Potentilla anserine L. polysaccharide protects against cadmium-induced neurotoxicity

Cadmium is a toxic metal that can damage the brain and other organs. This study aimed to explore the protective effects of Potentilla anserine L. polysaccharide (PAP) against CdCl₂-induced neurotoxicity in N2a and SH-SY5Y cells and in the cerebral cortex of BALB/c mice. In addition, we aimed to identify the potential mechanisms underlying these protective effects. Relative to CdCl₂ treatment alone, pretreatment with PAP prevented the reduction in cell viability evoked by CdCl₂, decreased rates of apoptosis, promoted calcium homeostasis, decreased ROS accumulation, increased mitochondrial membrane potential, inhibited cytochrome C and AIF release, and prevented the cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP. In addition, PAP significantly decreased the CdCl₂-induced phosphorylation of CaMKII, Akt, and mTOR. In conclusion, PAP represents a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of Cd-induced neurotoxicity, functioning in part via attenuating the activation of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and the Ca²⁺-CaMKII-dependent Akt/mTOR pathway.     

Pulsed electromagnetic fields stimulate osteogenic differentiation and maturation of osteoblasts by upregulating the expression of BMPRII localized at the base of primary cilium

Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) have been considered as a potential candidate for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, however, the mechanism of its action is still elusive. We have previously reported that 50 Hz 0.6 mT PEMFs stimulate osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization in a primary cilium- dependent manner, but did not know the reason. In the current study, we found that the PEMFs promoted osteogenic differentiation and maturation of rat calvarial osteoblasts (ROBs) by activating bone morphogenetic protein BMP-Smad1/5/8 signaling on the condition that primary cilia were normal. Further studies revealed that BMPRII, the primary binding receptor of BMP ligand, was readily and strongly upregulated by PEMF treatment and localized at the bases of primary cilia. Abrogation of primary cilia with small interfering RNA sequence targeting IFT88 abolished the PEMF-induced upregulation of BMPRII and its ciliary localization. Knockdown of BMPRII expression level with RNA interference had no effects on primary cilia but significantly decreased the promoting effect of PEMFs on osteoblastic differentiation and maturation. These results indicated that PEMFs stimulate osteogenic differentiation and maturation of osteoblast by primary cilium-mediated upregulation of BMPRII expression and subsequently activation of BMP-Smad1/5/8 signaling, and that BMPRII is the key component linking primary cilium and BMP-Smad1/5/8 pathway. This study has thus revealed the molecular mechanism for the osteogenic effect of PEMFs.     

Indolizine derivatives with biological activity V. 1-(2-Aminoethyl)-2-methylindolizine and its N-alkyl derivatives

In continuing the search for new biologically active agents in the indolizine field, 1-(2-aminoethyl)-2-methylindolizine and some N-alkyl derivatives have been synthesized. Preliminary pharmacological evaluation showed that these compounds exhibited anti-acetylcholine, anti-histamine and central nervous system (CNS) depressant activities.     

Controversial conclusions from two randomized controlled trials for acupuncture’s effects on polycystic ovary syndrome or in vitro fertilization support

Two reports of trials investigating the potential effect of acupuncture in increasing live birth rate (LBR) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or those undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) were published by Journal of American Medical Association in 2017 and 2018 respectively. The trial investigators did not recommend acupuncture for the women with PCOS or IVF based on their findings. This paper raises the concern that the findings that acupuncture did not increase LBR for women with PCOS or undergoing IVF may be the result of methodological flaws in the studies and unintended bias such as use of an invalid control intervention and underestimation of the true acupuncture effect. Therefore, their findings may not be a valid reflection of acupuncture’s effect in improving LBR in women with these clinical conditions.     

甘肃省第四次与第三次全国中药资源普查药用植物资源物种变化及成因分析

通过对比第四次与第三次全国中药资源普查物种变化情况发现,第四次全国中药资源普查甘肃省新增了22科309属2072种,其中包括新分布种37种;消失或未调查到的药用植物资源有187种,隶属于87科158属。探究了时隔40年甘肃省药用植物资源物种变化的成因,表明此次普查从技术方法、仪器设备、人员组织、调查范围、顶层设计等各个方面都有了极大的改进和提升,使本次普查药用植物资源物种数大幅增长;生态环境的变化使得部分物种分布区狭小,或处于濒危状态,或生在悬崖峭壁。这是导致部分物种漏采漏查或未调查到的重要原因。通过分析物种变化情况,为该省药用植物资源保护与开发利用提供参考。     

HPLC指纹图谱结合化学模式识别和多成分定量不同产地甘松的质量评价

目的 建立不同产地甘松Nardostachys jatamansi的HPLC指纹图谱及多成分含量测定方法,并结合化学模式识别法探究不同产地甘松化学成分差异,评价不同产地、不同批次甘松药材的质量。方法 采用HPLC法建立甘肃、青海、四川16批次甘松的指纹图谱,并对指标成分进行含量测定。进行相似度评价结合聚类分析（cluster analysis,HCA）、主成分分析（principal component analysis,PCA）和正交偏最小二乘法-判别分析（orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis,OPLS-DA）等模式识别技术进行分析。结果 16批次甘松HPLC指纹图谱共匹配到60个共有峰,通过与对照品比对,指认出绿原酸、丁香酸、蒙花苷、甘松新酮、马兜铃酮5个色谱峰,指纹图谱相似度范围为0.943～0.999。16批次甘松样品中绿原酸、丁香酸、蒙花苷、甘松新酮、马兜铃酮含量测定变化范围分别为1.046 5～4.975 3、0.028 4～0.108 7、0.016 7～0.157 4、7.442 1～37.869 1、0.673 7～4.306 5 mg/g,5种成分在不同产地间均具有显著性差异。HCA将16批次甘松分为3类;PCA得不同批次甘松质量差异较大;经OPLS-DA筛选出了绿原酸、丁香酸、甘松新酮、马兜铃酮等31个差异成分。指纹图谱综合评价结果表明S4、S7、S10甘松样本质量较好。结论 确定了绿原酸、丁香酸、甘松新酮、马兜铃酮4种指标成分作为评价甘松质量差异的潜在标志性成分,建立的甘松HPLC指纹图谱及多成分含量测定方法稳定、可靠,可为甘松药材的质量控制、综合评价和临床应用的有效性提供科学依据。     

基于N-乙酰转移酶研究槲皮素对大鼠体内异烟肼代谢的影响

目的 基于N-乙酰转移酶(NAT)的表达及活性检测,研究槲皮素对大鼠体内异烟肼(INH)代谢及药动学特征影响.方法 雄性Wistar大鼠单独灌胃给予INH(60 mg/kg)或槲皮素(50 mg/kg)联合INH(60 mg/kg).分别于给药后不同时间收集血清,应用液质联用技术测定血清中INH及其代谢物乙酰异烟肼(A...     

茶叶中茶多酚提取分离技术的研究进展

简单介绍了茶叶中茶多酚和咖啡因的药理活性以及茶叶有效成分的组成和几种主要儿茶素类化合物的结构,分析探讨了提取分离废弃茶叶的原因和意义,并综述了近年来国内外有关茶叶中茶多酚提取分离技术的研究进展,包括溶剂提取法、离子沉淀法、超声波提取法、超临界流体萃取法、微波辅助萃取法、柱色谱法、大孔吸附树脂法和高速逆流色谱法,通过不同的实验过程对不同技术手段的应用及特点进行概述,并对这一研究领域的发展前景和发展方向做出展望。     

当归肌动蛋白基因片段的克隆及序列分析

目的 对当归肌动蛋白（Actin）基因进行克隆及序列分析。方法 根据已经克隆的植物Actin基因的保守序列设计一对简并性引物,以当归根部总RNA为模板,采用RT-PCR方法扩增Actin基因片段并连接到pMD19-T载体上,阳性克隆经PCR检测后进行测序。结果 得到一段598 bp的序列,序列分析表明,该片段编码198个氨基酸,与高等植物Actin基因核苷酸序列同源性在83%以上,与其他肌动蛋白氨基酸序列同源性达94%以上。结论 首次从当归中克隆出了Actin基因,为有效利用该基因奠定了基础。     

高速逆流色谱分离纯化天然产物中生物碱类成分的应用进展

高速逆流色谱技术(HSCCC)是一种新型的液-液分配色谱技术。介绍了HSCCC在分离纯化天然产物方面的优势以及近年来该技术在分离纯化天然产物中生物碱成分的研究进展,包括高速逆流色谱技术分离纯化已知和未知天然产物生物碱类成分、筛选生物碱活性成分;对新近发展的pH-区带精制逆流色谱、正交轴逆流色谱等新型的高速逆流色谱技术在分离纯化天然产物中生物碱成分的应用状况,高速逆流色谱与其他各种分析检测技术的联用进行了综述。