Optimization of ethanol precipitation process of Nauclea officinalis extract based on concept of quality by design(QbD) / 中国中药杂志

The ethanol precipitation process of Nauclea officinalis extract was optimized based on the concept of quality by design(QbD). Single factor tests were carried out to determine the levels of test factors. The ethanol volume fraction, pre-ethanol precipitation drug concentration, and ethanol precipitation time were taken as critical process parameters(CPPs). With the comprehensive scores of strictosamide transfer rate and solid removal rate as the critical quality attributes(CQAs), Box-Behnken design was employed to establish the mathematical models and space design between CPPs and CQAs, and the obtained optimal operating space was validated. The optimal operating space included ethanol volume fraction of 65%-70%, pre-ethanol precipitation drug concentration of 22-27 mg·mL~(-1), and ethanol precipitation time of 12 h. Based on the concept of QbD, this study adopted the design space to optimize the ethanol precipitation process of N. officinalis extract, which provided a reliable theoretical basis for the quality control in the production process of N. officinalis preparations. Moroever, this study provided a reference value for guiding the research and industrial production of traditional Chinese medicines.

Self-assembled aggregations in Coptidis Rhizoma decoction dynamically regulate intestinal tissue permeability through Peyer's patch-associated immunity / 中草药·英文版

Objective: To investigate the dynamic regulation of self-assembled aggregations (SAA) in Coptidis Rhizoma decoction on the permeability of intestinal tissue and the mechanism underlying. Methods: The effects of SAA on berberine (Ber) absorption were respectively analyzed in an in situ intestinal perfusion model and in an Ussing Chamber jejunum model with or without Peyer's patches (PPs). The expression levels of ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-1 were detected by immunofluorescence to evaluate the tight junction (TJ) between intestinal epithelium cells. The expression levels of T-box-containing protein expressed in T cells, signal transducers and activators of tranion-6, retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor γt and forkhead box P3 in PPs were detected by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and the secretions of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-17 (IL-17) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in PPs were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, to reflect the differentiation of T lymphocyte in PPs to helper T (Th) cell 1, Th2, Th17 and regulatory T (Treg) cell. To confirm the correlation between SAA in Coptidis Rhizoma decoction, PPs-associated immunity and intestinal epithelium permeability, SAA were administrated on an Ussing Chamber jejunum model with immunosuppressed PPs and evaluated its influences on intestinal tissue permeability and TJ proteins expression. Results: SAA in Coptidis Rhizoma decoction could dose-dependently promote Ber absorption in jejunum segment, with the participation of PPs. The dose-dependent and dynamical regulations of SAA on permeability of intestinal tissue and TJ proteins expression level between intestinal epithelium cells occurred along with the dynamically changed T lymphocyte differentiation and immune effectors secretion in PPs. The administration of SAA on immunosuppressed PPs exhibited dose-dependent PPs activation, inducing dynamic promotion on intestinal tissue permeability and inhibition on TJ proteins expression. Conclusion: SAA can improve the Ber absorption in small intestine, through the PPs-associated immunity induced dynamic regulation on intestinal tissue permeability and TJ proteins expression. These findings might enlighten the research of traditional Chinese medicine decoction.

Protective effect of Pai-Nong-San against AOM/DSS-induced CAC in mice through inhibiting the Wnt signaling pathway / 中国天然药物

Pai-Nong-San (PNS), a prescription of traditional Chinese medicine, has been used for years to treat abscessation-induced diseases including colitis and colorectal cancer. This study was aimed to investigate the preventive effects and possible protective mechanism of PNS on a colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) mouse model induced by azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). The macroscopic and histopathologic examinations of colon injury and DAI score were observed. The inflammatory indicators of intestinal immunity were determined by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. The high throughput 16S rRNA sequence of gut microbiota in the feces of mice was performed. Western blot was used to investigate the protein expression of the Wnt signaling pathway in colon tissues. PNS improved colon injury, as manifested by the alleviation of hematochezia, decreased DAI score, increased colon length, and reversal of pathological changes. PNS treatment protected against AOM/DSS-induced colon inflammation by regulating the expression of CD4

Effect of Taohong Siwu decoction on angiogenesis of medicine-induced incomplete-abortion in early pregnancy rats and expressions of Ang-1, Ang-2 and Tie-2 / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Taohong Siwu decoction (THSWD) on micro-vascular density (MVD) in rat uterus, the content of angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) in serum, and the expression of tyrosine kinasa receptor (Tie-2) in uterus.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Early pregnancy rats were intragastrically administrated with misoprostol (100 microg x kg(-1)) and mifepristong (8.3 mg x kg(-1)) to established the incomplete-abortion model. The incomplete-abortion rats were randomly divided into the model group (the same volume of distilled water), the positive control group (at the daily dose of 4.3 g x kg(-1) Motherwort Particles), and THSWD-treated groups (at the daily dose of 18.0, 9.0 and 4.5 g x kg(-1)). Pregnant rats were taken as the control group (the same volume of distilled water). After the successive oral administration for 7 days, blood was collected from aorta abdominalis, and rat uterine tissues were collected. The content of serum Ang-1 and Ang-2 were detected by ELISA; And the levels of Tie-2 and MVD in uterine tissues were detected by SP immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>THSWD remarkably increased the levels of MVD in uterus of medicine-induced abortion rats, the content of Ang-1 and Ang-2 in serum, and the expression of Tie-2 in uterine tissues.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>THSWD has the effect in markedly promoting angiogenesis in incomplete-abortion rats. Its mechanism may be related to the regulation of concentrations of Ang-1 and Ang-2 in serum and Tie-2 in uterine tissues.</p>

Protective effect of medicated serum prepared with taohong siwu tang on hydrogen peroxide-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the protective effect of medicated serum prepared with Taohong Siwu Tang on hydrogen peroxide-injured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Sprague Dawley rats were orally administered with 10 mL x kg(-1) extracts from Taohong Siwu Tang (1.75 g crude drug), twice a day for three days, in order to prepare medicated serum of Taohong Siwu Tang. The effect of medicated serum pre-treated with Taohong Siwu Tang (with concentrations of 5%, 10%, 15%) on reduction of H2O2-induced cell activity was detected MTT. Cell morphological changes were observed under microscope. The effect of medicated serum prepared with Taohong Siwu Tang on the apoptosis and antioxidant capacity of HUVECs was detected with the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and dehydrogenase (LDH), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and AO/EB staining. The expression of Caspase-3 was determined by western blot.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with the blank serum control group, cell were significantly less active after being damaged by H2O2 (400 micromol x L(-1)). Medicated serum could significantly improve the SOD activity, reduce the levels of LDH and MDA, and inhibite the expression of Caspase-3. AO/EB staining and inverted microscope also showed that medicated serum prepared with Taohong Siwu Tang could reduce cell apoptosis induced by H2O2.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Medicated serum prepared with Taohong Siwu Tang has significant protective effect on HUVECs injured by H2O2.</p>