Effect of Acupuncture Stimulation on Improving the Immunity of Synovial Tissue in Rheumatoid Joints via MAPK Pathway

Purpose: Acupuncture treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has a long history and has been widely recognized in the medical community. However, its mechanism of action still is rarely uncovered. In the present study, the effects of acupuncture on the immune function and MAPK pathway in synovial tissue of rats with RA were investigated; it aimed to explore the effect and mechanism of acupuncture on alleviating RA. Methods: Rats were randomly divided into control, model and acupuncture groups, 15 rats each group, and RA rat model was induced via bovine type II collagen in complete Freund’s adjuvant. The acupuncture group received "Zusanli" and "Shenshu" warm acupuncture treatment on the first day after modeling, acupuncture stimulation once a day for 21 days. The rat weight and degree of joint swelling were recorded and calculated. The ankle joint histopathology was observed by H&E staining. Serum inflammatory cytokines were detected using ELISA. An automatic biochemical analyzer was used to test serum IgG, IgM and IgA levels. Transcription factors T-bet, GATA3, RORγT, Foxp3 mRNA were monitored through RT-qPCR technology. Further, the expression of key targets of MAPK signal or phosphorylation in synovial tissue were determined using Western blotting. Results: Acupuncture relieved the joint swelling and weight loss of RA rats, ameliorated the pathological damage of the ankle joint, significantly increased the serum IgG, IgM, IgA and T-bet, and Foxp3 levels, and reduced the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, GATA3, and RORγT; down-regulated synovial tissue p-p38MAPK, p-JNK, and p-ERK1/2 levels and protein phosphorylation ratio (P<0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture stimulation can improve the joint damage and promote the immune function of RA rats, possibly via blocking the expression of MAPK pathway in synovial tissue. This study provides a scientific and promising reference for acupuncture further in the clinical strategy of RA.

The preventive effects of nanopowdered red ginseng on collagen-induced arthritic mice

This study was carried out to investigate the efficiency of red ginseng nanopowder in preventing collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice. The mice were divided into five groups: normal group (no immunisation), control (CIA), powdered red ginseng (PRG), nanopowdered red ginseng (NRG) and methotrexate (MTX). Administering MTX, PRG and NRG to arthritic mice significantly decreased spleen indexes, clinical and histological scores compared to control group. Serum analysis of NRG and MTX groups showed a reduction in the cytokines such as the levels of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) in comparison to PRG group. The levels of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G₁ (IgG₁) in the NRG group were significantly lower than those of the PRG group. In summary, the present study indicated that NRG can be effective in preventing type II collagen-induced rheumatoid arthritis in mice.

A bacosides containing Bacopa monnieri extract alleviates allodynia and hyperalgesia in the chronic constriction injury model of neuropathic pain in rats

BACKGROUND

The current therapy of neuropathic pain is inadequate and is limited by the extent of pain relief and the occurrence of dose dependant side effects. Insufficient control of pain with conventional medications prompts the use of complementary and alternative medicine therapies by patients with neuropathic pain. This study therefore investigated a standardized methanolic extract of Bacopa monnieri, a widely reputed nootropic plant, for prospective antinociceptive effect in the chronic constriction injury (CCI) model of neuropathic pain.

METHODS

Placement of four loose ligatures around the sciatic nerve produced partial denervation of the hindpaw in rats. Bacopa monnieri (40 and 80 mg/kg, p.o) and the positive control, gabapentin (75 mg/kg, i.p), were administered daily after CCI or sham surgery and the behavioral paradigms of static- and dynamic-allodynia (paw withdrawal threshold to von Frey filament stimulation [PWT] and paw withdrawal latency to light-brushing [PWL]), cold-allodynia (paw withdrawal duration [PWD] to acetone), heat- (PWL to heat-stimulus) and punctate-hyperalgesia (PWD to pin-prick) were assessed on days 3, 7, 14 and 21.

RESULTS

CCI consistently generated static- (days 3-21), dynamic- (days 14-21) and cold-allodynia (days 3-21) plus heat- and mechano-hyperalgesia (days 3-21). The tested doses of Bacopa monnieri significantly attenuated the CCI-induced allodynia and hyperalgesia, exemplified by increased PWT (days 7-21), PWL to light brushing (days 14-21) and heat (days 7-21) as well as decreased PWD to pin prick and cold stimuli (days 3-21). The extract also counterbalanced the CCI-induced aberrations in the nociceptive behaviors by increasing the pain threshold to that of pre-surgery baseline. Gabapentin also afforded analogous beneficial behavioral profile but of higher magnitude.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that Bacopa monnieri can be used as adjuvant therapy for neuropathic pain conditions afflicted with allodynia and hyperalgesia.

The Ayurvedic plant Bacopa monnieri inhibits inflammatory pathways in the brain

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Bacopa monnieri (L) Wettst (common name, bacopa) is a medicinal plant used in Ayurveda, the traditional system of medicine of India, as a nootropic. It is considered to be a "medhya rasayana", an herb that sharpens the mind and the intellect. Bacopa is an important ingredient in many Ayurvedic herbal formulations designed to treat conditions such as memory loss, anxiety, poor cognition and loss of concentration. It has also been used in Ayurveda to treat inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. In modern biomedical studies, bacopa has been shown in animal models to inhibit the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6. However, less is known regarding the anti-inflammatory activity of Bacopa in the brain.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The current study examines the ability of Bacopa to inhibit the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from microglial cells, the immune cells of the brain that participate in inflammation in the CNS. The effect of Bacopa on signaling enzymes associated with CNS inflammatory pathways was also studied.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Various extracts of Bacopa were prepared and examined in the N9 microglial cell line in order to determine if they inhibited the release of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6. Extracts were also tested in cell free assays as inhibitors of caspase-1 and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (enzymes associated with inflammation) and caspase-3, which has been shown to cleave protein Tau, an early event in the development of Alzheimer's disease.

RESULTS

The tea, infusion, and alkaloid extracts of bacopa, as well as Bacoside A significantly inhibited the release of TNF-α and IL-6 from activated N9 microglial cells in vitro. In addition, the tea, infusion, and alkaloid extracts of Bacopa effectively inhibited caspase 1 and 3, and matrix metalloproteinase-3 in the cell free assay.

CONCLUSIONS

Bacopa inhibits the release of inflammatory cytokines from microglial cells and inhibits enzymes associated with inflammation in the brain. Thus, Bacopa can limit inflammation in the CNS, and offers a promising source of novel therapeutics for the treatment of many CNS disorders.

Enhanced bacoside production in shoot cultures of Bacopa monnieri under the influence of abiotic elicitors

The effect of different abiotic elicitors [jasmonic acid, copper sulphate (CuSO4) and salicyclic acid] at varying concentrations on the stimulation of biomass and bacoside production in in vitro Bacopa monnieri shoot culture was studied. A systematic study conducted over a period of 35 days indicated that the maximum bacoside production (6.74 mg g(-1) dry weight (DW)) was obtained after a lag of 7 days and thereafter, the content decreased gradually to again increase at 28 days (5.91 mg g(-1) DW). Therefore, elicitation experiments were carried out over a period of 3, 6 and 9 days. The shoot cultures treated with 45 mg L(-1) of CuSO4 exhibited the highest bacoside content of 8.73 mg g(-1) DW (∼1.42-fold higher) than in control cultures (6.14 mg g(-1) DW). This study indicates the effectiveness of abiotic elicitation on bacoside production in in vitro shoot cultures of this medicinally important herb known for its memory-enhancing properties.

Bacopa monniera selectively attenuates suppressed Superoxide dismutase activity in Diazepam induced amnesic mice

BACKGROUND

Amnesia is characterized by loss of memory that could result from abnormal neuro-chemical homeostasis, genetic predisposition or drug abuse. We earlier reported that B. monniera attenuates diazepam, scopolamine and L-NNA induced amnesia and wanted to test if SOD levels were affected by its administration.

PURPOSE

B. monniera is earlier reported to augment the defense system for oxidative stress by increasing the activities of superoxide dismutase, therefore, we investigated its levels after B. monniera administration in combination with different amnesic agents.

METHODS

We treated mice with amnesic agents such as scopolamine, diazepam, L-NNA and MK 801 either with or without B. monniera.

RESULTS

Diazepam (1.75 mg/kg ip) significantly reduced SOD activity while it was unaltered when Scopolamine (0.1 mg/kg ip), MK 801 (0.17 mg/kg ip) and L-NNA (30 mg/kg ip) were administered. B. monniera significantly attenuated diazepam induced suppression of SOD activity.

CONCLUSION

It is suggested that the mechanism of B. monniera's antiamnesic effect may vary depending on the type of amnesic agent used. However, antioxidant mechanism may be central to evoking the memory enhancing effects of B. monniera against diazepam induced amnesia.

Bacopa monnieri Phytochemicals Mediated Synthesis of Platinum Nanoparticles and Its Neurorescue Effect on 1-Methyl 4-Phenyl 1,2,3,6 Tetrahydropyridine-Induced Experimental Parkinsonism in Zebrafish

Current discovery demonstrates the rapid formation of platinum nanoparticles using leaf extract of a neurobeneficial plant, Bacopa monnieri (BmE). The nanoparticles (BmE-PtNPs) were stabilized and then coated with varied phytochemicals present within the leaf extract. These nanoparticles demonstrated the same activity of Complex I, as that of oxidizing NADH to NAD⁺ using a spectrophotometric method. This suggests that BmE-PtNPs are a potential medicinal substance for oxidative stress mediated disease with suppressed mitochondrial complex I, namely, Parkinson's disease (PD). Hence, the neuroprotective potentials of the phytochemical coated nanoparticle were explored in 1-methyl 4-phenyl 1,2,3,6 tetrahydropyridine- (MPTP-)induced experimental Parkinsonism in zebrafish model. BmE-PtNPs pretreatment significantly reversed toxic effects of MPTP by increasing the levels of dopamine, its metabolites, GSH and activities of GPx, catalase, SOD and complex I, and reducing levels of MDA along with enhanced locomotor activity. Taken together, these findings suggest that BmE-PtNPs have protective effect in MPTP-induced neurotoxicity in this model of Parkinson's disease via their dual functions as mitochondrial complex I and antioxidant activity.