ABSTRACT
Special extracts from the roots of Harpagophytum procumbens (Devil's Claw) are used in the supportive treatment of inflammatory diseases, and the iridoid derivative harpagoside is thought to be the active principle. To investigate, whether Harpagophytum extracts may also be useful therapeutics in the treatment of inflammatory kidney diseases, we studied the effects of two different extracts containing 8.9% (extract 1) and 27% harpagoside (extract 2), respectively, on IL-1beta-induced nitric oxide (NO) formation as well as transcriptional regulation of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in rat renal mesangial cells. We observed a concentration-dependent suppression of nitrite formation by about 80%, which was due to an inhibition of iNOS expression. Moreover, a reduction of iNOS promoter activity and nuclear NF-kappaB translocation was observed, indicating that the extracts interfere with the transcriptional activation of iNOS. Three further Harpagophytum extracts containing about 2% harpagoside did not inhibit NO formation suggesting, that only extracts with a high harpagoside content elicit iNOS inhibition. However, pure harpagoside was only inhibitory at concentrations between 0.3 and 1 mg/ml, which is much higher than the harpagoside content present in an effective concentration of the total extracts. Moreover, a harpagoside-free extract 1 also markedly inhibited iNOS expression, indicating that other extract constituents are involved in this effect. Extract 1 exerted a strong antioxidative effect, whereas no such effect could be demonstrated for harpagoside. Together, these data show that special Harpagophytum extracts may represent potential antiinflammatory drugs in the treatment of glomerular inflammatory diseases.
Subject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/pharmacology , Glomerular Mesangium/drug effects , Glycosides/pharmacology , Harpagophytum/chemistry , Nitric Oxide Synthase/biosynthesis , Pyrans/pharmacology , Animals , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Cells, Cultured , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Down-Regulation/drug effects , Glomerular Mesangium/cytology , Glomerular Mesangium/enzymology , Glycosides/administration & dosage , Interleukin-1/pharmacology , NF-kappa B/metabolism , Nitric Oxide/biosynthesis , Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Pyrans/administration & dosage , RatsABSTRACT
In 16 years 13,869 dogs were autopsied. Angiosarcomas were found in 321 cases (2.3%). The frequency has increased since 1981 and was doubled. Alsations and boxers were found to have a statistically significant predisposition. Dogs affected with this tumor were between 3 and 15 years old, the average being 9.4 years. The tumour could more frequently be found in male dogs than in bitches. Primary localizations were mainly spleen, heart, or liver. Haematogenous metastases were very common, in some cases a primary multiplicity was supposed. The distribution of the metastases depended on the organ primarily involved.
Subject(s)
Dog Diseases/pathology , Hemangioendothelioma/veterinary , Animals , Autopsy , Dogs , Female , Hemangioendothelioma/pathology , Male , Neoplasm Metastasis , Neoplastic Cells, Circulating , Species SpecificitySubject(s)
Ectodermal Dysplasia/genetics , Hypohidrosis/genetics , Anodontia/genetics , Child , Humans , Hypotrichosis/genetics , MaleABSTRACT
Progressive nodular histiocytoma is a clinically distinct variant in the general group of normolipemic histiocytic proliferations. Its cardinal feature is the presence of two different lesions--a superficial yellow-brown papule and a deep nodule. We describe herein a 29-year-old man with such lesions. Histologically, a variety of fibrous and cellular patterns were seen, mimicking the wide spectrum of findings in ordinary dermatofibromas. On ultrastructural examination, the most striking feature of the preponderant cell was lipid phagocytosis.
