[Textual research on classical famous prescription Dajianzhong Decoction].

The classical famous prescription Dajianzhong Decoction is recorded in Synopsis of the Golden Chamber written by Zhang Zhongjing in the Eastern Han Dynasty. It has a long history and definite clinical effects, while this prescription has not been manufactured into Chinese patent medicine preparation. We collected many ancient books of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) by using the method of bibliometrics and got 211 valid data terms which involved 67 ancient books. The history, main treated syndromes, formulation principle, origins and processiong of medicinal materials, and decoction method of Dajianzhong Decoction were analyzed. Despite the different views of various generations of medical experts toward the composition of this prescription, the compatibility ratio of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma to Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens is constant. Furthermore, we explored the origins of synonyms of Dajianzhong Decoction. On the basis of this study, we hope to gain an insight into the research and development of the compound preparations of Dajianzhong Decoction and provide reference for the heritage and innovation of other classical prescriptions.

[Review of classical prescription Ganjiang Lingzhu Decoction].

Ganjiang Lingzhu Decoction is one of the first 100 classical prescriptions published by China in 2018. According to the published literature, it was found that there is no review on the history, evolution and research progress of this prescription. In order to reflect the history, modifications, quality control and clinical applications, this paper focuses on the origination, evolution, current development and modern studies of Ganjiang Lingzhu Decoction, in the hope of providing a reference for the heritage and innovation of other classical prescriptions.

Investigation of the pharmacological effect and mechanism of mountain-cultivated ginseng and garden ginseng in cardiovascular diseases based on network pharmacology and zebrafish experiments.

Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Mey) is a kind of perennial herb of the Panax genus in the Araliaceae family. The secondary metabolites of mountain-cultivated ginseng (MCG) and garden ginseng (GG) vary greatly due to their different growth environments. To date, the differences in their pharmacological effects on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and their clinical applications remain unclear. To distinguish between the components of MCG and GG, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) was performed. Next, the relationship between the expression of metabolites and the categories of the sample were analyzed using supervised partial least squares discriminant analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis. A network-based pharmacology approach was developed and applied to determine the underlying mechanism of different metabolites in CVD. In the present study, the role of MCG and GG in angiogenesis and their protective effects on damaged blood vessels in a vascular injury model of zebrafish were investigated. Using UPLC-Q-TOF/MS, 11 different metabolites between MCG and GG were identified. In addition, 149 common target genes associated with the metabolites and CVD were obtained; these targets were related to tumor protein P53, proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src, human ubiquitin-52 amino acid fusion protein, ubiquitin-40S ribosomal protein S27a, polyubiquitin B, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, isocitrate dehydrogenase 1, vascular endothelial growth factor A, glycose synthase kinase-3B, and coagulation factor II and were associated with the regulation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase-Akt signaling pathway, the tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, and the hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) signaling pathway, which play important roles in the curative effect in CVD treatment. Both types of ginseng can promote the growth of the subintestinal vessel plexus and protect injured intersegmental vessels through the HIF-1α/vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathway in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, MCG has a stronger impact than GG. This is the first time metabolomics and network pharmacology methods were combined to study the difference between MCG and GG on CVDs, which provides a significant theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of CVD with two kinds of ginseng.

Cyclooxygenase-2 mediated synergistic effect of ursolic acid in combination with paclitaxel against human gastric carcinoma.

Ursolic acid (UA) induces apoptosis in gastric cancer cells by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Paclitaxel (PTX) is an important chemotherapy agent used to treat solid tumors. We evaluated the in vitro antitumor activity of UA in combination with PTX against gastric cancer cells and investigated the mechanisms underlying the combined effects. A cytotoxicity test and flow cytometry were utilized to study the effects of UA and PTX on proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. To further elucidate the mechanism, Western blot analysis was used to assess changes in the expression of a series of related proteins, including COX-2, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Bcl-2, and Bax. UA and PTX dose- and time-dependently inhibited BGC-823 and SGC-7901 gastric cancer cell proliferation. Combined delivery of UA and PTX synergistically reduced cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in these cells by lowering COX-2, PCNA, and Bcl-2 expression and by increasing Bax expression. These results indicate that the synergistic inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis by UA and PTX may be induced by reducing COX-2 expression in gastric cancer cells.

[Effect of FTY720 on glomerulosclerosis and expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins in subtotally nephrectomized rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of FTY720 on glomerulosclerosis and expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins in subtotal nephrectomized rats. METHODS: Twenty-four rats were divided into sham-operation group, glomerulosclerosis model group and FTY720 treated glomerulosclerosis group with 8 rats in each group. The rats in the latter two groups were subjected to subtotal nephrectomy. After operation, the FTY720 treated group was fed with FTY720 at a dose of 0.5 mg/(kg x d) for 12 weeks. Urine protein excretion was measured before operation and 2 w, 4 w, 8 w and 12 w after operation. Then the rats were sacrificed and the left kidney was subjected to pathological evaluation. The expression of collagen IV, fibronectin, and cyclin E, p21, p27 were determined by immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the model group showed higher daily urine protein (Up) excretion from 2 w, (8.07 +/- 1.61) mg/d and thereafter. At 12 w, Up increased to (28.60 +/- 12.21) mg/d in model group, significantly higher than that in control group (P < 0.05). After treatment with FTY720, Up began to decrease from 4 w after operation, (9.90 +/- 1.49) mg/d at that time and (11.35 +/- 2.09) mg/d at 12 w, both were significantly lower than those in model group (P < 0.01). The model group showed higher level of serum creatinine from 8 w, (61.08 +/- 4.28) micromol/L at that time, (130.20 +/- 23.90) micromol/L at 12 w, both were much higher than those in control group (P < 0.05). In FTY720 treated group, serum creatinine level was (80.19 +/- 7.11) micromol/L at 12 w, much lower than that in model group. The changes of BUN were similar to those of creatinine in each group. Renal pathology and immunohistological evaluation showed that FTY720 could significantly inhibit the expression of collagen-IV and fibronectin in glomeruli and attenuate the extent of glomerulosclerosis. Moreover, FTY720 could upregulate glomerular expression of p21 and downregulate glomerular expression of p27 and cyclin E. The expression levels of p21 and cyclin E were significantly lower in treatment group than in model group (P < 0.05), but still higher than those in control group (P < 0.05). p27 expression in glomeruli was stronger in treatment group than that in model group (P < 0.05), and lower than that in normal group but the difference was not significant. CONCLUSION: FTY720 can diminish urine protein excretion and prevent glomerulosclerosis in subtotally nephrectomized rats. This protective effect is presumed to be associated with its effect on expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins, and inhibition of extracellular matrix accumulation in glomeruli.