Effect of Radix Isatidis on the Expression of Moesin mRNA Induced by LPS in the Tissues of Mice

To investigate the effect of the anti-endotoxic part of Radix Isatidis on the expression of moesin mRNA in murine tissues induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the sample solution of F022 part from Radix Isatidis was intraperitoneally administered to experimental mice, and the lipopoly- saccharide (LPS) were injected into the tail vein, and then the tissues of liver, kidney and spleen were colleted and cut into slices. The mRNA was detected by moesin mRNA hybridization in situ. The staining results were observed under microscope. It was found that moesin mRNA expression was increased in the tissues of liver, kidndy and spleen in mice treated with LPS, while in the mice pre-treated with F022 part from Radix Isatidis, the LPS-induced moesin mRNA expressions in these tissues were inhibited in a dose-dependant manner. Our study showed that F022 part from Radix Isati- dis can inhibit the LPS-induced expression of moesin mRNA in the tissues of liver, kidney and spleen in mice.     

Effect of Radix lsatidis on the Expression of Moesin mRNA Induced by LPS in the Tissues of Mice

To investigate the effect of the anti-endotoxic part of Radix Isatidis on the expression of moesin mRNA in murine tissues induced by lipopolysaccharide （LPS）, the sample solution of F0z2 part from Radix Isatidis was intrapefitoneally administered to experimental mice, and the lipopolysaccharide （LPS） were injected into the tail vein, and then the tissues of liver, kidney and spleen were colleted and cut into slices. The mRNA was detected by moesin mRNA hybridization in situ. The staining results were observed under microscope. It was found that moesin mRNA expression was increased in the tissues of liver, kidndy and spleen in mice treated with LPS, while in the mice pre-treated with F022 part from Radix Isatidis, the LPS-induced moesin mRNA expressions in these tissues were inhibited in a dose-dependant manner. Our study showed that F022 part from Radix Isatidis can inhibit the LPS-induced expression of moesin mRNA in the tissues of liver, kidney and spleen in mice.     

Prevention of tumor necrosis factor-a induced insulin resistance by Radix Astragali

Objective: To investigate the preventive effect of Radix Astragali on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-a) induced insulin resistance.Methods: Rats were treated orally with Radix Astragali before TNF-α intravenous injection. The changes of K value in glucose-insulin tolerance test, the concentrations of glucagon (GC), ACTH and lipids in serum and the contents of glycogen, triglyceride (TG) in liver and red quadriceps were tested 4 hours after the injection and compared with the control.Results: Exogenous TNF-α can induce hyperinsulinemia in normal rats, and the K value decreased, the concentration of serum ACTH, GC and lipids all increased, the glycogen contents in liver and red quadriceps muscle decreased, and the liver TG depots increased. Radix Astragali can improve all the parameters significantly except the serum lipids level and liver triglyceride depots.Conclusions: Radix Astragali has preventive effect on insulin resistance induced by TNF-α and is useful in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The mechanism may be due to the decrease of insulin-antagonistic hormones and the increase of tissue glycogen contents.     

An Experimental Study on Drugs for Improving Blood Circulation and Removing Blood Stasis in Treating Mild Chronic Hepatic Damage

Large and small doses of drugs for improving blood circulation and removing blood stasis were used inmodel rats to treat mild chronic hepatic damage induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl_4).The resultsshow that large dose of Dang Gui (当归 Radix Angelicae Sinensis) and Dan Shen (丹参 Radix SaiviaeMiltiorrhizae) (drugs for regulating blood flow) and small dose of Yu Jin (郁金 Radix Curcumae) andNiu Xi (牛膝 Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae) (drugs for activating blood flow) can significantly elevatethe activity of SOD (P<0.05) and/or lower the T/K ratio,markedly reduce the MDA content (P<0.05 orP<0.01) and significantly decrease the activities of ALT and AST (P<0.05 or P<0.01),demonstratingthat these drugs are effective in combating oxygen free radicals (OFR) in chronic liver damage.On thecontrary,large dose of Tu Bie Chong (土鳖虫 Eupolyphaga seu Steleophaga) and E Zhu (莪术Rhizoma Curcumae) (drugs for removing blood stasis) tend to increase the ALT and AST (P<0.05)activities.The results suggest that the synergism of elevation of the SOD activity and reduction of T/Kratio contributes to the action of drugs for improving blood circulation and removing blood stasis incombating the liver damage induced by CCl_4.     

Effect of Autophagy Over Liver Diseases

Abstract In recent years, increasingly evidences show that autophagy plays an important role in the pathogenesis and development of liver diseases, and the relationship between them has increasingly become a focus of concern. Autophagy refers to the process through which the impaired organelles, misfolded protein, and intruding microorganisms is degraded by lysosomes to maintain stability inside cells. This article states the effect of autophagy on liver diseases (hepatic fibrosis, fatty liver, viral hepatitis, and liver cancer), which aims to provide a new direction for the treatment of liver diseases.     

An Experimental Research into the Anti-aging Effects of Radix Arctii Lappae

Purpose: To delve into the anti-aging effects and mechanism of Niubanggen (牛蒡根Radix Arctii Lappae). Method: The activity of SOD and the content of MDA and lipofuscin in the tissues of the liver,brain and blood serum of the lab rats were observed 30 days after they had been fed with the Niubanggen decoction. Result: The activity of SOD in the liver tissue and blood serum of the decoction-fed lab rats was improved dramatically (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01), the content of MDA in the brain tissue and blood serum lowered obviously (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01), and the content of lipofuscin dropped distinctly (P＜0.01). Conclusion: The mechanism of the anti-aging effects of the Niubanggen is mainly obtained by raising the activity of SOD and reducing the contents of MDA and lipofuscin.     

Localization of WGA Receptors in Liver Tumor Tissues

Receptors of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) in liver tumors, such as hepatocellularcarcinoma (HCC), intrahepatic cholangioccflular carcinoma(ICC)and so on, were histologicallylocalized by avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) method. Normal, cirrhotic andpericancinomatous liver tissues were used as controls. The results showed that WGA receptors inHCC were irregularly distributed, which was significantly different from the band-like distributionof WGA receptors in the controls and from the distribution in ICC After the treatment withneuraminidase, the distributions of WGA receptors changed apparently. It is suggestedthat the characteristics of WGA receptor distributions in cells could be helpful to thediagnosis and differential diagnosis of liver tumors.     

Therapeutic application of molecular adsorbents recirculating system in various pathogenic MODS/MOF patients

Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) or multiple organ failure (MOF) is a syndrome which is frequently related to shock and sepsis, and has been described as the most common cause of death in the noncoronary critical care unit. The potential pathogenesis of the septic and systemicinflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) response has been increasingly associated with the development and aggravation of MODS or MOF. And studies in this respect have also demonstrated that there is a higher risk of mortality associated withsome specific organ systems when they are dysfunctional, thus leading to the failures of the liver, brain, lung, and kidney. The liver interacts with many other organ systems, and liver dysfunction may act collectively in the production of organ system dysfunction, thus finally ending up with MODS.     

RADIX CODONOPSIS PILOSULAE AND RADIX ASTRAGALI PROMOTE ERYTHROCYTE GLYCOLYSIS

The 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) content of freshly drawn blood is 22.4+1.49µM/gHb. When whole blood with ACD preservative solution. is stored at 4 C for 3-4 weeks, the erythrocyte 2,3-DPG content decreases t0 2.91+0.86 µM/gHb (12.96% that of fresh blood). The erythrocyte oxygen delivery capacity lowered correspondingly with the decrease in 2,3-DPG content. Extract of Radix Codonopsis pilosulae党参 and Radix Astragali黄芪 were added t0 2,3-DPG depleted blood and stored at 37C for 4 hours. Now the 2,3-DPG content was 9.11+ 2.00 uM/gHb (40.67% that of fresh blood), lactic acid 5.09+0.64 mg/mgFe and P50 32-33 mmHg. Control samples without the herbals added were correspondingly 4.18+1.32 µM/gHb (18.56% that of fresh blood), 3.86+0.84 mg/mgFe and 36 38.5 mmHg. It appeared that Radix Codonopsis pilosullae and Radix Astragali can promote erythrocytc glycolysis, increase erythrocyte 2,3-DPG content and improve oxygen delivery capacity.