Therapeutic Effect and Mechanism of Acorus gramineus Extraction on Mice Arthritis Induced by Type-Ⅱ Collagen / 医药导报

Objective To investigate the medical effect of the ethanol extract of Acorus gramineus Sol.on arthritis of mice induced by collagen-Ⅱ,and explore the potential pharmacological mechanisms.Methods Arthritis mouse model was established by injection of admixture containing type Ⅱ collagen and Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) in male BALB/c mice.Mice were divided into five groups:the normal control group (0.9% of sodium chloride solution),the model control group (0.9% of sodium chloride solution),tripterygium group (15 μg·kg-1 of tripterygium tablets), the high-dose of extract of Acorus gramineus Sol.group (60 mg·kg-1 extract of Acorus gramineus Sol.) and the low-dose of extract of Acorus gramineus Sol.group (15 mg·kg-1 extract of Acorus gramineus Sol.).Each group was administered once a day,lasting 21 days.During the experiment,ankles of all mice were measured at predetermined time.At the end of the experiment,blood of the mice was exsanguinated and centrifuged to get serum for measuring the levels of IL-1β,RF and TNF-α.Spleens of mice were dissected and weighed to calculate the spleen index.All arthritis ankles were dissected to make tissue section,and observed under microscope.Results Compared with the model control group,the perimeter of ankle joints of the high-dose of extract of Acorus gramineus Sol.group significantly changed 6 days after administration (P<0.05);That of the low-dose of extract of Acorus gramineus Sol.group significantly changed 12 days after administration (P<0.05);That of tripterygium group significantly changed 9 days after administration (P<0.05).As compared with the normal control group, the spleen index of the model control group was significantly different (P<0.01).As compared with the model control group,the spleen index of tripterygium group,high-dose and low-dose of extract of Acorus gramineus Sol.groups were significantly different (P<0.05).As compared with the normal control group,levels of IL-1β,RF and TNF-α of the model control group were significantly different (all P<0.01).As compared with the model control group,levels of IL-1β,RF and TNF-α of tripterygium group,high-dose and low-dose of extract of Acorus gramineus Sol.groups were significantly decreased.Conclusion Ethanol extracts of Acorus gramineus Sol.have significant therapeutic effect on arthritis mice.The anti-arthritic mechanism is associated with its ability to regulate levels of IL-1β,RF and TNF-α.

Studies on Signal Transduction Mechanism of Alcohol-induced Neuronal Cell Death and Protective Effect / 체질인류학회지

Excessive use of alcohol is a serious problem in our society and induces various, severe alcohol related diseases. The cytotoxicities of ethanol are still largely unknown. We studied the molecular mechanisms of EtOH-induced SK-N-SH neuronal cell death and protective effects of baicalein and gramineus against EtOH-induced cytotoxicities. In our results, the cell death by EtOH showed morphologic features of apoptosis like as membrane blebbing, nuclear condensation and fragmentation. Furthermore, pretreated baicalein attenuated EtOH-induced neuronal cell death effectively. EtOH increased expression levels of p53 and both p53 antisense oligonucleotide and Pifithrin protected the cell death against EtOH. Also, EtOH induced mitochondrial event, collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential ( delta psi m ) and caspase cascade as a downstream of mitochondria. Interestingly, baicalein decreased expression levels of p53 and inhibited collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential. These results suggest that baicalein reduces mitochondrial dysfunction induced by EtOH through down-regulation of p53 expression levels. Also, baicalein attenuated activation of caspase, which was triggered by mitochondrial malfunction. But gramineus didn't have any protective effect. These results imply that baicalein significantly protects EtOH-induced neuronal cell death through regulating p53, mitochondrial dysfunction and caspase activation.

Studies on Signal Transduction Mechanism of Alcohol-induced Neuronal Cell Death and Protective Effect / 체질인류학회지

Excessive use of alcohol is a serious problem in our society and induces various, severe alcohol related diseases. The cytotoxicities of ethanol are still largely unknown. We studied the molecular mechanisms of EtOH-induced SK-N-SH neuronal cell death and protective effects of baicalein and gramineus against EtOH-induced cytotoxicities. In our results, the cell death by EtOH showed morphologic features of apoptosis like as membrane blebbing, nuclear condensation and fragmentation. Furthermore, pretreated baicalein attenuated EtOH-induced neuronal cell death effectively. EtOH increased expression levels of p53 and both p53 antisense oligonucleotide and Pifithrin protected the cell death against EtOH. Also, EtOH induced mitochondrial event, collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential ( delta psi m ) and caspase cascade as a downstream of mitochondria. Interestingly, baicalein decreased expression levels of p53 and inhibited collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential. These results suggest that baicalein reduces mitochondrial dysfunction induced by EtOH through down-regulation of p53 expression levels. Also, baicalein attenuated activation of caspase, which was triggered by mitochondrial malfunction. But gramineus didn't have any protective effect. These results imply that baicalein significantly protects EtOH-induced neuronal cell death through regulating p53, mitochondrial dysfunction and caspase activation.

Attenuated Ceramide-induced Neuronal Apoptosis by Acanthopanax senticous / 체질인류학회지

Both Acanthopanax senticosus and Acorus gramineus Soland are typical Oriental herbs. They have been used as a tonic, anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory, anti-stress, anti-cancer agent. But, it is still unclear how they effectively regulate their various biological properties. Ceramide is emerging as a second messenger of apoptotic cell death and there is increasing evidence that ceramide is involved in neurodegenerative disease and the process of senescence. The present study investigated the different effects of A. senticosus and A. gramineus on ceramide-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells. We showed that ceramide induced apoptosis through the mediation of reactive oxygen species(ROS) production and A. senticosus, as an effective antioxidant, significantly inhibited the increase of ROS generation, thereby preventing apoptosis. Furthermore, an increase of caspase activity (apoptosis executors) resulted from ceramide reduced by A. senticosus. But A. gramineus had almost no protective effects. These results implicate that ROS play on important roles in ceramide-induced apoptosis, also A. senticosus protects effectively via inhibition of ROS generation by ceramide through selective pathway.