Natural product, bilobalide, improves joint health in rabbits with osteoarthritis by anti-matrix degradation and antioxidant activities.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic musculoskeletal disease reported in veterinary clinics that severely reduces the quality of life of animals. The natural product, bilobalide, has positive effects on chondroprotection but its exact mechanism of action is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and anti-matrix degradation activities of bilobalide in a rabbit model of OA and its protective effects on joints. We also investigated the possible mechanisms underlying these effects. The rabbit OA model was established by intra-articular injection of 4% papain. Thirty healthy male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into control, untreated OA, Cel (100 mg/kg celecoxib intervention as a positive control), BB-L and BB-H (40 mg /kg and 80 mg /kg bilobalide gavage treatment, respectively) groups. Two weeks after surgical induction, bilobalide or celecoxib was administered by gavage daily for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks of bilobalide intervention, cartilage macroscopic observation and histopathological images showed alleviation of cartilage damage after bilobalide treatment, and the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) score was significantly lower than that in the OA group. Bilobalide reduced the expression of metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) and MMP-13 in cartilage tissue of OA rabbits and reversed the levels of serum C-telopeptides of type II collagen (CTX-II), cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), interleukin 1(IL-1), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α). Bilobalide (80 mg/kg) could improve the biomechanical properties and microstructural changes in subchondral bone in the early stage of OA in rabbits, thereby delaying subchondral bone damage. Mechanistically, bilobalide exerted antioxidant and anti-matrix degradation effects by upregulating the oxidative stress signaling Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and inhibiting cartilage degeneration in rabbit OA. We thus speculate that bilobalide supplements recovery from OA damage.

[Study of change in activity of hepatic drug metabolism enzymes in rat model of chronic unpredictable mild stress].

This study aimed to explore the impact of depression caused by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) on in vivo activity of six kinds of CYP450 isoforms in rats. According to 'Katz' method, the model of CUMS was established. Tolbutamide, chlorzoxazone, theophylline, midazolam, omeprazole and dextromethorphan were chosen as probe substrates of CYP2C6, CYP2E1, CYP1A2, CYP3A2, CYP2D1 and CYP2D2 of rats. Plasma concentration of six kinds of CYP450 in control group and model group were determined by LC-MS/MS and computed pharmacokinetic parameters. Consequently, metabolism of theophylline and chlorzoxazone accelerated significantly (P < 0.01), but tolbutamide, dextromethorphan, omeprazole and midazolam had no significant difference. The present study proved that depression caused by CUMS had strong induction to CYP1A2 and medium induction to CYP2E1.

[Study on determination of caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid in rat plasma and their pharmacokinetics with LC-MS/MS].

To establish a LC-MS/MS method to determine caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid in rat plasma and study their pharmacokinetics in rats. Six Sprague-Dawley rats were intravenously injected with 4 mL x kg(-1) of Dengzhanxixin injection, respectively. Their drug plasma concentration was determined by LC-MS/MS, with tinidazole as an internal standard. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by DAS 1.0. The linear concentration ranges of caffeic acid, and chlorogenic acid were 2-128 microg x L(-1) (r = 0.998 1) and 3-384 microg x L(-1) (r = 0.998 7), respectively. The methodological test showed conformance to the requirements. The intraday and inter-day variable coefficients were both less than 10.0%, indicating that both of legitimate precise and accuracy were in conformity with the requirements of biological sample analysis. For caffeic acid, the pharmacokinetic parameter t1/2beta AUC0-t, and CL were (130.91 +/- 38.77) min, (4.89 +/- 0.96) mg x min x L(-1) and (0.12 +/- 0.02) L x min(-1) x kg(-1), respectively. For chlorogenic acid, the pharmacokinetic parameter t1/2beta , AUC0-t, and CL were (49.38 +/- 8.85) min, (9.54 +/- 0.95) mg x min x L(-1) and (0.09 +/- 0.003) L x min(-1) x kg(-1), respectively. The LC-MS/MS analysis method established in this study was proved to be so accurate and sensitive that it can be applied to the pharmacokinetic study of caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid.