Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. Bark. protects against hydrogen peroxide-induced neuronal cell death in SH-SY5Y cells

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. Bark. (EUE), has commonly been used to fortify the muscles and lungs, lower blood pressure, prevent miscarriage, improve the tone of liver and kidneys, and promote longevity the traditional tonic medicines of Korea, China, and Japan.

Aim of the study

In this study, we investigated that the neuroprotective activities and possible mechanisms of EUE aqueous extract in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced neuronal cell death in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells.

Material and method

We examined the effects of EUE against H₂O₂-induced cytotoxicity, DNA condensation, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), loss of mitochondria membrane potential (MMP), the proteolysis of cleaved poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), and the expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, cleaved caspase-3, and release of cytochrome c. Moreover, we attempted to determine whether EUE suppressed the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2), and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt.

Results

Pretreatment with EUE increased cell viability and inhibited cytotoxicity and DNA condensation. EUE also attenuated the increase in ROS production and MMP reduction. Western blot data revealed that EUE inhibited H₂O₂-induced up- or down-regulation of cleaved PARP, cleaved caspase-3, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xL. The EUE inhibited release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytosol, and significantly attenuated H₂O₂-induced phosphorylation of JNK, p38 MAPK, ERK 1/2, and PI3K/Akt.

Conclusion

The potent neuroprotective capacity of EUE, shown in these experiments, may potentially be applied in the prevention or treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD).     

Effects of ethanol extract of Ficus bengalensis (bark) on inflammatory bowel disease

Objective:

The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of ethanol extract of Ficus bengalensis Linn. bark (AEFB) on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Materials and Methods:

Effects of AEFB were studied on 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS, 0.25 ml 120 mg/ml in 50% ethanol intrarectally, on first day only) induced IBD in rats. The effects of co-administration of prednisolone (2 mg/kg) and AEFB (250, 500 mg/kg) for 21 days were evaluated. Animals sacrificed at end of the experiment and various histopathological parameters like colon mucosal damage index (CMDI) and disease activity index (DAI) were assessed. In the colon homogenate malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and nitric oxide (NO) levels and in mesentery % mast cell protection was also measured.

Results:

Rats treated with only TNBS showed more score of CMDI and DAI, higher MDA, NO, MPO, and lower SOD activity as compared to the control group. Treatment with AEFB significantly declined both indices scores and decreased the MPO, MDA, NO, and increased the SOD activity. AEFB also increased the % mast cell protection compared to alone TNBS-treated animals.

Conclusion:

In our study, we found that AEFB has a significant protective effect in the IBD in rats that is comparable to that of prednisolone and may be because of the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds.     

五加皮减肥实验用高脂饲料的改进

［ 目的］ 消除腹泻现象．［ 方法］ 改进高脂饲料配方,饲养大鼠１５ｄ 后形成肥胖模型,给予五加皮灌胃４ 周后测体重．［ 结果］大鼠在五加皮减肥过程中无腹泻现象．［ 结论］ 以往实验中出现腹泻是原高脂饲料的配方所致．     

超临界CO_2萃取厚朴的主要成分

目的 :用超临界CO2 萃取厚朴的主要成分。方法 :超临界CO2 对厚朴进行萃取分离 ,HPCE法测定厚朴酚与和厚朴酚的含量。结果 :超临界CO2 萃取物中厚朴酚与和厚朴酚的含量分别为 34 .6 8%和 32 .91%,萃取率 1.83与 1.73%。结论 :用超临界CO2 萃取厚朴的主要成分方法简单 ,萃取分离效果好 ,主要成分得率高。     

牡丹皮基因组DNA提取的影响因素研究

目的:研究牡丹皮基因组DNA提取的影响因素。方法:以根皮类中药材牡丹皮为材料,在快速少量抽提(CTAB)法的基础上对提取缓冲液中氯化钠、β-巯基乙醇浓度,水浴温度、时间,RNA酶(RNaseA)、聚合酶链(PCR)反应体系等条件进行考察。结果:使用经过改进后的CTAB法获得的DNA纯度和完整性较好,A260/A280值在1.8～2.0之间,PCR扩增条带清晰且亮,从而为接下来的分子生物学实验打下了良好的基础。结论:本方法经济、快速、高效,可作为根皮类中药材基因组DNA的提取方法,可为大规模生产提供理论依据。     

基于近红外光谱技术的黄柏药材定量分析

目的:建立一种能够同时快速测定黄柏药材中小檗碱和黄柏碱含量的方法。方法:以HPLC所测样品中小檗碱和黄柏碱的含量为参考值,利用近红外光谱分析技术,将参考值与样品的近红外光谱进行关联,采用偏最小二乘法(PLS)建立黄柏中小檗碱和黄柏碱的定量分析模型。结果:所建立的小檗碱和黄柏碱的定量分析模型的内部交叉验证决定系数(R2)分别为0.997 13,0.989 23,校正均方差(RMSEC)分别为0.082 3,0.021 5,验证均方差(RMSEP)分别为0.071 7,0.016 6,性能指数PI分别为95.6,93.5。结论:利用近红外光谱技术建立的定量分析模型,能够对黄柏药材中小檗碱和黄柏碱的含量进行无损快速测定。     

从痰论治冠心病并发抑郁状态临床研究

目的:观察从痰论治对冠心病抑郁状态患者的症状及HAMD评分的改善情况。方法:将本院60例冠心病并发抑郁状态患者随机分为对照组和治疗组各30例,对照组采用冠心病常规药物口服,加用黛力新(丹麦灵北制药,每片含二盐酸氟哌噻吨0.5 mg和盐酸美利曲辛10 mg),早晨1片口服。治疗组在对照组治疗的基础上辨证论治,痰气郁结证采用半夏厚朴汤合柴胡疏肝散加减治疗;痰浊蒙心证采用瓜蒌薤白半夏汤合涤痰汤加减治疗;痰瘀互结证采用血府逐瘀汤合二陈汤加减治疗;气虚痰生证采用香砂六君子汤加减治疗。两组疗程均为6周。结果:对照组有效率为70.00%,治疗组有效率为86.68%,两组有效率比较,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);两组患者治疗后HAMD评分较治疗前均明显降低(P0.05),组间比较有统计学意义(P0.05);两组治疗后心电图ST段下移及T波低平或倒置例数均明显减少,组间比较有统计学意义(P0.05);心肌标志物CTnl及CK-MB均较治疗前明显降低(P0.05);组间比较有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:从痰论治可以改善冠心病并发抑郁状态患者的症状,降低HAMD评分。     

基于抑郁症细胞因子、神经-内分泌发病机制的中医药治疗新进展

抑郁症发病机制复杂,与细胞因子、单胺类神经递质、HPA轴失调等有关。近年来,抗抑郁症治疗靶标由"单胺类神经递质",转向神经可塑性、神经-HPA轴、免疫系统等药物作用新靶标,中医药治疗抑郁症具有身心整体调治、疗效稳定持久、不良反应小、适合长期服用等优势,其机制与调节细胞因子、单胺类神经递质及HPA轴有关,但尚存在药理作用机制不清,药效物质基础不明确等问题。药物治疗抑郁症患者脑内代谢物改变的研究较多,但研究针刺影响抑郁症患者脑内代谢物的研究较少。     

丹参皮质部与木质部有效成份含量比较

目的：比较丹参皮质部与木质部有效成份含量差异。方法：采用水醇法处理丹参,用HPLC含量潮定法。结果：皮部丹参酮ⅡA含量较木质部高,而皮部原儿茶醛含量低于木质部。结论：以丹参酮ⅡA为主要成份的丹参制剂宜选用较细的药材,以原儿茶醛含量为主要成份的丹参制荆宜选用较粗的药材。     

正交试验优选温阳通便颗粒中挥发油提取工艺

目的优选温阳通便颗粒中当归、肉桂挥发油的最佳提取工艺条件。方法采用水蒸气蒸馏轻油装置加乙醚萃取的方法提取当归、肉桂挥发油,以挥发油收率作为评价指标,选择浸泡时间、加水量及提取时间为主要影响因素,应用L9(34)正交试验设计,选取最佳提取工艺条件。结果水蒸气蒸馏法提取当归、肉桂挥发油的最佳工艺条件为:药材浸泡3 h,加10倍量水,蒸馏提取6 h。结论本试验优选所得提取工艺条件稳定可行。