Effects of Heliotropium indicum L. on Uterine Involution and Its Underlying Mechanisms: an in vivo and in vitro Study / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of Heliotropium indicum L. (H. indicum L.) on uterine involution and its underlying mechanisms in both in vivo and in vitro study.@*METHODS@#For in vivo studies, postpartum rats were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=24 for each): control group and treated group which were orally and daily administered with ethanolic extract of H. indicum L. (250 mg/kg body weight) until day 5 of postpartum. Uteri were collected for analysis of weight, cross-sectional area, collagen cross-sectional area, and collagen content on postpartum day 1, 3, and 5 (n=8 for each) from both groups. Blood samples were collected for hepatotoxicity and 17β-estradiol (E2) measurement. For in vitro studies, the extract effects on uterine contraction at half maximum effective concentration of 2.50 mg/mL were studied in organ bath system for at least 20 min.@*RESULTS@#Uterine parameters were significantly decreased after treated with extract of H. indicum L. (P<0.05). H. indicum L. extract significantly accelerated the reduction of those parameters and significantly decreased E2 (P<0.05). The extract facilitated uterine involution with no hepatotoxicity. H. indicum L. extract significantly stimulated uterine contraction (P<0.05) and synergized with oxytocin, prostaglandin and its precursor, linoleic acid. By investigating the different sequencing of the extract with the additional stimulants (added before or after), the two showed antagonistic effects, but still showed potentiated force when compared with control (without the stimulants).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The underlying mechanisms by which H. indicum L. facilitated uterine involution might be due to reducing E2 which induces collagenase activity, leading to decreases in uterine weight and size and stimulating uterine contraction. Our study provides new findings for future drug development for facilitating uterine involution with H. indicum L.

Lipid-lowering effect of Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz extract in hyperlipidemic mice

Objective: To investigate the effect of Oroxylum indicum fruit extract on high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic mice. Methods: The phytochemical composition of Oroxylum indicum fruit extract was determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Forty-two male mice were used. The mice were divided into six groups: normal control, high-fat diet control, simvastatin treatment (20 mg/kg BW/day), and Oroxylum indicum fruit extract (100, 200, 300 mg/kg BW/day) treatment groups. Food intake, body weight, serum parameters, lipid profile, and histopathological lesions of the kidney, liver, and epididymal fat were observed. Results: LC-MS/MS results revealed four major components of Oroxylum indicum fruit extract: luteolin, apigenin, baicalein, and oroxylin A. Twenty-seven volatile oils were identified from Oroxylum indicum fruit extract. Daily oral administration of Oroxylum indicum fruit extract at 100 to 300 mg/kg BW/day significantly reduced the body weight, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (P<0.05), whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was higher than the high-fat diet control group. Treatment with 300 mg/kg BW/day Oroxylum indicum fruit extract reduced the pathological lesion and prevented fat accumulation in the kidney and liver. Conclusions: Oroxylum indicum fruit extract has hypolipidemic effect in hyperlipidemic mice, and the active ingredients of Oroxylum indicum fruit extract, both flavonoids and volatile oils, should be further explored as an antihyperlipidemic agent.

Lipid-lowering effect of Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz extract in hyperlipidemic mice

Objective: To investigate the effect of Oroxylum indicum fruit extract on high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic mice. Methods: The phytochemical composition of Oroxylum indicum fruit extract was determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Forty-two male mice were used. The mice were divided into six groups: normal control, high-fat diet control, simvastatin treatment (20 mg/kg BW/day), and Oroxylum indicum fruit extract (100, 200, 300 mg/kg BW/day) treatment groups. Food intake, body weight, serum parameters, lipid profile, and histopathological lesions of the kidney, liver, and epididymal fat were observed. Results: LC-MS/MS results revealed four major components of Oroxylum indicum fruit extract: luteolin, apigenin, baicalein, and oroxylin A. Twenty-seven volatile oils were identified from Oroxylum indicum fruit extract. Daily oral administration of Oroxylum indicum fruit extract at 100 to 300 mg/kg BW/day significantly reduced the body weight, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (P<0.05), whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was higher than the high-fat diet control group. Treatment with 300 mg/kg BW/day Oroxylum indicum fruit extract reduced the pathological lesion and prevented fat accumulation in the kidney and liver. Conclusions: Oroxylum indicum fruit extract has hypolipidemic effect in hyperlipidemic mice, and the active ingredients of Oroxylum indicum fruit extract, both flavonoids and volatile oils, should be further explored as an antihyperlipidemic agent.