Inhibitory effect of BF523 from Ilex hainanensis on ox LDL-induced foam cells formation / 中国中药杂志

Cardio-cerebral vascular disease induced by atherosclerosis is a serious cause of human health. The pathogenesis of AS is very complex,and the oxidized low-density lipoprotein( ox LDL) induced foam cells formation is considered to be the most important cytological change in AS. Based on the definition of " TCM chemical biology",we clarified the chemical composition of Ilex hainanensis,the effective substances of I. hainanensis on the activity of anti-AS were screened. Then we found that saponin BF523 had the good inhibitory effect on foam cell formation. In this research,we studied the BF523 as the research object to clarify the molecular target of the active compound of I. hainanensis by foam cell formation model. The results showed that BF523 significantly inhibited the oxidation of ox LDL-induced macrophage foaming and decreased the lipid content in macrophages. BF523 had inhibited the phagocytosis of ox LDL in macrophages by reducing the mRNA and protein levels of scavenger receptor CD36,thereby inhibiting the occurrence and development of AS. These findings not only clarified the mechanism of the inhibition of foam cell formation by saponin BF523,but also provided a useful exploration for the enrichment of the theory of " TCM chemical biology".

Efficacy and mechanism of puerin Ⅰ in improving disorder of glycolipid metabolism in ApoE-/-mice / 中国中药杂志

Pu-erh tea is a unique post-fermented tea processed from tender leaves of Camellia assamica. Characteristic component puerins were produced during the microbial fermentation process.This study focuses on the therapeutic effect and mechanism of puerinⅠ(P1) in Pu-erh tea on ApoE-/- mice with dyslipidemia and diabetes. It was found that P1 could significantly decreased total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and fast blood glucose (FBG), and markedly improved impaired glucose tolerance (IPGTT) and insulin sensitivity (ITT) in hyperlipidemic and hyperglycemic ApoE-/- mice. Further experiments proved that P1 reduced FBG and plasma TG levels by inhibiting intestinal α-glycosidase enzymes activity and by activating low-density lipoprotein receptor respectively. This study confirmed the therapeutic effect and mechanism of P1 on ApoE-/- mice with diabetes and hyperlipidemia. Based on the good efficacy of this compound, P1 could be used as a new drug to treat the disorder of glycolipid metabolism.

Effects of vibration therapy on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Jaw osteonecrosis possibly associated with the administration of bisphosphonates is expected to be treated with a non-pharmacologic approach. This study aimed to determine whether noninvasive, mechanically mediated vibration would inhibit the decline in bone mineral density (BMD) that follows menopause, enhance the BMD of the lumbar and femoral neck, and reduce chronic back pain in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 116 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis participated in this study, and they were divided into groups A (66 patients) and B (50). Group A received vibration treatment (Subjects vertically stand on the vibration platform, with a vibration frequency of 30 Hz, amplitude of 5 mm; they received the treatment five times per week, ten minutes each time and totally for six months), whereas women of group B served as controls without any treatment. L2 - 4 BMD, bilateral femoral neck BMD, and body mass index (BMI) were recorded before the treatment or at the third and sixth months of the treatment respectively. After the ending of the treatment, the change of BMD in each group was compared and analyzed. Chronic back pain was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) at baseline and the third and sixth months of the treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 116 women, 94 including 51 women from group A ((61.23 +/- 8.20) years) and 43 women from group B ((63.73 +/- 5.45) years), completed the study. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics including age, BMI, menopausal years, lumbar BMD, femoral neck BMD, and VAS between the two groups. The lumbar BMD of the 51 women in group A increased by 1.3% (P = 0.034) after vibration treatment for 3 months and by 4.3% at the sixth month (P = 0.000). The lumbar BMD in group B was decreased at the third month, but there was not statistical significance (P > 0.05). At the sixth month, it was decreased by 1.9% (P < 0.05). The femoral neck BMD of the 51 women in group A was slightly increased after vibration treatment for 3 months, but without statistical significance (P > 0.05). At the sixth month, the BMD was increased by 3.2% (P < 0.05). In group B, the BMD was not decreased significantly (P = 0.185) at the third month, but decreased significantly at the sixth month (1.7%) (P < 0.05) compared with the baseline. Chronic back pain (VAS) reduced more significantly in group A at the third and the sixth months (P < 0.05) after vibration therapy in comparison with the baseline. The BMI was not significantly changed in the two groups during the period of follow-up.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Vibration therapy appears to be useful in reducing chronic back pain and increasing the femoral neck and lumbar BMD in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.</p>