Effect of Dendrobii officinalis superfine powder on overeating greasy-induced metabolic hypertension in rats / 中国中药杂志

Dendrobii officinalis, with a definite effect of nourishing Yin and clearing heat, has been a folk habit for drinking after being mixed with water. Because its superfine powder has the advantages of high dissolution and convenient drinking, we observed the effect of D. officinalis superfine powder on metabolic hypertension model rats and its possible mechanism in this experiment, which can be used as a reference for its clinical application for hypertension. The overeating greasy-induced metabolic hypertension model was established with high-fat, high-sugar and high-purine diet. These rats were orally administered with 400 mg·kg~(-1) and 200 mg·kg~(-1) of D. officinalis superfine powder for 20 consecutive weeks. During this period, blood pressure, blood lipid, blood glucose, insulin and other related indexes of glucose and lipid metabolism were monitored; the levels of lipopolysaccharide(LPS), C-reactive protein(CRP), interleukin 6(IL-6) and other inflammatory mediators were measured; the levels of nitric oxide(NO) and endothelin-1(ET-1) were detected, and the histomorphological and ultrastructural changes of aorta were observed. In addition, the expression of LPS/TLR4 pathway-related molecules in aorta was determined. The results showed that long-term administration of D. officinalis superfine powder significantly reduced the levels of systolic blood pressure(SBP), diastolic blood pressure(DBP) and mean arterial pressure(MBP) in metabolic hypertension model rats, decreased the levels of total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-c), glucose(Glu), and insulin(INS) levels in blood, increased the contents of high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-c),decreased the LPS, CRP, IL-6 and ET-1 levels in blood and increased NO content. Furthermore, it improved the abnormality of aortic histomorphology and endothelial ultrastructure, and inhibited the protein expression of TLR4, myeloid differentiation factor(MyD88), IL-6, interleukin-1 β(IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) as well as mRNA expression of TNF-α and IL-1β in aorta. In conclusion, D. officinalis superfine powder may improve the abnormal function and structure of blood vessels by inhibiting the activation of LPS/TLR4 pathway, thus playing a role against metabolic hypertension.

Effect of Yunkang Oral Liquid on preventing LPS-induced abortion and regulating immune tolerance in mice / 中国中药杂志

To investigate the effect of Yunkang Oral Liquid on preventing lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced abortion and regulating immune tolerance in mice,sixty normal ICR mice were randomly divided into normal group,model group,Yunkang Oral Liquid high,middle and low dose groups and progesterone group.Abortion model was established by tail vain injection of LPS(0.1μg/mouse)on the 7th day of pregnancy.Since the first day of pregnancy,the same volume of distilled water,Yunkang Oral Liquid at the dose of 36,18 and 9 m L·kg~(-1)·d~(-1),and progesterone at the dose of 0.038 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)were given in corresponding groups.The mice were sacrificed at the 9th day of pregnancy,and the embryo loss of each group was calculated.The levels of Th1 type cytokines(TNF-α,IFN-γ)and Th2 type cytokines(IL-4,IL-10)in uterus homogenate were detected by ELISA.HE staining was performed to examine the histopathological changes in the decidua.The expression levels of CD14,F4/80 in macrophages of uterus were detected by immunohistochemistry.Western blot was used to investigate the protein expression of TLR4,MyD88 and NF-κB in uterine decidua.In our study,all Yunkang Oral Liquid groups could significantly reduce the embryo absorption rate of mice,while high dose group can significantly increase the levels of IL-10 and IL-4;both medium and high dose groups can significantly decrease TNF-α,and IFN-γlevelsin the uterus of model mice,reduce the protein expression of NF-κB,MyD88 and TLR4 in uterine decidua tissue.Various treatment groups could reduce the counts of F4/80,CD14 macrophages and decrease expression area in uterine tissue.Our results showed that Yunkang Oral Liquid could prevent LPS-induced abortion,and the mechanism may be associated with inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway and regulating the balance of Th1/Th2 immune factors,which could improve the endometrial receptivity of mice,and promote the development of decidua and implantation of embryo.

A quantitative method for simultaneous assay of seven active ingredients with one marker in Scrophularia ningpoensis root / 中国中药杂志

To establish a new quantitative method for simultaneous determination of multi-components in Scrophularia root by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and validate its feasibilities．Meanwhile,using catalpol as one chemical reference substance to establish the relative correct factors and relative retention values of aucubin,harpagide,acteoside,angoroside C,harpagoside and cinnamic acid．Then using the quantitative analysis of multi-components by single-marker (QAMS)model,the six analytes can be quantitatively determined in Scrophularia root．The method was evaluated by comparison of the quantitative results to external standard method．No significant differences were observed between the quantitative results of the two methods．The obtained RCFs were credible．It is feasible and suitable to evaluate the quality of Scrophularia root.

Investigate optimum conditions and determinate changes of β-glucosidase activity in Scrophularia root under different drying conditions / 中国中药杂志

To explore the optimum conditions of β-glucosidase activity in Scrophularia root by using pNPG method. The extraction conditions and reaction conditions (such as extraction liquid type, reaction system, reaction time, temperature, and substrate concentration) were screened by using monofactorial experiment and homogeneous design. Then the changes of β-glucosidase activity in Scrophularia root were detected at the drying temperature of 40-100 ℃. The results showed that citric acid phosphate buffer had better extraction effect, and the maximum absorbance produced by enzymatic reaction was present at 50 ℃ environment after reaction for 30 min. Homogeneous design experiment determined that the optimal conditions were as follows: optimal extraction liquid pH 7.0; enzymatic reaction system pH 6.0; substrate concentration 20 mmol•L⁻¹. The change of enzyme activity was affected by drying temperature and water loss rate. In the drying temperature of 60-100 ℃, the enzyme activity was reduced rapidly with the increase in water loss rate, while the activity was seen even with 0% of water at 40 and 50 ℃. This study has laid the theoretical foundation for research of hydrolysis mechanism of iridoid glycosides and optimum drying process.