Jinglou Chen

In vivo investigation on the potential of galangin, kaempferol and myricetin for protection of D-galactose-induced cognitive impairment.

The potential of three natural flavonols (galangin, kaempferol and myricetin) to protect against D-galactose-induced cognitive impairment in mice was investigated. After 8 weeks treatment, the mice were assessed by behavioural tests. The levels of oxidative stress, the amount of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK)-cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) signaling pathway in hippocampus were also analysed. It was found that all the three dietary flavonols could ameliorate the oxidative stress, enhance the activity of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase and regulate the expression of ERK-CREB pathway in mice. However, only kaempferol and myricetin could significantly improve the learning and memory capability when compared with D-galactose model. Our results suggest that the presence of hydroxyl groups in the B ring of flavonols may have contribution to the neuroprotective activity.

Hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory properties of Abacopterin A from Abacopteris penangiana in high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia mice.

This study was to investigate the hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory properties of Abacopterin A (APA), a flavonoid compound isolated from Abacopteris penangiana (Hook.) Ching. Male C57BL/6J mice were divided randomly and equally into five groups: the normal control group (N), the model group (M), the positive control group (P), the high and low doses of APA treated groups (H and L). All the animals except that in N group were fed with high-fat diet for 8 weeks. In the last 4 weeks, the mice in P, H and L groups were orally administered with simvastatin (at the dose of 20mg/kg/day) and APA (at the dose of 40 or 20mg/kg/day), respectively. Then the lipid profiles and related biochemical criterions of the studied mice were determined. The effects of high-fat diet on activating nuclear transcription factor-κB (NFκB) expression, elevating inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, and increasing triacylglycerol (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels were abolished on daily supplementation with APA. APA also enhanced lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic lipase (HL) activities. These results suggested that APA had hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory properties through inhibiting NFκB expression, and reducing inflammatory response.

Neuroprotective effects of Abacopterin E from Abacopteris penangiana against oxidative stress-induced neurotoxicity

AIM OF THE STUDY Abacopterin E (AE) was isolated from Abacopteris penangiana (Hook.) Ching. This study was to elucidate its neuroprotective effects against hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) induced oxidative damage in PC12 cells and d-galactose (d-Gal) induced neurotoxicity in mice brain. MATERIALS AND METHODS In vitro, the protective effect of AE against H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative damage in the PC12 was investigated by the method of MTT (3,(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide). In vivo, the protective effect of AE against d-Gal-induced neurotoxicity in mice was studied. The mice in the model group and the AE treatment groups were injected with the d-Gal 150 mg/(kg d) for 7 weeks while the mice in the control group were injected with the same volume of saline (0.9%). From the sixth week, the treatment groups were subcutaneously injected 4 or 8 mg/(kg d) of AE. In order to explore the potential mechanism of AEs action, the mice were assessed by behavioral and electrophysiological tests at the end of the administration. Then the mice brain tissues were measured for the levels of superoxide dismutases (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and malondialdehyde (MDA). RESULTS This study showed that AE lowered the H(2)O(2)-induced cytotoxicity, and AE significantly improved the learning and memory ability in behavioral performance. The biochemical examination revealed that AE restored the activities of SOD and GSH-Px, and attenuated the increase of MDA. Moreover, the electrophysiological analysis evidently showed that AE ameliorated the long-term potentiation (LTP). CONCLUSIONS These results suggested that AE had neuroprotective effects, and its beneficial effects may be linked with inhibiting the generation of free radical and enhancing the activities of endogenous antioxidant enzymes.

Multitargeted protective effect of Abacopteris penangiana against carrageenan-induced chronic prostatitis in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Abacopteris penangiana (Hook.) Ching (AP) is traditionally used in Chinese medicine to promote blood circulation, remove blood stasis and dampness and for the treatment of edema and inflammation. In order to further support and develop the traditional use of Abacopteris penangiana as Chinese folk medicine, the aim of this study is to investigate the protective effect of the total flavanol glycosides (TFA) from AP and its acid hydrolysate (AHT) on chronic non-bacterial prostatitis (CNP) by measuring the levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS First, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of AHT and TFA were investigated. Then the experimental chronic non-bacterial prostatitis was induced by carrageenan. The prostate index (PI) and prostate specific antigen (PSA) were determined. The activities of AHT and TFA on inhibiting free radicals and oxidative stress were investigated. Subsequently, the degree of chronic inflammatory cell infiltrates, acinar changes and interstitial fibrosis were evaluated by histopathological examination. In addition, the relative inflammatory factors, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E2 (PEG2), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were measured. Finally, the prostatic expression of nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) was determined by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. RESULTS The whole results showed that AHT and TFA had strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. In CNP model, AHT and TFA successfully decreased PI and PSA. The activities of antioxidant enzymes in AHT or TFA group were enhanced. Additionally, a morphometric analysis of the prostate gland of AHT or TFA treated rats demonstrated a significant reduction in chronic inflammatory cell infiltrates and interstitial fibrosis compared to model group. The reduced values of TNF-α, IL-1β, COX-2, PEG2, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitric oxide (NO) were observed both in AHT and TFA treated groups. Moreover, the levels of TGF-β1 and CTGF in AHT and TFA treated groups were significantly decreased along with the alleviation of the inflammatory state of the prostate gland. Besides, the prostatic expression of NF-κB was inhibited. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that AHT and TFA have anti-prostatitis properties via inhibiting oxidative stress, NF-κB dependent pro-inflammatory cytokines, fibrosis-related factors and antinociceptive activity. Hence, AP represents a potential herb for the treatment of prostatitis.

Renoprotective potential of Macrothelypteris torresiana via ameliorating oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Macrothelypteris torresiana is traditionally used in Chinese folk medicine for the treatment of edema for patients suffering from kidney/bladder problems due to its satisfactory therapeutic effectiveness. AIM OF THE STUDY The aim of this study was to investigate the renoprotective nature of the total polyphenols fraction from Macrothelypteris torresiana (PMT). MATERIALS AND METHODS The biochemical criterions of plasma and kidney tissues were evaluated to study the effects of PMT on puromycin aminonucleoside-induced chronic nephrotic syndrome (NS) in hyperlipidemic mice. RESULTS In this study, the NS and hyperlipidemia were ameliorated after 9 weeks administration of PMT. Besides, PMT was able to modulate the level of renal oxidative stress and vascular endothelial growth factor-nitric oxide (VEGF-NO) pathway. CONCLUSIONS It represented a potential resource of PMT for the treatment of NS involved in metabolic syndrome.

Potential ameliorative effects of grape seed-derived polyphenols against cadmium induced prostatic deficits

Grape (Vitis vinifera) is consumed as fruit and wine for people. In this study, rat model of prostatic deficits was induced by orally receiving 60mg/L cadmium chlorine (CdCl2) through drinking water for 20 weeks. Grape seed-derived polyphenols extract (GSP) was orally given for 20 weeks. Finally, the prostatic levels of E-cadherin, fibronectin, and α-smooth muscle actin were measured by immunohistochemical and qPCR analysis. The oxidative stress was measured by detecting the levels of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione and enzymatic antioxidant status. Additionally, the prostatic expressions of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), type I TGF-β receptor (TGF-βRI), Smad3, phosphorylation-Smad3 (p-Smad3), Smad7, nuclear related factor-2 (Nrf-2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and γ-glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (γ-GCLC) were measured by western blot. The levels of microRNA (miR)-133a/b were measured by qPCR. It was observed that GSP ameliorated the prostatic oxidative stress and fibrosis induced by CdCl2. GSP also inhibited the over-generation of TGF-β1 and p-Smad3, as well as enhanced the levels of Smad7, Nrf-2, HO-1, γ-GCLC and miR-133a/b. These results showed that GSP could attenuate Cd-induced prostatic deficits.

Parathelypteriside attenuates cognition deficits in d-galactose treated mice by increasing antioxidant capacity and improving long-term potentiation

Parathelypteriside (PG), a stilbenoid compound, was extracted from Parathelypteris glanduligera (kze.) ching that exhibits antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of PG against the d-galactose (d-gal)-induced neurotoxicity in mice. It was found that long-term intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of PG (5 or 10 mg/(kg day)) for two weeks significantly improved the behavioral performance of d-gal-treated mice in both Morris water maze test and step-down avoidance test. Biochemical examination revealed that PG reduced the increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), and attenuated the decreased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase in the hippocampus of d-gal-treated mice. Furthermore, the electrophysiological assay showed that PG significantly rescued the long-term potentiation (LTP) impairment in mice hippocampus, and western blotting analysis indicated that the effects of PG on LTP might be attributed to the activation of cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB). Together, these results suggested that the natural product PG represented a potential source of medicine for the treatment of the neurodegenerative diseases.

Prostatic protective nature of the flavonoid-rich fraction from Cyclosorus acuminatus on carrageenan-induced non-bacterial prostatitis in rat

Abstract Context: Cyclosorus acuminatus (Houtt.) Nakai (Thelypteridaceae) is used in Chinese traditional medicine for inflammation and pyretic stranguria. Objective: This study investigates the prostatic protective potential of the flavonoid-rich [(2S)-5,7,5′-trihydroxyflavanone glycosides] fraction from C. acuminatus (FCA). Materials and methods: Chronic non-bacterial prostatitis (CNBP) was induced by injecting 20 μl of 1% carrageenan into the rat prostate. Subsequently, FCA (150 or 300 mg/kg/d) was orally given once a day for 4 weeks. Finally, the levels of proinflammatory cytokines and the prostatic expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) were evaluated. Results: Treatment with 300 mg/kg/d FCA ameliorated the carrageenan-induced higher prostatic index (PI) state and proinflammatory cytokines levels (NFκB from 2602 ± 588 to 1348 ± 300 pg/ml, TNF-α from 151.6 ± 10.4 to 126.0 ± 3.52 pg/ml, IL-1β from 153.7 ± 14.8 to 63.9 ± 6.7 pg/ml, COX-2 from 313.3 ± 16.5 to 263.1 ± 15.1 pg/ml, PGE from 1532 ± 130 to 864 ± 126 pg/ml, NOS from 33.7 ± 3.0 to 23.6 ± 1.6 U/mg protein, and NO from 40.3 ± 2.9 to 27.1 ± 2.9 μmol/g protein) as well as regulated the prostatic expression of PPAR-γ (increased about 3.50-fold) when compared to the rat model of prostatitis. Discussion and conclusion: FCA could exert a prostatic protective response via modulating the prostatic expression of PPAR-γ and eventually alleviating the NFκB dependent inflammatory response.

Hypolipidemic potential of Lepidogrammitis drymoglossoides in high-fat diet fed mice.

(425±20 versus 405±17 ms, p<0.01) [8]. In the second one, after 2 years of follow up in a cohort of 6693 patients who underwent 24 h HM, the subjects with a prolongedmean QTc≥440 ms (HM) had a 2.3 times higher risk for SCD (95%CI: 1.3–4.5) [9]. The significant predictive ability of the CABG history that was demonstrated in the present study may be due to the underlying severity of ischemia, triggeringmalignant arrhythmias and especially in the presence of old scar(s).In conclusion, QTc prolongation on 24-h HM and history of CABG are independent predictors of malignant ventricular arrhythmias in HF patients with systolic dysfunction and should be included in their risk stratification approach. The authors of this manuscript have certified that they comply with the Principles of Ethical Publishing in the International Journal of Cardiology [10].