[Influence of early bolting on anatomical structure and coumarins of Peucedanum praeruptorum].

To explore the effects of early bolting on the quality of Peucedanum praeruptorum, the anatomical structures of P. praeruptorum root between bolting and no-bolting were investigated by paraffin section method, and contents of praeruptorin A, praeruptorin B, praeruptorin E, bergapten were determined by HPLC, then the differences and inter-relations were studied by comparative analysis method. The results showed that there existed great influences of early bolting on the root anatomical structures and coumarins content of P. praeruptorum.(1)The area of pericyclic parenchyma tissue and secondary phloem in P. praeruptorum without bolting are large, and have higher content of coumarins.(2) The areas of secondary phloem in bolting P. praeruptorum are large, and have lot of vessels and wood fiber, and the content of coumarins is low.(3)There are significant different of coumarins contents in P. praeruptorum with and without bolting, in their main root(MR),outside the vascular cambium(PP), inside the vascular cambium(PX), and the leaf(LF) parts, and the total content of coumarins was PP>MR>LF>PX. Accordingly, the root anatomical structure and active component of P. praeruptorum were changed after early bolting, which have an important influence on the quality of Peucedani Radix.

Icariin delays homocysteine-induced endothelial cellular senescence involving activation of the PI3K/AKT-eNOS signaling pathway.

CONTEXT: Homocysteine-induced endothelial cellular senescence may contribute to some cardiovascular disorders. Icariin (ICA), a flavonoid derived from Epimedium sagittatum Maxim. (Berberidaceae), has been reported to increase production of nitric oxide (NO) and reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of ICA on homocysteine-induced senescence and the underlying mechanisms in HUVECs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ICA at concentrations of 0.1, 1, and 5 µM was added into homocysteine pretreated HUVECs. Cellular senescence was assayed by senescence-associated ß-galactosidase (SA-ß-gal) staining and cumulative population doublings (CPDs). ICA (5 µM) was given orally to homocysteine-treated rats, luminal surface of aortic artery of rats was subjected to SA-ß-gal staining. Protein expression was measured by western blot. RESULTS: Homocysteine significantly increased cellular senescence both in vitro and in vivo. After treatment by ICA, the percentage of SA-ß-gal-positive cells, and the ROS level significantly decreased. The CPDs were partially restored. ICA also significantly reduced the mean density of SA-ß-gal staining in vivo. We found that NO production and phosphorylation of AKT, ERK, and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) were elevated by ICA in HUVECs. Furthermore, the increased level of NO production was fully abolished by the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor wortmannin. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD98059, which can inhibit phosphorylation of ERK, did not show this ability. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that ICA delays homocyteine-induced endothelial senescence in vitro and in vivo. Activation of PI3K/Akt-eNOS-dependent signaling pathway may be responsible for this efficacy of ICA.

[Analysis of malaria epidemic situation in Pingguo County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from 1951 to 2014].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the law and distribution characteristics of malaria prevalence in Pingguo County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, so as to provide the evidence for formulating the targeted control strategy and measures after malaria elimination. METHODS: The data of malaria epidemic situation in Pingguo County from 1951 to 2014 were collected and analyzed with the retrospective epidemiological method. RESULTS: From 1951 to 2014, there were 71 365 malaria cases reported in the county. The malaria incidence dropped from 429.43/10 000 in 1960 to 0 in 1993. Since 2002, there was no local endogenous infection case reported. In 1993, this county achieved the standard of malaria elimination basically, and in 2014, passed the examination and evaluation of malaria elimination. CONCLUSIONS: In Pingguo County, the comprehensive malarial control strategy is effective in different stages. In the future, the monitoring of mobile population and dealing with imported malaria cases timely is the key of consolidation of malaria control achievements.