Panax ginseng Polysaccharide Protected H9c2 Cardiomyocyte From Hypoxia/Reoxygenation Injury Through Regulating Mitochondrial Metabolism and RISK Pathway.

Background and Objective: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) has been the major issue of public health. Panax ginseng (ginseng) has been verified as an effective traditional Chinese medicines and exerted cardioprotective effect. This study aimed to investigate the polysaccharide fraction of ginseng on hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury in cardiomyocytes and the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Ginseng was extracted by ethanol and fractionated by high-speed counter current chromatography (HSCCC) and column separation. The cardioprotective effect was evaluated in H9c2 cardiomyocytes underwent H/R treatment. The cell viability, apoptosis and mitochondrial respiration were examined. Results: An acid polysaccharides fraction of ginseng (AP1) was identified the most effective fraction in protecting cardiomyocytes from H/R injury. AP1 restored the mitochondrial function by maintaining mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), blocking the release of cytochrome C, and increasing the ATP generation and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) of cardiomyocytes. Meanwhile, AP1 induced the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and estrogen receptor (ER) which further activated reperfusion injury salvage kinase (RISK) pathway. Finally, AP1 increased nitric oxide (NO) production and regulated endothelial function by increasing endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) expression and decreasing inducible NOS (iNOS) expression in H/R injury. Conclusion: The results suggested that AP1 exerted a protective effect in myocardial H/R injury mainly through maintaining myocardial mitochondrial function, thereby inhibiting myocardial H/R caused apoptosis and increasing the expressions of GR and ER, which in turn mediated the activation of RISK pathway and eNOS-dependent mechanism to resist the reperfusion injury.

Synthesis and cardiomyocyte protection activity of crocetin diamide derivatives.

A series of novel diamide derivatives (2-8) of crocetin (1) were synthesized and evaluated for their cardioprotective activity in vitro. Using well-established model of hypoxia-induced injury in H9c2 cells, we investigated the effects of 9 compounds and positive drug nicorandil on cellular cytotoxicity by MTT assay, mitochondrial viable staining, LDH activity and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Among the new derivatives, compounds 3 and 4 with good liposolubility showed significantly potent activity than crocetin (1) against hypoxia-induced cytotoxicity. Further mechanisms studies indicated that the cardioprotective effect of compounds 3 and 4 was due to these abilities by decreasing LDH release, preserving mitochondrial viabilities and reducing oxidative stress-induced depolarization of MMP. Our results demonstrated that compounds 3 and 4 as a new class of crocetin diamide derivatives could be developed as potential agents in our further drug development studies for ischemic heart disease.

Effects of in-vitro cultured calculus bovis on learning and memory impairments of hyperlipemia vascular dementia rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In-vitro cultured calculus bovis (ICCB) is a quality substitute for natural bezoar which is used for the therapeutic purpose of treating encephalopathy. ICCB has been authorized to use on clinic. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects and the potential mechanisms of in-vitro cultured calculus bovis (ICCB) on learning and memory impairments of hyperlipemia vascular dementia (HVD) rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The HVD model was established by permanent occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries based on hyperlipemia rats. Learning and memory abilities were evaluated by morris water maze test and shuttle box test. Ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-vis) was employed to determine the SOD, MDA and NO in cerebral tissue, as well as the TG in serum. HE staining and toluidine blue staining were employed to evaluate cone cells damage in hippocampus CA1. An immunohistochemistry was used to measure the Bax and Bcl-2 expressions in cerebral tissue. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the abilities of spatial learning and memory and conditional memory were decreased significantly in HVD group (P<0.01, P<0.05). MDA content in cerebral tissue was remarkably increased while the SOD activity and NO content were both decreased (P<0.01). TG content in serum was increased remarkably (P<0.01). And the cone cells in hippocampus CA1 were damaged obviously. Compared with HVD group, ICCB treatment improved the abilities of learning and memory, elevated the SOD activity (P<0.01, P<0.05), reduced the MDA content (P<0.01) as well as the TG content in serum (P<0.01), increased the NO content (P<0.01), improved the damaged cone cells in hippocampus CA1, increased the number of cones cells (P<0.01), decreased the Bax expression, and increased the Bcl-2 expression (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: ICCB could improve the abilities of learning and memory in HVD rats. It might be related to anti-oxidative, regulation of Bax and Bcl-2 expressions, and the alleviation of cone cells damage.

[Pharmacognostic identification of Calystegia soldanella].

OBJECTIVE: To identify Calystegia soldanella and provide foundation for its further study and application. METHODS: Scanning electron microscope (SEM), upright microscope and UV were applied in the research. RESULTS: Laticifers were observed in the cortex and phloem of root, sclerenchymatous cells were cyclized in the outer phloem of stem, the stomas present on both adaxial and abaxial epidermis, the stomatal type was paracytic. Observed by scanning electron microscope, stomas distributed on and sank into both adaxial and abaxial epidermis; The surface of guard cells were smooth, and subsidiary cells were smooth or veined, the veins were perpendicular to guard cells on adaxial epidermis, while the veins were irregular on subsidiary cells of abaxial epidermis. And the absorption peaks were significantly in UV scanning spectrum: the ethanol extract had an absorption peak at 324nm; While the chloroform extract's at 241nm, 296nm and 316nm. CONCLUSION: Bases on the characteristic identification, micro-identification and physicochemical identification, SEM is further used in the identification of micro-morphological characteristics of Calystegia soldanella, and it will raise the accuracy of the identification of Calystegia soldanella.