Analgesic Activity and Effects on Isolated Smooth Muscle of Different Fractions of Hexane Extract from Araujia sericifera Brot

The present study analyses the analgesic activity and action on in vitro motility of methanol soluble and methanol insoluble fractions obtained from the hexane extract of fruits from Araujia sericifera . The methanol fraction did not show any pharmacological activity on the different tests evaluated. However, the insoluble methanol fraction exhibited an interesting analgesic effect in models of chemical and thermal stimulus and it reduced the E _max induced by histamine in vitro on guinea-pig ileum. This extract lacked any central depressor activity since it did not modify the number of mouse movements in the activity cage.     

Anxiolytic Effect and Improved Sleep Quality in Individuals Taking Lippia citriodora Extract

The current fast-moving, hectic lifestyle has increased the number of individuals worldwide with difficulties in managing stress, which in turn is also affecting their sleep quality. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to assess a natural plant-based dietary supplement comprised of lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora) extract, purified in phenylpropanoids, in alleviating stress and improving quality of sleep. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted for 8 weeks, followed by a 4-week washout period. Both validated questionnaires and functional tests were performed during the study, whereas questionnaires were used after the washout. As a result, the group taking the lemon verbena extract significantly reduced their perception of stress after 8 weeks, which was corroborated by a significant decrease in cortisol levels. After the washout period, the subjects reported to present even lower stress levels, due to the lasting effect of the ingredient. As for sleep quality, the subjects taking the supplement reported feeling better rested, with a stronger effect observed in women. Sleep tracking using a wearable device revealed that the supplement users improved their times in the deeper stages of sleep, specifically their percentage of time in deep sleep and REM. In conclusion, lemon verbena extract purified in phenylpropanoids is revealed as a natural solution to help individuals to improve their stress and sleep quality.     

Screening of selected food and medicinal plant extracts for pancreatic lipase inhibition

Lipids are important components in human nutrition; however, their increased intake contributes to the development of obesity and can lead to multiple long‐term complications. Pancreatic lipase (triacylglycerol acylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.3) is a key enzyme for the absorption of dietary triglycerides. Interference with fat hydrolysis results in the reduced utilization of ingested lipids, therefore inhibition of lipases decreases fat absorption. Extracts from 106 species of medicinal plants, vegetables and fruits were screened for potential lipase inhibitory activity. p‐Nitrophenylpalmitate and 5‐bromo‐4‐chloro‐3‐indoxylpalmitate were used as substrates in an in vitro test with crude porcine pancreatic lipase. Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva‐ursi), garden pea (Pisum sativum), Norway spruce (Picea abies) and large‐leaved lime (Tilia platyphyllos) extracts were the most active. Additionally, the activity of selected extracts with removed polyphenols was measured. Extracts of bearberry, garden pea and large‐leaved lime are a promising source for developing functional foods or isolating active compounds. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Acute and subchronic oral toxicities of Pu-erh black tea extract in Sprague-Dawley rats

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Pu-erh black tea, which is obtained by first parching crude green tea leaves and then undergoes secondary fermentation with microorganisms, has been believed to be beneficial beverages for health for nearly 2000 years in China, Japan and Taiwan area. But its potential toxicity when administered at a high dose as concentrated extracts has not been completely investigated.

The aim of the study

The present study was aimed at evaluating potential toxicity of Pu-erh black tea extracts (BTE) from acute and sub-chronic administration to male and female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.

Materials and methods

A single BTE dose of 10,000 mg/kg of body weight was administered by oral gavage for acute toxicity in SD rats. Four groups (10 males and 10 females per group) of dose levels of 1250, 2500, and 5000 mg/kg/day of the test article, as well as controls (distilled water) were tested as the subchronic toxicity study.

Results

No deaths and signs of toxicity occurred during the 14 days of the study. There were no test article related mortalities, body weight gain, feed consumption, clinical observation, organ weight changes, gross finding, clinical or histopathological alterations during the 91-day administration.

Conclusions

The LD₅₀ of BTE can be defined as more than 10,000 mg/kg, and a dose of 5000 mg/kg/day was identified as the no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) in this study.     

银杏叶提取物对大鼠脊髓损伤神经保护作用的实验研究

目的探讨银杏叶提取物对脊髓损伤后神经细胞的保护作用。方法 90只SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组(N组)、银杏叶提取物组(EGb组)和损伤组(T组),采用改良Allen打击法建立脊髓中度急性损伤模型。N组仅暴露大鼠脊髓,T组打击术后不予药物,EGb组术后予EGb 17.5 mg/(kg.d)腹腔注射。结果大鼠脊髓损伤后,光镜下可见EGb组脊髓组织损伤程度较T组轻;伤段脊髓内Caspase-3表达上调,在3 d达到高峰,但EGb组Caspase-3表达低于T组(P<0.01);流式细胞仪检测显示,大鼠脊髓损伤后,N组和T组均发现凋亡细胞,均在3 d达到高峰,但EGb组凋亡细胞比率显著低于T组(P<0.01)。结论银杏叶提取物在脊髓损伤早期可以明显抑制Caspase-3的高表达,并且减少神经细胞的凋亡。     

桑白皮黄酮提取物对2型糖尿病大鼠非酒精性脂肪肝血管生成相关基因的影响

目的:初步探索桑白皮黄酮提取物对2型糖尿病大鼠非酒精性脂肪肝的治疗作用及机制研究。方法:将24只雄性大鼠随机分为3组,分别为正常组、模型组、桑白皮黄酮组(1.0 g·kg~(-1))。采用腹腔注射小剂量链脲佐菌素(streptozocin,STZ)结合高脂饲料喂养的方法,建立2型糖尿病伴非酒精性脂肪肝的模型,灌胃治疗16周时,观察比较桑白皮黄酮提取物对各组大鼠血清中空腹血糖(FBG),总胆固醇(TC),甘油三酯(TG),低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C),糖耐量(OGTT)变化,油红O染色和苏木素-伊红(HE)染色观察肝脏病理改变,实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(Real-time PCR)检测肝脏血管内皮生长因子(vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF),血小板衍生因子(platelet derived growth factor,PDGF)mRNA的表达。结果:灌胃干预16周后,与正常组比较,模型组大鼠FBG,TC,TG,LDL-C,含量均显著高于正常组(P0.05),应用桑白皮黄酮治疗后,上述生化指标较模型组均有显著下降(P0.05)。糖耐量试验显示模型组胰岛素敏感性下降,应用桑白皮黄酮治疗后胰岛素敏感性较模型组有显著改善。油红O染色结果显示模型组肝细胞胞浆内可见大量红染的脂肪滴,而桑白皮黄酮组肝细胞胞浆内未见红染的脂肪滴。HE染色结果显示模型组肝小叶中肝细胞发生明显的小泡样脂肪变性,部分肝细胞中脂滴融合成大的脂肪空泡,小叶中可见点状坏死,周围有炎性细胞浸润,而桑白皮黄酮组肝细胞结构正常。模型组肝脏中VEGF,PDGF mRNA表达量较正常组有显著升高,应用桑白皮黄酮治疗后,肝脏中VEGF,PDGF mRNA表达量明显降低(P0.05)。结论:桑白皮黄酮提取物对实验性2型糖尿病大鼠非酒精性脂肪性肝有一定的防治作用,其作用机制可能与抑制肝脏中VEGF,PDGF mRNA的表达有关。     

胎大鼠顶盖提取液保存视网膜节细胞的形态学

目的：通过胎大鼠顶盖提取液保存视网膜神经层，观察其对视网膜节细胞(RGCs)的形态结构影响，了解其对RGCs的保护作用。方法：用胎大鼠顶盖提取液、端脑提取液，成年大鼠端脑提取液及RPMI-l640培养液分别保存视网膜神经层组织块4小时。对标本作神经元特异性烯酵酶(NSE)抗体免疫染色，光镜、电镜下观察RGCs形态结构变化，测量RGCs核体积密度。结果：顶盖提取液组保存的RGCs形态结构基本正常，RGCs核体积密度与正常RGCs核体积密度相比无显著差异(P＞0．05)，其余各组保存的RGCs出现不同程度的细胞形态学改变。结论：胎大鼠顶盖提取液可能含有维持RGCs存活的营养因子。     

Assessment of the intrinsic radiosensitivity of glioma cells and monitoring of metabolite ratio changes after irradiation by 14.7‐T high‐resolution 1H MRS

Gliomas are the most common type of primary brain tumor. Radiation therapy (RT) is the primary adjuvant treatment to eliminate residual tumor tissue after surgery. However, the current RT guided by conventional imaging is unsatisfactory. A fundamental question is whether it is possible to further enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of RT based on individual radiosensitivity. In this research, to probe the correlation between radiosensitivity and the metabolite characteristics of glioma cells in vitro, a perchloric acid (PCA) extracting method was used to obtain water‐soluble metabolites [such as N‐acetylaspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), creatine (Cr) and succinate (Suc)]. Spectral patterns from these processed water‐soluble metabolite samples were acquired by in vitro 14.7‐T high‐resolution ¹H MRS. Survival fraction analysis was performed to test the intrinsic radiosensitivity of glioma cell lines. Good ¹H MRS of PCA extracts from glioma cells was obtained. The radiosensitivity of glioma cells correlated positively with the Cho/Cr and Cho/NAA ratios, but negatively with the Suc/Cr ratio. Irradiation of the C6 cell line at different X‐ray dosages led to changes in metabolite ratios and apoptotic rates. A plateau phase of metabolite ratio change and a decrease in apoptotic rate were found in the C6 cell line. We conclude that in vitro high‐resolution ¹H MRS possesses the sensitivity required to detect subtle biochemical changes at the cellular level. ¹H MRS may aid in the assessment of the individual radiosensitivity of brain tumors, which is pivotal in the identification of the biological target volume. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Inhibition of Three Novel Radix Scutellariae Extracts on Immediate Hypersensitivity

Background

Radix Scutellariae, a few papers reported its pharmacology activities including alleviate small intestines smooth muscles spasm, sedation, antihypertensive effect. However, the inhibition of its different organic extracts on immediate hypersensitivity has not bee researched.

Materials and Methods

To investigate the anti-immediate hypersensitivity of three extracts including ethanol extracts, acetone extracts, ethyl acetate extracts from Radix Scutellariae, four pharmacological screening model were chose, such as 4-Aminopyridine induced pruritus model, histamine-induced mouse paw edema model, PCA(passive cutaneous anaphylaxis) in ear of mouse, activie cutaneous anaphylaxismouse (mouse ear edema test), furthermore, total IgE level in the sensitized mice serum was evaluated deeply.

Results

Ethanol group at 1.42g/kg and 0.71g/kg could greatly decrease the licking number to 1.2 and 12.7 respectively; also keep mice paw swelling at 0.29ml and 0.51ml at 15 min after injection of histamine. Both ear passive cutaneous allergic reaction and active cutaneous anaphylaxis-ear swelling test demonstrated that ethanol group exhibit great inhibition on immediate hypersensitivity.Low IgE level was found in ethanol group, but high in other two groups.

Conclusion

The ethanol extracts exhibits obvious strong inhibition, however, the acetone ones and ethyl acetate showed a little.     

Improvement of fruit allergenic extracts for immunoblotting experiments

A method based on ion-exchange column chromatography to enhance the protein content of fruit allergenic extracts was found to help make the subsequent SDS-PAGE immunoblotting assays possible; otherwise, they were difficult to achieve due to the high carbohydrate content. Fractionated extracts of apple, pear, and peach (peel and pulp) were obtained by anion-exchange chromatography (Q-Sepharose^TM column), providing clear electrophoretic patterns which allowed IgE detection by enzymatic assays of the transferred membranes. This chromatographic method produced in one single step an enriched extract directly from the standard crude aqueous one, with an increment in the protein content of more than sixfold, on average; thus, it proved to be more suitable than the usual chemical fractionation procedures.