Design, green synthesis, antioxidant activity screening, and evaluation of protective effect on cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury of novel monoenone monocarbonyl curcumin analogs.

Antioxidants with high efficacy and low toxicity have the potential to treat cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (CIRI). Dienone monocarbonyl curcumin analogs (DMCA) capable of overcoming the instability and pharmacokinetic defects of curcumin possess notable antioxidant activity but are found to be significantly toxic. In this study, a novel skeleton of the monoenone monocarbonyl curcumin analogue sAc possessing reduced toxicity and improved stability was designed on the basis of the DMCA skeleton. Moreover, 32 sAc analogs were obtained by applying a green, simple, and economical synthetic method. Multiple sAc analogs with an antioxidant protective effect in PC12 cells were screened using an H2O2-induced oxidative stress damage model, and quantitative evaluation of structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model with regression coefficient of R2 = 0.918921 was built through random forest algorithm (RF). Among these compounds, the optimally active compound sAc15 elicited a potent protective effect on cell growth of PC12 cells by effectively eliminating ROS generation in response to oxidative stress injury by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant signaling pathway. In addition, sAc15 exhibited good protection against CIRI in the mice middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model. In this paper, we provide a novel class of antioxidants and a potential compound for stroke treatment.

Combined Antihypertensive Effect of Paeoniflorin Enriched Extract and Metoprolol in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a great global health challenge and it mostly requires drug combination therapy with the various advantages. Metoprolol (MP) and paeoniflorin are both commonly used for the treatment of hypertension. However, whether they exert synergistic effects on antihypertension or not remains unclear, especially on vascular endothelial function. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study is to investigate the advantages of the combined antihypertensive effects of paeoniflorin enriched extract from Radix Paeoniae Alba (RE) and MP in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: SHR divided into six groups (n = 8 each group), animals in each group were administrated orally with distilled water, MP (6 and 20 mg/kg), RE (30 and 90 mg/kg), and MP (6 mg/kg) combined with RE (30 mg/kg) (MP + RE), respectively, daily for 6 weeks. Blood pressure (BP) and microcirculation were assessed. The organ bath experiment and hematoxylin and eosin staining were, respectively, performed for the functional and pathological vascular function analysis. Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression in aorta, heart, and kidney. Further, high-performance liquid chromatography was employed to quantitatively determine paeoniflorin in RE and MP + RE sample solvent, as well as in plasma of Sprague-Dawley rats (SD) after single-dose administration of them. RESULTS: The results showed that MP + RE significantly reduced BP, increased microcirculation, improved vascular function and pathological changes, and upregulated eNOS expression. MP was also found to increase the blood concentration of paeoniflorin in SD. CONCLUSION: The combination of RE and MP could be used for the treatment of hypertension and could improve microcirculation, upregulate eNOS expression, and mitigate endothelial dysfunction in SHR. SUMMARY: Paeoniflorin enriched extract from Radix Paeoniae Alba and metoprolol exert synergistic antihypertensive effects. Abbreviations used: RE: Paeoniflorin enriched extract from Radix Paeoniae Alba, MP: Metoprolol, MP + RE: MP combined with RE, NC: Normal control, MC: Model control, SHR: Spontaneously hypertensive rats, SD: Sprague-Dawley rats, H and E: Hematoxylin and eosin, BP: Blood pressure, SBP: Systolic blood pressure, DBP: Diastolic blood pressure, MBP: Mean arterial blood pressure, NA: Norepinephrine, ACh: Acetylcholine, SNP: Nitroprusside, NO: Nitric oxide, eNOS: Endothelial nitric oxide synthase, RPA: Radices Paeoniae Alba, IHC: Immunohistochemistry, Cmax: Peak concentration, Tmax: The time to reach Cmax, t½: Half-life, AUC0-t: Area under the curve of 0-t time; MRT0-t: Mean residence of 0-t time; CL: Clearance rate.

[Effect of extracts from Dendrobii ifficinalis flos on hyperthyroidism Yin deficiency mice].

Some unhealthy life habits, such as long-term smoking, heavy drinking, sexual overstrain and frequent stay-up could induce the Yin deficiency symptoms of zygomatic red and dysphoria. Stems of Dendrobii officinalis flos (DOF) showed the efficacy of nourishing Yin. In this study, the hyperthyroidism Yin deficiency model was set up to study the yin nourishing effect and action mechanism of DOF, in order to provide the pharmacological basis for developing DOF resources and decreasing resource wastes. ICR mice were divided into five groups: the normal control group, the model control group, the positive control group and DOF extract groups (6.4 g · kg(-1)). Except for the normal group, the other groups were administrated with thyroxine for 30 d to set up the hyperthyroidism yin deficiency model. At the same time, the other groups were administrated with the corresponding drugs for 30 d. After administration for 4 weeks, the signs (facial temperature, pain domain, heart rate and autonomic activity) in mice were measured, and the facial and ear micro-circulation blood flow were detected by laser Doppler technology. After the last administration, all mice were fasted for 12 hours, blood were collected from their orbits, and serum were separated to detect AST, ALT, TG and TP by the automatic biochemistry analyzer and test T3, T4 and TSH levels by ELISA. (1) Compared with the normal control group, the model control group showed significant increases in facial and ear micro-circulation blood flow, facial temperature and heart rate (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), serum AST, ALT (P < 0.01), T3 level (P < 0.05), TSH level (P < 0.05) and notable deceases in pain domain (P < 0.01), TG level (P < 0.01). (2) Compared with the model control group, extracts from DOF (6 g · kg(-1)) could notably reduce facial and ear micro-circulation blood flow, facial temperature and heart rate (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and AST (P < 0.05) and enhance pain domain (P < 0.01) and TG (P < 0.01). Extracts from DOF (4 g · kg(-1)) could remarkably reduce AST and ALT levels (P < 0.01, 0.05). Extracts from DOF (6 g · kg(-1) 4 g · kg(-1)) could significantly reduce T3 and increase serum TSH level (P < 0.05). DOF could improve Yin deficiency symptoms of zygomatic red and dysphoria in mice as well as liver function injury caused by overactive thyroid axis. According to its action mechanism, DOF may show yin nourishing and hepatic protective effects by impacting thyroxin substance metabolism, improving micro-circulation and reducing heart rate.