Anti-hypoxic pharmacological effects of betelnut polyphenols / 中南大学学报(医学版)

Areca catechu L. medicinal materials and their preparations are widely used in clinical practice. Betelnut polyphenol is one of the main chemical components with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects. With continuous increase of high altitude activities, tissue oxidative damage caused by high altitude hypoxia seriously affects the ability to work, and the studies on anti-hypoxia drugs are particularly important. Recent studies have shown that betelnut polyphenols have protective effects on oxidative stress injury caused by hypoxia via improving blood gas index of hypoxic organism, increasing superoxide dismutase glutathione catalase activity, and scavenging excessive free radicals. The effects of betelnut polyphenols against hypoxia and oxidative damage protection suggest that betelnut polyphenols can be used as potential anti-hypoxia drugs and posses clinical prospects.

Determination of total polyphenols and catechins in betel nut polyphenol extract / 药学实践杂志

Objective To establish a method for the determination of total polyphenols and catechins in betel nut polyphenols extract, and provide reference for the quality control of betel nut polyphenols extract. Methods The content of total phenol in betel nut extract was determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The content of catechins was determined by HPLC. Results The linear range of total polyphenols in betel nuts extract was 9.8~58.8 μg/ml. The three components of catechin, epicatechin and protocatechuic acid were completely separated by HPLC, and the linear relationship was good in their respective ranges, with the recoveries between 99.17% and 101.67%, the RSD between 1.2% and 2.5%. Conclusion The established method is simple, stable and reliable, which could be used for the quantitative analysis of betel polyphenol extract, and provide experimental basis for the quality control of betel polyphenol extract.

Expression of GABAB1 receptors in spinal dorsal horn neurons in rats with diabetic neuropathic pain / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective To investigate the role of GABAB1 receptors in spinal dorsal horn neurons in the development of diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP). Methods Sixty pathogen free male SD rats aged 4 weeks weighing 150-170 g were randomly divided into 2 groups ( n = 30 each): control group and DNP group. Diabetes mellitus was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin 50 mg/kg. Blood glucose levels and paw withdrawal threshold to mechanical stimuli were measured at 3, 5 and 7 weeks (T1, T2, T3 ) after IP STZ/NS ( n = 10 each). The animals were sacrificed after PWL measurement. The lumbar segment of the spinal cord was removed for determination of the expression of GABAB1 receptors by immuno-histochemistry, RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Results The blood glucose levels were significantly higher while the PWT was significantly lower at T1,T2 and T3 in group DNP than in control group. The expression of GABAB1 receptor mRNA and protein in spinal dorsal horn was significantly lower at T2 and T3 in DNP group than in control group. Conclusion The expression of GABAb1 receptors is down-regulated in spinal dorsal horn neurons in rats with DNP.