Tripterygium hypoglaucum extract ameliorates adjuvant-induced arthritis in mice through the gut microbiota / 中国天然药物

Traditionally, Tripterygium hypoglaucum (Levl.) Hutch (THH) are widely used in Chinese folk to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aimed to investigate whether the anti-RA effect of THH is related with the gut microbiota. The main components of prepared THH extract were identified by HPLC-MS. C57BL/6 mice with adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) were treated with THH extract by gavage for one month. THH extract significantly alleviated swollen ankle, joint cavity exudation, and articular cartilage destruction in AIA mice. The mRNA and protein levels of inflammatory mediators in muscles and plasma indicated that THH extract attenuated inflammatory responses in the joint by blocking TLR4/MyD88/MAPK signaling pathways. THH extract remarkably restored the dysbiosis of the gut microbiota in AIA mice, featuring the increases of Bifidobacterium, Akkermansia, and Lactobacillus and the decreases of Butyricimonas, Parabacteroides, and Anaeroplasma. Furthermore, the altered bacteria were closely correlated with physiological indices and drove metabolic changes of the intestinal microbiota. In addition, antibiotic-induced pseudo germ-free mice were employed to verify the role of the intestinal flora. Strikingly, THH treatment failed to ameliorate the arthritis symptoms and signaling pathways in pseudo germ-free mice, which validates the indispensable role of the intestinal flora. For the first time, we demonstrated that THH extract protects joint inflammation by manipulating the intestinal flora and regulating the TLR4/MyD88/MAPK signaling pathway. Therefore, THH extract may serve as a microbial modulator to recover RA in clincial practice.ver RA in clincial practice.

Comparative Study on the Content of Microelement Cu, Zn and Mn in Eye Tissue of Rats Treated by Rhi-zoma Corydalis before and after Vinegar Processing / 中国药师

Objective:To study the influence of Rhizoma Corydalis before and after vinegar processing on the microelement content in the eye tissues of rats to verify the vinegar processing leading the herb to liver meridian. Methods: The rats were divided into the crude Corydalis group, vinegar processing group and negative group. The content of microelement Cu, Zn and Mn in rat ocular tissues was determined and compared after the administration. Results:Corydalis could significantly increase the content of Cu and Zn in fun-dus blood and that of Zn and Mn in the eyeball vitreous, and Rhizoma Corydalis after vinegar processing showed more obvious effect. Conclusion:Rhizoma Corydalis with vinegar processing can improve the distribution of microelements in eye tissues, and because liver opens at eyes, the results provide evidence for Corydalis after vinegar processing leading to liver meridian.