Skip to main content Skip to search
Displaying 26 - 50 of 117

Pages

  • Page
  • of 5
A simple, efficient and accurate liquid chromatographic method was established to determine five flavonoid aglycones, 7-hydroxy flavonone, pinocembrin, 2′,4′-dihydroxy chalcone, 2′-hydroxy-4′-methoxy chalcone and pinostrobin in the whole plant powder of <i>Oxytropis falcata</i> Bunge. These five compounds were separated on an Agilent Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C<sub>8</sub> column (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm). Mobile phases were composed of water containing 0.1% <i>v/v</i> formic acid and acetonitrile using gradient elution. The established method was validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection and quantitation, repeatability and stability.

The contents of four iridoids ( loganic acid, swertiamarin, gentiopicroside, sweroside) in Gentiana tizuensis Franch. and Gentiana farreri were analyzed by HPLC. The analysis was performed on Econosphere C18 (250 x 4.6 mm, 5 µm) column, with the solution of 0.5 % acetic acid and methanol as mobile phase, at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The detection wavelength was 254 nm. The results indicated that swertiamarin was not detected in Gentiana tizuensis Franch., and the contents of four iridoids in these two plants were different.

A simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with fluorescence detection and mass spectrometric identification has been developed for analysis of 30 long-chain and short-chain free fatty acids (FFAs). The fatty acids were derivatized to their esters with 1-[2-(<i>p</i>-toluenesulfonate)ethyl]-2-phenylimidazole-[4,5-<i>f</i>]-9,10-phenanthrene (TSPP) in <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-dimethylformamide (DMF) at 90 °C with anhydrous K<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub> as catalyst. A mixture of C<sub>1</sub>-C<sub>30</sub> fatty acids was completely separated within 60 min by gradient elution on a reversed-phase C<sub>8</sub> column. Qualitative identification of the acids was performed by atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI-MS) in positive-ion mode. The fluorescence excitation and emission wavelengths were 260 and 380 nm, respectively. Quantitative determination of the 30 acids in two Tibetan medicines <i>Gentiana straminea</i> and <i>G. dahurica</i> was performed. The results indicated that the medicines contained many FFAs. Linear correlation coefficients for the FFA derivatives were >0.9991. Relative standard deviations (RSDs, <i>n</i> = 6) for the fatty acid derivatives were <3%. Detection limits (at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3:1) were 3.1-38 fmol. When the fatty acid derivatives were determined in the two real samples results were satisfactory and the sensitivity and reproducibility of the method were good.

This study explored whether dispositional mindfulness moderated the relationship between depression and posttraumatic growth. A total of 435 Chinese adolescents who experienced a tornado in Yancheng city reported their level of depressive symptoms (The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children; CES-DC), posttraumatic growth (Posttraumatic Growth Inventory; PTGI) and dispositional mindfulness (Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale; MAAS). The current study found that for individuals with higher dispositional mindfulness, their depression was associated with more posttraumatic growth, while the individuals with lower dispositional mindfulness showed no such association. These findings suggest that individuals high in dispositional mindfulness possess the potential to benefit from the process of adaptive coping in response to depression following a traumatic experience. The implications of the results for research and mindfulness-based interventions targeting depression were discussed.

Mindfulness has been garnering increased attention within the area of clinical psychology due to its theorized and empirical associations with psychological well-being. Using a sample of patients diagnosed with digestive tract cancer ( N = 292), we examined the relationship between perceived stress and psychological symptoms at varying levels of dispositional mindfulness. Results showed significant associations between perceived stress and psychological symptoms. More importantly, the relationship between perceived stress and psychological symptoms was only significant for patients with low, but not high, levels of dispositional mindfulness. Implications and future research directions were discussed.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In Chinese folk medicine, the flower of Edgeworthia gardneri (Wall.) Meisn. is used to treat various metabolic diseases, such as hyperglycemia, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to explore the antidiabetes potential of the flower of E. gardneri and investigate whether it can benefit the entire gut bacteria community. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chemical constituents of the extract were analyzed by UHPLC-Q Exactive Mass Spectrometer (UHPLC-QE-MS). The antidiabetes effect of the water extract (WAE) of the flower of E. gardneri was evaluated in diabetic mice induced by high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ) (six groups, n = 8) daily at doses of 1, 2, and 3 g/kg for 4 weeks. The gut microbiota was analyzed using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the fecal were also investigated. RESULTS: UHPLC-QE-MS analysis identified 29 compounds, including five alkaloids, six coumarins, four flavonoids, 11 organic acids, and three additional compounds, in the WAE. Results showed that the high dose of WAE considerably decreased the blood glucose level by 30.0%. Furthermore, E. gardneri significantly ameliorated insulin resistance and lipid metabolism dysfunction and repaired islet, hepatic, and white fat and colon histology in diabetic mice. Diabetic mice treated with WAE showed apparent changes in the structure and composition of the gut microbiota. WAE reversed the changes in Clostridiales, Lachnospiraceae, S24-7, Rikenellaceae, and Dorea in diabetic mice. The correlation analysis indicated that key OTUs were related to diabetes indices. The amounts of SCFAs, including acetic, propionic, and valeric acids, were significantly high in WAE-treated diabetic groups. CONCLUSIONS: E. gardneri treatment improved the glucose metabolism and reshaped the unbalanced gut microbiota of diabetic mice. Our study provides evidence for application of E. gardneri to treatment of diabetes mellitus.

A typical indicator of sepsis is the development of progressive subcutaneous and body‑cavity edema, which is caused by the breakdown of endothelial barrier function, leading to a marked increase in vascular permeability. Microvascular leakage predisposes to microvascular thrombosis, breakdown of microcirculatory flow and organ failure, which are common events preceding mortality in patients with severe sepsis. Melilotus suaveolens (M. suaveolens) is a Traditional Tibetan Medicine. Previous pharmacological studies have demonstrated that an ethanolic extract of M. suaveolens has powerful anti‑inflammatory activity and leads to an improvement in capillary permeability. However, the mechanisms underlying its pharmacological activity remain elusive. The present study aimed to assess the impact of M. suaveolens extract tablets on pulmonary vascular permeability, and their effect on regulating lung inflammation and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the lung tissue of rats with sepsis. A cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) sepsis model was established for both the control and treatment groups. ~2 h prior to surgery, 25 mg/kg of M. suaveolens extract tablet was administered to the treatment group. Polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses were used to assess the expression of nuclear factor (NF)‑κB and VEGF in the lung tissue, and ELISA was applied to detect changes in serum tumor necrosis factor‑α as well as interleukins (IL) ‑1, ‑4, ‑6, and ‑10. The lung permeability, wet/dry weight ratio and lung pathology were determined. The results demonstrated that in the lung tissue of CLP‑rats with sepsis, M. suaveolens extract inhibited the expression of NF‑κB, reduced the inflammatory response and blocked the expression of VEGF, and thus significantly decreased lung microvascular permeability. The effects of M. Suaveolens extract may be of potential use in the treatment of CLP‑mediated lung microvascular permeability.

Objective: Prehypertension is a new category designated by the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure ( JNC7) in 2003. Managing prehypertension with nonpharmacological intervention is possibly beneficial to the prevention of hypertension. In this study, we observed the effect of slow abdominal breathing combined with electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback training on blood pressure (BP) in prehypertensives and assessed the changes of heart rate variability (HRV) in order to find an optional intervention to prevent hypertension and acquire some experimental data to clarify the underlying neural mechanism.Methods: Twenty-two (22) postmenopausal women with prehypertension were randomly assigned to either the experiment group or the control group. The experiment group performed 10 sessions of slow abdominal breathing (six cycles/min) combined with frontal electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback training and daily home practice, while the control group only performed slow abdominal breathing and daily home practice. BP and HRV (including R–R interval and standard deviation of the normal–normal intervals [SDNN]) were measured. Results: Participants with prehypertension could lower their systolic blood pressure (SBP) 8.4 mm Hg ( p < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 3.9 mm Hg ( p < 0.05) using slow abdominal breathing combined with EMG biofeedback. The slow abdominal breathing also significantly decreased the SBP 4.3 mm Hg ( p < 0.05), while it had no effect on the DBP ( p > 0.05). Repeated-measures analyses showed that the biofeedback group þ abdominal respiratory group (ABþBF) training was more effective in lowering the BP than the slow breathing ( p < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the R–R interval increased significantly during the training in the ABþBF group ( p < 0.05). The SDNN increased remarkably in both groups during the training ( p < 0.05). Conclusions: Slow abdominal breathing combined with EMG biofeedback is an effective intervention to manage prehypertension. The possible mechanism is that slow abdominal breathing combined with EMG biofeedback could reduce sympathetic activity and meanwhile could enhance vagal activity.

ObjectiveTo quantify the effects of mindfulness-based therapy (MBT) on physical health, psychological health and quality of life (QOL) in patients with breast cancer. Method Studies were identified through a systematic search of six electronic databases. Randomized control trials (RCTs) examining the effects of MBT, versus a control group receiving no intervention on physical health, psychological health and QOL in breast cancer patients were included. Two authors independently assessed the methodological quality of included studies using a quality-scoring instrument developed by Jadad et al. and extracted relevant information according to a predesigned extraction form. Data was analysed using the Cochrane Collaboration’s Revman5.1. Result Finally, seven studies involving 951 patients were included. While limited in power, the results of meta-analysis indicated a positive effect of MBT in reducing anxiety [SMD −0.31, 95% CI −0.46 to −0.16, P < 0.0001], depression[SMD −1.13, 95% CI −1.85 to −0.41, P = 0.002], fear of recurrence[SMD −0.71, 95% CI −1.05 to −0.38, P < 0.0001], and fatigue[SMD −0.88, 95% CI −1.71 to −0.05, P = 0.04] associated with breast cancer, and improving emotional well-being [SMD 0.39, 95% CI 0.19–0.58, P = 0.0001], physical function[SMD 0.42, 95% CI 0.19–0.65, P = 0.0004], and physical health [SMD 0.31, 95% CI 0.08–0.54, P = 0.009] in these patients. Although the effects on stress, spirituality, pain and sleep were in the expected direction, they were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Moreover, there is limited evidence from a narrative synthesis that MBT can improve QOL of breast cancer patients. Conclusion The present data indicate that MBT is a promising adjunctive therapy for patients with breast cancer. Due to some methodological flaws in the literature, further well-designed RCTs with large sample sizes are needed to confirm these preliminary estimates of effectiveness.

Long-term imprisonment can cause severe emotional problems, which in turn can trigger behavioral problems, self-harm, and suicide. Mindfulness-based intervention can enhance emotional health. This study investigated the effects of a 6-week mindfulness training program on the emotional health of long-term male Chinese prison inmates. Forty long-term male prisoners completed a pretest and posttest, with 19 in the mindfulness training group and 21 in the waitlist control group. The treatment group showed a significant improvement in mindfulness level, anxiety, depression, tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, anger-hostility, confusion-bewilderment, and total mood disturbance. Implications and limitations of this study were discussed. These results support the use of a mindfulness-based intervention to enhance the emotional health of long-term male prison inmates.

RuPeng15 Powder (RPP15) is a herbal multicompound remedy that originates from traditional Tibetan medicine and possesses antigout, anti-inflammatory, and antihyperuricemic properties based on the traditional conceptions. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the therapeutic effect of PRP15 in rat gouty arthritis induced by monosodium urate (MSU) crystals. In the present study, we found that treatment with RPP15 (0.4, 0.8, and 1.2 g/kg) in rats with gouty arthritis induced by MSU crystals significantly attenuated the knee swelling. Histomorphometric and immunohistochemistry analyses revealed that MSU-induced inflammatory cell infiltration and the elevated expressions of nuclear transcription factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65) in synovial tissues were significantly inhibited, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) result showed that MSU-induced high levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in synovial fluid were reduced by treatment with RPP15 (0.4, 0.8, and 1.2 g/kg). We conclude that RPP15 may be a promising candidate for the development of a new treatment for gout and its activity of antigout may be partially related to inhibiting TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8, and NF-κB p65 expression in the synovial tissues.

RuPeng15 Powder (RPP15) is a herbal multicompound remedy that originates from traditional Tibetan medicine and possesses antigout, anti-inflammatory, and antihyperuricemic properties based on the traditional conceptions. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the therapeutic effect of PRP15 in rat gouty arthritis induced by monosodium urate (MSU) crystals. In the present study, we found that treatment with RPP15 (0.4, 0.8, and 1.2 g/kg) in rats with gouty arthritis induced by MSU crystals significantly attenuated the knee swelling. Histomorphometric and immunohistochemistry analyses revealed that MSU-induced inflammatory cell infiltration and the elevated expressions of nuclear transcription factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65) in synovial tissues were significantly inhibited, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) result showed that MSU-induced high levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in synovial fluid were reduced by treatment with RPP15 (0.4, 0.8, and 1.2 g/kg). We conclude that RPP15 may be a promising candidate for the development of a new treatment for gout and its activity of antigout may be partially related to inhibiting TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8, and NF-κB p65 expression in the synovial tissues.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of traditional Tibetan medicine, Fructus Lonicerae microphyllae (FLM) on phagecytosis and cytokines production of murine macrophages.METHOD: The phagecytosis of murine macrophages was analyzed by neutral red phagecytosis assay. The activities of IL-1 and TNF-alpha were measured by biological methods. The mRNA of TNF-alpha and INF-gamma expressed by macrophages was detected by RT-PCR. RESULT: The phagecytosis of murine macrophages was significantly enhanced by FLM at a concentration from 1 microg x mL(-1) to 100 microg x mL(-1) and the secretions of IL-1, and TNF-alpha from macrophages were markedly induced by FLM. Meanwhile, FLM also increased the expression of TNF-alpha mRNA and INF-gamma mRHA from macrophages in vitro. CONCLUSION: FLM could promote phagecytosis and cytokines production of murine macrophages.

Zuotai and cinnabar(96%HgS) are contained in many traditional medicines. To examine their potential effects on drug metabolism genes, mice were orally given Zuotai or HgS at doses of 10, 30, 100, 300 mg•kg⁻¹ for 7 days. HgCl2(33.6 mg•kg⁻¹) was gavaged for control. Twenty-four hour later after the last administration, livers were collected, and expressions of genes related to metabolic enzymes and transporters were examined. Zuotai and HgS had no effects on major phase-1, phase-2 and transporter genes; HgCl2 increased the expressions of CYP2B10, CYP4A10, OATP1A4, UGT1A1, UGT2A3, SULT1A1, SULT2A1, MRP1, MRP3 and MRP4; expression of OATP1A1 was decreased by HgCl2, but not by Zuotai and HgS. Therefore, Zuotai and HgS have different adverse effects on drug-metabolizing genes from HgCl2.

Artemisia vestita Wall., a traditional Tibetan medicine, has wide clinical application for inflammatory diseases. However, its molecular mechanism of anti-inflammatory effect is poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory activity and underlying mechanism of the ethanol extract from Artemisia vestita (AV-ext) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis. Pretreatment with AV-ext significantly decreased the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in serum and liver and lung tissues, and improved the survival of mice with experimental sepsis. AV-ext also remarkably reduced the expression levels of TNF-alpha, interleukin-1beta and cyclooxygenase-2 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages and dose dependently suppressed the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), such as p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK). Furthermore, pretreatment with AV-ext dose dependently inhibited the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), as well as the degradation and phosphorylation of inhibitory kappaB (IkappaB) in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. These results collectively reveal that AV-ext inhibits TNF-alpha release from macrophages by suppressing MAPK and NF-kappaB signaling pathways and suggest that AV-ext may be beneficial for the treatment of endotoxin shock or sepsis.

Artemisia vestita Wall., a traditional Tibetan medicine, has wide clinical application for inflammatory diseases. However, its molecular mechanism of anti-inflammatory effect is poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory activity and underlying mechanism of the ethanol extract from Artemisia vestita (AV-ext) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis. Pretreatment with AV-ext significantly decreased the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in serum and liver and lung tissues, and improved the survival of mice with experimental sepsis. AV-ext also remarkably reduced the expression levels of TNF-alpha, interleukin-1beta and cyclooxygenase-2 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages and dose dependently suppressed the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), such as p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK). Furthermore, pretreatment with AV-ext dose dependently inhibited the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), as well as the degradation and phosphorylation of inhibitory kappaB (IkappaB) in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. These results collectively reveal that AV-ext inhibits TNF-alpha release from macrophages by suppressing MAPK and NF-kappaB signaling pathways and suggest that AV-ext may be beneficial for the treatment of endotoxin shock or sepsis.

Artemisia vestita Wall., a traditional Tibetan medicine, has wide clinical application for inflammatory diseases. However, its molecular mechanism of anti-inflammatory effect is poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory activity and under-lying mechanism of the ethanol extract from Artemisia vestita (AV-ext) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis. Pretreatment with AV-ext significantly decreased the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in serum and liver and lung tissues, and improved the survival of mice with experimental sepsis. AV-ext also remarkably reduced the expression levels of TNF-α, interleukin-1β and cyclooxygenase-2 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages and dose dependently suppressed the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), such as p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK). Furthermore, pretreatment with AV-ext dose dependently inhibited the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), as well as the degradation and phosphorylation of inhibitory κB (IκB) in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. These results collectively reveal that AV-ext inhibits TNF-α release from macrophages by suppressing MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways and suggest that AV-ext may be beneficial for the treatment of endotoxin shock or sepsis.

Fecal Tibetan medicines have a long history of application in China, with a good clinical efficacy. In order to promote the development and modernization of these medicines, we consulted ancient and modern Tibetan medicine literatures to collect and summarize the names, original species, natures, flavor, functions and processing methods of fecal Tibetan medicines. A total of 35 fecal Tibetan medicines were collected, such as Jiufen, Heibingpian, Langfen, Mafen, Goufen, Gezifen. The most commonly used medicines were Jiufen and Heibingpian. Both were mainly used for the treatment of indigestion, food abdominal distension, gastric ulcer, and other gastrointestinal diseases. At present, there are only a few studies on the active ingredients, pharmacodynamics and mechanism of action of these medicines. Therefore, further study shall be conducted. The regulation of gut microbiota may be a new way to evaluate the effectiveness of fecal Tibetan medicines and their mechanism of action.

The extraction and solvent partition of roots of <i>Incarvillea compacta</i>, a traditional Tibetan folk medicine, and repeated column chromatography and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography for <i>n</i>-butanol fraction yielded four phenylethanoid glycosides, crenatoside (<i>1</i>), 3′′′-<i>O</i>-methylcrenatoside (<i>2</i>), leucoseceptoside A (<i>3</i>), and martynoside (<i>4</i>). The chemical structures were identified on the basis of spectroscopic data analyses including NMR and MS. All compounds were isolated for the first time from the plant. Compound <i>1</i> exerted better 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity. In addition, compounds <i>1</i>-<i>4</i> were evaluated for their hepatoprotective activity on carbon tetrachloride (CCl<sub>4</sub>)-induced liver injury in HepG2 cells. Pretreatment of HepG2 cells with compound <i>1</i>-<i>4</i> significantly increased the viability on CCl<sub>4</sub>-induced cell death. Furthermore, compounds <i>1</i>-<i>4</i> also alleviated CCl<sub>4</sub>-induced hepatotoxicity by enhancement of the antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase and reduction of the malondialdehyde content, intracellular ROS as well as NF-κB transactivation. Our results suggest that phenylethanoid glycosides ameliorate CCl<sub>4</sub>-induced cell injury, and this protection was likely due to antioxidative activity and down-regulation of NF-κB.

Ethnopharmacological relevance: <b>Herpetospermum caudigerum</b> (HCD) is traditionally used for the treatment of liver diseases, cholic diseases, and dyspepsia as a well-known Tibetan medicine in China. The present study was designed to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of HCD and ascertain its active ingredients and possible mechanism.<br>Materials and methods: Mice were orally administrated with different parts (seeds, testa and kernel) and fractions of HCD. The hepatoprotective activities of different parts (seeds, testa and kernel) and three fractions (petroleum ether fraction, ethyl acetate fraction and aqueous fraction) with different polarities of HCD and herpetrione (HPE) isolated from HCD were determined using a mouse model of CCl4-induced liver injury based on the analysis of serum ALT and AST activities and the changes of antioxidant parameters like malondialdehyde (MDA) content, glutathione (GSH) level, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in the liver. Moreover, the chemical analysis of different parts and fractions of HCD was later analyzed by HPLC.<br>Results: Our results showed that the ethyl acetate fraction and HPE significantly alleviated liver injury as indicated by the decreased levels of serum ALT and AST and reduce the pathological tissue damage induced by CCl4. Moreover, they decreased the MDA content and increased the levels of SOD, GSH and GSH-Px. Chemical analysis indicated that the ethyl acetate fraction were rich in HPE.<br>Conclusions: The lignans extract of <b>Herpetospermum caudigerum</b> is effective for the prevention of CCl4-induced hepatic damage in mice and HPE may be partially responsible for the pharmacological effect of hepatoprotection. The hepatoprotective effect may be related to its free radical scavenging effect, inhibiting lipid peroxidation and increasing antioxidant activity.<br><br>Display Omitted

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Herpetospermum caudigerum (HCD) is traditionally used for the treatment of liver diseases, cholic diseases, and dyspepsia as a well-known Tibetan medicine in China. The present study was designed to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of HCD and ascertain its active ingredients and possible mechanism.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice were orally administrated with different parts (seeds, testa and kernel) and fractions of HCD. The hepatoprotective activities of different parts (seeds, testa and kernel) and three fractions (petroleum ether fraction, ethyl acetate fraction and aqueous fraction) with different polarities of HCD and herpetrione (HPE) isolated from HCD were determined using a mouse model of CCl4-induced liver injury based on the analysis of serum ALT and AST activities and the changes of antioxidant parameters like malondialdehyde (MDA) content, glutathione (GSH) level, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in the liver. Moreover, the chemical analysis of different parts and fractions of HCD was later analyzed by HPLC. RESULTS: Our results showed that the ethyl acetate fraction and HPE significantly alleviated liver injury as indicated by the decreased levels of serum ALT and AST and reduce the pathological tissue damage induced by CCl4. Moreover, they decreased the MDA content and increased the levels of SOD, GSH and GSH-Px. Chemical analysis indicated that the ethyl acetate fraction were rich in HPE. CONCLUSIONS: The lignans extract of Herpetospermum caudigerum is effective for the prevention of CCl4-induced hepatic damage in mice and HPE may be partially responsible for the pharmacological effect of hepatoprotection. The hepatoprotective effect may be related to its free radical scavenging effect, inhibiting lipid peroxidation and increasing antioxidant activity.

Pages

  • Page
  • of 5