A review of the use of pteridophytes for treating human ailments / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

The aim of this review was to explore the pharmacological activity of early tracheophytes (pteridophytes) as an alternative medicine for treating human ailments. As the first vascular plants, pteridophytes (aka, ferns and fern allies) are an ancient lineage, and human beings have been exploring and using taxa from this lineage for over 2000 years because of their beneficial properties. We have documented the medicinal uses of pteridophytes belonging to thirty different families. The lycophyte Selaginella sp. was shown in earlier studies to have multiple pharmacological activity, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antidiabetic, antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti-Alzheimer properties. Among all the pteridophytes examined, taxa from the Pteridaceae, Polypodiaceae, and Adiantaceae exhibited significant medicinal activity. Based on our review, many pteridophytes have properties that could be used in alternative medicine for treatment of various human illnesses. Biotechnological tools can be used to preserve and even improve their bioactive molecules for the preparation of medicines against illness. Even though several studies have reported medicinal uses of ferns, the possible bioactive compounds of several pteridophytes have not been identified. Furthermore, their optimal dosage level and treatment strategies still need to be determined. Finally, the future direction of pteridophyte research is discussed.

Effect of osteoprotegerin in combination with interleukin-6 on inhibition of osteoclast differentiation / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of recombinant interleukin-6 (IL-6) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) on inhibiting bone absorption induced by receptor activator for nuclear factor-kB ligand (RANKL) in murine osteoclast precursor cells (OCPs) model.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>RAW 264.7 cells were solely treated with 50 ng/ml RANKL for 1 day, and then they were divided into three groups: RANKL (control group), RANKL+IL-6 (IL-6 group) and RANKL+IL-6+OPG (combination group). These cells were harvested and investigated by means of HE staining under light microscope after consecutive 9 days. Furthermore, staining tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase(TRAP)-positive multinucleated cells were detected by inverted phase contrast microscope. The absorption pits of bone slices were observed under scanning electron microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The number of mature osteoclast cells in control group was more than that in IL-6 alone or IL-6 combined with OPG group (P less than 0.05). Interestingly, this experiment has also demonstrated that there was a large number of TRAP-positive multinucleated osteoclasts (more than 3 nuclei) and several bone absorption formation in the control group, whereas the outcome was completely different in both IL-6 group and IL-6+OPG group (P less than 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>IL-6 can suppress the differentiation of mature osteoclasts as directly adding it into the RAW 264.7 cells induced by 50 ng/ml RANKL, and further the effect of osteolysis is remarkably reduced. When treatment with IL-6 combined with OPG, a more effective strategy for the treatment of osteoporosis is reached.</p>