Antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective effect of 10 medicinal herbs on CCl4-induced liver injury in mice

BACKGROUND Many natural products confer health benefits against diverse diseases through their antioxidant activities.Carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)is often used in animal experiments to study the effects of substances on liver injury and the related mechanisms of action,among which oxidative stress is a major pathogenic factor.AIM To compare antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of ten herbs and identify and quantify phytochemicals for the one with strongest hepatoprotection.METHODS The antioxidant activity of ten medicinal herbs was determined by both ferricreducing antioxidant power and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assays.The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by Folin–Ciocalteu method and aluminum chloride colorimetry,respectively.Their effects on CCl4-induced oxidative liver injury were evaluated and compared in a mouse model by administrating each water extract(0.15 g/mL,10 mL/kg)once per day for seven consecutive days and a dose of CCl4 solution in olive oil(8%,v/v,10 mL/kg).The herb with the strongest hepatoprotective performance was analyzed for the detailed bioactive components by using high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization source-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry.RESULTS The results revealed that all tested herbs attenuated CCl4-induced oxidative liver injury;each resulted in significant decreases in levels of serum alanine transaminase,aspartate transaminase,alkaline phosphatase,and triacylglycerols.In addition,most herbs restored hepatic superoxide dismutase and catalase activities,glutathione levels,and reduced malondialdehyde levels.Sanguisorba officinalis(S.officinalis)L.,Coptis chinensis Franch.,and Pueraria lobata(Willd.)Ohwi root were the three most effective herbs,and S.officinalis L.exhibited the strongest hepatoprotective effect.Nine active components were identified in S.officinalis L.Gallic acid and(+)-catechin were quantified(7.86±0.45 mg/g and 8.19±0.57 mg/g dried weight,respectively).Furthermore,the tested herbs displayed a range of in vitro antioxidant activities proportional to their phenolic content;the strongest activities were also found for S.officinalis L.CONCLUSION This study is of value to assist the selection of more effective natural products for direct consumption and the development of nutraceuticals or therapeutics to manage oxidative stress-related diseases.

Screening the active constituents of Chinese medicinal herbs as potent inhibitors of Cdc25 tyrosine phosphatase, an activator of the mitosis-inducing p34^(cdc2) kinase

Objective: To screen and evaluate the active constituents of Chinese medicinal herbs as potent inhibitors of Cdc25phosphatase. Methods: The affinity chromatography purified glutashione-S-transferase/Cdc25A phosphatase fusion protein and Cdc2/cyclin B from the extracts of starfish M phase oocytes are used as the cell cycle-specific targets for screening the antimitotic constituents. We tested 9 extracts isolated from the Chinese medicinal herbs and vegetables including the agents currently used in cancer treatment by measuring the inhibition of Cdc25A phosphatase and Cdc2 kinase activity. The antitumor activity of the extracts was also evaluated by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and flow cytometry.Results: Cdc25A inhibitory activity and antitumor activity are detected in the extracts isolated from three Chinese medicinal herbs Agrimonapilosa; Herba solani lyrati; Galla chinesis. Conclusion: We found three extracts isolated from Chinese medicinal herbs have potential inhibitory activity of Cdc25 phosphatase using a highly specific mechanism-based screen assay for antimitotic drug discovery.

Screening of Epstein-Barr Virus Early Antigen Expression Inducers from Chinese Medicinal Herbs and Plants

Ether extrilcls of 1693 Chinesc medicinal herbs and plilnts from 268 families werestudied for the induction of Epstcin-Barr viral (EBV ) early antigcn (EA ) expression in theRaji cell line. Fifty-two from 18 families were found to have inducing activity. Twenty-fiveand seven of them were from Euphorbiaccae and Thymclaeaceae, respectively. Some ofthem, such as Croton tiglium, Euphorbia kansui, Daphnc genkwa, Wikstrocmia chamacdaphen, Wikstroemia indica, Prunus mandshurica Koehne and Achyranthes bidentata arecommonly used drugs. The significance of these herbs in the activation of EBV in vivo andtheir relation to the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma were discussed.

Effect of contrasting climates on antioxidant and bioactive constituents in five medicinal herbs in Western Himalayas

To understand the effect of climate change on constitutive antioxidant and biochemical metabolites in Western Himalayas, five medicinal herbs were selected and grown at two altitudes in Jammu(305 m) and Srinagar(1730 m) with subtropical and temperate climates, respectively.Significant variations were observed in phenols and flavonoids in Hypericum perforatum L., Matricaria chamomilla L., Thymus vulgaris L., Cynara cardunculus L. and Echinacea purpurea L. growing at two locations. High altitude temperate site show variable(up to 13 fold) increase in their content.Proteins(1.3- 1.8 times), sugars(2.8- 4.1 times) and free amino acid(1.04- 1.22 times) were also higher at Srinagar(1730 m). Within these plants, H.perforatum and M. chamomilla have shown higher accumulation of phenols, xanthophylls and proline even at subtropical environment in Jammu(305 m)suggesting potential for increasing their geographical area. The results demonstrate that changing environmental conditions significantly affect the bioactive constituents, which accumulate as a defence strategy by these temperate plants. Their medicinal significance during climate change scenario has also been discussed.

ANALYSIS OF VOLATILE CONSTITUENTS OF CHINESE MEDICINAL HERBS BY FLASH DISTILLATION/CAPILLARY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY/MASS SPECTROMETRY

In present work,the volatile constituents of Curcuma longa L.,A.lancea (Thunb.) DC.,Foeniculum vulgare Mill,and Cinnamomun cassia Presl.have been analyzed by flash distillation/capillary gas chro-matography/mass spectrometry.The results are consistent with those obtained by conventional steam distillation extraction method.The optimum condition of flash distillation has been studied.The experimental results showed that this new technique proved to be a simple,rapid and efficient tool for microanalysis of volatile constituents of Chinese medicinal herbs.

Treatment of Retinal Vein Obstruction with Acupuncture and Chinese Medicinal Herbs

We have treated thirty-two cases (52 eyes) of retinal vein obstruction by acupuncture and oral administration of Huo Xue Ming Mu Decoction. The total effective rate of 90.38% demonstrated that the treatment was definitely effective.

Evaluation of Insecticidal Properties of Some Medicinal Herbs on the Confused Flour Beetle Tribolium confusum （Tenebrionidae： Coleoptera）

Five concentrations effects of nine herb powders against the confused flour beetle T. confusum have been studied under controlled conditions. The insecticidal effects of using powders on the egg, larval, pupal and adult stages of the insect showed that some of which （e.g., Foeniculum capillaceum and Anethum graveolens） have certain effects on the different stages of the studied insect even at the lowest concentrations. The mentioned herb powders showed very high mortality for egg stage reached 96.6% and 93.3% respectively at the lowest concentration and 100% at the highest concentration for both powders. Other powdered herbs showed prolonged effect of durations for larval stage. For example, Acorus calamus prolonged this duration to 34.2 days, at the first concentration while it was 25.4 days for control treatment. At the second concentration it was 53 and 41.5 days for An. gr. and Pimpinella anisum respectively, also Matricaria chamomilla showed similar effect at the 4th and 5th concentrations. Comparing with high numbers of progeny for the control treatment, also some powdered herbs showed high effect on respiration of the adults. The quantity of oxygen consumed by untreated beetles during the time of experiment （90 min） was so high than that of beetles treated with Ac. caL, Artemisia absinthium and AL sat. Moreover the internal systems of both sex males and females have been affected, ducts showing different changes when studied anatomically giving small size of ovarioles, deformed of accessory glands, swollen of stink glands with liquid oil. Majority of those males showed small testis. Most of the mentioned effects were happened as results of the powders of A c. cal., Al. sat., and Ma. ch., also the powders of F. cap., and A. abs., decrease the sizes of the testis, and accessory glands.

COMBINED TREATMENT OF 200 CASES OF PERIPHERY FACIAL PARALYSIS WITH ACUPUNCTURE AND CHINESE MEDICINAL HERBS

In the present study, 200 cases of periphery facial paralysis were treated with combined therapies of handle needle, electroacupuncture (EA), electronic moxibustion and oral administration of Supplemented Qianzheng San. After treatment, of the 200 cases, 176 were cured, 15 had marked improvement and 9 had improvement. Two groups of acupoints were chosen and used alternately for keeping the excitement of acupoints, preventing acupoint fatigue and raising the therapeutic effect. In the acute stage of periphery facial palsy, acupuncture treatment was performed using shallow needling, mild manipulation and no needling penetration. In the convalescence stage and sequela stage, penetration needling was adopted and stronger stimulation given. During acute period and when facial muscular spasm appeared, EA stimulation was not suitable for facial acupoints. Over use of vision should be avoided.

Study on Early Application of Chinese Medicinal Herbs after Total Gastrectomy

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Chinese medicinal herbs on digestive function, nutritional status, immune function and complication rate in patients after total gastrectomy. Methods: Thirty-nine patients performed total gastrectomy were divided into two groups and had their small intestine intubated for administering medicine postoperatively. Twenty-one of them belonged to the treated group and had Chinese medicinal herbs dripped into their small intestine intraluminally during the early postoperative stage, while the 18 cases in the control group were dripped with 0.9% sodium chloride. Results: The digestive function of the treated group recovered rapidly, and the nutritional status and immune function improved markedly as compared with those of the control group (P<0.01-0.05). Conclusion: Early application of Chinese medicinal herbs after total gastrectomy could promote the digestive function to recover to normal, and improve the nutritional status and immune function. And occurrence of complication was reduced.

Study on the Networks of "Nature-Family-Component" of Chinese Medicinal Herbs Based on Association Rules Mining

Objective： To explore appropriate methods for the research of the theory of Chinese medicine nature property and find the relationship between Nature-Family-Component of Chinese herbs. Methods： From perspective of systems biology, we used Associate Network to identify useful relationships among ＂Nature- Family-Component＂ of Herbs. In this work, Associate Network combines association rules mining method and network construction method to evaluate the complicate relationship among ＂Nature-Family-Component＂ of herbs screened. Results： The results of association rules mining showed that the families had a close relationship with nature properties of herbs. For example, the families of Magnoliaceae, Araceae had a close relationship with hot nature with confidence of 100%, the families of Cucurbitaceae has a close relationship to cold nature with confidence of 90,91%. Moreover, the results of constructed Associate Network implied that herbs belonging to the same families generally had the same natures. In addition, some herbs belonging to different families may also have same natures when they contain the same main components. Conclusion： These results implied that the main components of herbs might affect their natures; the relationships between families and natures were based on the main compounds of herbs.

A system for screening agonists targeting β_2-adrenoceptor from Chinese medicinal herbs

In order to develop a model for screening the agonists of human β2-adrenoceptor from Chinese medicinal herbs extracts, we used a cell-based functional assay based on a common G protein-coupled receptor （GPCR） regulation mechanism and destabilized enhanced green fluorescent protein （d2EGFP） reporter gene technique. The positive cell clone was confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction （PCR） and imaging analysis. To assess the value of this model, we screened over 2000 high performance liquid chromatography （HPLC）-fractionated samples from the ethanol extracts of Chinese medicinal herbs. Six fractions （isolated from Panax japonicus, Veratrum nigrum, Phellodendron amurense, Fructus Aurantii lmmaturus, Chaenomeles speciosa, and Dictamnus dasycarpus） showed significant effects on active reporter gene expression, three of which （isolated from Phellodendron amurense, Fructus Aurantii lmmaturus, and Chaenomeles speciosa） were selected for further concentration response analysis and the half maximal effective concentration （EC1/2 max） values were 4.2, 2.7, and 4.8 μg/ml, respectively. Therefore, this reporter gene assay was suitable for screening β2-adrenoceptor agonists. The results suggest that the six herbal extracts are the possible agonists of β2-adrenoceptor.

Research Progress on the Mechanism of Single-Chinese Medicinal Herbs in Treating Diabetes Mellitus

Treating diabetes mellitus （DM） with Chinese medicine （CM） has had a few thousands years of history. Past Chinese medical texts had already recorded numerous medicinal herbs as well as recipes for treating DM and accumulated much clinical experience. In the following article, the prevention of DM using CM in the past 5 years is retrospectively studied, and mainly focuses on the usage of simple Chinese herbal extracts or monomers in terms of cellular as well as molecular biology.

Anti-tumor effect of coix seed based on the theory of medicinal and food homology

Coix seed is a dry and mature seed of Coix lacryma-jobi L.var.ma-yuen(Roman.)Stapf in the Gramineae family.Coix seed has a sweet,light taste,and a cool nature.Coix seed enters the spleen,stomach,and lung meridians.It has the effects of promoting diuresis and dampness,strengthening the spleen to prevent diarrhea,removing arthralgia,expelling pus,and detoxifying and dispersing nodules.It is used for the treatment of edema,athlete's foot,poor urination,spleen deficiency and diarrhea,dampness and obstruction,lung carbuncle,intestinal carbuncle,verruca,and cancer.The medicinal and health value is high,and it has been included in the list of medicinal and food sources in China,which has a large development and application space.This article reviews the current research achievements in the processing methods and anti-tumor activities of Coix seed and provides examples of its clinical application in ancient and modern times,aiming to provide reference for further research on Coix seed and contribute to its clinical application and development.Through the analysis of the traditional Chinese patent medicines,and simple preparations and related health food of Coix seed queried by Yaozhi.com,the source,function,and dosage form of Coix seed were comprehensively analyzed,with a view of providing a reference for the development of Coix seed medicine and food.

Photosensitizer Screeningfrom Chinese Medicinal Herbs and Photodynamic Anticancer Studies

Objective: To find new photosensitizers from Chinese medicinal herbs for cancer photodynamic therapy. Methods: The extracts of thirteen herbs were examined: (1) Their fluorescence excitation wave lengths and emission wave lengths; (2) Their fluorescence intensity in living cells and (3) Their distribution and localization in the living cells and the fixed cells both stained in each extract, and responses of cell fluorescence intensity to pH value change. Furthermore, the herb's anticancer photosensitive efficiencies were studied by using BGC823 human stomach cancer cells. Results: Cortex Phellodendri and Rhizoma Coptidis, were found with optimal fluorescence properties as photosensitizers in this test. The latter could remarkably reduce the cell metabolic viability, proliferative ability and increase the cell mortality when the cells exposed to both drugs and luminance but not to drug only. Conclusions: The potential of Chinese medicine as a new kind of photosensitizer and its possibility for using in anticancer photodynamic therapy are existed.

DUCK HEPATITIS B VIRUS MODEL FOR SCREENING OF ANTIVIRAL AGENTS FROM MEDICINAL HERBS

The effects of the extracts of 20 Chinese medicinal herbs and an antiviral drug foscarnet on duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) endogenous DNA polymerase (DNAp) activity were compared. The extracts of P. urinaria showed a dose-dependent inhibition on DHBV DNAp. And those of other herbs showed little inhibition effect. Primary duck hepatocyte (PDH) cultures were used for evaluating effects of the extract of P. urinaria, foscarnet and acyclovir (ACV) on DHBV, and all the drugs or the extracts showed inhibition of DHBV DNA replication. Furthermore, in vivo trials were carried out. Peking ducks infected with LJ-76 strain of DHBV were treated with the extract of P. urinaria or ACV and compared with placebo treated control ducks. The treatment results in the loss or reduction of circulating viral DHBV DNA and DHBsAg.

Screening of Anti-SIV Drugs from Chinese Medicinal Herbs

The inhibitory activities of more than 40 species of Chinese medicinal herbs or their singlechemical components against simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) have been studied. The study revealedthat four species of medicinal herbs and a single chemical component had a more than 50% inhtbition ef-fect on SIV antigen expression. and the inhibitory rate of five other herbs on SIV antigen expression wasbetween 30%-50%. The results suggest Chinese medicinal herbs could inhibit SIV activity.

An Overview of the Use of Medicinal Plants in Regenerative Dentistry

Aim: The oral cavity has the particularity to host multiple hard and soft tissues, in this paper, we will discuss the current therapies that lead to cell differentiation by regenerative therapies and the future alternatives proposed by medicinal plants and all the regenerative potential of these different tissues. Material and Methods: A detailed review of the literature through the various search engines: Scopus, PubMed, google scholar, Cochrane, etc., uses the selected keywords to explore the effect of the regenerative potential of several medicinal plants. Results: Through our research, we have proceeded to sort different medicinal plants, according to their repairing and regenerative potential on the different tissues of the oral cavity. Conclusion: Future studies are conceivable to explore the opportunities and potential provided by medicinal plants in the field of regenerative dentistry.

Preliminary Study of 12 Chinese Herbs as Feed Attractants on Turbot Juvenile(Scophthalmus maximus)

[Objective] The paper aims to study the attractive effects of 12 Chinese medicinal herbs on Scophthalmus maximus juvenile.[Method] We took 200 Scophthalmus maximus with the average body length of 3 cm,average weight of 1 g and 60 days of age as the research object,and 12 Chinese medicinal herbs as feed attractants were selected,including Cloves,Cinnamon,Star anise,Kaempferol,Mint,Coptis,Phellodendron,skullcap,Gardenia,Sophora flavescens,Mume,Myrobalan meat were selected.The amount added to the basic diet was 2‰..The times of turbot juveniles going into each inducing room and the times of turbot juveniles biting the feed ball were recorded by maze experiments.Inducing effects of the Chinese herbal medicines were analyzed.[Result] The results showed that the attractant effect of Mume,Gardenia,Scutellaria and kaempferol had the significantly inducing effect on Scophthalmus maximus juvenile.And 2‰ Gardenia,5‰ Matrine,5‰ Scutellaria and 2‰ Kaempferol have the best attractant effects.In compound experients,the attractive effect of mixture of 2‰ matrine and gardenia on Scophthalmus maximus was the best.[Conclusion] The attractive effect on Scophthalmus maximus has something to do with the kind and concentration of Chinese medicinal herbs.

Study on the Medication Rules of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prescriptions for the Treatment of New Crown Pneumonia Based on Data Mining Technology

[Objectives]This study was conducted to analyze the medication rules of clinical prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces for the treatment of novel coronavirus pneumonia(COVID-19)during the epidemic in multiple regions based on data mining technology,so as to provide a reference for the treatment of COVID-19 with traditional Chinese medicine.[Methods]The traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions used since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Hubei Province during the fight against the epidemic from February 25,2020 to February 14,2022,the traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions used by Guizhou traditional Chinese medicine expert team aiding Hubei Province,the traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions for rehabilitation and conditioning of patients in Ezhou of Hubei Province after discharge,the traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 in Guizhou Province,and the traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions for the treatment of COVID-19 collected from the end of 2019 to the present from the Chinese database of CNKI were collected as the data of this study.Excel was used to establish a database and enter it into the TCM inheritance calculation platform V3.5,and the association rules and k-means clustering algorithm were used to analyze the frequency of herbal medicines in prescriptions during the treatment of COVID-19,the frequency of four natures,five flavors,meridian distribution,and drug combinations.[Results]A total of 1859 COVID-19 patients treated with traditional Chinese medicine were included,and the proportion of males was higher than that of females,and middle-aged and elderly people were the most common group.A total of 2170 prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine were included,involving a total of 383 traditional Chinese medicines.High-frequency medicines included poria,Radix Bupleuri,Radix Scutellariae,Herba Pogostemonis,Fructus Forsythiae,Flos Loniceraeetc.The four natures were mainly concentrated in cold,warm and neutral,and the five flavors were mainly concentrated in bitter,pungent and sweet.The herbal medicines were mainly attributed to the lungs and stomach meridians,and were mainly of heat-clearing,exterior syndrome-relieving and diuresis-promoting and damp-clearing types.A total of 24 high-frequency herbal combinations and 35 association rule were excavated,and 3 types of formulas were obtained by cluster analysis.[Conclusions]The analysis results and medicine combinations obtained in the formulas are consistent with the traditional Chinese medicine treatment theory of COVID-19 caused by wind-heat filth accompanied with damp and toxin.