Effects of Kampo medicine,Keishi—ka Shakuyaku—to （TJ—60） on alteration of diacylglycerol metabolism in gastrointestinal smooth muscle of diabetic rats

AIM: To examine the effects of Kampo medicine, keishi-ka-shakuyaku-to (TJ-60) on the signal transduction in diabetic gastrointestinal dysfunction. METHODS: Experimental diabetic models were prepared using streptozotocin (STZ)-treated Wistar rats. Randomly selected STZ rats were treated with insulin (12 U/kg/d) or TJ-60 (1% of food intake). Diacylglycerol (DG) and DG kinase activities were quantified in isolated aortic smooth muscle tissue. RESULTS: One of the key element of the PI-turnover, DG kinase activity in resting state in gastric smooth muscle was significantly increased compared to the control value, and carbachol (CCh)-induced response was not detectable, but it was detected in the control rats. On the other hand resting activity in ileum did not differ from the control, but the CCh-induced responses were suppressed. Treatment with TJ-60 indicated resistant effects for the alteration of DG kinase activities in diabetic intestinal tissues. In order to reveal the mechanism of the effects, total content of DG was measured, because the DG plays important role in the PI-turnover and the DG converted from not only PI but also incorporated glucose under high glucose condition. Patterns of the change in DG levels were similar to those in DG kinase. These results indicate that the effect of TJ-60 occurs at the cellular level of DG. CONCLUSION: Dysfunction of gastrointestinal smooth muscle in diabetes is mediated by an alternation of DG and DG kinase. TJ-60 influences the alteration and relief the dysfunction.     

Stimulation of insulin release in rats by Die-Huang-Wan, a herbal mixture used in Chinese traditional medicine

Die-Huang-Wan is a herbal mixture widely used in Chinese traditional medicine to treat diabetic disorders. We have investigated the effect of Die-Huang-Wan on plasma glucose concentration in-vivo. Die-Huang-Wan was administered orally (5.0, 15.0 or 26.0 mg kg(-1)) to three rat models. Wistar rats were used as the normal animal model, rats with insulin-resistance (induced by the repeated thrice daily injection of human long-acting insulin) were used as the non-insulin-dependent diabetic model, and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were used as the insulin-dependent diabetic model. In normal rats, approximately 1 h after oral administration of Die-Huang-Wan the plasma glucose concentration decreased significantly in a dose-dependent manner, from 5 to 26.0 mg kg(-1). A similar effect was observed in rats with insulin-resistance. However, this effect was not observed in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, even at an oral dose of 26.0 mg kg(-1). These results suggested an insulin-dependent action, a view supported by the increase of plasma insulin-like immunoreactivity in normal rats receiving Die-Huang-Wan. The results indicated that Die-Huang-Wan had an ability to stimulate the secretion of insulin and this preparation seemed helpful in improving the diabetic condition, especially hyperglycaemia in type-II diabetes.     

芪苓汤、八味地黄丸、柴苓汤抗糖尿病发病和降血糖的探讨

目的探讨中草药抗糖尿病发病和降血糖的机制.方法将大白鼠分成5组,芪苓汤组、八味地黄丸组、柴苓汤组,分别接受相应药物治疗;模型组接受自来水治疗.各组从实验的 d 8 起腹腔内注射链脲霉素 30 mg*kg-1,每天1次,连续 5 d.另设正常对照组,不作任何处理.检测大白鼠的体重、血糖、果糖胺、胰岛素及T淋巴细胞(W3/25和OX8)的百分率,取胰腺组织作组织学检查.结果用药各组的糖尿病发病率比模型组低(P<0.05).d 26 八味地黄丸组和柴苓汤组的血糖分别比 d 15 下降25%和18%(P<0.05).芪苓汤组和八味地黄丸组的W3/25细胞比率明显高于对照组.用药各组的平均胰岛面积和平均β细胞面积较模型组大.结论八味地黄丸、柴苓汤方剂具有降血糖作用;3方剂不同程度降低糖尿病发病率可能与提高细胞免疫功能有关.     

Antimalarial activity of herbal extracts used in traditional medicine in Korea

Aqueous extracts of 6 traditional Korean medicines used to treat malaria were tested in vitro for their antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum. The EC50 values for the herbal extracts were in the range 1.4-8.1 microg/ml. Significant antimalarial activity was observed with Coptis japonica (EC50=1.4 microg/ml), but it demonstrated no selective toxicity (selectivity=1). In contrast, Kalopanax pictus showed antimalarial activity (EC50=4.6 microg/ml) and higher selective toxicity (>4). This indicated that K. pictus may be potent for a new antimalarial agent.     

Anti-Toxoplasma gondii RH strain activity of herbal extracts used in traditional medicine

Methanolic extracts of 15 traditional medicines used to treat Toxoplasma gondii were tested in vitro for their anti-T. gondii activity and cytotoxicity. The median effective concentration (EC(50)) values for the herbal extracts ranged from 0.11mg/mL to 2.28mg/mL. Significant anti-T. gondii RH strain activity was observed with Zingiber officinale extracts (EC(50)=0.18mg/mL), which displayed a highly selective toxicity (selectivity=10.1). Sophora flavescens Aiton extracts also showed high anti-T. gondii activity (EC(50)=0.20mg/mL) and a high selective toxicity (4.6). This indicates that Z. officinale and S. flavescens Aiton extracts may be sources of new anti-T. gondii compounds.     

Protective effects of hochu-ekki-to, a Chinese traditional herbal medicine against murine cytomegalovirus infection.

The innate immunity against murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) at the early phase of infection is mediated by NK cells and macrophages. We studied the effects of hochu-ekki-to (HET), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on the regulation of innate immunity mediated by NK cells and macrophages. We found the oral administration of HET to increase both the number of leukocytes in the spleen and liver and the splenic NK cell cytotoxicity associated with the increased induction of serum IFN-alpha/beta after an MCMV infection but it had no effect on liver NK cells. However, no differences were found in the serum IL-12, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and nitric oxide (NO) production in the culture of macrophages between the HET- and PBS-treated mice on day 2 after MCMV infection. In addition, HET-treated splenic and peritoneal macrophages were found to show a higher intrinsic resistance against in vitro MCMV infection than that of PBS-treated mice. Therefore, the HET-induced effects on NK cells and macrophages selectively reduced the viral load in the spleen but not in the liver at an early phase of MCMV infection. HET may thus be useful in the treatment of human cytomegalovirus infection which commonly occurs in HIV-infected AIDS patients.     

中药灌肠结合中药熏洗治疗糖尿病肾病的临床护理

目的 探讨中药灌肠结合中药熏洗治疗糖尿病肾病的临床护理.方法 选择本院2015年收治的糖尿病肾病患者62例为研究对象,随机分为观察组和对照组,每组31例,对照组患者给予常规护理,观察组在常规护理基础上给予综合性护理干预,比较两组患者血糖控制情况.结果 两组患者空腹血糖和餐后2h血糖治疗前比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),治疗后均显著降低(P＜0.05).与对照组比较,观察组血糖降低幅度更大,血糖值均显著小于对照组(P＜0.05).结论 积极的临床护理有利于糖尿病肾病患者更好的控制血糖.     

益肾汤对糖尿病大鼠肾组织转化生长因子β_1表达的影响

目的观察中药复方益肾汤对实验性糖尿病(DM)大鼠肾脏的保护作用及对转化生长因子-β1(TGF-β_1)表达的影响,探讨其作用机制。方法用链脲菌素诱发、建立糖尿病大鼠模型,通过益肾汤干预治疗,并以血管紧张素Ⅱ受体阻断剂(ARB)缬沙坦作为对照,观察糖代谢(血糖、胰岛素)、大鼠肾功能[包括:肾重/体重、尿总蛋白(24h)、尿白蛋白(24h)、血尿素氮]、肾小球毛细血管基底膜厚度(GBM)、血及肾组织的TGF-β1表达等指标的变化。结果①成功诱发大鼠DM。②各治疗组与糖尿病未治疗组比较均明显降低糖尿病大鼠血糖、尿素氮、尿总蛋白(24h)及微量白蛋白,升高胰岛素水平,抑制肾皮质TGF-β_1表达及GBM的增厚。③相关分析:肾脏TGF-β_1表达量与尿总蛋白(24h)、尿白蛋白(24h)浓度、GBM厚度呈显著正相关。结论益肾汤具有减少尿微量白蛋白排出、血尿素氮浓度、减少肾脏TGF-β_1表达、延缓GBM增厚的作用;益肾汤防治糖尿病肾病(DN)的作用与ARB相仿。益肾汤防治DN及保护肾功能的作用与其降低肾脏TGF-β_1表达有关。     

Preventive effects of a Chinese herbal medicine, hochu-ekki-to, on bone loss in ovariectomized rats

To evaluate the effects of a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, Hochu-ekki-to [Bu-zong-yi-qi-tang], on the bone loss induced by ovariectomy in rats, ovariectomized female rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain at age 35 weeks were daily given Hochu-ekki-to and/or 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol for 8 weeks by gastric tube and, subsequently, the serum hormone levels and the tibial bone mineral density were measured. Hochu-ekki-to treatment suppressed the ovariectomy-induced reduction of the bone mineral density in the whole and metaphysis of tibia with a slight increase of serum levels of estradiol and progesterone, maintaining bone mineral density values similar to that in the estradiol treated ovariectomized rats, as well as the intact control rats. Hochu-ekki-to is suggested to elevate the serum levels of ovarian hormones slightly and prevent bone loss in ovariectomized rats.     

Amelioration of anti-cancer agent adriamycin-induced nephrotic syndrome in rats by Wulingsan (Gorei-San), a blended traditional Chinese herbal medicine

Anti-cancer agent adriamycin (ADR) has demonstrated high anti-tumor efficacy. However, its use in chemotherapy has been limited largely due to its diverse toxicities, including renal toxicity, such as nephrotic syndrome with proteinuria. Podocyte injury leads to glomeruli proteinuria. Wulingsan (WLS) is a blended traditional Chinese herbal medicine specifically used for various kidney diseases. In the present study, we found that a water extract of WLS (480 mg/kg, p.o., x 28 days) reduced ADR-induced increase in urine protein excretion, plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride, and decrease in plasma total protein and albumin in rats. Furthermore, the results of electron microscopy demonstrated suppression by WLS of ADR-induced increase in width of foot process, increase in surface density and decrease in volume density. These results suggest that WLS ameliorates ADR-induced proteinuria and podocyte injury. Gene analysis results demonstrated a suppression of renal overexpression of nephrin mRNA and protein by WLS. Radioimmunoassay showed that WLS suppressed ADR-induced increased renal angiotensin II content in rats. Thus our results demonstrate that WLS ameliorates ADR-induced nephrotic syndrome in rats possibly by suppressing ADR-induced hyperactivity of renal renin-angiotensin system to modulate renal nephrin gene expression, thereby protecting podocyte from injury.     

Pharmacological differences between Liu-Jun-Zi-Tang, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, and domperidone on isolated guinea-pig ileum

The different characteristics of Liu-Jun-Zi-Tang, a spray-dried powdered extract from 8 Chinese herbs, and domperidone, a D2 antagonist, both of which are used clinically for the treatment of gastritis, were validated in isolated guinea pig ileal longitudinal muscle. Liu-Jun-Zi-Tang at 0.05 mg/ml did not affect the twitch response by electrical field stimulation, but it concentration-dependently inhibited the twitch response at concentrations of 0.1 and 1.0 mg/ml, and maximum inhibition occurred 5 min after application of Liu-Jun-Zi-Tang. In the presence of Liu-Jun-Zi-Tang, the concentration-response curve for ACh-contraction showed inhibition in a non-competitive manner, which is the same as domperidone. In the presence of Liu-Jun-Zi-Tang (1.0 mg/ml), ACh (10(-7) M)-, histamine (5x10(-7) M)- and barium chloride (10(-4) M)-induced basal contractions were inhibited by 24, 19 and 54 %, respectively. On the other hand, in the presence of domperidone (2x10(-5) M), ACh- and barium chloride-induced basal contractions were inhibited by 28 and 63%, respectively, similar to that in the presence of Liu-Jun-Zi-Tang. However, the inhibition of histamine-induced contraction in the presence of domperidone was significantly increased (81%) compared with that in the presence of Liu-Jun-Zi-Tang. These findings suggest that Liu-Jun-Zi-Tang has milder effects on histamine-induced disorders than domperidone. In other words, domperidone has a more potent effect on histamine-induced disorders.