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.
The Tibetan people's knowledge on preserving health is an important part of Tibetan medical culture. Most of the Tibetans live on the plateau where it is cold with decreased oxygen. They are devout Buddhists and they have developed a variety of healthy folk customs. These factors form the health culture of Tibetan medicine and demonstrate the plateau characteristics of health, psychology health and health customs. The health culture of Tibetan medicine has far-reaching influence because of the spread of Buddhism. Therefore it is worth exploring and carrying forward.
The present work is to study the chemical constituents from petroleum ether fraction of Tibetan medicine Swertia chirayita by column chromatography and recrystallization. The structures were identified by physical and chemical properties and spectral data as swerchirin (1), decussatin (2), 1,8-dihydroxy-3,5,7-trimethoxyxanthone (3), 1-hydroxy-3,5,7,8-tetramethoxyxanthone (4), bellidifolin (5), 1-hydroxy-3, 7-dimethoxyxanthone (6), methylswertianin (7), 1-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyxanthone (8), erythrodiol (9), oleanolic acid (10), gnetiolactone (11), scopoletin (12), sinapaldehyde (13), syringaldehyde (14), and β-sitosterol (15). Compounds 3, 4, 9, 11-14 were isolated from S. chirayita for the first time. Compounds 9 and 12 were firstly isolated from the genus Swertia. The cytotoxic activities of compounds 1, 2, 5, 7 and 8 against human pancreatic cancer cell lines SW1990 and BxPC-3,and the protective effects of these compounds against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress in human endothelium-derived EA.hy926 were investigated in vitro. The results showed no obvious effect at the high concentration of 50 μmol•L⁻¹.
Objective: To investigate the chemical constituent from the roots of Gentiana straminea.; Methods: The constituents were separated by microporous resin,silica gel,Sephadex LH-20 and preparative column chromatography and their structures were elucidated by NMR and MS spectral methods.; Results: Twelve chemical constituents were isolated from the roots of Gentiana straminea and their structures were identified as daucosterol( 1),β-sitosterol( 2),ursolic acid( 3),sweroside( 4),swertiamarin( 5),gentiopicroside( 6),6’-O-acetyl-gentiopicroside( 7),6’-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-sweroside( 8),protocatech uic aldehyde( 9),protocatechuic acid( 10),methyl gallate( 11) and dibutyl phthalate( 12).; Conclusion: The compounds 8,9,10,11 and 12 are obtained from this plant for the first time.;
Four novel lactams, colletotrilactam A-D (1-4), along with six known compounds (5-10) were isolated from the culture broth of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides GT-7, a fungal endophyte of Uncaria rhynchophylla. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by comprehensive NMR spectroscopy. Isolates were tested for monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitory activity and compound 9 showed potent MAO inhibitory activity with IC50 value of 8.93±0.34μg/mL, when the IC50 value of iproniazid as a standard was 1.80±0.5μg/mL.
Four novel lactams, colletotrilactam A-D (1-4), along with six known compounds (5-10) were isolated from the culture broth of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides GT-7, a fungal endophyte of Uncaria rhynchophylla. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by comprehensive NMR spectroscopy. Isolates were tested for monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitory activity and compound 9 showed potent MAO inhibitory activity with IC50 value of 8.93±0.34μg/mL, when the IC50 value of iproniazid as a standard was 1.80±0.5μg/mL.
A quantitative analytical method of ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) was developed for simultaneously determining twelve components in Tibetan medicine Zuozhu Daxi. SIMPCA 12.0 software was used a principal component analysis PCA) and partial small squares analysis (PLSD-DA) on the twelve components in 10 batches from four pharmaceutical factories. Acquity UPLC BEH C15 column (2.1 mm x 100 mm, 1.7 µm) was adopted at the column temperature of 35 °C and eluted with acetonitrile (A) -0.05% phosphate acid solution (B) as the mobile phase with a flow rate of 0. 3 mL · min(-1). The injection volume was 1 µL. The detection wavelengths were set at 210 nm for alantolactone, isoalantolactone and oleanolic; 260 nm for trychnine and brucine; 288 nm for protopine; 306 nm for protopine, resveratrol and piperine; 370 nm for quercetin and isorhamnetin. The results showed a good separation among index components, with a good linearity relationship (R2 = 0.999 6) within the selected concentration range. The average sample recovery rates ranged between 99.44%-101.8%, with RSD between 0.37%-1.7%, indicating the method is rapid and accurate with a good repeatability and stability. The PCA and PLSD-DA analysis on the sample determination results revealed a great difference among samples from different pharmaceutical factories. The twelve components included in this study contributed significantly to the quantitative determination of intrinsic quality of Zuozhu Daxi. The UPLC established for to the quantitative determination of the twelve components can provide scientific basis for the comprehensive quality evaluation of Zuozhu Daxi.
The present study examined the relationships between dispositional mindfulness, emotional intelligence and perceived stress using self-report measures. We administered the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), the Wong Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS), and the Perceive Stress Scale (PPS) to a non-clinical sample of Chinese adults (n = 380). The results showed that mindfulness was positively associated with four components of WLEIS, and negatively associated with perceived stress. Mediation analysis indicated that only the regulation and use of emotion components of WLEIS acted as mediators of the association between mindfulness and perceived stress. Effect contrasts showed no significant difference between the specific indirect effects through these two mediators. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
The separation of minor compounds, especially those with similar polarities from a complex sample, remains challenging. In the proposed study, an effective method based on medium-pressure liquid chromatography and recycling high-speed counter-current chromatography was developed for the enrichment and separation of three minor components from <i>Dracocephalum tanguticum</i>. The crude extract was directly introduced to medium-pressure liquid chromatography for the enrichment of the three minor components. Based on high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, the total content of these three compounds increased from 0.48% in the crude extract to 85.3% in the medium-pressure liquid chromatography fraction. In addition, high-speed counter-current chromatography was employed to separate the enriched compounds using the solvent system hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (1.18:8.82:1.18:8.82, v/v/v/v). As a result, compound <b>3</b> and a mixture of compounds <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> were obtained. In order to improve the resolution of compounds <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> while saving separation time, a recycling and heart-cut mode was used. Finally, compounds <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> were obtained after five cycles. These compounds were identified as 3-phenylethyl β-d-glucopyranoside (<b>1</b>), tazettoside E (<b>2</b>), and cirsiliol-4′-glucoside (<b>3</b>). Compounds <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> were primarily separated from <i>D. tanguticum</i>. Moreover, the developed method provided a reference for the separation of minor components from the complex sample.
To study the effect of Tibetan medicine Zuotai on the activity, protein and mRNA expression of CYP1A2 and NAT2, three different doses (1.2, 3.8 and 12 mg x kg(-1)) of Zuotai were administrated orally to rats once a day or once daily for twelve days, separately. Rats were administrated orally caffeine (CF) on the second day after Zuotai administration, and the urine concentration of CF metabolite 5-acetylamino-6-formylamino-3-methyl-uracil (AFMU), 1-methyluric acid (1U), 1-methylxanthine (1X), 1, 7-dimethylxanthine (17U) at 5 h after study drug administration was determined by RP-HPLC. The activity of CYP1A2 and NAT2 was evaluated by the ratio of metabolites (AFMU+1X+1U)/17U and the ratio of AFMU/(AFMU+1X+1U), respectively. The protein and mRNA expression of CYP1A2 and NAT2 were determined by ELISA and RT-PCR method, respectively. After single administration of Zuotai 3.8 mg x kg(-1) and repeated administration of Zuotai 3.8 and 12 mg x kg(-1), the activity of CYP1A2 and NAT2 decreased significantly compared with control group and there was no significant difference between other dose group and control group. The protein expression of CYP1A2 was significant lower than that in control group after repeated administration of Zuotai 12 mg x kg(-1), and the mRNA expression of CYP1A2 decreased significantly compared with that of control group after single administration of Zuotai 3.8 mg x kg(-1) and repeated admistration of Zuotai 12 mg x kg(-1), separately. The protein expression of NAT2 decreased significantly compared with that of control group after single and repeated administration of Zuotai 3.8 mg x kg(-1), respectively, and the mRNA expression of CYP1A2 decreased significantly compared with control group after single administration of Zuotai 3.8 mg x kg(-1). This study found that Tibetan medicine Zuotai had significant effect on the activity, protein and mRNA expression of CYP1A2 and NAT2.
The embryological characters of <i>Megacodon stylophorus</i> (C. B. Clark) H. Smith and <i>Veratrilla baillonii</i> Franch. are described for the first time and the systematic relationships of <i>Megacodon</i> and <i>Veratrilla</i> are discussed. Both species share the following embryological features. The anthers are tetrasporangiate. The formation of anther walls is of the Dicotyledonous Type. The tapetum is of glandular type with uninucleate cells which have a dual origin. The tapetal cells on the connective side show radial elongation or periclinal division and intrude into the anther locule to form ‘placentoids’. Cytokinesis in the microsporocyte meiosis is of the simultaneous type and the microspore tetrads are nearly always tetrahedral, rarely decussate. The ovary is bicarpellate and unilocular. The ovule is unitegmic and tenuinucellar. The formation of the embryo sac is of the Polygonum Type. Before fertilization, the two polar nuclei fuse into a secondary nucleus. Fertilization is porogamous. The development of the endosperm is of the Nuclear Type. However, the two species show variation in the following features: the number of cell layers which form the anther locule wall; construction of the wall of the mature anther; cell number in mature pollen grains; ovule number in cross sections of placentae; degree of ovule curvature; character of the hypostase and seed shape. In a comparison with the other taxa in the tribe Gentianeae using embryological features, <i>Megacodon</i> is referred to as an independent genus and should be treated as a member of the subtribe Swertiinae; <i>Veratrilla</i> is better separated from <i>Swertia s</i>.<i>l</i>. as an independent genus. <i>Veratrilla</i> is more derived than <i>Swertia s</i>.<i>s.</i> and shows a close relationship with <i>S. tetraptera</i>. © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, <i>Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society</i>, 2005, <b>147</b>, 317-331.
The embryological features of three species of <i>Swertia</i> (<i>s.l.)</i>-<i>S. erythrosticta</i>, <i>S. franchetiana</i>, and <i>S. tetraptera</i>- were characterized, and the observations were used, together with previously gathered data on other species, to evaluate a recently proposed polyphyly, based on molecular data, of <i>Swertia s.l.</i> Comparisons of species within the genus showed that they have diversified embryologically, and there are significant between-species differences. Notable features that vary between species include the number of cell layers that form the anther locule wall, the construction of the wall of the mature anther, tapetum origin, the cell number in mature pollen grains, the structure of the fused margins of the two carpels, the ovule numbers in placental cross-sections, the shape of the mature embryo sac, the degree of ovule curvature, antipodal variation and the presence of a hypostase, and seed appendages. They share characters that are widely distributed in the tribe Gentianeae, such as a dicotyledonous type of anther wall formation, a glandular tapetum with uninucleate cells, simultaneous cytokinesis following the meiosis of the microsporocytes, tetrahedral microspore tetrads, superior, bicarpellary and unilocular ovaries, unitegmic and tenuinucellar ovules, <i>Polygonum</i>-type megagametophytes, progamous fertilization, nuclear endosperm, and Solanad-type embryogeny. The presence of variation in embryological characters amongst the species of <i>Swertia s.l.</i> strongly supports the view that <i>Swertia s.l.</i> is not a monophyletic group. <i>Frasera</i> is better separated from <i>Swertia s.l.</i> as an independent genus, and is only distantly related to <i>Swertia s.s.</i> judging from the numerous differences in embryology. <i>Swertia tetraptera</i> is very closely related to <i>Halenia</i>, as they show identical embryology. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, <i>Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society</i>, 2007, <b>155</b>, 383-400.
Tibetan Herbal medicine has its own complete theory based on five sources doctrine. And the theories of "Liuwei", "Baxing" and "Shiqi Gongxiao" formed the basic core components of the property theory of Tibetan medicine. However, books and literature of Tibetan medicine have never been systematically expounded and discussed about it specially which thus will limit the further development of Tibetan medicine theory. In this thesis, we firstly introduced three basic core components of the property theory-the "Liu Wei", "Baxing", and "Shiqi Gongxiao" and their interactions as well. At the same time, the links and similarities between the theory of Tibetan medicine and Chinese medicine theory were compared. The job of the thesis done above is to lay the foundation for further systematic reveal and development of Tibetan medicine theory.
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.
OBJECTIVE: To study the material composition of Tibetan medicine "Brag-zhun", and to provide the basis for interpretation of its source and reference for the establishment of quality standards.METHODS: Pharmacognosy routine method was used in macroscopic and microscopic identifications, inductively coupled plasma spectrometry was carried out to determine 26 kinds of mineral elements,and X-ray diffraction analysis was used for the crystalline phase detection of Brag-zhun. The content of calcium,organic matter, humic acid and fulvic acid was determined according to GB/T 14610-2008, "technical specification for soil analysis" , GB/T 11957-2001 and capacity titration, respectively. Moisture, ash content, acid insoluble ash content and water soluble extract were determined with reference to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2010 edition).
RESULTS: Animal feces were commonly found in Brag-zhun, the main crystal phase was SiO2, 26 kinds of mineral elements content in total was about 3%, 13 batches of medicinal materials in organic matter content was 29.03%-71.79%. Humic acid content was 28.37%-58.51%; fulvic acid content was 19.69%-41.43%; moisture was 5.2% -11.7%; total ash content was 17.82%-64.39%; acid insoluble ash content was 2.10%-39.09%; and water soluble extract was 28.39%-57.40%.
CONCLUSION: The traditional record of Brag-zhun from molten juice is lack of scientific basis. The mineral elements in Brag-zhun exist in amorphous. Brag-zhun contains a lot of organic matter including humic acid and fulvic acid, and inorganic matter mainly comes from sediment. The organic matter in rock has gone through a long geological evolution.
Environmental problems have attracted increasing attention, yet individuals’ connectedness to nature remains a significant concern for potential solutions to these problems. In this article, we propose a novel method to promote connectedness to nature: mindful learning. One hundred and thirty-four students participated in the experiment. First, baseline measurements using the Connectedness to Nature Scale were obtained. Participants were then assigned to either a mindful or mindless learning condition. Finally, as a posttest, participants completed the Implicit Association Test and the Inclusion of Nature in the Self Scale. The performance of the mindful-learning group was better for both measures. Participants in the mindful-learning condition performed better on the Implicit Association Test and scored higher on the Inclusion of Nature in the Self Scale. These results provide empirical evidence that mindful learning may promote connectedness to nature, both implicitly and explicitly.
<bold>Background: </bold>Tong Luo Hua Shi (TLHS) is a new formulation of the traditional Tibetan medicine Wu-wei-gan-lu that has been used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for hundreds of years in China. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TLHS in patients with RA.<bold>Methods: </bold>This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-finding study performed in patients with active RA from five medical centers. Patients received three doses (4.8, 3.6, or 2.4 g/day po) of TLHS or placebo (tid po) for 8 weeks. Blood sampling, physical examination, and assessment of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20 % improvement (ACR20) criteria were performed before and every 2 weeks after starting treatment. The primary endpoint was the ACR20. The secondary endpoints included safety.<bold>Results: </bold>A total of 240 participants were screened and 236 patients were randomized (n = 59/group); 20 dropped out. After 8 weeks, ACR20 improvements in the TLHS 4.8 g and 3.6 g groups were significantly higher than in the placebo group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). ACR50 improvement in the TLHS 4.8 g group was significantly higher compared with the placebo group (P < 0.01). Symptoms of RA were significantly relieved in the TLHS groups. In the TLHS groups, insomnia (n = 1), gastroenteric reactions (n = 2), arrhythmia (n = 1), and minor hepatic lesion (n = 1) were reported; in the placebo group, hepatic dysfunction (n = 1) was reported (P = 0.878).<bold>Conclusions: </bold>TLHS improved the symptoms of patients with RA according to the ACR20. Moreover, TLHS was safe.<bold>Trial Registration: </bold>Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR-TRC-12003871 . Registered on 1 January 2012. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
A new wortmannine derivative named wortmannine E (1) was isolated from Talaromyces wortmannii LGT-4, an endophytic fungus of Tripterygium wilfordii. Its structure was established by 1D and 2D NMR spectra.
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.
Obesity negatively impacts the kinematics and kinetics of the lower extremities in children and adolescents. Although yoga has the potential to provide several distinct benefits for children with obesity, this is the first study to examine the benefits of yoga for gait (primary outcome) in youths with obesity. Secondary outcomes included health-related quality of life (HRQoL), physical activity, and pain. Feasibility and acceptability were also assessed. Nine youths (11-17 years) participated in an eight-week Iyengar yoga intervention (bi-weekly 1-h classes). Gait, HRQOL (self and parent-proxy reports), and physical activity were assessed at baseline and post-yoga. Pain was self-reported at the beginning of each class. Significant improvements were found in multiple gait parameters, including hip, knee, and ankle motion and moments. Self-reported and parent-proxy reports of emotional functioning significantly improved. Time spent in physical activity and weight did not change. This study demonstrates that a relatively brief, non-invasive Iyengar yoga intervention can result in improved malalignment of the lower extremities during ambulation, as well as in clinically meaningful improvements in emotional functioning. This study extends current evidence that supports a role for yoga in pediatric obesity.
Rannasangpei (RSNP) is used as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, and neurodegeneration in China; however, its potential use in the treatment of vascular dementia (VD) was unclear. In this study, our aim was to examine the neuroprotective effect of RSNP in a VD rat model, which was induced by permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (2VO). Four-week administration with two doses of RSNP was investigated in our study. Severe cognitive deficit in the VD model, which was confirmed in Morris water maze (MWM) test, was significantly restored by the administration of RSNP. ELISA revealed that the treatments with both doses of RSNP could reinstate the cholinergic activity in the VD animals by elevating the production of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and reducing the acetylcholinesterase (AChE); the treatment of RSNP could also reboot the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and decrease malondialdehyde (MDA). Moreover, Western blot and quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) results indicated that the RSNP could suppress the apoptosis in the hippocampus of the VD animals by increasing the expression ratio of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) to Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax). These results suggested that RSNP might be a therapeutic agent in the treatment of vascular dementia in the future.
Oxytropis falcata is a perennial acaulescent herb of Oxytropis leguminosae. It is an impointan traditional tibetan medicinal material of high pharmaceutical value, which grows widely in Tibet. In recent years, there has been an extensive study of this plant. This article is to summarize the knowledge of Oxytropis flacanta; its chemical composition, pharmacological and clinical application, and recommendation for furthur research.
BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress is concomitant with acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity, which has been highlighted as therapeutic targets for such diseases. The berries of Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) have been traditionally used in Tibetan medicine for thousands of years. The effect of Seabuckthorn berry polysaccharide on drug- induced liver injury (DILI) has not yet been elucidated.PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of Seabuckthorn polysaccharide (SP) against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity.
STUDY DESIGN: Sixty C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into six groups (n = 10 per group), namely the control group (Ctrl), APAP-induced-liver injury group (APAP), NAC pretreated group (NAC), 100 mg/kg SP pretreated group (APAP/SP100), 200 mg/kg SP pretreated group (APAP/SP200) and 200 mg/kg SP pretreated group without APAP challenge (SP200). SP was given orally to mice for 30 consecutive days prior to APAP exposure (300 mg/kg). NAC (150 mg/kg) was administrated 1 h before APAP challenge.
METHODS: ALT and AST were detected 16 h after APAP treatment; Hepatic expression of GSH, SOD, NO, iNOS and GSH-Px were examined. The expression of p-JNK, Bcl-2/Bax, p62, Keap-1 and SOD-2 was detected by Western blotting. The expression of Nrf-2 and its target genes HO-1, GCLC and NQO-1 were analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blotting.
RESULTS: Pretreatment with SP led to decreased levels of ALT and AST in APAP mice, without affecting APAP metabolism. This was accompanied by diminished liver injuries, increased levels of GSH and GSH-Px, reduced NO and iNOS expression. SP increased the activity of SOD as well as SOD-2 expression in APAP mice. SP suppressed APAP-induced JNK phosphorylation and increased the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax. Furthermore, SP decreased the expression of Keap-1 and increased the nuclear expression of Nrf-2. The expression of Nrf-2 target gene HO-1 was increased by SP pretreatment in APAP mice.
CONCLUSION: SP alleviates APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. The protective effects of SP are associated with the activation of the Nrf-2/HO-1-SOD-2 signaling pathway.
Six compounds including two n-butyrophenone isomers and two stibene isomers were obtained from Rheum tanguticum Maxim. Two n-butyrophenone isomers with a separation factor of 1.14 were successfully separated by recycling high-speed counter-current chromatography after ten cycles. Two stibene isomers were successfully separated by preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that the purities of the compounds were all over 98%. These compounds were identified as lindleyin, isolindleyin, resveratrol-4'-O-(2″-O-galloyl)-glucopyranoside, resveratrol-4'-O-(6''-O-galloyl)-glucopyranoside, emodin 1-O-β-d-glucoside, and 3,5-dihydroxy-4'-methoxystilbene-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside. The results indicated that recycling high-speed counter-current chromatography and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography could be effective combination for the preparation of bioactive compounds from Rheum tanguticum Maxim.
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