ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether the dried root of Phellodendron amurense Ruprecht (Phellodendri cortex; PC) extract improves arthritic symptoms through anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory effects in collagen-induced arthritis in mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was induced in male DBA/1 mice by immunization with type II collagen (ColII). CIA mice were divided into 5 groups (n=10 per a group) with normal, CIA control, PC extract (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg)-treated, and meloxicam (50 mg/kg)-treated as the reference drug. The PC extract or meloxicam were administered orally in CIA mice once a day for 14 days after arthritis induction. Arthritic score, levels of anti-ColII IgGantibody, prostaglandin E(PGE), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-17 in the sera of CIA mice were measured. Histopathological changes in the ankle joints of CIA mice were also analyzed by staining with hematoxylin and eosin (H and E), safranin-O and immunohistochemistry using anti-TNF-α and anti-IL-17 antibodies.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The arthritic score was increased in CIA mice in a time-dependent manner, as were the serum levels of anti-ColII IgGantibody, PGE, TNF-α, and IL-17. However, the oral administration of PC extract at 50 and 100 mg/kg in CIA mice significantly decreased the arthritic scores, and the serum levels of anti-ColII IgG, PGE, TNF-α, and IL-17 compared with those in the CIA group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Furthermore, histopathological improvement of the joint architecture in CIA mice was observed after administration of PC extract. PC extract also significantly inhibited the expression of TNF-α and IL-17 in the joints of CIA mice by suppressing the expression of their mRNA and proteins.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PC extract may improve the pathological progression of RA through the inhibition of joint destruction by synovial inflammation and immune-stimulation, therefore, it would be a potential anti-arthritic agent in RA.</p>
ABSTRACT
Objective: To study the non-alkaloids from the 70% ethanolic extracts of Phellodendri Cortex. Methods: A variety of 732 cation exchange resin chromatography, D101 macroporous adsorbent resin chromatography, silica gel chromatography, ODS column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 chromatography, and preparative HPLC methods were used for the separation and purification of chemical composition. Their structures were established on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectral analysis. Results: Fourteen compounds were identified as (-)-3-O-feruloylquinic acid methyl ester (1), (-)-4-O-feruloylquinic acid methyl ester (2), (-)-chlorogenic acid methyl ester (3), (-)-5-O-feruloylquinic acid methyl ester (4), salidroside (5), methyl ferulate (6), caffeic acid methyl ester (7), p-hydroxylbenzyl ethanol (8), 3,4,5-trimetoxyphenol-O-β-D-glucopy ranoside (9), 2-methoxy-4- (2-propenyl) phenyl β-D-glucopyranoside (10), tachinoside (11), methyl syringate (12), (6S)-dehydrovomifoliol (13), and (6R,7aR)- epiloliolide (14). Conclusion: Compounds 9-14 are isolated from the plants in this genus for the first time.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To conduct computing network pharmacological studies on Paeoniae Rubra Radix (Chishao) and Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai), and to explore their mechanism for intervening Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: The interactions among 199 compounds from the two kinds of Chinese Herbs (Chishao and Huangbai) and 23 approved drug targets related to AD were studied with molecular docking and network pharmacological analysis methods. Results: The most of the compounds in Chishao and Huangbai exhibit good drug-like properties. The mechanism of Chishao and Huangbai may be that they modulate the expression of GSK-3β, caspase-7, BchE, and mTOR to resist AD. Conclusion: The method of network pharmacological studies is helpful to explore the possible active molecules in Chishao and Huangbai and elucidate the mechanism of action.