Low well-being is common among Chinese pregnant women but few effective interventions currently exist to improve prenatal stress and negative emotions. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has been proved to be effective in reducing stress and rarely studies were focused on Chinese pregnant women. The aim of the current paper is to investigate the effects of 8-week MBSR on prenatal stress, anxiety and depression among Chinese pregnant women. A sample of 66 pregnant women randomly allocated into either the MBSR group (n=34) or the control group (n=32). Participants in the MBSR group received a group 8-week, 90-min each time intervention. The results found a significant interaction between time and condition for prenatal stress (F=45.51, p<0.001, η 2=0.427), anxiety (F=19.30, p<0.001, η 2=0.240), while depression showed no time-by-group interaction (F=0.29, p=0.589, η 2=0.005). As for the sub-scale of state anxiety, while there was only no time effect (F=3.68, p=0.060, η 2=0.057). The findings of this study preliminary indicated effects of the MBSR intervention on self-reported prenatal stress and anxiety in comparison to a treatment-as-usual control. Effect on depression was not observed may due to the low level of depression of participants. This study provides preliminary evidence that MBSR is suitable for Chinese pregnant women and be effective in decreasing prenatal stress, anxiety.
Zuotai is a drug containing mercury considered to be the king of Tibetan medicine. The biosafety of Zuotai led people's attention and so far little is known about the toxicity of Zuotai to mast cells. RBL-2H3 cells which used as an alternative model of mast cells were treated with Zuotai, β-HgS and positive drug Compound 48/80 respectively. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to determine the toxicity of drugs to RBL-2H3 cells. The degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells was studied from β-hexosaminidase, histamine, interleukin (IL)-4 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The result showed that Zuotai can affect the cytotoxicity and degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells and the results can provide reference for the toxicity evaluations of Tibetan medicine Zuotai.
Zuotai is a drug containing mercury considered to be the king of Tibetan medicine. The biosafety of Zuotai led people's attention and so far little is known about the toxicity of Zuotai to mast cells. RBL-2H3 cells which used as an alternative model of mast cells were treated with Zuotai, β-HgS and positive drug Compound 48/80 respectively. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to determine the toxicity of drugs to RBL-2H3 cells. The degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells was studied from β-hexosaminidase, histamine, interleukin (IL)-4 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The result showed that Zuotai can affect the cytotoxicity and degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells and the results can provide reference for the toxicity evaluations of Tibetan medicine Zuotai.
We investigated the psychometric properties of a Chinese version of Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) in a non-clinical student sample. The Chinese FFMQ demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and the test-retest reliability. Confirmatory factor analysis provided support for the five-factor model. Four of these facets (describing, acting with awareness, non-judging and non-reacting) were shown to have incremental validity in the prediction of depression and anxiety. Our findings suggest that the Chinese version of the FFMQ has acceptable psychometric properties and is a valid instrument for the assessment of mindfulness.
The medicines targeted at α-glucosidase played an important role in anti-diabetes and anti-HIV therapy. Unfortunately, the method based on fluorescent assay strategy for α-glucosidase inhibitor screening remains poorly investigated. In this study, a novel "Turn On" fluorescence sensor platform has been developed for trace α-glucosidase inhibitor screening from natural medicines. Firstly, carbon dots were prepared by one-pot synthesis and used as the signal output. Combining with the carbon dots, cobalt oxyhydroxide (CoOOH) nanoflakes were employed to build the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) based sensor platform. Secondly, L-ascorbic acid-2-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl (AAG) was innovatively introduced as α-glucosidase substrate. With hydrolysis of AAG by α-glucosidase, ascorbic acids (AA) were released that can rapidly reduce CoOOH nanoflakes to Co(2+), and then FRET was stopped accompanying with the fluorescence recovery of CDs. The sensor platform was ultrasensitive to AA with a detection limit of 5 nM, ensuring the sensitive monitoring of enzyme activity. Acarbose was used as the inhibitor model and its inhibition rate is proportional to the logarithm of concentration in range of 10(-9)-10(-3)M with the correlation coefficient of R(2)=0.996, and an ultralow limit of detection of ~1×10(-9)M was obtained. The inhibiting ability of seven compounds isolated from natural medicines was also evaluated. The constructed sensor platform was proven to be sensitive and selective as well as cost-effective, facile and reliable, making it promising as a candidate for trace α-glucosidase inhibitor screening.
<br>Display Omitted<br>• Mercuric chloride-human serum albumin adduct causes hormesis in N9 microglia cells. • Hormesis was implemented through ERK/MAPKs and JAK/STAT3 signaling pathways. • 15 ng/mL of Hg-HSA was close to a NOAEL for N9 cells and this dose may be beneficial. • Hg2+ could form stable coordination structures in both Asp249 site and Cys34 site of HSA.<br>Mercury chloride (HgCl2), a neurotoxicant that cannot penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Although when the BBB are got damaged by neurodegenerative disorders, the absorbed HgCl2, mainly in form of Hg (II)-serum albumin adduct (Hg-HSA) in human plasma, can penetrate BBB and affect central nervous system (CNS) cells. Current study planned to evaluate the effect of Hg-HSA on the physiological function of N9 microglial cells. At low dosage (15 ng/mL) of Hg-HAS, the observed outcomes was: promoted cell propagation, Nitric Oxide (NO) and intracellular Ca2+ levels enhancement, suppressed the release of TNF-α and IL-1β and inhibited cell proliferation. At high dosage (15 μg/mL) we observed decline in NO and intracellular Ca2+ levels, and increment in the release of TNF-α and IL-1β. These biphasic effects are similar to hormesis, and the hormesis, in this case, was executed through ERK/MAPKs and JAK/STAT3 signaling pathways. Study of quantum chemistry revealed that Hg2+ could form stable coordination structures in both Asp249 and Cys34 sites of HSA. Although five-coordination structure in Asp249 site is more stable than four-coordination structure in Cys34 site but four-coordination structure is formed easily in-<b>vivo</b> in consideration of binding-site position in spatial structure of HSA.
Methylmercury (MeHg+) is an extremely toxic organomercury cation that can induce severe neurological damage. Once it enters the body, methylmercury binds to amino acids or proteins containing free sulfhydryl groups. In particular, methylmercury is known to bind with human serum albumin (HSA) in human plasma; however, the effects of methylmercury-HSA conjugate (MeHg-HSA) on the central nervous system (CNS) are not fully understood. In the present study, we used the microglial cell line N9 as the target cells to evaluate the effect of MeHg-HSA on physiological function of the CNS preliminarily. The various factors in the cell culture were monitored by MTT assay, total lactate dehydrogenase assay, ELISA, qPCR, Western blot and flow cytometry techniques. The results showed that low-dose treatment with MeHg-HSA activated N9 cells, promoting cell proliferation and total cell number, enhancing NO and intracellular Ca2+ levels, and suppressing the release of TNFα and IL1β without cytotoxic effects; while high-dose MeHg-HSA exhibited cytotoxic effects on N9 cells, including promoting cell death and increasing the secretion of TNFα and IL1β. These results indicate that MeHg-HSA causes hormesis in microglia N9 cells. Furthermore, ERK/MAPKs and STAT3 signaling pathways related to the hormesis of MeHg-HSA on N9 cells. In addition, low dose of MeHg-HSA might be viewed as something very close to a lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) for N9 cells. These findings will be useful for investigating the hormesis mechanism of MeHg+ and exploring the specific functions of MeHg-sulfhydryl conjugates on the central nervous system.
This study is to establish the fingerprint for Phyllanthus emblica and their tannin parts from different habitats by HPLC for its quality control. The determination was carried out on a Diamonsil C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) column, with methanol-0.2% glacial acetic acid as mobile phase with gradient elution at a flow rate of 1 mL x min(-1). The temperature was maintained at 30 degrees C and the detected wavelength is 260 nm, Thirteen chromatographic peaks were extracted as the common peaks of the fingerprint of P. emblica, and eleven as the common peaks of P. emblica tannin parts, and five peaks were identified by comparing with referent samples. The fingerprints of 8 samples were compared and classified by similarity evaluation, cluster analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). The similarity degrees of eight P. emblica were between 0.763 and 0.993, while tannin parts were between 0.903 and 0.991. All the samples of P. emblica and their tannin parts were classified into 3 categories. The method was so highly reproducible, simple and reliable that it could provide basis for quality control and evaluation of P. emblica from different habitats.
To discuss the relationship between metallic element and disease through determine the elementals in Tibetan Herbal Medicines and Tibetan Medicine Preparations that have obvious effect on hepatobiliary diseases by Synchrotron Radiation X-ray Source, then to reveal the substance foundation of pharmacological action. The results show that all the Tibetan Herbal Medicines used in the experiment have the 9 kinds of metallic elements of potassium(K), calcium(Ca), titanium(Ti), vanadium(V), chromium(Cr), manganese(Mn), ferrum(Fe), zinc(Zn) and lead(Pb), the content of the elements are in the ppb or ppm level though the element constitute and the content have obvious difference. Tibetan Medicine Preparations have another 6 kinds of metallic elements of nickel(Ni), copper(Cu), rubidium(Rb), mercury(Hg), cobalt(Co), gallium(Ga) and 1 kind of nonmetallic elements of arsenic(As) when compare with Herbal Medicines, and the element constitute and the content also have obvious difference. Take advantage of SR-XRF, the test gets the basic data of elements of Tibetan Herbal Medicines and Preparations, supply the scientific support to discuss the interaction of pharmacological mechanism and the metallic elements, and find the suitability of the technique for the metallic elements detection in Tibetan Medicines.
Substance P (SP) is a candidate mediator along the brain-skin axis and can mimic the effects of stress to regulate melanogenesis. Previously, we and others have found that the regulation of SP for pigmentary function was mediated by neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R). Emerging evidence has accumulated that psychologic stress can induce dysfunction in the cutaneous serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-5-HT1A/1B receptor system, thereby resulting in skin hypopigmentation. Moreover, NK1R and 5-HTR (except 5-HT3) belong to GPCR. The present study aimed at assessing the possible existence of NK1R-5-HTR interactions and related melanogenic functions. Western blot and PCR detection revealed that SP reduced expression of 5-HT1A receptor via the NK1 receptor. Biochemical analyses showed that NK1R and 5-HT1AR could colocalize and interact in a cell and in the skin. When the N terminus of the NK1R protein was removed NK1R surface targeting was prevented, the interaction between NK1R-5-HT1AR decreased, and the depigmentation caused by SP and WAY100635 could be rescued. Importantly, pharmaceutical coadministration of NK1R agonist (SP) and 5-HT1A antagonist (WAY100635) enhanced the NK1-5-HT1A receptor coimmunoprecipitation along with the depigmentary response. SP and WAY100635 cooperation elicited activation of a signaling cascade (the extracellular, regulated protein kinase p-JNK signaling pathway) and inhibition of p70S6K1 phosphorylation and greatly reduced melanin production in vitro and in vivo in mice and zebrafish. Moreover, the SP-induced depigmentation response did not be occur in 5-htr1aa+/- zebrafish embryos. Taken together, the results of our systemic study increases our knowledge of the roles of NK1R and 5-HT1AR in melanogenesis and provides possible, novel therapeutic strategies for treatment of skin hypo/hyperpigmentation.-Wu, H., Zhao, Y., Huang, Q., Cai, M., Pan, Q., Fu, M., An, X., Xia, Z., Liu, M., Jin, Y., He, L., Shang, J. NK1R/5-HT1AR interaction is related to the regulation of melanogenesis.
<br>Display Omitted<br>• Conversion of waste buckthorn branches to a value-added bio-carbon product. • Practical adsorbent for removal and destruction of DC contaminants. • Consecutive biosorption and heterogeneous Fenton oxidation regeneration cycles. • Composite biosorbent with β-FeOOH nanoparticles and in-situ catalytic regeneration properties.<br>Akaganeite (β-FeOOH) nanoparticles were successfully anchored on the surface of porous sea buckthorn biocarbon (SBC) via a simple low-temperature hydrothermal process without use of surfactants or external forces. The SBC@β-FeOOH composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). On the basis of characterization methods, a possible mechanism of formation of the SBC@β-FeOOH composite was discussed. The SBC@β-FeOOH composite was used in fixed-bed columns for the effective removal of doxycycline (DC) from an aqueous solution, by the synergistic effect of adsorption and subsequent Fenton-like oxidation reaction, which oxidized the sorbed DC. The effects of inlet DC concentration (22-32 mg/L) feed flow rate (1-3 mL/min) SBC@β-FeOOH bed depth (0.7-1.5 cm) and pH (2-11) on the adsorption breakthrough profiles were investigated. The adsorption process was controlled by the ionic speciation of the adsorbate DC and the available binding sites of SBC@β-FeOOH. It was simulated by the Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models under different conditions. The bed of SBC@β-FeOOH saturated with DC was readily regenerated, in situ, by a heterogeneous Fenton-like oxidation reaction. The synergistic effect resulting from the biosorption nature of SBC and the catalytic oxidation properties of the supported β-FeOOH nanoparticles results in a new promising composite material for water treatment and purification.
The current study focused on the pharmacodynamic activity components of Gentianopsis paludosa against ulcerative colitis (UC) fibrosis including symptoms of intestinal diarrhea and inflammatory. Trinitro-benzene-sulfonic acid induced UC model rats were gavaged with gradient polarity extracts respectively from ethanol-extract of Gentianopsis paludosa. Masson staining and qRT-PCR methods were respectively used to assess the degree of UC fibrosis and detect the mRNA expressions of collagen I, collagen III, a-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and E-cadherin in colon tissue. Separated by silica gel column chromatography, further screening was conducted until active components appeared. Infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectroscopy and ultraviolet methods were applied to confirm active components' structures. The results indicated that the expression of collagen I, collagen III and α-SMA mRNA in the colon tissues of acetidin group rats was obviously depressed compared with control groups while E-cadherin displayed just opposite. Dyed in blue indicating UC fibrosis degree, the area of acetidin group was less than that other experimental groups. Four components: (1,8-Dihydroxy-3,7-Dimethoxyxanthones, 1-hydroxy-3,7,8-Trimethoxyxanthones, 1,7-Dihydroxy-3,8-Dimethoxyxanthones and 1-hydroxy-3,7-Dimethoxyxanthones), were obtained from acetidin group and all of which have a significant equivalence to Gentianopsis paludosa on the therapeutic effect of UC fibrosis. Our findings revealed the activity components for clinical application history of Gentianopsis paludosa and provided a preliminary foundation for further new drug research and exploitation.
<b>OBJECTIVES: </b> To better understand the occurrence of Crohn's disease in mainland China and to give an updated overview of the current status of the disease.<br><b>METHODS: </b> We previously performed a computer-based literature search using 50 years of records from the Chinese Database of Biology and Medicine (1979 to 2002), combined with a manual year-by-year search of the literature from 1950 to 1978. Using a similar method, descriptive epidemiological data of the last 5 years (2003 to September 2007) were collected, pooled with our previous data and re-analyzed.<br><b>RESULTS: </b> In total, 3618 cases of Crohn's disease since 1950 have been reported from 29 provinces and cities in mainland China, comprising 2112 male and 1506 female patients, with a male predominance of 1.40:1. More than 75 percent of the patients were aged from 20 to 50 years old, with a mean age of 36.9 ± 4.4 (1- 84) years. The extrapolated disease incidence and prevalence rates are 0.848/10⁵ and 2.29/10⁵ person/year, respectively.<br><b>CONCLUSION: </b> The incidence and prevalence rates of Crohn's disease have been increasing rapidly, and the disease is no longer uncommon in China, but these rates are still lower than those in developed countries and other Asian countries. An underestimation may occur because patients who were misdiagnosed or did not seek medical advice could not be included in the study. A future population-based survey is warranted.
OBJECTIVE: To establish the method of quality control for traditional Tibetan Medicine Zsuotai.METHODS: Collecting the samples of Tsuotai from Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan, and Gansu province, to detect Hg2+ by Zsuotai reacted with HCl-HNO3 (3:1), and to determine the quantity of HgS in Zsuotai by sulfocyanate volumetric method.
RESULTS: The method for the determination of HgS in Zsuotai was in good reproducibility (RSD = 0.68%). The calibration curve was linear (r = 0.9999) within -0.0002 - 0.2123 g of mercuric sulfide. The recovery was 100.94% (RSD = 0.66%).
CONCLUSIONS: This method is convenient and accurate, so it can be used to establish quality control of the medicinal material.
Recent researches shows that amino acids (AA) are not only cell signaling molecules but are also regulators of gene expression and the protein phosphorylation cascade. More precise analysis of AA composition is reckoned to be one of the most important applications in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. In this paper, we develop a sample, sensitive and mild method using 2-[2-(7H-dibenzo[a,g]carbazol-7-yl)-ethoxy]ethyl chloroformate (DBCEC) as A labeling reagent for AA determination by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection (FLD) and identification with mass spectroscopy. The maximum excitation and emission wavelengths for DBCEC-AA derivatives were 300 and 395 nm, respectively. This method, in conjunction with a gradient elution, offered a baseline resolution of 20 AA on a reversed-phase Hypersil BDS C<sub>18</sub> column. LC separation for the derivatized AA showed good reproducibility, and all AA were found to give excellent linear responses with correlation coefficients > 0.9993. The calculated detection limits with a 25.0 fmol injection of each AA (at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3:1) ranged from 2.62 to 22.6 fmol. This method was applied to determine the AA composition in <i>Saussurea involucrate</i> and <i>Artemisia capillaris</i> Thunb. Meanwhile, this method exhibits a powerful potential for trace analysis of AA from biomedicine, foodstuff and other complex samples. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The determination of trace plant growth regulator (PGR) has received more and more attentions in the field of phytophysiology and food safety. But the simple and sensitive method for simultaneously analysing multiple classes of PGR remains poorly investigated. In this study, a new pre-column fluorescence labelling method using 2-(11H-benzo[a]carbazol-11-yl)-ethyl-4-methylbenzenesulfonate (BCETS) as the labelling reagent has been developed for simultaneous determination of seven PGRs (i.e., indole-3-acetic acid, 3-indolybutyric acid, 3-indolepropionic acid, jasmonic acid, gibberellin A3, 1-naphthylacetic acid and 2-naphthaleneacetic acid) by HPLC with fluorescent detection (FLD). The proposed method offered the LOD of 0.34-0.73 ng/mL for seven PGRs, which were significantly lower than the reported methods. The crude extract without complex pre-treatments and purification was directly labelled by BCETS and analysed by HPLC-FLD, which facilitates the high-throughput sample screening. This method was proven to be inexpensive, simple, selective, sensitive, accurate and reliable for trace PGR determination.
BACKGROUND: A high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity/hyperlipidemia is accompanied by hormonal and neurochemical changes that can be associated with depression. Emerging studies indicate that simvastatin (SMV, decreasing cholesterol levels) has therapeutic effects on neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases through hippocampal-dependent function. However, the studies on the HFD exposure in adolescent animals, which investigate the neuroprotective effects of SMV on the hippocampal morphology, serotonin (5-HT) system and inflammation, are limited. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine whether SMV attenuates HFD-induced major depressive disorders in adolescent animals and, more specifically, acts as an anti-neuroinflammatory response. METHODS: Twenty-four male C57BL/6 mice were fed a control (n = 8), HFD (n = 8) and HFD + SMV (n = 8) for 14 weeks. In HFD + SMV group, SMV (10 mg/kg) was administrated from the 10th week of HFD feeding. The open field test (OFT) and the tail suspension test (TST) were used to examine the effect of SMV on behavioral performance. HE and Nissl staining were conducted to detect hippocampal morphology and neural survival. Expression of the inflammatory cytokine genes was assayed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR). RESULTS: Firstly, alterations in lipid parameters were minimized after SMV treatment. HFD-induced depression-like behavior, which was evidenced by an increase in immobility time in TST along with considerable decrease in locomotion activity, was significantly attenuated by SMV therapy for 4 weeks. Additionally, SMV could reduce HFD-induced structural abnormality, neuronal injury, serotonergic system disturbance and pro-inflammatory cytokine over-expression in the hippocampus. Neuroimmunological changes in central hippocampus displayed a similar characteristic (only IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) with that in periphery spleen, whereas they appeared in an entirely opposite trend with that in cerebral cortex. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that SMV may be a promising treatment for HFD-induced depression-like behavior during adolescent period through brain region-specific neuroninflammatory mechanisms.
In order to investigate the embryological characteristics of <i>Delavaya toxocarpa</i> Franch. and provide a basis for further understanding the phylogeny within Sapindaceae s.l., we studied the sporogenesis and gametogenesis of <i>D. toxocarpa</i> using the conventional paraffin section method. The results were as follows: anthers are tetrasporangium; tapetum is typically secretory type; cytokinesis in the microsporecyte meiosis is of the simultaneous type and microspore tetrads are tetrahedral; mature pollen contains two cells; the ovary is bilocular with two ovules per locule; placentation is axial; the ovule is amphitropous, bitegmic, and crassinucellate; the chalazal megaspore in a linear tetrad becomes functional; and the development of megaspore is of the polygonum type. Most similarities shared by the species observed suggest that the species and genera of Sapindaceae s.l. have phylogenetic consistency. The distinctive trait, lacking hypostase, indicates <i>Delavaya</i> (and <i>Handeliodendron</i>) might be more primitive than other genera in Sapindaceae. Moreover, some characters, such as opposite palmate compound leaf, apical thyrse, rounded seed without wing, 2 hemitropous ovules per locule, and lacking aril, indicate the close relationship between <i>Delavaya</i>, Aceraceae, and Hippocastanaceae. The preliminary data about the embryological and morphological characteristics in <i>Delavaya</i> might justify the basic systematic position of this genus in the family Sapindaceae s.s.
Four common traditional tibetan medicine prescription preparations "Anzhijinghuasan, Dangzuo, Renqingchangjue and Rannasangpei" in tibetan areas were selected as study objects in the present study. The purpose was to try to establish a kind of wet digestion and flow injection-hydride generation-atomic absorption spectrometry (FI-HAAS) associated analysis method for the content determinations of lead and arsenic in traditional tibetan medicine under optimized digestion and measurement conditions and determine their contents accurately. Under these optimum operating conditions, experimental results were as follows. The detection limits for lead and arsenic were 0.067 and 0.012 µg · mL(-1) respectively. The quantification limits for lead and arsenic were 0.22 and 0.041 µg · mL(-1) respectively. The linear ranges for lead and arsenic were 25-1,600 ng · mL(-1) (r = 0.9995) and 12.5-800 ng · mL(-1) (r = 0.9994) respectively. The degrees of precision(RSD) for lead and arsenic were 2.0% and 3.2% respectively. The recovery rates for lead and arsenic were 98.00%-99.98% and 96.67%-99.87% respectively. The content determination results of lead and arsenic in four traditional tibetan medicine prescription preparations were as fol- lows. The contents of lead and arsenic in Anzhijinghuasan are 0.63-0.67 µg · g(-1) and 0.32-0.33 µg · g(-1) in Anzhijinghua- san, 42.92-43.36 µg · g(-1) and 24.67-25.87 µg · g(-1) in Dangzuo, 1,611. 39-1,631.36 µg · g(-1) and 926.76-956.52 µg- g(-1) in Renqing Changjue, and 1,102.28-1,119.127 µg-g(-1) and 509.96-516.87 µg · g(-1) in Rannasangpei, respectively. This study established a method for content determination of lead and arsenic in traditional tibetan medicine, and determined the content levels of lead and arsenic in four tibetan medicine-prescription preparations accurately. In addition, these results also provide the basis for the safe and effective use of those medicines in clinic.
This study is to establish an HPLC fingerprint and quantitative analysis of 3 components of Gyantse Seabuckthorn from different producing areas.The separation was developed on Shimadzu InertSustain C18column (4.6 mm × 250 mm,5 μm) by gradient elution with acetonitrile and 0.2% phosphoric acid water as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL•min ⁻¹; the detection wavelength was set at 360 nm and column temperature was set at 30 ℃. The data calculation was performed with similarity evaluation system for chromatographic fingerprint of traditional Chinese medicine(Version 2004A).The fingerprints of 10 batches of Gyantse Seabuckthorn were carried out by similarity comparison, and 12 chromatographic peaks were extracted as the common peaks of fingerprint, of which three main active ingredients were successfully determined. This is the first established fingerprint and multi-component quantitative determination of Gyantse Seabuckthorn by using HPLC. This method has good precision stability and repeatability that could provide basis for quality control and evaluation of Gyantse Seabuckthorn.
Zuotai (gTso thal) is a typical representative of Tibetan medicines containing heavy metals, but there is still lack of modem safety evaluation data so far. In this study, acute toxicity test, sub-acute toxicity test, one-time administration mercury distribution experiment, long-term mercury accumulative toxicity experiment and preliminary study on clinical safety of Compound Dangzuo were conducted in the hope of obtain the medicinal safety data of Zuotai. In the acute toxicity test, half of KM mice given the lethal dose of Zuotai were not died or poisoned, and LD50 was not found. The maximum tolerated dose of Zuotai was 80 g x kg(-1). In the subacute toxicity test, Zuotai could reduce ALT, AST, Crea levels in serums under low dose (13.34 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and medium dose (53.36 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)), with significant difference under low dose, and increase the levels of ALT, AST, MDA, Crea in serums under high dose (2 000 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)); besides, the levels of BUN and GSH in serums reduced with the increase in dose of Zuotai, indicating a significant dose-effect relationship. In the one-time administration distribution experiment, the content of mercury in rat kidney, liver and lung increased after the one-time administration with Zuotai, with a significant dose-dependent relationship in kidney. In the long-term mercury accumulative toxicity experiment, KM mice were administered with equivalent doses of Zuotai for 4.5 months and then stopped drug administration for 1.5 months. Since the 2.5th month, they showed significant mercury accumulation in kidney, which gradually reduced after drug withdrawal, without significant change in mercury content in liver, spleen and brain and ALT, AST, TBIL, BUN and Crea in serum. At the 4.5th month after drug administration, KM mice showed slight structural changes in kidney, liver and spleen tissues, and gradually recovered to normal after drug withdrawal. Besides, no significant difference in weight gain was found between the Zuotai group and the control group. According to the findings of the clinical safety study of Dangzuo, after subjects administered Dangzuo under clinical dose for one month, their serum biochemical indicators, blood routine indicators and urine routine indicators showed no significant adverse change. This study proved that traditional Tibetan medicine Zuotai was slightly toxic, with a better safety in clinical combined administration and no adverse effects on bodies under the clinical dose and clinical medication cycle. However, long-term high-dose administration of Zuotai may have a certain effect on kidney.;
The objective of the present study is to research the herb of Swertia mussotii Franch and its different extracts by tristep infrared spectroscopy. The main constitute of Swertia mussotii Franch-gentiamarin, which is also the higher content constitute, was selected as the control components to analyze the infrared spectroscopy and second derivative infrared spectroscopy of different extracts of Swertia mussotii Franch, at the same time, the different concentration of ethanol extracts were also analyzed by two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS). The results indicated that the intensity of 1 611 and 1 075 cm(-1) of gentiamarin, which are its two main absorptions in the infrared spectra, has the positive correlation with the content change in different extracts. The infrared spectroscopy of extracts are similar if the polarity of extract solvents is close; with the decreases in solution polarity, the intensity of 2 853, 1 733, 1 464, 1 277 and 1 161 cm(-1) in infrared spectroscopy of different extracts is increased, the content of esters and the extraction percentage terpenoid compounds are also increased; the different concentration of ethanol extracts has obviously difference when they are analyzed by two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS). The positive correlation between the intensity of absorptions and the content of the gentiamarin indicates that the infrared spectroscopy can reflect the content change in constitute; the similar and the change trend of the different concentrations of ethanol extract infrared spectroscopy approve the scientificalness of decoction of traditional medicine; infrared spectroscopy that used in the research can be used as an accurate, rapid and effective method in the pharmacological activity tests of transitional herbal Swertia mussotii F. and it's different extracts, even in the research on the tibetan medicine.
Four different extracts of Oxytropis falcata, including the aerial aqueous extract, and the underground aqueous extract, the aerial lipophilic extract, and the underground lipophilic extract were prepared and then administrated orally to mice at the maximum dose (50 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) calculated by raw material) for fifteen days respectively. Compared with the control group, which was administrated of 1.0% tween-80, the treatment groups did not show significant differences in appearance and behavior. However, the organcoefficient, blood biochemical indicator and pathological section results showed that the lipophilic extracts of the aerial and underground parts of O. flacata showed mild injury to the liver of mice, while the aerial and underground aqueous extracts and the underground lipophilic extract showed mild toxicity to the kidney of male mice. Chemical analysis showed that the lipophilic extracts of the aerial and underground parts, especially aerial lipophilic extract, consisted of large amount of flavonoid aglycones with little amount of polysaccharides and proteins, while the aqueous extracts contained much polysaccharides and proteins with almost no flavonoid aglycones detected.
Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) practice is currently intentionally applied in clinical populations, especially those with cardiovascular diseases because of its potential benefits on the autonomic nervous system. The long-term effect of TCC practice on heart rate variability (HRV) remains largely unknown. In this study, we recruited 23 TCC practitioners whose experience averaged approximately 21 years and 19 controls matched by age, sex and education to examine the effect of TCC practice on the autonomic nervous system during a resting state and during an abdominal breathing state. HRV was measured by traditional electrocardiogram (ECG) recording. The results showed that the low frequency, total power frequency, and normalized low frequency components and the low-frequency/high-frequency ratio were significantly higher, whereas the normalized high frequency was significantly lower in the TCC practitioners relative to controls during the abdominal breathing state. However, we did not detect any significant difference in the HRV measures during the resting state between the two groups. Additionally, TCC experience did not correlate with HRV components either in the abdominal state or the resting state in the TCC group. Considering all of these findings, we suggest that TCC improves vagal activity and the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic activity during the relaxation state. This study also provides direct physiological evidence for the role of TCC practice in relaxation.
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