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OBJECTIVE: To investigate the underlying mechanism of reduced myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats using the traditional Tibetan medicine Sanweitanxiang powder (SWTX).METHODS: Rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 10) as follows: (a) propranolol dinitrate control group, given propranolol dinitrate 0.02 g/kg for 10 days before I/R, (b) SWTX with a high dose group, given SWTX 1.5 g/kg for 10 days before I/R, (c) SWTX with a medium dose group, given SWTX 1.25 g/kg for 10 days before I/R, (d) sham group (Sham), in which the rat heart was exposed by pericardiotomy but without I/R, (e) SWTX with a low dose group, given SWTX 1.0 g/kg for 10 days before I/R, and (f) I/R injury group. Rats were intragastrically pretreated with propranolol dinitrate or SWTX. After that, the operation to cause ischemia and reperfusion was conducted. The histopathologic changes of rat hearts were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining and transmission electron microscopy. Ca2+ homeostasis protein expression was determined by western blot. RESULTS: After SWTX pretreatment, the development of ultrastructural pathological changes from IR injury was attenuated. A decrease in the expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 associated X protein, and an increase in the expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 were observed. An increased activation of extracellular signal regulated kinases were found. Compared with the sham group, the expression of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPase, phospholamban, and calsequestrin were all up-regulated after pretreatment with SWTX. CONCLUSION: The protective mechanism of SWTX pretreatment on myocardial I/R injury might be related to its effect on maintaining the balance of calcium homeostasis in rat heart.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of the Tibetan medicine RuPeng15 powder (RPP15) on uric acid levels, and explore its possible mechanisms of action in hyperuricemic animal models.METHODS: Hyperuricemic mice were generated by orally administering yeast extract paste twice daily (30 g/kg) for 8 days, to mimic human hyperuricemia induced by high-protein diets. Hyperuricemic rats were generated by intraperitoneal injection of 250 mg/kg potassium oxonate to each animal 1 h before the last oral administration of test compounds, which raised the serum uric acid level by inhibiting the decomposition of uric acid. Levels of uric acid and creatinine in serum and urine were detected by the phosphotungstic acid and picric acid methods respectively, and the activity of xanthine oxidase (XOD) was assayed using a commercial test kit. RESULTS: RPP15 (0.4, 0.8, 1.2 g/kg) significantly decreased the level of serum uric acid in healthy rats (P < 0.05). Furthermore, hyperuricemic rats treated with RPP15 (0.4, 0.8, 1.2 g/kg) had lower serum uric acid levels (P < 0.05), accompanied by lower urine uric acid (P < 0.05). For the hyperuricemic mice, the levels of uric acid in the serum decreased significantly (P < 0.05) and the activity of XOD in the liver was restored to normal levels after treatment with RPP15 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: RPP15 (0.4, 0.8, 1.2 g/kg) demonstrated an anti-hyperuricemic effect on both healthy and hyperuricemic animals, and the mechanism is most likely associated with inhibiting the activity of XOD.