Herbal Medicine Research from Pubmed

Single-cell analysis of dihydroartemisinin-induced apoptosis through reactive oxygen species-mediated caspase-8 activation and mitochondrial pathway in ASTC-a-1 cells using fluorescence imaging techniques.

J Biomed Opt. 2010 Jul-Aug;15(4):046028

Authors: Lu YY, Chen TS, Wang XP, Li L

Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a front-line antimalarial herbal compound, has been shown to possess promising anticancer activity with low toxicity. We have previously reported that DHA induced caspase-3-dependent apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma cells. However, the cellular target and molecular mechanism of DHA-induced apoptosis is still poorly defined. We use confocal fluorescence microscopy imaging, fluorescence resonance energy transfer, and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching techniques to explore the roles of DHA-elicited reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the DHA-induced Bcl-2 family proteins activation, mitochondrial dysfunction, caspase cascade, and cell death. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and flow cytometry analysis showed that DHA induced ROS-mediated apoptosis. Confocal imaging analysis in a single living cell and Western blot assay showed that DHA triggered ROS-dependent Bax translocation, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, alteration of mitochondrial morphology, cytochrome c release, caspase-9, caspase-8, and caspase-3 activation, indicating the coexistence of ROS-mediated mitochondrial and death receptor pathway. Collectively, our findings demonstrate for the first time that DHA induces cell apoptosis by triggering ROS-mediated caspase-8/Bid activation and the mitochondrial pathway, which provides some novel insights into the application of DHA as a potential anticancer drug and a new therapeutic strategy by targeting ROS signaling in lung adenocarcinoma therapy in the future.

PMID: 20799830 [PubMed - in process]

Analysis of marker compounds with anti-platelet aggregation effects in mailuoning injection using platelet binding assay combined with HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS and solid-phase extraction technique.

Phytochem Anal. 2010 Aug 26;

Authors: Yu L, Li Y, Fan H, Duan J, Zhu Q, Li S

Introduction - Mailuoning is prepared from a traditional formula of Chinese medicines and widely used as an antithrombotic agent. In this study, the platelet binding assay was used as a novel biospecific separation and analysis method to explore its active constituents, which could be considered as marker compounds for quality control.Objective - To establish a rapid and simple method to predict marker compounds in herbal medicine injection and evaluate the effects of those compounds.Material and methods - Platelets were used to bind and separate constituents. Binding constituents were analysed and taken as potential active compounds for further evaluation. Solid-phase-extraction was adopted to improve sensitivity. HPLC-DAD and ESI-MS were used to determine the binding constituents.Results - Five compounds were extracted through the platelet binding process and identified as neochlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, isochlorogenic acid and their isomers. Caffeic acid was selected for the flow cytometric assay to test its effect on platelets activation, which was determined by CD62P (P-selectin) expression. The results indicated that caffeic acid could significantly inhibit platelet activation while chlorogenic acid did not.Conclusion - Caffeic acid could be considered as a marker compound of Mailuoning injection due to its anti-platelet effect. The study also suggested that platelet binding assay combined with some preconcentration technique could be efficiently used to predict anti-platelet compounds in complicated herbal medicines. Copyright (c) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID: 20799275 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Chinese medicine: its role and application in the institutionalised older people.

J Clin Nurs. 2010 Apr;19(7-8):1084-93

Authors: Wong EL, Lam JK, Griffiths S, Chung V, Yeoh EK

AIMS: The aim of the study was to explore the need for and application of Chinese medicine services and factors which impact on the accessibility of Chinese medicine among the institutionalised older people. BACKGROUND: Although complementary and alternative medicine is widely used by older Chinese both in Hong Kong and elsewhere, little is known about its use by the institutionalised older people. This study breaks new ground by exploring how Chinese medicine, the most popular form of complementary and alternative medicine used by older people, is used and accessed by the institutionalised older people in Hong Kong. DESIGN: Qualitative method. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2007 with 18 older individuals aged between 63-93 and living in three long-term care facilities in Hong Kong. RESULTS: Three main categories emerged from the data: (1) the role of Chinese medicine in the care of the aged; (2) barriers to the use of Chinese medicine in residences; and (3) factors facilitating the accessibility of Chinese medicine services in residences. Most of the older individuals interviewed claimed that Chinese medicine played a crucial role in their self-health management. The availability of Chinese medicine depended crucially on the support of the health care system, individual institutions and nursing staff. CONCLUSIONS: The value of Chinese medicine in the care of the institutionalised older people was highlighted. Chinese medicine as a complement to western medicine was perceived as an important component of self-health management. Attitudes towards the use of Chinese medicine in nursing homes therefore need to be reviewed and developed further in accordance with the health strategy policy. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This research focuses on the role of complementary and alternative medicine in health care for the institutionalised older people. It provides health practitioners, researchers and policy makers with an additional perspective in the provision of quality client-centred care for older people living in long-term care.

PMID: 20492053 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Erectogenic and neurotrophic effects of icariin, a purified extract of horny goat weed (Epimedium spp.) in vitro and in vivo.

J Sex Med. 2010 Apr;7(4 Pt 1):1518-28

Authors: Shindel AW, Xin ZC, Lin G, Fandel TM, Huang YC, Banie L, Breyer BN, Garcia MM, Lin CS, Lue TF

INTRODUCTION: Epimedium species (aka horny goat weed) have been utilized for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in Traditional Chinese Medicine for many years. Icariin (ICA) is the active moiety of Epimedium species. AIM: To evaluate the penile hemodynamic and tissue effects of ICA in cavernous nerve injured rats. We also studied the in vitro effects of ICA on cultured pelvic ganglia. METHODS: Rats were subjected to cavernous nerve injury and subsequently treated for 4 weeks with daily gavage feedings of a placebo solution of normal saline and Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) vs. ICA dissolved in DMSO at doses of 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg. A separate group underwent a single dose of ICA 10 mg/kg 2 hours prior to functional testing. Functional testing with cavernous nerve stimulation and real-time assessment of intracavernous pressure (ICP) was performed at 4 weeks. After functional testing, penile tissue was procured for immunohistochemistry and molecular studies. In separate experiments, pelvic ganglia were excised from healthy rats and cultured in the presence of ICA, sildenafil, or placebo culture media. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Ratio of ICP and area under the curve (AUC) to mean arterial pressure (MAP) during cavernous nerve stimulation of subject rodents. We also assayed tissue expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), eNOS: endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), calponin, and apoptosis via immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) were assayed using enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). Differential length of neurite outgrowth was assessed in cultured pelvic ganglia. RESULTS: Rats treated with low-dose ICA demonstrated significantly higher ICP/MAP and AUC/MAP ratios compared with control and single-dose ICA animals. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were revealing of significantly greater positivity for nNOS and calponin in penile tissues of all rats treated with ICA. ICA led to significantly greater neurite length in cultured specimens of pelvic ganglia. CONCLUSION: ICA may have neurotrophic effects in addition to known phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibiting effects.

PMID: 20141584 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Effects of total glucosides of paeony on oxidative stress in the kidney from diabetic rats.

Phytomedicine. 2010 Mar;17(3-4):254-60

Authors: Su J, Zhang P, Zhang JJ, Qi XM, Wu YG, Shen JJ

TGP, extracted from the traditional Chinese herb root of Paeonia lactiflora pall, has been shown to have therapeutic effect in experimental diabetic nephropathy. However, its mechanism is not fully understood. In this study, the effects of TGP on oxidative stress were investigated in the kidney of diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin. TGP (50, 100, 200mg/kg) was orally administered once a day for 8 weeks. TGP treatment in all three doses significantly lowered 24 h urinary albumin excretion rate in diabetic rats and attenuated glomerular volume. TGP treatment with 100 and 200mg/kg significantly reduced indices for tubulointerstitial injury in diabetic rats. The level of MDA was significantly increased in the kidney of diabetic rats and attenuated by TGP treatment at the dose of 200mg/kg. TGP treatment in a dose-dependent manner decreased the level of 3-NT protein of the kidney which increased under diabetes. T-AOC was significantly reduced in diabetic rat kidney and remarkably increased by TGP treatment at the dose of 100 and 200mg/kg. Activity of antioxidant enzyme such as SOD, CAT was markedly elevated by TGP treatment with 200mg/kg. Western blot analysis showed that p-p38 MAPK and NF-kappaB p65 protein expression increased in diabetic rat kidney, which were significantly decreased by TGP treatment. It seems likely that oxidative stress is increased in the diabetic rat kidneys, while TGP can prevent diabetes-associated renal damage against oxidative stress.

PMID: 19758795 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Effect of total saponins of "panax notoginseng root" on aortic intimal hyperplasia and the expressions of cell cycle protein and extracellular matrix in rats.

Phytomedicine. 2010 Mar;17(3-4):233-40

Authors: Wu L, Zhang W, Tang YH, Li H, Chen BY, Zhang GM, Deng CQ

AIM OF THE STUDY: the effect of total saponins of "panax notoginseng root" on aortic intimal hyperplasia and the expressions of cell cycle protein and extracellular matrix in rats MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham-operated, control, TSPN and atorvastatin group. Rat aorta intima in all groups were injured by insertion of domestic balloon catheter into the aortae except sham-operated rats. Drugs were administrated orally from the second day after vascular injury and continued for 14 days. The injured segments of aortae were collected on the sixteenth day after operation to observe the morphological changes of vascular structure and to examine the expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA), cyclinD1, cyclinE, collagen I(Col-I), fibronect(FN), matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-1(TIMP-1). RESULTS: TPNS significantly inhibited the vascular intimal hyperplasia. TPNS significantly lowered the expression of PCNA, cyclinE, cyclinD1, FN and MMP-9. TPNS had no significant impacts on the expression of Col-I and TIMP-1. CONCLUSIONS: Our studies indicated that TSPN could inhibit vessel restenosis after vascular intimal injury, and its mechanisms may be related to the blockage of the excessive proliferation of VSMC, the reduction of ECM protein deposition in the endometrium, and the degradation of ECM protein.

PMID: 19748258 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Effect of reinforcing Qi strength spleen in the expression of bFGF and EGF in treating serious soft tissue injury]

Zhongguo Gu Shang. 2010 Jul;23(7):530-3

Authors: He LL, Chen XW, Zhu YZ

OBJECTIVE: Using the method of bleeding from the orbital vein and lancing to make the animal model of trauma, and to observe the influence of reinforcing Qi strength spleen in the expression of bFGF and EGF in the reparative process of raw surface, in order to explore the possible mechanism of reinforcing Qi strength spleen in promoting the rehabilitation of soft tissue. METHODS: Forty healthly adult SD rats were made to be traumatic model using the method of bleeding from the orbital vein and lancing. After operation, there were 33 rats survival, which were divided into the reinforcing Qi strength spleen group, the activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis group and the model group randomly. The raw surface and ambient normal skin were taken at the 3rd, 7th and 14th days after operation to detect the expression of bFGF and EGF by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: At the 3rd, 7th and 14th days after operation, the expression of bFGF and EGF in the tissue of raw surface of the reinforcing Qi strength spleen group and the activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis group was obviously higher than that of the model group(P < 0.05). Compared with the activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis group, the expression of bFGF and EGF in the tissue of raw surface of the reinforcing Qi strength spleen group was higher (P < 0.05) in the 3rd and 7th day after operation. But in the 14th after operation, there was no significantly difference between reinforcing Qi strength spleen group and activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis group. CONCLUSION: The method of reinforcing Qi strength spleen can efficiently promote the expression of bFGF and EGF in raw surface of serious soft tissue injury.

PMID: 20701131 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Mechanisms of proliferative inhibition by maimendong & qianjinweijing decoction in A549 cells]

Zhongguo Fei Ai Za Zhi. 2010 May;13(5):477-82

Authors: Zhou Y, Zhan Z, Tang Y, Duan J, Zhang X

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Traditional Chinese medicine is an approach for malignant tumor treatment with Chinese characteristics. The aim of this study is to investigate the inhibitory effects of Maimendong & qianjinweijing decoction extract on A549 human lung cancer cell line proliferation and explored its probable molecular mechanisms. METHODS: A549 cells were treated with drugs in different does and time. The effects on the proliferation of A549 cells were detected by MTT assay and clonogenic assay in vitro. Cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. Morphological changes of the apoptosis of cancer cells were observed by Hochest 33258 staining. Western blot was performed to detect apoptosis-related gene expression. RESULTS: Ethyl acetate extract inhibited the growth of A549 cells but not in HFL-1 cells. Compared with controls, administration of 10 microg/mLethyl acetate extract resulted in 73.86% decrease in colony formation (P < 0.01), apoptotic rates of 33.86% (P < 0.01), and morphological changes of apoptosis in A549 cells. The expression of anti-apoptotic protein EGFR and ERK were significantly down-regulated (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Ethyl acetate extract might inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in A549 cells via downregulation of EGFR/ERK signal transduction pathway. Therefore, ethyl acetate extract should be further separated in order to identify the material fundamentals on anti-cancer effect.

PMID: 20677645 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Liu De-xi's experience in the TCM differential treatment of liver for male climacteric syndrome.

J Tradit Chin Med. 2010 Jun;30(2):132-6

Authors: Wu PT

PMID: 20653171 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Clinical observations on 100 cases of ulcerative colitis treated with the method of clearing away heat, expelling dampness, promoting blood circulation and healing ulcer.

J Tradit Chin Med. 2010 Jun;30(2):98-102

Authors: Ye B, Shen H, Lu Y, Wang YQ

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of the method of clearing away heat, expelling dampness, promoting blood circulation and healing ulcer on ulcerative colitis. METHODS: The 100 cases were randomly divided into a control group of 45 cases treated with retention enema of the enterosoluble tablet sulfasalazine once every evening and a treatment group of 55 cases treated with retention enema of the decoction for clearing away heat, expelling dampness, promoting blood circulation and healing ulcer once every evening. The patients in both groups orally took Chinese drug for basic treatment for 30 days as a course. After treatment, the clinical therapeutic effects in the 2 groups were compared and changed symptoms in intestinal mucosa were observed under endoscope. RESULTS: The total effective rate of treatment group was better in relieving symptoms of TCM syndrome (90.9%) and intestinal mucosa (83.3%) than that of control group (68.9%, 56.3%) (P<0.01 or P<0.05). CONCLUSION: With good therapeutic effect on ulcerative colitis, Qinghua Huoxue Lianyang therapy (clearing away heat, expelling dampness, promoting blood circulation and healing ulcer) can obviously repair intestinal mucosa.

PMID: 20653164 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

The common mental problems after calamity and the TCM characteristic treatment of psychological intervention.

J Tradit Chin Med. 2010 Jun;30(2):93-7

Authors: Han PY, Cao ZZ, Wang RF, Xu ZH

PMID: 20653163 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Protosappanin A induces immunosuppression of rats heart transplantation targeting T cells in grafts via NF-kappaB pathway.

Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2010 Jan;381(1):83-92

Authors: Wu J, Zhang M, Jia H, Huang X, Zhang Q, Hou J, Bo Y

Protosappanin A as one major and effective ingredient from Caesalpinia sappan L. exhibited antirejection activity obviously in heart-transplanted rat. The present study was designed to screen out the potential target genes of protosappanin A with microarray technology and reveal some molecular mechanism of immunosuppressive effect. Rats performed with ectopic peritoneal heart transplantation were randomized into three groups receiving different treatments for 7 days: protosappanin A group (25 mg kg(-1)), cyclosporine A group (10 mg kg(-1)), and control group. The differentially expressed genes responding to protosappanin A were analyzed with microarrays. Among common differentially expressed genes, the ones of interest were selected for further evaluation by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blot, immunochemistry, immunofluorescence, and ELISA. Among the 146 common differentially expressed genes, NF-kappaB and related genes like IkappaBa, IFN-r, and IP10 were selected for verification. The results of qRT-PCR, Western blot, immunochemistry, and ELISA showed that protosappanin A significantly reduced the expression of NF-kappaB, IFN-r, and IP10 (p < 0.05) and increased IkappaBa expression (p < 0.05) in graft. Moreover, the immunochemistry staining of NF-kappaB and IkappaBa was mainly observed in infiltrating mononuclear cells. Strikingly, immunofluorescent staining localized NF-kappaB to the TCR-positive T cells in graft. Furthermore, protosappanin A exhibited inhibitory effect on T cell proliferation in recipients after 7-day treatment. In conclusion, protosappanin A might act on T cells through inhibiting NF-kappaB activation and downstream gene expressions of IFN-r and IP10, meanwhile reducing T cell proliferation responding to alloantigen, so as to induce immunosuppressive effect. The results encourage a potential therapeutic evaluation of protosappanin A for clinical organ transplantation or other T cell-mediated immune disorders. Additionally, our study also verified the feasibility of microarray utilization in Chinese herb research to explore molecular mechanism and promote development of scientific theories.

PMID: 19924402 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]