Protective effects of total saponins from Panax japonicus against high-fat diet-induced testicular Sertoli cell junction damage in mice / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the protective effects of total saponins from Panax japonicus (TSPJ) against high-fat dietinduced testicular Sertoli cell junction damage in mice.@*METHODS@#Forty male C57BL/6J mice were randomized into normal diet group, high-fat diet group, and low-dose (25 mg/kg) and high-dose (75 mg/kg) TSPJ treatment groups (n=10). The mice in the normal diet group were fed a normal diet, while the mice in the other groups were fed a high-fat diet. After TSPJ treatment via intragastric administration for 5 months, the testes and epididymis of the mice were collected for measurement of weight, testicular and epididymal indices and sperm parameters. HE staining was used for histological evaluation of the testicular tissues and measurement of seminiferous tubule diameter and seminiferous epithelium height. The expression levels of ZO-1, occludin, claudin11, N-cadherin, E-cadherin and β-catenin in Sertoli cells were detected with Western blot, and the localization and expression levels of ZO-1 and β-catenin in the testicular tissues were detected with immunofluorescence assay. The protein expressions of LC3B, p-AKT and p-mTOR in testicular Sertoli cells were detected using double immunofluorescence assay.@*RESULTS@#Treatment with TSPJ significantly improved high-fat diet-induced testicular dysfunction by reducing body weight (P < 0.001), increasing testicular and epididymal indices (P < 0.05), and improving sperm concentration and sperm viability (P < 0.05). TSPJ ameliorated testicular pathologies and increased seminiferous epithelium height of the mice with high-fat diet feeding (P < 0.05) without affecting the seminiferous tubule diameter. TSPJ significantly increased the expression levels of ZO-1, occludin, N-cadherin, E-cadherin and β-catenin (P < 0.05) but did not affect claudin11 expression in the testicular tissues. Immunofluorescence assay showed that TSPJ significantly increased ZO-1 and β-catenin expression in the testicular tissues (P < 0.001), downregulated LC3B expression and upregulated p-AKT and p-mTOR expressions in testicular Sertoli cells.@*CONCLUSION@#TSPJ alleviates high-fat diet-induced damages of testicular Sertoli cell junctions and spermatogenesis possibly by activating the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and inhibiting autophagy of testicular Sertoli cells.

The mechanism of microcystin leucine-arginine (MC-LR)-induced injury of Sertoli cell immune response and biological behavior / 细胞与分子免疫学杂志

Microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR), a potentially carcinogenic toxin, is produced by Cyanobacteria such as Microcystis and Ananabacteria during water bloom. Increasing evidence demonstrated that MC-LR induces male reproductive toxicity, mainly by inducing germ cell apoptosis, destroying cell cytoskeleton, interfering with DNA damage repair pathway, and damaging blood-testicular barrier (BTB), which eventually lead to male sterility. Testicular Sertoli cells are the somatic cells that directly contact with spermatogenic cells in seminiferous tubules. They not only regulate immune response to maintain testicular immune homeostasis by secreting a variety of cytokines and immunosuppressive factors, but also provide the protective effects of spermatogenic cells by forming BTB. MC-LR induces inflammation and apoptosis of Sertoli cells, and destroys the integrity of the BTB, and then causes spermatogenesis dysfunction.

Changes of somatosensory evoked potentials in spinal cord injury and the influence of the timing of decompression on the recovery of spinal cord function and evoked potentials / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective:To explore the changes in somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI) and the effects of relieving spinal cord compression at different times on recovery and the evoked potential.Methods:Seventy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group of 10 and an experimental group of 60. The experimental group was further divided into a mild injury group of 10, a moderate injury group of 40 and a severe injury group of 10. Spinal cord injuries with different severities were established in the experimental group using a self-made percussion device. The rats′ SEPs were measured before the injury, and 5 minutes, 1 hour, 6 hours, 3 days and 7 days afterward. Some of the rats receiving decompression treatment.Results:The more seriously the spinal cord was injured, the longer was the latency and the smaller was the amplitude. Both differences were statistically significant. Rats with longer compression time had significantly longer incubation periods and greater decreases in the amplitude. After relieving the compression, rats from whom it had been relieved earlier had quicker amplitude recovery. For rats under compression for 30 minutes, their amplitude was the lowest seven days later.Conclusions:For spinal cord injury, longer compression time can lead to more significant changes in the latency and amplitude of SEP, with the change in the amplitude more significant than that in the latency.

Association of the prognostic nutrition index with overall survival time of the patients with brain metastases of lung adenocarcinoma / 国际肿瘤学杂志

Objective To explore the effect of prognostic nutrition index (PNI) on the overall survival time of patients with brain metastases of lung adenocarcinoma.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinic data of 274 patients who were admitted to our hospital and confirmed with brain metastases of lung adenocarcinoma from May 2013 to May 2016.The prognosic factors for brain metastases such as PNI,gender,age,smoking history,epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status,Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score,the number of brain lesions,treatment of brain lesions,extracranial metastases and the status of primary disease were analyzed.The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to determine the optimal cut-off value of PNI,and the patients were divided into high PNI group and low PNI group.The univariate and multivariate prognostic analyses were performed by the Log-rank test and the Cox proportional hazards model.Results The patients were divided into high PNI (＞ 50.45) group (n =72) and low PNI (≤50.45) group (n =202).The median overall survival (OS) was 11.20 months in all patients with brain metastases,and the median OS of the low PNI group and high PNI group were 10.13 months and 15.17 months respectively.The univariate analysis results showed that gender (x2 =5.459,P =0.019),age (x2 =3.986,P =0.046),smoking or not (x2 =6.878,P =0.009),EGFR mutation status (x2 =20.484,P＜0.001),KPS score (x2 =126.573,P ＜ 0.001),extracranial metastases or not (x2 =4.403,P =0.036),treatment on the brain lesions (x2 =40.444,P ＜ 0.001) and PNI (x2 =7.972,P =0.005) were related to the prognosis.The Cox multivariate analysis results showed that age (HR =1.580,95％ CI:1.104-2.295,P =0.012),EGFR mutation status (HR =0.549,95％ CI:0.408-0.738,P ＜ 0.001),KPS score (HR =0.077,95％CI:0.045-0.134,P ＜ 0.001),treatment on brain metastases (HR =0.882,95％ CI:0.789-0.987,P =0.029) and PNI (HR =0.614,95％ CI:0.437-0.861,P =0.005) were related to the prognosis.Conclusion PNI is an independent prognostic predictor of brain metastases in patients with lung adenocarcinoma,and the high-PNI is correlated to the long OS of patients with brain metastases of lung adenocarcinoma,which has certain clinical practical value.

Advances in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer: focus on anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibody / 中国医师杂志

Immunotherapy is revolutionizing the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) monoclonal antibodies have recently led to significant and durable improvements in the clinical outcome of NSCLC,and the anti-PD-1 antibody has been approved to use in first-line and second-line treatment of NSCLC.However,there are still many problems to be solved.The role of PD-L1 as a predictive biomarker remains unclear.Combination treatment models are being explored.This review summarizes the clinical efficacy,drug adverse reaction,combined treatment,and potential immune biomarkers of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibody research progress in the treatment of NSCLC.

Effects of total saponins of Panax japonicuson liver inflammation natural aging rats / 中国药理学通报

Aim To study the effects of total saponins of Panax japonicus(TSPJ) on liver inflammation of natural aging rats.Methods The experimental rats were allocated into seven groups (twelve rats in each group): three months group, nine months group, fifteen months group, twenty-four months group, and TSPJ low-, mid-and high-dose groups(10, 30, 60 mg·kg-1).When the rats were eighteen months old, the TSPJ low-, mid-and high-dose groups of rats were given lavage treatments with TSPJ 10,30, 60 mg·kg-1 respectively until twenty-four months.During lavage, we stopped a day every week for six consecutive months.HE staining was used to observe the pathological morphological changes.Western blot was utilized to test IL-1β and TNF-α protein expressions.RT-PCR method was adopted to test IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, IL-17α, TNF-α, IFN-γ mRNA expressions.Results HE staining observation showed that as the rats grew older the hepatic cord and sinusoid were arranged in more severe disorder, and the fat vacuole and inflammatory cells were increased significantly.While every dose group of TSPJ could improve these pathological changes distinctly.The IL-1β, TNF-α protein and IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, IL-17α, TNF-α, IFN-γ mRNA expressions were increased gradually as the rats grew older, and every dose group of TSPJ could reduce their expressions to some extent.Conclusion TSPJ could protect the aging rat liver to some extent by inhibiting the liver inflammation.

Total flavonoids of Epimedium attenuate aging-related inflammation in rat brain by inhibiting MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the effect of the total flavonoids of Epimedium (TFE)on MAPK/NF-κB sig-naling pathway and the inflammatory reaction in the hippocampus of natural aging male rats.Methods The morphological changes of the hippocampus com-posed of three areas (CA1 ,CA3 and DG)were ob-served using haematoxylin-eoin (HE ) staining.The protein expression levels of senescence-associated pro-tein p21,apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl-2, nuclear transcription factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65 )and its downstream inflammatory factors TNF-α,IL-1βand COX-2,and MAPK signaling pathway-related proteins (ERK1/2,p-ERK1/2,JNK,p-JNK,p38MAPK,p-p38MAPK)in hippocampal were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with natural aging group, TFE obviously improved the morphology and structure of hippocampal neurons,and the nerve cells arranged neatly and closely. Furthermore, TFE significantly downregulated the protein expression levels of p2 1 and Bax,upregulated the protein expression levels of Bcl-2 and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax,and reduced the expression of NF-κB p65 and of its downstream inflammatory fac-tors TNF-α, IL-1β, COX-2, and MAPK signaling pathway-related proteins (p-ERK1/2,p-JNK and p-p38 MAPK ) in hippocampus of natural aging rats. Conclusions TFE effectively protects against inflam-matory reaction in brain aging of SD male rats.The mechanism is related with inhibition of NF-κB nuclear translocation and reduction of its downstream inflamma-tory cytokines expression by inhibiting MAPK signaling pathway activation.

Effects of Wuzi Yanzong Prescription on cyclophosphamide-induced DNA damage of testis cells in mice / 中成药

AIM To investigate the effects of Wuzi Yanzong Prescription (Lycii Fructus,Cuscutae Semen,Rubi Fructus,Plantaginis Semen and Schisandrae chinensis Fructus) on DNA damage of testis cells in adult male mice induced by cyclophosphamide (CTX).METHODS Forty out of fifty adult male Balb/C mice were injected intraperitoneally with CTX and then were randomly and equally divided into model control group (normal saline),Wuzi Yanzong Prescription low-,medium-and high-dose groups (100,200 and 400 mg/kg),and the other ten mice served as normal control group (normal saline).All mice were anesthetized by inhalation of ether,and then were sacrificed by cervical dislocation.The sperm count,sperm motility and malformation rate of sperm were tested.The content of 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in serum was measured using ELISA;the DNA damage degree of cells in testis was detected by single cell gel electrophoresis;the protein expressions of p-P53 and γ-H2AX in testis were examined by Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the model control group,Wuzi Yanzong Prescription groups showed significant increase in the sperm count,sperm motility and significantly decreased malformation rate of sperm,the level of 8-OHdG in serum,and the protein expressions of p-P53 and γ-H2AX in testis were also significantly decreased.CONCLUSION Wuzi Yanzong Prescription can significantly alleviate the DNA damage of testis cells in mice induced by CTX through down-regulating protein expressions of p-P53 and γ-H2AX.

Effects of Extracted Active Components of Chaenomeles Speciosa on Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Model Mice induced by High-fat–high-fructose Diet / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To study the effects of extracted active components of Chaenomeles Speciosa (EACCS) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice; To discuss the possible molecular mechanism. Methods Forty male KM mice were randomized into four groups, namely normal group, model group, low-dose (50 mg/kg) EACCS group and high-dose (100 mg/kg) EACCS group. Except that the normal group was daily given routine diet, the other groups were given high-fat–high-fructose diet (HFFD). The mice were put to death 4 weeks later. Body weight, liver weight and serum TG were measured. HE and oil red O staining were used to observe liver tissue morphology. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of lipid metabolism related genes. Results Compared with the normal group, the liver size, liver index (P<0.01) and epididymal fat index (P<0.05) increased significantly;The ALT and GLU in serum increased (P<0.05), TG increased (P<0.05), and pathological findings showed significant steatosis; RT-PCR and Western blot showed that the expression levels of SIRT1 and FoxO1 mRNA decreased and the level of SERBP-1c increased in the model group. Compared with the model group, the hepatic lipid accumulation of EACCS groups was obviously improved, and the serum ALT, GLU, and TG levels significantly decreased, the expression levels of hepatic SIRT1 and FoxO1 mRNA increased. Conclusion EACCS has protective effects on NAFLD mice induced by HFFD, and its mechanism may be related to the activation of SIRT1-FoxO1 signaling pathway in the liver tissues.

Clinical Observation of Lornoxicam in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of celecoxib in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis and its ef-fects on patin degree. METHODS:One hundred and twenty cases of knee osteoarthritis were selected from our hospital during Jan. 2014 to Jan. 2016,and then divided into control group and observation group according to therapy plan,with 60 cases in each group. Control group was given Ibuprofen sustained-release capsule 0.3 g,bid;observation group was additionally given lornoxi-cam 8 mg,bid,on the basis of control group. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. VAS score was compared between 2 groups before and after treatment,and clinical efficacy and the occurrence of ADR were observed in 2 groups. RESULTS:There was no statistical significance in VAS score between 2 groups before treatment(P>0.05). After treatment,VAS score of 2 groups were de-creased significantly,and the observation group was significantly lower than the control group,with statistical significance (P<0.05). Clinical response rate of observation group was 95.0%,which was significantly higher than 75.0% of control group,with statistical significance (P<0.05). The incidence of ADR was 3.33% in observation group,which was significantly lower than 11.67% of control group,with statistical significance(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Lornoxicam is effective for knee osteoarthritis and can significantly improve pain with good safety.

Anti-inflammatory effect of Chikusetsu oleanane saponin on RAW264. 7 cell through regulating SIRT1 activity / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate SIRT1 activity and an-ti-inflammatory effects of Chikusetsu oleanane saponin ( COS) on the RAW264. 7 macrophage cells induced by lipopolysaccharide ( LPS ) . Methods The nitric oxide ( NO) release was detected with Griess method. Western blot was used to detect the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α( TNF-α) , interleukin 1β( IL-1β) . Nuclear factor-κB ( NF-κB) and silent information ad-justment factor 1 ( SIRT1 ) were tested by immunofluo-rescence. Results 1 mg · L-1 LPS co-cultured with COS at 25~300 mg·L-1 had no significant effect on the growth of RAW264. 7 cells. Compared with the LPS group, COS effectively inhibited the NO release and suppressed the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β, and also inhibited the translocation of NF-κB and up-regulation of SIRT1 . Conclusion COS has protective effects on RAW264. 7 cells stimulated by LPS, which may be related to up-regulating the expression of SIRT1 and promoting the deacetylation of NF-κB, thereby in-hibiting the translocation of NF-κB and reducing the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β.

The effect of different pore sized hydroxyapatite for promoting bone vascularization in tissue engineering / 重庆医学

Objective To investigate the effect of different pore sized hydroxyapatite for promoting bone vascularization in tissue engineering.Methods Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups,named group A,B and C,which were im-planted hydroxyapatite bioceramics compositing 4 μg bone morphogenetic protein with different aperture of 200 -300,350 -450, 500-600 μm in the back subcutaneously.The size of each block was 5 mm×5 mm×1 mm in a weight about of 40.0 mg.After im-plantation,the animals were killed and the implants and the surrounding tissue were taken out at the first,second,third and forth week respectively.HE staining of histological analysis was used to detect the situation of local neovascularization.Results There was significant difference between second and third week in group A.Comparing the area of vascularization at different time points in group B and group C,there were significant difference in the comparison of intragroup (P <0.05 ).During the first week after surgery,there was only group C that had the area of vascularization.During the second and forth week after operation,the area of vascularization in group B and group C were significant higher than group A (P <0.05).The C group showed a great deal of new-born blood vessels and clear formation of bone trabeculae.Conclusion The hydroxyapatite bioceramics of 500-600 μm could better promote vascalarization of tissue engineering in bone.

Effect of Polysaccharide from Panax japonicus on Hepatic Cell Injury / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To explore the protective effects of polysaccharide from Panax japonicus on free fatty acid in different parts of hepatic cell injury. Methods Polysaccharide of Panax japonicus was prepared through different concentrations of ethanol precipitation and was named as 30%polysaccharide component (pc), 60% pc and 90% pc. Palmitic acid (PA) was used to induce a cellular model of steatosis in HepG2 cells in order to screen the intervention viability of polysaccharide of Panax japonicus. MTT method was used to detect cell viability, and Oil Red O staining was used to demonstrate steatosis. Total RNA was extracted to detect the expression level of the relevant genes. Results MTT results showed that the 30% pc significantly increased cell viability compared with the model group;Oil Red O staining showed that the number of intracellular lipid droplets was significantly reduced in the 30% pc compared with the model group;RT-PCR results showed that expressions of the endoplasmic reticulum stress-related gene glucoese-regulated protein, CCAAT enhancer binding protein homologous protein and TNF-αwere significantly lower in the 30% pc compared with the model group, and there was no significant difference compared with normal control group. Conclusion The 30%ethanol precipitation fraction of polysaccharide from Panax japonicus significantly reduced PA-induced steatosis in HepG2 cells. Its mechanism was possibly realized through intervention in endoplasmic reticulum stress-related response.

Study on Adjuvant Immunoactivity of Polysaccharides from Panax Japonicus / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To study the adjuvant immunoactivity of polysaccharides from Panax japonicus by alcohol of different concentrations;To discuss its part with the strongest adjuvant immunoactivity. Methods Polysaccharides from Panax japonicus was sunk with alcohol of different concentrations, and 30%alcohol compound, 60%and 90%alcohol polysaccharide were obtained. Different segments of polysaccharide and OVA protein were injected to mice once a week for three times for immunity. Five days after the last immunity, the mice were executed to collect blood, and the antibody titer was determined. The three parts of alcohol compound were scanned by infrared spectrum to determine the type of polysaccharide preliminarily. Results Compared with the control group, the antibody titer of different segments of polysaccharide obviously increased, especially the polysaccharide sunk by 60%alcohol. Infrared spectrum analysis showed that polysaccharides from Panax japonicus contained pyranose ring structure. Conclusion Polysaccharides from Panax japonicus has significant adjuvant immunoactivity, and polysaccharide sunk by 60%alcohol has the strongest adjuvant effects.

Effects of Total Saponins from Panax Japonicus on Acute Hepatic Injury Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To discuss the protection mechanism of total saponins from Panax japonicus on acute hepatic injury induced by carbon tetrachloride. Methods HepG2 cells were used to establish CCl4-induced liver cell injury model in vitro experiments. Mouse model of acute liver injury was caused by 1%CCl4 oil on Balb/c. Mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group and medicine group. Mice in the medicine group were given a gavage with 20 mL/kg total saponins from Panax japonicus, while mice in the other two groups were given a gavage with the same amount of stroke-physiological saline solution. MTT method was used to detect the activity of hepatic cells. The pathological changes of mouse liver were examined by HE staining. RT-PCR was used to detect changes in the expression of transforming growth TGF-β, TNF-α, and TLR4 mRNA. Results Compared with normal group, less hepatic cells survived in model group (P<0.01);compared with model group, more hepatic cells survived in medicine group (P<0.01). HE staining showed that damages in liver tissues of medicine group significantly improved than those in model group. RT-PCR results showed that the levels of TGF-β, TNF-α, and expression of TLR4 mRNA increased more significantly than those in model group;the expression of TGF-β, TNF-α, and TLR4 mRNA in medicine group decreased more significantly than those in model group, with statistical significance (P<0.01). Conclusion The total saponins from Panax japonicus has a protective effect on liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride.

Toxicity and Anti-inflammatory Effect of Total Saponins from Panax japonicus by Different Extraction Technology / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To compare the toxicity and anti-inflammatory effect of total saponins from Panax japonicus by different extraction technology. Methods The total saponins of sample 1, sample 2, sample 3, sample 4, sample 5 and sample 6 was prepared respectively by different process, and RAW264.7 cells were treated with the samples of different concentration. Then cells morphology was observed under microscope, thiazolyl blue (MTT) method was used to detect cell activity, the nitric oxide (NO) release of RAW264.7 cells was detected with NO kit. Results The cell toxicity of different samples from low to high was as follows:sample 4sample 5>sample 2>sample 6>sample 1>sample 3. Conclusion Among these six different kinds of extraction process of total saponins from Panax japonicus, the total saponins extract by foam fractionation has not only the minimal toxicity, but also the best primary anti-inflammatory effect.

Effect of Wuzi Yanzong Fang Against Cyclophosphamide Induced DNA Damage in Mice / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To study protective effects of Wuzi Yanzong Fang on DNA damage induced by cyclophosphamide (CTX) in mice, and explore its mechanism. Methods BalB/c mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group, Wuzi Yanzong Fang low dose group and Wuzi Yanzong Fang high dose group. Mice in Wuzi Yanzong Fang groups were pretreated with Wuzi Yanzong Fang for 7 days, then the mice in Wuzi Yanzong Fang groups and model group were intraperitoneally injected with CTX (100 mg/kg) every other day for three times, and mice in Wuzi Yanzong Fang groups were continued administered with Wuzi Yanzong Fang. Animals were sacrificed in twelve hours after the final treatment of CTX. ELISA was used to detect 8-OHdG content in serum, and single cell gel electrophoresis to detect DNA damage in bone marrow cells. Results Wuzi Yanzong Fang low dose group and high dose group reduced the level of 8-OHdG in serum. Wuzi Yanzong Fang significantly decreased Olive tail moment, tail moment, tail length and tail DNA%in mouse bone marrow cells. Conclusion Wuzi Yanzong Fang has good protective effects on DNA damage caused by CTX.

Effects of TotalPanax Japonicus Extract onD-galactose Induced Aging Mice / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To research the protective effects of totalPanax Japonicus extract on learning memory, antioxidation, and anti-apoptosis of aging mice,and explore the mechanism. Methods Male mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group, Vitamin E (VE) group, Panax Japonicus extract low and high dose group. Except for the normal group, the other groups were injected withD-gal on the back of the neck subcutaneously to establish aging model. Normal group and model group were given a gavage with saline and each treatment group was given a gavage with totalPanax Japonicus extract and VE once a day for 7 weeks after the aging model established. All mice were be measured their learning and memory ability in the eighth week. After the test, the morphological changes of CA1 neurons were observed by HE stain. SOD, GSH-Px, MDA levels in brain tissue were measured by biochemical method, the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA were evaluated by RT-PCR.Results Mice inPanax Japonicus extract low and high dose group could spend less time in searching for the platform, improve the learning and memory ability. TotalPanax Japonicus extract increased the activity of SOD and GSH-Px, while decreased the content of MDA. In addition, it could increase the expression level of Bcl-2 mRNA and reduce the expression level of Bax mRNA as well.Conclusion TotalPanax Japonicus extract has anti-aging effect.

HPLC-ELSD fingerprint and chemical constituents of Rhizoma Panacis Japonici / 中国中药杂志

The aim was to establish the chromatographic fingerprint of Rhizoma Panacis Japonici for its quality evaluation. Analysis was performed on a YMC-Pack ODS-AQ column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) eluted with the mobile phases of acetonitrile(A) and 5% acetic acid solution (B) at in gradient a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). The elution program was as follow: 0-5 min, changed from 20% A to 40% A, 5-20 min, kept 40% A. The temperature of column was 30 degrees C. The temperate of drift tube was 40 degrees C, and the nitrogen pressure was 33 Psi. Ten batches of Rhizoma Panacis japonici were determined. The HPLC-ELSD chromatographic fingerprint of chemical constituents was established from the 10 batches of Rhizoma Panacis japonici and it had 9 characteristic common peaks. The 10 batches of samples were classified into 2 cluster by cluster analysis. Furthermore, five known chemical constuituents were identified after isolation and purification by means of silica gel column chromatography, and semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography. They were panaxsaponins Re, chikusetsusaponins IV, IVa, V and pjs-2, respectively. This study provided experimental data for comprehensive evaluation of the quality of Rhizoma Panacis japonici.

Artesunate induces prostate cancer cell line PC-3 differentiation and cell cycle arrest / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of artesunate (ART) on cell differentiation and cell cycle distribution of the prostate cancer cell line PC-3 in vitro. METHODS: PC-3 cells were cultivated with ART from logarithmic growth phase. After 48-hour treatment, the cell cycles were detected by flow cytometry (FCM), and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in cell culture supernatant. The change of cellular morphology was observed under a transmission electron microscope (TEM). RESULTS: In comparison with the blank control group, the rate of G(0)/G(1) plus S stages of PC-3 cells was significantly decreased in the high-dose ART group. The PC-3 cell was arrested in G(2)/M by ART. The rates of G(2)/M of the high-dose ART group and the medium-dose ART group were obviously higher than those of the blank control group and the cisplatin group (P<0.05). The levels of PSA in the three ART groups were significantly lower than that of the normal control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). In the ART groups, TEM showed that some vacuoles appeared in endochylema, cell polarity was enhanced, cell nucleus leaned to one side of the cell, and microvilli increased on the other side of the cell. CONCLUSION: ART can induce PC-3 cell cycle arrest and differentiation in vitro.