Inhibitory effect of baicalin on orthodontically induced inflammatory root resorption in rats.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the inhibitory effect of baicalin on orthodontically induced inflammatory root resorption in rats. METHODS: Forty-five male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups of 15 rats each. Fifty grams of force was used to establish an orthodontic tooth movement model. Baicalin (40 mg/kg) was locally injected into rats in the baicalin group at 3-day intervals; concurrently, normal saline was injected into rats in the negative control group. On the 21st day after orthodontic treatment, the tooth movement distance and root resorption area ratio were measured. Histomorphology changes were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in tooth movement distance between groups. The root resorption area ratio was significantly lower in the baicalin group than in the negative control group. Runx-2 expression was significantly higher in the baicalin group than in the negative control group, while tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α expression was significantly lower in the baicalin group than in the negative control group. CONCLUSIONS: Baicalin inhibits orthodontically induced inflammatory root resorption by enhancing the expression of Runx-2 and reducing the expression of TNF-α, but does not affect tooth movement distance.

Chitosan-stablized bovine serum albumin nanoparticles having ability to control the release of NELL-1 protein.

The study was designed to prepare and evaluate chitosan stabilized-albumin nanoparticles as NELL-1 protein carriers(Chi/NNPs). The Chi/NNPs were prepared by desolvation method and then stabilized by chitosan through electrostatic interaction. The Chi/NNPs were characterized for drug loading efficiency, surface morphology, particle size, surface charge. Fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled chitosan was used to confirm the homogeneity of chitosan coating on the BSA nanoparticles. The NELL-1 bioactivity of Chi/NNPs and the release kinetics were investigated in vitro. It was observed that the mean particle size with chitosan (0.075 wt%,0.15 wt%, 0.3 wt%, respectively) and the surface charge were 368.663 ±â€¯15.470 nm, 382.881 ±â€¯18.767 nm, 390.480 ±â€¯11.465 nm and +25.03 ±â€¯1.42 mV, +30.27 ±â€¯1.80 mV, +31.03 ±â€¯2.05 mV respectively. Drug entrapment efficiency ranged from 87.83% to 89.30%. The Chi/NNPs prepared with the 0.15 wt% chitosan were able to successfully control the release of NELL-1 and maintain a sustained release for up to 8 days. Furthermore, more than 82.67 ±â€¯8.74% of the loaded protein's bioactivity was preserved in Chi/NNPs over the period of the investigation. Our findings suggest that Chi/NNPs as promising protein delivery nanocarriers have the ability to maintain sustained release kinetics and to preserve the bioactivity of released NELL-1.

[GC-MS analysis of chemical constituents of volatile oil from flowers of Rhododendron mucronatum].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the chemical constituents of volatile oil from flowers of Rhododendron mucronatum. METHODS: The volatile oil was extracted by water-steam distillation and analyzed by GC-MS. RESULTS: Forty-nine compounds, which occupied 79.55% of total constituents, were identified. The major constituents were linalool, beta-eudesmene, phytol, benzyl benzoate, benzyl salicylate and nonyl aldehyde. CONCLUSION: The chemical constituents of volatile oil, which contain many bioactive constituents, are mainly composed of terpenes, esters, and alkanes.