Effect and mechanism of leonurine on pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats / 中国中药杂志

To investigate the effects of leonurine(Leo) on abdominal aortic constriction(AAC)-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats and its mechanism. A rat model of pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy was established by AAC method. After 27-d intervention with high-dose(30 mg·kg~(-1)) and low-dose(15 mg·kg~(-1)) Leo or positive control drug losartan(5 mg·kg~(-1)), the cardiac function was evaluated by hemodynamic method, followed by the recording of left ventricular systolic pressure(LVSP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure(LVESP), as well as the maximum rate of increase and decrease in left ventricular pressure(±dp/dt_(max)). The degree of left ventricular hypertrophy was assessed based on heart weight index(HWI) and left ventricular mass index(LVWI). Myocardial tissue changes and the myocardial cell diameter(MD) were measured after hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The contents of angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ) and angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor(AT1 R) in myocardial tissue were detected by ELISA. The level of Ca~(2+) in myocardial tissue was determined by colorimetry. The protein expression levels of phospholipase C(PLC), inositol triphosphate(IP3), AngⅡ, and AT1 R were assayed by Western blot. Real-time quantitative PCR(qRT-PCR) was employed to determine the mRNA expression levels of β-myosin heavy chain(β-MHC), atrial natriuretic factor(ANF), AngⅡ, and AT1 R. Compared with the model group, Leo decreased the LVSP, LVEDP, HWI, LVWI and MD values, but increased ±dp/dt_(max) of the left ventricle. Meanwhile, it improved the pathological morphology of myocardial tissue, reduced cardiac hypertrophy, edema, and inflammatory cell infiltration, decreased the protein expression levels of PLC, IP3, AngⅡ, AT1 R, as well as the mRNA expression levels of β-MHC, ANF, AngⅡ, AT1 R, c-fos, and c-Myc in myocardial tissue. Leo inhibited AAC-induced cardiac hypertrophy possibly by influencing the RAS system.

Active compounds and derivatives of camellia sinensis responding to erosive attacks on dentin

Abstract This research explored the potential of Camellia sinensis-derived teas and active compounds to be used as treatments to prevent dentin wear. Human root dentin slabs were randomly assigned to 5 groups (n = 10) as follows: distilled water (DW, control), epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), theaflavin gallate derivatives (TF), commercial green tea (GT), and commercial black tea (BT). The samples were submitted to a pellicle formation and an erosive cycling model (5x/day, demineralization using 0.01 M hydrochloric acid/60 s) followed by remineralization (human stimulated saliva/60 min) for three days. The samples were treated for 5 min using the test group solutions between the erosive cycles. Dentin changes were assessed with profilometry analysis and FT-Raman spectroscopy. The data regarding wear were analyzed by ANOVA followed by Tukey's test (p < 0.05). EGCG, TF derivatives, and both regular teas significantly suppressed erosive dentin loss (38-47%, p < 0.05). No obvious changes in the Raman spectra were detected in the specimens; however, the DW group had a minor relationship of 2880/2940 cm−1. The phenolic contents in both green and black tea and the important catechins appear to have protective effects on dentin loss.

Experimental study on the effects of bismuth subgallate on the inflammatory process and angiogenesis of the oral mucosa / Estudo experimental sobre os efeitos do subgalato de bismuto no processo inflamatório e de angiogênese em mucosa bucal

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Bismuth subgallate is a salt derived from heavy metal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of this salt on some phases of healing. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of subgallate on mucosa and to evaluate the association between the use of bismuth subgallate and neogenesis of vessels in oral mucosal wounds. METHODS: This was a prospective and experimental study. This study used sixty rats, which were divided into control and experimental groups. The animals were submitted to a surgical procedure, which caused oral mucosal injury. A saline solution was applied on the wound of the control group, and in the experimental group, a solution of bismuth subgallate was administrated. RESULTS: The experimental group showed greater inflammatory reaction with increasing monomorphic proliferation. There was increased vessel proliferation in the control group. CONCLUSION: Bismuth subgallate had a negative influence on the healing process, delaying the rate of new vessel formation and optimal wound healing.

RESUMO INTRODUÇÃO: O subgalato de bismuto é um sal derivado de metal pesado. A ideia desta pesquisa é avaliar sua interferência em alguma das fases da cicatrização. OBJETIVO: Delinear a ação do subgalato em mucosas. Avaliar a relação entre a utilização do subgalato de bismuto e a neoformação de vasos nas feridas em mucosa oral, para evidenciar o possível benefício resultante do seu uso. MÉTODO: Estudo experimental, prospectivo. Utilizou-se sessenta ratos, que foram divididos igualmente em grupo controle e experimento. Foram submetidos a um procedimento cirúrgico onde foi feito uma lesão na mucosa oral dos animais, após, uma solução de soro fisiológico foi aplicada sobre a lesão do grupo controle e sobre a ferida do grupo experimento foi aplicada uma solução de subgalato de bismuto. RESULTADOS: o grupo experimento apresentou maior reação inflamatória com crescente proliferação monomórfica. Vasos: houve maior proliferação no grupo controle. CONCLUSÕES: concluiu-se que o subgalato de bismuto teve uma ação negativa no processo de cicatrização, atrasando a velocidade de formação dos neovasos e a cicatrização ideal da ferida operatória.

Sugars, organic acids, and phenolic compounds of ancient grape cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.) from Igdir province of Eastern Turkey

BACKGROUND: The Eurasian grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is the most widely cultivated and economically important horticultural crop in the world. As a one of the origin area, Anatolia played an important role in the diversification and spread of the cultivated form V. vinifera ssp. vinifera cultivars and also the wild form V. vinifera ssp. sylvestris ecotypes. Although several biodiversity studies have been conducted with local cultivars in different regions of Anatolia, no information has been reported so far on the biochemical (organic acids, sugars, phenolic acids, vitamin C) and antioxidant diversity of local historical table V. vinifera cultivars grown in Igdir province. In this work, we studied these traits in nine local table grape cultivars viz. 'Beyaz Kismis' (synonym name of Sultanina or Thompson seedless), 'Askeri', 'El Hakki', 'Kirmizi Kismis', 'Inek Emcegi', 'Hacabas', 'Kerim Gandi', 'Yazen Dayi', and 'Miskali' spread in the Igdir province of Eastern part of Turkey. RESULTS: Variability of all studied parameters is strongly influenced by cultivars (P < 0.01). Among the cultivars investigated, 'Miskali' showed the highest citric acid content (0.959 g/l) while 'Kirmizi Kismis' produced predominant contents in tartaric acid (12.71 g/l). The highest glucose (16.47 g/100 g) and fructose (15.55 g/100 g) contents were provided with 'Beyaz Kismis'. 'Kirmizi Kismis' cultivar had also the highest quercetin (0.55 mg/l), o-coumaric acid (1.90 mg/l), and caffeic acid (2.73 mg/l) content. The highest ferulic acid (0.94 mg/l), and syringic acid (2.00 mg/l) contents were observed with 'Beyaz Kismis' cultivar. The highest antioxidant capacity was obtained as 9.09 μmol TE g-1 from 'Inek Emcegi' in TEAC (Trolox equivalent Antioxidant Capacity) assay. 'Hacabas' cultivar had the highest vitamin C content of 35.74 mg/100 g. CONCLUSIONS: Present results illustrated that the historical table grape cultivars grown in Igdir province of Eastern part of Turkey contained diverse and valuable sugars, organic acids, phenolic acids, Vitamin C values and demonstrated important antioxidant capacity for human health benefits. Further preservation and use of this gene pool will be helpful to avoid genetic erosion and to promote continued agriculture in the region.

Anti-HSV-1 and anti-HIV-1 activity of gallic acid and pentyl gallate

The synthetic n-alkyl esters of gallic acid (GA), also known as gallates, especially propyl, octyl and dodecyl gallates, are widely employed as antioxidants by food and pharmaceutical industries. The inhibitory effects of GA and 15 gallates on Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1) replication were investigated here. After a preliminary screening of these compounds, GA and pentyl gallate (PG) seemed to be the most active compounds against HSV-1 replication and their mode of action was characterized through a set of assays, which attempted to localize the step of the viral multiplication cycle where impairment occurred. The detected anti-HSV-1 activity was mediated by the inhibition of virus attachment to and penetration into cells, and by virucidal properties. Furthermore, an anti-HIV-1 activity was also found, to different degrees. In summary, our results suggest that both compounds could be regarded as promising candidates for the development of topical anti-HSV-1 agents, and further studies concerning the anti-HIV-1 activity of this group of molecules are merited.

Methyl gallate and chemicals structurally related tomethyl gallate protect human umbilical vein endothelial cells from oxidative stress

Methyl gallate (meGAL) is known as one of major antioxidants. To investigate whether meGAL protects human cells from oxidative stress, meGAL extracted from Korean medicinal plant, Cercis chinensis leaves, was primarily screened using cell viability assay against oxidative stress. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with three different concentrations of meGAL for indicated time. After or during meGAL treatment, H2O2 was added and incubated. meGAL showed free radical scavenging effect at low concentration (0.02 mM) and cell protective effect against H2O2-mediated oxidative stress. meGAL recovered viability of HUVECs damaged by H2O2-treatment, reduced the lipid peroxidation (LPO) and decreased the internal reactive oxygen species (ROS) level elevated by H2O2-treatment. Free radical scavenging effect of meGAL was proven to be very high. Differential display reverse transcription-PCR analysis showed that meGAL upregulated the levels of regulator of chromatin condensation 1, type 1 sigma receptor and phosphate carrier protein expressions, respectively. Based on structural similarity compared with meGAL, 14 chemicals were chosen and viability assay was performed. Four chemicals, haematommic acid (56.2% enhancement of viability), gallic acid (35.0%), methylorsellinic acid (23.7%), and syringic acid (20.8%), enhanced more potent cell viability than meGAL, which showed only 18.1% enhancement of cell viability. These results suggest that meGAL and four meGAL-related chemicals protect HUVECs from oxidative stress.

Anti-endotoxic effects of syringic acid of Radix Isatidis / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The anti-endotoxic effect of syringic acid (SA) isolated from Radix Isatidis (Banlangen, BLG) was studied. SA was extracted and isolated from BLG and diluted into 1% solution. The content of SA-pretreated endotoxin (ET) was quantitatively determined using Limulus test. The ability of fever induction of ET pretreated with SA was measured using endotoxin-induced fever test in rabbits. The LPS-induced death in mice pretreated with and without SA was compared. Results showed that after pretreatment with SA, 83.16% of ET was destroyed, the ET-induced fever in rabbits relieved markedly and the LPS-induced death rate in mice dropped from 68% to 20%. It was concluded that SA isolated from BLG had anti-endotoxic effects.

Effect of bismuth subgallate (local hemostatic agent) on wound in rats: histological and histometric findings

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do subgalato de bismuto (SGB) no processo de reparação de feridas. Em 40 ratos Wistar, duas feridas padronizadas foram feitas no dorso dos animais utilizando-se um bisturi circular para biópsia (punch) de 3,5 mm X 2,0 mm. As feridas teste foram preenchidas com SGB e as controle, com salina 0,9 por cento e avaliadas com 1, 4, 7, 11 e 18 dias. A evolução qualitativa do tecido de granulação foi avaliada histologicamente e imagens digitalizadas foram medidas histometricamente. A avaliação histológica não demonstrou diferenças significativas entre teste e controle e histometricamente, houve diferenças significativas (ANOVA- dias 1 e 4; teste student, p<0,05 - dias 7, 11 e 18) em relação aos parâmetros analisados, ou seja, no dia 1: área de ulceração; dia 2: distância entre bordas epiteliais; dia 7, 11 e 18: área de tecido de granulação. Pode-se concluir que o SGB apresenta-se biocompatível aos tecidos em reparação e não interferiu significativamente com o desenvolvimento do processo de reparação.