Aqueous extract of Epimedium sagittatum mitigates pulmonary fibrosis in mice / 中国中药杂志

This study aims to investigate the intervention effect of the aqueous extract of Epimedium sagittatum Maxim on the mouse model of bleomycin(BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis, so as to provide data support for the clinical treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. Ninety male C57BL/6N mice were randomized into normal(n=10), model(BLM, n=20), pirfenidone(PFD, 270 mg·kg~(-1), n=15), and low-, medium-, and high-dose E. sagittatum extract(1.67 g·kg~(-1), n=15; 3.33 g·kg~(-1), n=15; 6.67 g·kg~(-1), n=15) groups. The model of pulmonary fibrosis was established by intratracheal instillation of BLM(5 mg·kg~(-1)) in the other five groups except the normal group, which was treated with an equal amount of normal saline. On the day following the modeling, each group was treated with the corresponding drug by gavage for 21 days. During this period, the survival rate of the mice was counted. After gavage, the lung index was calculated, and the morphology and collagen deposition of the lung tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) and Masson staining, respectively. The levels of reactive oxygen species(ROS) in lung cell suspensions were measured by flow cytometry. The levels of glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px), total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD), and malondialdehyde(MDA) the in lung tissue were measured. Terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase-mediated nick-end labeling(TUNEL) was employed to examine the apoptosis of lung tissue cells. The content of interleukin-6(IL-6), chemokine C-C motif ligand 2(CCL-2), matrix metalloproteinase-8(MMP-8), transforming growth factor-beta 1(TGF-β1), alpha-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA), E-cadherin, collagen Ⅰ, and fibronectin in the lung tissue was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The expression levels of F4/80, Ly-6G, TGF-β1, and collagen Ⅰ in the lung tissue were determined by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA levels of CCL-2, IL-6, and MMP-7 in the lung tissue were determined by qRT-PCR. The content of hydroxyproline(HYP) in the lung tissue was determined by alkaline hydrolysation. The expression of α-SMA and E-cadherin was detected by immunofluorescence, and the protein levels of α-SMA, vimentin, E-cadherin in the lung tissue were determined by Western blot. The results showed the aqueous extract of E. sagittatum increased the survival rate, decreased the lung index, alleviated the pathological injury, collagen deposition, and oxidative stress in the lung tissue, and reduced the apoptotic cells. Furthermore, the aqueous extract of E. sagittatum down-regulated the protein levels of F4/80 and Ly-6G and the mRNA levels of CCL-2, IL-6, and MMP-7 in the lung tissue, reduced the content of IL-6, CCL-2, and MMP-8 in the alveolar lavage fluid. In addition, it lowered the levels of HYP, TGF-β1, α-SMA, collagen Ⅰ, fibronectin, and vimentin, and elevated the levels of E-cadherin in the lung tissue. The aqueous extract of E. sagittatum can inhibit collagen deposition, alleviate oxidative stress, and reduce inflammatory response by regulating the expression of the molecules associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition, thus alleviating the symptoms of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice.

A new nucleoside from the Oenothera biennis L / 药学学报

Seven nucleoside compounds were isolated from the Oenothera biennis L. by various chromatographic techniques such as Diaion HP-20, silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, MCI and semi-preparative HPLC. Their structures were identified by analysis of physicochemical properties and spectral data, and determined as 9-(3′-carbonyl methyl)hydroxypurine (1), 1-(3′-carbonyl methyl)purine-6,8-dione (2), N-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide (3), uracil (4), uridine (5), thymidine (6) and 2′-Ο-methoxy luridine (7). Compound 1 is a new nucleoside and compounds 2-7 were newly isolated from the Oenothera biennis L. Compounds 1-2 can significantly increase the viability of BEAS-2B cells induced by TGF-β1, showing potent anti-pulmonary fibrosis activity.

Arbutin isolated from Chinese yam inhibits LPS-induced NRK-52e cell apoptosis by ERp / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the effect of arbutin on apoptosis of NRK-52e cells induced by LPS and the potential mechanism.Methods The model of NRK- 52e cells injury was constructed by LPS, and NRK-52e cells were divided into control, LPS ( 1 mg • L 1 ) , low dose arbutin (LPS, 1 mg • L 1 + arbutin, 5 (xmol • L_l ) , high dose arbutin ( LPS, 1 mg • L 1 + arbutin , 10 (xmol • L 1 ) and its corresponding inhibitor THC group ( 1 (xmol • L 1).The cell viability was detected ; the levels of ROS, apoptosis, Ca~' concentration and mitochondrial membrane potential ( MMP ) were detected by flow cytometry; the levels of key apoptosis proteins were detected by in cell western; the binding activity of arbutin with ER(3 was imitated by molecular docking technology, and verified by in cell western.Results Arbutin could effectively regulate the levels of ROS, Ca"+ , apoptosis proteins and ER(3 in NRK-52e cells induced by LPS and inhibit the de- cline of MMP, which is blocked by estrogen receptor inhibitor THC.In addition, arbutin has good binding activity with ERf}.Conclusion This study confirms that arbutin could inhibit LPS-induced apoptosis of NRK-52e cells through ER£.

Effects of Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction on the immune inflammation and intestinal flora in asthmatic rats / 药学学报

The study aims to explore the intervention mechanism of Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction on asthma from the perspective of immune inflammation and intestinal flora, providing a theoretical basis for guiding clinical medication. The ovalbumin (OVA) asthmatic rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of OVA sensitization solution and aerosol challenge, and divided into control (CON), model (M), dexamethasone group (DEX, 0.075 mg·kg-1) and Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction (TLDZ, 3.5 g·kg-1). Firstly, the effects of Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction on asthma symptoms of rats, lung and trachea pathological changes of asthmatic rats were observed by inducing cough and asthma experiment, phenol red excretion, hematoxylin-eosin staining (H&E), Masson and periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining; the levels of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), interleukin (IL) 6 and IL-10 in rat serum and the levels of interferon γ (IFN-γ), immunoglobulin E (IgE), IL-4, IL-17A and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected by ELISA; the mRNA levels of IL-5, IL-13 and IL-33 in the lung were determined by qRT-PCR; the levels of macrophages and neutrophils in the spleen and the levels of natural killer cell (NK), helper T cell (Thc), dendritic cell (DC), regulatory T cell (Treg) and T helper cell 17 (Th17) in the peripheral blood were measured by flow cytometry combined with immunohistochemistry; the intestinal flora of asthmatic rats were analyzed by 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing. Pathology and inflammatory results showed that Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction could effectively alleviate the asthma symptoms in rats, improve the pathological changes of lung tissue, reduce the production of goblet cells and collagen fibers, and reduce the inflammatory response in asthmatic rats; the results of immune cells showed that Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction could effectively increase the levels of NK, Thc, DC and Treg cells and reduce the levels of macrophages, neutrophils and Th17 cells in asthmatic rats; the results of intestinal flora showed that Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction could increase the levels of Lactobacillus, Ruminococcus, Christensenellaceae, Bifidobacterium and Eubacterium]_xylanophilum-group, and decrease the levels of Firmicutes, Desulfovibrio, Mucispirillum and Romboutsia in asthmatic rats. Therefore, it is speculated that Tingli Dazao Xiefei Decoction can improve the symptom of asthmatic rats by regulating the immune inflammation and intestinal flora in the asthmatic rats. All animal experiments in this article were approved by the Ethics Committee of Henan University of Chinese Medicine.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms of the IL28B and sustained virologic response of patients with chronic hepatitis C to PEG-interferon/ribavirin therapy: a meta-analysis

Hepatitis C is a global health problem and represents a major cause of liver disease and socioeconomic burden. Effective antiviral therapy may prevent these complications, but the current treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection does not produce sustained virologic response. Therefore, identification of the determinants of response to treatment is a high priority. A number of host and viral factors have been associated with treatment outcomes. To assess the associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNP] of the IL28B and sustained virologic response [SVR] of patients with chronic hepatitis C to PEG-interferon/ ribavirin therapy. We searched PubMed, Medline and Cochrane Library, and found 7 eligible papers involved in this study. Then we performed a meta-analysis comparing the SVR rate of SNP of the IL28B in individuals with PEG-interferon/ribavirin therapy. Meanwhile, the SVR rate between different races and HCV genotypes was studied. The sustained virologic response rate was higher in patients with the rs12979860 CC and rs8099917 TT alleles in the IL28B SNP, comparing with the rs12979860 CT, or TT and rs8099917 TG or GG. Furthermore, a higher SVR was observed in the Caucasians than in Afro-Americans [OR =3.85, 95% CI:3.06-4.83]; the percentage of rs12979860 TT genotype was lower in Caucasians than that of Afro-Americans [OR=3.45, 95% CI=2.68-4.44]. Between different HCV genotypes, the SVR was much lower in those with HCV genotype 1 than those with genotype 2/3 [OR=0.16, 95%CI: 0.11-0.24]. IL28B is significantly associated with response of PEG-interferon/ ribavirin therapy of patients with chronic HCV infection. Both the rs12979860 and rs8099917 alleles could be used as independent predictors of the treatment response. The rs12979860 allele in particular, is more important from our study. The polymorphism even explains part the difference in response rate between different ethnic groups and HCV genotypes