Acute Poisonings with Breynia officinalis—An Outbreak of Hepatotoxicity

Abstract

Background.?In combination with other traditional Chinese medicines, Breynia officinalis, a species of Euphorbiaceae, has long been used to treat contusions, heart failure, venereal diseases, growth retardation, and conjunctivitis. B. officinalis, regarded as a poison, was mistaken for a similar plant, Securinega suffruticosa, and cooked in a soup used for the treatment of muscle soreness, lumbago, and as a tonic in this outbreak. Case series.?Nineteen patients, 11 males and 8 females (average age 49.2 ± 9.1 years) consumed an average of 130 mL (30–900 mL) of soup containing B. officinalis stems. Fourteen patients developed diarrhea, 10 experienced nausea and chilly sensations, 9 had sensations of abdominal fullness, and 7 suffered from vomiting. The results of liver function tests (LFTs) indicated that the observed maximum median level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was 647 U/L (range 89–9440 U/L), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 314 U/L (range 47–7756 U/L), alkaline phosphatase 251 U/L (range 224–278 U/L), and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase 106 U/L (range 84–313 U/L). The median time to the observed median peak levels was 3 days for ALT, 2 days for AST, 5 days for alkaline phosphatase, and 12 days for gamma glutamyl transpeptidase. With supportive treatment, the majority of abnormalities in 14 of the cases resolved within 6 months of exposure. Conclusions.?The consumption of a soup containing B. officinalis Hemsley resulted in dose‐related toxic effects. Clinical toxicity consisted primarily of gastrointestinal symptoms and signs and hepatotoxicity. Hepatocellular liver injury rather than cholestatic liver injury was observed. Marked jaundice did not develop.     

RETRACTED: Immunotoxicity activity from various organic solvents extract of Allium genus from South Korea against Aedes aegypti L.

Background: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and its analogues are reported to exert wide-ranging cardiovascular actions in preclinical and clinical studies. We thus investigated whether the GLP-1 receptor agonist, exendin-4, has inhibitory effects on LPS-stimulated inflammatory response in cardiomyoblasts.

Methods: H9c2 cardiomyoblasts were exposed to LPS and treated with exendin-4. Expressions of proinflammatory mediators were assessed using quantitative real-time PCR. Nuclear localization of NF-κB was examined using immunoblotting. mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitric oxide (NO) production were evaluated by q PCR and NO assay. Furthermore, anti-apoptotic effect of exendin-4 in LPS-stimulated H9c2 cells was determined using qPCR and immunoblot.

Results: Exposure to LPS increased mRNA expressions of TNF-α, COX-2 and MMP-9 in H9c2 cells. It also caused increases in iNOS mRNA expression and NF-κB nuclear translocation. Exendin-4 dose-dependently downregulated mRNA levels of TNF-α, COX-2 and MMP-9 in LPS-stimulated H9c2 cells. It also reduced NF-κB nuclear translocation. Treatment with exendin-4 showed no effect on LPS-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cells.

Conclusions: Exendin-4 exerts an effect on cardiomyoblast exposed to LPS by inhibiting mRNA expression of inflammatory mediators and suppressing NF-κB activation. These effects are consistent with some of the observed anti-inflammatory properties of exendin-4, as well as its beneficial actions on the cardiovascular system.     

山茱萸道地产区有效成分变异与性状相关研究

目的：通过对道地产区山茱萸果实有效成分变异、有效成分间及有效成分与外形、营养指标之间的相关研究，为山茱萸基于有效成分的良种选择提供理论基础。方法：采集山茱萸道地产区浙江省淳安县、临安市实生单株完熟果实，运用HPLC测定单株果实的马钱素、熊果酸、齐墩果酸含量，同时测定山茱萸果实的纵径/横径、可溶性固形物、出皮率等性状。结果：①道地产区内熊果酸、齐墩果酸、马钱素变异幅度分别为0.101 0%～0.478 6%，0.014 9%～0.127 4%，0.59%～2.30%，RSD分别为34.33%，40.48%，28.50%；②有效成分间及有效成分与外形、营养指标之间的相关关系如下：熊果酸、齐墩果酸相关极显著，相关系数为0.979 6；熊果酸、齐墩果酸与可溶性固形物成极显著负相关，相关系数分别为-0.554 4，-0.511 8；马钱素与可溶性固形物成显著相关，相关系数为0.241 2；熊果酸、齐墩果酸、马钱素与出皮率成显著负相关，相关系数分别-0.250 7，-0.244 3，-0.240 6；3种有效成分与纵径/横径相关不明显。结论：山茱萸单株间有效成分变异明显，选种潜力巨大；利用有效成分间及有效成分与外形、营养指标之间的相关关系，进行以有效成分为指标的选育种时，应以单株选种为主，可将熊果酸与齐墩果酸合并作为1个指标，并可用可溶性固形物做粗步筛选。     

马鞭草化学成分研究△

目的：研究马鞭草化学成分。方法：利用色谱技术进行分离纯化，根据理化性质和波谱学数据进行结构测定。结果：从马鞭草乙醇提取物的正丁醇可溶部分得到4个苯乙醇苷类化合物，分别为异毛蕊花苷（1）、阿克替苷（2）、Parvifloroside B（3）和Campneoside Ⅰ（4）；从石油醚可溶部分得到2个脂肪酸酯类化合物，分别为十六酸甲酯（5）和十六酸乙酯（6）。结论：化合物3和4为首次从该属植物中分离得到；5和6为首次从该植物中分离得到。     

Effects of cyanobacterial crude extracts from Planktothrix agardhii on embryo-larval development of medaka fish, Oryzias latipes.

Embryonic toxicity from exposure to microcystins, cyclic hepatotoxic heptapeptides from cyanobacteria, receives increasing attention as a public human health biohazard. Using a microinjection technology, we have introduced cyanobacterial extracts from Planktothrix agardhii directly into the vitellus of late neurula embryos (stage 19) of medaka (Oryzias latipes). Microinjection (2 nL) of P. agardhii PMC 75.02 extract containing microcystins (MC) resulted in a dose-dependent mortality of embryos. Survival rates were reduced up to 81% with extract concentrations of 10 mg mL(-1) (EC(50)=7.8 microg mL(-1)). On the other hand, injection of P. agardhii PMC 87.02 extract in which no microcystin could be detected resulted in much less embryonal toxicity (EC(50)=460 microg mL(-1)). In addition, advanced embryonic hatching processing was limited with PMC 75.02 crude extract and less obvious than had been described with pure MC-LR injections. In agreement with the known hepatotoxic effects of microcystin, embryos injected with PMC 75.02 extract consistently displayed hepatobiliary abnormalities. Loss of glycogen content of the hepatocytes and hepatic haemorrhage were evidenced in surviving post-hatching juveniles. Thus, the methodology presented in this paper should be a valuable tool to analyse the effects of crude extracts of cyanobacterial toxins on the development of aquatic vertebrate embryos.     

高效液相色谱法测定染色黄芩中金胺的含量

目的 探讨以高效液相色谱（HPLC）法测定染色黄芩中化工染料金胺的含量.方法 采用Luna C18柱（250mm ×4.6 mm,5μm）为色谱柱,流动相为0.025 mol/L磷酸盐缓冲液（磷酸二氢钾3.402 g,加水至1 000 mL,内加0.2%三乙胺,并用磷酸调节pH值至3.0）-乙腈（65∶35）,流速为1.0 mL/min,检测波长为432 nm.结果 金胺质量浓度线性范围为5～300 μg/mL,r=0.999 9（n=10）,平均回收率为99.39%（n=9）,RSD=0.23%.结论 HPLC法简便、快速、准确.     

连防感冒颗粒中防风薄层鉴别方法改进

目的寻找连防感冒颗粒中防风TLC鉴别更清晰，更可行的薄层色谱条件。方法在中国药典2005年版一部防风鉴别项下所用方法的基础上，改用硅胶G薄层板，展开后喷以10％硫酸乙醇溶液显色，365nm下检视。结果改进后的方法所得到的色谱图像较清晰，易于观察。结论该方法可以作为防风的薄层色谱鉴别方法。     

巴戟天与鸡筋参免疫增强作用的比较

目的：研究巴戟天、鸡筋参的免疫增强作用，并比较其活性强度。方法：从体内、外不同角度分析巴戟天、鸡筋参提取液对小鼠巨噬细胞和淋巴细胞的影响。采用^3H标记和MTF方法观察其对淋巴细胞功能的影响。结果：巴戟天在2mg·ml^-1以下．鸡筋参在1mg·ml^-1以下对小鼠淋巴细胞无毒性。高、低剂量的巴戟天及高剂量的鸡筋参能增强小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞吞噬功能．对改善环磷酰胺所致小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞吞噬功能降低的作用中，相同剂量的巴戟天明显强于鸡筋参。巴戟天、鸡筋参在25～800μg·ml^-1范围内可促进小鼠体外淋巴细胞增殖。巴戟天在16～32mg·kg^-1，鸡筋参在32mg·kg^-1剂量范围内可增强小鼠免疫活性。结论：巴戟天、鸡筋参具有免疫增强活性作用，鸡筋参作用弱于巴戟天。     

利用模式动物线虫进行木榄提取物3'',4'',5''-三羟基-7-羟基-5-甲氧基黄酮生物活性的评价研究

目的 研究红树植物体内具有的特殊天然活性成分的生物活性。方法 研究从红树植物木榄中提取到的一种生物活性成分-3’，4’，5’-三羟基-7-羟基-5-甲氧基黄酮（3’，4’，5’-trihydroxy-7-hydroxy-5-methoxy flavone），并通过引入模式生物线虫研究体系对其生物活性进行分析，评测此种提取物对于线虫寿命、生长发育、生殖速度及数量、运动行为等方面的影响。结果 该黄酮类物质明显缩短线虫寿命，可能部分是通过该提取物对于细胞凋亡进程的促进而介导的。此外，高剂量的提取物能够显著影响线虫的生殖与运动行为，但未发现该类物质的致畸作用。结论在未来开发该种提取物作为可能的抑制肿瘤细胞生长的药物时，必须注意到这种潜在的临床负效应。     

遗传毒性鸡血藤水提物抗柯萨奇病毒B3作用及机制

目的:探讨鸡血藤抗柯萨奇B3病毒(CVB3)的作用和机制。方法:不同浓度的鸡血藤水提物与适量CVB3感染的Vero E6细胞共同培养,采用甲基噻唑基四唑塞唑蓝(MTT)法检测细胞存活率,计算鸡血藤水提物对CVB3,CVB5,埃可病毒9(Echo virus 9,EV9),EV29和脊髓灰质炎病毒(Polio virus1,PVⅠ)这5种肠道病毒的半数抑制浓度(IC50)和治疗指数(TI),并用RT-PCR检测鸡血藤水提物对CVB3侵染Vero E6细胞的RNA复制的影响。结果:鸡血藤水提物能有效抑制CVB3,CVB5,EV9,EV29和PVⅠ这5种肠道病毒引发的细胞病变,IC50分别为60.8,47.1,17.1,65.5和29.1μg.mL-1,TI分别为4.1,5.3,14.6,3.8和8.6,对肠道病毒的抑制作用存在量效关系;鸡血藤不能阻止CVB3对Vero E6细胞的吸附作用,但可干扰CVB3侵染细胞后病毒核酸的复制。结论:鸡血藤能抑制CVB3引发的细胞病变,其机制可能是抑制侵染后病毒复制的初级阶段。