Effect of Artesunate on Experimental Choroidal Neovascularization and Expression of HIF-1α and VEGF / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the effects of artesunate （ART） on experimental choroidal neovascularization （CNV） and the expression of related proteins， and to explore the underlying mechanism. Method:Eighty BN rats were randomly divided into five groups： a normal group， a model group， a conbercept group， and low- （10.08 mg·kg^-1·d^-1） and high-dose （20.16 mg·kg^-1·d^-1） ART groups， with 16 rats in each group. A CNV model was established with 532 nm laser in rats of the groups except for the normal group. The rats in each group were treated with corresponding drugs by gavage for 14 days. The normal group， the model group， and the conbercept group received 1% CMC-Na solution at the same volume， while the conbercept group received an intravitreal injection （5 μL） once. On days 7 and 14， fundus fluorescein angiography （FFA） was used to evaluate the fluorescein leakage （gray value） of CNV. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was adopted to observe the histopathological changes of CNV. Western blot was employed to detect the protein expression levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1<italic>α</italic> （HIF-1<italic>α</italic>） and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） in the retina and choroid. Result:FFA results showed that compared with the normal group， other groups showed increased gray value on days 7 and 14 （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. On day 7， the gray value of the high-dose ART group and the conbercept group decreased compared with that in the model group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. On day 14， the gray value of the ART groups and the conbercept group decreased in varying degrees compared with that in the model group （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）. HE results showed that compared with the normal group， the model group showed increased thickness of CNV on days 7 and 14 （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Compared with the model group， the ART groups and the conbercept group displayed decreased thickness of CNV （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Western blot results revealed that the expression of HIF-1<italic>α</italic> and VEGF in the model group increased in varying degrees on the days 7 and 14 compared with that in the normal group （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）， while compared with the model group， the ART groups and the conbercept group showed decreased expression （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:ART can inhibit experimental CNV by down-regulating the expression of HIF-1<italic>α</italic> and VEGF in the early stage of experimental CNV formation.

Apoptosis of HepG-2 cells induced by total flavonoids of Verbena officinalis L. and possible mechanism / 国际药学研究杂志

Objective To explore the apoptosis and mechanisms of HepG-2 cells induced by total flavonoids of Verbena offici?nalis L.(TFV). Methods HepG-2 cells were cultured with different concentrations of TFV. The apoptosis of HepG-2 cells was evalu?ated by flow cytometry and DNA ladder. Reactive oxygen species(ROS)and membrane potential were measured by flow cytometry. Ex?pression of Caspase-3,Caspase-8,Caspase-9,and P53 was analyzed by Western blotting. Results TFV 50,100 and 200 mg/L in?creased the apoptosis rate(P<0.01),increased ROS levels of HepG-2 cells(P<0.01),and decreased the mitochondria membrane potential(P<0.05,P<0.01). TFV(50,100 and 200 mg/L)increased the proteins′ expression of Caspase-3,Caspase-9 and P53 (P<0.05,P<0.01). Conclusion TFV may induce the apoptosis of HepG-2 cells via increasing ROS levels,decreasing mitochon?dria membrane potential,and up-regulateing the expression of Caspase-3,Caspase-9 and P53 protein in HepG-2 cells.