Research progress on active components and mechanism of Isatidis Radix for influenza virus / 中国中药杂志

Isatidis Radix is the dried root of the Isatis indigotica, with pharmacological effects such as heat-clearing and detoxification, cooling blood and pharyngeal relief, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. It is often used clinically to prevent and treat influenza and other diseases. In this paper, relevant domestic and foreign literatures in recent years were summarized, and it was found that Isatidis Radix lignans, indole alkaloids, polysaccharides, etc. were the main active components against influenza virus. Then its pharmacological effects and the mechanism of action were reviewed, providing a basis for in-depth research on the antiviral effect of Isatidis Radix.

Effects of icariin on bone metabolism in iron overload mice / 药学学报

This study was designed to investigate the effects of icariin on bone metabolism in osteoprotic mice induced by iron overload, the model of iron overload mice was established by intraperitoneal injection of iron dextran (100 mg·kg-1). Sixty 2-month-old C57/BL6 male mice were randomly divided into six groups, including normal control group, model group, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC)-treated group, icariin (50, 100 and 200 mg·kg-1)-treated group. Except for the mice in control group, the mice were intraperitoneal injected weekly with iron dextran (100 mg·kg-1) to establish the model of iron overload mice. The NAC and icariin were suspended in 0.5% CMC-Na solution, and administered orally for six times one week according to body weight. The mice in normal group and model group were given the same volume of 0.5% CMC-Na solution. Three months later, the organs, serum and femurs of mice were collected. Serum biochemical parameters were detected with an ELISA kit, the distal femur bone density and trabecular bone microstructure were analyzed by Micro-CT, and the mechanical properties of femur were measured by universal mechanical analyzer. Compared with the normal control group, iron overload decreased the bone mineral density and deteriorated the micro-architecture structure and bone mechanical properties in femur of mice, increased the level of iron, phosphorus and activity of tartrate resistant acid phosphatase-5b (TRACP-5b), reduced the level of osteocalcin (OCN) in serum, decreased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) of liver tissues, increased the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) of liver tissues. Icariin increased bone mineral density, improved the micro-architecture and mechanical properties of bone tissue, reduced the levels of iron and phosphorus, decreased the activity of TRACP-5b and enhanced the levels of OCN in serum, and also decreased the activity of MDA in liver tissue of iron overload mice. These results suggest that icariin is able to reduce bone loss and improve bone microstructure and mechanical properties in iron overload mice through regulation of bone metabolism via anti-oxidation.