ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the effects of spina date seed (SDS) and albizzia julibrissin flower (AJF) water extracts on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and inflammatory factors IF) in the anxiety depression model rats. Methods: A total of 80 Wistar rats were randomly divided into blank group (n= 10), model group (n=10), low dose of SDS group (n=10), high dose of SDS group (n=10), low dose of AJF group (n=10), high dose of AJF group (n= 10), low dose of SDS-AJF group (n= 10), and high dose of SDS-AJF group (n=10). The rat models of anxiety depression were induced by chronic restraint stress, solitary cage and corticosterone (CORT) subcutaneous injection. The forced swimming test (FST) was used to observe the immobility time of forced swimming of the rats in various groups; Elevated plus maze test (EPM) was used to observe the open arm entry (OE), close arm entry (CE), open arm entry time (OT), and close arm entry time (CT) of the rats in various groups. The total entry of open arms and close arms (TE), OE% and OT% were calculated. ELISA method was used to detect the levels of serum corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), CORT, inflammatory factors interleukin-lfi (IL-fi) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) of the rats in various groups. HE staining was used to observe the morphology of hippocampal neurons of the rats in various groups. Results: Compared with model group, the immoblity time of forced swimming of the rats in low dose of SDS-AJF group, high dose of SDS-AJF group, high dose of SDS group and high dose of AJF group was decreased (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01); compared with low dose of SDS group and low dose of AJF group, the immoblity time of forced swimming of the rats in low dose of SDS-AJF group was shortened (P<0. 05 or P< 0.01); compared with high dose of SDS group and high dose of AJF group, the immobility time of forced swimming of the rats in high dose of SDS-AJF group was shortened (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01). Compared with model group, the OE% and OT% of the rats in low dose of SDS-AJF group, high dose of SDS-AJF group, high dose of SDS group and high dose of AJF group were increased (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01); compared with low dose of SDS group and low dose of AJF group, the OE% and OT% of the rats in low dose of SDS-AJF group were increased (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01); compared with high dose of SDS group and high dose of AJF group, the OE% and OT% of the rats in high dose of SDS-AJF group were increased (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01). Compared with model group, the levels of serum CRH, ACTH, CORT, IL-1β, and IL-6 of the rats in low dose of SDS-AJF group, high dose of SDS-AJF group, high dose of SDS group and high dose of AJF group were decreased (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01); compared with low dose of SDS group and low dose of AJF group, the levels of serum CRH, ACTH, CORT, IL-1β and IL-6 of the rats in low dose of SDS-AJF group was decreased (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01); compared with high dose of SDS group and high dose of AJF group, the levels of serum CRH, ACTH, CORT, IL-1β, and IL-6 of the rats in high dose of SDS-AJF group was decreased (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01). The HE staining results showed that the hippocampal neurons of the rats in model group were loosely arranged, and a large number of nerve cells were degenerated and the cell layer was reduced. The degeneration of hippocampal neurons of the rats in low and high doses of SDS-AJF groups were significantly relieved, and the nerve cells were arranged closely and the cell layer was clear. Conclusion: Combination of SDS and AJF can improve the behavior of the rats with anxiety depression, protect the hippocampal neurons of rats, reduce the inflammatory response, and adjust the disorder of HPA axis.
ABSTRACT
Albizzia julibrissin (AJ) is an herbal medicine that shows low toxicity, promotes promoting blood circulation and mitigates the inflammation and has mild side effects. Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common diseases that occurs in older males and often results in lower urinary tract symptoms. This study was conducted to evaluate the protective effect of AJ against BPH using LNCaP cells and Sprague Dawley rats treated with testosterone. Treatment with AJ extract reduced the expression of androgen receptor (AR) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in vitro. In vivo, rats were divided into 6 groups: 1 (Normal Control); 2 (Testosterone propionate (TP) alone); 3 (TP + finasteride); 4 (TP + AJ 10 mg/kg); 5 (TP + AJ 50 mg/kg); 6 (TP + AJ 300 mg/kg). The groups treated with AJ showed reduced the relative prostate weights and BPH-related proteins were altered, with decreased AR, PSA and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) observed by western blot. Histopathological analysis revealed the therapeutic effect of AJ, with a decreased thickness of epithelial cells and reduced level of PCNA and 5α-reductase type 2. These results suggest that AJ extract could ameliorate testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Male , Rats , Albizzia , Blood Circulation , Blotting, Western , Diethylpropion , Epithelial Cells , Herbal Medicine , Hyperplasia , In Vitro Techniques , Inflammation , Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms , Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen , Prostate , Prostate-Specific Antigen , Prostatic Hyperplasia , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Receptors, Androgen , Testosterone , Weights and MeasuresABSTRACT
Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. é popularmente conhecida no Brasil por coração-de-negro. É uma espécie aclimatada nesse país. As sementes dessa espécie são utilizadas no tratamento de diarréia, disenteria e hemorróidas e as folhas, no tratamento de úlceras e nas conjuntivites alérgicas. Este trabalho foi realizado com a finalidade de determinar as características macroscópicas e microscópicas das folhas e sementes dessa planta, uma vez que estas são as partes usadas popularmente. Algumas características de valor na sua diagnose foram apontadas e ilustradas por fotomicrografias. Reações de fitoquímica e a determinação do conteúdo de água e de cinzas foram realizadas no pó das folhas e sementes de A. lebbeck. Saponinas, alcalóides e cumarinas foram detectados nas folhas e sementes; flavonóides foram também identificados nas folhas. O teor de umidade foi 6,78 por cento e 7,91 por cento, respectivamente, para o pó das folhas e sementes. Os valores de cinzas totais e cinzas insolúveis em ácido foram 9,60 por cento e 0,62 por cento para as folhas e 4,13 por cento e 0,21 por cento para as sementes. Os dados obtidos são importantes para o controle de qualidade dessa planta medicinal. O extrato bruto da planta não apresentou atividade antibacteriana.
Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth., is popularly known in Brazil as "coração-de-negro". It is a species acclimatized in Brazil. The seeds of this species are used to treat diarrhea, dysentery and hemorrhoids and the leaves are used for the treatment of ulcers and allergic conjunctivitis. The purpose of this work was to determine the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the leaves and seeds of this plant, since these are the parts used popularly. Some characters of diagnostical value are pointed out and illustrated by photomicrographs. Phytochemistry reactions and determination of water and ash were done on the powder of A. lebbeck. Saponins, alkaloids, coumarins were detected in the leaves and seeds; flavonoids were also detected in the leaves. The content of water was 6.78 percent and 7.91 percent, respectively, for leaf and seed powder. The values of total ashes and acid insoluble ashes were 9.60 percent and 0.62 percent for leaf, and 4.13 percent and 0.21 percent, for seed powder. The data obtained are important for the quality control of this medicinal plant. The crude extract of this plant did not show antibacterial activity.
ABSTRACT
Leg length discrepancy or short stature is a significant problem to patient psychosocially, cosmetically, and there has been many efforts for limb lengthening. There are many report about lower limb lengthening since the first description of femoral lengthening by Codivilla in 1905. Although limb lengthening using external fixator was popularized by Anderson, the result was poor because of many difficulties in techniques and complications. Recently, a great progress in lower limb lengthening was made by distraction osteogenesis by llizarov and callotasis by De Bastiani. But as such exter- nal fixator has some problem in technique, cosmesis or complications. Therefore gradual elongation intrameduilary nailing(Albizzia) developed by Guichet in 1986 has gained attention for more stability and relatively less discomfort. We reviewed 18 cases in 11 patients(5 males and 6 females) who visited the department of Orthopedic Surgery of Severance Hospital at Yonsei University with limb leg length discrepancy due to sequeale of poliomyelitis, familial short stature and Turner syndrome. They all underwent lower limb lengthening using Albizzia technique between December 1995 and January l997. The average age at the time of the operation was 22.7 year. Famiiial short stature was in 12 cases(67%), Turner syndrome in 2 cases(11%), and leg length discrepancy due to the sequelae of poliomyelitis in 4 cases(22%). The site of lengthening were 5 cases of femur(28%) and l3 cases of tibia(72%). The latency period was average of 7 days. During the distraction period, 15 ratchetings per day(1 mm/day) were performed. In case of bilaterai femoral lengthenings, average length of gain(LG) was 6.0cm and percentage of increase(PI) l6.8%(16.2-17.4), lengthening index(LI) 1.2 month/cm(0.75-2.2). In case of unilateral femoral lengthening, LG was 3.8cm, Pl 7.8 %, Ll 1.3 month/ cm. In case of bilateral tibial lengthening, average LG was 5.5cm(3.5-6.0~) and Pl 18.8%(12.0-22.9), LI 1.3month/cm(0.67-2.3). In case of unilateral tibial lengthening, LG was 2.9cm(2.3-3.5), P1 9.4 %(7.7-11.7), LI 2.8 month/cm(2.2-3.1). Lengthening index in poliomyelitis by llizarov was 3.l month/cm, but it was 1.3 in femur and 2.8 in tibia hy Albizzia method. There are some advantages and disadvantages or contraindications and indications of the Albizzia technique. We suggest that the Albizzia technique is more stahle, more comfortable and no longer lengthening time compared to external fixator such as Ilizarov.