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Background: Swertia chirayita, has been commonly used under the name "Zang-yin-chen" for the treatment of liver infections, inflammation, abdominal pain, and bacterial infection in traditional Tibetan medicine. However, the bioactive components with anti-inflammatory activities and underlying mechanisms remain poorly evaluated.Study Design/methods: Repeated column chromatography yielded two main xanthones from petroleum ether (PE) and ethyl acetate fractions of whole plants of S. chirayita, and their structures were determined as bellidifolin (1) and swerchirin (2) on the basis of spectroscopic data and literature analysis. The anti-inflammatory activities and mechanisms of anti-inflammation of these two isolated xanthones were determined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages in vitro.Results: Anti-inflammation assay demonstrated that 1 and 2 inhibit the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and TNF-α in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Xanthone 1 also potently inhibited the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by suppressing the protein expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Western blot showed that the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and p38 MAPKs were remarkably attenuated by 1 in a concentration-dependent manner. Particularly, Compound 1 suppressed the phosphorylation of the inhibitor κB kinase-β (IKK-β), Akt, and p65 subunit of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB).Conclusion: The potent suppressive effects of 1 from S. chirayita on inflammatory mediators by blocking the expression of COX-2 and phosphorylation of Akt, IKK-β, MAPK and NF-κB, activation in LPS-stimulated macrophages suggest that 1 can be a preventive therapeutic candidate for the management of inflammatory-mediated immune disorders.
Addicted drugs like nicotine affect autonomic nervous system that results in arrhythmia and other cardiovascular diseases. Notable effects of Zen meditation on autonomic nervous system have been reported during the past decade. Holistic Detox Association (HDA) in Taiwan offered Zen-meditation program to drug addicts as the core scheme among a variety of drug addiction treatments. This paper reports the results of quantifying the cardiorespiratory interactions and autonomic nervous system function to evaluate the on-site effect of Zen meditation on drug rehab. Methods and schemes for quantifying time-domain heart rate variability were employed to electrocardiograph and respiratory signals. Peak-valley method was developed to quantify the respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) behavior. Poincaré Plot Analysis was adopted to evaluate the cardiorespiratory functioning. Among 18 voluntary drug addicts during the 10-minute Zen meditation session, about two-third subjects have significant improvement in autonomic nervous system function characterized by heart rate variability (SDNN, RMSSD and pNN50). Group average of RSA increases from 33.43 ms(Rest) to 69.14 ms(AR Zen meditation). Poincaré-plot analysis reveals the improvement of SD1, SD2 and SD2/SD1 by respectively 14.7%, 19.8% and 8.8%. The group averages of all the parameters exhibit significantly positive changes in the 10-minute session of abdominal-respiration Zen meditation. Even the subject with heart transplant showed the improvement of all the quantitative indicators during the AR Zen meditation.
The essential oil of Tibetan medicine Dracocephalum heterophyllum Benth was obtained by hydrodistillation with a 0.7% (v/w) yield. The chemical composition of the essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectral (GC-MS). Eighty-three compounds, constituting about 89.83% of the total oil, were identified. The main compound in the oil were Cineole (14.89%), trans-nerolido (7.10%), 1-m-ethyl-2-(1-methylethyl)-benzene (4.42%), Germacrene-D (4.84%), Decahydro-1,1,4,7-tetramethyl-4aH-cycloprop[e]azulen-4a-ol (4.94%), p-menth-1-en-4-ol,acetate (4.34%), 4-methyl-1-(1-methylethyl)-3-cyclohexen-1-ol (4.10%). The antimicrobial activity of the oil was evaluated against nine bacterial, one yeast, and three fungi. The antimicrobial test result showed that the essential oil strongly inhibited the growth of test microorganisms studied. The maximal inhibition zones and MIC values for bacterial, yeast and fungi strain were in the range of 18-25 mm and 0.039-0.156 mg mL(-1); *20 mm, and 0.156 mg mL(-1); 8-24 mm and 0.313-2.5 mg mL(-1); respectively. The antioxidant activity of the oil was determined by the malonyldialdehyde (MDA) test, measuring the MDA concentration in mouse liver cell microsomal after induced lipid peroxidation using FeSO(4) and ascorbic acid, The inhibition of lipid peroxidation was 59.3% with a concentration of 0.5 mg mL(-1). Result presented here may suggest that the essential oil of D. heterophyllum posses antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, and therefore, they can be one of new medicinal resources for antimicrobial agent and/or used as a natural preservative ingredient in food and cosmetics and pharmaceuticals industry.
Liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry was developed for the qualitative and quantitative comparison of the main constituents in Saussurea laniceps (SL) and S. medusa (SM), two species of plants used under the name "Xuelianhua" in traditional Tibetan medicine. A method validation including linearity, limit of detection, precision and recovery was performed. The results showed that a good linearity with R<sup>2</sup> > 0.99 was achieved, and the limit of detection of the quantified constituents was reported to be between 0.8 and 3.3 ng. The relative standard deviation value was below 3.82% for repeatability, and recovery studies for the quantified compounds were found to be within the range 90.92-103.12%. The unique properties of the present method were evaluated by analyzing twelve related herbal samples including five S. laniceps samples and seven S. medusa samples. Twenty-two compounds including phenolic acids, cumarins, lignanoids and flavonoids were identified by online ESI-MS and by comparison with literature data and standard compounds, and seven of them were quantified by LC-DAD simultaneously. The results demonstrated that the common constituents in the two herbs were protocatechuic acid, syringoside, chlorogenic acid, isoquercitroside, 1,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, apigenin 7-O-Îø-d-glucoside, chrysoeriol 7-O-Îø-d-glucoside, acacetin 7-O-Îø-d-glucoside, apigenin and chrysoeriol. In the present study, it was found that the characteristic constituents were umbelliferone, scopoletin and their glucosides in S. laniceps, as well as arctiin and arctigenin in S. medusa. It was feasible to choose these characteristic compounds for the quality evaluation as well as chemical authentication of the two related herbs. The results also support discrimination between the two species when using them in folk medicine.
Agroforestry system, as the most promising substitute plantation approach, has been widely regarded as a prominent strategy for mitigating the conflicts between rapid growing population and limited arable land resources. This paper aims to screen the optimal planting pattern for <i>Gentiana rigescens</i> base on the content of gentiopicroside, providing the scientific basis for sustainable supply and application of this plant. Generally, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is effective to integrally monitor and reflect the whole constituents of natural materials. FTIR combined with chemometrics was used for distinguishing the <i>G. rigescens</i> from different compound planting models in this research. The result of partial least square discriminant analysis implied that planting year of <i>G. rigescens</i> had a greater impact on the content of gentiopicroside than that of <i>Camellia sinensis</i>. The gentiopicroside content in 1.5- or 2-year-old <i>G. rigescens</i> was higher. Wavelet denoising was effective for the classification. Samples which had higher contents of gentiopicroside were clustered together relatively, while those with lower contents of gentiopicroside were classified into the other large category. Our investigation revealed that <i>G. rigescens</i> can be successfully cultivated with <i>C. sinensis</i>, which met the requirement of the gentiopicroside content recommended by Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China. That 2-year-old <i>G. rigescens</i> grown with 12-year-old <i>C. sinensis</i> was the optimal compound planting pattern, according this study. The present study provided the optimal compound planting pattern of <i>G. rigescens</i>, which is helpful for improving land-use efficiency and economic returns.
Total ash clearance rates and saponins' loss rates of <i>Panax notoginseng</i> rhizome, root tuber, and rootlet all increased with a prolonged washing time and the rising of water temperature. Under the same conditions, the total ash clearance rates of fresh <i>P. notoginseng</i> were significantly higher than those dried. Meanwhile, the saponins' loss rates were opposite. The highest daily intake of bioavailability heavy metals was rootlet. However, all of that was significantly lower than the recommended daily intake, and both the target hazard quotients and hazard index values were lower than 1. Conclusion, it is effective to decrease washing time and water temperature in order to reduce the loss of saponins of <i>P. notoginseng</i> on the premise that ash content of Notoginseng conforms to standard of Chinese Pharmacopeias. Safety risk assessments of heavy metals based on bioavailability can further reduce the health risk of the heavy metal exposure of Notoginseng.<br>Practical applications: Notoginseng possesses the functions of hemostatic and promoting blood circulation. Clay on the surface of Notoginseng contains high content of heavy metal and induces the exceeding of standard. Washing is the most effective way to clean heavy metal attached on Notoginseng. However, research about the washing technology of <i>Panax notoginseng</i> is still blank. Heavy metals in Notoginseng that are taken orally are much higher than the amount actually absorbed by humans. In such a condition, the risk of heavy metals in Notoginseng will be overestimated, which may bring unnecessary loss to the development of Notoginseng industry. Therefore, this experiment researches the remaining of heavy metal under different washing water temperature and washing time. Also, we evaluate the bioavailability and risk of heavy metals in Notoginseng that are washed in an optimum condition. In this way, we provide technological parameters for the washing operation in processing <i>P. notoginseng</i> and referential data to set the quantity standard of heavy metal in Notoginseng.
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.
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: The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of yoga on psychologic function and quality of life (QoL) in women with breast cancer.DESIGN: A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and the Chinese Digital Journals Full-text Database was carried out. Randomized control trials (RCTs) examining the effects of yoga, versus a control group receiving no intervention, on psychologic functioning and QoL in women with breast cancer were included. Methodological quality of included RCTs was assessed according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions 5.0.1, and data were analyzed using the Cochrane Collaboration's Review Manager 5.1.
RESULTS: Six (6) studies involving 382 patients were included. The meta-analysis showed that yoga can improve QoL for women with breast cancer. A statistically significant effect favoring yoga for the outcome of QoL was found (standard mean difference=0.27, 95% confidence interval [0.02, 0.52], p=0.03). Although the effects of yoga on psychologic function outcomes--such as anxiety, depression, distress and sleep--were in the expected direction, these effects were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Fatigue showed no significant difference (p>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: The present data provided little indication of how effective yoga might be when they were applied by women with breast cancer except for mildly effective in QOL improvement. The findings were based on a small body of evidence in which methodological quality was not high. Further well-designed RCTs with large sample size are needed to clarify the utility of yoga practice for this population.
CONTEXT: Gastric cancer remains highly prevalent, but treatment options are limited. Natural products have proved to be a rich source of anticancer drugs. Chrysosplenium nudicaule Ledeb. (Saxifragaceae) is a perennial herb that grows in the highlands of China. It has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine to treat digestive diseases for hundreds of years. Recent studies revealed that this herb had anticancer activity, and the flavonoids were speculated to be the effective components. 6,7,3'-Trimethoxy-3,5,4'-trihydroxy flavone (TTF) and 5,4'-dihydroxy-3,6,3'trimethoxy-flavone-7-O-β-d-glucoside (DTFG) are flavonoid compounds isolated from Chrysosplenium nudicaule.OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effect of TTF and DTFG on SGC-7901 human stomach cancer cell in vitro to determine the anticancer and induction of apoptosis properties of TTF.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The proliferation of cells treated with 32, 16, 8, 4, and 2 μg/mL of TTF or DTFG for 24, 48, and 72 h was assessed by the MTT assay. After being treated with TTF, the apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells was assessed by acridine orange staining, ultrastructure, electrophoresis of DNA fragmentation, and flow cytometry.
RESULTS: Results indicated that TTF inhibited the growth of cancer cells with an IC50 value of 8.33 μg/mL after 72 h incubation. However, DTFG showed no inhibitory effect on the growth of the cancer cell. Further studies on TTF also confirmed that it was able to induce apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells at a concentration as low as 4 μg/mL.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The apoptotic effect of TTF makes it a promising candidate for future chemotherapeutic application in treating stomach cancer.
CONTEXT: Gastric cancer remains highly prevalent, but treatment options are limited. Natural products have proved to be a rich source of anticancer drugs. Chrysosplenium nudicaule Ledeb. (Saxifragaceae) is a perennial herb that grows in the highlands of China. It has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine to treat digestive diseases for hundreds of years. Recent studies revealed that this herb had anticancer activity, and the flavonoids were speculated to be the effective components. 6,7,3'-Trimethoxy-3,5,4'-trihydroxy flavone (TTF) and 5,4'-dihydroxy-3,6,3'trimethoxy-flavone-7-O-β-d-glucoside (DTFG) are flavonoid compounds isolated from Chrysosplenium nudicaule. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effect of TTF and DTFG on SGC-7901 human stomach cancer cell in vitro to determine the anticancer and induction of apoptosis properties of TTF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The proliferation of cells treated with 32, 16, 8, 4, and 2 μg/mL of TTF or DTFG for 24, 48, and 72 h was assessed by the MTT assay. After being treated with TTF, the apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells was assessed by acridine orange staining, ultrastructure, electrophoresis of DNA fragmentation, and flow cytometry. RESULTS: Results indicated that TTF inhibited the growth of cancer cells with an IC50 value of 8.33 μg/mL after 72 h incubation. However, DTFG showed no inhibitory effect on the growth of the cancer cell. Further studies on TTF also confirmed that it was able to induce apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells at a concentration as low as 4 μg/mL. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The apoptotic effect of TTF makes it a promising candidate for future chemotherapeutic application in treating stomach cancer.
BACKGROUND: Genome-wide studies on highland adaptation mechanism in terrestrial animal have been widely reported with few available for aquatic animals. Tibetan Schizothoracinae species are ideal model systems to study speciation and adaptation of fish. The Schizothoracine fish, Gymnocypris przewalskii ganzihonensis had underwent the ecological niche shift from salt water to freshwater, and also experienced a recent split from Gymnocypris przewalskii przewalskii. In addition, G. p. ganzihonensis inhabited harsh aquatic environment including low temperature and hypoxia as well as other Schizothoracinae species, its genetic mechanism of highland adaptation have yet to be determined. RESULTS: Our study used comparative genomic analysis based on the transcriptomic data of G. p. ganzihonensis and other four fish genome datasets to investigate the genetic basis of highland adaptation in Schizothoracine fish. We found that Schizothoracine fish lineage on the terminal branch had an elevated dN/dS ratio than its ancestral branch. A total of 202 gene ontology (GO) categories involved into transport, energy metabolism and immune response had accelerated evolutionary rates than zebrafish. Interestingly, we also identified 162 genes showing signature of positive selection (PSG) involved into energy metabolism, transport and immune response in G. p. ganzihonesis. While, we failed to find any PSG related to hypoxia response as previous studies. CONCLUSIONS: Comparative genomic analysis based on G. p. ganzihonensis transcriptome data revealed significant genomic signature of accelerated evolution ongoing within Tibetan Schizothoracinae species lineage. Molecular evolution analysis suggested that genes involved in energy metabolism, transport and immune response functions in Schizothoracine fish underwent positive selection, especially in innate immunity including toll-like receptor signaling pathway genes. Taken together, our result as a case study in Schizothoracinae species provides novel insights in understanding the aquatic animal adaptation to extreme environment on the Tibetan Plateau, and also provides valuable genomic resource for further functional verification studies.
AIMS: Luteolin is a falconoid compound that has an antioxidant effect, but its contribution to ROS-activated MAPK pathways in ischemia/reperfusion injury is seldom reported. Here, we have confirmed that it exhibits an antioxidant effect in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI) by inhibiting ROS-activated MAPK pathways. MAIN METHODS: We exposed rat hearts into the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) ligation for 30min followed by 1h of reperfusion. Observations were carried out using electrocardiography; detection of hemodynamic parameters; and testing levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA). Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway was measured by western blot and transmission electron microscopy was applied to observe the myocardial ultrastructure. Rat H9c2 cell in 95% N2 and 5% CO2 stimulated the MIRI. Oxidation system mRNA levels were measured by real-time PCR; mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis were measured by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry; western blot analysis was used to assay caspase-3, -8, and -9 and MAPK pathway protein expression; the MAPK pathway was inhibited using SB203580 (p38 MAPK inhibitor) and SP600125 (c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase inhibitor) before H9c2 cells were exposed to hypoxia/reoxygenation injury to show the modulation of the changes in ROS generation, cell viability and apoptosis. KEY FINDINGS: In vivo, luteolin can ameliorate the impaired mitochondrial morphology, regulating the MAPK pathway to protect MIRI. In vitro, luteolin can affect the oxidation system, mitochondrial membrane potential and MAPK pathway to anti-apoptosis. SIGNIFICANCE: These results reveal a ROS-MAPK mediated mechanism and mitochondrial pathway through which luteolin can protect myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.
The present study aimed to investigate the effect and underlying mechanisms of the Ruyi Zhenbao pill on neurological function following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion following reperfusion. The rats received intragastrically either sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (control and model groups) or Ruyi Zhenbao pill at doses of 0.2, 0.4 or 0.8 g/kg. Neurological function was assessed by cylinder, adhesive and beam-walking tests after 14-day Ruyi Zhenbao pill treatment. Neurogenesis and angiogenesis were detected using immunofluorescence staining. The expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Treatment with 0.4 and 0.8 g/kg Ruyi Zhenbao for 14 days significantly improved neurological function, and increased the number of von Willebrand Factor- and neuronal nuclear antigen-positive cells in the ischemic hemisphere of rats. Ruyi Zhenbao pill treatment also significantly enhanced the expression levels of BDNF, NGF and VEGF in the ischemic hemisphere. The results demonstrated that the Ruyi Zhenbao pill improved neurological function following ischemia in rats. The mechanisms of the Ruyi Zhenbao pill are associated with increasing the expression levels of BDNF, NGF and VEGF, and subsequently promoting neurogenesis and angiogenesis in the ischemic zone.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the protective effects of Tibetan medicine Zuo-Mu-A Decoction (, ZMAD) on the blood parameters and myocardium of high altitude polycythemia (HAPC) model rats.METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups by a random number table, including the normal, model, Rhodiola rosea L. (RRL) and ZMAD groups (10 in each group). Every group was raised in Lhasa to create a HAPC model except the normal group. After modeling, rats in the RRL and the ZMAD groups were administered intragastrically with RRL (20 mL/kg) and ZMAD (7.5 mL/kg) once a day for 2 months, respectively; for the normal and the model groups, 5 mL of distilled water was administered intragastrically instead of decoction. Then routine blood and hematologic rheology parameters were taken, levels of erythropoietin and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were tested, and ultrastructural change in the left ventricular myocardium was observed using transmission electron microscopy.
RESULTS: Compared with the model group, ZMAD significantly reduced the red blood cell count, hemoglobin levels, whole blood viscosity at low/middle shear rates, plasma viscosity, erythrocyte electrophoretic time, erythropoietin and 8-OHdG levels, and also increased the erythrocyte deformation index (P<0.05). There was no difference in all results between the RRL and the ZMAD groups. The cardiac muscle fibers were well-protected, mitochondrial matrix swelled mildly and ultrastructure changes were less prominent in the ZMAD group compared with the model group.
CONCLUSION: ZMAD has significant protective effects on the blood parameters against HAPC, and also has the beneficial effect in protecting against myocardial injury.
To explore the protective effects of Tibetan medicine Zuo-Mu-A Decoction (佐木阿汤, ZMAD) on the blood parameters and myocardium of high altitude polycythemia (HAPC) model rats.<br>Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups by a random number table, including the normal, model, <i>Rhodiola rosea</i> L. (RRL) and ZMAD groups (10 in each group). Every group was raised in Lhasa to create a HAPC model except the normal group. After modeling, rats in the RRL and the ZMAD groups were administered intragastrically with RRL (20 mL/kg) and ZMAD (7.5 mL/kg) once a day for 2 months, respectively; for the normal and the model groups, 5 mL of distilled water was administered intragastrically instead of decoction. Then routine blood and hematologic rheology parameters were taken, levels of erythropoietin and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were tested, and ultrastructural change in the left ventricular myocardium was observed using transmission electron microscopy.<br>Compared with the model group, ZMAD significantly reduced the red blood cell count, hemoglobin levels, whole blood viscosity at low/middle shear rates, plasma viscosity, erythrocyte electrophoretic time, erythropoietin and 8-OHdG levels, and also increased the erythrocyte deformation index (<i>P</i><0.05). There was no difference in all results between the RRL and the ZMAD groups. The cardiac muscle fibers were well-protected, mitochondrial matrix swelled mildly and ultrastructure changes were less prominent in the ZMAD group compared with the model group.<br>ZMAD has significant protective effects on the blood parameters against HAPC, and also has the beneficial effect in protecting against myocardial injury.
Saussurea plants have a long history of being used for disease prevention and control in Tibetan medicine, and the species have gradually changed along with the development of history. Sausurea is mainly effective in wind-expelling, blood circulation, spasmolysis, pain relief, heat-clearing and detoxification. Characteristics, major chemical constituents and pharmacological studies of Saussurea Stella Maim. were summarized in this review based on the utilization of Sausurea medicinal plants in Tibetan areas, with the aim to provide adequate theoretical bases and references for exploring the further medicinal value and development and utilization of S. Stella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
INTRODUCTION: Qigong exercise offers a potentially safe, low-cost and effective mind-body rehabilitative intervention for mitigating the problem of gait interruption among patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) who have frequent freezing of gait (FOG) episodes. However, its clinical effects have not been established. This paper describes the trial protocol of evaluating the clinical efficacy of a newly developed Integrated Qigong in improving gait among patients with PD who have FOG.METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A single-blind randomised controlled trial is designed to compare Integrated Qigong and balance training with an attention control. Participants will be patients with mild to moderate PD who experience FOG and are recruited from local communities in Shanghai, China. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of the three groups: Integrated Qigong group, a balance exercise intervention group, or control group. The total number of participants will be 126, and masked assessments will be made at baseline, 12 weeks (end of intervention) and 12-week follow-up. Both Integrated Qigong group and balance training group will receive a group-based exercise intervention that meets three times per week, 60 min in duration, for 12 weeks. The control group will receive a 60 min weekly group session and monthly health education. The primary outcomes are gait parameters (stride length, gait velocity, stride time variability) and occurrence of FOG. The secondary outcomes are postural instability, walking disability, falling, fear of falling and quality of life.
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Shanghai University of Sport and registered at China Clinical Trial Registry. Participants will sign informed consent prior to the participation of the trial. The findings of the study will be published in peer-reviewed academic journals and disseminated to PD support groups, medical community and media.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR1800016570.
AIMS OF THE STUDY: Meconopsis quintuplinervia, a medicinal herb endemic to the Tibetan region, is used to treat hepatitis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the antioxidant potential of the ethanolic extract of this herb using different assays.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antioxidant capacity of Meconopsis quintuplinervia was investigated using various established in vitro systems. An in vivo study of carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced antioxidant activity in mice was also conducted by examining the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH).
RESULTS: The extract showed strong in vitro antioxidant ability. In the in vivo study, CCl(4)-induced oxidative stress caused significant decreases in the SOD, CAT, and GSH levels and a significant increase in the MDA level, most of which were significantly reversed (except for SOD in the liver.) by treatment with the extract and standard Vitamin E.
CONCLUSION: This study clearly indicates that the ethanolic extract of Meconopsis quintuplinervia is a valuable source of natural antioxidants. These findings provide scientific support for the traditional use of this herb as a Tibetan medicine for liver diseases.