[Effect of cold and cool herbs on liver mitochondria proteome of rats with heat symptom].

In the 1960s, modern science began involving the essence of heat syndrome, but there have still no in-depth systematic studies on pathological mechanisms of heat syndrome and action mechanisms of cold and cool herbs. In this study, the animal model with heat syndrome was set up by feeding herbs with hot property, and then cold and cool herbs was applied in the experimental therapy. The two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry technologies were adopted to compare the liver mitochondria proteome of the rats of the heat syndrome model and the ones treated with cold and cool herbs, so as to discover specificity-related proteins after heat syndrome and treatment with cold and cool herbs.

Dihydroartemisinin-induced inhibition of proliferation in BEL-7402 cells: an analysis of the mitochondrial proteome.

Artemisinin, the active ingredient of the Chinese medicinal herb Artemisia annua L., and its derivatives (ARTs) are currently widely used as anti-malarial drugs around the world. In this study, we found that dihydroartemisinin (DHA), one of the main active metabolites of ARTs, inhibited the proliferation of human hepatocarcinoma BEL-7402 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. To interpret the mechanisms involved, an analysis of the mitochondrial proteome was performed employing two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Seven mitochondrial proteins including fumarate hydratase, 60 kDa heat shock protein, enoyl-CoA hydratase, 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, two subunits of ATP synthase and NADPH:adrenodoxin oxidoreductase were identified to be differentially expressed between the control and DHA-treated groups. Our results indicate that the imbalance of energy metabolism induced by DHA may contribute, at least in part, to its anti-cancer potential in BEL-7402 cells.

[Study of the property of lipids reducing of curcumin on hyperlipidemia mice after fermented by Monascus purureus].

OBJECTIVE: To study the lipids reducing property of curcumin on Hyperlipidemia mice after fermented by Monascus purureus. METHODS: The stain Monascus purureus was used for microbial transformation, and both substrate control and strain control were set. The mice were reared with high lipid and cholesterol feed for 15d to establish the Hyperlipidemia models. The models were treated with fermented curcumin in 500 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, substrate control and strain control in 500 mg/kg. Positive and Normal group were treated with natural saline. The general situation was observed and the changes of TG, TC, HDL-C levels in serum and liver were tested after 10 d. RESULTS: Fermented curcumin could significantly reduce the serum TC, TG of Hyperlipidemia mice all in high, middle and low doses. Serum TC was reduced by 38.7%, 34.5%, 32.7% and TG was reduced by 38.3%, 28.6%, 30.1%, respectively while substrate control and strain control had no effect. Fermented curcumin also could reduce the TC, TG in liver but no effect of curcumin substrate at the same dose. CONCLUSION: The property of lipids reducing of curcumin is significantly enhanced after fermentation.

Progress of research in treatment of hyperlipidemia by monomer or compound recipe of Chinese herbal medicine.

Hyperlipidemia (HLP) is the No.1 risk factor for patients with atherosclerosis (AS) and is directly related to the occurrence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and cerebrovascular disease. Therefore, prevention and treatment of AS is of great importance and of practical significance in controlling the incidence and mortality of CAD. With its peculiar syndrome-dependent therapy, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has accumulated abundant practical experiences in this field and good clinical effects have been achieved. Chinese herbal medicine, with its particularly unique advantages and high potentials yet to be tapped, displays its huge strength in HLP prevention and treatment. The progress of studies concerning prevention and treatment of HLP by Chinese herbal medicines, in the form of monomers or compound recipes, is reviewed in this paper.

[Effect of curcumin on the gene expression of low density lipoprotein receptors].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the molecular mechanisms and effective target points of lipid-lowering drug, Rhizoma Curcumae Longae, and study the effect of curcumin on the expression of low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors in macrophages in mice. METHODS: Macrophages in mice were treated with curcumin, which was purified from the ethanolly extraction of Rhizoma Curcumae Longae for 24 h. The LDL receptors expressed in the macrophages were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and assay of DiI labeled LDL uptake by flow cytometer. RESULTS: It was found for the first time that 10 micromol/L-50 micromol/L curcumin could obviously up-regulate the expression of LDL receptor in macrophages in mice, and a dose-effect relationship was demonstrated. CONCLUSION: One of the lipid-lowering mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine, Rhizoma Curcumae Longae, was completed by the effect of curcumin through the up-regulation of the expression of LDL receptor.

A peroxisome proliferator response elements regulatory system in xenopus oocytes and its application.

BACKGROUND: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) is a kind of ligand-activated transcription factors binding to peroxisome proliferator response element (PPRE), a specific recognition site. It is thought to play a critical role in glucose and lipid metabolism and in inflammation control. The aim of this study was to establish a new cellular model for the quick screening of lipid-lowering drugs, which may be effective as PPAR-gamma ligands on the PPRE-mediated pathway regulatory system. METHODS: Two plasmids were constructed: pXOE-PPARgamma, in which the human PPARgamma gene was in the downstream of TFIIIA gene promoter, and pLXRN-PPRE-d2EGFP, in which the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene was subcloned into PPRE. The xenopus oocytes were injected with these two plasmids, and consequently treated with prostaglandin E1, pioglitazone, and different kinds of lipid-lowering drugs. After 3 days, the oocytes were observed under a fluorescence microscope. To confirm the drug action,we injected pXOE-PPARgamma plasmid into the oocytes, which then treated with prostaglandin E1 and Hawthorn flavonoids. The mass of expressed lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in the cells was determined by enzyme labeling linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The expression of EGFP was only induced by prostagalandin E1, pioglitazone, Hawthorn flavonoids. A concentration-response relationship was seen between expressed EGFP and Hawthorn flavonoids. The levels of LPL in both Hawthorn flavonoids groups and PPARgamma ligand prostagalandin E1 group injected with pXOE-PPARgamma plasmid increased significantly (< 0.001) compared with controls, and a concentration-response relationship was observed between LPL mass and Hawthorn flavonoids. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to establish a PPRE regulatory EGFP reporter system in xenopus oocytes to monitor the activity of PPARgamma ligand. Hawthorn flavonoids can increase the expression of gene downsteam of PPRE by effect on the PPRE pathway regulatory system.

[Effect of curcumin on expression of human low density lipoprotein receptors in Xenopus Laevis oocytes].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the molecular mechanism of curcumin in reducing blood lipids by establishing gene expression system of human low density lipoprotein receptors (LDL-R) in Xenopus Laevis oocytes (XLO). METHODS: The expression of LDL-R on cytomembrane was determined using immuno-fluorescent, ligand-fluorescent and immune colloidal gold techniques after human LDL-R containing p3.7 LDL plasmid was led into nucleus. And the expression of LDL-R gene in XLO was quantitatively determined by ELISA after being interfered with different concentrations of curcumin. RESULTS: The human LDL-R gene could be expressed on XLO, which could be significantly enhanced by curcumin in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion One of the paths of curcumin in reducing blood lipids and anti-atherosclerosis was improving LDL-R gene expression and increasing the LDL-cholesterol absorption of cells.

Study on the Relationship between Lipoprotein(a) Receptor and LDL Receptor.

Lp(a) receptor and LDL receptor on rhesus monkey liver cellular membrane were studied by Western blotting, to investigate whether Lp(a) and LDL metabolize through the same route. The experiment demonstrated Lp(a) receptor ( 300kD) and LDL receptor ( 185kD) to be different kinds of receptors. The result reveals that Lp(a) has its own metabolic pathway.