[Activity of Codonopsis canescens against rheumatoid arthritis based on TLRs/MAPKs/NF-κB signaling pathways and its mechanism].

This paper aims to explore the activity of Codonopsis canescens extract against rheumatoid arthritis(RA) based on the Toll-like receptors(TLRs)/mitogen-activated protein kinases(MAPKs)/nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB) signaling pathways and its mechanism. The ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight/mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was used to identify the components of C. canescens extract. Forty-eight male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups, namely the normal group, the model group, the methotrexate(MTX) tablet group, and the low, medium, and high-dose C. canescens extract(ZDS-L, ZDS-M, and ZDS-H) groups, with 8 rats in each group. The model of collagen-induced arthritis in rats was induced by injection of bovine type Ⅱ collagen emulsion. MTX(2.5 mg·kg~(-1)), ZDS-L, ZDS-M, and ZDS-H(0.3 g·kg~(-1), 0.6 g·kg~(-1), and 1.2 g·kg~(-1)) were administrated by gavage. Rats in the normal group and the model group received distilled water. MTX was given once every three days for 28 days, and the rest medicines were given once daily for 28 days. Body weight, degree of foot swelling, arthritis index, immune organ index, synovial histopathological changes, and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-1ß(IL-1ß), and interleukin-6(IL-6) were observed. Protein expressions of TLR2, TLR4, NF-κB p65, p38 MAPK, and p-p38 MAPK in rats were determined by Western blot. Thirty-four main components were identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, including 15 flavonoids, 7 phenylpropanoids, 4 terpenoids, 4 organic acids, 2 esters, and 2 polyalkynes. As compared with the normal group, the body weight of the model group was significantly decreased(P<0.01), and foot swelling(P<0.05, P<0.01), arthritis index(P<0.01), and the immune organ index(P<0.01) were significantly increased. The synovial histopathological injury was obviously observed in the model group. The serum levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 were significantly increased(P<0.01), and the protein expression levels of TLR2, TLR4, NF-κB p65, p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK in the synovial tissue were significantly increased(P<0.01) in the model group. As compared with the model group, the body weights of the ZDS dose groups were increased(P<0.01), and the degree of foot swelling(P<0.01) and the arthritis index were decreased(P<0.05, P<0.01). The immune organ index was decreased(P<0.01) in the ZDS dose groups, and the synovial tissue hyperplasia and inflammatory cell infiltration were alleviated. The serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 were significantly decreased(P<0.05, P<0.01), and the protein expression levels of TLR2, TLR4, NF-κB p65, p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK were decreased(P<0.05, P<0.01) in the ZDS dose groups. C. canescens extract containing apigenin, tricin, chlorogenic acid, aesculin, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, and oleanolic acid has a good anti-RA effect, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of TLRs/MAPKs/NF-κB signaling pathways.

Serum from Jiao-Tai-Wan treated rats increases glucose consumption by 3T3-L1 adipocytes through AMPK pathway signaling.

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from insulin resistance. Jiao-Tai-Wan (JTW), a traditional Chinese medicine consisting of a 10:1 formulation of Rhizoma Coptidis (RC) and Cortex Cinnamomi (cinnamon) was shown to have hypoglycemic efficacy in a type 2 diabetic mouse model. Here we investigated whether glucose consumption by insulin-resistant adipocytes could be modulated by serum from JTW-treated rats, and if so, through what mechanism. JTW-medicated serum was prepared from rats following oral administration of JTW decoction twice a day for 4 days. Fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes - rendered insulin resistance by dexamethasone treatment - were cultured in medium containing JTW-medicated rat serum. JTW-medicated serum treatment increased glucose uptake, up-regulated levels of phosphorylated adenosine 5'-monophoshate-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), and stimulated expression and translocation of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4). JTW-medicated serum induced significantly greater up-regulation of p-AMPK and GLUT4 than either RC or cinnamon-medicated serum. JTW-medicated serum induced effects on 3T3-L1 adipocytes could be partially inhibited by treatment with the AMPK inhibitor compound C. In conclusion, JTW-medicated serum increased glucose consumption by IR adipocytes partially through the activation of the AMPK pathway, and JTW was more effective on glucose consumption than either RC or cinnamon alone.

Observation on the efficacy and safety of Gukang capsule combinedwithsodium hyaluronate injection on the treatment of the patients with osteoarthritis / 中国生化药物杂志

Objective To investigate the effect and safety of Gukang capsule combined with sodium hyaluronate injection on the treatment of the patients with osteoarthritis. Methods 94 osteoarthritis patients selected from December 2015 to March 2017 were randomly divided into study group (n=47) and control group (n=47). The control group were given sodium hyaluronate injection, the study group were received local injection of sodium hyaluronate combined with Gukang capsule. The changes of knee joint function (HSS scale score) and adverse reaction rate were recorded and compared before and after treatment in the two groups. Results Before treatment, there was no significant difference in HSS scores between the two groups. After treatment, the HSS score in the study group was significantly better than that in the control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the adverse reactions between the 2 groups during the treatment. Conclusion Local injection of sodium hyaluronate combined with Gukang capsule on the treatment of osteoarthritis, which can significantly improve the clinical efficacy, the security is higher. .

Observation on the efficacy and safety of Gukang capsule combinedwithsodium hyaluronate injection on the treatment of the patients with osteoarthritis / 中国生化药物杂志

Objective To investigate the effect and safety of Gukang capsule combined with sodium hyaluronate injection on the treatment of the patients with osteoarthritis. Methods 94 osteoarthritis patients selected from December 2015 to March 2017 were randomly divided into study group (n=47) and control group (n=47). The control group were given sodium hyaluronate injection, the study group were received local injection of sodium hyaluronate combined with Gukang capsule. The changes of knee joint function (HSS scale score) and adverse reaction rate were recorded and compared before and after treatment in the two groups. Results Before treatment, there was no significant difference in HSS scores between the two groups. After treatment, the HSS score in the study group was significantly better than that in the control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the adverse reactions between the 2 groups during the treatment. Conclusion Local injection of sodium hyaluronate combined with Gukang capsule on the treatment of osteoarthritis, which can significantly improve the clinical efficacy, the security is higher. .

Anti-Diabetic Activities of Jiaotaiwan in db/db Mice by Augmentation of AMPK Protein Activity and Upregulation of GLUT4 Expression.

Jiaotaiwan (JTW), which is composed of Coptis chinensis (CC) and cinnamon (CIN), is one of the most well-known traditional Chinese medicines. In this study, we investigated the antidiabetic effects and mechanism of JTW in db/db mice. Results showed that JTW significantly decreased the level of fasting blood glucose and improved glucose and insulin tolerance better than CC or CIN alone. JTW also effectively protected the pancreatic islet shape, augmented the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the liver, and increased the expression of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) protein in skeletal muscle and white fat. AMPK and GLUT4 contributed to glucose metabolism regulation and had an essential function in the development of diabetes mellitus (DM). Therefore, the mechanisms of JTW may be related to suppressing gluconeogenesis by activating AMPK in the liver and affecting glucose uptake in surrounding tissues through the upregulation of GLUT4 protein expression. These findings provided a new insight into the antidiabetic clinical applications of JTW and demonstrated the potential of JTW as a new drug candidate for DM treatment.

The impact of Ca2+ combination with organic acids on green tea infusions.

The effect of Ca(2+) in brewing water on the organic acid content, turbidity, and formation of tea cream and sediment in green tea infusions was studied. When the Ca(2+) concentration of the brewing water was >40 mg L(-1), the green tea infusion became more turbid. The turbidity of the tea infusion was highly negatively correlated with the contents of oxalic acid (R=-0.89, p<0.01), quinic acid (R=-0.90, p<0.01) and tartaric acid (R=-0.82, p<0.01). Oxalic acid on its own interacted with Ca(2+) at low concentrations, whereas polyphenols and protein did not. In conclusion, Ca(2+) in brewing water influences the quality of a tea infusion by inducing tea cream and sediment formation from combination of Ca(2+) and organic acids, such as oxalic acid, quinic acid and tartaric acid. Ca(2+) and oxalate are the main metal ion and anion, respectively, involved in tea cream and sediment formation on tea infusion cooling or concentrating.

Hydrolysis of green tea residue protein using proteolytic enzyme derived from Aspergillus oryzae.

Free amino acids are important chemical components which impact the taste of green tea infusion. The hydrolysis of water-insoluble protein in the green tea residue helps to increase the contents of free amino acids components except theanine. Studies indicate that the hydrolysis of the tea protein could be restricted due to interaction of polyphenols with protein. The experiment indicates that the hydrolysis of tea protein by protease is the main trend when the polyphenols concentration is lower than 5 mg ml(-1), however, the proteins (including tea protein and protease) would interact with polyphenoles instead of hydrolysis when the concentration of polyphenols is higher than 5 mg ml(-1). The hydrolysis of tea protein is absolutely restrained when concentration comes to 10 mg ml(-1).