Brassica rapa Polysaccharides Ameliorate CCl4‐Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice through Inhibiting Inflammatory Apoptotic Response and Oxidative Stress

Brassica rapa L., also called NIUMA, is used empirically in Tibetan medicine for its antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory and antiradiation activities. This study explored the hepatoprotective effects of B. rapa polysaccharides (BRPs) on acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) in mice and the underlying mechanisms. Mice were treated with CCl₄ after the oral administration of BRPs (55, 110 and 220 mg/kg) or bifendate (100 mg/kg) for 7 days. Blood and liver samples of mice were collected for analysis after 24 h. The ALP, ALT and AST levels and the biological activities of SOD, MDA and GSH?Px were measured. Histopathological changes in the liver were determined through hematoxylin and eosin staining. Moreover, TNF‐α, IL‐1β and IL‐6 expression levels were detected by commercial reagent kits. Finally, Western blot analysis was used to check the relative expression levels of caspase‐3, p‐JAK2 and p‐STAT3. The BRP pre‐treatment significantly decreased the enzymatic activities of ALT, ALP and AST in the serum, markedly increased the activities of SOD and GSH?Px in the liver and reduced the MDA concentration in the liver. BRPs alleviated hepatocyte injury and markedly inhibited the expression of TNF‐α, IL‐1β and IL‐6, also downregulating the CCl₄‐induced hepatic tissue expression of caspase‐3. Furthermore, BRPs inhibited the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in a dose‐dependent manner in the liver. This study demonstrated that BRPs exert hepatoprotective effect against the CCl₄‐induced liver injury via modulating the apoptotic and inflammatory responses and downregulating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Therefore, B. rapa could be considered a hepatoprotective medicine.     

The synthesis and hepatoprotective activity of esters of the lupane group triterpenoids

Hemisuccinates, hemiphthalates, acetylsalicylates, cinnamates, andp-methoxycinnamates of lupeol, betulin, and 3-O-acetylbetulin were synthesized via interaction with corresponding acid anhydrides or acid chlorides. A number of betulin esters in position 3 and 28 were shown to exhibit a pronounced hepatoprotective effect similar to that of betulin and silibor. These experimental data were in a good agreement with the computer prediction of their biological activity. Betulin 3,28-bishemiphthalate was more effective than carsil in models of experimental hepatitis caused by carbon tetrachloride, tetracycline, and ethanol.     

具有保肝作用的天然药物开发进展

肝脏是机体代谢的最主要场所,也是机体最容易遭受到损伤的脏器之一,各种因素引起的肝损伤已成为威胁人类健康的重要疾病之一。肝损伤机制主要与线粒体损伤、自由基脂质过氧化、炎症细胞因子分泌和细胞膜损伤有关。目前已报道很多天然药物具有显著保肝作用,且具有疗效稳定、副作用低、多途径作用、作用温和持久等优势,已广泛用于肝脏疾病的防治。本文对肝损伤的生理机制以及具有保肝作用的天然药物开发进展进行了综述,提出了目前存在的一些问题并进行了展望。     

抗原物质引起滤泡的形成:一次投入与多次投入的比较

实验以不同方式投入抗原物质,即一次投入与分次投入,并观察了新产生滤泡数,维持的滤泡数,实验用小鼠２４ 只, 于足底注入铝和钥孔　血蓝素附合物（ＡＫＬＨ）, 分一次注入与三次注入组; 三次注入组又分间隔５ 日及间隔二周注入。注入后第３ 周与第１２ 周分别取出腘淋巴结,应用免疫组化法,第三周末观察可见一次投入产生的滤泡多, 而第十二周发现分次投入维持的滤泡数多。可见反应性滤泡的形成, 不仅与刺激物的性状和投入量有关, 而且与投入的方法有关     

蓝花参甲醇提取物保肝作用及化学成分

蓝花参为桔梗科蓝花参属植物蓝花参的根或全草,具有益气健脾、祛痰止咳等功效。临床实践中蓝花参被用于肝病治疗,效果较好,但目前未见其保肝活性的相关报道。该研究采用80％甲醇冷浸提取蓝花参全草,提取液浓缩后经冷冻干燥得到蓝花参提取物。对以刀豆蛋白A造模的急性肝损伤小鼠分别给予联苯双酯及不同剂量的蓝花参提取物灌胃,测定血清中 ALT/AST 活性,HE 染色观察肝组织病理形态学的改变。结果表明：蓝花参提取物可以降低急性肝损伤小鼠血清中 ALT/AST 水平,且对减轻肝脏病理组织损伤有积极作用。进一步利用多种现代色谱学方法从蓝花参甲醇提取物的水溶性部位分离单体化合物,经过波谱学分析( MS、1D-NMR、2D-NMR等)并结合文献数据对比,鉴定了5个化合物的结构。其中化合物1为新化合物,命名为Wahlenoside D。其它4个已知化合物分别为demethyl syringin (2)、3,5-dihydroxyphenethyl alcohol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3)、芦丁(4)、异牡荆素(5),其中化合物3－5为首次从该植物中分离得到。该研究结果为蓝花参的保肝作用提供了科学依据,同时促进了蓝花参药材资源的进一步开发与利用。     

Antioxidant effects and hepatoprotective activity of 2,5-dihydroxy-4,3′-di(β-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-trans-stilbene from Morus bombycis Koidzumi roots on CCl4-induced liver damage

We investigated hepatoprotective activity and antioxidant effect of the 2,5-dihydroxy-4,3′-di(β-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-trans-stilbene that purified from Morus bombycis Koidzumi roots against CCl₄-induced liver damage in rats. The 2,5-dihydroxy-4,3′-di(β-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-trans-stilbene displayed dose-dependent superoxide radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀ = 430.2 μg/ml), as assayed by the electron spin resonance (ESR) spin-trapping technique. The increase in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities in serum associated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced liver injury was inhibited by 2,5-dihydroxy-4,3′-di(β-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-trans-stilbene and at a dose of 400 ～ 600 mg/kg samples had hepatoprotective activity comparable to the standard agent, silymarin. The biochemical assays were confirmed by histological observations showing that the 2,5-dihydroxy-4,3′-di(β-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-trans-stilbene decreased cell ballooning in response to CCl₄ treatment. These results demonstrate that the 2,5-dihydroxy-4,3′-di(β-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-trans-stilbene is a potent antioxidant with a liver protective action against CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity.     

悬钩子属植物化学成分及药理活性研究进展

本文对近10年来悬钩子属植物的化学成分和药理活性研究进行了综述,为该属植物的进一步开发利用提供参考。悬钩子属植物的化学成分主要包括黄酮、萜、鞣质、甾等。药理活性主要包括抗菌、抗炎、抗肿瘤、抗氧化、抗过敏、保肝、镇痛等。     

Isolation and Biological Activity of Aspermutarubrol,a Self-growth- inhibitor from Aspergillus sydowi

Isolated hepatocytes are known to maintain their physiological functions for over a week when cultured on Matrigel, artificially reconstituted from basement membrane components. Although this culture technique has been frequently used in research on hepatocyte functions, there has been a limitation on its application for small scale experiments due to some technical problems. By using micro-culture plates with 96 round-bottom wells, we succeeded in coating the wells uniformly with Matrigel. When the cultured hepatocytes were treated with either 10 mM, 15 mM, or 20 mM of acetaminophen or 1 mM, 10 mM, or 20 mM of D-galactosamine, the viability of the hepatocytes became 91.1%, 75.3%, 64.7%, and 79.0%, 43.8%, 26.2% of the non-treated control at 48 hours, respectively. Fractionated extracts of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. and Schisandra chinensis Baillon inhibited the action of acetaminophen or D-galactosamine in this model. From these results, we concluded that the microculture system presented here is capable of maintaining the in vivo characteristics of hepatocytes and is suitable for the screening of hepatoprotective substances.     

Litomosoides sigmodontis: vaccine-induced immune responses against Wolbachia surface protein can enhance the survival of filarial nematodes during primary infection

Wolbachia are bacteria present within the tissues of most filarial nematodes. Filarial nematode survival is known to be affected by immune responses generated during filarial nematode infection and immune responses to Wolbachia can be found in different species harbouring filarial nematode infections, including humans. Using the rodent filarial model Litomosoides sigmodontis, we show that pre-exposure to wolbachia surface protein in a Th1 context (but not in a Th2-context) enhances worm survival on subsequent challenge. This study suggests that despite abundant evidence that pro-inflammatory reactions to the endosymbiont have detrimental effects on the both the nematode and mammalian host, they may under some circumstances be beneficial to the nematode.