Effect of patchouli alcohol on Helicobacter pylori-induced neutrophil recruitment and activation.

Neutrophil infiltration typically occurs in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-induced acute gastritis; however, this immune response fails to eradicate H. pylori in vivo. Moreover, reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are generated by neutrophils, cause severe damage to gastric mucosa. Patchouli alcohol (PA) has been reported to have effective anti-oxidative and anti-H. pylori activities, and we investigated its effects on H. pylori-induced neutrophil recruitment and activation in this research. In neutrophil recruitment experiment, H. pylori was injected into rat air pouch to explore the effects of PA (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) on acute inflammatory response. The results revealed that PA significantly reduced the weight of exudate and the number of neutrophils in the air pouch. Meanwhile, remarkable decrements in TNF-α and IL-8 levels in exudates were observed. In neutrophil activation experiment, rat neutrophils were isolated and activated by using 50 µg/mL H. pylori water-soluble surface protein with or without the treatment of PA (5, 10 or 20 µmol/L). Results indicated that PA not only significantly inhibited the production of ROS, but also reduced the gene and protein expressions of p22/p47-phoxes, and the binding of p22/p47-phoxes. Furthermore, the influence of PA on the neutrophil activation genes of H. pylori (h-nap and sabA) was investigated, and the results showed that expressions of h-nap and sabA were remarkably decreased after PA treatment. In conclusion, PA reduced the recruitment and activation of neutrophils induced by H. pylori, as shown by its inhibition of pro-inflammatory factor generation, p22/p47-phoxes function and H. pylori neutrophil activation-related gene expression.

Geniposide attenuates Aß25-35-induced neurotoxicity via the TLR4/NF-κB pathway in HT22 cells.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder, is marked by the accumulation of amyloid-ß (Aß) and neuroinflammation which promote the development of AD. Geniposide, the main ingredient isolated from Chinese herbal medicine Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, has a variety of pharmacological functions such as anti-apoptosis and anti-inflammatory activity. Hence, we estimated the inflammatory cytotoxicity caused by Aß25-35 and the neuroprotective effects of geniposide in HT22 cells. In this research, following incubation with Aß25-35 (40 µM, 24 h) in HT22 cells, the methylthiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assays showed that the cell survival rate was significantly decreased. In contrast, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay indicated that Aß25-35 enhanced ROS accumulation and apoptosis showed in both hoechst 33342 staining and annexin V-FITC/PI double staining. And then, immunofluorescence test revealed that Aß25-35 promoted p65 to transfer into the nucleus indicating p65 was activated by Aß25-35. Moreover, western blot analysis proved that Aß25-35 increased the expression of nitric oxide species (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß). Simultaneously, Aß25-35 also promoted the expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), p-p65 and p-IκB-α accompanied with the increase in the level of beta-secretase 1 (BACE1) and caspase-3 which further supported Aß25-35 induced apoptosis and inflammation. Fortunately, this up-regulation was reversed by geniposide. In conclusion, our data suggest that geniposide can alleviate Aß25-35-induced inflammatory response to protect neurons, which is possibly involved with the inhibition of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway in HT22 cells. Geniposide may be the latent treatment for AD induced by neuroinflammation and apoptosis.

[Pharmacokinetics of genistein in urine of healthy volunteers].

In order to study the excretion of genistein (GEN) capsule, an estrogen drugs, in human, 30 healthy volunteers were selected and orally administered 50, 100, and 300 mg genistein in an parallel study. Genistein were determined in urine by LC-MS/MS and glucuronidated genistein (GENG) were indirectly determined with enzymatic hydrolysis in urine by LC-MS/MS, and the pharmacokinetic parameters were analyzed by DAS software (ver 2.0). The result showed that the concentrations of genistein in human urine were less than 1% of the GENG, and the cumulative excretion of GEN in 48 h were 0.037, 0.134, and 0.142 mg, separately, and the urinary excretion percentage were only 0.07%, 0.13%, and 0.05%, separately. But the cumulative excretion of GENG in 48 h was 5.3, 13.8, and 15.4 mg, separately, and the urinary excretion percentage were 10.6%, 13.8%, and 5.1%, separately, and the max urinary excretive rate was 0.4, 1.0, and 1.4 mg x h(-1), separately (tmax were 6 h). Studies showed that part of drug excreted through kidney in a form of GENG in human, and the cumulative urinary excretion and the maximum excretion rate of GENG showed a proportional increase conditioned with the dose in the range of 50-100 mg, but showed non-linear increase feature in 300 mg.

Chemical profiling of constituents of Smilacis glabrae using ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography coupled with LTQ Orbitrap mass spectrometry.

A reliable LC-MS method has been applied for the separation and identification of major constituents of the rhizome of Smilacis glabrae. Identification of the constituents was carried out by interpretation of their retention time, and MS and MS/MS data, especially by comparing these with Sarcandra glabra under the same LC-MS conditions, as well as the data provided by the literature. Thirty-three compounds, including catechin derivatives, flavanonols, phenolic acid derivatives and phenylpropanoid glycosides were either identified or tentatively characterized. Among them, compound 12 was deduced to be a new phenylpropanoid-substituted catechin. Fragmentation behaviors of the three major categories of compounds were also investigated. This UPLC-PDA/ESI-MS(n) method was effective for the separation and identification of the constituents and could be the basis for the comprehensive quality control of Smilacis glabrae.

[Isolation, purification and biological activities of Arnebia euchroma glycosaminoglycans].

OBJECTIVE: To study the methods of extraction, isolation, purification and biological activities of Arnebia euchroma glycosaminoglycans (AEG). METHODS: AEG was purified by distilled water extraction, ethanol fractionation, Sephadex column chromatography. The purity and molecular weight and concentration of AEG were measured by HPLC; We divided the experiment into Physiological Saline group and the other eight groups with different doses of AEG, established RT-PRC method to observe the anti-HPV effect after their actions on the verruca tissues. RESULTS: Using HPLC, the group of AEG was divided into two glycosaminoglycans with different molecular weight as 27336 and 1152. Bioassay results showed that AEG had anti-HPV-DNA activity, the lowest effective concentration was 0.781 mg/ml. CONCLUSION: AEG extracted by this method is a mixture with two molecular weight glycosaminoglycans, and has obvious anti-HPV effect.

[Determination of ginsenoside rd in human plasma by LC/MS/MS].

OBJECTIVE: To develop a HPLC/MS/MS method for the determination of ginsenoside Rd in human plasma. METHODS: Plasma samples were pretreated by solid phase extraction (SPE). Ginsenoside Rd (m/z 964.6-->m/z 767.5) and gentiopicrin (m/z 374.1-->195.1) was detected by the positive electrospray ionization (ES+I)-MS method under multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. RESULTS: The calibration curve of ginsenoside Rd in plasma was linear over the range of 3.00-5000.00 ng/ml. The limit of quantitation was 3.00 ng/ml. The relative recovery was 81.01-83.39%. The within-day and between-day RSDs were less than 15%. CONCLUSION This method is accurate, sensitive, and specific. It is suitable for the measurement of plasma ginsenoside Rd concentration.

[Pharmacokinetics of ginsenosides Rg1 and Re in Shenmai injection].

AIM: To study the pharmacokinetics of ginsenosides Rg1 and Re after iv infusion of Shenmai injection in human. METHODS: Ginsenosides Rg1 and Re in plasma were determined by LC/MS/MS and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. RESULTS: The linear regressive curves were obtained in the range of 1.023-1023 microg x L(-1) for Rg1 and 1.05-1050 microg x L(-1) for Re. Recoveries using the method of Rg1 and Re were 99%-105% and 99%-104%, respectively. The within-day and between-day RSDs were less than 15%. After iv infusion of Shenmai injection to volunteers, the concentration-time curves of Rg1 and Re fitted to the two-compartment model, T1/2alpha were 0.28 h and 0.10 h, T1/2beta were 2.1 h and 1.2 h, respectively. CONCLUSION: The method is specific, simple, sensitive and suitable for the measurement of plasma Rg1 and Re concentrations. The distribution and elimination of Rg1 and Re were rapid after iv infusion of Shenmai injection in volunteers, the pharmacokinetic characteristics were fitted with the two-compartment model.