Therapeutic mechanism of Psammosilene tunicoides extract on rheumatoid arthritis based on NLRP3 inflammasome / 中国中药杂志

In this study, we investigated the mechanism of crude extract of Psammosilene tunicoides(CEPT) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis(RA) based on the Nod-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3) inflammasome. The collagen-induced arthritis(CIA) mouse model was established. On day 32 after the primary immunization, according to the arthritis score, the mice were randomly divided into model group, positive control(methotrexate) group, low-and high-dose CEPT groups, and normal group, with 10 mice in each group. According to the administration dose of each group, the mice were continuously administered for 21 days. Every four days during the administration, the paw edema degree, arthritis score, and spleen index of the mice were measured; histopathological examination was performed for the ankles of the mice; the contents of IL-1β and IL-18 in the serum were determined; the protein expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD(ASC), as well as the mRNA expression levels of NLRP3 and caspase-1 in the ankle joints of the mice were detected. The results showed that compared with those in the model group, the mice in the positive control group and CEPT groups had significantly decreased the contents of IL-1β and IL-18 in the serum and spleen index(P<0.01), significantly lowered arthritis score and degree of paw edema(P<0.01), alleviated arthritic infiltration of the knee, and down-regulated protein and mRNA levels of NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1 in the ankle joint(P<0.01). These results suggest that P. tunicoides may reduce the paw edema and arthritis score and alleviate the inflammatory response in CIA mice by inhibiting the expression of NLRP3. This study provides a basis for the study of immune regulation of P. tunicoides in RA.

Preliminary investigation of serum homocysteine level and its reference interval in apparent healthy population in Lhasa area / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective:To analyze the level of homocysteine (HCY) and its influencing factors in different ethnic groups in Lhasa, and to explore its reference interval.Methods:Reference interval study. The serum HCY (μmol/L) level of 820 healthy subjects was analyzed in Tibet autonomous region People′s hospital from January to December 2018. All the subjects were divided into groups according to ethnicity, gender, age and season. The general linear model was used to analyze the differences in serum HCY levels groups. According to the CLSI C28 document, the Nested ANOVA and Z test were used to analyze and determine whether or not different groups need to establish the reference interval. Results:Ethnicity, age and gender had significant effects on serum HCY. The level of HCY in Tibetan was higher than that in Han (P<0.001); the level of Hcy in male was higher than that in female ( P<0.001); the level of HCY in over-50 year old group was higher than that in under-50 year old group ( P=0.01). There was no significant difference in serum HCY level in seasonal distribution ( P=0.22). Nested ANOVA and Z tests confirmed that the HCY reference interval in Lhasa should be established according to ethnicity and gender in clinical application. The reference interval of HCY level in Lhasa area was established according to difference genders, including<22.41 μmol/L for Tibetan men,<18.41 μmol/L for Tibetan women. Conclusions:The serum HCY levels of the apparent healthy people in Lhasa area were slightly different among people of different ethnicities, genders and ages. We established the reference intervals of HCY of different ethnic groups and gender groups in Tibet and our results have practical significance for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases at high altitude.

Chemical Constituents from Sprout of Ziziphi jujuba var. spinosa / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To investigate the chemical constituents from sprout of Ziziphi jujuba var. spinosa,and explore the effect of germination on the activity of Z. jujuba var. spinosa seed from the perspective of material basis. Method:The dry sprout of Z. jujuba var. spinosa was crushed and extracted with petroleum ether to remove oils and fats,then the residues were dried and received reflux extraction with methanol. The solvent was decompressed and recovered to obtain methanol fractions. The fractions were dissolved, isolated and purified by column chromatography technologies such as silica gel,RP C18 and Sephadex LH-20,and the structures of the compounds were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR),mass spectrometry (MS) and reference liteature. Result:The 13 compounds were isolated from the sprout of Z. jujuba var. spinosa and identified as jujuboside B (1),jujuboside D (2),jujuboside A (3),betulinic acid (4),betulin (5),lupeol (6),alphitolic acid (7),ceanothic acid (8),oleanolic acid (9),ursolic acid (10),magnoflorine (11),nuciferine (12) and swertisin (13). Conclusion:All the above compounds were isolated from the sprout of of Z. jujuba var. spinosa for the first time. The study showed that the chemical constituents from the sprout were quite similar with those from the seeds of Z. jujuba var. spinosa,mainly including triterpenoids and saponins,flavonoids,alkaloid,etc.Overall,the results described in this study could provide certain chemical basis for further resources exploitation and utilization of the sprout of Z. jujuba var. spinosa.

Influence of specification on chemical composition of dissolution and hepatocytes toxicity of Polygonum multiflorum / 中国中药杂志

According to different toxicities of various aqueous extracts of Polygonum multiflorum on hepatocyte, the impacts of chemical composition on the safety of P. multiforum was studied. In this study, 8 main chemical compositions in aqueous extracts of P. multiflorum were determined by the established HPLC method; at the same time, the inhibition ratios of different aqueous extracts of P. multiflorum on L02 cell were determined. Afterwards, the potential compounds related to the toxicity of P. multiforum were tentatively found through a multiple correlation analysis. The results showed that P. multiforum with different chemical compositions exhibited great differences in dissolution. The hepatocyte toxicity of P. multiflorum powder was much greater than P. multiflorum lumps. In addition, three constituents closely related to toxicity of P. multiflorum were found by multiple correlation analysis. The study revealed that chemical composition of P. multiflorum is closely related to the hepatotoxicity, and the hepatotoxicity of P. multiflorum powder is greater than that of other dosage forms. This study indicates that P. multiflorum with different chemical compositions show varying toxicity, which therefore shall be given high attention.

Impact of acupoint heat-sensitive moxibustion on lung function and life quality of patients with chronic persistent bronchial asthma: a randomized controlled study / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the impact of heat-sensitive moxibustion on lung function in chronic persistent bronchial asthma and analyze its effect on the improvement of life quality as well as compare its efficacy with Seretide inhaler.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-seven cases were divided into a heat-sensitive moxibustion group (28 cases) and a Seretide group (29 cases) according to the random number table. In heat-sensitive moxibustion group, the therapy of heat-sensitive moxibustion was applied to the regions at the level of Feishu (BL 13) and Geshu (BL 17), or to the heat-sensitized points in the region 6 cun lateral from the 1st and 2nd intercostal spaces in the chest. The treatment was given continuously for 8 days, once per day, 12 treatments should be ensured in the later 22 days of the 1st month. In the later two months since then, 15 treatments should be ensured each month (< or = 1 treatment each day). In Seretide group, Seritide manufactured in GlaxoSmithKLine was used, one inhalation each time, twice per day. The cases in both groups were received treatment for 3 months. The changes in lung function such as forced expiratory volume one second (FEV1), TCM symptoms score, Asthma Control Test (ACT) and St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were assessed and compared between two groups and within group separately.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Lung function as FEV1 was improved in either group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The terminal improvement effects on symptoms of Chinese medicine, life quality and others were same between two groups (all P > 0.05). But the improvements in general situation, chills, fever and sweating in heat-sensitive moxibustion group were superior to those in Seretide group (both P < 0.05). Concerning to the improvement in respiratory symptoms, the effect of Seretide was better than that of heat-sensitive moxibustion (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Heat-sensitive moxibustion improves lung function, relieves clinical symptoms and benefits life quality for patients with chronic persistent bronchial asthma. It's efficacy on the disease is equal to the internationally-recognized effect of Seretide.</p>

Antidepressant-like effects of the ethanolic extract of Xiaobuxin-Tang, a traditional Chinese herbal prescription in animal models of depression / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Xiaobuxin-Tang, a traditional Chinese herbal prescription recorded in a silk scroll unearthed from Mogao Caves of Dunhuang has been indicated that it can remit depressive disorder. The present study was designed to investigate its antidepressant effects in various animal depression models.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Xiaobuxin-Tang was extracted by 70% alcohol, and then three behavioral despair models and 5-Hydroxytryptophan (HTP)-induced head twitch response model were adopted to assess the antidepressant effects of the ethanolic extract of Xiaobuxin-Tang with the study on spontaneous motor activity. Groups of mice and rats received oral treatment with Xiaobuxin-Tang (150 - 1200 mg/kg) only once acutely in all tests. The duration of immobility was measured during the last 4 minutes of the 6-minutes test period in mice forced swimming test, rats forced swimming test and mice tail suspension test. In 5-HTP-induced head twitch response, the mice were intraperitoneally administered with 120 mg/kg of L-5-HTP, and then the cumulative number of head twitches was counted in 20 minutes. Spontaneous motor activities of mice were recorded automatically in 10 minutes by VIDEOMEX-V image analytic system.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The extract at doses of 300 mg/kg (p.o.) and 600 mg/kg (p.o.) significantly decreased the duration of immobility time in a dose dependent manner in mice forced swimming test; also, the extract at dose of 1200 mg/kg (p.o.) significantly decreased the duration of immobility time in rat forced swimming test. Furthermore, the extract at a dose of 600 mg/kg had the same effect in mice tail suspension test. Meanwhile, the extract at the effective doses for behavioral despair models, had no effect on spontaneous motor activity in mice. The extract (300 - 1200 mg/kg, p.o.) also increased the accumulative number of the 5-HTP-induced head twitch response in mice in 20 minutes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our results suggested that the ethanolic extract of Xiaobuxin-Tang exerts antidepressant-like effect.</p>

Antagonistic effect of aqueous extract of detoxified cottonseeds on corticosterone-induced lesion in cultured PC12 cells / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the possible mechanism of aqueous extract of detoxified cottonseeds (CTN-W).</p><p><b>METHOD AND RESULT</b>CTN-W 0.01, 0.03, 0.10, 0.30 mg.mL-1 was incubated directly with the synaptic membrane extracted from the cerebral cortex in rats, and adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity was detected by using radio-immunoassay.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Showed that CTN-W could activate AC in a dose-dependend manner. After incubation with PC12 cells in the presence of corticosterone 2 x 10(-4)mol.L-1 for 48 h, CTN-W 0.08, 0.4, 2 mg.mL-1 protected PC12 cells from the lesion induced by corticosterone.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of CTN-W are related with the activation of AC-cAMP pathway in signal transduction system, thus protecting neurons from the lesion. These two aspects maybe partly form the mechanism of CTN-W's action.</p>