ABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Animals , Mice , Arthritis, Experimental/genetics , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/genetics , Caspase 1/genetics , Inflammasomes/genetics , NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/geneticsABSTRACT
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.
ABSTRACT
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.