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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to evaluate pharmacological properties of ethanol extracted from Mahonia oiwakensis Hayata stems (MOS(EtOH)). The pharmacological properties included antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects. The protoberberine alkaloid content of the MOS(EtOH) was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results revealed that three alkaloids, berberine, palmatine and jatrorrhizine, could be identified. Moreover, the MOS(EtOH) exhibited antioxidative activity using the DPPH assay (IC(50), 0.743 mg/mL). The DPPH radical scavenging activity of MOS(EtOH) was five times higher that that of vitamin C. MOS(EtOH) was also found to inhibit pain induced by acetic acid, formalin, and carrageenan inflammation. Treatment with MOS(EtOH) (100 and 500 mg/kg) or silymarin (200 mg/kg) decreased the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels compared with the CCl(4)-treated group. Histological evaluation showed that MOS(EtOH) reduced the degree of liver injury, including vacuolization, inflammation and necrosis of hepatocytes. The anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effect of MOS(EtOH) were found to be related to the modulation of antioxidant enzyme activity in the liver and decreases in malondialdehyde (MDA) level and nitric oxide (NO) contents. Our findings suggest that MOS(EtOH) has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects. These effects support the use of MOS(EtOH) for relieving pain and inflammation in folk medicine.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 01/2013; 14(2):2928-45. · 2.60 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Glutamate-induced excitotoxicity has been implicated in a variety of neuronal degenerative disorders. In the present study, we investigated the possible neuroprotective effects of schizandrin against apoptosis of primary cultured rat cortical cells induced by glutamate. Glutamate (10 μM) administered for 24 h decreased the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) protein, whereas increased the expression of Bax, Bak, apoptosis inducing factor (AIF), endonuclease G (Nodo G) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress of caspase-12. Pretreatment with schizandrin (100 μM) before glutamate treatment increased the Bcl-X(L) and Bcl-2 expression and decreased Bax, Bak, AIF, Nodo G and caspase-12 compared with those only treated with glutamate. Furthermore, glutamate-induced phosphorylation of JNK, p38 and ERK mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), and these effects were attenuated by schizandrin (100 μM) treatment. These results suggest that schizandrin possesses the neuroprotective effects. The molecular mechanisms of schizandrin against glutamate-induced apoptosis may involve the regulation of Bcl-2 family proteins expression, and ER stress through blocking the activation of JNK, ERK and p38 MAPK.
Molecules 01/2012; 18(1):354-72. · 2.39 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This study investigated the antidepressant activity of ethanolic extract of U. lanosa Wallich var. appendiculata Ridsd (UL(EtOH)) for two-weeks administrations by using FST and TST on mice. In order to understand the probable mechanism of antidepressant-like activity of UL(EtOH) in FST and TST, the researchers measured the levels of monoamines and monoamine oxidase activities in mice brain, and combined the antidepressant drugs (fluoxetine, imipramine, maprotiline, clorgyline, bupropion and ketanserin). Lastly, the researchers analyzed the content of RHY in the UL(EtOH). The results showed that UL(EtOH) exhibited antidepressant-like activity in FST and TST in mice. UL(EtOH) increased the levels of 5-HT and 5-HIAA in cortex, striatum, hippocampus, and hypothalamus, the levels of NE and MHPG in cortex and hippocampus, the level of NE in striatum, and the level of DOPAC in striatum. Two-week injection of IMI, CLO, FLU and KET enhanced the antidepressant-like activity of UL(EtOH). UL(EtOH) inhibited the activity of MAO-A. The amount of RHY in UL(EtOH) was 17.12 mg/g extract. Our findings support the view that UL(EtOH) exerts antidepressant-like activity. The antidepressant-like mechanism of UL(EtOH) may be related to the increase in monoamines levels in the hippocampus, cortex, striatum, and hypothalamus of mice.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 01/2012; 2012:497302. · 4.77 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This study investigated possible analgesic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of the methanol extract of Ficus pumila (FP(MeOH)). Analgesic effects were evaluated in two models including acetic acid-induced writhing response and formalin-induced paw licking. The results showed FP(MeOH) decreased writhing response in the acetic acid assay and licking time in the formalin test. The anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated by λ-carrageenan-induced mouse paw edema and histopathological analyses. FP(MeOH) significantly decreased the volume of paw edema induced by λ-carrageenan. Histopathologically, FP(MeOH) abated the level of tissue destruction and swelling of the edema paws. This study indicated anti-inflammatory mechanism of FP(MeOH) may be due to declined levels of NO and MDA in the edema paw through increasing the activities of SOD, GPx, and GRd in the liver. Additionally, FP(MeOH) also decreased the level of inflammatory mediators such as IL-1β, TNF-α, and COX-2. HPLC fingerprint was established and the contents of three active ingredients, rutin, luteolin, and apigenin, were quantitatively determined. This study provided evidence for the classical treatment of Ficus pumila in inflammatory diseases.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 01/2012; 2012:340141. · 4.77 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Scopoletin exists in nature as an anti-oxidant, hepatoprotective, and anti-inflammatory activities reagent. In this study, we have investigated the analgesic effects of the scopoletin using the models of acetic acid-induced writhing response and the formalin test, the anti-inflammatory effects of scopoletin using model of λ-carrageenan (Carr)-induced paw edema. The treatment of ICR mice with scopoletin inhibited the numbers of writhing response and the formalin-induced pain in the late phase. This study demonstrated that the administration of scopoletin resulted in the reduction of Carr-induced mice edema, and it increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) after Carr injection. We also demonstrated scopoletin significantly attenuated the malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the edema paw after Carr injection. Scopoletin decreased the NO, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE(2)) levels on serum after Carr injection. Scopoletin decreased Carr-induced inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expressions in the edema paw. These anti-inflammatory mechanisms of scopoletin might be related to the decrease in the level of MDA via increasing the activities of SOD, CAT, and GPx in the edema paw. Also, scopoletin could affect the production of NO, TNF-α, and PGE(2), and therefore affect the anti-inflammatory effects.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 01/2012; 2012:595603. · 4.77 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to investigate possible analgesic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of the CR(MeOH). Analgesic effect was evaluated in two models including acetic acid-induced writhing response and formalin-induced paw licking. The anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated by λ-carrageenan-induced mouse paw edema and histopathologic analyses. The results showed that CR(MeOH) (500 mg/kg) decreased writhing response in the acetic acid assay and licking time in the formalin test. CR(MeOH) (100 and 500 mg/kg) significantly decreased edema paw volume at 4th to 5th hours after λ-carrageenan had been injected. Histopathologically, CR(MeOH) abated the level of tissue destruction and swelling of the edema paws. These results were indicated that anti-inflammatory mechanism of CR(MeOH) may be due to declined levels of NO and MDA in the edema paw through increasing the activities of SOD, GPx, and GRd in the liver. Additionally, CR(MeOH) also decreased IL-1β, IL-6, NFκB, TNF-α, COX-2, and iNOS levels. The contents of two active ingredients, ursolic acid and lupeol, were quantitatively determined. This paper demonstrated possible mechanisms for the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of CR(MeOH) and provided evidence for the classical treatment of Cissus repens in inflammatory diseases.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 01/2012; 2012:135379. · 4.77 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Inflammation is related to several chronic diseases, including cancer and atherosclerosis. Taxillus sutchuenensis (Lecomte) Danser is a special folk medicinal plant in Taiwan. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative activities of the aqueous-thanol extract from T. sutchuenensis (AETS) and its fractions. TEAC, DPPH radicals, total phenolic compounds, total flavonoid content, inhibition of NO production in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells, and inhibition of cancer cell proliferation were tested. Among all fractions, the ethyl-acetate (EA) fraction showed the highest TEAC and DPPH radical scavenging activities. The EA fraction also had the highest polyphenol and flavonoid content. The EA fractions also decreased LPS-induced NO production and the expression of iNOS and COX-2 in RAW264.7 cells. The antiproliferative activities of the aqueous/ethanol extract and fractions were studied in vitro using A549 cells, and the results were consistent with their antioxidant capacities. EA fractions had the highest antiproliferative activity with an IC(50) of 454.38 ± 1.48 μg/ml. Quercetin also had antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative activities. Quercetin might be an important bioactive compound in T. sutchuenensis. The experimental data indicated that T. sutchuenensis is a potent antioxidant medicinal plant, and such efficacy may be mainly attributed to its polyphenolic compounds.
The American Journal of Chinese Medicine 01/2012; 40(2):335-48. · 1.98 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. is a native Labiatae plant of Taiwan. The plants are commonly used in Chinese folk medicine for the treatment of cough, fever, sore throats, mumps, and mosquito bite. The aim of this study was to investigate the analgesic and antiinflammatory properties of the aqueous extract from Plectranthus amboinicus (PA) in vivo and in vitro. PA inhibited pain induced by acetic acid and formalin, and inflammation induced by carrageenan. The anti-inflammatory effect of PA was related to modulating antioxidant enzymes' activities in the liver and decreasing the Malondialdehyde (MDA) level and the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and cyclooxygenase2 (COX-2) in edema-paw tissue in mice. In vitro studies show that PA inhibited the proinflammatory mediators in RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). PA blocked the degradation of IκB-α and nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 subunit. Finally, the amount of carvacrol in the aqueous extract of PA was 1.88 mg/g extract. Our findings suggest that PA has analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. These effects were mediated by inhibiting the proinflammatory mediators through blocking NF-κB activation. Meanwhile, the effects observed in this study provide evidence for folkloric uses of Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. in relieving pain and inflammation.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 01/2012; 2012:508137. · 4.77 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible analgesic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of the ethanolic extract of A. morrisonensis Hayata (AM(EtOH)). Two models were employed for evaluation of the analgesic effects: acetic acid-induced writhing response and formalin-induced paw licking. The results demonstrated that AM(EtOH) decreased writhing response for both the acetic acid assay and the licking time in the formalin test. The anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated by paw edema of mice induced by λ-carrageenan. AM(EtOH) significantly decreased induced paw edema three to four hours after λ-carrageenan injection. Additionally, the results indicated that the anti-inflammatory mechanism of AM(EtOH) may be due to the declined levels of nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the edematous paw. Furthermore, AM(EtOH) decreased the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, leading to the reduction of prostaglandins and subsequently alleviated edema. Isolation and purification of the AM(EtOH) extract determined p-hydroxyacetophenone to be a major component at 130 mg/g of extract. No mortality was observed in the acute toxicity test given at the dose of 10 g/kg. This study demonstrated the possible mechanisms for the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of AM(EtOH) for mice and provided evidence for the ethnobotanical uses of A. morrisonensis in treating inflammatory diseases.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 01/2012; 2012:138954. · 4.77 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The use of herbs as alternative cancer therapies has attracted a great deal of attention owing to their lower toxicity. Whether Zanthoxylum avicennae (Ying Bu Bo, YBB) induces liver cancer cell apoptosis remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of YBB extracts (YBBEs) on HA22T human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro and in an in vivo mouse xenograft model. HA22T cells were treated with different concentrations of YBBEs and analyzed with Western blot analysis, TUNEL, JC-1 staining and siRNA transfection assays. Additionally, the HA22T-implanted xenograft nude mice model was applied to confirm the cellular effects. YBBEs-induced apoptosis, up-regulated death receptor apoptotic pathway markers as well as mitochondrial proteins, and suppressed the survival proteins in a dose-dependent manner. Pro-survival Bcl-2 family proteins were inhibited and the pro-apoptotic ones were increased. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) siRNA or okadaic acid reversed the YBBEs effects, confirming the role of PP2A in YBBEs-induced HA22T apoptosis. All our experimental evidence indicates that YBBEs significantly promote HA22T apoptosis and reduce tumor sizes in xenograft nude mice via PP2A in a dose-dependent manner.
International Journal of Molecular Medicine 08/2011; 28(6):927-36. · 1.98 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This study attempted to access the neuroprotective effect of diosgenin on the senescent mice induced by d-galactose (D-gal). The mice in the experiments were orally administered with diosgenin (1, 5, 25 and 125 mg/kg), for four weeks from the sixth week. The learning and memory abilities of the mice in Morris water maze test and the mechanism involved in the neuroprotective effect of diosgenin on the mice brain tissue were investigated. Diosgenin (5, 25 and 125 mg/kg, p.o.) showed significantly improved learning and memory abilities in Morris water maze test compared to D-gal treated mice (200 mg/kg, ten weeks). Diosgenin also increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and decreased the malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the brain of D-gal treated mice. These results indicated that diosgenin has the potential to be a useful treatment for cognitive impairment. In addition, the memory enhancing effect of diosgenin may be partly mediated via enhancing endogenous antioxidant enzymatic activities.
The American Journal of Chinese Medicine 01/2011; 39(3):551-63. · 1.98 Impact Factor
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Jui-Lung Shen,
Yueh-Sheng Chen,
Jing-Ying Lin,
Yun-Chen Tien, Wen-Huang Peng,
Chia-Hua Kuo,
Bor-Show Tzang,
Hwai-Lee Wang,
Fuu-Jen Tsai,
Ming-Chih Chou,
Chih-Yang Huang,
Chien-Chung Lin
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ABSTRACT: This study evaluates the proliferative effects of danshen and its monomer extract, tanshinone IIA, on Schwann cell proliferation. A piece of silicone rubber was guided across a 15-mm gap in the sciatic nerve of a rat. This nerve gap was then filled with different concentrations of danshen (0-100 mg/mL). The results showed that danshen increased the expressions of uPA, cyclin D1, E and ERK, JNK, and P38 MAP kinases via the FGF-2 signaling pathway in a dose-dependent manner. RSC96, Schwann cells were also administered with danshen (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 μg/mL) and tanshinone IIA (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 μg/mL). In lower concentrations, danshen and tanshinone IIA exhibited an apparent effect on Schwann cells. Similar effects were also demonstrated in the FGF-2-uPA regulating cascade and cell cycle proliferative protein results. Schwann cell migration was elevated as well. We used MAPK-signaling chemical inhibitors and identified the proliferative effects of danshen and tanshinone IIA as MAPK-signaling dependent. The results from the in vitro systems indicate that danshen and tanshinone IIA can be used to induce Schwann cell proliferation, and in vivo results potentially suggest that danshen and tanshinone IIA might enhance neuron regeneration.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 01/2011; 2011:378907. · 4.77 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Esculetin (ESC) is a coumarin that is present in several plants such as Fraxinus rhynchophylla and Artemisia capillaris. Our previous study found that FR ethanol extract (FR(EtOH)) significantly ameliorated rats' liver function. This study was intended to investigate the protective mechanism of ESC in hepatic apoptosis in rats induced by carbon tetrachloride. Rat hepatic apoptosis was induced by oral administration of CCl(4). All rats were administered orally with CCl(4) (20%, 0.5 mL/rat) twice a week for 8 weeks. Rats in the ESC groups were treated daily with ESC, and silymarin group were treated daily with silymarin. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) as well as the activities of the anti-oxidative enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase in the liver were measured. In addition, expression of liver apoptosis proteins and anti-apoptotic proteins were detected. ESC (100, 500 mg/kg) significantly reduced the elevated activities of serum ALT and AST caused by CCl(4) and significantly increased the activities of catalase, GPx and SOD. Furthermore, ESC (100, 500 mg/kg) significantly decreased the levels of the proapoptotic proteins (t-Bid, Bak and Bad) and significantly increased the levels of the anti-apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL). ESC inhibited the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. In addition, the levels of activated caspase-9 and activated caspase-3 were significantly decreased in rats treated with ESC than those in rats treated with CCl(4) alone. ESC significantly reduced CCl(4)-induced hepatic apoptosis in rats.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences 01/2011; 12(6):4053-67. · 2.60 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aims of this study intended to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of the 70% ethanol extract from Scoparia dulcis (SDE) and betulinic acid on λ-carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of SDE and betulinic acid was examined by detecting the levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the edema paw tissue and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GRd) in the liver. The betulinic acid content in SDE was detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In the anti-inflammatory model, the results showed that SDE (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg) and betulinic acid (20 and 40 mg/kg) reduced the paw edema at 3, 4 and 5 h after λ-carrageenan administration. Moreover, SDE and betulinic acid affected the levels of COX-2, NO, TNF-α and IL1-β in the λ-carrageenan-induced edema paws. The activities of SOD, GPx and GRd in the liver tissue were increased and the MDA levels in the edema paws were decreased. It is suggested that SDE and betulinic acid possessed anti-inflammatory activities and the anti-inflammatory mechanisms appear to be related to the reduction of the levels of COX-2, NO, TNF-α and IL1-β in inflamed tissues, as well as the inhibition of MDA level via increasing the activities of SOD, GPx and GRd. The analytical result showed that the content of betulinic acid in SDE was 6.25 mg/g extract.
The American Journal of Chinese Medicine 01/2011; 39(5):943-56. · 1.98 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Aloe-emodin was found to be a photosensitizer and possess anti-tumor activity. However, the detailed mechanism underlying the biological effects of aloe-emodin remains unknown. In this study, we explored the mechanisms of photocytotoxicity induced by aloe-emodin in lung cancer H460 cells. According to the results of the photoactivated aloe-emodin-induced disruption of cytoskeleton, we verify that aloe-emodin with irradiation induces anoikis of H460 cells. Photosensitized aloe-emodin-induced anoikis is associated with the protein expression of α-actinin and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase members. In this study, a rapid opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore and the change in apoptosis-related protein expression were involved in photoactivated aloe-emodin-induced cell death. We also demonstrated that anoikis induced by aloe-emodin with irradiation is mediated through the intrinsic and extrinsic death pathways in a caspase-dependent manner in H460 cells.
European journal of pharmacology 12/2010; 648(1-3):50-8. · 2.59 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Lonicera japonica (Caprifoliaceae) has been known as an anti-inflammatory herb in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years and is used constantly for upper respiratory tract infections. Luteolin, an active flavonoid compound isolated from Lonicera japonica, has a spectrum of biological activities, especially with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. However, whether luteolin has a direct inhibitory effect on lung fibrosis has not been established. In this study, we examined the effects of luteolin on lung fibrosis both in vivo and in vitro. We found that oral administration of luteolin (10 mg/kg) efficiently suppressed the neutrophil infiltration as well as TNF-α and IL-6 elevation in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in bleomycin-instilled C57BL/6J mice. Luteolin also alleviated collagen deposition, TGF-β1 expression, and lung fibrosis upon bleomycin instillation. A similar tendency was observed in both early and delayed luteolin-treated groups. Next, our in vitro studies showed that luteolin inhibited TGF-β1-induced α-SMA, type I collagen, and vimentin expression in primary cultured mouse lung fibroblasts. Moreover, luteolin significantly blocked TGF-β1-mediated epithelial marker (E-cadherin) downregulation and mesenchymal cell markers (fibronectin and vimentin) upregulation, as well as retaining epithelial morphology in human alveolar epithelial-derived A549 cells. Additionally, luteolin could attenuate TGF-β1-induced Smad3 phosphorylation in both lung fibroblasts and A549 cells. These findings suggest that luteolin has a potent antifibrotic activity; this effect was mediated, at least in part, by inhibition of lung inflammation and suppression of myofibroblast differentiation as well as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 10/2010; 58(22):11653-61. · 2.82 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Severe and potentially fatal hypotension and cardiac contractile dysfunction are common symptoms in patients with sepsis. In our previous study, we found that estradiol and estrogen-receptor alpha have cardio-protective effects in myocardial cells exposed to LPS. Estradiol supplementation has been shown to induce breast and cervical cancers. Flos Carthami, the flower of Carthamus tinctorius L. (Compositae) is an important traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of heart disease and inflammation, and therefore might be a potential alternative to Estradiol in the prevention of heart damage. This study investigated the effect of Flos Carthami (FC(EtOH)) ethanolic extract on LPS-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cardiomyoblast cells.
H9c2 cells induced apoptosis with LPS administration (1 microg/mL). H9c2 cells were divided into five groups: Control, LPS (1 microg/mL), and three FC(EtOH) (31.25, 62.5,and 125 microg/mL). We detected apoptosis using MTT, LDH, TUNEL assay. JC-1 staining and Western blot were used to detect pro-apoptosis proteins, anti-apoptosis proteins, MAPK proteins (JNK, ERK, and P38), and NFkappaB expression.
FC(EtOH) (62.5 microg/mL) inhibited LPS-induced apoptosis by suppressing JNK1/2 activity, which resulted in the reduction of both IkappaB degradation and NFkappaB activation. In addition, FC(EtOH) led to the activation of anti-apoptotic proteins, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, the stabilization of the mitochondria membrane and the down-regulation of extrinsic and intrinsic pro-apoptotic proteins, such as TNFalpha, active caspase-8, t-Bid, Bax, active caspases-9, and -3.
Carthamus tinctorius L. possesses the ability to suppress JNK activity and inhibit LPS-induced TNFalpha activation and apoptosis in H9c2 cardiomyoblast cells. Carthamus tinctorius L could potentially serve as a cardio-protective agent against LPS-induced apoptosis.
Journal of ethnopharmacology 08/2010; 130(3):505-13. · 2.32 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To investigate the effect of Fraxinus rhynchophylla ethanol extract (FR(EtOH)) on liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) in rats.
Rat hepatic fibrosis was induced by oral administration of CCl(4). Sixty SD rats were divided randomly into 6 groups: control, CCl(4) group, silymarin group and three FR(EtOH)-treated groups. Except for the rats in control group, all rats were administered orally with CCl(4) (20%, 0.2 mL/100g body weight) twice a week for 8 weeks. Rats in FR(EtOH) groups were treated daily with FR(EtOH) (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg, p.o.) throughout the whole experimental period. Liver function parameters (such as activities of serum GOT and GPT levels), activities of liver anti-oxidant enzymes (such as catalase, SOD, GPx) and expressions of uPA, tPA, MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-1, -2, -3, -4 in the liver fibrosis pathway were detected.
The results showed that FR(EtOH) (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg BW) significantly reduced the elevated activities of sGOT and sGPT caused by CCl(4). FR(EtOH) (0.1 and 0.5 g/kg BW) and significantly increased the activities of GSH-Px. The histopathological study showed that FR(EtOH) (0.1 and 0.5 g/kg BW) reduced the incidence of liver lesions, including hepatic cells cloudy swelling, lymphocytes infiltration, cytoplasm vacuolization hepatic necrosis and fibrous connective tissue proliferated induced by CCl(4) in rats. In our study it was showed that CCl(4)-treated group significantly increased the protein levels of uPA, MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-1. FR(EtOH) (0.1 and 0.5 g/kg BW) could inhibit the protein levels of uPA, MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-1. Finally, the amount of esculetin in the FR(EtOH) was 33.54 mg/g extract.
Oral administration of FR(EtOH) significantly reduces CCl(4)-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats, probably by exerting a protective effect against hepatocellular fibrosis by its free radical scavenging ability. FR(EtOH) down-regulated the expressions of uPA, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in CCl(4)-induced liver fibrosis in rats.
Journal of ethnopharmacology 02/2010; 127(3):606-13. · 2.32 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Amnesia is characterized by the inability to form memories or total or partial loss of memory secondary to cerebral malfunction following degenerative diseases, cerebral infections, traumatic injuries and emotional events which could be differentiated from dementia. However, no effective treatment for amnesia is currently available. Much research effort has been focused on developing new drugs from herbal medicines which have multifunctional properties. Novel plant extracts and their major or bioactive components including alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides and saponins with promising antioxidant effects, various effects on cholinergic, GABAergic, glutaminergic, serotonergic, catecholaminergic and histaminergic systems, enhancement of cerebral blood flow and elevation of ribonucleic acid (RNA) as well as protein levels have been studied. In this review, we discuss the research findings on novel plant extracts and their bioactives with anti-amnesic effects on different neurotransmitter systems. Developing new drugs from herbal medicines for the treatment of amnesia is a hopeful attempt to meet the unmet medical needs.
Planta Medica 02/2010; 76(3):203-17. · 2.15 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In this study, we evaluated the analgesic effect of the methanol extract of Kalanchoe gracilis (MKGS) stem in animal models by inducing writhing response with acetic acid and conducting formalin test. The anti-inflammatory effect of MKGS was also estimated on mice with lambda-carrageenan induced paw edema model. In order to investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of MKGS, we analyzed the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GRx) in the liver, and the levels of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) in the edema paw tissue. In the analgesic tests, MKGS (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg) decreased both the acetic acid-induced writhing response and the licking time in the late phase of the formalin test. In the anti-inflammatory test, MKGS (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg) decreased paw edema at the third, fourth, fifth and sixth hours after lambda-carrageenan had been administrated. Furthermore, MKGS increased the activities of SOD and GRx in liver tissues and decreased MDA level in the edema paws three hours after lambda-carrageenan was injected. MKGS also affected the levels of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha and NO induced by lambda-carrageenan. All these results suggested that MKGS possessed analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of MKGS might be related to the lowering of MDA level in the edema paw via increasing the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and GRx in the liver, as well as the decreases in the levels of TNF-alpha and NO, and the production of IL-1beta in inflamed tissues.
The American Journal of Chinese Medicine 01/2010; 38(3):529-46. · 1.98 Impact Factor
