The Chinese Herbal Formula PAPZ Ameliorates Behavioral Abnormalities in Depressive Mice.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a chronic mental disorder characterized by mixed symptoms and complex pathogenesis. With long history of practical application, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers many herbs for the treatment and rehabilitation of chronic disease. In this study, we developed a modified Chinese herbal formula using Panax ginseng, Angelica Sinensis, Polygala tenuifolia Willd, and Ziziphi spinosae Semen (PAPZ), based on an ancient TCM prescription. The antidepressant effects of PAPZ were investigated with a corticosterone (CORT) model of depression in mice. Our results showed that administration of PAPZ ameliorated depression-like phenotypes in the CORT model. An anatomic study showed that chronic PAPZ administration upregulated the protein expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in hippocampal tissue. The enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase was enhanced in hippocampal tissue, in line with a decreased malondialdehyde level. Taken together, these findings suggested that PAPZ has therapeutic effects in a mice depression model through increasing protein expression of BDNF and improving the anti-oxidation ability of the brain.

Characterization of lignans in Schisandra chinensis oil with a single analysis process by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS.

Schisandra chinensis is a medicinal and edible plant that contains various bioactive compounds. Among these, lignans are the major functional compounds. Nevertheless, detailed information about lignans in Schisandra chinensis oil remains scarce. A powerful UPLC-Q/TOF-MS method was established for the rapid identification of the lignan constituents of Schisandra chinensis oils. The results showed that 21 lignans have been unambiguously identified, and four lignans have been tentatively identified in the Schisandra chinensis oils. In addition, semi-quantitative analysis indicated that the total lignan content in the Schisandra chinensis oils was distributed from 67.73 ± 0.06 to 87.61 ± 1.83 mg/g. Schisandrin and schisandrin B were the most abundant lignans in the Schisandra chinensis oils, their content ranging from 15.85 ± 0.09 to 20.57 ± 0.38 mg/g. Additionally, this study provided a systematic characterization of lignans in Schisandra chinensis oil and indicated that the oil might be used as lignan-related functional foods.

The Protective Effects of Danggui-Baizhu-Tang on High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice by Activating Thermogenesis.

Danggui-Baizhu-Tang (DBT), a traditional Chinese medicine decoction, was used for decreasing serum TG and TC remarkably. However, effect of weight control and action mechanism remains confused. In this study, to evaluate the anti-obesity effects, different gradient concentration of DBT (0.59, 1.17 g/kg) or Orlistat (Orl, 15.6 mg/kg; positive control) were administrated by gavage for 8 weeks in C57BL/6J mice which were pretreated with chow or high fat diet (HFD) for 3 months. After administration, significant decrease of body weight and food utilization was observed. It was indicated that concentration of triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TC), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum were reduced strikingly, as well as accumulation of lipid droplets in liver. Meanwhile, DBT treatment could also decrease weight of white adipose tissue (WAT) and size of adipocytes, whereas increase weight of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in mice. Moreover, it was revealed that DBT could elevate rectal temperature by raising expression of uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1α), which were attributed to phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Furthermore, TNF-α and IL-6, obesity-related inflammatory cytokines, were decreased. In conclusion, DBT could stimulate phosphorylation of AMPK to raise expression of UCP1 and PGC-1α, and activate thermogenesis to prevent obesity.

Dietary supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid-rich oils protects against visible-light-induced retinal damage in vivo.

The effects of administering omega-3 (ω-3) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-rich oils on visible-light-induced retinal damage were investigated in rabbits. The mole percentages of α-linolenic acid in sea buckthorn berry oil, sea buckthorn oil (SO), sea buckthorn seed oil and flaxseed oil (FO) were 2.12%, 12.98%, 31.56% and 55.41%, respectively. Algal oil (AO) contains 33.34% docosahexaenoic acid. SO has the highest total phenolic content (63.42 ± 0.59 mg SAE per 100 g) amongst these oils. The administration of SO, FO and AO provided structural and functional protection to the retina. In the retina, we observed a significant increase in the levels of DHA in the AO group compared with the normal group. The mechanism of retinal protection by SO, FO and AO involves up-regulating the expression of nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 and haem oxygenase-1. The levels of interleukin-1 ß, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-8, and cyclooxygenase 2 in the retina were significantly reduced with AO treatment. The administration of AO resulted in the down-regulation of nuclear factor kappa B mRNA expression. In addition, the treatment with AO significantly attenuated the light-induced apoptosis and angiogenesis in the retina. These results suggest that dietary ω-3 PUFA-rich oils protect against visible-light-induced retinal damage.

Dietary polyphenol canolol from rapeseed oil attenuates oxidative stress-induced cell damage through the modulation of the p38 signaling pathway.

Canolol (CAO) is a main phenolic compound with remarkable antioxidative properties that is generated in rapeseed oil during microwave pressing. The objective of this study was to identify the protective effect of CAO in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-triggered oxidative stress and reveal the role of the p38 MAPK pathway during the protective process. CAO treatment showed an observable cytoprotective effect. Results showed that CAO significantly improved H2O2-stimulated cell death, and diminished ROS production and malondialdehyde (MDA) level. Moreover, CAO increased glutathione (GSH) content and promoted the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). As a result, apoptosis was ameliorated and depletion of the mitochondrial membrane potential was restored. Western blotting analysis demonstrated CAO downregulated the expression of caspase-3 and decreased the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2. Notably, the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK was inhibited by CAO in H2O2-induced apoptosis, which was confirmed by its inhibitor (SB203580). Taken together, our study demonstrated the pivotal role of the p38 MAPK pathway in the cytoprotective effect of CAO on oxidative stress-induced cell damage, suggesting CAO is a promising antioxidant in food and health-related fields.

Immunoenhancement of Edible Fungal Polysaccharides (Lentinan, Tremellan, and Pachymaran) on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppression in Mouse Model.

Fungal polysaccharides display a variety of important biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and immune-stimulating activities. The aim of present study was to investigate the immunomodulatory effect of fungal polysaccharides on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in mice. Mice were pretreated orally with lentinan, tremellan, pachymaran, or a mixture of the three, respectively. The results showed that pretreatments with polysaccharides significantly increased the thymus index in cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression mice. The level of the cytokine IL-10 in sera of cyclophosphamide-induced mice was decreased after pretreatments of polysaccharides. Flow cytometry results showed that pretreatments with polysaccharides enhanced the phagocytosis of peritoneal macrophages in mice. The increased levels of serum antibody IgG and IgM were observed in the groups pretreated with polysaccharides. Our work demonstrated that the treatment of polysaccharides elicited strong immune activity and a protective effect against cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression.

Nutmeg oil alleviates chronic inflammatory pain through inhibition of COX-2 expression and substance P release in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain, or sometimes referred to as persistent pain, reduces the life quality of patients who are suffering from chronic diseases such as inflammatory diseases, cancer and diabetes. Hence, herbal medicines draw many attentions and have been shown effective in the treatment or relief of pain. METHODS AND RESULTS: Here in this study, we used the CFA-injected rats as a sustainable pain model to test the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of nutmeg oil, a spice flavor additive to beverages and baked goods produced from the seed of Myristica fragrans tree. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that nutmeg oil could potentially alleviate the CFA-injection induced joint swelling, mechanical allodynia and heat hyperanalgesia of rats through inhibition of COX-2 expression and blood substance P level, which made it possible for nutmeg oil to be a potential chronic pain reliever.

[Effects of health management programs on weight among overweight or obese adults].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of weight-loss for overweight or obese population under the health management programs, and to provide evidence for the development of safe and effective weight-loss programs. METHODS: 738 participants who resided in Beijing longer than one year, under 22 to 55 years of age, with BMI≥24 kg/m(2) and without organic diseases were voluntarily recruited, from September 1(st) to October 15(th) 2013. All the participants were randomly divided into general management group or under health management group, in which all the subjects received intervention measures for 6 months. Anthropometry and body composition were measured at baseline and 6 months for all the subjects. Weight-loss effect from the health management programs was evaluated through analyzing the changes on weight and body fat. RESULTS: 618 participants completed the follow-up process, including 321 in the general management group and 297 in the health management group. 6 months after the intervention process, values of weight and body fat rate in the two groups appeared both significantly lower than that at the baseline levels. Difference before and after the intervention program was statistically significant (P<0.001). However, the differences of those with reduction value as 2.19 kg or 2.19% among health management group were higher than that in the general management group, which were 0.97 kg and 1.28% respectively, with difference statistically significant (P<0.001). The effective rate of 24.2% loss-weight and the 52.5% losing rate on body fat among the health management group were both higher than 11.8% and 34.3%, seen in the general management group, respectively, with difference statistically significant (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The healthy management programs could effectively control the weight and body fate rate among the overweight or obese adults.

[Mediating effect of insulin related indices on the association between body fat with blood pressure among overweight adults].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the contribution of insulin related indices on the association between body fat and blood pressure among overweight adults. METHODS: From April to May 2014, based on convenience sampling, we recruited overweight and obese volunteer participants aged 20-55 years living in Beijing at least 1 year through a strict examination by doctors in a physical examination center. In this study, we excluded the participants who reported suffering from any severe heart, lung, liver or kidney organic diseases, and abnormal development, disabilities, and secondary obesity caused by other disease. Also participants with use of antihypertensive drugs, hypoglycemic drugs and lipid lowering drugs were excluded for this study. A total of 1 221 participants were investigated in this study. With a simple self-designed questionnaire, the birthdates, sex, drug use, and disease history were examined. Participants' blood pressure (BP), percentage of body fat (PBF), glucose and fasting insulin level were measured. Mediation analysis was used to analyze the total effect of PBF on BP (c), the association between PBF and insulin related indices (a), and the mediation effect of serum fasting insulin level/HOMA-IR/HOMA-%S on relation between PBF and systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP). RESULTS: PBF was positively associated with SBP (c=0.25 ± 0.05 and 0.19 ± 0.03 for male and female, respectively, P<0.001). In males, PBF was positively associated with fasting insulin level and HOMA-IR (a=0.28 ± 0.05 and 0.24 ± 0.05, P<0.001), and negatively associated with HOMA-%S (a=-0.29 ± 0.05, P<0.001); in females, PBF was positively associated with fasting insulin level, HOMA-IR (a=0.21 ± 0.04 and 0.20 ± 0.04, P<0.001), and negatively associated with HOMA-%S (a=-0.13 ± 0.04, P<0.001). In further mediation analysis for female participants, fasting insulin level/HOMA-IR/HOMA-%S played mediation roles in the relation between PBF and SBP, with ratio of mediation of 13.78%,18.3%, and 5.98%. Fasting insulin level/HOMA-IR also mediated the relation between PBF and DBP, with mediation ratio of 11.98% and 14.13%. CONCLUSION: In overweight/obese female participants, insulin related indices mediated the relation between PBF and BP.

Structural characterization of an arabinogalactan from Platycodon grandiflorum roots and antiangiogenic activity of its sulfated derivative.

A water-soluble polysaccharide, PGAW1, with an average molecular mass of 9.2 kDa determined by high performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC), was isolated from radix of Platycodon grandiflorum . Monosaccharide composition analysis indicated that PGAW1 contains Ara and Gal in the molar ratio of 1.42:1.0. Using methylation analysis, partial hydrolysis, endo-1,4-ß-d-galactanase digestion, NMR and ESI-MS, PGAW1 was determined to possess a backbone consisting of 1,4- and 1,6-linked galactopyranosyl residues, with branches attached to O-3 of 1,6-linked galactose residues. By the chlorosulfonic acid-pyridine method we produced a sulfated derivative of PGAW1, Sul-w1, with a substitution degree of 1.52. The substitution was at O-6 on 1,4-linked Gal residues according to the (13)C NMR spectra. Bioactivity test showed that Sul-w1 could inhibit tube formation by human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC) in a dose-dependent manner.