Stachydrine hydrochloride protects the ischemic heart by ameliorating endoplasmic reticulum stress through a SERCA2a dependent way and maintaining intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis.

This study aimed to explore the effects and mechanism of action of stachydrine hydrochloride (Sta) against myocardial infarction (MI) through sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum stress-related injury. The targets of Sta against MI were screened using network pharmacology. C57BL/6 J mice after MI were treated with saline, Sta (6 or 12 mg kg-1) for 2 weeks, and adult mouse and neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (AMCMs and NRCMs) were incubated with Sta (10-4-10-6 M) under normoxia or hypoxia for 2 or 12 h, respectively. Echocardiography, Evans blue, and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining were used for morphological and functional analyses. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), unfolded protein reaction (UPR), apoptosis signals, cardiomyocyte contraction, and Ca2+ flux were detected using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), western blotting, immunofluorescence, and sarcomere and Fluo-4 tracing. The ingredient-disease-pathway-target network revealed targets of Sta against MI were related to apoptosis, Ca2+ homeostasis and ERS. Both dosages of Sta improved heart function, decreased infarction size, and potentially increased the survival rate. Sta directly alleviated ERS and UPR and elicited less apoptosis in the border myocardium and hypoxic NRCMs. Furthermore, Sta upregulated sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase 2a (SERCA2a) in both ischaemic hearts and hypoxic NRCMs, accompanied by restored sarcomere shortening, resting intracellular Ca2+, and Ca2+ reuptake time constants (Tau) in Sta-treated hypoxic ARCMs. However, 2,5-di-t-butyl-1,4-benzohydroquinone (BHQ) (25 µM), a specific SERCA inhibitor, totally abolished the beneficial effect of Sta in hypoxic cardiomyocytes. Sta protects the heart from MI by upregulating SERCA2a to maintain intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, thus alleviating ERS-induced apoptosis.

Stachydrine Hydrochloride Regulates the NOX2-ROS-Signaling Axis in Pressure-Overload-Induced Heart Failure.

Our previous studies revealed the protection of stachydrine hydrochloride (STA) against cardiopathological remodeling. One of the underlying mechanisms involves the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ⅱ (CaMKII). However, the way STA influences CaMKII needs to be further investigated. The nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 2 (NOX2)-coupled reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction putatively induces the oxidative activation of CaMKII, resulting in the occurrence of pathological cardiac remodeling and dysfunction in experimental models of mice. Thus, in this study, we assessed the role of the NOX2-ROS signal axis in STA cardioprotection. The transverse aortic constriction (TAC)-induced heart failure model of mice, the phenylephrine-induced hypertrophic model of neonatal rat primary cardiomyocytes, and the H2O2-induced oxidative stress models of adult mouse primary cardiomyocytes and H9c2 cells were employed. The echocardiography and histological staining were applied to assess the cardiac effect of STA (6 mg/kg/d or 12 mg/kg/d), which was given by gavage. NOX2, ROS, and excitation-contraction (EC) coupling were detected by Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and calcium transient-contraction synchronous recordings. ROS and ROS-dependent cardiac fibrosis were alleviated in STA-treated TAC mice, demonstrating improved left ventricular ejection fraction and hypertrophy. In the heart failure model of mice and the hypertrophic model of cardiomyocytes, STA depressed NOX2 protein expression and activation, as shown by inhibited translocation of its phosphorylation, p67phox and p47phox, from the cytoplasm to the cell membrane. Furthermore, in cardiomyocytes under oxidative stress, STA suppressed NOX2-related cytosolic Ca2+ overload, enhanced cell contractility, and decreased Ca2+-dependent regulatory protein expression, including CaMKⅡ and Ryanodine receptor calcium release channels. Cardioprotection of STA against pressure overload-induced pathological cardiac remodeling correlates with the NOX2-coupled ROS signaling cascade.

Stachydrine hydrochloride inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma progression via LIF/AMPK axis.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not only one of the four highest malignancies, but also the principal reason of cancer-related death worldwide, yet no effective medication for anti-HCC is available. Stachydrine hydrochloride (SH), an alkaloid component in Panzeria alaschanica Kupr, exhibits potent antitumor activity in breast cancer. However, the anti-HCC effects of SH remain unknown. PURPOSE: Our study assessed the therapeutic effect of SH on HCC and tried to clarify the mechanisms by which it ameliorates HCC. No studies involving using SH for anti-HCC activity and molecular mechanism have been reported yet. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS: We examined the cell viability of SH on HCC cells by MTT assay. The effect of SH on cell autophagy in HCC cells was verified by Western blot and Immunofluorescence test. Flow cytometry was performed to assess cell-cycle arrest effects. Cell senescence was detected using ß-Gal staining and Western blot, respectively. An inhibitor or siRNA of autophagy, i.e., CQ and si LC-3B, were applied to confirm the role of autophagy acted in the anti-cancer function of SH. Protein expression in signaling pathways was detected by Western blot. Besides, molecular docking combined with cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) was used for analysis. Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model were built to explore the inhibitory effect of SH in HCC in vivo. RESULTS: In vitro studies showed that SH possessed an anti-HCC effect by inducing autophagy, cell-cycle arrest and promoting cell senescence. Specifically, SH induced autophagy with p62 and LC-3B expression. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that SH caused an obvious cell-cycle arrest, accompanied by the decrease and increase in Cyclin D1 and p27 levels, respectively. Additionally, SH induced cell senescence with the induction of p21 in HCC cell lines. Mechanistically, SH treatment down-regulated the LIF and up-regulated p-AMPK. Moreover, PDX model in NSG mice was conducted to support the results in vitro. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to report the inhibitory function of SH in HCC, which may be due to the induction of autophagy and senescence. This study provides novel insights into the anti-HCC efficacy of SH and it might be a potential lead compound for further development of drug candidates for HCC.

Stachydrine hydrochloride inhibits osteoclastogenesis by regulating the NF-κB and p38 signaling pathways to alleviate postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a common skeletal disorder characterized by low bone mass, defective bone microstructure, and increased risk of fracture. It's well known that excessive activation of osteoclasts plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. Thus, inhibition of osteoclast formation and function might be a proving strategy for osteoporosis. In our study, for the first time we explored the effect of Stachydrine Hydrochloride in the treatment of osteoporosis. We demonstrated that SH markedly inhibited osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast function in vitro and effectively decrease bone resorption in vivo. These finding were further supported by changes in the NF-κB and p38 signaling pathways, which are classical downstream pathways of RANKL-mediated osteoclastogensis. Collectively, these data suggest the possible future use of SH to protect against bone loss in the treatment of osteoporosis.

Stachytine Hydrochloride Improves Cardiac Function in Mice with ISO-Induced Heart Failure by Inhibiting the α-1,6-Fucosylation on N-Glycosylation of ß1AR.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases have become a major public health problem that seriously threatens human health. The cumulative effects of various cardiovascular events will eventually develop into chronic heart insufficiency and even heart failure, and the ß1 adrenergic receptor signal pathway plays an important role in this process. Stachytine hydrochloride is the main active ingredient of Yimucao, which is a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat gynecological diseases. Modern studies have found that stachytine hydrochloride has a good cardioprotective effect, but it is still unclear whether stachytine hydrochloride has an effect on the ß1 adrenergic receptor signal pathway. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of stachytine hydrochloride on the ß1 adrenergic receptor signal pathway. Method: In this study, a continuous infusion of isoproterenol (40 mg/kg/day) was administered to mice and ventricular myocytes explored the potential mechanism of stachytine hydrochloride (12 mg/kg/day) on the ß1 adrenergic receptor signal pathway in the heart. Evaluate changes in cardiac morphology and function by echocardiography, cardiac hemodynamics, and histological methods, and detect molecular changes by Western blot and immunofluorescence. Treat primary cultured adult mouse or neonatal rat ventricular myocytes with or without isoproterenol (0.1 µMol), PNGase F (10-2 units/ml), and stachytine hydrochloride (10 µMol) at different time points. Detect α-1,6-fucosylation on N-glycosylation, calcium transient, contraction, and relaxation function and related signals. Results: Stachytine hydrochloride reduces cardiac remodeling and modulates hemodynamic parameters during chronic ß1 adrenergic receptor activation in vivo. The N-glycosylation of ß1 adrenergic receptors decreased after continuous isoproterenol stimulation, while stachytine hydrochloride can increase the N-glycosylation of ß1AR in the heart of mice with isoproterenol-induced heart failure. Decreased N-glycosylation of ß1 adrenergic receptors will downregulate the cAMP/PKA signal pathway and inhibit myocardial excitation and contraction coupling. Stachytine hydrochloride significantly reduced isoproterenol-induced cardiac N-linked glycoproteins with α-1,6-fucosylation. Conclusion: Our results show that stachytine hydrochloride inhibits the synthesis of α-1,6-fucosylation on the N-terminal sugar chain by reducing α-1,6-fucosyltransferase (FUT8) and α-1,3-mannosyl-glycoprotein 4-ß-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase A (MGAT4a), upregulating the N-glycosylation level on ß1 adrenergic receptors, and maintaining cAMP/PKA signal pathway activation.

Stachydrine hydrochloride suppresses phenylephrine-induced pathological cardiac hypertrophy by inhibiting the calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T-cell signalling pathway.

The calcineurin (CaN)/nuclear factor of activated T-cell (NFAT) signalling pathway plays an important role in pathological cardiac hypertrophy. Here, we investigated the potential effects of stachydrine hydrochloride, a bioactive constituent extracted from the Chinese herb Leonurus japonicus Houtt. (Yimucao), on pathological cardiac hypertrophy during chronic α1-adrenergic receptor (α1-AR) activation and the underlying mechanisms. First, by transcriptome analysis, we determined that pathological hypertrophy models could be prepared after phenylephrine stimulation. In primary cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes, stachydrine hydrochloride reduced phenylephrine-induced cardiomyocyte surface area and the mRNA expression of cardiac hypertrophy biomarkers (atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), and ß-myosin heavy chain/α-myosin heavy chain (ß-MHC/α-MHC)). In addition, phenylephrine stimulation potently induced activation of the CaN/NFAT pathway. Interestingly, stachydrine hydrochloride inhibited CaN activation and reduced NFATc3 nuclear translocation in phenylephrine-stimulated neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. In mice treated with phenylephrine, stachydrine hydrochloride treatment decreased cardiac hypertrophy and regulated heart function. Collectively, our data show that stachydrine hydrochloride decreases cardiac hypertrophy in phenylephrine-stimulated hearts by inhibiting the CaN/NFAT pathway, which might contribute to alleviation of pathological cardiac hypertrophy and cardiac dysfunction by stachydrine hydrochloride after phenylephrine stimulation This also indicated that governing of CaN/NFAT pathway might serve as a preventive or therapeutic strategy for pathological cardiac hypertrophy.

Stachydrine hydrochloride alleviates pressure overload-induced heart failure and calcium mishandling on mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Traditional Chinese medicine Leonurus japonicus Houtt. has a long history in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Stachydrine hydrochloride, the main bioactive ingredient extracted from Leonurus japonicus Houtt., has been shown to have cardioprotective effects. However, the underlying mechanisms of stachydrine hydrochloride haven't been comprehensively studied so far. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to investigate the protective role of stachydrine hydrochloride in heart failure and elucidate its possible mechanisms of action. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In vivo, transverse aorta constriction was carried out in C57BL/6J mice, and thereafter, 7.2 mg/kg telmisartan (a selective AT1R antagonist as positive control) and 12 mg/kg stachydrine hydrochloride was administered daily intragastrically for 4 weeks. Cardiac function was evaluated by assessing morphological changes as well as echocardiographic and haemodynamic parameters. In vitro, neonatal rat cardiomyocytes or adult mice cardiomyocytes were treated with stachydrine hydrochloride and challenged with phenylephrine (α-AR agonist). Ventricular myocytes were isolated from the hearts of C57BL/6J mice by Langendorff crossflow perfusion system. Intracellular calcium was measured by an ion imaging system. The length and movement of sarcomere were traced to evaluate the systolic and diastolic function of single myocardial cells. RESULTS: Stachydrine hydrochloride improved the cardiac function and calcium transient amplitudes, and inhibited the SR leakage and the amount of sparks in cardiac myocytes isolated from TAC mice. We also demonstrated that stachydrine hydrochloride could ameliorated phenylephrine-induced enhance in sarcomere contraction, calcium transients and calcium sparks. Moreover, our data shown that stachydrine hydrochloride blocked the hyper-phosphorylation of CaMKII, RyR2, PLN, and prevented the disassociation of FKBP12.6 from RyR2. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that stachydrine hydrochloride exerts beneficial therapeutic effects against heart failure. These cardioprotective effects may be associated with the regulation of calcium handling by stachydrine hydrochloride through inhibiting the hyper-phosphorylation of CaMKII.

Effect of stachydrine hydrochloride to the prostate hyperplasia model in mice.

Study the effect of stachydrine hydrochloride to prostatic hyperplasia in mice which made of the urogenital sinus implantation. KM male mices were selected. The group was given the respective drugs for gavage, the group of BG and MG were given the distilled water which the same amount as the drugs group for 21 consecutive days. The level of DHT, ACP, Non PACP were measured in serum, the average wet weight of the prostate and prostate index were calculated, the expression of bFGF, EGF, IGF-I, TGF-ß in prostate tissue were measured, the pathological changes of the prostate, kidney, thymus, spleen were observed by HE staining. Compared with MG, stachydrine hydrochloride high (SHH), medium (SHM) and low (SHL) group could reduced the level of DHT and PACP in serum significantly (P < 0.01); SHM and SHL could increased the express of TGF-ß1 significantly (P < 0.05); SHH, SHM, SHL could reduced the express of EGF significantly (P < 0.01); SHM could reduced the express of IGF-Ⅰ significantly (P < 0.01); Compared with MG, SHH, SHM, SHL could reduced the pathological changes of prostate significantly (P < 0.01); FG could reduced the kidney pathological changes significantly (P < 0.01). Stachydrine hydrochloric had no significant effect on the kidney. Stachydrine hydrochloride had the effect of improve thymus, spleen pathological changes. Stachydrine hydrochloride has a good inhibition effect on prostatic hyperplasia model in mices.

[Standard decoction of Leonuri Herba].

To build an evaluation standard for quality of Leonuri Herba standard decoction. 13 batches of Leonuri Herba standard decoction with different quality were prepared. The contents of leonurine hydrochloride and stachydrine hydrochloride were determined; then the transfer rate and the extract rate were calculated and pH value was measured; and HPLC fingerprint method was established for analysis. The results of 13 batches of samples revealed that the transfer rate of leonurine hydrochloride and stachydrine hydrochloride was 30.0%-53.4% and 67.0%-82.6%, respectively; the extract rate was 12.1%-18.3% and the pH value was 5.87-6.22. Moreover, 12 common chromatographic peaks were determined based on fingerprint by using Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic fingerprint of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2012A). The similarity of 13 batches of samples was analyzed and compared, and the results showed that the similarity was higher than 0.9. In this study, the preparation method for Leonuri Herba decoction was standard, with high similarity in fingerprint, showing high precision, stability and repeatability in fingerprint analysis. Thus, this study can provide a reference for the quality control of Leonuri Herba dispensing granules.

[Optimize concentrate process of alkaloid from Leonurus japonicus by ultrafultration-nanofiltration coupling technology].

To optimize the concentrate process of alkaloid from Leonurus japonicus by nanofiltration-ultrafiltration coupling technology with response surface methodology. The experiment showed that after ultrafiltration pre-treatment, the total protein removal rate was 94.38% in aqueous extract from L. japonicus, and the nanofiltration technology had obvious advantages over the conventional concentrate process. The optimal concentrate conditions were as follows：molecular weight cut-off 450, pH 3.07, concentration of stachydrine hydrochloride 80.15 mg•L⁻¹, and concentration of the total alkaloid 285.73 mg•L⁻¹. The cut-off rate was 93.37% and 95.85% respectively for stachydrine hydrochloride and the total alkaloid under the optimum conditions, with a relative error of 0.79% and 1.16% respectively. The combination of Box-Behnken design and response surface analysis can well optimize the concentrate process of L. japonicus by nanofiltration, and the results provide the basis for nanofiltration concentrate for heat-sensitive traditional Chinese medicine.

Stachydrine hydrochloride inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of breast cancer cells via inhibition of Akt and ERK pathways.

Although a series of efficient Akt and ERK inhibitors have been developed to target breast cancer cells, drug resistance can emerge after long-term treatment. Therefore, it is essential to uncover alternative drugs for inhibiting survival pathways in breast cancer cells. Stachydrine hydrochloride, a well-known bioactive ingredients extracted from HerbaLeonuri, has proven to be very efficient for the treatment of various diseases such as prostate cancer. However, whether stachydrine hydrochloride can exert similar prophylactic and therapeutic effects against breast cancer, and the probable underlying molecular mechanism remain unknown. In the present work, the effects of stachydrine hydrochloride on human breast cancer cell lines (T47D and MCF-7) were evaluated. Our results showed that Stachydrine hydrochloride inhibits cell proliferation and induces primary apoptosis and ROS production in T47D and MCF-7 cells in time- and dose-dependent manner. Mechanistically, Stachydrine hydrochloride treatment induced caspase-3 activation and decreased the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Moreimportantly, Stachydrine hydrochloride simultaneously inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt and ERK proteins. Overall, our data indicated that Stachydrine hydrochloride induces apoptosis in MCF-7 and T47D cells and exerts inhibitory effects on proliferation by concurrently suppressing Akt and ERK survival signals, suggesting its potential efficiency in treatment of breast cancer.

The influence of stachydrine hydrochloride on the reperfusion model of mice with repetitive cerebral ischemia.

To study the influence of stachydrine hydrochloride on the inflammatory cytokines and tissue morphology of the re-perfusion model of mice with repetitive cerebral ischemia and probe into the protection mechanism of stachydrine hydrochloride for cerebral ischemia reperfusion impairment. Build a repetitive cerebral ischemia reperfusion model by first blocking the common carotid artery on both sides for 10 min, then resuming perfusion for 10 min and then blocking the common carotid artery on both sides again for 10 min. Before the operation, all the mice in the Nimodipine group, and the big, medium and small stachydrine hydrochloride dose groups were given corresponding gastric perfusion, the mice in the sham operation group and the modeled groups were at the same time given 0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose for gastric perfusion of the same volume. The medicine was fed daily for 7 consecutive days. The model was built 1 h after the last feed and the perfusion continued for 24 h after the operation. Then the death rate of the mice was calculated. The mouse brains were taken out to test the ICAM-1 level and the TNF-α level, and the serum was taken out to test the NSE level and the MPO level. The tissue morphology changes were also observed. All the repetitive cerebral ischemia reperfusion models were successfully duplicated. The stachydrine hydrochloride in all the dose groups significantly reduced the death rates of big and small mice, reduced the level of ICAM-1 and the level of TNF-α in the brain tissues and the NSE level and the MPO level in the serum, significantly alleviating the pathological impairment in the hippocampus. Stachydrine hydrochloride can significantly reduce the death rate of mice, improve the pathological changes in the hippocampus, inhibit inflammatory reactions after ischemia, thus reducing the re-perfusion impairment after cerebral ischemia.

Effects of stachydrine hydrochloride on experimental acute cerebral in-farction in rats / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To observe the therapeutic effect of stachydrine hydrochloride on experimental acute cerebral infarction in rats and to explore the underlying mechanisms .METHODS:SD rats ( n=75) were randomly divided into 5 groups:sham group, cerebral infarction model group , and stachydrine hydrochloride (10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg) treatment groups .After the establishment of cerebral infarction model , the rats were given stachydrine hydrochloride at dose of 10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg or 40 mg/kg by gavage daily for 14 d.The impairment of neurological function in each group was scored .The cerebral infarction volume and brain water content were measured .Moreover , the protein levels of β-cate-nin, cyclin D1, glycogen synthase kinase 3β(GSK-3β) and p-GSK-3βin the brain tissues were detected by Western blot . RESULTS:Compared with cerebral infarction group , the score of neurological function impairment , cerebral infarction volume and brain water content were significantly decreased in stachydrine hydrochloride treatment groups .In addition , the protein levels of β-catenin, cyclin D1 and p-GSK-3βwere markedly increased after stachydrine hydrochloride treatment . CONCLUSION:Stachydrine hydrochloride protects against experimental acute cerebral infarction through activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway .

Effects of stachydrine hydrochloride on experimental acute cerebral in-farction in rats / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To observe the therapeutic effect of stachydrine hydrochloride on experimental acute cerebral infarction in rats and to explore the underlying mechanisms .METHODS:SD rats ( n=75) were randomly divided into 5 groups:sham group, cerebral infarction model group , and stachydrine hydrochloride (10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg) treatment groups .After the establishment of cerebral infarction model , the rats were given stachydrine hydrochloride at dose of 10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg or 40 mg/kg by gavage daily for 14 d.The impairment of neurological function in each group was scored .The cerebral infarction volume and brain water content were measured .Moreover , the protein levels of β-cate-nin, cyclin D1, glycogen synthase kinase 3β(GSK-3β) and p-GSK-3βin the brain tissues were detected by Western blot . RESULTS:Compared with cerebral infarction group , the score of neurological function impairment , cerebral infarction volume and brain water content were significantly decreased in stachydrine hydrochloride treatment groups .In addition , the protein levels of β-catenin, cyclin D1 and p-GSK-3βwere markedly increased after stachydrine hydrochloride treatment . CONCLUSION:Stachydrine hydrochloride protects against experimental acute cerebral infarction through activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway .

Standard decoction of Leonuri Herba / 中国中药杂志

To build an evaluation standard for quality of Leonuri Herba standard decoction. 13 batches of Leonuri Herba standard decoction with different quality were prepared. The contents of leonurine hydrochloride and stachydrine hydrochloride were determined; then the transfer rate and the extract rate were calculated and pH value was measured; and HPLC fingerprint method was established for analysis. The results of 13 batches of samples revealed that the transfer rate of leonurine hydrochloride and stachydrine hydrochloride was 30.0%-53.4% and 67.0%-82.6%, respectively; the extract rate was 12.1%-18.3% and the pH value was 5.87-6.22. Moreover, 12 common chromatographic peaks were determined based on fingerprint by using Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic fingerprint of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2012A). The similarity of 13 batches of samples was analyzed and compared, and the results showed that the similarity was higher than 0.9. In this study, the preparation method for Leonuri Herba decoction was standard, with high similarity in fingerprint, showing high precision, stability and repeatability in fingerprint analysis. Thus, this study can provide a reference for the quality control of Leonuri Herba dispensing granules.

Optimize concentrate process of alkaloid from Leonurus japonicus by ultrafultration-nanofiltration coupling technology / 中国中药杂志

To optimize the concentrate process of alkaloid from Leonurus japonicus by nanofiltration-ultrafiltration coupling technology with response surface methodology. The experiment showed that after ultrafiltration pre-treatment, the total protein removal rate was 94.38% in aqueous extract from L. japonicus, and the nanofiltration technology had obvious advantages over the conventional concentrate process. The optimal concentrate conditions were as follows：molecular weight cut-off 450, pH 3.07, concentration of stachydrine hydrochloride 80.15 mg•L⁻¹, and concentration of the total alkaloid 285.73 mg•L⁻¹. The cut-off rate was 93.37% and 95.85% respectively for stachydrine hydrochloride and the total alkaloid under the optimum conditions, with a relative error of 0.79% and 1.16% respectively. The combination of Box-Behnken design and response surface analysis can well optimize the concentrate process of L. japonicus by nanofiltration, and the results provide the basis for nanofiltration concentrate for heat-sensitive traditional Chinese medicine.

The effects of Qi Teng Xiao Zhuo granules, traditional Chinese medicine, on the expression of genes in chronic glomerulonephritis rats.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) is a primary glomerular disease that is related to immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Qi Teng Xiao Zhuo granules have been proposed as a prescription of traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of CGN, but the comprehensive molecular mechanism underlying this therapeutic effect is not clear to date. The aim of this study was to evaluate and analyze the possible roles and molecular mechanisms of Qi Teng Xiao Zhuo granule-mediated treatment of CGN induced by adriamycin in rats. METHODS: For gene expression analysis, four samples of glomerular tissue from rats in the Qi Teng Xiao Zhuo granule group and four samples each from the adriamycin treated and control groups were hybridized with Agilent Rat 4×44K whole genome microarrays. KEGG and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses and LIMMA, String and Cytoscape software were used to analyze the functional microarray data and screen differentially expressed genes. Hub genes were identified using Pathway Studio software. Real-time PCR was performed to verify the selected genes. RESULTS: Microarray gene expression analysis showed that Pnoc, Cacfd1, Fos, Igll1, Lcn2, and Syk were among the most downregulated genes in the Qi Teng Xiao Zhuo granule group compared with the adriamycin treated group, whereas Cyp2c7, Hsd3b6, Acsm5, and Ugt2b15 were significantly upregulated. Functional analysis demonstrated that metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450, the B cell receptor signaling pathway, and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathways were significantly downregulated in the Qi Teng Xiao Zhuo granule group and that GO terms related to positive regulation of immune response, immune response-activating signal transduction, cell differentiation, cell cycle, proliferation, and adhesion were significantly affected. Fos and Syk were considered to be potential hub genes. CONCLUSIONS: In the adriamycin-induced CGN rat model, comprehensive molecular mechanisms were involved with complex gene expression alterations containing many altered pathways and GO terms. However, how Qi Teng Xiao Zhuo granules regulate these events warrants further investigation.

[Determination of stachydrine hydrochloride and leonurine hydrochloride in Yimucao preparations by HPLC-MS].

To establish the quantitative method of stachydrine hydrochloride and leonurine hydrochloride in the preparations of Leonuri Herba. The contents of stachydrine hydrochloride and leonurine hydrochloride in the preparations of Leonuri Herba were determined by HPLC-MS. The chromatographic column was Waters XBridge Amide(4.6 mm×250 mm,5 µm). The mobile phase was acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid in gradient mode,at the flow rate of 1.0 mL• min⁻¹,with the split ratio of 1∶4. MS conditions for the ESI ion source,positive ion mode,selective ion scan(SIM) of stachydrine hydrochloride(m/z 144.0) and leonurine hydrochloride(m/z 312.0) was measured. The linear ranges of stachydrine hydrochloride was 0.562 8-281.4 µg•L-1（r=0.999 8）. The linear ranges of leonurine hydrochloride was 0.521 2-260.6 µg•L-1（r=0.999 8）. The method is accurate,simple,and reliable,and can be used to determine the contents of stachydrine hydrochloride and leonurine hydrochloride in the preparations of Leonuri Herba.

Research on Evaluation of Different Germplasm ofLeonurus japonicus / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To study the difference ofLeonurus japonicus germplasm resources and provide good materials for breeding.Methods Totally 20 wildLeonurus japonicus germplasm resources from different places of China were collected. Experiment was conducted in homogeneous garden in Quzhou City of Zhejiang Province. Phenological phase, cold endurance and habitat adaptability were observed; the plant height, fresh weight and dry weight in early flowering were measured; the contents of stachydrine hydrochloride and leonurine hydrochloride were determined in early flowering and out-of-season cultivation.Results Considering the habitat adaptability, dry plant weight in early flowering, the contents of stachydrine hydrochloride and leonurine hydrochloride separately in early flowering and out-of-season cultivation, it was believed that the germplasms from Linbao County, Sheqi County in Henan Province and Guidong County in Hunan Province were better, in which Linbao germplasm was the best: the dry plant weight was 30.6 g, the content of stachydrine hydrochloride and leonurine hydrochloride were 1.31% and 0.19% respectively in early flowering, and were 3.44% and 0.37% respectively under anti-season cultivation, and it can be well adapted in Zhejiang Province.Conclusion The germplasm ofLeonurus japonicas from Lingbao can be the best materials for breeding.

Determination of stachydrine hydrochloride and leonurine hydrochloride in Yimucao preparations by HPLC-MS / 中国中药杂志

To establish the quantitative method of stachydrine hydrochloride and leonurine hydrochloride in the preparations of Leonuri Herba. The contents of stachydrine hydrochloride and leonurine hydrochloride in the preparations of Leonuri Herba were determined by HPLC-MS. The chromatographic column was Waters XBridge Amide(4.6 mm×250 mm,5 μm). The mobile phase was acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid in gradient mode,at the flow rate of 1.0 mL• min⁻¹,with the split ratio of 1∶4. MS conditions for the ESI ion source,positive ion mode,selective ion scan(SIM) of stachydrine hydrochloride(m/z 144.0) and leonurine hydrochloride(m/z 312.0) was measured. The linear ranges of stachydrine hydrochloride was 0.562 8-281.4 μg•L-1（r=0.999 8）. The linear ranges of leonurine hydrochloride was 0.521 2-260.6 μg•L-1（r=0.999 8）. The method is accurate,simple,and reliable,and can be used to determine the contents of stachydrine hydrochloride and leonurine hydrochloride in the preparations of Leonuri Herba.