hormone , Metabolism , Dehydroepiandrosterone , Metabolism , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Pharmacology , Early Growth Response Protein 1 , Metabolism , Estrogens , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Octamer Transcription Factor-3 , Metabolism , Ovarian Reserve , Ovary , Receptors, Estrogen , Metabolism , SuperovulationABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Bu-Shen-An-Tai recipe (BSATR) and its two components (Bushen recipe, and Huoxue recipe) on endometrial morphology during peri-implantation in superovulated mice. Mice were randomly divided into five groups, including the normal (N), model (M), Bushen (BS), Huoxue (HX) and Bu-Shen-An-Tai (BH) groups. The uteri were collected on day 4 of pregnancy, and the endometrium thickness, microvessel density (MVD) and number of pinopodes observed. Compared with the M group, the endometrial thickness in the BS, HX and BH groups was significantly increased and there was a significant difference in endometrial thickness between the BS and the BH groups. The mean MVD was significantly lower in the M group than in the N group, and there was a significant increase in MVD in the BS, HX and BH groups as compared with the M group. Compared with the M group, the pinopode scores in the endometrium were significantly increased in the HX and BH groups; and the BS group had significantly higher pinipode scores than the HX and BH groups. In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrated that the recipes (Bushen, Huoxue and BSATR) could improve the endometrial environment by regulating the endometrial thickness, MVD and the number of pinopodes at the window of implantation. Moreover, the Huoxue recipe and the BSATR were more efficient than the Bushen recipe, with the BSATR tending to have the most beneficial effects.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Bu-Shen-An-Tai recipe (BSATR) and its two components (Bushen recipe, and Huoxue recipe) on endometrial morphology during peri-implantation in superovulated mice. Mice were randomly divided into five groups, including the normal (N), model (M), Bushen (BS), Huoxue (HX) and Bu-Shen-An-Tai (BH) groups. The uteri were collected on day 4 of pregnancy, and the endometrium thickness, microvessel density (MVD) and number of pinopodes observed. Compared with the M group, the endometrial thickness in the BS, HX and BH groups was significantly increased and there was a significant difference in endometrial thickness between the BS and the BH groups. The mean MVD was significantly lower in the M group than in the N group, and there was a significant increase in MVD in the BS, HX and BH groups as compared with the M group. Compared with the M group, the pinopode scores in the endometrium were significantly increased in the HX and BH groups; and the BS group had significantly higher pinipode scores than the HX and BH groups. In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrated that the recipes (Bushen, Huoxue and BSATR) could improve the endometrial environment by regulating the endometrial thickness, MVD and the number of pinopodes at the window of implantation. Moreover, the Huoxue recipe and the BSATR were more efficient than the Bushen recipe, with the BSATR tending to have the most beneficial effects.