Pinocembrin inhibits angiotensin II-induced vasoconstriction via suppression of the increase of [Ca2+]i and ERK1/2 activation through blocking AT(1)R in the rat aorta.

Pinocembrin (5,7-dihydroxyflavanone) is one of the primary flavonoids in propolis. Angiotensin II (AngII) is a biologically active peptide that induces vasoconstriction via the activation of the angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R). In the present study, we investigated the vasorelaxant effect of pinocembrin on AngII-induced vasoconstriction and the molecular mechanism of action. Pinocembrin was observed to inhibit AngII-induced vasoconstriction in rat aortic rings with either intact or denuded endothelium. In endothelium-denuded tissues, pinocembrin (pD́'2pD2(') 4.28±0.15) counteracted the contractions evoked by cumulative concentrations of AngII. In a docking model, pinocembrin showed effective binding at the active site of AT1R. Pinocembrin was shown to inhibit both AngII-induced Ca(2+) release from internal stores and Ca(2+) influx. Moreover, the increase in the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and myosin light chain 2 (MLC2) induced by AngII was blocked by pinocembrin. These results demonstrate that pinocembrin inhibits AngII-induced rat aortic ring contraction, and these inhibitory effects may be related to the reduction of the AngII-induced increase in [Ca(2+)]i and ERK1/2 activation via blocking AT1R.

[Effects of the effective components group of xiaoshuantongluo formula on rat acute blood stasis model].

Effects of the effective components group of Xiaoshuantongluo formula (XECG) on rat acute blood stasis model were studied under the guidance of the concept of effective components group. Rat acute blood stasis model was induced by subcutaneous injection of epinephrine combined with ice water bath. Hemorheology indices such as whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, erythrocyte aggregation index and platelet aggregation rate; coagulation parameters including PT, APTT, TT and FIB; 6-keto-PGF1alpha, TXB2 and D-dimer levels were determined to evaluate the effects of XECG. The results showed that XECG significantly reduced ADP-induced platelet aggregation, but showed little influence on the whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity and erythrocyte aggregation rate. XECG extended PT and TT slightly, but had no effects on APTT and FIB content. D-dimer levels significantly decreased after administration of XECG with a little decrease of TXB2, but the content of 6-keto-PGF1alpha did not change significantly. The results suggest that the role of XECG of anti-aggregation is more prominent.

Salvianolic acid A protects human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells against H2O2-induced injury by increasing stress tolerance ability.

Salvianolic acid A (Sal A) is a polyphenol extracted from the root of the Salvia miltiorrhiza bunge. Hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) is a major reactive oxygen species (ROS), which has been implicated in stroke and other neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of Sal A in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells against H(2)O(2)-induced injury. Our results showed that cells pretreated with Sal A exhibited enhanced neuronal survival and that this protection was associated with an increase in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and the stabilization of mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition, Sal A markedly decreased the excessive activation AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and the serine-threonine protein kinase, Akt, in SH-SY5Ycells induced by H(2)O(2). In conclusion, our results demonstrated that Sal A protects SH-SY5Y cells against H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative stress and these protective effects are related to stress tolerance and not energy depletion via inhibition of the AMPK and Akt signaling pathway.

Vasorelaxant effect of formononetin in the rat thoracic aorta and its mechanisms.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of formononetin and the related mechanisms on isolated rat thoracic aorta. Formononetin concentration dependently relaxed aortic rings precontracted with norepinephrine (NE, 1 µM) or KCl (80 mM). Pretreatment with formononetin noncompetitively inhibited contractile responses of aortas to NE and KCl. The vasorelaxant effect of formononetin partially relied on intact endothelia, which was significantly attenuated by incubation with N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (100 µM). In endothelium-denuded rings, glibenclamide (10 µM) and tetraethylammonium (5 mM) showed slight reduction in the vasorelaxant effect of formononetin. Moreover, formononetin reduced NE-induced transient contraction in Ca²âº-free solution and inhibited the vasocontraction induced by increasing external calcium in medium plus 80 mM KCl. Our results suggested that formononetin induced relaxation in rat aortic rings through an endothelium-dependent manner via nitric oxide synthesis pathway, and also involving an endothelium-independent vasodilatation by the blockade of Ca²âº channels. The opening of K⁺ channels might also be one of the mechanisms of formononetin-induced vasorelaxation.

[Effect of pinocembrin on brain mitochondrial respiratory function].

There are growing evidences that pinocembrin has better neuroprotective effect. In the present study, the effect of pinocembrin on mitochondrial respiratory function was evaluated in global brain ischemia/ reperfusion (4-vessel occlusion, 4-VO) rats. The results showed that pinocembrin improved the respiratory activity of 4-VO brain mitochondria, through increasing ADP/O, state 3 respiration state (V3), respiration control rate index (RCI) and oxidative phosphorylation rate (OPR). And then, the effect of pinocembrin on brain mitochondria was verified in vitro. The results showed that pinocembrin increased ADP/O, state 3 respiration state, respiration control rate index, oxidative phosphorylation rate in NADH/FADH2 dependent respiratory chain and decreased state 4 respiration state (V4) in NADH dependent respiratory chain. Pinocembrin improved ATP content in brain mitochondria in vitro and in SH-SY5Y cells.

The characteristics of therapeutic effect of pinocembrin in transient global brain ischemia/reperfusion rats.

AIMS: The therapeutic effect of pinocembrin, together with the therapeutic time window, in the transient global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) rats was investigated. MAIN METHODS: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to global cerebral ischemia for 20 min by four-vessel occlusion. Pinocembrin (1 and 5mg/kg) was administrated intravenously 30 min before ischemia and 30 min, 2h, 6h after reperfusion, respectively. Neurological scores, brain edema and histological examination by Nissl staining were employed to assess the neuronal injury after ischemia and the neuroprotection by pinocembrin. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in brain tissue were tested by colorimetric assays. Alterations of neurotransmitters were determined by a high performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical method. KEY FINDINGS: Pinocembrin significantly ameliorated neurological deficits and brain edema, and alleviated the degree of hippocampal neuronal loss at 24h after global cerebral I/R with a broad therapeutic time window. It was found that treatment with pinocembrin reduced the compensatory increase of SOD activity and decreased the MDA level and MPO activity in a dose-dependent manner. The metabolic balance between excitatory and inhibitory amino acids was modulated by pinocembrin treatment. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings suggest that pinocembrin provides neuroprotection against global cerebral ischemic injury with a wide therapeutic time window, which may be attributed to its antioxidative, antiinflammatory and antiexcitotoxic effects.

[Effect of metformin on the formation of hepatic fibrosis in type 2 diabetic rats].

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of the metformin on the formation of hepatic fibrosis in type 2 diabetic rats and discuss its mechanism of liver-protecting activity. After SD rats were fed with high-fat and high-sucrose diet for four weeks, low-dose streptozotocin (STZ) was injected intraperitoneally to make the animal mode of type 2 diabetes. Then, all diabetic rats was fed with the high-fat diet and metformin (ig, 100 mg x kg(-1)) was given orally to metformin group for four months. After the last administration, fasting blood glucose was determined. The livers were removed to calculate the hepatic coefficient and to make HE and Picro acid-Sirius red staining, immunohistochemistry (alpha-SMA and TGFbeta1) and TUNEL staining in order to evaluate the effect of metformin on the hepatic fibrosis. The animal model of type 2 diabetes with hepatic fibrosis was successfully made. Metformin can significantly alleviate the lesions of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis, markedly reduce the expressions of alpha-SMA and TGFbeta1 in liver tissue of type 2 diabetic rats. However, TUNEL staining result suggested that metformin could not reduce apoptosis of hepatocytes. The results suggest that metformin can inhibit the formation of hepatic fibrosis in type 2 diabetes.

[Necroptosis: a new mechanism of cell death].

Traditionally, cell death has been categorized into apoptosis or necrosis. However, a growing number of research indicates necroptosis, distinct from apoptosis and necrosis, contributes to a range of human diseases as a new mechanism of cell death. In order to achieve a better understanding of different cell death models and an improvement for development of new drugs associated with this pathway, the mechanism of necroptosis, the differences among apoptosis, necrosis and necroptosis, as well as the role of necroptosis in human diseases and its relation to discovery of drug targets, are discussed in this article.