[Effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction and its simple prescription (Naojian tablet) on CDK4/Cyclin D1 expression of rats with cerebral ischemia].

To evaluate the regulating effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction and its simple prescription (Naojian tablet) on CDK4/Cyclin D1 expression in hippocampus tissues of rats with cerebral ischemia, SD rats were divided into the sham-operation group, the model group, the Buyang Huanwu decoction group (ig, 3.15 g · kg⁻¹) and the simple prescription group (ig, 2.41 g · kg⁻¹). Each group was further divided into five subgroups based on time points after the administration, i. e. 1 d, 3 d, 7 d, 14 d and 28 d, respectively. CDK4/Cyclin D1 expressions of the group at different time points were examined by using immunohistochemistry and real-time qPCR. According to the results, the cerebral ischemia model group showed higher CDK4/Cyclin D1 expression than the sham-operation groups (P < 0.05), suggesting that the cell cycle signal pathway would be activated by the cerebral ischemic injury. Both Buyang Huanwu decoction and simple prescription groups showed significantly lower cyclin expression than the model group at 3 d, 7 d, 14 d, 28 d (P < 0.05), indicating both Buyang Huanwu decoction and its simple prescription could play the neuroprotective effect through the cell cycle signal pathway.

Buyang Huanwu Decoction () reduces infarct volume and enhances estradiol and estradiol receptor concentration in ovariectomized rats after middle cerebral artery occlusion.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction (, BYHWD) on estradiol (E2) and estradiol receptor (ER) in serum and brain in ovariectomized rats after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). METHODS: Adult female rats were ovariectomized and focal cerebral ischemic was induced by MCAO. Rats were randomly divided into normal, ovariectomy (OVX), MCAO, OVX+MCAO, OVX+MCAO+E2, and OVX+MCAO+BYHWD group. Rats were administered BYHWD 5 g/kg daily, estradiol valerate 500 µg/kg per day or distilled water for 7 consecutive days. Neuronal function and infarct volume were measured on day 7 after artery occlusion, and E2 and ER concentration in serum and brain were checked by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: BYHWD significantly improved the neurological behavior, reduced the infarction volume, increased E2 concentration in serum and brain, and increased ER concentration in the brain in ovariectomized rats after MCAO. CONCLUSION: The neuroprotective effects of BYHWD are associated with estrogen and its receptor.

[Comparative study on effect of three preparations of xiaoyao formula on soothing liver and strengthening spleen].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of three preparations of xiaoyao formula (xiaoyao capsule, xiaoyao pill and Xiaoyao decoction) on soothing liver and strengthening spleen. METHOD: The liver depression and spleen deficiency rat model were established by forcing swimming, confining movement test and feeding on alternate days. The rats were randomly divided into eight groups, namely the blank group, the model group, the Cisapride group (2.7 mg x kg(-1)), the xiaoyao decoction group (1.62 g x kg(-1)), the xiaoyao pill group (1.62 g x kg(-1)) and the Xiaoyao capsule groups of high dose (3.24 g x kg(-1)), medium dose (1.62 g x kg(-1)) and low dose (0.81 g x kg(-1)), with intragastric administration for 3 weeks. The contents of NE, DA, 5-HT in serum were measured by HPLC-electrochemical detection method. The contents of motilin (MTL) and somatostation (SS) in plasma was determined by radioimmunassay. The expressions of MTL and SS in tissue were determined by immunohistochemical method. RESULT: The contents of NE and MTL in the xiaoyao decoction group was significantly higher than that in the model group, while the content of 5-HT and SS was significantly lower than that in the model group (P < 0.01). The expression of MTL in the xiaoyao capsule group (1.62 g x kg(-1)) was significantly higher than that in the model group and the contents of 5-HT and SS was significantly lower than that in the model group (P < 0.05). The mean optical density of MTL in gastrointestinal tissue of rats in the xiaoyao decoction group and the xiaoyao capsule group (1.62 g x kg(-1)) was remarkably higher than that in the model group, while the expression of SS was notably lower than that in the model group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: All of the three preparations of Xiaoyao formula have the effect on soothing liver and strengthening spleen. Xiaoyao decoction shows better effect than xiaoyao capsule with same dosage, while xiaoyao capsule shows better effect than xiaoyao pill with same dosage.

Simultaneous determination of synephrine, arecoline, and norisoboldine in Chinese patent medicine Si-Mo-Tang oral liquid preparation by strong cation exchange high performance liquid chromatography.

CONTEXT: Chinese patent medicine Si-Mo-Tang oral liquid preparation (SMT) is composed of Aucklandia luppa Decne (Compositae), Citrus aurantium Linn (Rutaceae), Lindera aggregata (Sims) Kosterm (Lauraceae), and Areca catechu Linn (Arecaceae). Studies of SMT have been impeded due to the lack of quality control methods. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to simultaneously determine three alkaloids including synephrine, arecoline, and norisoboldine in SMT for the first time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A strong cation exchange (SCX) high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed to simultaneously determine synephrine, arecoline, and norisoboldine in SMT, and was compared with ion-pairing chromatography using regular reversed-phase chromatography columns. System suitability parameters of synephrine, arecoline, and norisoboldine using the SCX chromatography column were investigated. RESULTS: Results demonstrated that good separations were achieved on an Agilent SCX (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) column at 35 °C. The mobile phase consisting of methanol-0.2% phosphoric acid was delivered at a constant flow of 1.0 mL min(-1) and the eluent was monitored at 215 nm. The HPLC method showed good linearity for the examined concentration ranges of 2.55-255.0, 1.30-208.0, and 2.06-201.6 µg mL(-1) for synephrine, arecoline, and norisoboldine, respectively. The limits of quantification (S/N = 10) were 2.55, 1.30, and 2.06 µg mL(-1), the limits of detection (S/N = 3) were 1.53, 0.78, and 1.21 µg mL(-1), and average recoveries were 98.99, 95.63 and 99.04%, respectively, for synephrine, arecoline, and norisoboldine. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This method has been successfully applied to determine synephrine, arecoline, and norisoboldine in Chinese patent medicine SMT.

Comparative analysis of essential oil components of Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. var. officinalis (Dode) Huang and Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth.

Essential oils from the fruit of two species of Evodia rutaecarpa from China (Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. var. officinalis (Dode) Huang and Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth.) have been obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in order to discern the differences and similarities between the volatile chemical compositions of these species. More than 21 components were identified in essential oils of the studied plants. In the oil of E. rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. var. officinalis (Dode) Huang, the main essential oil ingredients were ß-myrcene (44.43%) and ß-pinene (39.88%). ß-pinene (72.82%), 1R-α-pinene (8.90%) and ß-myrcene (1.99%) were the major compounds in the oil of E. rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. The chemical compounds of the essential oils showed that there are only six common compounds between the two species.

Simotang enhances gastrointestinal motility, motilin and cholecystokinin expression in chronically stressed mice.

AIM: To investigate the effect of Simotang (Decoction of Four Powered Drugs) on gastrointestinal motility, motilin and cholecystokinin expression in chronically stressed mice. METHODS: Forty mice were randomly divided into control group, stress group (model group), mosapride group and Simotang group, 10 in each group. A variety of unpredictable stimulations were used to induce chronic stress in mice. Then, the mice were treated with distilled water, mosapride or Simotang for 7 d. Gastric emptying and intestinal propulsion function were detected. Serum level of motilin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expression of cholecystokinin (CCK) in intestine, spinal cord and brain of mice was detected by immunohistochemistry and semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, respectively. RESULTS: Simotang improved the gastric emptying and intestinal propulsion in chronically stressed mice. Furthermore, the serum motilin level was significantly higher and the expression levels of CCK-positive cells and genes were significantly lower in intestine, spinal cord and brain of Simotang group than in those of model group (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found in serum motilin level and expression levels of CCK-positive cells and genes between the mosapride and Simotang groups. CONCLUSION: Simotang enhances the gastrointestinal motility in chronically stressed mice by regulating the serum motilin level and the expression of cholecystokinin.

[Effect of ultra-micronized Buyang Huanwu decoction on neurological function, quality of life, and serum vascular endothelial growth factor in patients convalescent from cerebral infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To study effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction (BYHWD) on neurological function, quality of life, and serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients convalescent from cerebral infarction, and to evaluate the effect of ultra-micronized BYHWD. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty-one patients met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to traditional BYHWD (TB) group (n=83), ultra-micronized BYHWD (UB) group (n=85) and the control group (n=83) according to time of entrance into the study with 1:1:1. All patients received rehabilitation training, but for patients in the TB and UB groups, traditional BYHWD (15 g, twice a day) or ultra-micronized BYHWD (5 g, twice a day) was given respectively, for a course of 12 weeks. Clinical curative effect and curative effect of syndrome according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) were evaluated. Nerve function and quality of life in patients were evaluated, serum VEGF was determined before and after treatment. The level of VEGF in 23 healthy volunteers was also determined to serve as normal control. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 83.5%, 85.5% and 77.1% in UB group, TB group and the control group, respectively, and the total symptomatic effective rate in TCM was 87.0%, 89.2% and 77.1%, respectively. Compared with the control group, there was significant difference in UB or TB group (all P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between UB and TB groups (both P >0.05). Serum VEGF levels (ng/L) were significantly lower before treatment in control group, TB group and UB group than those in normal control group (79.87±2.81, 80.19±3.23, 80.23±3.18 vs. 68.13±3.39, all P<0.05). Neurologic deficit score (NDS), quality of life and serum VEGF were improved after treatment in three groups, but they were better in UB or TB group than the control group [NDS: 11.95±5.03, 12.68±4.67 vs. 15.23±5.12, quality of life score: 64.71±6.73, 63.56±6.53 vs. 59.09±6.81, serum VEGF (ng/L): 76.38±3.02, 76.84±3.18 vs. 70.26±3.15 , all P<0.05], but there was no significant difference between UB and TB groups (all P >0.05). CONCLUSION: BYHWD can improve neurological function and quality of life, and increase serum VEGF in patients convalescent from cerebral infarction, and ultra-micronized BYHWD, the dosage can be decreased.

[Effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction on interleukin-1ß and tumor necrosis factor-α expression in rats after cerebral infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction (BYHWD) on pro-inflammatory cytokines in rats after focal cerebral infarction. METHODS: Adult Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into following groups: normal control, sham, model, BYHWD. The rats in latter three groups were subdivided into subgroups of 1, 3, and 7 days after medication, with 5 rats in each group. The right side focal cerebral infarction model was reproduced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The rats in BYHWD group were gavaged with BYHWD of 10 ml/kg (14.2 g/kg, once a day) 2 hours after operation. Animals were sacrificed at corresponding time points. The protein and mRNA expression of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: There were low levels expression of IL-1ß and TNF-α protein and mRNA in normal control group and the sham group. After cerebral infarction, the protein and mRNA expression of IL-1ß and TNF-α began to increase in rats 1 day after the insult, and the protein and mRNA expression of IL-1ß reached the peak on 3rd day, and then lowered, and the protein and mRNA expression of TNF-α reached the peak on 7th day. Compared with model group on 1st, 3rd and 7th day, the protein expression of IL-1ß (ng/L: 90.290±8.693 vs. 102.556±13.934 on 1st day, 129.632±11.050 vs. 150.117±8.552 on 3rd day, 66.185±9.020 vs. 91.362±9.901 on 7th day) and TNF-α (ng/L: 210.341±19.247 vs. 236.887±20.137 on 1st day, 267.503±21.006 vs. 322.659±15.068 on 3rd day, 299.637±17.717 vs. 386.678±16.297 on 7th day), and mRNA expression of IL-1ß (1 day: 0.54±0.09 vs. 0.64±0.11, 3 days: 0.80±0.06 vs. 0.89±0.07, 7 days : 0.70±0.09 vs. 0.78±0.08) and TNF-α (1 day: 0.64±0.09 vs. 0.73±0.11, 3 days: 0.74±0.13 vs. 0.85±0.07 , 7 days : 0.82±0.07 vs. 0.93±0.08], were all decreased obviously in BYHWD group ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION: BYHWD could reduce the protein and mRNA expressions of IL-1ß and TNF-α in levels after cerebral infarction. The result shows that it protects brain by modulating expression of pro-inflammatory mediators.

Molecular authentication and quality control using a high performance liquid chromatography technique of Fructus Evodiae.

In present paper, the properties of molecular authentication combined with the fingerprints of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were validated by analyzing ten batches of Fructus Evodiae samples (the dried nearly ripe fruit of Evodia rutaecarpa (JUSS.) BENTH., Evodia rutaecarpa (JUSS.) BENTH. var. officinalis (DODE) HUANG or Evodia rutaecarpa (JUSS.) BENTH. var. bodinieri (DODE) HUANG). The results of this investigation show that the similarities of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences were almost 100% in Evodia rutaecarpa (JUSS.) BENTH. var. bodinieri (DODE) HUANG, 97% in Evodia rutaecarpa (JUSS.) BENTH., and 96% in Evodia rutaecarpa (JUSS.) BENTH. var. officinalis (DODE) HUANG. The percentage of identity between the two groups of Evodia rutaecarpa (JUSS.) BENTH. var. bodinieri (DODE) HUANG and Evodia rutaecarpa (JUSS.) BENTH. var. officinalis (DODE) HUANG is almost 96%, but the identity among the group of these three species is only 73%. The results show that Fructus Evodiae comes from three species respectively. The fingerprints of HPLC show that Fructus Evodiae revealed 20 major common peaks. And the three species have almost the same chemical constituents. ITS sequence fingerprint combining the fingerprint of HPLC can not only be developed to identify and distinguish the three species in detail, but also can be used for optimizing location where Fructus Evodiae has much higher bioactive constituents and yield.

[Chemical contrast research on Buyang Huanwu complex ultramicro powder soak and traditional decoction].

OBJECT: To study the chemical composition of Buyang Huanwu complex ultramicro powder soak and traditional decoction. METHODS: Extractive determination, heavy metal and arsenic determination, TLC and HPLC were used to analysis the chemical composition. RESULTS: The extract of Buyang Huanwu complex ultramicro powder soak was higher than that of traditional decoction. The lamellar spot of Buyang Huanwu complex ultramicro powder soak was clearer than that of traditional decoction. Astragalin in Buyang Huanwu complex ultramicro powder soak was correspond with the traditional decoction. CONCLUSION: The way of soaking ultramicro powder not only can avoid losing active component, but also can release it quickly.

[Therapeutic effects of the combination of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine on patients with peptic ulcers].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of the combination of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine on patients with peptic ulcers. METHODS: One hundred and twenty patients were randomly divided into 6 groups. Another 10 patients as the control group were confirmed with no peptic ulcers by endoscope, but had digestive tract symptoms. The clinical effects were compared among each group after the one month treatment. RESULTS: The clinical effects of the combination of Jianweiyuyang granules and ranitidine capsules were better than those of western medicine, with improvement in symptoms and syndrome (P < 0.01 to 0.05), but there was not significant difference with the rate of ulcer healing and the Hp clearance among the combination of Jianweiyuyang granules and ranitidine capsules, Jianweiyuyang granules, and ranitidine capsules (P > 0.05). The combination of Jianweiyuyang granules and ranitidine capsules could significantly upregulate the expression of MUCSAC mRNA (P < 0.01), while downregulate the expression of ETAR mRNA (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: There is obvious advantage in treating peptic ulcers by the combination of Jianweiyuyang granules and ranitidine capsules, and its mechanisms may be to protect the gastric mucosal barrier by up-regulating the expression of MUCSAC mRNA and to improve the gastric mucosal blood flow by down-regulating the expression of ETAR mRNA.