Effect of Oren-gedoku-to (Huanglian-Jie-Du-Tang) extract on disruption of hepatic antioxidant defense systems in rats treated with D-galactosamine

Hwangryunhaedok-tang induces the depolarization of pacemaker potentials through 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptors in cultured murine small intestine interstitial cells of Cajal

AIM

To investigate the effects of a water extract of Hwangryunhaedok-tang (HHTE) on the pacemaker potentials of mouse interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs).

METHODS

We dissociated ICCs from small intestines and cultured. ICCs were immunologically identified using an anti-c-kit antibody. We used the whole-cell patch-clamp configuration to record the pacemaker potentials generated by cultured ICCs under the current clamp mode (I = 0). All experiments were performed at 30 °C-32 °C

RESULTS

HHTE dose-dependently depolarized ICC pacemaker potentials. Pretreatment with a 5-HT₃ receptor antagonist (Y25130) or a 5-HT₄ receptor antagonist (RS39604) blocked HHTE-induced pacemaker potential depolarizations, whereas pretreatment with a 5-HT₇ receptor antagonist (SB269970) did not. Intracellular GDPβS inhibited HHTE-induced pacemaker potential depolarization and pretreatment with a Ca²⁺-free solution or thapsigargin abolished the pacemaker potentials. In the presence of a Ca²⁺-free solution or thapsigargin, HHTE did not depolarize ICC pacemaker potentials. In addition, HHTE-induced pacemaker potential depolarization was unaffected by a PKC inhibitor (calphostin C) or a Rho kinase inhibitor (Y27632). Of the four ingredients of HHT, Coptidis Rhizoma and Gardeniae Fructus more effectively inhibited pacemaker potential depolarization.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that HHTE dose-dependently depolarizes ICC pacemaker potentials through 5-HT₃ and 5-HT₄ receptors via external and internal Ca²⁺ regulation and via G protein-, PKC- and Rho kinase-independent pathways.

Huanglian-Jie-Du-Tang Extract Ameliorates Depression-Like Behaviors through BDNF-TrkB-CREB Pathway in Rats with Chronic Unpredictable Stress

Neuroinflammation is considered as one of the common pathogeneses of depression. Huanglian-Jie-Du-Tang (HJDT) is a traditional Chinese herbal formula. The present study investigates the antidepressant-like effect of HJDT and its possible mechanism in rats. Rats were given HJDT (2, 4, and 8 g/kg, intragastrically), paroxetine (1.8 mg/kg, intragastrically), or an equivalent volume of saline for 42 days. The depression-related behaviors, including sucrose preference test (SPT), open field test (OFT), novel objective recognition task (NORT), and forced swimming test (FST), were detected. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) contents, microglial activation, proinflammatory cytokines, and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tropomyosin receptor kinases B (TrkB), and cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) expression were investigated. The results indicated HJDT (2 and 4 g/kg) dramatically ameliorated the depression-like behaviors. Also HJDT decreased the number of microglia and the proinflammatory cytokines in hippocampus. Western-blotting analysis displayed HJDT upregulated BDNF, TrkB, and pCREB/CREB expression in hippocampus. Particularly, pCREB DNA activity enhanced with HJDT treatment in hippocampus. But there was no difference in the 5-HT and DA contents with HJDT treatment. In conclusion, it was supposed that HJDT might be a potential Chinese medicine decoction for treating or alleviating complex symptoms of depression through BDNF-TrkB-CREB pathway.

Study on the Absorption Mechanism of Geniposide in the Chinese Formula Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang in Rats

Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang (HLJDT) is a classical recipe for relieving fever and toxicity for thousands of years in China. Geniposide is one of the main components in HLJDT. The present study was conducted in order to investigate the differences of absorption of geniposide after oral administration of geniposide alone and HLJDT in rats. Pharmacokinetic differences of geniposide following oral administrations of pure geniposide and HLJDT were investigated in vivo. The absorption of geniposide in pure compound and HLJDT was evaluated using intestinal perfusion and Caco-2 models. The in vivo and in vitro studies showed good relevance and consistent results. The co-occurring components in HLJDT were found to promote the absorption of geniposide from the pharmacokinetic study in vivo, intestinal perfusion, and Caco-2 model. Geniposide had better absorption in the duodenum and jejunum from the intestinal perfusion model, which was mainly absorbed by passive diffusion. Verapamil influenced the transportation of geniposide, while EDTA did not, demonstrating that geniposide might be the potential substance of P-glycoprotein in intestinal perfusion and Caco-2 models. The absorption of geniposide was studied systematically to guide the design of the oral dosage of geniposide and HLJDT in clinical therapy.

Simultaneous quantification and antiatherosclerosis effect of the traditional Korean medicine, Hwangryunhaedok-tang

Background

Hwangryunhaedok-tang (HHT) is a traditional herbal medicine that is used for the treatment of fever, inflammation, gastritis, and hypertension. In this study, we performed simultaneous determination of the five components, geniposide (1), baicalin (2), coptisine (3), palmatine (4), and berberine (5) in HHT by using a high-performance liquid chromatography–photodiode array (HPLC–PDA) analysis. We also evaluated the antioxidative activity of HHT and compounds 1–5 by measuring their effects on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and antiproliferative abilities in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

Methods

Five compounds were separated within 40 min by using a Gemini C₁₈ column (temp. 35°C; two-component gradient elution; flow rate 1.0 mL/min; detector 240 and 277 nm). The activities of HHT and compounds 1–5 were tested with the radical scavengers 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, in thiobarbituric acid reactive substance assays, and in relative electrophoretic mobility assays using CuSO₄-induced LDL oxidation systems. The antiproliferative effects of samples on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced VSMC proliferation were studied by using a cell proliferation assay.

Results

Regression analysis of the five major compounds showed good linearity (r² ≥ 0.9997) in different concentration ranges. The recoveries of the five compounds were in the range 86.31–110.78%, with relative standard deviations below 2.1%; those of intra- and interday precision were 0.04–3.78% and 0.04–1.69%, respectively. HHT reduced the oxidation properties of LDL induced by CuSO₄ and inhibited cell proliferation in PDGF-treated VSMCs. Among the five components, compound 2 could effectively suppress LDL oxidation and PDGF-induced VSMC proliferation.

Conclusions

The established HPLC–PDA method will help to improve quality control of HHT. The results demonstrate that HHT has antiatherosclerotic activity and that it functions by modulating LDL oxidation and VSMC proliferation. The effects of HHT may be attributed, at least I part, to compound 2.

Inhibiton of cytochrome P450 isoenzymes and P-gp activity by multiple extracts of Huang-Lian-Jie-Du decoction

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Decotion (HLJDD), an important traditional Chinese medicine formula, has been used for various diseases in clinical practice, and thus has high potential to induce cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoenzymes/P-glycoprotein (P-gp) mediated herb-drug interactions (HDIs) with other co-administered drugs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vitro effects of multiple extracts including aqueous extracts, total flavonoids, iridoids, alkaloids from HLJDD on the activities of CYPs in rats (CYP1A2, CYP2C6, CYP2D2, CYP2E1 and CYP3A1) and P-gp, and then to predict potential interactions with co-administered drugs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The effects of the four extracts from HLJDD on the CYPs activity were evaluated in rat liver microsomes incubation system, and then determined by LC-MS/MS-based CYPs probe substrate assay. Caco-2 cell monolayer was used to investigate the effect of the four extracts on the efflux of Rhodamine 123 to evaluate their influences on P-gp activity.

RESULTS

The results show that total flavonoids and alkaloids exibited strong inhibition on rat CYP isoenzymes activities. Total flavonoids exhibited different inhibitory effects on CYPs activities with an order of CYP3A1>CYP2C6>CYP2E1>CYP1A2>CYP2D2, and the values of IC₅₀ were 4.24, 8.16, 17.56, 19.03, 29.51 μg/mL, respectively. Total alkaloids possessed similar inhibition on CYPs and could strongly inhibit the activity of CYP2D2 (IC₅₀=2.38 μg/mL), CYP3A1 (IC₅₀=2.61 μg/mL), CYP2E1 (IC₅₀=22.35 μg/mL), CYP1A2 (IC₅₀=23.2 μg/mL) and CYP2C6 (IC₅₀=43.09 μg/mL). Moderate degree of inhibition on CYPs activities was observed in aqueous and total iridoids extracts. Results from transport assay revealed that total flavonoids and alkaloids exhibited significant inhibitory effect on P-gp activity as evidenced by strong inhibition on the efflux of Rhodamine-123 with IC₅₀ of 104.6 and 82.6 μg/mL. But aqueous extract showed weak and iridoids had negligible effect on P-gp activity.

CONCLUSIONS

This study clearly demonstrated that total flavonoids and alkaloids from HLJDD can significantly inhibit the activities of CYPs and P-gp, which should be taken into consideration to predict any potential HDIs when HLJDD and its bioactive components are co-administered with other therapeutic drugs metabolized by CYPs or transported by P-gp.

Effects of the modified Huanglian Jiedu decoction on the disease resistance in grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) to Lactococcus garvieae

Lactococcosis is prevalent on grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) in Hong Kong aquaculture resulting in serious economic loss. A compound formulation of Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) (modified Huanglian Jiedu decoction (HLJDD)) comprising Rhizoma coptidis, Radix scutellaria, Cortex phellodendri, Fructus gardeniae, Fructus forsythiae and Flos lonicerae japonicae (in a ratio of 3:2:2:3:3:5) were applied as feed supplements to deal with the disease. The Nitroblue tetrazolium activity in blood, bactericidal activity and total immunoglobulin in plasma were significantly enhanced after feeding 1% of this TCM for 28 days. The disease resistances to Lactococcus garvieae in 1% and 2% TCM feeding groups were significantly enhanced. In the in vitro study, the modified HLJDD also activated the plasma bactericidal activities (p<0.01). Based on this study, 1% modified HLJDD feeding for 28 days may be an optimal dose to prevent L. garvieae infection and could be used in aquaculture industries.

Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Decotion induced protective autophagy against the injury of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion via MAPK-mTOR signaling pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Decotion (HLJDD, Hwangryun-Hae-Dok-Decotion in Japan), an ancient antipyretic and detoxifying traditional Chinese medicine formula, was reported to have protective effect on ischemic stroke.

AIM OF THE RESEARCH

To investigate the therapeutic effect of HLJDD on ischemic stroke and explore its mode of action.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A model of ischemic stroke in the rat was established after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) followed by reperfusion. Rats were assigned randomly to groups of control, sham, transient ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), and three treatment groups by HLJDD at 2.5, 5.0, 10.0mg/kg. The neurological deficit, the cerebral infarct size, morphology abnormality, biochemical parameters were examined, and the levels of relevant proteins were determined by immunoblotting analysis to evaluate the protective effects of HLJDD on ischemic stroke and explore the underlying mechanism.

RESULTS

Compared with I/R group, HLJDD significantly ameliorated neurological deficit and histopathology changes, decreased infarct area, and restored the levels of biochemical indicators including nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), glutathione disulfide (GSSG), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), Cu/Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX). HLJDD also notably elevated the levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), Beclin-1, and other autophagy related genes (Atgs), promoted the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), protein kinase B (Akt), 3-phosphoinositide-dependent kinase (PDK1), and inhibited the activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), c-Jun N-terminal protein kinases (JNK), p38, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN).

CONCLUSION

HLJDD showed neuroprotective effects on ischemic stroke, at least in part to the induced protective autophagy via the regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signals. This Akt-independent protective autophagy is favorable in the treatment of stroke, avoiding unfavorable side-effects associated with the inactivation of Akt. The efficacy of HLJDD on ischemic stroke and its safety warranted by its long-term clinical use in traditional Chinese medicine favored further study to develop HLJDD as an effective therapeutic agent to treat ischemic stroke.

Novel pharmacokinetic studies of the Chinese formula Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang in MCAO rats

Our previous studies showed that after oral administration of an Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang (HLJDT) decoction, there is a higher concentration of the pure components, berberine, baicalin and gardenoside in the plasma of Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats than in sham-operated rats, The aim of the present study was to determine whether these components could be reliably measured in MCAO rat tissues. First, the plasma concentration-time profiles of berberine, palmatine, baicalin, baicalein and gardenoside were characterised in MCAO rats after oral administration of the aqueous extract of HLJDT. Subsequently, liver, lung and kidney tissues were obtained from sudden death MCAO rats in the absorption phase (0.25 h), the distribution phase (1.0 h) and the elimination phase (8.0 h) after administration of the HLJDT aqueous extract. An HPLC method was developed and validated for the determination of the distribution characteristics of berberine, palmatine, baicalin, baicalein and gardenoside simultaneously from the above-mentioned rat tissues. The results indicated that berberine, palmatine, baicalin and baicalein distributed rapidly and accumulated at high levels in the lung, while gardenoside distributed widely in the lung and the kidney. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to describe the distribution of the active ingredients derived from HLJDT in MCAO rat tissues. The tissue distribution results provide a biopharmaceutical basis for the design of the clinic application of HLJDT in cerebrovascular disease.

Modulating effects of hesperidin on key carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes, lipid profile, and membrane-bound adenosine triphosphatases against 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced breast carcinogenesis

The aim of this study was to document the effect of hesperidin on the key enzyme activities of carbohydrate metabolism, lipid profile, and membrane-bound adenosine triphosphatases (ATPases) during 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced breast carcinogenesis. Hesperidin has been reported to have multiple biological properties. Breast cancer was induced by single dose of DMBA (20 mg/kg body weight (bw)). The results revealed that there was a significant increase in the activities of hexokinase, phosphoglucoisomerase, and aldolase and a concomitant decrease in the activities of glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-diphosphatase in cancer-induced animals. The activities of ATPases were found to be decreased both in erythrocyte membrane and in the liver of mammary cancer-bearing animals. The lipid profiles such as total cholesterol, free cholesterol, phospholipids, triglycerides, and free fatty acids significantly increased and in contrast the ester cholesterol in plasma was found to be decreased, whereas it was found to be elevated in the liver of cancer-bearing groups. The altered levels of the above-mentioned biochemical parameters in cancer-bearing animals were significantly ameliorated by the administration of hesperidin at the dosage of 30 mg/kg bw for 45 days. The histopathological analysis of breast and liver tissues were well supported the modulatory property of hesperidin, and this might be associated with normalizing the gluconeogenesis process, stabilization of cell membranes, and modulation of lipid biosynthesis.

The different inhibitory effects of Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang on cyclooxygenase 2 and 5-lipoxygenase

BACKGROUND

Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang (HLJDT), a famous traditional Chinese prescription with wide anti-inflammatory applications, is an aqueous extract of four herbal materials: Rhizoma coptidis, Radix scutellariae, Cortex phellodendri, and Fructus gardeniae. Its effects on the cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) pathways are thought to be responsible for its anti-inflammatory activity. However, our previous work found that the inhibitory effects of HLJDT act on the 5-LOX pathway but not on the COX pathway. The possibility that HLJDT inhibits COX-2- or 5-LOX-catalyzed eicosanoid generation by downregulating enzyme expression requires further investigation.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To observe the effects of HLJDT and its four major components (baicalin, baicalein, berberine and geniposide) on COX-2- or 5-LOX-catalyzed eicosanoid generation and to distinguish the effects of HLJDT on enzyme activity from those on enzyme expression.

METHODS

The topical anti-inflammatory activities and inhibition of eicosanoid formation of HLJDT and its components were observed in an arachidonic acid (AA)-induced mouse ear edema model. Macrophage-based systems were established to observe the effects of the drugs on enzyme activity and enzyme expression of COX-2 and 5-LOX. Further experiments were carried out to confirm these effects at the mRNA and protein levels.

RESULTS

Topical treatment of HLJDT significantly inhibited AA-induced mouse ear edema and reduced PGE(2) and LTB(4) release in the edematous ears. Baicalein, geniposide, and berberine also ameliorated the symptoms and suppressed eicosanoid generation with varying efficacies. Cell-based assays showed that HLJDT and baicalein inhibited the PGE(2) levels by decreasing COX-2 enzyme expression without affecting COX-2 enzyme activity in RAW 246.7 murine macrophages. The other experiments on rat peritoneal macrophages indicated that HLJDT and baicalein exerted significant inhibition on LTB(4) production by decreasing 5-LOX enzyme activity. The real-time PCR and western blotting data demonstrated that HLJDT and baicalein reduced COX-2 expression at the mRNA and protein levels, whereas no inhibition on 5-LOX expression was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

HLJDT can suppress eicosanoid generation via both the COX and LOX pathways, which definitely contributes to its topical anti-inflammatory activity. We have confirmed that its dual inhibition on the COX and LOX pathways mainly result from the downregulation of COX-2 expression and direct inhibition of 5-LOX activity, respectively. Baicalein worked as a potent active component in most of the tests. These findings about the different inhibitory effects of HLJDT on COX-2 and 5-LOX help to better understand the mechanism of HLJDT and promote safer applications of drug.

Plasma pharmacochemistry based approach to screening potential bioactive components in Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometric detection

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang (HLJDT), a classic prescription of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been used in clinical over 1700 years for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular diseases and Alzheimer disease. But the active components of HLJDT were ambiguous, which seriously restricted its clinical application.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The methodology of plasma pharmacochemistry was applied to screen the bioactive components in HLJDT. A reliable LC/MS system was established for detecting the prototype compounds and metabolites in dosed plasma after oral administration of HLJDT. By comparative analysis of the chemical profiles of HLJDT extracts, blank plasma and dosed plasma, potential bioactive compounds in HLJDT may be discovered.

RESULTS

By comparing the retention time, MS and MS/MS spectra with those of reference standard and literature data, 30 components including 22 prototype compounds and 8 metabolites from HLJDT were discovered as potential bioactive components in rat plasma.

CONCLUSIONS

A reliable and effective method was established to screen the potential bioactive components in the formula of HLJDT, which provided useful information for the further study of action mechanism of HLJDT.

In vivo and in vitro inhibitory effects of a traditional Chinese formulation on LPS-stimulated leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion and VCAM-1 gene expression

AIM OF THE STUDY

A traditional Chinese formulation Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang (HLJDT) exerts anti-inflammatory effects. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of HLJDT on the LPS-stimulated leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion and VCAM-1 gene expression both in vivo and in vitro.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

HLJDT was extracted from rhizoma coptidis, radix scutellariae, cortex phellodendri and fructus gardeniae in a weight rario of 1:1:1:1. In vivo leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion was observed in rat lung after LPS stimulation (5mg/kg, i.p.) with or without HLJDT (350 or 700mg/kg, i.g.) pretreatment. The protein expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) was analyzed by immunohistochemical method. In vitro leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion was performed by examining the adhesion of THP-1cells to LPS-stimulated human vascular endothelial cells with or without HLJDT pretreatment. The VCAM-1 expression at the RNA and protein levels was investigated by RT-PCR and western blot analysis, respectively. The activation of NF-κB was examined by the nuclear translocation of NF-κB by immunocytochemical method.

RESULTS

In vivo, HLJDT dose-dependently reduced the number of leukocytes adhered to endothelium and VCAM-1 protein expression in lung venules of LPS-challenged rats. In vitro, HLJDT dose-dependently decreased the number of THP-1cells adhered to LPS-stimulated endothelial cells and the expression of VCAM-1 both at the RNA and protein levels. The LPS-induced nuclear translocation of NF-kappa B in endothelial cells was also dose-dependently inhibited by HLJDT.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrated an additional mechanism underlying the anti-inflmmatory effect of HLJDT by inhibiting the leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion and VCAM-1 gene expression. The inhibition of NF-kappa B activation by HLJDT might suggest a profound anti-inflammatory consequences.

Effect of globin digest on the liver injury and hepatic gene expression profile in galactosamine-induced liver injury in SD rats

AIMS

We investigated the effect of globin digest (GD) on the liver injury and hepatic gene expression profile in galactosamine (GalN)-induced liver injury.

MAIN METHODS

The effect of GD on the liver injury was examined by measuring the activities of serum transferases and hepatic antioxidant enzymes, histopathological analysis, gene expression profile, and proteins of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) and met proto-oncogene (c-Met) in SD rats at 24 h after GalN administration. The effect of GD on the expression of PPARα and its target gene in AML-12 mouse hepatocytes was also examined.

KEY FINDINGS

GD suppressed the elevated activities of serum transferases in GalN-induced liver injury in SD rats. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substance content in GalN-injured liver was a decreasing tendency by GD. GD suppressed the increased oxidized glutathione content, and increased the decreased protein, reduced glutathione contents, and catalase activity in GalN-injured liver. GD may improve the antioxidant defense system and protein synthesis in GalN-injured liver. GD suppressed the elevated expression of the genes related to the inflammation, and decreased the histopathological grade value of inflammatory cell infiltration in GalN-injured liver. GD increased the expression of PPARα protein in GalN-injured liver, and also increased the expression of PPARα and its target gene in AML-12 hepatocytes. The total and phosphorylated c-Met proteins in GalN-injured liver were the increasing tendencies by GD.

SIGNIFICANCE

These findings indicate that GD has the hepatoprotective effect on GalN-induced liver injury in SD rats.

Berberine and Coptidis rhizoma as novel antineoplastic agents: a review of traditional use and biomedical investigations

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Coptidis rhizoma (huanglian) and its major component, berberine, have drawn extensive attention toward their antineoplastic effects in the recent years. The antineoplastic effects are related to the Chinese Medicine (CM) properties of huanglian in treating diseases by removing damp-heat and purging fire and counteracting toxicity.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

To trace the long history of the traditional use of huanglian from folk medicines, especially from Chinese medicine, to recent pharmacological studies of huanglian and berberine, with an emphasis on their antineoplastic effects and the promise as novel antineoplastic agents.

METHODS

A total of seven databases were extensively searched for literature research. The terms and keywords for searching included huanglian, berberine, Coptis, Coptidis rhizoma, anticancer, anti-invasion, antimatastasis and mechanism. The papers including ours with studies on anticancer and mechanism, pharmacology and toxicology of huanglian and/or berberine were focused.

RESULTS

In view of traditional use, the anticancer effects of huanglian can be ascribed to its CM trait by removing damp-heat, fire and toxicity. From modern biomedical studies, anticancer effects have been demonstrated in both huanglian and berberine. The underlying molecular mechanisms involve cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis induction and anti-inflammation. Berberine is an essential anticancer compound in huanglian. In some studies, the use of huanglian was shown to be more effective and beneficial than the use of berberine alone. The presence of other protoberberine-type alkaloids in huanglian might give synergistic effects for the anticancer effects. Berberine also demonstrates effects of antiangiogenesis, anti-invasion and anti-metastasis in some cancer cell lines, however, more investigations are required to unravel the underlying mechanisms involved.

CONCLUSIONS

The modern evidences of treating cancer with huanglian and berberine have a strong linkage with traditional concept and rules of using huanglian in CM practice. As anticancer candidates with low toxicity, berberine and its altered structure, as well as huanglian and its formulae, will attract scientists to pursue the potential anticancer effects and the mechanisms by using technologies of genomics, proteomics and other advanced approaches. On the other hand, relatively few in vivo studies have been conducted on anticancer effects of huanglian and berberine. The clinical application of berberine or huanglian as novel cancer therapeutic agents requires in vivo validations and further investigations of their anticancer mechanisms.

Preventive effects of a purified extract isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza enriched with tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA and cryptotanshinone on hepatocyte injury in vitro and in vivo

Salvia miltiorrhiza is traditionally used to treat liver disease in Asia. In this study, we tested the ability of a purified extract of S. miltiorrhiza (PF2401-SF) and its constituents, tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA, and cryptotanshinone, to protect against acute and subacute liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride by measuring serum transaminase levels, the reduced form of glutathione (GSH), antioxidant enzyme activities, and lipid peroxidation levels in the liver. We also evaluated their ability to protect primary cultured rat hepatocytes from tertiary-butylhydroperoxide (tBH) or d-galactosamine (GalN). PF2401-SF was protective at 50-200mg/kg per day in acute liver injury and 25-100mg/kg per day in subacute liver injury. Tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA, and cryptotanshinon (40 microM), inhibited lactate dehydrogenase leakage, GSH depletion, lipid peroxidation and free radical generation in vitro. PF2401-SF and its major constituents, tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA and cryptotanshinone, can protect against liver toxicity in vivo and in vitro due to its antioxidant effects.

Xanthine oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species contribute to the development ofd-galactosamine-induced liver injury in rats

We examined whether xanthine oxidase (XO)-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to the development of D-galactosamine (D-GaIN)-induced liver injury in rats. In rats treated with D-GaIN (500 mg/kg), liver injury appeared 6 h after treatment and developed until 24 h. Hepatic XO and myeloperoxidase activities increased 12 and 6 h, respectively, after D-GalN treatment and continued to increase until 24 h. D-GalN-treated rats had increased hepatic lipid peroxide (LPO) content and decreased hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid contents and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and Se-glutathione peroxidase (Se-GSHpx) activities at 24 h, but not 6 h, after treatment. Allopurinol (10, 25 or 50 mg/kg) administered at 6 h after D-GalN treatment attenuated not only the advanced liver injury and increased hepatic XO activity but also all other changes observed at 24 h after the treatment dose-dependently. These results suggest that XO-derived ROS contribute to the development of D-GaIN-induced liver injury in rats.

Hepatoprotective effects of Coptidis rhizoma aqueous extract on carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver hepatotoxicity in rats

AIM OF THE STUDY

Coptidis rhizoma (CR, Chinese name is Huanglian) has been used in treating infectious and inflammatory diseases for two thousand years in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Its related pharmacological basis for the therapeutics has been studied intensively, but CR can also be used for vomiting of "dampness-heat type or acid regurgitation" due to "liver-fire attacking stomach" in TCM, whose symptoms seem to link the hepatic and biliary disorders, yet details in the therapies of liver diseases and underlying mechanism(s) remain unclear. To clarify this ethnopharmacological relevance, hepatoprotective effect of Coptidis rhizoma aqueous extract (CRAE) and its possible mechanism were studied in rats intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in the present study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

SPRAGUE-Dawley (SD) rats aged 7 weeks old were intraperitoneally injected with CCl4 at a dose of 1.0 ml/kg as a 50% olive oil solution. The rats were orally given the CRAE at doses of 400, 600, 800 mg/kg and 120 mg/kg berberine body weight (BW) after 6 h of CCl4 treatment. At 24 h after CCl4 injection, samples of blood and liver were collected and then biochemical parameters and histological studies were carried out.

RESULTS

The results showed that CRAE and berberine inhibited significantly the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Observation on the hepatoprotective effect of berberine was consistent to that of CRAE.

CONCLUSION

The study is the first time to demonstrate that CRAE has hepatoprotective effect on acute liver injuries induced by CCl4, and the results suggest that the effect of CRAE against CCl4-induced liver damage is related to antioxidant property.

The effect of Z-FA.FMK on D-galactosamine/TNF-alpha-induced liver injury in mice

Cathepsin B is a cysteine proteinase, considered to have an important role in apoptosis, which is activated by D-galactosamine and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (D-GalN/TNF-alpha). Benzyloxycarbonyl-L-phenylalanine fluoromethyl ketone (Z-FA.FMK) is a cathepsin B inhibitor used in research on apoptotic pathways. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Z-FA.FMK on apoptotic cell death, cell proliferation and liver damage induced by a D-GalN/TNF-alpha combination in mice. In the study, 1 h after administration of 8 mg/kg Z-FA.FMK by intravenous injection, D-GalN (700 mg/kg) and TNF-alpha (15 microg/kg) were administered by a single intraperitoneal injection. In the group given D-GalN/TNF-alpha, the following results were found: Degenerative changes in the liver tissue, significant increase in the number of both TUNEL and activated caspase-3-positive hepatocytes, a decrease in the number of PCNA-positive hepatocytes, an increase in lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels and a decrease in glutathione (GSH) and DNA levels in the liver tissue. In contrast, in the group given D-GalN/TNF-alpha and Z-FA.FMK, a decrease in the damage of the liver tissue, a significant decrease in TUNEL and activated caspase-3-positive hepatocytes, a significant increase in the number of PCNA-positive hepatocytes, a decrease in the LPO levels, an increase in GSH and DNA levels in the liver tissue were found. As a result, microscopic and biochemical evaluations indicate that Z-FA.FMK plays a protective role against liver injury induced by D-GalN/TNF-alpha and it has an inverse effect on hepatocyte apoptosis and proliferation in BALB/c mice.

Effects of Z-FA.FMK on D-galactosamine/tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced kidney injury and oxidative stress in mice : effects of Z-FA.FMK on TNF-alpha-mediated kidney injury

BACKGROUND

The aim of this investigation was to demonstrate that benzyloxicarbonyl-L-phenylalanyl-alanine-fluoromethylketone (Z-FA.FMK), which is a pharmacological inhibitor of cathepsin B, has protective role on the kidney injury that occurs together with liver injury. Methods BALB/c male mice used in this study were divided into four groups. The first group was given physiologic saline only, the second group was administered Z-FA.FMK alone, the third group received D: -galactosamine and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (D-GalN/TNF-alpha), and the fourth group was given both D-GalN/TNF-alpha and Z-FA.FMK. One hour after administration of 8 mg/kg Z-FA.FMK by intravenous injection, D-GalN (700 mg/kg) and TNF-alpha (15 microg/kg) were given by intraperitoneal injection. Results In the group given D-GalN/TNF-alpha, the following results were found: severe degenerative morphological changes in the kidney tissue, a significant increase in the number of activated caspase-3-positive tubular epithelial cell, an insignificant increase in the number of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive tubular epithelial cell, a decrease in the kidney glutathione (GSH) levels, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, an increase in the kidney lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities, uric acid and urea levels. In contrast, in the group given D-GalN/TNF-alpha and Z-FA.FMK, a significant decrease in the D-GalN/TNF-alpha-induced degenerative changes, a decrease in the number of activated caspase-3-positive tubular epithelial cell, a insignificant decrease in the number of PCNA-positive tubular epithelial cell, an increase in the kidney GSH levels, CAT, SOD and GPx activities, a decrease in the kidney LPO levels, LDH activity, serum AST and ALT activities, uric acid and urea levels were determined. Conclusion These results suggest that pretreatment with Z-FA.FMK markedly lessens the degree of impairment seen in D-GalN/TNF-alpha-induced kidney injury, which occurred together with liver injury in mice.

The cytoprotective effect of alpha-tocopherol and daidzein against d-galactosamine-induced oxidative damage in the rat liver

We hypothesized that the hepatotoxicity that develops after the induction of oxidative stress (induced by d-galactosamine [GalN]) can be ameliorated by alpha-tocopherol (ATC) and the soy isoflavone daidzein. To test this, we ranked and assigned male Wistar rats into 6 groups, which involved pretreatment (ATC or daidzein) for 1 hour followed by treatment (GalN) for 23 hours. Histopathologic analysis showed that GalN administration induced marked necrosis (P < .001), steatosis (P < .001), both lobular and portal inflammations (P < .001), overall histopathologic score (P < .001), and activation of caspase-3 in the liver (P < .001). Immunohistochemical staining of malondialdehyde-protein adducts, a measure of oxidative stress, was increased in response to GalN (P < .001). Paradoxically, there were increases in total (P < .05) and cytosolic superoxide dismutase (P < .001) activities after GalN administration, indicative of an up-regulation of antioxidant defenses. The concentration of total protein (P < .001), albumin (P < .01), and globulin fractions (P < .001) in the plasma, as well as the activity of aspartate aminotransferase (P < .001), was significantly perturbed after GalN treatment, reflective of overall acute hepatic injury. Administration of daidzein showed a significant amelioration of the Ga1N-induced increase in malondialdehyde-protein adducts (P < .01) and cytosolic superoxide dismutase activities (P < .01) in the liver. However, all other variables were not significantly altered in response to daidzein. In response to ATC pretreatment, the total histopathologic score (P < .05), degree of necrosis (P < .05), and both lobular (P < .05) and portal (P = .05) inflammations were significantly ameliorated. To conclude, both daidzein and ATC protect the liver against oxidative damage possibly via different pathways.

Protective effect of Lygodium flexuosum (L.) Sw. (Lygodiaceae) against D-galactosamine induced liver injury in rats

The protective effect of Lygodium flexuosum n-hexane extract against D-galactosamine was evaluated in Wistar rats. In preventive groups extract was administered at 48, 24 and 2h before D-galactosamine intoxication whereas in post-treatment groups extract were administered 2, 24 and 48 h after D-galactosamine intoxication. Rats pre-treated with n-hexane extract at a dose of 200 and 100 mg/kg of Lygodium flexuosum showed a significant prevention of elevated AST, ALT, LDH levels and hepatic malondialdehyde in D-galactosamine treated rats. Hepatic glutathione levels significantly upregulated by the extract treatment in D-galactosamine treated rats. Quantification of histopathological sections supported the preventive action of n-hexane extract of Lygodium flexuosum. Rats treated with the extract at a dose of 200 and 100 mg/kg Lygodium flexuosum after the establishment of D-galactosamine induced liver injury showed complete protection of liver as evidenced from normal AST, ALT and LDH levels, hepatic GSH and MDA levels and also by normal histological index of liver in treated rats. Rats treated with n-hexane extract of Lygodium flexuosum were comparable to that of Silymarin, the standard hepatoprotective drug.