ABSTRACT
The present study aimed to explore the chemical constituents from the stems and leaves of Cephalotaxus fortunei. Seven lignans were isolated from the 75% ethanol extract of C. fortunei by various chromatographic methods, including silica gel, ODS column chromatography, and HPLC. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated according to physicochemical properties and spectral data. Compound 1 is a new lignan named cephalignan A. The known compounds were identified as 8-hydroxy-conidendrine(2), isolariciresinol(3), leptolepisol D(4), diarctigenin(5), dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol 9'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(6), and dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol 4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(7). Compounds 2 and 5 were isolated from the Cephalotaxus plant for the first time.
Subject(s)
Cephalotaxus , Lignans/analysis , Plant Leaves/chemistry , Ethanol , Chromatography, High Pressure LiquidABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of Bushen Zhuyun prescription （BSZYP） to reduce the level of ovarian apoptosis in Brown Norway （BN） rats with luteal phase deficiency （LPD）. MethodFifty SPF female BN rats were randomly divided into a model group， a dydrogesterone group （0.002 g·kg-1）， and a low （4.5 g·kg-1）， a medium （9 g·kg-1）， and a high-dose （18 g·kg-1） BSZYP groups， with ten rats in each group. The rats were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage， once a day for three estrus cycle. Western blot was used to detected the protein expression levels of c-Jun NH2 terminal kinase （JNK）， extracellular signal-regulated kinase （ERK）， phosphorylated-ERK （p-ERK）， phosphorylated-JNK （p-JNK）， p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （p38 MAPK）， phosphorylated-p38 MAPK （p-p38 MAPK ）， B-cell lymphoma （Bcl-2）， and Bcl-2 associated X protein （Bax） in ovary. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of ERK， JNK， p38 MAPK， Bax， and Bcl-2 in ovary. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the serum progesterone （P） and estradiol （E2） levels. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe the ovarian tissue morphology. ResultCompared with the model group， the recovery of estrus cycle of rats in all BSZYP groups had statistical significance after 1-circle administration （P<0.05）. The ovarian tissue morphology in the low-dose BSZYP group was improved， and that in the medium and high-dose BSZYP groups was significantly improved with clear follicle， less vesicular follicle and atretic follicle， and more granular layers. The number of luteum， especially the fresh luteum， in the medium and high-dose groups was increased with smooth edge and large volume. The mRNA expression level of Bcl-2 was increased in all-dose BSZYP groups， while the mRNA expression level of Bax was significantly decreased in all-dose BSZYP group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The mRNA expression levels of JNK and p38 MAPK were significantly decreased in the high-dose BSZYP group （P<0.01）， and the mRNA expression levels of ERK were increased in the low and medium-dose BSZYP groups （P<0.05）. The protein expression level of Bcl-2 was significantly increased in the medium and high-dose BSZYP groups （P<0.01）， and the protein expression level of Bax was significantly decreased in the all-dose BSZYP groups （P<0.01）. No significant difference was observed in the protein expressions of JNK， ERK， and p38 MAPK in the BSZYP groups. The protein expression levels of p-ERK in the ovarian tissues of rats were significantly inoreased in the medium and high-dose BSZYP group （P<0.01）， p-JNK， and p-p38 MAPK in the ovarian tissues of rats were significantly decreased in the medium and high-dose BSZYP group （P<0.01）. The level of E2 was increased in all-dose BSZYP groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the level of P in the medium-dose BSZYP group was increased （P<0.05）. ConclusionBSZYP improved the serum sex hormones， restored the estrous cycle， reduced atretic follicle and vesiculation， and maintained luteal morphology and function of BN rats， so as to improve luteal function and treat luteal phase deficiency. The mechanism of BSZYP may be related to reduce the level of ovarian tissue apoptosis in BN rats by regulating MAPKs signaling pathway.
ABSTRACT
The present study investigated the effect of Modified Dihuang Decoction in improving ovarian reserve in mice through the Bcl-2-related mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Forty-eight adult female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into the following six groups with eight mice in each group: a blank group, a model group, a femoston group(three cycles of treatment with 0.13 mg·kg~(-1) estradiol tablets for 2 days and 1.43 mg·kg~(-1) estradiol and dydrogesterone tablets for 3 days), and high(64.74 g·kg~(-1))-, medium(43.16 g·kg~(-1))-, and low-dose(21.58 g·kg~(-1)) Modified Dihuang Decoction groups. Mice in other groups except the blank group received a single intraperitoneal injection of 12 mg·kg~(-1) cyclophosphamide and 1.2 mg·kg~(-1) busulfan to induce a model of diminished ovarian reserve(DOR), while those in the blank group received an equal volume of normal saline. Mice were treated with corresponding drugs for 15 d from the 36 th day, once per day, and the mice in the blank group and the model group were treated with an equal volume of normal saline. The general condition and oestrous cycle were observed. The serum hormone levels were detected with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The morphological changes of ovaries were observed by HE staining. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-9(caspase-9), cleaved caspase-3, Bcl-2 associated X protein(Bax), Bcl-2, superoxide dismutase-2(SOD-2), and glutathione peroxidase-1(GPx-1). The mRNA expression of Bax and Bcl-2 was detected by real-time fluorescence-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction(real-time PCR). The results showed that compared with the blank group, the model group showed body weight loss, disordered oestrous cycle, elevated serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH) and luteinizing hormone(LH), reduced serum levels of estradiol(E_2), anti-mullerian hormone(AMH), and inhibin B(INHB), the declining number of ovarian follicles and granulosa layers, increased number of atretic follicles, up-regulated protein expression of caspase-9, cleaved caspase-3, and Bax and Bax mRNA expression in ovaries, and down-regulated protein expression of Bcl-2, SOD-2 and GPx-1, and Bcl-2 mRNA expression. Compared with the model group, the Modified Dihuang Decoction groups displayed restored body weight and oestrous cycle, decreased serum levels of FSH and LH, elevated serum levels of E_2, AMH, and INHB, increased number of ovarian follicles, thickened granulosa layers, and declining number of atretic follicles. Additionally, the protein expression of caspase-9, cleaved caspase-3, and Bax, and Bax mRNA expression was down-regulated, and the protein expression of Bcl-2, SOD-2, and GPx-1, and Bcl-2 mRNA expression was up-regulated. The results suggest that Modified Dihuang Decoction can regulate endocrine hormone, promote follicle growth and improve ovarian reserve by enhancing ovarian anti-oxidant capacity, inhibiting the Bcl-2-related mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, and further inhibiting cell apoptosis.