Anti-hemorrhoidal activity of Lian-Zhi-San, a traditional Chinese medicine, in an experimental hemorrhoidal model in rats / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#Hemorrhoidal disease (HD) is the most common proctological disease, with an estimated prevalence rate of 4.4%, and a peak in individuals between 45 and 65 years of age. This study was done to evaluate whether Lian-Zhi-San (LZS), a clinically used anti-hemorrhoidal ointment could alleviate the inflammatory injury, with its associated changes of inflammatory cytokines and morphology of anorectal tissues, in an experimental model of HD in rats.@*METHODS@#HD was induced by croton oil preparation (COP) applied to the anorectal region. Rats were then treated with cotton swabs soaked in LZS ointment, water or white vaseline, twice a day for 7 d. At the end of the experiment, HD was evaluated by measuring hemorrhoidal and biochemical parameters along with histopathological observations.@*RESULTS@#In this study, COP induced a significant increase in the macroscopic severity score, anorectal coefficient and Evans blue extravasation, compared to normal rats. Additionally, it greatly enhanced the expression and secretion levels of some important inflammation-related cytokines along with marked histological damage, compared to normal rats. Rats treated with LZS ointment experienced significantly ameliorated Evans blue extravasation (P < 0.05), decreased macroscopic severity score (0.86 ± 0.14 vs. 1.65 ± 0.16) and the anorectal coefficient (P < 0.01); its use also attenuated tissue damage and inhibited the expression and secretion levels of inflammation-related cytokines (interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α).@*CONCLUSION@#This study validates a preliminary understanding of the use of LZS ointment to treat inflammatory factors and tissue damage in an experimental model of HD in rats.

Establishment of a mouse model of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma induced by 7,12-DMBA, croton oil and narrow-band ultraviolet B irradiation / 中国比较医学杂志

Objective To establish a mouse model of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (7,12-DMBA)/croton oil and narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) irradiation.Methods A total of fifty 6-8-week old BALB/c mice (male:female 1:1) were randomly divided into three experimental groups.The group A was treated with chemical carcinogens alone, group B was treated with NB-UVB alone, and group C was treated with chemical carcinogens plus NB-UVB.The general status and skin appearance of mice were observed during the experiment.The survival rate and tumor formation rate of each group was calculated at weeks 5, 10, 15, and 20. Pathological examination was carried out to observe the histological changes of skin lesions.Results Papules measuring≥l mm in diameter began to develop in some mice of the group C at 5 weeks after the first treatment with chemical carcinogens.The tumor formation rates at 20 weeks after treatment were 86.67%, 7.14%, 94.12%in the groups A, B, C, respectively.Pathological examination revealed characteristic changes of squamous cell carcinoma in 13.34%, 0%, 70.59%of the mice in the group A, B, C, respectively.Conclusions Establishment of a mouse model of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma induced by 7,12-DMBA/croton oil and NB-UVB is a better method than treated with chemical carcinogens alone or NB-UVB alone.This method can increase the tumor formation rate and incidence rate of SCC, and within a shorter period.

Ethanol extract of Angelica gigas inhibits croton oil-induced inflammation by suppressing the cyclooxygenase - prostaglandin pathway

The anti-inflammatory effects of an ethanol extract of Angelica gigas (EAG) were investigated in vitro and in vivo using croton oil-induced inflammation models. Croton oil (20 microgram/mL) up-regulated mRNA expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-I and COX-II in the macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7, resulting in the release of high concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). EAG (1~10 microgram/mL) markedly suppressed croton oil-induced COX-II mRNA expression and PGE2 production. Application of croton oil (5% in acetone) to mouse ears caused severe local erythema, edema and vascular leakage, which were significantly attenuated by oral pre-treatment with EAG (50~500 mg/kg). Croton oil dramatically increased blood levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and PGE2 without affecting tumor-necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and nitric oxide (NO) levels. EAG pre-treatment remarkably lowered IL-6 and PGE2, but did not alter TNF-alpha or NO concentrations. These results indicate that EAG attenuates inflammatory responses in part by blocking the COX-PGE2 pathway. Therefore, EAG could be a promising candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Anti-inflammatory Effects of the Extract of Rubus scuaivissimus Cultivated in Guangxi / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of the extract of Rubus scuaivissimus cultivated in Guangxi. METHODS: The inhibition effects of the extract of R. scuaivissimus on vasopermeability and acute mice ear swelling induced by croton oil, and mice paw swelling induced by carrageenan were observed. The content of nitric oxide (NO) and the mRNA expression of iNOS in mice peritoneal macrophages were detected using Griess and RT-PCR assay. RESULTS: The extract of R. scuaivissimus cultivated in Guangxi can conspicuously inhibit the increase of vasopermeability and acute ear swelling induced by croton oil in mice,and mice paw swelling induced by carrageenan. Furthermore, R. scuaivissimus extract also showed depressant effect on the release of NO and genes expression of iNOS mRNA in mouse peritoneal macrophages. CONCLUSION: The extract of R. scuaivissimus cultivated in Guangxi has conspicuous anti-inflammatory effects. The mechanism of action may be associated with its inhibition effects on the release of NO and mRNA expression of iNOS.

Therapeutic effect of phenol-croton oil on photoaging skin of hairless mice / 中华医学美学美容杂志

Objective To promote the use of chemical peeling in facial rejuvenation with the phenol and croton oil peeling agents to the UVA/B-irradiated skin of hairless mice, and to provide the experimental evidence for the clinical application of the treatment of irradiated skin.Methods Sixty BALB/C hairless mice were photo-aged by use of chronic ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B irradiation for 20 weeks. After irradiation the animals were randomly divided into two groups:untreated (10 mice) and treated (50 mice). The phenol and croton oil chemical peeling agents were applied to the dorsal skin of treated animal group while it was full anesthetized. Punch biopsies were taken at 7, 14, 30, 60, and 90 days after peel for histological analysis. At 60 days after irradiation, the skin wrinkling of animals were analyzed by macroscopy, cleavage line amplification, and computer imaging analysis system. Results The treated areas of irradiated skin recovered rejuvenation and exhibited a unique connective tissue layer composed of fine collagen fibers beneath the epidermis. Conclusion The mixture of phenol-croton oil may reverses the visible stigmata of photoaging skin. Our results will be of great help to promote the use of chemical peeling in facial rejuvenation.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECT OF TOTAL SAPONINS OF ROOT OF PANAX NOTOGINSENG ( TSPR ) / 中国药理学通报

The anti-inflammatory effect of total saponins of Panax notoginseng (TSPR ) were reported. After intramuscular injection of TSPR (200 mg/kg, rats and mice) and hydrocortisone ( 300mg/kg, rats ; 200mg/ kg, mice) the ear inflammation induced by croton oil decreased. Thirty minutes after intramuscular injection of TSPR ( 200mg/kg ) and hydrocortisone ( 200mg/kg ) in normal mice, the inflammation induced by acetici ( ip) shown by the infiltration of Even's blue decreased significantly.It is suggested antiinflammatory effect of TSPR was not related to the hypothalamic adrenal system.In chronic inflammatory experiments, TSPR as well as hydrocortisone could inhibit the proliferation of granuloma by the implantation of cotton pellet in rats and mice with inhibitory rates of 27.6% ( P