Natural products berberine and curcumin exhibited better ameliorative effects on rats with non-alcohol fatty liver disease than lovastatin.

Studies have shown that satins and herbal products have potential to treat non-alcohol fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in clinic. However, no study has compared their effects, and their mechanisms remain unresolved. Here, we choose lovastatin and two herbal products including berberine and curcumin to compare their effects in treating NAFLD. NAFLD model was established by high fat food, and rats were administrated with lovastatin, berberine, curcumin, berberine + curcumin at the dosage of 100, 100, 100, 50 + 50 mg/kg bw, respectively. The body weight, visceral fat gain, histological inspection and serum parameters were studied to exam the curative effects. In addition, mediators including SREBP-1c, caveolin-1, pERK, NF-κB, TNF-α, and pJNK were studied. Results showed that berberine + curcumin group exhibited lower body and fat weigh compared with lovastatin group. Biochemical assays showed that LDL-c, ALT, AST, ALP, MDA, LSP level were lower in berberine + curcumin group compared with lovastatin group. Lower expression of SREBP-1c, pERK, TNF-α, and pJNK were also observed in berberine + curcumin group. We conclude that combination of curcumin and berberine exhibited better ameliorative effects in treating NAFLD than lovastatin, and this enhanced effect is associated with oxidative stress, hepatic inflammation and lipid metabolism.

[Studies on identification of Phragmitis Rhizoma and its counterfeits].

The study aims to explore the main differential characteristics of Phragmites Rhizoma and its counterfeits (rhizomes of Arundo donax, Triarrhena lutarioriparia and Miscanthus sinensis) and provide experimental basis for the reasonable applications of gramineous plants through system research and comparison of plant morphogenesis, character, transverse organization characteristics and powder microscopic characteristics.

2ß, 3ß, 23-trihydroxy-urs-12-ene-28-olic acid (TUA) isolated from Actinidia chinensis Radix inhibits NCI-H460 cell proliferation by decreasing NF-κB expression.

A natural ursolic compound, 2ß, 3ß, 23-trihydroxy-urs-12-ene-28-olic acid (TUA) was isolated from the root of Actinidia chinensis Planch (A. chinensis Radix). Since a large number of triterpenoid compound has marked anticancer effects toward various types of cancer cell lines in vitro, this study was carried out to investigate the anticancer effect of TUA in non-small cell lung cancer cells (NSCLCCs) and the underlying apoptotic mechanism of TUA was examined in NCI-H460 cell lines. Cell proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle were measured using a cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The activity of transcription factor NF-κB was determined by EMSA method. The expression of apoptosis- and proliferation-related proteins was determined by western blotting. The effect of TUA on NF-κB mRNA expression in NCI-H460 cells was detected by RT-PCR. TUA significantly suppressed the viability of NCI-H460 cells. Also, TUA significantly increased the sub G1 population by cell cycle analysis and in a concentration dependent manner in NCI-H460 cells. Such an effect was accompanied by p65 (NF-κB subunit) inactivation by an inhibition of IκBα phosphorylation, and by inhibition of p65 mRNA expressions. Consistently Overall, our findings suggest that TUA induces apoptosis via inhibition of NF-κB (p65) expression level and activation of IκBα in NCI-H460 cells as a potent anticancer candidate for lung cancer treatment.

[Pharmacognostical study of Atropa belladonna].

Based on the research of plant taxonomy and botanical investigation, microscopic characteristics of the root, stem, leaf transverse section and powder of Atropa belladonna were studied for identification of the herb. The research detailed and made clear to the description identification and microscopic characteristics of officinal parts of the herbs. The work provided reference for the identification of A. belladonna herbs and pieces of work in the future, as well as a theoretical basis for the further research, development, medicinal use and the upgrading of quality standards.

[Determination of forsythiaside B and poliumoside in different origin and parts from Callicarpa kwangtungensis].

The RP-HPLC method was used to determinate the contents of forsythiaside B and poliumoside in different origin and parts from Callicarpa kwangtungensis. The linear ranges of forsythiaside B and poliumoside were 0. 106-3. 18 and 0. 105 2-3. 156 microg, respectively. The average recoveries of forythiaside B and poliumoside were 99. 01% ( RSD 1. 2%) and 100. 13% (RSD 0. 90% ), respectively. The contents of forsythiaside B and poliumoside were changed in different origin and parts from C. kwangtungensis. The sample from the area of Luxi, Pingxiang City, Jiangxi Province has the highest contents of forsythiaside B and poliumoside. The contents of forsythiaside B and poliumoside in different parts from C. kwangtungensis in Luxi are: leaf > stem > fruit. This result will provide a scientific basis for quality control and reasonable utilzation of C. kwangtungensis.

[Research advances of diterpene synthase].

Diterpenes, an important class of natural compounds, are widely distributed in nature. As the valuable diterpenoids continue to be found, diterpene synthase in the course of diterpene synthesis get as much attention as possible. The multiformity of end-product-diterpenoids were also due to the diversity of diterpene synthase. This paper focuses on the advances in recent biosynthesis pathway of diterpene and types, cloning, catalytic mechanism, synthetic biology application.

[Antimicrobial activity and chemical differences between the two chemotypes of rhubarbs].

Through our pre-investigation and literature analysis, it was found that rhubarb could be categorized into two types, chrysophanol-type and rhein-type, based on the proportion of the two constituents in the total content of anthraquinones after acid hydrolysis. In this paper, the antimicrobial activities of chrysophanol-type and rhein-type rhubarbs against Staphylococcus aureus were compared with microcalorimetric analysis, in order to illustrate the bioactive differentiability between the two chemotypes. For the aim to display the distinction of chrysophanol and rhein percentage in total anthraquinones, the sampling volume was regulated to make the total anthraquinones equivalent, thus, the antimicrobial difference was only attributed to the difference of chemotypes. The results indicated that the antimicrobial difference between the two chemotypes was confirmable labeled at the biothermokinetic parameters of S. aureus growth affected by the rhubarb samples. The growth rate constant (k1) of the first exponential phase for the growth of S. aureus affected by the rhein-type rhubarb was significantly lower than that of chrysophanol-type (P<0.01), which suggested stronger antimicrobial activity of rhein-type rhubarb than that of chrysophanol-type. However, the antimicrobial activities of rhein-type rhubarbs were not positively correlated to the contents of rhein. It suggested that the antimicrobial activity of rhubarb might be related to some unknown components which were of same accumulating pattern of rhein. The findings in present study provided some experimental evidence on categorizing rhubarb into two chemotypes through the difference of antimicrobial activity on S. aureus by microcalorimetric analysis and, further, offered references to revision of the commercial specification of rhubarb from chemical view.

[Differences between cold and hot natures of processed Radix ginseng rubra and Panax quinquefolius L. based upon mice temperature tropism].

OBJECTIVE: To establish an objective method to estimate the disparity between the cold and hot natures on the basis of an intrinsic correlation between temperature tropism of mice and the cold and hot natures of Chinese medicines. METHODS: Male KM mice were randomly divided into 7 groups of 6 each, namely the normal group (NM), the weak model group (WM), the strong model group (SM), the weak model plus Radix ginseng rubra group (WM + RG), the weak model plus Panax quinquefolius L. group (WM + PQ), the strong model plus Radix ginseng rubra group (SM + RG) and the strong model plus Panax quinquefolius L. group (SM +PQ). The specific herbal drugs were administered intragastricly. To induce the weak model, mice were fed with a limited supply of feed and forced to swim in cold water until almost drowning while the strong model induced by feeding a high-protein diet with an unlimited feed access. The doses of Radix ginseng rubra and Panax quinquefolius L. were 35 mg/g of body weight per day (counted by the quantity of crude material) and lasting for seven days. The NM and model groups without dosing were intragastricly administered with physiological saline of the same volume to the dosing groups. The percentage of the remaining time of mouse on a high temperature (40 degrees C) pad to the total monitoring time was recorded by a self-designed intelligent animal behavior monitoring system. Meanwhile, the drinking volume of mice in each group was measured. Immediately after experiment, the activities of Na(+)K(+)-ATPase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in liver tissue were measured by assay kits of phosphorus and xanthine oxidase methods respectively. RESULTS: The features of deficient and cold symptom, such as fatigue, stagnant weight growth, decreased water intake, cold limbs and tail etc, were observed in WM group. And the features of heat symptom, such as increased weight and water intake, hyperactivity etc, were observed in SM group. The percentage of time that the mouse remained on 40 degrees C pad of the WM group within the seven days experiment was significantly higher than that of the normal group (70.6% +/- 21.3% vs 52.1% +/- 6.5%, P < 0.05). While the value of SM group (45.7% +/- 4.6% ) was significantly lower than that of the normal group (P < 0.05); the value of WM + RG group and WM + PQ group were 65.6% +/- 7.8% and 75.3% +/- 13.0% respectively (both P < 0.05 compared with WM group); the values of SM + RG group and SM + PQ group were 36.1% +/- 15.5% and 55.5% +/- 7.7% respectively (both P < 0.05 compared with SM group). The activities of Na(+)K(+)-ATPase and SOD of WM mice treated with either Radix ginseng rubra or Panax quinquefolius L. were found to have a significant up-regulation (P < 0.05) as compared with untreated WM mice. But only the Panax quinquefolius L. showed an up-regulating effect upon Na(+)K(+) ATPase and SOD in SM mice. CONCLUSIONS: The external cold and hot natures of Radix ginseng rubra and Panax quinquefolius L. can be represented in an ethological way by the changes of animal's temperature tropism. And such a tropism may be internally regulated by body's energy metabolism.

[Neuroprotective effects of water extracts of American Ginseng on SH-SY5Y cells apoptosis induced by Abeta25-35].

OBJECTIVE: To study the neuroprotective effect of water extracts of American Ginseng (WEAG) on Abeta25-35-induced SH-SY5Y cells apoptosis in Alzheimer's Disease cellular model. METHODS: The optimal concentration and treating time of Abeta25-35 for Alzheimer's Disease cellular model as well as those of WEAG were measured by flow cytometer. In addition, the cell viability was measured by MTT test and the morphology of SH-SY5Y cells was observed by Hoechst 33258 staining. RESULTS: Treated by Abeta25-35 50 micromol/L 72 h later, SH-SY5Y cells turned rounder, aggregated and were positively stained with fluorochrome Hoechst 33258. Cells displayed a typical sub-diploid peak in flow cytometry, and the percentage of apoptosis reaches (37.30 +/- 0.69)% (P < 0.05 as compared with the control group) (1.56 +/- 0.80)%. When incubated with Abeta 50 micromol/L and different doses (0.5, 1, 5 mg/ml) of WEAG for 72h, the characteristics of apoptosis as measured by FCM dose-dependently declined to (16.71 +/- 1.08)%, (10.52 +/- 2.11)% and (3.39 +/- 1.65)%, respectively (P < 0.05 as compared with the model group). CONCLUSION: Water extracts of American Ginseng have markedly neuroprotective effects on SH-SY5Y cells apoptosis induced by Abeta25-35.

[Studies on TLC fingerprint of flavonoids in rhizome of Polygonatum odoratum].

OBJECTIVE: To study the thin layer chromatographic (TLC) fingerprint of flavonoid constituents from Polygonatum odoratum, to set up the identification protocol of the herbal and provide scientific information for its quality control. METHOD: The ethanol extracts were separated on silica gel G precoated plate with a mixture of toluene-ethylacetate-formic acid (5:4:1) as the mobile phase. The spots were visualized with ammonia vapor, then were examined under ultraviolet light (365 nm). The plate was scanned at wavelengths of lambdaR = 500 nm, lambdaS = 280 nm. RESULT: A fingerprint of flavonoids of P. odoratum, with 10 specific fluorescent spots while examined under ultraviolet light, was set up. CONCLUSION: The method can be used for quality control of P. odoratum.

[Determination of imperatorin in tetraploidy radix Angelicae dahuricae].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the content of imperatorin in the tetraploidy radix angelicae dahuricae, and compare it with the original diplontic varites. METHOD: The chromatographic method was carried out on Nova-pak (4.6 mm x 200 mm, 5 microns) column with acetonitrile-water solution as a mobile phase. The flow rate was 1 ml.min-1. the detection wavelength was at 248 nm, and the column temperature was 25 degrees C. RESULT: The eontent of was imperatorin in the tetraploidy radix 0.460% and 0.225% imperatorin in the diplontic species. CONCLUSION: The content of the mainly active constituent in the tetraploid is double to what it is in the original diplontic species.