Efficacy of berberine in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: From multiple targets to therapeutic potential.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disorder involved in persistent synovial inflammation. Berberine is a nature-derived alkaloid compound with multiple pharmacological activities in different pathologies, including RA. Recent experimental studies have clarified several determinant cellular and molecular targets of BBR in RA, and provided novel evidence supporting the promising therapeutic potential of BBR to combat RA. In this review, we recapitulate the therapeutic potential of BBR and its mechanism of action in ameliorating RA, and discuss the modulation of gut microbiota by BBR during RA. Collectively, BBR might be a promising lead drug with multi-functional activities for the therapeutic strategy of RA.

The Efficacy of Natural Bioactive Compounds for the Treatment of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

The death toll associated with cancer worldwide is constantly on the increase. Efforts to combat and treat the different forms of this disease is also evolving. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a lethal form of cancer, which is prevalent in Southern China, that is normally treated by using radiotherapy. Here, we will review products obtained from natural sources that have potential cytotoxic and apoptotic properties against NPC. These include grifolin, dihydroartemisinin, luteolin, honokiol, indole-3-carbinol, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, 6-O-angeloylenolin, cucurbitacin E, genistein, helenalin, celastrol, coronarin D, quercetin, trans-cinnamaldehyde, 5'-epimer episilvestrol, silvestrol, arnicolide D, brevilin A, and baicalin hydrate. Ethyl acetate extracts of Wedelia chinensis and aqueous extracts of Ajuga bracteosa are also included although the bioactive compounds involved have yet to be identified. The known mechanism of action of these products is discussed. It is anticipated that one or more of these substances may provide the general population with alternative and cost-effective ways to combat this fatal disease.

[The effect of Yiqi Wenyang Huoxue Huatan Fang on hypoxia-hypercarbia induced pulmonary hypertension and its mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Yiqi Wenyang Huoxue Huatan Fang (YWHHF) on alleviating hypoxia-hypercarbia pulmonary hypertension by inhibiting endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) via BMP-7/Smads pathway. METHODS: Fifty male healthy SD rats of clean grede, weighting (180~220) g, were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=10):normoxia group (N), hypoxia-hypercarbia group (HH); YWHHF high dose group (YH), middle dose group (YM) and low dose group (YL). The rats in N group were kept in normal oxygen environment, the remaining four groups were intermittently exposed to hypoxia-hypercarbia environment (9%~11% O2, 5%~6% CO2) for 4 weeks, 6 days a week, 8 hours per day. The rats in YH, YM, YL groups were received YWHHF gavage in a dosageof 0.6, 0.3, 0.15g/kg respectively (3 ml/kg),the rats in N and HH groups were received equal volume of normal saline. After 4 weeks, the mean pulmonary arterial pressure(mPAP) was detected,the right ventricular free wall and left ventricle plus ventricular septum were isolated to determine the right ventricular hypertrophy index. Lung ultrastructural changes were surveyed under an electronic microscopy, the changes of pulmonary artery structure surveyed by immunofluorescence, the mRNA levels of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)、platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (CD31)、bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7)、drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic protein1/5/8 (Smad1/5/8) were detected by RT-PCR, and the protein levels of α-SMA、CD31、BMP-7、p-Smad1/5/8 and Smad1/5/8 were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with N group, mPAP and the right ventricular hypertrophy index were increased,some significant injuries also were discovered under microscopic observation,the mRNA and protein expression of α-SMA was increased, and the mRNA expressions of CD31、BMP-7、Smad1/5/8 were decreased in the other four groups, the protein expressions of CD31、BMP-7、p-Smad1/5/8 were decreased(P<0.05). Compared with HH group, the above changes in YH、YM、YL groups were all improved (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: YWHHF can inhibit EndoMT to alleviate pulmonary hypertension, and the mechanism may be related to the promotion of the expression of BMP-7/Smads pathway.