Advances in research technology of regulation of intestinal microecology by traditional Chinese medicine

The intestine is a diversified microecosystem whose structure and function are research hotspots in the fields of life sciences and medicine. The research on the regulation of intestinal microecology by traditional Chinese medicine is of great significance to the elucidation of the basic theories and the mechanism of therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine. The micro-ecological research technology is very important for the research in this field. We, by reviewing the relevant literature, summarize the related technologies for the intestinal micro-ecological research of traditional Chinese medicine, such as microbial culture counting method, molecular biology techniques (denaturing/temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE/TGGE), gene chip, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PT-PCR), terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP), amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA), fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), high-throughput sequencing (HTS), metabolic level analysis techniques, and proteomics), intestinal enzyme activity detection, microbial activity detection technology, and in vitro simulated gastrointestinal environment experiments, with an aim to provide reference for the intestinal micro-ecological research of traditional Chinese medicine and the application of related technologies.

Proteomic analysis of the effect of triterpenes from Patrinia heterophylla on leukemia K562 cells

For centuries, Patrinia heterophylla had been used in China to treat many diseases including tumor. Triterpenes has been identified as the major active constituents in Patrinia heterophylla. To elucidate the antitumor mechanism of triterpenes from Patrinia heterophylla1 (TPH), a proteomic analysis is carried out with TPH treatment in K562 cells. The total proteins extracted from TPH treated K562 cells are analyzed by two dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and compared with those untreated K562 cells. Mass spectrometry is applied to identify the differentially expressed proteins. Twenty-three differentially expressed significant proteins are discovered. Eight proteins are later identified by mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and Mascot software. Among them, four proteins are up-regulated (Aldolase A, Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, Flavin reductase and Hemoglobin subunit) and four proteins were down-regulated (Heat-shock protein 90 〈Alpha〉 (HSP90-〈Alpha〉), Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A, Moesin, tublin) by TPH treatment in K562 cells. The identified proteins are associated with energy metabolism, oxidative stress, apoptosis, signal transduction, differential induction, and protein biosynthesis. These findings might provide valuable insights into the antitumor mechanism of TPH in K562 cells.