Zuotais regarded as the king of Tibetan medicine. However, the major starting material ofZuotais mercury, which is one very toxic heavy metal. This has aroused serious doubts on the biosafety ofZuotacontaining drugs. In this study, we quantified the Hg contents in fourZuotasamples, monitored the release of Hg in simulated gastric/intestinal juice and evaluated their cytotoxicity to Caco-2 cells. Our results showed that the Hg contents inZuotasamples were in the range of 566–676 mg/g. Fortunately, the release of Hg fromZuotasamples was very low in simulated gastric juice, and much lower in simulated intestinal juice. Direct contact ofZuotawith Caco-2 cells led to dose-dependent cytotoxicity, including activity loss and membrane leakage. The toxicity was closely related to apoptosis, because the caspase 3/7 levels of Caco-2 cells increased after the exposure toZuota. Interestingly,Zuotasamples inhibited the oxidative stress at low concentrations, but the toxicity could be relived by antioxidants. The possible toxicity should be attributed to the cellular uptake ofZuotaparticulates. Beyond the cytotoxicity, significant differences amongZuotasamples from different institutions were observed, suggesting that the preparation process ofZuotahad meaningful influence of its biosafety. The implications to the safety and clinical applications ofZuotaare discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Zuota is regarded as the king of Tibetan medicine. However, the major starting material of Zuota is mercury, which is one very toxic heavy metal. This has aroused serious doubts on the biosafety of Zuota containing drugs. In this study, we quantified the Hg contents in four Zuota samples, monitored the release of Hg in simulated gastric/intestinal juice and evaluated their cytotoxicity to Caco-2 cells. Our results showed that the Hg contents in Zuota samples were in the range of 566-676 mg/g. Fortunately, the release of Hg from Zuota samples was very low in simulated gastric juice, and much lower in simulated intestinal juice. Direct contact of Zuota with Caco-2 cells led to dose-dependent cytotoxicity, including activity loss and membrane leakage. The toxicity was closely related to apoptosis, because the caspase 3/7 levels of Caco-2 cells increased after the exposure to Zuota. Interestingly, Zuota samples inhibited the oxidative stress at low concentrations, but the toxicity could be relived by antioxidants. The possible toxicity should be attributed to the cellular uptake of Zuota particulates. Beyond the cytotoxicity, significant differences among Zuota samples from different institutions were observed, suggesting that the preparation process of Zuota had meaningful influence of its biosafety. The implications to the safety and clinical applications of Zuota are discussed.
The leaves and twigs of Juniperus pingii var. wilsonii (Cupressaceae) smell aromatic and are traditionally used as the Tibetan medicine Xuba. Their essential oil obtained by ultrasonic-assisted hydrodistillation and volatiles collected by GC headspace technique were analyzed and compared by GC-MS. The analyses revealed the presence of thirty-nine components in the essential oil, representing 95.8% in content of the total oil, mainly including sabinene (22.6%), elemol (15.5%) and (-)-terpinen-4-ol (9.6%). Thirty-eight components accounting for 99.4% of the headspace volatiles were identified, mainly including sabinene (32.5%), β-pinene (21.9%) and α-thujene (10.3%). The compositions of the oil and headspace volatiles were quite similar, and twenty-five compounds identified were in common, which was 91.3% of the oil and 96.0% of the headspace volatiles in content. The essential oil could obviously inhibit Nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells with no significant effect on cell viability, indicating its good anti-inflammatory activity.
Oxidative stress has been suggested to play a causative role in the development of obesity-induced insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Given the antioxidant potency of previously reported xanthones isolated from <i>Swertia mussotii</i>. These natural products were further evaluated against other targets in diabetes, aldose reductase and α-glucosidase, in order to identify novel multitarget-directed antidiabetic agents. Among the 14 xanthones screened, 1,3,7,8-tetrahydroxyxanthone (<b>6</b>), 1,3,5,8-tetrahydroxyxanthone (<b>7</b>), and 2,3,6,8-tetrahydroxyxanthone-7C-(β-D-glucoside) (<b>12</b>) were confirmed as good antioxidants and α-glucosidase inhibitors. Xanthone <b>7</b> was also confirmed as a potent inhibitor of aldose reductase (ALR2). Xanthone <b>7</b> was the most active α-glucosidase and ALR2 inhibitor, with IC<sub>50</sub> values of 5.2±0.3 μM and 88.6±1.6 nM, respectively, while compound <b>12</b> was shown to be the most active antioxidant. Given the overall profile, xanthone <b>7</b> is considered to be the most promising multitarget antidiabetic agent, and may have potential for the treatment of both diabetes and diabetic complications.<br><b>Nature′s medicine cabinet:</b> Xanthones isolated from <i>Swertia mussotii</i> were evaluated as multitarget antidiabetic agents. 1,3,5,8-Tetrahydroxylxanthone was identified as a good antioxidant, and also exhibited potent inhibition of α-glucosidase and aldose reductase, proven targets in the treatment of diabetes.
PURPOSE: Studies have demonstrated beneficial health effects from yoga interventions in cancer patients, but predominantly in breast cancer. Research on its role in alleviating prostate cancer (PC) patients' side effects has been lacking. Our primary goal was to determine the feasibility of recruiting PC patients on a clinical trial of yoga while they underwent external beam radiation therapy (RT).METHODS: Twice-weekly yoga interventions were offered throughout the RT course (6-9 weeks). Baseline demographic information was collected. Feasibility was declared if 15 of the first 75 eligible PC patients approached (20%) were successfully accrued and completed the intervention. Additional end points included standardized assessments of fatigue, erectile dysfunction (ED), urinary incontinence (UI), and quality of life (QOL) at time points before, during, and after RT.
RESULTS: Between May 2013 and June 2014, 68 eligible PC patients were identified. 23 patients (34%) declined, and 45 (56%) consented to the study. 18 (40%) were voluntarily withdrawn due to treatment conflicts. Of the remaining 27, 12 (30%) participated in ≥50% of classes, and 15 (59%) were evaluable. Severity of fatigue scores demonstrated significant variability, with fatigue increasing by week 4, but then improving over the course of treatment (P = .008). ED, UI, and general QOL scores demonstrated reassuringly stable, albeit not significant trends.
CONCLUSIONS: A structured yoga intervention of twice-weekly classes is feasible for PC patients during a 6- to 9-week course of outpatient radiotherapy. Preliminary results are promising, showing stable measurements in fatigue, sexual health, UI, and general QOL.
<p>The Seminal Heart in Four Parts (Snying thig ya bzhi) is a collection that was compiled and partly composed by Longchen Rapjam Drimé Özer (1308-1364). This collection of profound Dzokchen teachings consists of the (1) The Seminal Heart of the Ḍakiṇī (Mkha’ ‘gro snying thig), (2) The Seminal Quintessence of the Ḍakiṇī (Mkha’ ‘gro yang tig) (3) The Seminal Heart of Vimalamitra (Bi ma snying thig), (4) The Seminal Quintessence of the Spiritual Teacher (Bla ma yang tig), and (5) The Profound Seminal Quintessence (Zab mo yang tig). This edition was reproduced from the original xylograph belonging to the late Kathog Ontrul.</p>
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