Cardiovascular protective effects of traditional Chinese medicine bak foong pills in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Cardioankle vascular index evaluations revealed that cotreatment of ARB Antihypertension medication with traditional Chinese medicine improved arterial functionality

Qian Yang He Ji (QYHJ) is a traditional Chinese medicine composed of Digitalis purpurea, Uncaria gambir, Fructus tribuli terrestris, and Ligustrum lucidum. Here, we explored whether combining an antihypertensive angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) therapy with QYHJ can improve the arterial functionality of hypertensive patients. One hundred and eight hypertensive patients were randomized into 2 groups; 1 group (n = 53) was treated with ARB and the other group (n = 55) was treated with ARB combined with QYHJ. Each of the 2 groups included 3 subgroups (pure hypertension, hypertension with diabetes, and hypertension with coronary heart disease) and was further divided into patients with and without complications. The cardioankle vascular index and intima-media thickness and pulse pressure were the outcome evaluation parameter. Combined QYHJ and ARB treatment reduced the values of cardioankle vascular index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and pulse pressure to significantly lower levels than ARB treatment alone did in hypertension patients after 6 months of treatment. ARB improves hypertension, but a combined QYHJ treatment can additionally ameliorate the arterial functionality not only in solely hypertensive patients but also in hypertensive patients with diabetes and coronary heart disease complications. QYHJ coapplication might be a choice to further improve the arterial functionality during an ARB hypertension treatment.

Qindan capsule changes adventitial collagen synthesis in spontaneously hypertensive rats

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of Qindan capsule (QC) on collagen synthesis and the mechanism underlying the process in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).

METHODS

Twentyfour SHRs were divided into three groups: the hypertension model group, the QC treatment group, and the losartan treatment group. Eight Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were used as the normal control group. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) of the rats was monitored, and the thoracic aorta adventitia of the rats was segregated. The expressions of transforming growth factor 1 (TGF-β1), Smad3, and collagens I and were measured by histological staining and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

The SBP was significantly higher in the model group than in the normal control group (P<0.01). However, a significant SBP-lowering effect was observed in QC or losartan treatment groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01) after 3 weeks of treatment. QC-treated rats showed a decrease of approximately 40 mm Hg, and the losartan-treated rats showed a decrease of approximately 50 mm Hg at the end of treatment compared with the beginning of treatment. The protein and gene levels of TGF-β1, Smad3, and collagens I and in the model group were significantly increased compared with those in the normal control group (P<0.01). However, the levels were significantly decreased in the QC or losartan treatment group compared with the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). However, there was no significant difference between the QC and losartan treatment groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

QC could exert its antihypertensive effect through down-regulating TGF-β1-stimulated collagen expressions. The TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway may be involved in this process.

Trends in the treatment of hypertension from the perspective of traditional chinese medicine

Hypertension is a major public-health issue. Much consensus has been reached in the treatment, and considerable progress has been made in the field of antihypertensive drugs. However, the standard-reaching rate of blood pressure is far from satisfaction. Considering these data and the seriousness of the effects of hypertension on the individual and society as a whole, both economically and socially, physicians must look for more effective and alternative ways to achieve the target blood pressure. Could treatment of hypertension be improved by insights from traditional Chinese medicine? As one of the most important parts in complementary and alternative therapies, TCM is regularly advocated for lowering elevated blood pressure. Due to the different understanding of the pathogenesis of hypertension between ancient and modern times, new understanding and treatment of hypertension need to be reexplored. Aiming to improve the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine in treating hypertension, the basis of treatment is explored through systematically analyzing the literature available in both English and Chinese search engines. This paper systematically reviews the trends in emerging therapeutic strategies for hypertension from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine.

Qindan-capsule inhibits proliferation of adventitial fibroblasts and collagen synthesis

AIMS

Qindan-capsule (QC) is a prescription of traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of hypertension. We investigated the effect and mechanism of QC-containing serum on proliferation of aortal adventitial fibroblasts (AFs) and composition of extracellular matrix (ECM). We also tested whether the Smad3 signaling pathway is activated in the progress.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

AFs were cultured by tissue explant in vitro. The proliferation of AFs induced by transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) and affected by QC-containing serum with high or low dose was detected by MTT. The protein and mRNA expressions of Smad3 and Procollagen I were observed by Western blot and Real-time PCR respectively.

RESULTS

Western blot and Real-time PCR revealed that after being activated by TGF-beta1 for 24h, the expressions of Smad3, Pho-Smad3 and Procollagen I were all higher than those in the control group. But these functions were inhibited, to some extent in different doses, by QC-containing serum. So that the proliferation of AFs which was evaluated by MTT.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggested QC-containing serum has significantly improved proliferation of AFs and composition of extracellular matrix. TGF-beta1/Smad3 signaling pathway may be involved in the mechanism.

Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang inhibits myocardial remodeling in a rat model of metabolic syndrome

Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang (HLJDT) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine and a potential anti-inflammatory agent. HLJDT has been used successfully to treat inflammation in diabetic rats. The current study is aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of HLJDT on myocardial remodeling in a rat model of metabolic syndrome (MS). Twenty-one MS rats were divided into two groups: the MS group and the MS+HLJDT group. Ten Wister rats were a normal control group (NC group). HLJDT (1.04 g/100g) was orally administered daily for 12 weeks in the MS+HLJDT group. The trial lasted 12 weeks. Changes of echocardiography, histological staining, transmission electron microscope (TEM), and molecular biology examinations were made. After treatment, in the MS+HLJDT group, Masson staining and echocardiography data revealed decreased collagen fibers compared with the MS group. Messenger RNA levels of IL-6, ICAM-1, TNF-alpha, TGF-beta1, NF-kappaB in left ventricular tissues were lower than in the MS group, and volume of mitochondria and the phenotype of cardiac muscle cells in TEM were close to normal. The results suggested that HLJDT reduced myocardial collagen deposition and inhibited cardiac remodeling in a rat model of MS.

Improvement of vascular remodeling in spontaneous hypertensive rats with traditional Chinese medicine

Qin-Dan-Jiang-Ya-Tang (QDJYT) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of hypertension. The effect of QDJYT on blood pressure (BP) and vascular remodeling in hypertension was investigated in the model of spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR). Sixteen SHRs were divided into two groups: the SHR group and the SHR+ QDJYT group. Eight Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were in the normal control group. QDJYT (750 mg/kg) was orally administered daily for 12 weeks to the SHR+QDJYT group. After 12 weeks, thoracic aortas were segregated. The media thickness (MT) and the lumen diameter (LD) of the aortic wall, the ratios of MT to LD, the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) mRNA, and the level of its proteinic production were examined by histology, real-time PCR, and Western blot analysis, respectively. It was observed in our study that MT, MT/LD, the expression of bFGF mRNA, and the level of its proteinic production in aortic walls were higher in SHRs than in WKY rats. However, in the SHRs treated with QDJYT, we found MT, MT/LD, the expression of bFGF mRNA and the level of its proteinic production were lower than SHRs. These results suggest that QDJYT can improve the vascular remodeling in SHRs, and the mechanisms may be related to the suppressive effect of QDJYT on bFGF mRNA and its proteic productions in the aortic walls of SHRs.

Effect of traditional Chinese medicine Qin-Dan-Jiang-Ya-Tang on remodeled vascular phenotype and osteopontin in spontaneous hypertensive rats

Qin-Dan-Jiang-Ya-Tang (QDJYT) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of hypertension. The effect of QDJYT on blood pressure and on vascular remodeling in hypertension was investigated in the model of spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR). Sixteen SHRs were divided into two groups, the SHR group and the SHR+QDJYT group. Eight WKY rats were a normal control group. QDJYT (750 mg/kg) was orally administered daily for 12 weeks in SHR+QDJYT group. After 12 weeks, thoracic aortas were segregated. Media thickness (MT), lumen diameter (LD), the ratio of MT to LD, the volume fraction of collagen (VFC) in media, the ultrastructure of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and the expression of osteopontin (OPN) mRNA were examined by histological staining, transmission electron microscope (TEM), and real-time PCR, respectively. It was observed in our study that MT, MT/LD, VFC and the expression of OPN mRNA were higher in the SHRs than in the WKY rats, volume and numeral density of mitochondria in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in media increased obviously. However, in the SHRs treated with QDJYT, we found MT, MT/LD, VFC and the expression of OPN gene were lower than in the SHRs, and the phenotype of VSMCs were close to normal. These results suggest that QDJYT could reverse the vascular remodeling in SHR, and the mechanisms may be related to the suppressive effect of QDJYT on the expression of OPN mRNA in arterial wall.

Neuroprotective effects of Bak Foong Pill in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahyrdropyridine (MPTP)-induced Parkinson's disease model mice

Neuroprotective effects of estrogen and estrogen-like chemicals on neurodegenerative diseases, especially Parkinson's disease, have been well established. In the present study, we compared the effects of Bak Foong Pill (BFP), a well-known gynaecological tonic in China, and 17beta-estradiol, on dopamine transporter (DAT) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene expression patterns in ovariectomized, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahyrdropyridine (MPTP)-induced Parkinson's disease (PD) model mice, using multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). MPTP, a specific dopaminergic neurotoxin, significantly decreased DAT and TH mRNA levels in the striatum, midbrain and cerebellum, but not the cortex, of C57BL/6 mice. However, MPTP-challenge with BFP pretreatment demonstrated reduced neurotoxicity, with DAT and TH mRNA levels either not affected by MPTP or affected to a significantly lesser extent in the midbrain and striatum as compared to the MPTP treated controls. 17beta-estradiol treatment prevented MPTP-induced reduction of DAT expression in striatum and midbrain, but failed to alter TH expression. These results suggest that BFP is able to protect dopaminergic neurons against MPTP-induced neuronal damage in a mechanism that is different from the protective effect of estrogen.

Effects of Bak Foong Pills and Menoease Pills on white blood cell distribution in old age female rats

This study examined the effects of Bak Foong Pills (BFP) and the new BFP-derived post-menopause formula, Menoease Pills (MBFP), on the distribution of peripheral white blood cells (WBC) between BFP/MBFP-treated and non-treated rats. Eighteen months old female SD rats were used to mimic post-menopausal and old age animal models. The percentage distribution of lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes were measured using flow cytometry with and without treatments of BFP or MBFP. Results showed that WBC distribution in old age rats were significantly different from that of adult rats, suggesting that as the animal aged, their WBC distributions were altered. Old age rats were observed to have much lower percentages of lymphocytes, but higher percentages of granulocytes when compared to the adult rats, indicating possible attenuated immunity. Following treatment with BFP or MBFP, WBC populations were found to be redistributed back into the ranges observed in adult animals. Furthermore, MBFP, was found to alter WBC distribution in a dose-dependent manner. When compared to estrogen (E(2)), a well documented regulator of immune function, results showed that MBFP was able to show significantly greater effects on WBC redistribution compared to E(2). However, in ovariectomised (ovx) old age rats, neither MBFP nor E(2) treated groups showed any changes in WBC redistribution. These results indicate that MBFP may share similarities to E(2). Indeed, the effect of MBFP and E(2) seems to require intact ovaries, which are believed to be necessary for the modulation of WBC distributions and immune functions. Overall, our findings suggest that BFP and MBFP may be able to regulate WBC population in old age female rats, and thus, indicate their potential role on improving the attenuated immunity evident in post-menopausal and elderly women.

Improvement of barrier function and stimulation of colonic epithelial anion secretion by Menoease Pills

AIM: Menoease Pills (MP), a Chinese medicine-based new formula for postmenopausal women, has been shown to modulate the endocrine and immune systems^[1]. The present study investigated the effects of MP and one of its active ingredients, ligustrazine, on epithelial barrier and ion transport function in a human colonic cell line, T₈₄.

METHODS: Colonic transepithelial electrophysiological characteristics and colonic anion secretion were studied using the short circuit current (I_SC) technique. RT-PCR was used to examine the expression of cytoplasmic proteins associated with the tight junctions, ZO-1 (zonula occludens-1) and ZO-2 (zonula occludens-2).

RESULTS: Pretreatment of T₈₄ cells with MP (15 μg/mL) for 72 h significantly increased basal potential difference, transepithelial resistance and basal I_SC. RT-PCR results showed that the expressions of ZO-1 and ZO-2 were significantly increased after MP treatment, consistent with improved epithelial barrier function. Results of acute stimulation showed that apical addition of MP produced a concentration-dependent (10-5000 μg/mL, EC₅₀ = 293.9 μg/mL) increase in I_SC. MP-induced I_SC was inhibited by basolateral treatment with bumetanide (100 μmol/L), an inhibitor of the Na ⁺ -K ⁺ -2Cl^- cotransporter, apical addition of Cl^- channel blockers, diphenylamine-2, 2’-dicarboxylic acid (1 mmol/L) or glibenclamide (1 mmol/L), but not 4, 4’-diisothiocyanostilbene-2, 2’-disulfonic acid or epithelial Na ⁺ channel blocker, amiloride. The effect of MP on ZO-1 and ZO-2 was mimicked by Ligustrazine and the ligustrazine-induced I_SC was also blocked by basolateral application of bumetanide and apical addition of diphenylamine-2, 2'-dicarboxylic acid or glibenclamide, and reduced by a removal of extracellular Cl^-.

CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest that MP and ligustrazine may improve epithelial barrier function and exert a stimulatory effect on colonic anion secretion, indicating the potential use of MP and its active ingredients for improvement of GI tract host defense and alleviation of constipation often seen in the elderly.