Aqueous Extract of Whitmania Pigra Whitman Alleviates Thrombus Burden Via Sirtuin 1/NF-κB Pathway.

BACKGROUND: Whitmania pigra Whitman (W pigra), a traditional Chinese medicine, has functions of breaking stagnant and eliminating blood stasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the underlying mechanism of W pigra against deep vein thrombosis (DVT). METHODS: A rat model of DVT induced by inferior vena cava stenosis was successfully established. Rats were administered vehicle (saline solution, p.o.), three doses of W pigra aqueous extract (34.7, 104.2, or 312.5 mg crude W pigra/kg, p.o.), heparin (200 U/kg, i.v.), or clopidogrel (25 mg/kg, p.o.) once daily for 2 d. Thrombus weight and histopathological changes were examined. Blood samples were collected to determine blood cell counts, blood viscosity, blood coagulation, blood fibrinolysis, serum levels of interleukin-1ß, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Protein expressions of Sirtuin1 (SIRT1), acetylated p65 (Ace-p65), and phosphorylated p65 (p-p65) were determined by Western blot. Furthermore, SIRT1-specific inhibitor EX527 was applied to confirm the role of SIRT1 in the antithrombotic effect of W pigra. RESULTS: W pigra significantly decreased thrombus weight. W pigra had no effects on blood cell counts, whole blood viscosity, blood coagulation, blood fibrinolysis. However, it reduced tissue factor protein expression in the vein wall and thrombus. Moreover, it sharply increased SIRT1 protein expression and decreased leukocytes recruitment in the thrombus and vein wall, serum levels of interleukin-1ß and tumor necrosis factor-α, and protein expressions of Ace-p65 and p-p65. Furthermore, the antithrombotic effect of W pigra was significantly abolished by EX527. CONCLUSIONS: Aqueous extract of W pigra effectively reduced DVT burden by inhibiting inflammation via SIRT1/nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway.

[Effects of stand density on understory species diversity and soil physicochemical properties of Pinus massoniana plantation]. / æž—åˆ†å¯†åº¦å¯¹é©¬å°¾æ¾æž—æž—ä¸‹ç‰©ç§å¤šæ ·æ€§å’ŒåœŸå£¤ç†åŒ–æ€§è´¨çš„å½±å“.

We analyzed understory species diversity, soil physicochemical traits and their relationships in the 25-year-old non-commercial Pinus massoniana plantations with five different stand densities, i.e., 1057, 1136, 1231, 1383 and 1515 trees·hm-2, in Wenfeng Mountain, Xinjin District, Sichuan Province, China. The results showed that a total of 110 species were found, belonging to 57 families and 98 genera. With the increase of tree density, the understory species showed a succession pattern from positive to moderate to shady. Different densities had significant effects on the contents of total potassium and organic matter in the soils. With the increase ofdensity, the contents of organic matter and total potassium in understory vegetation first increased and then decreased. The trends of the relationship between both diversity and soil physiochemical characteristics and tree density were similar. Both of them increased with the increase of density, with the maximum value presented at the density of 1136 trees·hm-2. The concentrations of total phosphorus, available potassium, total potassium and total nitrogen was closely related to plant diversity index. The results suggested that the density at 1136 trees·hm-2 would be more beneficial to improve the stability of species diversity and soil fertility of P. massoniana non-commercial plantations in Wenfeng Mountain.