Pharmacologically targeting molecular motor promotes mitochondrial fission for anti-cancer

Mitochondrial shape rapidly changes by dynamic balance of fusion and fission to adjust to constantly changing energy demands of cancer cells. Mitochondrial dynamics balance is exactly regulated by molecular motor consisted of myosin and actin cytoskeleton proteins. Thus, targeting myosin-actin molecular motor is considered as a promising strategy for anti-cancer. In this study, we performed a proof-of-concept study with a natural-derived small-molecule J13 to test the feasibility of anti-cancer therapeutics

Protective effects and mechanism of hyperin on CoCl2-induced PC12 cells / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the neuroprotective effects and mechanism of hyperin on CoCl2-induced hypoxic/ischemic PC12 cells.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>CoCl2 was used to treat rat pheochromocytoma cell line (PC12) to investigate the protective effects of different concentrations of hyperin.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Hyperin could significantly inhibit CoCl2-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis on PC12 cells in a dose-dependent manner, by inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, increasing mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and inactivating caspase-3 and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Hyperin could inhibit CoCl2-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis on PC12 cells, show neuroprotective effects on hypoxic/ischemic neural injuries.</p>

Raman spectroscopic analysis of cinnabar as a traditional Chinese medicine / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop a new quality control method for cinnabar, in order to ensure the safety application of cinnabar.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Three inorganic mercury compounds (HgS, HgO, and HgCl2) and cinnabar samples were analyzed by laser Raman spectroscopy. The cinnabar samples were identified by comparing the Raman band in the Raman spectrum with pure HgS.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Different Raman bands were observed among three inorganic mercury compounds. The Raman spectroscopic results indicated that cinnabar samples showed the same Raman band as pure HgS, consisting with the HgS contents by XRF analysis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The Raman spectroscopic method is simple, rapid, and reliable. It can be applied as an alternative quality control method for cinnabar.</p>