Effects of Rosa roxburghii Tratt on Ulcerative Colitis: An Integrated Analysis of Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation.

Rosa roxburghii Tratt is a traditional Chinese plant that has been used to treat different inflammatory diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of action of Rosa roxburghii Tratt extract (RRTE) against ulcerative colitis (UC) using network pharmacology and experimental validation. HPLC-Q/Orbitrap MS was used to rapidly identify the substances contained in RRTE after extracting the active components from the fruit. Then, network pharmacology combined with molecular docking was used to explore the critical target and potential mechanism of RRTE against UC using the active ingredients in RRTE as the research object. Data are presented in a visual manner. Finally, the pharmacological effects of RRTE in alleviating UC were further verified using a DSS-induced UC model of NCM460. The results showed that 25 components in RRTE were identified. A total of 250 targets of the active components and 5376 targets associated with UC were collected. Furthermore, a systematic analysis of the Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) networks suggests that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 1 (PIK3R1), and serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1) are critical targets for RRTE in the treatment of UC. A comprehensive regulatory network analysis showed that RRTE alleviated UC through the EGFR-mediated PI3K/Akt pathway, and molecular docking showed that active components could strongly bind to EGFR, PIK3R1, and AKT1. In addition, RRTE alleviated dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS)-induced cell injury and significantly decreased the protein expression levels of EGFR, PIK3R1, and p-AKT in NCM460 cells in vitro. Furthermore, RRTE significantly regulated the expression of the apoptosis-related proteins Apoptotic protease-activating factor 1 (Apaf1), cleaved caspase-3, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl2), and Bcl2 associated X protein (Bax). In conclusion, the components of RRTE are complex, and RRTE can relieve UC through the EGFR-mediated PI3K/Akt pathway.

[Evaluation of the Acute Toxicity and Genotoxicity of the Rice Biofortified with ß-Glucan].

OBJECTIVE: To provide a scientific evaluation of the food safety of the rice biofortified with ß-glucan. METHODS: The acute toxicity and genotoxicity of the rice were evaluated by 14-day feeding experiment, Ames experiment, erythrocyte micronucleus test and mouse lymphoma thymidine kinase gene ( TK) mutation assay respectively. RESULTS: In the acute toxicity test, there was no obvious toxicity of rice biofortified with ß-glucan, and no abnormality was found in anatomical observation. The median lethal dose (LD 50) to rats and mice wereall greater than 15 mg/kg, which belonged to the actual non-toxic level. Whether with S 9 activation or not, no genotoxicity was found to the tested strains TA97a, TA98, TA100, TA102 and TA1535. No induction of polychromatic erythrocytes and inhibition of bone marrow were found in erythrocyte micronucleus test. The results of TK gene mutation assay did not show the mutagenicity of ß-glucan bioaugmentation rice. All results of the three genotoxicity tests were negative. CONCLUSION: Under the current experimental conditions, ß-glucan biofortified rice showed no obvious acute toxicity and genotoxicity.

[The Extract from Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Leaves Promotes Apoptosis and Impairs Metastasis in Prostate Cancer Cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of pomegranate leaves extract(PLE)on proliferation,apoptosis and metastasis of prostate cancer cells. METHODS: The proliferation of TRAMP-C1,DU145,PC3 prostate cancer cells treated with different concentrations of PLE (final mass concentrations were 12.5,25,50,100, 200 µg/mL,respectively) for different time (24,48,72 h) was detected by MTT assay. Colony formation assay was performed to verify the long-term effects of PLE on the proliferation of DU145 and PC3 cells.After being treated with PLE for 48 h,Hoechst-33258 staining was used to observe the changes in the nucleus,the cell apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry,and wound-healing migration assay was perform to test the change of migration. RESULTS: In comparison with the control group,PLE in the range of 12.5-200 µg/mL had a certain inhibitory effect on the proliferation of TRAMP-C1,DU145 and PC3 cells ( P<0.05).In the range of 6.25-100 µg/mL,the number of colony formation of DU145 and PC3 was significantly reduced( P<0.01).After PLE treated for 48 h, the apoptotic features of nuclear fragmentation and the formation apoptotic body was observed in PC3. With the increase of concentration,the apoptotic rate increased gradually ( P<0.05),and the ability of cells to migrate to the scratch area was significantly weaker than the control group ( P<0.01). CONCLUSION: PLE has effect on proliferation,apoptosis and metastasis of prostate cancer cells.

[Determination of avermectin and ivermectin in swine muscular tissues using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry].

OBJECTIVE: To develop a method for simultaneous determination of avermectin (AVM) and ivermectin (IVM) in swine muscular tissues using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). METHODS: The AVM and IVM were extracted with acetonitrile, cleaned with basic alumina solid phase extraction cartridges, separated through C8 column, and then detected by mass spectrometry in positive ion mode with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) using an electrospray ionization interface, with quantitative ion pair of 890.4/305.3 and 892.5/307.3 for AVM and IVM, respectively. RESULTS: The linear ranges for both AVM and IVM were between 5 microg/L and 100 microg/L, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9999. The detection limit was 2.0 microg/kg. The recoveries at the spiked concentration of 2 microg/kg, 10 microg/kg and 20 microg/kg ranged from 77.4% to 83.1% for AVM and 77.2% to 84.8% for IVM, with relative standard deviation (RSD) ranging from 8.7% to 11.7% for AVM and 6.3% to 10.3% for IVM, respectively. No AVM and IVM residues were detected in samples taken from Chengdu markets. CONCLUSION: A HPLC-MS/MS method was successfully developed for determining AVM and IVM in swine muscular tissues, which is simple, sensitive and precise and can meet both domestic and international requirements.

[A diabetic model for liver oxidant damage in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the liver oxidant damage for diabetic model in mice. METHODS: Male kunming mice were feed with high fat dietary for a week and then were randomly divided into two groups by weight, with 10 mice in each group. One group was induced by small dose streptozotocin (STZ) and obtained STZ-induced diabetic mice, and the other group was regarded as the control. Both of the two groups were feed with high fat dietary. After 6 weeks, the activities of enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) were measured. Glutathione (GSH), maleic dialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) levels in the liver and the liver viscera quotient were also measured. Liver histological manifestations were observed. RESULTS: In diabetes group, there was a significant decrease in body weight, and the activities of GSH, CAT, and NOS decreased significantly (t value were 5.370, 10.639, 5.235, 3.089, respectively, P < 0.01). While, the liver viscera quotient, the levels of MDA, GSH-PX and NO increased remarkably (t value were -6.246, -2.728, -2.660, -4.924, respectively, P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The significant difference was not observed in SOD between the two groups (t value was -0.405, P > 0.05). The liver histological damages were observed in diabetes group, light microscope observation showed hepatocytes swelling, ballooned changing and fatty droplets clustering. CONCLUSION: The oxidant damage might exist in the liver diabetic model in mice.

[Investigation of dietary fiber intakes and varies in 53 patients with diabetes].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the intakes of total dietary fiber (TDF), soluble dietary fiber (SDF) and insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) in Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes so as to provide the base for making the adequate intakes of dietary fiber. METHODS: The enzymatic-gravimetric methods for dietary fiber were established on basis of a collaborative study. Dietary intake was measured by means of 3-day food records through weighting and using food pictures. TDF, SDF and IDF were analyzed by enzymatic-gravimetric methods. RESULTS: The reproducibility relative standard deviations for DF ranged from 2.63% to 9.67%. Vegetable foods were the mainly sources of DF. The total dietary intakes, insoluble and soluble fibers were 26.5 +/- 9.8, 14.6 +/- 5.8, 10.4 +/- 4.4 (g/d) respectively. CONCLUSION: The dietary fiber intake of the diabetes remains in the range of intakes recommended by American Diabetes Association.

[Analysis of lactase activities of small intestine mucous membrane by double labeled stable isotope technique in subjects with lactase deficiency].

OBJECTIVE: Low lactase activity in small intestine mucosa is the main reason for the occurrence of lactose malabsorption (LM) and lactose intolerance (LI). It would be the basis for the research on LM and LI to find an accurate method to analyze the activity of lactase. METHODS: In this study, 43 volunteers were selected and divided into LM and LI group according to the results of H2 breath test and symptoms record. Twenty-five grams of 13C-lactose and 0.5 g 2H-glucose in 250ml solution were consumed by all the volunteers. The concentration of total plasma glucose, 13C- glucose and 2H-glucose were measured, the ratio of [13C-glucose]/[2H-glucose] and lactose digestion index (LDI)were calculated which could reflect the lactase activities in the mucous membrane of small intestine. RESULTS: It was found that there was no significant difference in the concentration of total glucose and 13C-glucose, while the LDI in LM group (0.47 +/- 0.15) was significantly higher than LI group (0.34 +/- 0.14). There was no significant relationship between LDI and 6h cumulative breath H2 amount (r = 0.12, P = 0.46). The 13 C-lactose/2 H-glucose challenged test showed there was still residual lactase activity in small intestine. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that 13C-lactose/2H-glucosetest can accurately and sensitively determine the lactase activity on small intestinal mucous membrane and digestible lactose amount.

Crystallographic and electrochemical characteristics of La(0.7)Mg(0.3)Ni(5.0-x)(Al(0.5)Mo(0.5)x hydrogen-storage alloys.

The structure, hydrogen-storage property and electrochemical characteristics of La(0.7)Mg(0.3)Ni(5.0-x)(Al(0.5)Mo(0.5))x (x = 0-0.8) hydrogen-storage alloys have been studied systematically. X-ray diffraction Rietveld analysis shows that all the alloys consist of an La (La,Mg)2Ni9 phase and an LaNi5 phase. The pressure-composition isotherms indicate that the hydrogen-storage capacity first increases and then decreases with increasing x, and the equilibrium pressure decreases with increasing x. Electrochemical measurements show that the maximum discharge capacity and the exchange-current density of the alloy electrodes increase as x increases from 0 to 0.6 and then decrease when x increases further from 0.6 to 0.8. Moreover, the low-temperature dischargeability of the alloy electrodes increases monotonically with increasing x in the alloys.