Metabonomic study of Chinese medicine Shuanglong formula as an effective treatment for myocardial infarction in rats

A UPLC/TOF-MS-based metabonomic study was conducted to assess the holistic efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine Shuanglong Formula (SLF) for myocardial infarction in rats. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups after surgery. The Panax ginseng group, Salvia miltiorrhiza group, and SLF group were treated with water extractions of Panax ginseng (PG), Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM), and SLF (the ratio of SM to PG was 3:7) at a dose of 5 g/kg·w·d for 21 consecutive days, respectively; the model group and sham surgery group were both treated with 0.9% saline solution. Urinary samples for metabonomic study, serum samples for biochemical measurement, and heart samples for histopathology were collected. As a result, metabonomics-based findings such as the PCA and PLS-DA plotting of metabolic state and analysis of potential biomarkers in urine correlated well to the assessment of serum biochemistry and histopathological assay, confirming that SLF exerted synergistic therapeutic efficacies to exhibit better effect on MI compared to PG or SM. The shifts in urinary TCA cycle as well as pentose phosphate pathway suggested that SLF may diminish cardiac injury of MI with its potential pharmacological effect in the regulation of myocardial energy metabolism.     

The serum metabolomic study of intervention effects of the traditional Chinese medicine Shexiang Baoxin Pill and a multi-component medicine polypill in the treatment of myocardial infarction in rats

A metabolomic approach based on liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight detector (LC-Q-TOF/MS) was developed to investigate the therapeutic mechanism of a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula Shexiang Baoxin Pill (SBP) and a multi-component medicine polypill (consisting of simvastatin (Sim), atenolol (Ate), ramipril (Ram), hydrochlorthiazide (Hyd) and aspirin (Asp), named as SARHA). Twenty-seven biomarkers were identified in the serum of MI rats. Thirteen related pathways and 4 main pathological processes including oxidative injury, energy metabolism dysfunction, amino acid metabolism dysfunction and inflammation are involved in MI development. Our study revealed that SBP showed better therapeutic effectiveness than the polypill on MI through regulation of the energy metabolism dysfunction, oxidative injury and inflammation. The combination agent polypill had only certain therapeutic effects on inhibiting oxidative injury and inflammation induced by MI. The reverse effect of the polypill on biomarkers related to MI was much better than mono-therapy groups.     

蓝莓花色苷预处理对大鼠心肌梗死的保护作用

目的观察蓝莓花色苷（blueberryanthocyanin,BBA）预处理对实验性急性心肌梗死大鼠心肌梗死面积,心肌肌钙蛋白-T（cTn-T）表达,Bax、Bcl-2mRNA表达的影响,探讨其干预心肌梗死的机制。方法40只Wistar大鼠随机分为假手术组,心肌梗死模型组,BBA低、中、高剂量组,药物干预4周,末次给药30min后结扎左冠状动脉前降支建立心梗动物模型。24h后,TTC检测心肌梗死面积;Westernblotting方法检测心肌细胞cTn-T蛋白表达;realtimePCR方法检测Bcl-2mRNA、BaxmRNA表达。结果模型组和假手术组相比,模型组心肌梗死面积显著升高（P〈0．01）,心肌细胞cTn．T蛋白表达下降（P〈0．05）,Bcl-2mRNA表达下降（P〈0．05）,BaxmRNA表达显著升高（P〈0．01）,Bcl-2／Bax比值显著降低（P〈0．01）。BBA干预给药组和模型组相比,中剂量组心肌梗死面积低于模型组（P〈0．05）,低剂量组心肌细胞cTn-T蛋白表达升高（P〈0．05）,中剂量组Bcl-2mRNA表达升高（P〈0．05）,低、中剂量组BaxmRNA表达下降（P〈0．05）,中剂量组Bcl-2／Bax比值升高（P〈0．05）。结论蓝莓花色苷对心肌梗死后心肌细胞具有明确的保护作用,其机制可能与减少心肌梗死面积,上调心肌细胞eTn-T蛋白的表达,上调Bcl-2mRNA表达、下调BaxmRNA表达,抑制心肌梗死后心肌细胞凋亡有关。     

Cardioprotective effect of mangiferin on isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in rats

Isoproterenol (ISPH) induced myocardial infarction was confirmed by disturbances in serum and heart tissue marker enzymes such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine phospho kinase (CPK), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT), increased level of lipid peroxidation and histopathological changes in the heart of ISPH administered rats. Pretreatment with mangiferin (10 mg/100 g body weight) for 28 days was found to ameliorate the effect of ISPH-induced pathological changes, reduced the lipid peroxide formation and retained the myocardial marker enzyme activities at near normal level. The above results indicate the cardioprotective effect of mangiferin against ISPH-induced myocardial infarction in rats.     

The protective effect of peony extract on acute myocardial infarction in rats

To investigate the protective effects, and the mechanisms involved, of an extract of the medicinal herb radix paeoniae rubra (PE) on cardiovascular disease, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was induced by ligation of the left coronary artery in Sprague Dawley rats. Animals were randomly divided into six groups: control, sham-operated, AMI, AMI + PE low dose, AMI + PE high dose, and AMI + positive control. Myocardial enzymes, cytokines, oxidative stress, blood coagulation times, a marker for early stage apoptosis, caspase-3 activity, and expression levels of bax, bcl-2 and fas in isolated primary cardiomyocytes were examined. In contrast with control and sham groups, significant increases in the following parameters were measured in the blood of AMI group animals: activities of cardiac enzymes including glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, creatine kinase, creatine kinase-MB, lactate dehydrogenase, α-hydroxybutyric dehydrogenase, and levels of IL-10, TNFα, and lipid peroxidation. Under the same conditions, superoxide dismutase activity, thrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time decreased significantly. PE showed a dose-dependent protection against AMI-induced alterations in cardiac enzymes, cytokines, oxidative stress, and coagulation. In AMI cardiomyocytes, compared with control and sham groups, the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, early stage apoptosis, caspase-3 activity and expression levels of bax, bcl-2 and fas significantly increased, while the ratio bcl-2/bax decreased. PE showed dose-dependent protection. These results suggest that PE is an effective agent for protecting against AMI; possible mechanisms may include the regulation of cardiac enzymes, cytokines, oxidative stress, coagulation and apoptosis.     

消痰化瘀利窍中药组方对改善慢性间歇性低氧大鼠心肌纤维化的作用及其机制*

目的: 探讨转化生长因子-β(TGF-β)信号通路在消痰化瘀利窍中药组方(XC)对改善慢性间歇性低氧(CIH)大鼠心肌纤维化中的作用。方法: 40只SD 大鼠,随机分为常氧组(Normoxia)、常氧+中药干预组(TCMC)、慢性间歇性低氧模型组(CIH)、CIH +中药干预组(TCMC+CIH),每组10只。通过向舱内充入氮气,使舱内氧体积分数在90 s内从21%下降到9%,随后90 s再充氧气使舱内氧体积分数逐渐上升到21%为一循环建立CIH模型。CIH 与 TCMC+CIH 组大鼠置于CIH装置, Normoxia 和TCMC组大鼠置于正常氧舱。此外TCMC+CIH 与 TCMC 组大鼠于每日XC生药(24 g/kg)煎制灌胃,而 CIH 组与 Normoxia 组大鼠给予等体积生理盐水。造模结束后,天狼星红染色观察大鼠心肌间质内胶原沉积情况;Western blot 法检测大鼠心肌间质中 CollagenⅠ、Collagen Ⅲ、Fibronectin、TGF-β、p-Smad2、p-Smad3的蛋白表达水平。采用Q-PCR法检测基质金属蛋白酶2(MMP-2)和基质金属蛋白酶抑制因子 2 (TIMP-2) 的 mRNA表达水平。结果: 与正常组比较,CIH大鼠心肌组织出现明显胶原的沉积,CollagenⅠ、Collagen Ⅲ和Fibronectin蛋白表达明显增多(P均＜0.01),TGF-β、p-Smad2、p-Smad3蛋白表达水平也明显增高(P均＜0.01);CIH大鼠心肌组织TIMP-2 mRNA上调导致MMP-2 mRNA明显减少(P均＜0.01)。给予XC干预后,CIH大鼠心肌组织胶原沉积明显减少,CollagenⅠ、Collagen Ⅲ和Fibronectin蛋白表达明显降低(P＜0.05,P＜ 0.01,P＜0.05);CIH大鼠心肌组织中TGF-β、p-Smad2、p-Smad3蛋白表达水平明显降低(P＜0.01,P＜0.05,P＜ 0.01)。心肌组织中TIMP-2明显基因减少致MMP-2增多(P均＜0.05)。 结论: 消痰化瘀利窍中药组方可抑制CIH大鼠心肌纤维化的形成,进而改善CIH大鼠心肌功能。其机制与该中药组方下调TGF-β/ Smad2/3信号通路及下调TIMP-2mRNA有关。     

中药联合艾司洛尔对脓毒症患者心肌抑制的干预效果分析

目的探讨中药联合β受体阻滞剂艾司洛尔对脓毒症患者心肌抑制的干预效果。方法将2014年1月~2017年1月符合脓毒症诊断的患者106例,采用随机数字表法分为中药联合艾司洛尔组(53例)和对照组(53例)。对照组按照脓毒症休克指南常规治疗,并给与艾司洛尔干预;中药联合艾司洛尔组在对照组的基础上,给予中药参松养心胶囊治疗。两组均治疗1周后,分别测定治疗前和治疗后患者血清心肌肌钙蛋白Ⅰ(cTnⅠ)浓度,并通过超声心动图随访评价两组患者治疗后心功能,比较主要心血管事件(MACE)的发生情况。结果中药联合艾司洛尔组治疗后cTnⅠ水平明显低于对照组(P0.05),而且治疗后cTnI0.10μg/L患者的比例明显低于对照组(P0.01)。随访1个月后,中药联合艾司洛尔组患者左心室收缩末内径低于对照组(P0.05),左心室射血分数高于对照组(P0.01);两组MACE发生率比较,差异无统计学意义。结论中药联合艾司洛尔组可以减少心肌抑制,提高心肌功能,治疗后长期服用可以改善患者的左心室功能。     

几种中药及其有效成分对人体肿瘤细胞增殖的抑制作用

通过建立的抗肿瘤体外模型,对临床上有抗肿瘤作用的几种中药提取物的抗肿瘤的活性进行检测。并与其中用作标准品的化学成分的活性进行比较。结果发现所检测的中药牛蒡子、蛇床子、三七、大黄、茯苓、延胡索、川乌和黄芪等的水提物和醇提物对肿瘤细胞株均有一定的抑制作用,醇提物的活性明显高于水挺物。一部分用作标准品的化学成分也有抗肿瘤活性。这项工作为抗肿瘤活性成分的筛选建立了有效的方法和基础。     

中药抗卵巢癌作用及机制研究新进展

卵巢癌是女性常见的生殖器官恶性肿瘤之一,严重威胁着女性的生殖健康.中药治疗卵巢癌具有多靶点、多途径、毒副作用小等特点,近年来已成为国内外学者的研究热点.本文系统总结了中药复方药、植物药(多糖、黄酮类、生物碱、酚类、萜类、醌类、皂苷、酯类、挥发油、醚类)、动物药及矿物药抗卵巢癌的活性及作用机制,并初步分析了中药有效成分抗...     

Metabonomic study on the biochemical profiles of a hydrocortisone-induced animal model

This work describes the metabonomic study of a biochemical modification in vivo induced by high dose of hydrocortisone, which led to a unique pathologic condition similar to the 'kidney deficiency syndromes', an early stage of obesity and diabetes in traditional Chinese medicine. The methodology of the metabonomic approach consisted of GC/MS and multivariate statistical technique for the establishment of urine metabolic patterns of the treatment rats. In the study, 24-h urine was collected pre-dose and at days 1, 3, 7, and 10 post-dose after rats were injected with hydrocortisone at 1.5 mg/100 g. The acquired data were transferred into Matlab to be processed using principal components analysis (PCA). The results indicated that clear and consistent biochemical changes following hydrocortisone intervention under controlled conditions could be identified using chemometric analysis. The work suggests that this metabonomic approach could be used as a potentially powerful tool to investigate the biochemical changes of certain physiopathologic conditions such as metabolic syndrome, as an early diagnostic means.     

Emerging issues in traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has many beneficial effects and has been practiced for several thousand years. It is known to treat the cause of a disease rather than to alleviate its symptoms. Based on a belief that TCM is natural, safe, and of lower cost, consumers worldwide are spending more out-of-pocket money on this form of therapy. This increased spending, and reports of adverse reactions, has drawn the attention of many regulatory agencies. Scientists have called for more evidence-based and scientific research on the risks and benefits of TCM. In Canada, the Natural Health Product Regulations came into effect January 2004. TCM herbal product manufacturers will need to provide products of reputable quality to the market. Many will apply modern technology and good science to support their products. The issues facing producers, scientists, and consumers alike are quality control and assessment, standardization of bioactive components, mechanisms of actions, and integration of the evolved modern Chinese medicine into the healthcare system. Solid science, better regulation of the final product, and better education of consumers are necessary to extract the best of TCM to complement existing conventional medicine to deliver the best healthcare.     

Application of proteomics in research on traditional Chinese medicine

Introduction: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a widely used complementary alternative medicine approach. Although many aspects of its effectiveness have been approved clinically, rigorous scientific techniques are highly required to translate the promises from TCM into powerful modern therapies. In this respect, proteomics is useful because of its ability to unveil the underlying target proteins and/or protein biomarkers.

Areas covered: In this review, we summarize the recent interplay between proteomics and research on TCM, ranging from exploration of the medicinal materials to the biological basis of TCM concepts, and from pathological studies to pharmacological investigations. We show that proteomic analyses provide preliminary biological evidence of the promises in TCM, and the integration of proteomics with other omics and bioinformatics offers a comprehensive methodology to address the complications of TCM.

Expert commentary: Currently, only limited information can be obtained regarding TCM issues and thus more work is required to resolve the ambiguity. As such, more collaborations between proteomics and other techniques (other omics, network pharmacology, etc.) are essential for deciphering the underlying biological basis in TCM topics.     

清脑方对缺血性眩晕大鼠脑损伤的保护作用

目的 初步研究清脑方（Qingnaofang,QNF）对缺血性眩晕大鼠脑损伤的保护作用及其作用机制.方法 采用手术结扎右侧颈总动脉和锁骨下动脉致大鼠右侧半脑不完全脑缺血建立缺血性眩晕大鼠模型.分为模型组,QNF 1.04、0.52、0.26 g/kg组,盐酸地芬尼多15 mg/kg组,银杏叶片5.76 mg/kg组以及假手术组,观察QNF对旋转刺激缺血性眩晕大鼠跳台逃避潜伏期的影响,取材并测定动物缺血侧组织Lac、LDH、SOD、MDA、NO及NOS的含量或活性.结果 （1）与模型组相比,QNF 1.04、0.52、0.26 g/kg组大鼠跳台逃避电击潜伏期分别缩短53.6%（P〈0.01）、33.8%（P〈0.05）、56.5%（P〈0.01）.（2）QNF 1.04、0.52、0.26 g/kg均可显著降低缺血侧脑组织中Lac的含量以及LDH的活力 （P〈0.05,P〈0.01）,降低其TNOS及iNOS活力 （P〈0.01）;QNF 0.52 g/kg剂量能够明显降低缺血侧脑组织中SOD活力;QNF 0.52、0.26 g/kg剂量可显著降低其MDA和NO的含量 （P〈0.05,P〈0.01）.结论 QNF对缺血性眩晕大鼠脑损伤有一定的保护作用,能够减轻模型动物的眩晕症状,其脑保护作用机制可能与改善缺血脑组织能量代谢,减少氧化应激和炎性损伤有关.     

Protective effect of melatonin on myocardial infarction

The dose- and time dependence of melatonin and the effective window of melatonin administration were determined in a mouse model of myocardial infarction. When mouse hearts were subjected to 60 min of occlusion of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) followed by 4 h of reperfusion, melatonin pretreatment for 30 min significantly reduced the infarct size/risk area. The most effective dose was found to be 150 microg/kg intraperitoneally, and the effective period of protection lasted up to 2 h after melatonin administration. Melatonin administration 45 min after LAD ligation or right before reperfusion was as effective as administration 30 min before ligation; however, melatonin administered after the release of occlusion was not protective. Melatonin's effect was still present in mice deficient for the Mel1a melatonin receptor. 8-Methoxy-2-propionamidotetralin, a melatonin receptor agonist with no antioxidant activity, offered no protection, suggesting a lack of involvement of melatonin receptors. Finally, the effects of melatonin were similar in rats and mice. Our results demonstrate that melatonin is an effective cardioprotective agent when administered either before or during coronary occlusion at a very low dose.     

Protective effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids concentrate on isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats

The protective effect of PUFA concentrate prepared from fish oil on isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in male albino rats was investigated with respect to changes in the levels of diagnostic marker enzymes, cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids, phospholipids, reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxides (LPO). Administration of PUFA concentrate significantly prevented the isoproterenol-induced elevation in the levels of plasma diagnostic marker enzymes (ALT [93.5%], AST [95.6%], LDH [94.7%] and CPK [96.1%]). PUFA concentrate feeding exerted a significant antilipidemic effect against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction by reducing the levels of lipid components in plasma (cholesterol [71.5%], triglycerides [79.7%] and free fatty acids [70.7%] and heart tissue (cholesterol [81.4%], triglycerides [76.3%] and free fatty acids [78.6%]). A tendency to prevent the isoproterenol-induced phospholipids depletion (74.4%) in the myocardium of experimental rats was also observed. The level of lipid peroxidation was also found to be significantly lower in PUFA treated animals (2.72+/-0.15nmol/ml in plasma; 1.18+/-0.08nmol/mg protein in heart tissue) as compared to that of isoproterenol-injected groups (5.77+/-0.43nmol/ml in plasma; 2.14+/-0.15nmol/mg protein in heart tissue) of rats. Also the level of reduced GSH significantly higher in the heart tissue of PUFA administered experimental rats (5.65+/-0.98 microg/g) as compared to myocardial infarction induced control rats (2.39+/-0.18 microg/g). The results of the present study indicate that the overall cardioprotective effect of PUFA concentrate is probably related to its ability to inhibit lipid accumulation by its hypolipidaemic property.     

中药对双歧杆菌生长的影响

选用23种常用中药对双歧杆菌进行了体外生长促进实验,结果发现12．5％的黄芪、芦根、桠葫芦分别对双歧杆菌有明显的促进生长作用。同一中药不同浓度对双歧杆菌的增殖效果存在差异。     

现代生物技术在中药发酵中的应用

发酵是中药炮制一个重要的方面,近年来关于运用现代生物技术来发酵中药的研究越来越多。本文阐述了现代中药发酵的意义、区别传统发酵的优势以及现阶段的发展概况。     

肠道菌群在中药研究中的应用概况

自上个世纪以来,随着肠道菌群的相关性研究日益增多,人们发现肠道菌群与人类健康密切相关。近年来,肠道菌群在中药的研究方面也引发了科学家们激烈的讨论。本文主要对肠道菌群在中药研究中的相互作用、相互影响进行综述,阐述了较为前沿的肠道菌群的研究方法。同时对近十年来关于肠道菌群的相关文献的不同及进步进行思考和展望。该综述为预防、治疗肠道菌群失调开辟新的思路。