Beneficial effects of the Chinese herbal medicine Sanjie Zhentong Capsule on experimental endometriosis in rats / 中国天然药物

AIM@#To analyze the composition of the Chinese herbal medicine Sanjie Zhentong Capsule (SJZTC) and test the therapeutic efficacy of each component in a rat model of endometriosis.@*METHODS@#A rapid resolution liquid chromatography (RRLC) method coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (Q-TOF MS) has been developed for the analysis of SJZTC. Two main ingredients, Drac(h)onis sanguis and saponin, were tested in the endometriosis model. Sixty Lewis female rats were in the estrous cycle stage when endometriosis was experimentally initiated by peritoneal implantation of endometrial tissue. Four weeks later, a second laparotomy was performed and implant volumes were measured. After that, the implanted rats were randomized into five study groups: control group (treatment with saline), anastrozole group (treatment with anastrole, 18 μg per day), loureirin A group (treated with loureirin A, 97.2 mg), ginsenoside Re group (treated with ginsenoside Re, 64.8 mg), and SJZTC groups (treated with SJZTC, 86.4 mg) administered once a day for 4 weeks via gastric gavage. After four weeks of treatment, a third laparotomy was performed, implant volumes were re-measured, and the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were tested.@*RESULTS@#A total of 38 compounds including, both the target and unknown compounds, were rapidly predicted in the capsule extract by the developed method. Compared with the control group, the anastrozole group, loureirin A group, ginsenoside Re group, and SJZTC treated group showed smaller implant volumes, as well as lower levels of VEGF and TNF-α in the peritoneal focus (P < 0.01 for all comparisons). Furthermore, parameters in the groups treated with SJZTC, loureirin A and ginsenoside Re were significantly better than the control group and the anastrozole group. These results indicate that SJZTC and its two main components are effective in reducing the development of endometriosis.

Comparison of the effects of sanjie zhentong capsule and danazol on the endometriosis rats / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the effects of sanjie zhentong capsule (SZC) and danazol on rats with endometriosis (EMT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 48 adult female Lewis rats were selected, 12 as the blank control group, and the rest 36 rats in the estrus cycle were used to establish the EMT model. After modeling they were randomly divided into 3 groups, i.e., the model control group, the SZC treatment group, and the danazol treatment group, 12 in each group. Four weeks later the focus was measured by a second laparotomy. The normal saline at 1 mL/day was administered to rats in the model control group, SZC at 86.4 mg/day to those in the SZC treatment group, and danazol at 7.2 mg/day to those in the danazol treatment group. All the treatment lasted for 4 weeks. At the end of the treatment, a third laparotomy was performed to measure the size of focus. The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was detected using immunohistochemical assay. The cell apoptosis rate was detected using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxy-UTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL). The concentration of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the peritoneal fluid and the serum were detected using ELISA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was statistical difference in the change of the focus volume between the SZC treatment group (-23.27 +/- 18.18) and the danazol treatment group (-12.28 +/- 10.04) and the model control group (13.97 +/- 7.54, P < 0.01). The expression of ectopic PCNA significantly decreased and the positive expression rate of TUNEL obviously increased in the two treatment groups when compared with the model control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The expression of ectopic PCNA decreased and the positive expression rate of TUNEL increased more obviously in the SZC treatment group than in the danazol treatment group (P < 0.01). The concentration of PGE2 in the peritoneal fluid and the serum was significantly lower in the two treatment group when compared with the model control group (P < 0.01). The concentration of PGE2 in the peritoneal fluid and the serum was significantly lower in the SZC treatment group than in the danazol treatment group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>SZC and danazol both could inhibit the focus growth in EMT rats. SZC showed better effects. It was an effective drug for treating EMT.</p>

Influences of acupuncture on infertility of rats with polycystic ovarian syndrome / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect and mechanism of acupuncture on infertility of rats with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PCOS rat model was induced by subcutaneous injection of oil solution of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in immature (24-day-old) female rats for continuous 20 days. Rats for control were given with same dose of oil for instead. PCOS rats were randomly divided into the model group untreated and the acupuncture group treated by needling acupoints of Guanyuan (CV4), Zhongji (CV3), Sanyin-jiao (SP6) and Zigong (CX-CA1), 15 min once a day for 5 continuous days, starting from the 80th day after birth. All rats were sacrificed at terminal of the treatment, their uterus and bilateral ovaries were dissected for observation and blood levels of sex hormones were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>compared with the model group, the number of implanted blastocyte and blastocyte implantation rate were higher and the blood levels of testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) were lower in the acupuncture group (P < 0.05); but the difference between groups in serum levels of follicular stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and progesterone were of statistical insignificance (P > 0.05). Moreover, the wet weight of ovary was lower and the equipotent diameter and area of glandular organ and cavity, area ratio of gland and the stroma, and mean thickness of endometria were higher in the acupuncture group than those in the control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture can conspicuously downregulate the expressions of serum levels of T and E2, improve the development of ovaries and uterus, promote ovulation, enhance endometrial receptivity, and advance blastocyte implantation.</p>