[Research and application of model fruit fly in prevention and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders by traditional Chinese medicine and natural compounds: a review].

As an important model animal, fruit fly is characterized by outstanding genetic characteristics, relatively perfect nervous system, rapid reproduction, and low cost. Thus, it has been applied in the research on neuropsychiatric disorders in recent years, showing great potential in life science. The incidence of neuropsychiatric disorders has been on the rise, and the disorders have high disability rate and low case fatality rate. The global drug demand for such diseases is second only to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. At the moment, the demand of the drugs for the diseases have been rising, and it is an urgent task to develop related drugs. However, the research and development of the drugs are time-intensive and have a high failure rate. A suitable animal model can help shorten the time for drug screening and development, thereby reducing the cost and failure rate. This study reviews the application of fruit flies in several common neuropsychiatric disorders, which is expected to provide new ideas for the research and application of the model animals in traditional Chinese medicine.

The significant effect of chronic intermittent hypoxia on prostaglandin D2 biosynthesis in rat brain.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder characterized by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH). Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is one of severe complications frequently associated with OSA. Lipocalin-type prostaglandin synthase (L-PGDS) is potentially responsible for the production of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) which is an endogenous sleep inducer. To date, whether the content of PGD2 and PGDS is related to intermittent hypoxia has never been reported. The aim of this study was to compare the content of PGD2 and L-PGDS in rats' brains with and without intermittent hypoxia. Adult male Wistar rats (n = 48; 8-10 weeks) were averagely divided into two groups. One was control group, and the other group was exposed to IH (12 h/day for 6 weeks). In each group there are four time-points including 0, 2, 4 and 6 weeks, and six rats were killed and studied at each time-point. At the end of 0, 2, 4 and 6 weeks, the concentrations of PGD2 in brains were measured by LC-MS/MS. In addition, the expressions of L-PGDS protein and mRNA in brains were investigated by western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. The results showed the concentrations of PGD2 in CIH rat brains were higher than those in control groups from the second week. At the end of 6 weeks, the concentrations of PGD2 in CIH and control groups were 11.1 and 5.9 ng/g, respectively. The levels of L-PGDS protein and mRNA followed the same trend during the whole 6 weeks. The results will provide a new idea to explore that patients with OSA are always accompanied by excessive daytime sleepiness.

[Rapid identification of the different constituents in Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis before and after processing by UHPLC-QTOF/MS~E combining with metabonomics].

This study was performed to use UHPLC-QTOF/MSE technology to rapidly search and identify variations of chemical ingredients between Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis and its processed products. The present study provides a basis for the study of Chinese herbal medicine processing with a focus on the impact of processing on chemical components. Using a time-dependent data scan mode (MSE) couple with metabolomics technology, we acquired accurate data and identified the potential chemical markers. A total of 12 chemical markers were identified in the crude, vinegar-processed and wine-processed Schisandra chinensis fruit; The results showed that the levels of 6-O-benzoylgomisin O, schisantherin B, schisantherin C, schisantherin D and neokadsuranic acid are the highest in crude Schisandra chinensis fruit; thelevels of schizandrin A, schizandrin B, schizandrin C, gomisin D and gomisin T are the highest in wine-processed Schisandra chinensis fruit; the levels of schisantherin A and schisandrin are the highest in vinegar-processed Schisandra chinensis fruit. There were significant changes of chemical components between Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis and their processed products, and these findings may offer a reasonable explanation for variation of efficacy and clinical applications in the processed products of Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis.

[Intestinal absorption of pulchinenosides from Pulsatilla chinensis in rats].

HPLC-ELSD was applied to explore the absorption mechanism of pulchinenosides (B3, BD, B7, B10, B11) in rats. The experimental results showed that the absorption rate constant, Ka value (B3, BD) and Permeability coefficient, Peff value (B3, B7) displayed significant difference (P <0.05) in various intestinal segments, The Ka value and Peff value of PRS was different from each other with the highest absorption in duodenum (duodenum > jejunum > colon > ileum); The PRS displayed excessive satuation as the concentration increased over 0.05-2.5 g · L(-1). There were no obvious linear correlations between Peff values and concentrations in duodenum (0.6007 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.7727); Ka and Peff value declined when the PRS was perfused with P-glycoprotein promoter digoxin, on the other hand, inclined when perfused with P-glycoprotein inhibitor verapamil with significant difference among PRS B3, BD, B7, B11 (P <0.05). All the above results demonstrated that B3, BD, B7 were greatly influenced by absorption sites, duodenum was the main absorption site; PRS didn't entirely transported in a concentration dependent manner, and the transporter-protein involved the transportation, so the intestinal absorption of the five pulchinenosides was not entirely passive diffusion; and PRS might be the substrates of P-glycoprotein.

[Quantitative analysis of phenolic acids in ainsliaea fragrans from different habitats].

OBJECTIVE: The contents of major phenolic acids in Ainsliaea fragrans from different habitats were determined,in order to improve quality standards of Ainsliaea fragrans and provide reference for optimization its daodi habitat. METHODS: Separation and determination of two kinds of phenolic acids, caffeoylquinic acids (CQA)and dicaffeoylquinic acid (DCQA), in Ainsliaea fragrans were carried out by RP-HPLC with Cosmosil RP-C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 µm), acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid solution as mobile phase at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, detection wavelength at 328 nm and column temperature at 35 °C. RESULTS: CQA and DCQA were uneven in Ainsliaea fragrans from different habitats. In the sample from Wuyuan, Jiujiang and Shangrao in Jiangxi, the contents of phenolic acids were higher than those from other habitats significantly. The sample from Guangxi habitat had the lowest phenolic acids content. And the chlorogenic acid and 3,5-DCQAs' percentage were higher than other phenolic acids. CONCLUSION: This method is accurate and easy with good repeatability, which can be used in determination of eight phenolic acids in Ainsliaea fragrans from different habitats. Ainsliaea fragrans in Jiangxi Province has good qulity.

[Study on intestinal absorption of formononetin in Millettia nitita var. hirsutissima in rats].

To use the single-pass intestine perfusion (SPIP) model and HPLC to determine the concentration of formononetin, the effect of quality concentrations of formononetin, different intestinal segments and P-glycoprotein inhibitor on intestinal absorption of formononetin, in order to observe the intestinal absorption mechanism of formononetin from Millettia nitita var. hirsutissima in rats. The experimental results showed that the qulaity concentration of formononetin in the perfusate had no significant effect on the absorption rate constant (K(a)) and the apparent absorption coefficient (P(app)); K(a) and P(app) of formononetin in duodenum, jejunum and ileum showed no significant difference. However, K(a) was significantly higher than that in colon (P < 0.05), with significant difference between that in intestinum tenue and colon. P-glycoprotein inhibitor verapamil showed significant difference in K(a) and P(app) in intestinal segments (P < 0.05). This indicated that the absorption mechanism of formononein in rat intestinal tracts passive diffusion, without any saturated absorption. Formononein is absorbed well in all intestines. Their absorption windows were mainly concentrated in the intestinum tenue, without specific absorption sites. Formononein may be the substrate of P-glycoprotein.

Early Growth Response Protein-1 Involves in Transforming Growth factor-ß1 Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Inhibits Migration of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Cells.

The zinc finger transcription factor EGR1 has a role in controlling synaptic plasticity, wound repair, female reproductive capacity, inflammation, growth control, apoptosis and tumor progression. Recent studies mainly focused on its role in growth control and apoptosis, however, little is known about its role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here, we aim to explore whether EGR 1 is involved in TGF-ß1-induced EMT in non-small- cell lung cancer cells. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 was utilized to induce EMT in this study. Western blotting, RT-PCR, and transwell chambers were used to identify phenotype changes. Western blotting was also used to observe changes of the expression of EGR 1. The lentivirus-mediated EGR 1 vector was used to increase EGR1 expression. We investigated the change of migration to evaluate the effect of EGR 1 on non-small-cell lung cancer cells migration by transwell chambers. After stimulating with TGF-ß1, almost all A549 cells and Luca 1 cells (Non-small-cell lung cancer primary cells) changed to mesenchymal phenotype and acquired more migration capabilities. These cells also had lower EGR 1 protein expression. Overexpression of EGR 1 gene with EGR 1 vector could decrease tumor cell migration capabilities significantly after adding TGF-ß1. These data showed an important role of EGR 1 in the EMT of non-small-cell lung cancer cells, as well as migration.