Effects of Orengedoku-to and Scutellariae radix extract on aqueous flare elevation induced by intravitreal IL-1alpha in pigmented rabbits

We investigated the effects of Orengedoku-to (huanglian-jie-du-tang in Chinese) and Scutellariae radix extract on experimental aqueous flare elevation in pigmented rabbits. To produce the elevation of aqueous flare in rabbits, interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1alpha) was injected intravitreally. Animals were pretreated with oral administration of 150 g/day of food containing 0.07%, 0.2% or 0.7% (w/w) Orengedoku-to; or 0.02%, 0.07% or 0.2% Scutellariae radix extract for 5 days. The animals were further treated with the same food for 7 days after intravitreal injection of IL-1alpha. Aqueous flare was measured with a laser flare-cell meter. Treatment with 0.2% or 0.7% Orengedoku-to and 0.07% or 0.2% Scutellariae radix extract significantly (p < 0.05) suppressed elevation of aqueous flare induced by IL-1alpha. Thus, orengedoku-to and Scutellariae radix extract have an inhibitory effect on experimental elevation of aqueous flare induced by IL-1alpha in rabbits.     

Effects of oral administration of Gardeniae fructus extract and intravenous injection of crocetin on lipopolysaccharide- and prostaglandin E2-induced elevation of aqueous flare in pigmented rabbits

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of extracts of Coptidis rhizoma, Phellodendri cortex and Gardeniae fructus, which are medicinal herbs in Orengedoku-to (Huanglin-Jie-Du-Tang in Chinese), and crocetin (a major component of Gardeniae fructus) on experimental elevation of aqueous flare in pigmented rabbits. To produce aqueous flare elevation, 0.5 microg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was injected into the ear vein, or prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) 25 microg/ml, was applied to the cornea by means of a glass cylinder. Animals were pretreated by oral administration of 150 g/day of food containing 0.15% (w/w) extract powder of Coptidis rhizoma, 0.10% (w/w) extract powder of Phellodendri cortex or 0.15% (w/w) extract powder of Gardeniae fructus for 4 days, or by intravenous injection of crocetin, 0.3, 3, 30 or 300 microg/kg, 30 minutes before aqueous flare elevation. Aqueous flare was measured with a laser flare-cell meter. Aqueous flare intensity was expressed as the area under the curve (AUC) in arbitrary units. The AUC of LPS- and PGE2-induced aqueous flare elevation was 4685 and 1386 arbitrary units, respectively. Pretreatment by oral administration of 0.15% (w/w) extract of Coptidis rhizoma or 0.10% (w/w) extract of Phellodendri cortex did not inhibit LPS-induced aqueous flare elevation. Pretreatment by oral administration of 0.15% extract of Gardeniae fructus suppressed LPS-induced aqueous flare elevation (AUC: 1411 arbitrary units). Pretreatment by intravenous injection of 3, 30 or 300 microg/kg of crocetin-inhibited LPS-induced aqueous flare elevation in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment with 3 or 30 microg/kg of crocetin did not inhibit PGE2-induced aqueous flare elevation, but 300 microg/kg of crocetin inhibited PGE2-induced aqueous flare elevation (AUC: 918 arbitrary units).     

Traditional Japanese herbal (kampo) medicines and treatment of ocular diseases: a review

Herbal medicines have been used clinically in Eastern Asia, and traditional Japanese herbal (Kampo) formulas are approved as ethical drugs. The Kampo formulas are mixtures of the crude extracts of several herbs, each of which contains multiple components. Numerous investigators have reported that some herbal medicines are efficacious for treating several human diseases. We reviewed the literature on traditional herbal medicines and treatment of ocular diseases. Oral Orengedoku-to and Kakkon-to inhibit postoperative uveitis in humans. Oral Goshajinki-gan improved ocular surface disorders in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Oral Hachimijio-gan increased retinal blood flow. Keishi-bukuryo-gan Sho might be associated with vitreoretinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Oral Hachimijio-gan and Goshajinki-gan delayed lens opacification in rats and mice. Oral Sairei-to, Orengedoku-to, Senkanmeimoku-to, Scutellariae radix extract, Gardeniae fructus extract, topical Liguisticum wallichii rhizoma extract, and intravenous injection of tetramethylpyrazine, baicalin, baicalein, wogonin, and crocetin inhibited some forms of experimental uveitis in rabbits. Topical glycyrrhizinate improved allergic conjunctivitis in humans and rats. Oral crocetin improved eyestrain in humans. Oral berberine diminished experimental uveitis in rats. Baicalein, wogonin, berberine, and berberrubine inhibited in vitro expression of several cytokines in cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells. Some Kampo formulas are efficacious for treating several ocular diseases in humans and animals. Some herbal extracts and their components inhibit some forms of experimental uveitis.     

Effects of kakkon-to and sairei-to on aqueous flare elevation after complicated cataract surgery

We evaluate prospectively the effects of traditional herbal medicines on elevation of aqueous flare after complicated cataract surgery. Twenty-seven patients with bilateral complicated cataract undergoing phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation were studied. The patients received no herbal medicine when the right eyes underwent cataract surgery. Fifteen patients were given kakkon-to (ge-gen-yang in Chinese) granules (7.5 g daily) and 12 patients were given sairei-to (cai-ling-tang in Chinese) granules (9.0 g daily), for 3 days before surgery, the day of surgery, and for 7 days after surgery when the left eyes underwent cataract surgery. Diclofenac eyedrops were instilled in all patients. Aqueous flare was measured before and after surgery. The differences in preoperative flare intensities between groups treated with Kakkon-to and Sairei-to were not significant. In the untreated right eyes of the kakkon-to and Sairei-to groups, the flare was 99.1 and 89.6 photon counts/msec, respectively, on day 1, and then gradually decreased. The flare intensities on days 1, 3, and 5 in the kakkon-to treated left eyes were significantly lower than in those of the untreated right eyes (Fig. 1). The flare intensities in the Sairei-to treated left eyes were the same as those in the untreated right eyes. Kakkon-to contributed to a reduction of aqueous flare elevation after surgery for complicated cataract.     

Antiobesity Effects of Chinese Black Tea (Pu‐erh Tea) Extract and Gallic Acid

The antiobesity effects of Chinese black tea (Pu‐erh tea) and of gallic acid (GA) were investigated using in vitro and in vivo assays. Chinese black tea extract (BTE) and GA inhibited pancreatic lipase activity in a dose‐dependent manner in vitro; the IC(inhibitory concentration)₅₀ values were 101.6 and 9.2 µg/mL, respectively. Black tea extract (50, 100 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)) and GA (15, 45 mg/kg b.w.) significantly suppressed the elevation of blood triglyceride after oral administration of a corn oil emulsion (8 mL oil/kg b.w.) to male ddY mice. Moreover, the antiobesity effects of BTE and GA were also evaluated in a mouse model of diet‐induced obesity. Female ddY mice were divided into seven groups; normal diet (ND) group, high fat diet (HFD) group, BTE (0.2% and 0.6% of diets) groups, and GA (0.007%, 0.02% and 0.1% of diets) groups; the experimental groups were fed the test diets for 12 weeks. The BTE 0.6% and GA 0.1% groups showed significant suppression of weight gain. The weight of parametrial adipose tissue was strongly correlated with the body weight. These results suggest that GA contributes to the antiobesity effect of BTE as an active constituent by inhibiting pancreatic lipase activity. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of ashwagandha on lipid peroxidation in stress-induced animals

The aqueous suspension of root extract of an Indian drug ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L. (Solanaceae)) was evaluated for its effect on lipid peroxidation (LPO) in stress-induced animals. Elevation of LPO was observed in rabbits and mice after intravenous administration of 0.2 μg/kg of lipopolysaccharide (LPS: from Klebsiella pneumoniae) and 100 μg/kg of peptidoglycan (PGN: from Staphylococcus aureus), respectively. The peak was reached immediately after PGN and 2–6 h after LPS administration. Simultaneous oral administration of ashwagandha (100 mg/kg) prevented the rise in LPO in rabbits and mice.     

Antioxidative and hepatoprotective effect of CGX, an herbal medicine, against toxic acute injury in mice

Aim

CGX, a modified traditional Chinese herbal drug whose name means “liver cleaning,” is used to treat various liver disorders. This study investigated the protective effects of CGX and its mechanisms.

Material and methods

After pretreating ICR mice twice daily with CGX (po, 50 or 100 mg/kg) or distilled water for three consecutive days, acute liver injury was induced by a single injection of CCl₄ (ip, 10 mL/kg of 0.2% in olive oil) (n = 8 per group).

Results

Pretreatment with CGX significantly attenuated the elevation in biochemical parameters, such as alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum, and the malondialdehyde concentrations in liver tissue. Pretreatment with CGX significantly restored the reduction of catalase activity and glutathione (GSH) content, but not superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and it inhibited the CCl₄-induced high expression of iNOS and TNF-α in hepatic tissue.

Conclusion

This study showed that CGX has hepatoprotective effects against free radical-induced acute injury via primarily antioxidative properties.     

板蓝根中丁香酸的抗内毒素作用

目的 研究从板蓝根中分离出的丁香酸的抗内毒素作用。方法将丁香酸配成1％水溶液，鲎试验法做抗内毒素定量测定；用内毒素致兔发热实验检测丁香酸体内抗内毒素作用；内毒素致小鼠死亡实验测定丁香酸保护作用。结果0.334mg／mL丁香酸可使4EU内毒素降为0．777EU，破坏率为83．16％；1％丁香酸溶液可使内毒素引起的兔热显著降低；使同等剂量脂多糖引起的小鼠死亡率由68％降为20%。结论 丁香酸有抗内毒素作用。     

丹参对异丙肾上腺素引起大白鼠心室纤颤的防治作用

雄性大白鼠皮下注射异丙肾上腺素(ISO,1mg/kg 或5mg/kg)作为实验性心室纤颤(VF)动物模型。对照组动物于注射 ISO 之后全部发生 VF,其中96%死亡,4%恢复正常。麻醉的或不麻醉的动物腹腔注射丹参水提物(SM-H)5g 生药/kg 预防30分钟,能够明显地缩小 J-点的位移,防止或减少 VF 的发生及由于 VF 引起的死亡数,显著地提高大白鼠的存活率(P<0.05)。发生 VF 的大白鼠,立即静脉注射 SM-H(5g 生药/kg),其中71%能短暂地恢复窦性心律,说明 SM-H 对 VF 有一定的预防及治疗作用,并能显著地延长 VF 动物的存活时间(P<0.05)。     

Anti-inflammatory activity of four Bolivian Baccharis species (Compositae)

Hexanic, dichloromethanic, ethanolic and aqueous extracts from Baccharis obtusifolia HBK, Baccharis latifolia (R. et P.) Pers., Baccharis pentlandii D.C. and Baccharis subulata Wedd., plants used in the traditional medicine of South America have been studied for their in vitro anti-inflammatory activity in cellular systems. Calcium ionophore A23187-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages were validated as a source of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) (prostaglandin E2, PGE2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) (leukotriene C4, LTC4), and mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were used for testing cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) (PGE2), nitric oxide (NO) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) activity. Most of the extracts tested were active in all assays.     

青藤碱抗炎机理——青藤碱对人外周血单个核细胞环氧化酶活性及其基因表达的影响

目的 :研究青藤碱对人环氧化酶 (COX)活性及其基因表达的影响 ,深入探讨青藤碱的抗炎药理机制。方法 :应用细胞培养 ,放射免疫测定 ,RT-PCR等方法 ,观察青藤碱等药物对LPS刺激和非LPS刺激的体外培养的人外周血单个核细胞 (PBMC)产生前列腺素E₂ CPGE₂ C的影响 ,并深入研究其对COX-1和COX-2基因表达的作用。结果 :青藤碱对LPS刺激状态下正常人外周血单个核细胞PGE₂ 合成的抑制作用明显高于不加LPS的状态 ,间接反映青藤碱对COX-2的抑制作用较强。RT-PCR结果表明青藤碱对人COX-1及COX-2的基因表达无明显影响。结论 :青藤碱对COX-2活性具有一定的选择性抑制作用 ,并可能主要是通过对COX酶活性的直接作用来实现。     

San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang reduces lipopolysaccharides-induced hypotension and inflammatory mediators

San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang (SHXT) is a traditional Chinese medicinal formula containing Coptidis rhizoma, Scutellariae radix and Rhei rhizoma. The present study aimed to determine the preventive effects of standardized SHXT on lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced arterial hypotension, protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), cytokines formation and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. LPS-induced activation of iNOS has been recognized to increase cytokines and nitric oxide, some of them play predominant roles in sepsis. Intravenous injection of LPS (10 mg/kg) caused a marked decrease of the mean arterial pressure in normotensive rats. However, the LPS-induced arterial hypotension was inhibited by SHXT (0.01 and 0.03 g/kg), when it was given 30 min before LPS. Moreover, plasma level of cytokines and PGE2 were lowered by SHXT. In RAW 264.7 cells, SHXT (20-200 microg/ml) dose-dependently inhibited LPS (1 microg/ml)-induced iNOS and COX-2 expression, and it also significantly decreased LPS-induced cytokines in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, our data suggest that SHXT prevented LPS-induced arterial hypotension, which might be mediated through its inhibition activities on the expression of iNOS and COX-2, cytokines formation and PGE2 production. Therefore, its protection activity against LPS-induced arterial hypotension and inflammatory mediators release might be beneficial in the treatment of endotoxin shock and/or associated inflammation.     

当归对慢性支敢管炎肺泡巨噬细胞上CD11c和CD14表达的影响

目的：探讨当归对慢性支气管炎（慢支）肺泡巨噬细胞膜上ＣＤ１１ｃ和ＣＤ１４表达的影响。方法：慢层缓解期患者和正常对照者各１０例。经局部支气肺光获取ＡＭ;加当归、脂多糖体外培养２４ｈ后,以流式细胞仪分析其ＣＤ１１ｃ和ＣＤ１４表达的百分率;测定其胞浆游离钙水平。结果：慢支者ＡＭ膜上ＣＤ１１ｃ和ＣＤ１４的表达均显著高于正常对照者;ＬＰＳ可使慢支者ＡＭ膜上ＣＤ１１Ｃ的表达进一步增加;当归可使慢支者ＡＭ膜上Ｃ     

Can the aqueous decoction of mango flowers be used as an antiulcer agent?

This study was designed to determine the effect of Mangifera indica flowers decoction, on the acute and subacute models of induced ulcer in mice and rats. A single oral administration of the aqueous decoction (AD) from M. indica up to a dose of 5 g/kg, p.o. did not produce any signs or symptom of toxicity in the treated animals. The oral pre-treatment with AD (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) in rats with gastric lesions induced by ethanol, decreased the gastric lesions from 89.0+/-6.71 (control group) to 9.25+/-2.75, 4.50+/-3.30 and 0, respectively. Pretreatment with AD (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) to mice with HCl/ethanol- or stress-induced gastric lesions resulted in a dose-dependent significant decrease of lesion index. In the piroxicam-induced gastric lesions, the gastroprotective effect of AD was reducing with the increase of the AD dose. In the pylorus-ligature, AD (p.o.) significantly decreased the acid output indicating the antisecretory property involved in the gastroprotective effect of M. indica. Treatment with AD during 14 consecutive days significantly accelerated the healing process in subacute gastric ulcer induced by acetic acid in rats. Pretreatment with N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME), an inhibitor of NO-synthase, did not abolish the gastroprotective effects (99% with saline versus 80% with l-NAME) of AD against ethanol-induced gastric lesions. Pretreatment with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), a blocker of endogenous sulphydryl group, significantly abolished the protective effects of AD against ethanol-induced gastric ulcers (95% with saline versus 47% with NEM). Phytochemical screening showed the presence of steroids, triterpenes, phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Estimation of the global polyphenol content in the AD was performed by Folin-Ciocalteu method and showed approximately 53% of total phenolic on this extract. These findings indicate the potential gastroprotective and ulcer-healing properties of aqueous decoction of M. indica flowers and further support its popular use in gastrointestinal disorders in Caribbean.     

注射用炎琥宁对脂多糖发热模型家兔解热机制的研究

目的 研究注射用炎琥宁对脂多糖发热模型家兔血清中细胞因子（TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-6、cAMP、PGE2）和下丘脑中升温介质（cAMP、PGE2）的影响。方法 建立家兔脂多糖（10 EU/kg）发热模型,监测不同时间点注射用炎琥宁对脂多糖发热模型家兔体温影响,绘制平均升温曲线;模型升温峰值时收集指标,ELISA法检测血清中细胞因子、下丘脑中升温介质变化。结果 注射用炎琥宁能显著降低脂多糖发热模型家兔的体温,且量效关系较显著;注射用炎琥宁能显著抑制发热模型家兔血清中IL-6、cAMP、PGE2增加和下丘脑中cAMP、PGE2的释放。结论 注射用炎琥宁对脂多糖发热模型家兔有较好的解热作用,其解热效果可能与其抑制外周IL-6、cAMP、PGE2增加和下丘脑cAMP、PGE2释放有关。     

青蒿琥酯对脂多糖致血管内皮细胞活化及损伤的保护作用

目的观察中药青蒿提取物青蒿琥酯(artesunate,AR)对脂多糖(lipololysaccharide ,LPS)诱导的人脐静脉内皮细胞(human umbilical vein endothelial cells,HUVECs)活化及损伤状态下的保护作用及相关机制．方法建立人脐静脉内皮细胞培养,细胞生长至融合状态后分别加入LPS及不同浓度的AR(0．04mg／L、0．2mg／L、1mg／L、5mg／L及20mg／L)共同孵育24h,ELISA方法检测培养上清中血管假性血友病因子(von Willebrand factor,vWF)含量,Western blot法检测细胞间黏附分子(ICAM—1)蛋白表达,原位杂交方法检测肿瘤坏死因子(TNFα)mRNA表达结果暴露于1ug／ml LPS后,HUVECs的vWF及ICAM1表达较对照组明显增加,加入AR后,随AR浓度增加明显下调LPS升高的vWF及ICAM—1表达,至AR为1mg／L时,其vWF与ICAM—1表达与LPS组比较差异均有显著性(P＜0．05)。AR抑制LPS升高的vWF及ICAM-1表达呈一定的浓度依赖方式．原位杂交显示在AR0．2mg／L及1mg／L时明显下调TNFα mR—NA表达,与LPS组比较差异有显著性(P＜0．05,P＜0．01)、结论青蒿琥酯对脂多糖诱导的HUVECs的活化及损伤有保护作用,可能与AR抑制TNFα mRNA表达有关。     

青蒿琥酯对内毒素诱导的一氧化氮合成的抑制作用

目的 :探讨青蒿琥酯对内毒素诱导的巨噬细胞一氧化氮 (NO)合成的影响。方法 :①用内毒素 (LPS)或LPS合并γ 干扰素作为巨噬细胞 (RAW 264.7)的NO合成诱导剂 ,加入不同浓度的青蒿琥酯 ,培养后取上清液 ,用Griess试剂测定NO产生量。②Balb/c小鼠肌肉注射青蒿琥酯 5 0mg·kg^-1·d^-1×3d ,收集腹腔巨噬细胞 ,测定LPS对细胞的NO诱生能力。结果 :LPS 1.0 ,0.2μg·ml^-1或γ-干扰素 100u合并LPS 1.0 ,0.2 ,0.04μg·ml^-1作用于RAW 264.7细胞 ,均可诱导大量NO合成。青蒿琥酯对LPS或LPS合并干扰素诱导的NO合成均有明显的抑制作用 ,其抑制作用具有明显的量效关系。经青蒿琥酯治疗后的小鼠 ,其腹腔巨噬细胞对LPS的反应性降低 ,其受LPS刺激后产生的NO量明显降低。结论 :青蒿琥酯可降低LPS诱导的炎性因子的产生 ,减轻炎症反应。     

葛根素对慢性高眼压兔眼视神经轴浆流影响的实验研究

目的：观察葛根素对慢性高眼压兔眼视神经轴浆流的影响。方法：用2％甲基纤维素多次前房注射造成慢性高眼压兔眼模型。对高眼压兔眼分别用0．5％喀吗心安滴眼和静脉注射葛根素以及两者并用进行治疗，并用5％葡萄糖注射液静脉注射作为对照。用酶组织化学技术对结果进行判定。结果：葛根素能改善慢性高眼压兔眼视神经轴浆流和视盘微循环状况。结论：葛根素注射液可以作为抗青光眼的辅助治疗用药。