The effect of puerarin on serum nitric oxide concentration and myocardial eNOS expression in rats with myocardial infarction.

Puerarin (1) is a major effective ingredient extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Ge-gen (Radix Puerariae, RP). Recently, puerarin has been used to treat patients with coronary artery diseases (CAD). However, the mechanisms of puerarin on CAD are still not very clear. In this study, we investigated the role of puerarin on serum nitric oxide (NO) concentration, myocardial endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene expression, the protein expression of eNOS and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), as well as the level of protein kinase B (Akt/PKB) phosphorylation in rats with myocardial infarction. We found that puerarin (120 mg/kg/day, i.p.) could increase serum nitrite concentration in rat with myocardial ischemia (MI). It also induced the gene expression or activation of eNOS, protein expression of eNOS, and the Akt/PKB phosphorylation. From these results, we suggested that puerarin could increase serum nitric oxide level of rat with myocardial infarction, which should be one of the mechanisms of the therapeutic effect of puerarin on CAD. The increased expression of eNOS and the Akt/PKB pathway may be the underlying mechanism by which puerarin stimulates NO production.

[Effects of volatie oil of Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briq herb and Saposhnikovia divaricata Schischke root on proinflammatory cytokine expression and regulation].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of volatie oil of Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briq herb and Saposhnikovia divaricata Schischke root (OSS) on proinflammatory cytokine expression and regulation in rats. METHOD: OA and LPS were injected intravenously to rats to develop acute lung injury (ALI). The rats were treated with OSS (45.19 microL kg(-1)). The pathological sections of lung tissue were prepared and observed in acute lung injury rats. The expression of nuclear factor-kappa B p65 (NF-kappaB p65), intercellar adhesion molecule CD54, and NF-kappaB p65 mRNA were determined in lung cells. RESULT: volatie oil of Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briq herb and Saposhnikovia divaricata Schischke root significantly inhibited the expression of CD54, the activation of NF-kappaB p65, and the transcription of NF-kappaB p65 mRNA. CONCLUSION: OSS can reduce the expression of CD54 and NF-kappaB p65 protein synthesis, which may be its anti-inflammatory molecular mechanisms.

[Effects of the volatile oil of Centipeda minima on acute pleural effusion in rats induced by an intrapleural injection of car].

OBJECTIVE: To study the anti-inflammation effect of volatile oil of Centipeda minima and the mechanism of action. METHOD: The animal model was induced by the Car injection into intrapleural of rats, to observe the effect of VOCM on acute inflammation. RESULT: VOCM was able to inhibit the increase of NO, CRP and proinflammatory cytokines such as TNFalpha in the acute inflammation of the rat body. CONCLUSION: VOCM has a protective effect on acute pleural effusion in rats induced by an intrapleural injection of Car.

[Effects of rhein on the function of human mesangial cells in high glucose environment].

AIM: To study the mechanisms of anti-diabetic nephropathy of rhein on cultured human mesangial cells (HMCs). METHODS: To mimic the hyperglycemic (HG) environment of diabetic nephropathy, 30 mmol x L(-1) glucose were added to 10% FBS RPMI 1640. The HMCs were treated with rhein for 8, 24, 48 or 72 h, at these time, the bioactivity, total activity of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFbeta1), activity of p38MAPK (p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases, by using immunoprecipitate and Western blot), MMP-2 (matrix metalloproteinase-2), and MMP-9 (matrix metalloproteinase-9, by using gelatinase zymography) and the proliferation of HMCs in high glucose media were measured. Meanwhile the levels of secretion of FN in cultured HMCs were measured. RESULTS: The results showed that rhein markedly inhibit the proliferation of HMCs, significantly reduce the bioactivity of TGFbeta1 and FN secretion in HMCs, and decrease the increased activity of p38MAPK, but showed no action on the activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9. CONCLUSION: Rhein reduced the secretion of FN and inhibited the proliferation of HMCs may through inhibiting the bioactivities of TGFbeta1 and p38MAPK.

[Effect of Puerarin on K+ channel of isolated ventricular myocyte in guinea pig].

AIM AND METHODS: To observe the effects of Puerarin on K+ channel of isolated ventricular myocyte in guinea pig. METHODS: Using inside-out configuration of patch-clamp single channel recording technique. RESULTS: Puerarin 20 micromol/L, 40 micromol/L, 80 microml/L could inhibit the open-close rate of K+ channel of isolated ventricular myocyte in guinea pig. At 80 micromol/L, Po was decreased from 0.867 +/- 0.13 to 0.019 +/- 0.01 (n = 5, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Puerarin can inhibit K+ channel of isolated ventricular myocyte in guinea pig. It may be the mechanism of Puerarin against arrhythmias in molecular level.

[Effect of essential oil of Radix Angelicae Dahuricae on beta-endorphin, ACTH, NO and proopiomelanocortin of pain model rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of essential oil of Radix Aangelicae Dahuricae (EOAD) on beta-endorphin Adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH), Nitric oxide (NO) and Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) of pain model rats induced by formaldehyde. METHOD: beta-endorphin and ACTH were detected with radio-immunity, the amount of masculine cell expression of Proopiomelanocortin mRNA in hypothalamus, and brainstem of pain model was detected with in situ hybridization and NO with chemical method. RESULT: EOAD could increase beta-endorphin, NO and the amount of masculine cell expression of Proopiomelanocortin mRNA significantly in hypothalamus and brainstem of rats. CONCLUSION: EOAD which may be central analgesic, is associated with endogenous opiate-like substance such as POMC and beta-endorphin.