Protective effects of Sapindus saponins in spontaneously hypertensive rats / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To investigate the protective effects of Sapindus saponins in spontaneously hypertensive rats, and the possible cellular and molecular mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two 16-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats were randomly divided into four groups (8 in each group): model group (placebo), positive control group (27 mg/kg of Captopril Tablets), Sapindus saponins groups (27 mg/kg and 108 mg/kg, respectively). Another 8 healthy Wistar-Kyoto strain (WKY) rats were used as the normal group. The animals were treated for 8 weeks. Blood pressure of rats was determined by non-invasive blood pressure meter (BP-6). Furthermore, the contents of angiotensin II (Ang II) in plasma and myocardial tissue were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the gene expression of receptor angiotensin type 1 (AT1R) in aorta was determined by quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The protein expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and AT1R in heart was determined by immunohistochemical staining. The protein expression of p-phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38MAPK) was determined by Western blotting. The contents of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in serum were determined by radioimmunoassay. And the histopathological and morphological changes of aorta and heart tissue samples were assessed semi-quantitatively by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) or Masson staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Thirty minutes after single or continuous treatment, systolic blood pressure (SBP) was reduced significantly in Sapindus saponins groups. And the contents of AngII, IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α in serum, the expression of AT1R mRNA, p-p38MAPK and TGF-β1 were significantly suppressed dose-dependently (P<0.05 or P<0.01). With the Sapindus saponins treatment, compared with those of the model group, the cardiac and aortic pathological changes were ameliorated significantly.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Our findings suggest that Sapindus saponins might have protective effects in spontaneously hypertensive rats, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of which might be relevant to the regulation of inflammatory responses mediated by p-p38MAPK signal pathway based on activated Ang II and AT1R.</p>

Effects of sapindus saponins on inflammatory response mediated by Ang II/p38MAPK pathway and cardiac hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of sapindus saponins on myocardial inflammation mediated by Ang II/ p38MAPK signal pathway and cardiac hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive rats. And also to explore the correlation of cardiac hypertrophy and inflammation.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Thirty-two 16-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were randomly divided into four groups, one with placebo as model group, one with captopril tablets (27 mg x kg(-1)) as positive control, one with low-dose sapindus saponins (27 mg x kg(-1)), one with high-dose (108 mg x kg(-1)). And another eight healthy Wistar-Kyoto strain (WKY) rats were used as the normal group. The animals were treated for eight weeks, and the indicators detected were as follows: (1) left ventricular mass index (LVMI); (2) the content of Ang II and hs-CRP in plasma were determined by ELISA; (3) the protein expression of AT1R and VEGF were determined by immunohistochemical method; (4) the protein expression of p-p38MAPK in myocardial cells was determined by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Sapindus saponins reduced LVMI, and blocked the expression level of Ang II, AT1R, p-p38MAPK, VEGF and hs-CRP in myocardial tissue. Vs the SHR model group, there were significant differences (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our findings suggested that sapindus saponins could inhibited cardiac hypertrophy, the possible mechanisms may be related to the inhibition on inflammatory response mediated by Ang II/p38MAPK pathway.</p>

Research of sapindus saponins on endothelial function in spontaneously hypertensive rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the regulation on endothelial function of sapindus saponins in spontaneously hypertensive rats by studying the reactivity on different vasoconstrictor and dilator, and the content of the active substances.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Forty 16-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats were randomly divided into five groups, one with placebo as model group, one with captopril tablets (27 mg x kg(-1)) as positive control, one with low-dose sapindus saponins (27 mg x kg(-1)), one with medium-dose (54 mg x kg(-1)), one with high-dose (108 mg x kg(-1)). And another eight healthy Wistar-Kyoto strain (WKY) rats were used as the normal group. The animals were treated for eight weeks, and the indicators to be detected were as follows: (1) the response of thoracic aorta on different vasoconstrictors Ang II (1 x 10(-9) -1 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1)), PE (1 x 10(-8) 1 x 10(-4) mol x L(-1)), KCl (20 -120 mmol x L(-1)); (2) the endothelium-dependent or non-endothelium-dependent vasodilation response of thoracic aorta on Ach (1 x 10-(10)-1 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1)) or SNP (1 x 10(-8)-1 x 10(-3) mol x (L(-1); (3) the content of NO, 6-KPG1alpha, ET-1 and TXB2 in serum was determined by Elisa.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>In SHR model group, the response of thoracic aorta on Ang II, PE and KCl was increased, the endothelium-dependent vasodilation on Ach was reduced, but the effects on SNP was not obvious, the content of ET-1 and TXB2 was increased, and the content of NO and 6-KPG1alpha was reduced, Vs the normal control group, there were significant differences (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); in the treatment groups, the response of thoracic aorta on Ang II, PE and KCl was reduced, the endothelium-dependent vasodilation of thoracic aorta on Ach was improved, the content of ET-1 and TXB2 was reduced, and the content of NO and 6-KPG1alpha was increased, Vs the SHR model group, there were significant differences (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our findings suggested that sapindus saponins protected the endothelial function in SHR, the mechanisms were relevant to the protection of endothelial function.</p>

Synthesis of ferulic acid derivatives and their inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation / 药学学报

Ferulic acid, an useful compound of Chinese traditional medicine, was used as leading compound. Six ferulic acid derivatives were designed and synthesized based on bioisosterism. Their structures were characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectra. In vivo experiment showed that ferulic acid derivatives had good inhibitory effects on adenosine diphosphate (ADP) induced platelet aggregation, which were significantly higher than that of Ozagrel.

Effects of sapindoside on blood pressure and vasoactive substance in renovascular hypertension rat / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of sapindoside on blood pressure, Ang II, Ald, ET in the blood plasma and NO in the serum in renovascular hypertension rat.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The 2K1C (2 kidney 1 clap) hypertensive model rats were used and drugs had been given by ig. for 5 weeks. The blood pressure was measured at the 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 day after drug. At the end of 5th weeks, the Ang II, Ald, ET in the blood plasma and NO in the serum were measured.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Sapindoside (H, M and L) by ig. for 5 weeks could significantly lower the blood pressure, increase the levels of NO in the serum, reduce the concentration of Ang II, Ald, ET in the blood plasma.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sapindoside plays an important role in decreasing the blood pressure of renovascular hypertension rat.</p>