Hepatoprotective effect of Alhagi sparsifolia against Alcoholic Liver injury in mice

Overconsumption of alcohol leads to alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Natural compounds have been investigated previously for their hepatoprotective activities against liver injury. This study investigated the protective effect of Alhagi sparsifolia on ALD. Alcohol was administered to mice for three consecutive days; either alone or in combination with Alhagi sparsifolia extract (150, 300, 600 mg/kg). Serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine transaminase as biomarkers of liver injury, the content of malonaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and glutathione which indicated the redox status of liver and the antioxidant enzyme activity of super oxide dismutase were detected, respectively. Moreover, the expression of protein cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) the key enzyme of alcohol metabolism, and also tested by western blot experiment. Subsequently, the mRNA levels of inflammatory factors including TNF- α and TLR4 was determined real-time PCR. Results showed that Alhagi sparsifolia significantly alleviated alcohol-induced liver injury by reducing serum ALT and AST, inhibiting MDA and H2O2 content, increasing SOD, and GSH level in the liver (P< 0.05). In addition, the Alhagi sparsifolia treatment inhibited the expression of CYP2E1 (P< 0.05). The results suggest that Alhagi sparsifolia could be a promising natural substance for ameliorating acute alcohol-induced oxidative stress and hepatic injury

Traditional Uyghur Medicine: Concepts, Historical Perspective, and Modernization.

Context • Traditional Uyghur medicine (TUM) is rooted in ancient Uyghur medical theory that was developed with the combined essence of different traditional medicines, such as Han Chinese, Egyptian, ancient Greek, Arabian, Persian, and Indian medicines. Modern experimental methods and technologies for disease diagnoses have accelerated the modernization of Uyghur medicine. Objective • The research team intended to compile a comprehensive introduction to TUM and to determine the current state of research in the field to establish a basis for future modernization of Uygur medicine. Design • The research team collected information from several databases-the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Wanfang Databases, and PubMed-as well as from Uyghur medical books. They also interviewed Uyghur medical scholars to ensure the authenticity of the Uyghur medical theory presented. The registry database of the China Food and Drug Administration was also used to search for and screen registered TUMs. Setting • The selection of articles and further inclusion in the review was performed in the College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University (Yangling, China). Results • TUM has been developed to a unique, comprehensive theoretical system with the concepts and theories for clinical diagnosis, treatment, and medication. Advancements of modern experimental methods and disease diagnoses have accelerated the modernization of Uyghur medicine. The establishments of a series of standards/regulations legalize Uyghur drug production, supervision, and management. Conclusions • The future development of Uygur medicine should begin with the standardization of planting, production, and laboratory and clinical practices to form a complete system with the support and participation of the government to realize the modernization of TUM finally worldwide. One pressing matter is a full analysis of the requirements and standards of the dominant international pharmaceutical markets as applied to natural medicinal preparations, including TUM preparations. Knowledge of the exact curative effects of Uygur medicine and the development of TUM preparations that conform to international standards would enable them to be better accepted by the mainstream market.

In vitro pharmacological characterization of the prostanoid receptor population in the non-pregnant porcine myometrium.

In order to characterize prostanoid receptors present in the non-pregnant porcine uterus, the effects of naturally occurring prostaglandins (D2, E2, F2alpha, I2) and synthetic prostanoid receptor agonists on contractility of the longitudinal and circular muscles were examined in vitro. The potent contractile actions of prostaglandin F2alpha and cloprostenol indicate the presence of excitatory FP receptors in the porcine uterus. The longitudinal muscle was more sensitive to FP receptor agonists than was the circular muscle. Prostaglandin D2 produced an excitatory response in the longitudinal muscle but completely inhibited the spontaneous contraction of the circular muscle. BW-245C (5-(6-carboxyhexyl)-1-(3-cyclohexyl-3-hydroxypropyl)hydantoin, 1 nM-10 microM, a DP receptor agonist) inhibited the spontaneous contractions of both muscles, but the inhibition was conspicuously stronger in the circular muscle. Prostaglandin I2 caused excitatory and inhibitory responses in the longitudinal and circular muscles, respectively, at relatively high concentrations (10-100 microM). Cicaprost, an IP receptor agonist caused inhibition of the contraction in the circular muscle but contracted the longitudinal muscle. Iloprost, an EP(1)/IP receptor agonist, caused excitatory responses in both muscles at relative high concentrations. Prostaglandin E2 caused excitatory responses at 1-100 nM and inhibitory responses at 100 nM-10 microM in both muscle layers. ONO-DI-004 ((17S)-2,5-ethano-6-oxo-17,20-dimethyl prostaglandin E1, an EP1 receptor agonist) and ONO-AE-248 ((16S)-9-deoxy-9beta-chloro-15-deoxy-16-hyfroxy-17,17-trimethylene-19,20-didehydro prostaglandin F2, an EP3 receptor agonist) contracted the longitudinal muscle but had little effect on the circular muscle. ONO-AE1-259 (11,15-O-dimethyl prostaglandin E2, an EP2 receptor agonist) inhibited the spontaneous contractions of both muscle layers to almost the same degree, but ONO-AE1-329 (16-(3-methoxymethyl)phenyl-omega-tetranor-3,7-dithia prostaglandin E1, an EP4 receptor agonist) did not inhibit the myometrial contraction. The present results indicate that contractile (FP, EP1, EP3) and relaxatory (DP, IP, EP2) prostanoid receptors are present in the non-pregnant porcine uterus. There are marked muscle layer-related differences in the degree of responsiveness of prostanoid receptor agonists, and these differences suggest that there is a heterogeneous distribution of prostanoid receptors in the longitudinal and circular muscles (FP, EP1 and EP3, longitudinal muscle>circular muscle; DP, circular muscle>longitudinal muscle).