ABSTRACT
The effect of Tujia medicine Berberidis Radix on endogenous metabolites in the serum and feces of mice with ulcerative colitis(UC) induced by dextran sulfate sodium(DSS) was analyzed by metabolomics technology to explore the metabolic pathway and underlying mechanism of Berberidis Radix in the intervention of UC. The UC model was induced in mice by DSS. Body weight, disease activity index(DAI), and colon length were recorded. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-10(IL-10) in colon tissues were determined by ELISA. The levels of endogenous metabolites in the serum and feces were detected by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). Principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) were employed to characterize and screen differential metabolites. The potential metabolic pathways were analyzed by MetaboAnalyst 5.0. The results showed that Berberidis Radix could significantly improve the symptoms of UC mice and increase the level of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10. A total of 56 and 43 differential metabolites were identified in the serum and feces, respectively, belonging to lipids, amino acids, fatty acids, etc. After the intervention by Berberidis Radix, the metabolic disorder gradually recovered. The involved metabolic pathways included biosynthesis of phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan, linoleic acid metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. Berberidis Radix can alleviate the symptoms of mice with DSS-induced UC, and the mechanism may be closely related to the re-gulation of lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and energy metabolism.
Subject(s)
Mice , Animals , Colitis, Ulcerative/drug therapy , Interleukin-10 , Metabolomics/methods , Chromatography, High Pressure LiquidABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE To study the improvement effects and mechanisms of Tujia medicine musk needle therapy on cognitive dysfunction in ischemic stroke model rats. METHODS Totally 44 rats were randomly divided into sham operation group， model group， musk needle treatment group and ordinary acupuncture group， with 11 rats in each group. Except for the sham operation group， ischemic stroke model was induced by modified suture method in other groups. After modeling， musk needle treatment group and the ordinary acupuncture group were treated with Tujia musk needle （containing 3 mg of artificial musk） and traditional filiform needle respectively to intervene in the muscle layer of the contralateral scalp motor area， with an intervention duration of 3 courses. The sham operation group and model group were not given any treatment. The neurological deficits score in rats were recorded and Morris water maze behavioral tests were conducted. The morphology of neurons in the cortical area of rats was observed， and the expression of DCX/BrdU and NeuN/BrdU co-labeled cells in the ischemic subependymal area was observed. The plasma levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α （HIF-1α） and vascular endothelial growth factor（VEGF） in rats were tested. RESULTS Compared with sham operation group， neurological deficit score of model group was increased significantly， escape latency prolonged significantly， and the times of crossing platform significantly reduced （P＜0.05）； the neuronal structure was significantly damaged， and the number of surrounding Nissl bodies decreased； the number of DCX/BrdU and NeuN/BrdU co- labeled cells in the ischemic subependymal area were significantly increased （P＜0.05）； the levels of HIF-1α and VEGF in plasma were significantly increased （P＜0.05）. Compared with model group， neurological deficits score， escape latency， the times of crossing platform were all reversed significantly in musk needle treatment group and ordinary acupuncture group （P＜0.05）； the neuronal structure was improved， and the number of Nissl bodies increased； the number of DCX/BrdU and NeuN/BrdU co-labeled cells in the ischemic subependymal area were significantly increased （P＜0.05）； the plasma levels of HIF-1α and VEGF were significantly increased （P＜0.05）. Compared with ordinary acupuncture group， the plasma level of HIF-1α was reduced （the difference was not statistically significant）， while the level of VEGF was significantly increased （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Tujia medicine musk needle therapy can significantly improve the cognitive dysfunction in ischemic stroke model rats， and its mechanism of action may be associated with promoting migration and differentiation of neural stem cell in ischemic subependymal area， preventing the excessive release of HIF-1α and increasing the expression of VEGF.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To study the active triterpenoid saponins of Tujia ethnomedicine Kouziqi (Panax japonicus var. major). The antitumor activity was screened and the relationship between the structure and activity of the compounds was discussed. Methods: The ethanol extract of Kouziqi was isolated by Silica gel, ODS and MCI column chromatograph and purified by preparative HPLC. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and compared with literatures. Using MTT assay to detect the cytotoxicity of 14 compounds in BGC-823, HCT-116, Hela, HepG-2 cells. Results: A total of 14 known compounds were isolated from Tujia ethnomedicine Kouziqi and determined as chikusetsusaponin IVa methyl ester (1), chikusetsusaponin IVa butyl ester (2), chikusetsusaponin IV (3), chikusetsusaponin IVa (4), 28-desglucosylchikusetsusaponin IVa (5), oleanolic acid-3-O-β-D-(6'- methylester)-glucuronopyranoside (6), (24R)-majonoside R1 (7), (24R)-pseudoginsinoside F11 (8), (20S)-notoginsinoside-R2 (9), (20S)-ginsenoside Rg2 (10), ginsenoside Rg1 (11), ginsenoside Re (12), ginsenoside Rd (13) and chikusetsusaponin-V methyl ester (14). Among the 14 compounds, compounds 5 and 6 showed dose-dependent cytotoxicity to BGC-823, HCT-116, Hela and HepG-2 cells. Compound 5 had cytotoxicity in BGC-823 and HCT-116 cells with IC50 values of 9.94 and 14.17 μmol/L, respectively. Compound 6 had the best cytotoxicity in HepG-2 cells with IC50 value of 12.70 μmol/L. Conclusion: Compound 6 is isolated from Kouziqi for the first time and its spectral data were reported. The antineoplastic activity of Tujia ethnomedicine Kouziqi is based on the oleanolic acid-type triterpenoid saponins and related to the substituents of C-28, but the mechanism still needs to be deeply studied.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the somatotype characteristics of rural Tujia adults in Hu'nan. Methods: The Heath-Carter somatotyping method was used to study the somatotype of 976 adults (528 males and 448 females) of Tujia in the rural areas of Hu' nan. Results: The mean somatotype in males of Tujia was endomorphic mesomorph category (3.43-5.35-1.61) and was endomorph-mesomorph category (5.18-5.38-1.01) in females. With their age increasing, the values of endomorphy and mesomorphy increased at first and then gradually decreased both males and females, and the values of ectomorphy decreased at first and then increased. The values of endomorphy of males in all age groups were significantly lower than those of females with the same ages, the values of mesomorphy of males showed no significant difference compared with those of females, and the values of ectomorphy of males were significantly higher than those of females in most age groups with the same ages. Conclusion: Tujia adults have a strong physique and developed skeleton muscles, male body is relatively slender, and female subcutaneous fat is more developed and buxom. The somatotype of Tujia adults have a higher mesomorphy, a lower endomorphy and ectomorphy among 30 rural ethnic groups, which are close to those of Muya and Ersu.
ABSTRACT
Aim Kadsuraheteroclita ( Roxb ) Craib ( Schizandraceae) is a medicinal plant termed Xuetong in Chinese Tujia ethnomedicine. Xuetong possesses therapeutic effects of, in the terms of Chinese medical theories, reinforcing vital energy, promoting blood cir-culation, expelling wind-evil, and removing damp-e-vil, and has been long used for the prevention and treatment of rheumatic and arthritic diseases, especial-ly in the southern China. The HPLC analysis has iden-tified that the ethanol extract of Xuetong contains large-ly biologically active lignans and triterpenoids. Our previous studies have shown that KHS exhibits very fa-vorable safety profile and potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. In the present study, we investiga-ted anti-arthritic effects and the possible mechanisms of Xuetongon adjuvant-induced arthritis ( AIA ) in rats. Methods AIA was established in male Sprague-Daw-ley ( SD ) rats as described previously, and animals were daily treated by gavage with Xuetong ethanol ex-tract ( 1. 0 g · kg-1 ) or vehicle ( 0. 3% CMC-Na ) throughout the 30-day experiment. The incidence and severity of arthritis were evaluated using clinical pa-rameters. On day 30, bone destruction of the arthritic joints was assessed by computed tomography( CT) and histopathological analyses. The serum levels of pro-in-flammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were measured by ELISA. Results Treatment with 1. 0 g/kg Xuetong significantly inhibited the onset and pro-gression of AIA. The vehicle-treated rats all developed severe arthritis, while the incidence of AIA in the Xue-tong-treated rats was as low as 55%( P=0. 035 ) . The Xuetong -treated rats exhibited 1. 8 to 2. 3 fold reduc-tion of paw swelling, and gained 10 to 20% more body weight than the vehicle-treated AIA rats throughout the experiment. CT and histopathological examinations re-vealed that Xuetong markedly protected AIA rats from cartilage and bone destruction of joints. Moreover, the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were signifi-cantly decreased in the Xuetong-treated rats than the vehicle-treated AIA rats. Conclusions These data strongly support the clinical use of Xuetong for rheu-matic and arthritic diseases, and suggest that Xuetong is a valuable candidate for further investigation to be a new anti-arthritic drug with favorable safety profile.
ABSTRACT
Based on the trialistic theory of drug properties, substances, and efficacy in Tujia medicine, We adopted the one-way thinking and research method from efficacy to substance or vice versa and utilized the multicomponent and multi-target advantage of traditional medicine. At last, we had developed the bidirectional or multidirectional thinking and research method from efficacy to efficacy or from substance to substance. In the study, we used the backward selection method based on the known effects of current drug to fine another new role with known efficacy related by analyzing components, so as to find new efficacy or safer usage; We used the known substances as a starting points to find the new chemicals with the function compared to the known efficacy, thus the drug processing will be guided and the new medicinal resources and drugs will be found. The backward selection method is a simple and effective research method, which might make better use of traditional medicinal components and advantages of drug multi-target, and promote the rational use of traditional medicine and the research and development of new drugs.
ABSTRACT
Tu-Jia medicine is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).“San-Yuan doctrine”is the guiding ideology of Tu-Jia medicine, but there is no systematic exposition of its literature origin. This paper ar-gued that“San-Yuan doctrine”of Tu-Jia medicine was originated in the“San-Yuan”of Taoism. Its formation was closely related to the impact of Taoism and Tu-Jia culture, the understanding of human physiology and pathology in Tu-Jia medicine. This paper expounded the origin of“San-Yuan doctrine”, the guiding ideology of Tu-Jia medi-cine and Taoism culture through citing a number of theoretical bases. First of all, the concept of“San-Yuan”in Tu-Jia medicine originated in Taoism. Secondly, legends about the Lord Lao-Zi and Medicine King Bodhisattva in Tu-Jia medicine were closely related with Taoism. Moreover, there existed important links between Tu-Jia medicine and Taoist medicine. For example, both of them are aware of the importance of brain. The reason, I think, is firstly due to the penetration of Taoism in Tu-Jia culture. Taoism culture has a profound influence on Tu-Jia culture. Sec-ondly, the understanding of human physiology and disease in Tu-Jia medicine is closely related to“three”. There-fore, Tu-Jia medicine took“San-Yuan doctrine”as its own guiding ideology. It is of great significance to the study of ethnic minority medicine culture and inheriting its academic thoughts by the study of Tu-Jia medicine origin.
ABSTRACT
Objective To analyze the HLA - DRB1 gene polymorphism and the hereditary association with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortions(URSA)in a population of Tujia and Han nationality from west part of Hunan province in China. Methods The alleles at the HLA-DRB1 typing were analyzed by polymerase chain reac-tion-sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) in 76 URSA Tujia population and 68 URSA Han population and 82 healthy Tujia population and 75 healthy Han population. Results ①DRB1*04 frequency of URSA in Tujia and Han population was strikingly higher than that of the healthy Tujia and Han population(RR>1,Pc <0.01),but the DRB1*12 frequency was strikingly lower than that of the healthy Tujia and Han population respectively(RR<1,Pc <0.01). ②DRB1*07 frequency of URSA in Tujia population was strikingly higher than that of the URSA in Han population (18.08% : 5.28%, Pc<0.01). Conclusion HLA-DRB1*04 maybe predisposing genes of URSA in Tujia and Han population,and HLA-DRB1*12 maybe associated with an antagonist effect in the pathogenesis of UR-SA in this population.
ABSTRACT
The article emphasizes to expound the correlative characteristic theory of science of Tujia herbs from nation and district,concept and attribute of subject,medical foundament,basic theory(denomination feature,nature and class of herb),application(preparation,compatibility,contraindications,dosage,administration and pharmacotherapy) and so on,and analyzes the various objective existing differences between science of Tujia herbs and Chinese materia medica,reveals the mirror meaning between the two traditional materia medica systems,and defines the concept of "science of Tujia herbs" for the first time,then lets scholars recognize and understand the science of ethno-medicines of China more completely,and provids some study ideas for research on ethnic medicine.
ABSTRACT
Objective The frequency of G6PD deficiency in the Tujia nationality in Jiangkou,Guizhou was investigated.Methods In Oct.2002,227 male subjects were selected randomly from the local people,and NBT qualitative and G6PD/6PGD quantitative methods were used to detect G6PD deficiency in them.Results Among the 227 subjects,17 cases of G6PD deficiency were found.The gene frequency of G6PD deficiency was 0.0749.Conclusion There is a high incidence of G6PD deficiency in Tujia nationality in Jiangkou,Guizhou.The investigation will illustrate the distribution of G6PD deficiency in Guizhou,and provide some useful data for the preventing G6PD deficiency,directing clinical management,improving minority population diathesis and studying the origin of Tujia nationality.