Treatment of cerebral ischemia by Shuxue Tongmai Capsule combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells transplantation / 医学研究生学报

Objective Transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) has a good prospect of application for cerebral infarction,but the environment and the inflammatory response to ischemia and hypoxia after cerebral infarction are not con-ducive to the survival of transplanted cells. This article investigated the effects of Shuxue Tongmai capsule(SXTM) combined with BM-SCs transplantation on the improvement of cerebral ischemic injury in rats. Methods A model of middle cerebral artery occlusion was es-tablished in Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats using thread method and these 15 SD rats were randomly divided into model group,BMSCs group and combination therapy group (BMSCs transplantation combined with SXTM treatment). At 24h after modeling,rats in combination therapy group were given tail vein injection of 1 mL BMSCs suspension (2× 109 per/L) and gavage administration of SXTM 0. 64 g/kg. Rats in BMSCs group were given tail vein injection of 1 mL BMSCs suspension (2×109 per/L) and gavage administration of equal volume of sa-line. For model group,the rats were given tail vein injection of equal volume of PBS and gavage administration of equal volume of sa-line. Neurologic function was assessed before cell transplantation and at 3,7,14,28 days after cell transplantation to check the injury of neurologic function. At 28 days after transplantion,the rats were decapitated after anesthesia to take brain tissues for immunohisto-chemical detection of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) protein expression. Mor-phological changes of the brain tissue and apoptosis in cortical neurons were observed and detected by hematoxylin-eosin staining and TUNEL,respectively. Results At 7,14,28 days after transplantation,the neurological defect score in combination therapy group was significantly lower than those of model group and BMSCs group(P<0.05). In each group,the neurological defect score at 3 days after transplantation was significantly decreased compared with those before transplantation(P<0.05). In the same group,the neurologi-cal defect scores at 14,28 days after transplantation were significantly decreased compared with those at 7 days after transplantation (P<0.05). The neurological defect scores at 14,28 days after transplantation were significantly decreased compared with those at 7 days after transplantation(P<0.05). The neurological defect score at 28 day after transplantation was significantly decreased compared with that at 7 day after transplantation(P<0.05). At 28 day after transplantation,the number of apoptotic cells in combination therapy group (51.40±4.04) was significantly fewer than those of model group (74.80±5.31) and BMSCs group (67.20±4.66) and the num-ber of apoptotic cells in BMSCs group was significantly decreased compared with model group(P<0.05). The results of immunohisto-chemistry showed that the VEGF and BDNF positive cells in the cerebral ischemic region of rats were brownish or sepia in color. Com-pared with model group,the expression levels of VEGF and BDNF protein in BMSCs group and combination therapy group were signifi-cantly increased (P<0.05),and that of combination therapy group was significantly increased compared with BMSCs(P<0.05). Conclusion SXTM combined with BMSCs transplantation can promote neurological recovery from cerebral ischemia by increasing the protein expression of VEGF and BDNF and reducing neuronal apoptosis.

Protective effect of asiatic acid from Potentilla chinensis on alcohol hepatic injury in rats / 中国中药杂志

To study the protective effect and the mechanism of asiatic acid (AA) from Potentilla chinensis on alcohol hepatic injury in rats. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups: the normal control group, the AA control group (8 mg · kg(-1) AA), the model group (5.0-9.0 g · kg(-1) alcohol) and high, medium and low-dose AA-treated groups (alcohol + 8, 4, 2 mg · kg(-1) AA). Each group was orally administered with the corresponding drugs once a day for 24 weeks. Approximately 1. 5 hours after the final administration, all rats were killed, and their blood samples and hepatic tissues were collected. The AST and ALT in rat serum and the contents of MPO, TNF-α, IL-1β, SOD, GSH-Px, GSH-Rd and MDA in hepatic tissues were detected. The expressions of NF-κB, TLR4, CD14, MyD88, TRIF and protein expression in hepatic tissues were measured by western blot. The pathological changes in liver tissues were observed by histological examination. The results showed that compared with the model group, the AA-treated groups showed significant decreases in serum ALT, AST and MDA and increases in the activities of SOD, GSH-Px, GSH-Rd and MPO. Moreover, AA markedly inhibited the expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, TLR4, CD14, MyD88 and NF-κB. The histological examination showed alleviated hepatic issue ijury to varying degrees. In short, asiatic acid (AA) from P. chinensis could protect alcohol-induced hepatic injury in rats. Its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of NF-κB inactivation and the reduction of inflammatory response.

Protective effect of isoorientin on alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect and mechanism of isoorientin from Gypsophila elegans on alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>ninety healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups: the normal control group, the model control group, the colchicines group (positive control, 1.0 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)), the high, middle and low-dose isoorientin groups (20, 50, 100 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)). The normal control group received normal saline, while other groups received alcohol to cause hepatic fibrosis. After 24-weeks treatment, the alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), type III precollagen (PCIII), hydroxyproline (Hyp), Myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were assayed according to the manufacturer's instructions, the alpha-SMA and TGF-beta1 were detected by western blotting, and the histopathological changes was observed by H&E staining.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Isoorientin could improve the liver function by decreasing the activity of ALT, AST, IL-6, TNF-alpha, MDA, MPO, HA, LN, PCIII and Hyp (P < 0.05), increasing the activity of SOD and GSH-Px (P < 0.05), and reducing the expression of alpha-SMA and TGF-beta1 (P < 0.05). In addition, the high and middle-dose isoorientin groups showed more remarkable effect</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Isoorientin from G. elegans can protect hepatic fibrosis induced by alcohol.</p>

Pharmacognostic studies on mangrove Acanthus ilicifolius / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>In order to prove a basis for rational exploitation and utilization of the herb, the charaeteristic feature for Acanthus iliciflius was studied.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The botanical and pharmacognostic features of the collected original plant were stadied.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>A. ilicifolius showed obvious pharmacognostic characters. The aerate cells of the root were upgrowth. and four vascular bundles were found in leaf venation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The distinct characteristic features revealed in this studies can serve as evidence for the identification of A. ilicifolius.</p>