Pharmacology of KB‐R7943: A Na+–Ca2+ exchange inhibitor

The Na⁺–Ca²⁺ exchange (NCX) system plays a pivotal role in regulating intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration in cardiomyocytes, neuronal cells, kidney and a variety of other cells. It performs a particularly important function in regulating cardiac contractility and electrical activity. One of the leading NCX inhibitors is KB‐R9743 (KBR) that appears to exhibit selectivity for Ca²⁺‐influx‐mode NCX activity (reverse mode of NCX). In this article we reviewed pharmacology of KBR and provide a brief summary of studies with other NCX inhibitors, such as SEA0400 (SEA) and SN‐6 (SN). Potential clinical usefulness of KBR and other NCX inhibitors is still controversial but the reviewed findings may be helpful in designing more selective and clinically useful NCX inhibitors for the treatment of cardiac, neuronal and kidney diseases.     

甘草黄酮抗实验性心律失常的作用

甘草黄酮（ｇｌｙｃｙｒｒｈｅｉｃｂｒｓｓ．ＧＢ）２ｍｇ／ｋｇ能明显对抗乌头碱２０μｇ／ｋｇ，ＢａＣｌ２２ｍｇ／ｋｇ和结扎左冠状动脉前降支诱发大鼠的室性心律失常。甘草黄酮也能明显对抗ＣａＣｌ２－Ａｃｈ（ＣａＣｌ２０．６％＋Ａｃｈ０．００２５％）混合液诱发小鼠心房纤颤或扑动，ＧＢ对大鼠心电图实验，证明了有负性频率作用，负性传导作用，这些作用可能是ＧＢ抗心律失常作用的药理基础。     

常用炮制对滇产草乌3种乌头碱减毒情况分析

目的 利用几种常规的炮制方法分析草乌中乌头碱、次乌头碱和新乌头碱的减毒情况。方法 将大小形状不同的草乌样品分别经过水煮法、蒸法及烘烤法进行不同时长炮制,采用超高效液相色谱串联质谱进行含量测定分析,外标法定量。结果 3种乌头碱在0.20～100.0μg/L浓度范围内均具有良好的线性关系,相关系数均大于0.9997。草乌不同形状减毒效果为粉末＞片状＞完整个头,不同炮制方法减毒效果为水煮＞蒸＞烘烤,烘烤炮制对草乌样品未有良好减毒效果。浓度为1.0μg/mL的乌头碱、新乌头碱和次乌头碱标准品分别经过0.5h、1.5h和1.5h水煮炮制可达到100%完全降解,但其他炮制样品的减毒效果根据不同的炮制方法显现出较大差异性。结论 3种乌头碱经过足够时长的水煮及蒸法炮制均可达到显著的减毒效果,烘烤法对草乌减毒作用较小,民间食用草乌的安全性应引起高度重视。     

利用基因芯片技术研究乌头碱抗KBV200细胞耐药机制

目的采用基因芯片技术研究乌头碱抗KBV200细胞耐药机制。方法提取乌头碱12.5μg/mL用药组和对照组KBV200细胞的RNA,进行cDNA微阵列分析。结果整张基因芯片5504个基因克隆,其中用药前高表达基因208个,占克隆总数的3.8%,用药后高表达基因196个,占3.6%。用药前后细胞凋亡相关基因、CDKS家族、SMADS家族、MAPK信号转导系统等的基因发生变化。结论乌头碱可能通过影响细胞凋亡相关基因和影响MAPK信号转导系统等机制,最后作用于Mdr1基因的表达,从而起到抗耐药作用。     

Real-time toxicity prediction of Aconitum stewing system using extractive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Due to numerous obstacles such as complex matrices, real-time monitoring of complex reaction systems (e.g., medicinal herb stewing system) has always been a challenge though great values for safe and rational use of drugs. Herein, facilitated by the potential ability on the tolerance of complex matrices of extractive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, a device was established to realize continuous sampling and real-time quantitative analysis of herb stewing system for the first time. A complete analytical strategy, including data acquisition, data mining, and data evaluation was proposed and implemented with overcoming the usual difficulties in real-time mass spectrometry quantification. The complex Fuzi (the lateral root of Aconitum)–meat stewing systems were real-timely monitored in 150 min by qualitative and quantitative analysis of the nine key alkaloids accurately. The results showed that the strategy worked perfectly and the toxicity of the systems were evaluated and predicated accordingly. Stewing with trotters effectively accelerated the detoxification of Fuzi soup and reduced the overall toxicity to 68%, which was recommended to be used practically for treating rheumatic arthritis and enhancing immunity. The established strategy was versatile, simple, and accurate, which would have a wide application prospect in real-time analysis and evaluation of various complex reaction systems.     

Limitation standard of toxic aconitines in Aconitum proprietary Chinese medicines using on-line extraction electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Development of rapid analytical methods and establishment of toxic component limitation standards are of great importance in quality control of traditional Chinese medicine. Herein, an on-line extraction electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (oEESI-MS) coupled with a novel whole process integral quantification strategy was developed and applied to direct determination of nine key aconitine-type alkaloids in 20 Aconitum proprietary Chinese medicines (APCMs). Multi-type dosage forms (e.g., tablets, capsules, pills, granules, and liquid preparation) of APCM could be determined directly with excellent versatility. The strategy has the characteristics of high throughput, good tolerance of matrix interference, small amount of sample (∼0.5 mg) and reagent (∼240 μL) consumption, and short analysis time for single sample (<15 min). The results were proved to be credible by high performance liquid chromatography−mass spectrometry (LC–MS) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, respectively. Moreover, the limitation standard for the toxic aconitines in 20 APCMs was established based on the holistic weight toxicity (HWT) evaluation and the Chinese Pharmacopoeia severally, and turned out that HWT-based toxicity evaluation results were closer to the real clinical applications. Hence, a more accurate and reliable APCM toxicity limitation was established and expected to play an important guiding role in clinics. The current study extended the power of ambient MS as a method for the direct quantification of molecules in complex samples, which is commonly required in pharmaceutical analysis, food safety control, public security, and many other disciplines.     

Arrhythmogenesis Toxicity of Aconitine Is Related to Intracellular Ca2+ Signals

Aconitine is a well-known arrhythmogenic toxin and induces triggered activities through cardiac voltage-gated Na⁺ channels. However, the effects of aconitine on intracellular Ca²⁺ signals were previously unknown. We investigated the effects of aconitine on intracellular Ca²⁺ signals in rat ventricular myocytes and explored the possible mechanism of arrhythmogenic toxicity induced by aconitine. Ca²⁺ signals were evaluated by measuring L-type Ca²⁺ currents, caffeine-induced Ca²⁺ release and the expression of NCX and SERCA2a. Action potential and triggered activities were recorded by whole-cell patch-clamp techniques. In rat ventricular myocytes, the action potential duration was significantly prolonged by 1 µM aconitine. At higher concentrations (5 µM and 10 µM), aconitine induced triggered activities and delayed after-depolarizations (6 of 8 cases), which were inhibited by verapamil. Aconitine (1 µM) significantly increased the I_Ca-L density from 12.77 ± 3.12 pA/pF to 18.98 ± 3.89 pA/pF (n=10, p<0.01). The activation curve was shifted towards more negative potential, while the inactivation curve was shifted towards more positive potential by 1 μM aconitine. The level of Ca²⁺ release induced by 10 mM caffeine was markedly increased. Aconitine (1 µM) increased the expression of NCX, while SERCA2a expression was reduced. In conclusion, aconitine increased the cytosolic [Ca²⁺]_i by accelerating I_Ca-L and changing the expression of NCX and SERCA2a. Then, the elevation of cytosolic [Ca²⁺]_i induced triggered activities and delayed after-depolarizations. Arrhythmogenesis toxicity of aconitine is related to intracellular Ca²⁺ signals.     

川乌中总生物碱提取工艺优化研究

目的:优选川乌药材中总生物碱的最佳提取工艺。方法:采用L9(34)正交法,以提取物得率和乌头碱、次乌头碱和新乌头碱的含量为考察指标,并用RP-HPLC法测定三种生物碱的含量,流动相为甲醇-水-氯仿-二乙胺(70∶30∶2∶0.1)。结果:筛选出的最佳提取工艺为药材用氨试液浸润,加入15倍乙醚溶剂,冷浸24h。结论:该实验提取工艺合理、科学。     

Aconitum in Traditional Chinese Medicine-A valuable drug or an unpredictable risk?

Aconitum species have been used in China as an essential drug in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for 2000 years. Reviewing the clinical application of Aconitum, their pharmacological effects, toxicity and detoxifying measures, herb–herb interactions, clinical taboos, famous herbal formulas, traditional and current herbal processing methods based upon a wide range of literature investigations serve as a case study to explore the multidisciplinary implications of botanicals used in TCM. The toxicological risk of improper usage of Aconitum remains very high, especially in countries like China, India and Japan. The toxicity of Aconitum mainly derives from the diester diterpene alkaloids (DDAs) including aconitine (AC), mesaconitine (MA) and hypaconitine (HA). They can be decomposed into less or non-toxic derivatives through Chinese traditional processing methods (Paozhi), which play an essential role in detoxification. Using Paozhi, the three main forms of processed aconite – Yanfuzi, Heishunpian and Baifupian – can be obtained (CPCommission, 2005). Moreover, some new processing techniques have been developed in China such as pressure-steaming. The current development of fingerprint assays, in particular HPLC, has set a good basis to conduct an appropriate quality control for TCM crude herbs and their ready-made products. Therefore, a stipulation for a maximum level of DDA content of Aconitum is highly desirable in order to guarantee the clinical safety and its low toxicity in decoctions. Newly developed HPLC methods have made the accurate and simultaneous determination and quantification of DDA content interesting.