Angiogenesis inhibitory effect of saikosaponin-d on chicken embryo / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the inhibitory effects of saikosaponin-d (SSd) on angiogenesis in chicken embryos and its mechanism of action.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model was established successfully in 86 chicken embryos. They were divided into 4 groups after fenestration: the three SSd treated groups (A, B and C) treated with high (20 microg/mL, n = 16), middle (10 microg/mL, n = 19) and low (5 microg/mL, n = 25) dose of SSd respectively, and the control group treated with 0.01 mol/L PBS (n = 26). The drug or reagent was administered by grafting 20 microL onto the surface of CAM. After incubation for 3 days, the vessel growth was recorded by digital photography; inflammatory cells were counted under light microscope with HE staining, and the positive rate of angiogenesis reaction was calculated by Leica image analyzer.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>On the 6th day of the embryonic age, vessels in the chicken embryo CAM showed a radial growing in spok-wheel pattern around the gelatin sponges with lateral axis running through it. Whereas after 3 days of SSd treatment, the angiogenesis reduced significantly with vague microvessels around the sponge, and vascular truncation and absence revealed. Microscopic examinations showed that the number of microvessels and infiltrated inflammatory cells in the sponge and peripheral CAM mesenchyme in the SSd groups were less than those in the control group, especially on vessels of medium and small size (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively), but was insignificant on great vessels (P > 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed no correlation between the number of the great vessels in CAM and the infiltrated inflammatory degrees (r = 0.117, P > 0.05), but the increase of small vessels in CAM was positively correlated with that of inflammatory cells (r = 0.971, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>SSd could inhibit the physiological angiogenesis of chicken embryoe, especially for the medium and small vessels, while there was no significant effect on great vessels (P > 0.05). Its mechanism of action may be related to its inhibition on leukocyte migration and activation.</p>

Protective effects of emodin and astragalus polysaccharides on chronic hepatic injury in rats / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Chinese medicine plays an important role in hepatoprotective treatment. This study was conducted to investigate the protective effects of emodin and astragalus polysaccharides (APS) in a rat model of chronic hepatic injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Chronic hepatic injury was induced by hypodermic injection of an olive oil solution containing 40% carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) twice a week, in addition to a diet of 79.5% maizena, 20% fat, 0.5% cholesterol, and 10% alcohol in the drinking water ad libitum for 12 weeks. Meanwhile, the rats were exposed to different concentrations of emodin (40 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)), APS (200 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)), combination drug (emodin 40 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) combined with APS 200 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and colchicine (0.1 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) in parallel by oral gavage (once a day for 12 weeks). At the end of 12 weeks, blood serum and liver tissue were taken. Serum was collected to determine the levels of total bilirubin (TBIL), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminose (AST), and albumin (ALB). Liver and spleen indexes were assayed, followed by the measurements of the liver associated enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Histopathological changes were studied using optical microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Splenohepatomegalia was alleviated and serum levels of TBIL and ALT were reduced in the groups treated with emodin and APS when compared to the control group. In addition, the ALB level in the APS and combination groups was higher. Similarly, the SOD activity of liver homogenates was significantly higher in the groups treated with emodin and APS, while administration of the herbal derivatives prevented the elevation in MDA levels. Histological analysis showed that the APS and combination groups significantly ameliorated the hepatic injury.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Co-administration of emodin and APS demonstrated a synergistic action in reducing ALT and restoring ALB in the serum from a rat model of chronic hepatic injury. Emodin and APS may ameliorate the CCl(4)-induced hepatic injury in rats by elevating antioxidant-enzyme activities and reducing lipid peroxidation.</p>

Preventive Effect of Emodin and Astragalus Polysaccharides on Experimental Hepatocarcinoma in Rats / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To study the preventive effect of emodin and astragalus polysaccharides on experimental hepato-carcinoma in rats.METHODS:The experimental rats were randomly divided into the normal group,model group,emodin group,and emodin combined with astragalus polysaccharides group.hepatocarcinogenesis in rat models were induced by di-ethylnitrosamine,while at the same time all the groups were administered with pre-set drugs by stomach irrigation.Rat's we_ ight,serum indices of ALT,ALP,?-GT,?-L-fucoxidase were determined,and pathological examination was made before and after administration.RESULTS:The group administered with emodin and astragalus polysaccharides improved more than any other groups in terms of rat's weight,serum indices,onset time of hepatocarcinogenesis,and pathological grade.CONCLU_ SION:Emodin combined with astragalus polysaccharides have certain preventive effect on experimental hepatocarcinoma in rats.