Cilostazol ameliorates diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting highglucose- induced apoptosis

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a hyperglycemia-induced progressivedevelopment of renal insufficiency. Excessive glucose can increase mitochondrialreactive oxygen species (ROS) and induce cell damage, causing mitochondrial dysfunction.Our previous study indicated that cilostazol (CTZ) can reduce ROS levelsand decelerate DN progression in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetes.This study investigated the potential mechanisms of CTZ in rats with DN and in highglucose-treated mesangial cells. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were fed 5 mg/kg/day ofCTZ after developing STZ-induced diabetes mellitus. Electron microscopy revealedthat CTZ reduced the thickness of the glomerular basement membrane and improvedmitochondrial morphology in mesangial cells of diabetic kidney. CTZ treatmentreduced excessive kidney mitochondrial DNA copy numbers induced by hyperglycemiaand interacted with the intrinsic pathway for regulating cell apoptosis as anantiapoptotic mechanism. In high-glucose-treated mesangial cells, CTZ reduced ROSproduction, altered the apoptotic status, and down-regulated transforming growthfactor beta (TGF-) and nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells(NF-B). Base on the results of our previous and current studies, CTZ decelerationof hyperglycemia-induced DN is attributable to ROS reduction and thereby maintenanceof the mitochondrial function and reduction in TGF- and NF-B levels.

Cilostazol ameliorates diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting highglucose- induced apoptosis

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a hyperglycemia-induced progressivedevelopment of renal insufficiency. Excessive glucose can increase mitochondrialreactive oxygen species (ROS) and induce cell damage, causing mitochondrial dysfunction.Our previous study indicated that cilostazol (CTZ) can reduce ROS levelsand decelerate DN progression in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetes.This study investigated the potential mechanisms of CTZ in rats with DN and in highglucose-treated mesangial cells. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were fed 5 mg/kg/day ofCTZ after developing STZ-induced diabetes mellitus. Electron microscopy revealedthat CTZ reduced the thickness of the glomerular basement membrane and improvedmitochondrial morphology in mesangial cells of diabetic kidney. CTZ treatmentreduced excessive kidney mitochondrial DNA copy numbers induced by hyperglycemiaand interacted with the intrinsic pathway for regulating cell apoptosis as anantiapoptotic mechanism. In high-glucose-treated mesangial cells, CTZ reduced ROSproduction, altered the apoptotic status, and down-regulated transforming growthfactor beta (TGF-) and nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells(NF-B). Base on the results of our previous and current studies, CTZ decelerationof hyperglycemia-induced DN is attributable to ROS reduction and thereby maintenanceof the mitochondrial function and reduction in TGF- and NF-B levels.

Research progress of Gastrodiae Rhizoma machining processing, composition analysis and in vivo metabolism / 中国中药杂志

Steaming method is a traditional processing method for Gastrodiae Rhizoma(GR). The current studies on the steaming method's mechanism of GR are mainly focused on facilitating softening slice, destroying the β-glycosidic bond enzymes to reduce the decomposition of gastrodia glycosides (killing enzyme and protecting glycosides). The researches on the processing mechanism are still incomplete, while revealing and analyzing the active components in the body's metabolic process are important channels and new models to clarify the mechanism of traditional medicine processing. In order to provides a reference for the in-depth study of the processing mechanism of GR, we have reviewed the relevant literature at home and abroad in recent years and briefly summarized the processing, composition analysis and in vivo metabolism of GR in this study.

Effect of compound gardenia oil and jujube seed oil on learning and memory in ovariectomized rats / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of compound of gardenia oil and jujube seed oil learning and memory in ovariectomized rats and its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Animals were randomly divided into six groups: sham group, model group, estrogen group, low dose group, middle dose group and high dose group. The ovariectomized rat models were established by resection of the lateral ovaries. The effect of compound of gardenia oil and jujube seed oil on learning and memory in ovariectomized rats was observed by means of Morris water maze. Acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activities in rat brain were determined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The compound of gardenia oil and jujube seed oil could shorten the incubation period of appearance in castration rats and increase the number passing through Yuan Ping table in ovariectomized rats. As the training time extended, the incubation period of appearance was gradually shortened. The compound of gardenia oil and jujube seed oil could increase NOS activity, and decrease AChE activity in brain of ovariectomized rats.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The compound of jujube seed oil and gardenia oil could promote the learning and memory in ovariectomized rats. This effect may be related with the increase in activities of NOS, AchE in rat brain.</p>

Sedative, hypnotic and antiseizure effects of compound gardenia oil and jujube seed oil in mice / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the sedative, hypnotic and antiseizure effects of the compound preparation of gardenia oil and jujube seed oil in mice and investigate the interaction of the two drugs in this preparation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The compound preparation was administered intragastrically in mice, whose spontaneous activity was observed along with their tolerance of the preparation after long-term administration. The hypnotic effect of the compound was assessed by investigating the changes in the pentobarbital sodium-induced sleeping. The compound was tested for its antiseizure effect in mice with pentetrazole-induced clonic and tonic convulsion. Diazepam was used as the standard control in all experiments.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The jujube seed oil, the gardenia oil and their compound all inhibited spontaneous activities of the mice. Compared with diazepam, the compound showed slow action in producing the sedative effect, which increased gradually with prolonged drug administration without obvious drug tolerance responses. The compound and the two oils all showed synergistic action with pentobarbital sodium in inducing sleeping of the mice. Prescription study showed that the compound produced stronger sedative and hypnotic effects than either of the oils. The two oils and the compound did not show significant antiseizure effects in mice.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The compound of jujube seed oil and gardenia oil has sedative and hypnotic effects in mice, and the two oils in the compound show obvious synergistic effect.</p>