Antioxidant effect of tianwang buxin pills a traditional chinese medicine formula: double-blind, randomized controlled trial

Traditional Chinese Medicine is an Alternative Therapeutic Option for Treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen causing life-threatening infections in cystic fibrosis patients and immunocompromised individuals, and it is a leading cause of nosocomial infections associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Treatment of P. aeruginosa infections is challenging due to the antibiotic resistance to most of the conventional antibiotics. Development of alternative therapeutic options is urgently demanded for the patients who have antibiotic-resistant infections. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a clinical history of thousands of years for prevention and treatment of infectious diseases in China, taking advantages of improving clinical outcomes, producing less side effects, inhibiting pathogen, and modulating host immunity. Recent research has revealed a variety of natural products derived from TCM showing significant antimicrobial effects on antibiotic-resistant strains of P. aeruginosa alone or combined with antibiotics in vitro or in animal models, suggesting that TCM is a promising complementary and alternative therapeutic approach for treatment of chronic P. aeruginosa infections. This review summarizes the recent findings attempting to dissect the mechanisms of TCM combating P. aeruginosa infections and highlights the molecular targets of TCM on P. aeruginosa and host.

Salidroside mitigates hydrogen peroxide-induced injury by enhancement of microRNA-27a in human trabecular meshwork cells

Salidroside (Sal) exerted widely pharmacological effects in multitudinous diseases had been certified. The actual study clarified the protective activity of Sal in H₂O₂-injured human trabecular meshwork (HTM) cells. HTM cells were disposed with H₂O₂ to construct an oxidative damage model in vitro. Then, Sal was utilized to administrate HTM cells, and cell viability, apoptosis, apoptosis-interrelated proteins and ROS production were appraised using CCK-8, flow cytometry, western blot and DCFH-DA staining. MiR-27a inhibitor and its control were transfected into HTM cells, and the influences of miR-27a inhibition in HTM cells stimulated with H₂O₂ and Sal were detected. PI3K/AKT and Wnt/β-catenin pathways were ultimately investigated to uncover the underlying mechanism. We found that H₂O₂ evoked HTM cells oxidative damage, as evidenced by repressing cell viability, inducing apoptosis, activating cleaved-caspase-3/-9 expression and increasing ROS production. Sal significantly lightened H₂O₂-evoked oxidative damage in HTM cells. Additionally, miR-27a was up-regulated by Sal, and miR-27a suppression significantly reversed the protective effect of Sal on H₂O₂-injured HTM cells. Finally, Sal activated PI3K/AKT and Wnt/β-catenin pathways through enhancement of miR-27a in H₂O₂-injured HTM cells. In conclusion, these discoveries suggested that Sal could protect HTM cells against H₂O₂-evoked oxidative damage by activating PI3K/AKT and Wnt/β-catenin pathways through enhancement of miR-27a. Highlights H₂O₂ evokes HTM cells oxidative damage; Sal relieves H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage in HTM cells; Sal enhances miR-27a expression in H₂O₂-injured HTM cells; Repressed miR-27a reverses the protective impacts of Sal on H₂O₂-injured HTM cells; Sal activates PI3K/AKT and Wnt/β-catenin pathways by increasing miR-27a.

Preliminary Studies on Liquiritin, Deoxyschizandrin, and Tanshinone II A as Potential Anti-Neurodegenerative Disease Agent: Determination by Reverse-Phase Liquid Chromatography in Tianwang Buxin Pills

Tianwang Buxin pill (TWBXP) is an ancient Chinese classic prescription. Liquiritin, deoxyschizandrin, and tanshinone II A are three bioactive components in TWBXP, which have been proven to be closely related to the therapy effect of neurodegenerative disease. Their contents are very low in TWBXP. In this study, we used a diode array detector (DAD) to perform a full wavelength scanning in order to choose a most suitable detection wavelength to establish an HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of these three components in TWBXP. Various chromatographic conditions were investigated to verify its applicability. Finally, a Kromasil C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) thermostated at 30°C, mobile phase as 0.2% phosphoric acid solution (eluent A), and 0.1% phosphoric acid-acetonitrile solution (eluent B) were used. Both external standard method and internal standard method were used for quantification. The results showed that both methods were simple and convenient in operation without special pretreatment and exhibits excellent precision, repeatability (RSD < 3.0%), good linearity (R ² > 0.9990), and good recoveries (recovery value between 95% and 105%). Because of the low contents in samples, the internal standard method provided a better accurate result than the external standard method. The stability results showed the sample became stable within 24 hours at room temperature. The method provides a convenient and effective way for the quality control of TWBXP, and it can help the research about AD in the future.

Anti-ageing active ingredients from herbs and nutraceuticals used in traditional Chinese medicine: pharmacological mechanisms and implications for drug discovery

Ageing, an unanswered question in the medical field, is a multifactorial process that results in a progressive functional decline in cells, tissues and organisms. Although it is impossible to prevent ageing, slowing down the rate of ageing is entirely possible to achieve. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is characterized by the nourishing of life and its role in anti-ageing is getting more and more attention. This article summarizes the work done on the natural products from TCM that are reported to have anti-ageing effects, in the past two decades. The effective anti-ageing ingredients identified can be generally divided into flavonoids, saponins, polysaccharides, alkaloids and others. Astragaloside, Cistanche tubulosa acteoside, icariin, tetrahydrocurcumin, quercetin, butein, berberine, catechin, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, gastrodin, 6-Gingerol, glaucarubinone, ginsenoside Rg1, luteolin, icarisid II, naringenin, resveratrol, theaflavin, carnosic acid, catalpol, chrysophanol, cycloastragenol, emodin, galangin, echinacoside, ferulic acid, huperzine, honokiol, isoliensinine, phycocyanin, proanthocyanidins, rosmarinic acid, oxymatrine, piceid, puerarin and salvianolic acid B are specified in this review. Simultaneously, chemical structures of the monomers with anti-ageing activities are listed, and their source, model, efficacy and mechanism are also described. The TCMs with anti-ageing function are classified according to their action pathways, including the telomere and telomerase, the sirtuins, the mammalian target of rapamycin, AMP-activated kinase and insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 signalling pathway, free radicals scavenging and the resistance to DNA damage. Finally, Chinese compound prescription and extracts related to anti-ageing are introduced, which provides the basis and the direction for the further development of novel and potential drugs.

LINKED ARTICLES

This article is part of a themed section on Principles of Pharmacological Research of Nutraceuticals. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.11/issuetoc.

Development and Validation of a High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Method for the Simultaneous Quantification of Marker Constituents in Cheonwangbosimdan

A high-performance liquid chromatography–photodiode array detector method was established for the simultaneous determination of 7 components in Cheonwangbosimdan extract. The components were 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (1), coptisine (2), berberine (3), nodakenin (4), harpagoside (5), cinnamic acid (6), and β-asarone (7). All analytes were separated by gradient elution using two mobile phases on a Gemini C18 column and maintained at 40°C. The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min and the injection volume was 10 μL. Calibration curves of the 7 compounds showed good linearity with correlation coefficients ( r2) ≥ 0.9996. The limits of detection and quantification of the 7 analytes were 0.01–0.04 and 0.03–0.12 μg/mL, respectively. The recoveries of the 7 marker constituents were 97.6–104.2% with relative standard deviations (RSD) of less than 2.2%. The RSD values of intra- and interday precision were 0.11–1.78 and 0.19–1.92%, respectively. Among the 7 biomarker compounds, the major compounds of Cheonwangbosimdan were berberine and coptisine, which originated from Coptis japonica. The results indicate that the developed analytical method is suitable for quality control use.

Bioactivity enhancement of herbal supplements by intestinal microbiota focusing on ginsenosides

Intestinal microbiota contribute to diverse mammalian processes including the metabolic functions of drugs. It is a potential new territory for drug targeting, especially for dietary herbal products. Because most herbal medicines are orally administered, the chemical profile and corresponding bioactivities of herbal medicines may be altered by intestinal microbiota. Ginseng is one of the most commonly used herbs and it is an attractive natural product to study its effect in the body. In this review, after briefly introducing the interactions of herbal products and gut microbiota, we discuss the microbiota-mediated metabolism of ginsenosides in ginseng and red ginseng. In particular, the major metabolite compound K and its pharmacological advances are described including anticancer, antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory effects. In summary, the intestinal microbiota may play an important role in mediating the metabolism bioactivity of herbal medicines.

Optimized project of traditional Chinese medicine in treating chronic kidney disease stage 3: a multicenter double-blinded randomized controlled trial

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Stage 3 is the key phase of chronic kidney disease. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for the treatment of chronic kidney disease. But a large sample trial is desirable.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 578 Chinese patients with primary glomerulonephritis in CKD stage 3 were randomly assigned to three groups: patients received TCM (TCM group), benazepril (Ben group), TCM combined with benazepril (TCM+Ben group). Patients were followed up for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was the time to the composite of 50% increased of serum creatinine, end stage renal disease or death.

RESULTS

eGFR in the TCM and the TCM+Ben group were improved (week 24 vs. baseline, P<0.05) while eGFR in the Ben group was decreased (week 24 vs. baseline, P>0.05). 24h urinary protein excretion (UP) and urinary albumin/creatinine (UAlb/Cr) were decreased in the TCM+Ben (week 24 vs. baseline, P<0.05) and the Ben group (week 24 vs. baseline, P>0.05). UP and UAlb/Cr were increased in the TCM group to week 12, then were stable (week 24 vs. baseline, P<0.05). The hemoglobin in the TCM group was also improved (week 24 vs. baseline, P<0.05). The accumulative survival rate in the TCM+Ben group was higher than that in the TCM group and the Ben group (P=0.044). Side effects in the TCM group were the lowest in these groups (P<0.05). The patients with dry cough in the TCM+Ben group and the Ben group were increased as compared with the TCM group (P<0.05). Hyperkalemia happened less frequently in the TCM group as compared with the other two groups (P=0.052).

CONCLUSIONS

For the patients with CKD stage 3, TCM can improve eGFR and hemoglobin with lower side effects. Benazepril significantly decreased the proteinuria. Chinese medicine integrated with benazepril can ameliorate renal function and decrease proteinuria synergistically.

Cognition research and constitutional classification in Chinese medicine

In the Western medicine system, scholars have explained individual differences in terms of behaviour and thinking, leading to the emergence of various classification theories on individual differences. Traditional Chinese medicine has long observed human constitutions. Modern Chinese medicine studies have also involved study of human constitutions; however, differences exist in the ways traditional and modern Chinese medicine explore individual constitutions. In the late 1970s, the constitutional theory of Chinese medicine was proposed. This theory takes a global and dynamic view of human differences (e.g., the shape of the human body, function, psychology, and other characteristics) based on arguments from traditional Chinese medicine. The establishment of a standard for classifying constitutions into nine modules was critical for clinical application of this theory. In this review, we describe the history and recent research progress of this theory, and compare it with related studies in the western medicine system. Several research methods, including philology, informatics, epidemiology, and molecular biology, in classifying constitutions used in the constitutional theory of Chinese medicine were discussed. In summary, this constitutional theory of Chinese medicine can be used in clinical practice and would contribute to health control of patients.

Effects of root and stem extracts of Asparagus cochinchinensis on biochemical indicators related to aging in the brain and liver of mice

Asparagus cochinchinensis is a traditional Chinese medicine used for treating lung and spleen-related diseases. In this study, we compared the medicinal effects of A. cochinchinensis root and stem extracts on the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), the content of malonaldehyde (MDA) and total protein content in the brain, liver and plasma of mice. Polysaccharides and aqueous extracts of the roots significantly increased the spleen index and the SOD activity but reduced the MDA content and slowed down the aging process. In contrast, feeding with the stem extracts significantly reduced the SOD activity and increased the MDA accumulation in the brain and liver of mice, suggesting that the stem extracts may not be appropriate for treating aging-related diseases.