Antiproliferative activity and standardization of Tecomella undulata bark extract on K562 cells

Ethnopharmacological relevance

The bark of Tecomella undulata is primarily used in the treatment of syphilis, painful swellings and cancer by traditional healers. Also, it is claimed to be useful in treating urinary discharges, enlargement of spleen, leucorrhoea, leukoderma, tumors, liver disorders, gonorrhea, gout and promotes wound healing in Indian traditional system of medicine.

Aim

To establish a scientific validation for the antitumor effects of Tecomella undulata bark and explore the mechanistic pathway in chronic myeloid leukemia cell line, K562. The study was further extended to standardize the extract using quercetin as biomarker.

Methods

Induction of apoptosis by chloroform extract of Tecomella undulata bark (CTUB) was determined by MTT, Annexin V and caspase activation assays. The cell cycle analysis was done by flow cytometer and nuclear staining by DAPI. The standardization of the extract was performed through reverse phase-HPLC method under PDA detection.

Result

Results clearly showed the induction of apoptosis by CTUB in K562 cells. The effect was found to be dose dependent, having IC₅₀ of 30 μg/ml with activation of FAS, FADD, caspase 8, caspase 3/7 and fragmentation of DNA. The bioactive CTUB was determined to possess 0.03% (w/w) of quercetin.

Conclusion

The investigation clearly demonstrated the potential antitumor effect of CTUB, thereby validating the traditional claim. Quercetin, known to have anticancer activity is being reported and quantified for the first time from the bark of Tecomella undulata.     

Investigation of the in vitro and ex vivo acetylcholinesterase and antioxidant activities of traditionally used Lycopodium species from South America on alkaloid extracts

Ethnopharmacological relevance

The study was aimed at evaluating medicinal and therapeutic potentials of two Lycopodiaceae species, Lycopodium clavatum (L.) and Lycopodium thyoides (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd), both used in South American folk medicine for central nervous system conditions. Alkaloid extracts were evaluated for chemical characterization, acetylcholinesterase and antioxidant activities.

Materials and methods

The alkaloid extracts obtained by alkaline extraction were determined for each species by GC/MS examination. The evaluation of the anticholinesterase and the antioxidant activities of the extracts were tested by determining in vitro and ex vivo models. Effects on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were tested in vitro using rat brain homogenates and ex vivo after a single administration (25, 10 and 1 mg/kg i.p.) of the alkaloid extracts in mice. The in vitro antioxidant effects were tested for the 2-deoxyribose degradation, nitric oxide (NO) interaction, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and total reactive antioxidant potential (TRAP). After an acute administration (25 and 10 mg/kg i.p.) of the extracts in middle-aged (12 months) mice, the antioxidant effects were estimated through the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances test (TBARS), and the antioxidant enzymes activities for catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured.

Results

AChE activity was inhibited in vitro by the alkaloid-enriched extracts of both Lycopodium species in a dose and time-dependent manner in rat cortex, striatum and hippocampus. A significant inhibition was also observed in areas of the brain after acute administration of extracts, as well as decreased lipid peroxidation and increased CAT activity in the cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum. A moderate antioxidant activity was observed in vitro for the extracts. Chemically, the main alkaloids found for the two species were lycopodine and acetyldihidrolycopodine.

Conclusion

This study showed that the biological properties of the folk medicinal plants Lycopodium clavatum and Lycopodium thyoides include AChE inhibitory activity and antioxidant effects, two possible mechanisms of action in Alzheimer's related processes.     

木耳菌丝体及其醇提物的药理作用

木耳菌丝体小鼠ip给药能明显提高外周血T淋巴细胞百分率,使环磷酰胺引起的半数溶血值HC₅₀减少恢复正常;其醇提物体内外均能明显抑制ADP诱导大鼠血小板聚集作用,缩短小鼠红细胞电泳时间。     

陈以平教授膏方治疗肾病的经验

介绍陈以平教授应用膏方治疗慢性肾脏疾病的经验。其临床辨证具有辨证与辨病结合、主证与次证兼顾、治病与防病并举的特点。用药强调治脾是关键，治肾是根本；清化之剂，贯穿始终；遣方用药，善用药对；中西合参，相得益彰。     

Pharmacokinetic comparisons of berberine and palmatine in normal and metabolic syndrome rats

Ethnopharmacological relevance

San-Huang formula is a popular traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparation to replenish Qi, resolve phlegm, dissipate blood stasis, and therapy metabolic syndrome in China. Metabolic syndrome, which is accompanied by Qi and blood stasis, mainly arises from spleen deficiency in essence. There is limited information available for differences of pharmacokinetic properties of San-Huang formula between normal and metabolic syndrome rats. The present study was conducted to compare the pharmacokinetics of berberine as well as palmatine in normal and metabolic syndrome rats following oral administration of San-Huang formula extract.

Materials and methods

The animals were orally administered with San-Huang formula extract with the equivalent dose of 60.4 and 12.5 mg/kg for berberine and palmatine, respectively. The blood samples were collected according to the time schedule. The concentrations of berberine and palmatine in rat plasma were determined by LC–ESI/MS. Various pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated from the plasma concentration versus time data using non-compartmental methods.

Results

It was found that AUC_0−t, C_max, Vd and CL of berberine and palmatine in metabolic syndrome rats were significantly different (P<0.05) from normal rats.

Conclusions

The results indicated that berberine and palmatine have higher uptake and slower elimination in the rats with metabolic syndrome, which suggests that the rate and extent of drug metabolism were altered in metabolic syndrome rats.     

丹参酮提取物物理化学质量属性相关性分析

目的：探寻丹参酮提取物化学成分的含量与物理性质之间的相关性。方法：HPLC测定50批丹参酮提取物中隐丹参酮、丹参酮IIA的含量,经典方法测定物理性质,将成分含量与物理性质进行相关性分析。结果：两变量组组内的隐丹参酮与丹参酮IIA含量,D10、D50、D90 之间,松装密度与振实密度,豪斯纳比率与压缩度指数均具有较强的相关性,休止角与均齐度、豪斯纳比率、压缩度指数具有一定的相关性,但相关性不强。两变量组的原始变量组间相关性系数最大不超过0.400,相关性不强。经过典型相关分析,3对典型变量的相关性显著,相关系数分别为0.851,0.674,0.565。结论：对于丹参酮提取物的化学、物理质量属性,原始变量组内具有较好的相关性,但组间相关性较差。相比原始变量,典型变量呈现出了较好的组间相关性,表明丹参酮提取物的物理化学属性之间具有一定的相关性。     

Efficacy and Safety of Omija (Schisandra chinensis) Extract Mixture on the Improvement of Hyperglycemia: A Randomized,Double-Blind,and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

A previous animal study demonstrated that the administration of Omija extract and soybean mixture (OSM) improved glycemic control in the type 2 diabetes model. In this study, we conducted a 12-week, randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled clinical trial to determine the effects of OSM in humans with hyperglycemia. Participants with fasting plasma concentrations of 100–140 mg/dL were enrolled (n = 80) and administered either OSM or placebo products for 12 weeks. The outcomes included measurements of efficacy (fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial glucose (PPG), fasting plasma insulin (FPI), postprandial insulin (PPI), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), C-peptide, fructosamine, and lipid parameters) and safety at baseline and at 12 weeks. After the intervention, the OSM group showed significantly decreased levels of FPG, PPG (30, 60 min), PPI (60 min), insulin area under the curve (AUC), fructosamine, and low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol compared to the placebo group. No clinically significant changes in any safety parameter were observed. Therefore, it is hypothesized that OSM supplementation is an effective and safe functional food supplement for humans with hyperglycemia.     

罗布麻叶浸膏对脑内单胺类递质含量及细胞膜流动性的影响

罗布麻叶浸膏可使脑内5-HT及DA含量升高,其水溶性成分可使5-HT、5-HIAA及DA 含量升高,而NE含量降低,醇溶性成分上述作用更为明显。提示罗布麻叶浸膏可能含有兴奋中枢 5-HT神经元功能及抑制中枢肾上腺素神经元功能的化学物质,这些化学物质为水溶性及酸溶性。 脑神经细胞膜脂质流动性测定结果提示罗布麻叶浸膏水溶性部分可使膜流动性增加。     

微粉硅胶用于白芷提取物粉体改性及其促进元胡止痛分散片崩解的原理研究

目的 研究微粉硅胶用于白芷提取物粉体改性及其促进元胡止痛分散片崩解的原理.方法 采用混合与液相分散两种方法,微粉硅胶3％、5％、7％3种改性剂量对白芷提取物进行粉体改性,研究粉体改性前后在红外光谱、比表面积与孔隙度、接触角、差示扫描量热、扫描电镜的差异及其对元胡止痛分散片崩解时间的影响.结果 红外光谱显示液相分散法与混合法的改性方式相同,均属物理改性;改性后,粉体的比表面积与孔隙体积显著增加,接触角显著降低,热效应显著变化;当微粉硅胶用量达到5％时,两种方法均能改善元胡止痛分散片的崩解性能.结论 增强白芷提取物比表面积,增强吸水性、润湿性,分散提取物,降低黏性可能是微粉硅胶改性及促进分散片崩解的主要机制.     

Inhibitory effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on hyperhomocysteinemia-induced intimal thickening in rabbit abdominal aorta after balloon injury

Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) has been widely used to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders. Hyperhomocysteinemia (Hhcy) is associated with the risk of atherosclerosis and restenosis after angioplasty. The objective of this study was to investigate whether GBE could attenuate the Hhcy-induced intimal thickening after balloon injury in rabbit abdominal aorta. It was observed in this study that GBE could decrease the neointima area (NA) and the ratio of the neointima area to the media area (NA/MA), down-regulate the mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and up-regulate the protein expression of p21 (WAF1/CIP1) (p21). It suggests that GBE can reverse the Hhcy-induced neointima formation in rabbits following balloon injury, and the suppressive effect of GBE on the migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) may contribute to its actions.