Astragalus adscendens extract shows antidiabetic effects through controlling oxidative stress,inflammation and apoptosis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Objective:To assess the effect of oral treatment of methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Astragalus adscendens in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.Methods:In order to induce diabetes,rats intraperitoneally received streptozotocin at 65 mg/kg.Sixty adult male Wistar rats were allocated into six groups(10 rats per each)including the healthy control group,the diabetic group as well as the diabetic group treated with Astragalus adscendens methanolic extract at 50,100,and 200 mg/kg per day or glibenclamide(0.6 mg/kg/day)for 28 d.The effects of Astragalus adscendens methanolic extract on the levels of glucose,insulin,alanine aminotransferase,alkaline phosphatase,aspartate aminotransferase,bilirubin,creatinine,urea,uric acid,total protein,albumin,triglyceride,cholesterol,α-amylase,oxidant/antioxidant enzymes,and inflammatory cytokines were evaluated.Real time-PCR was also used for measuring the gene expression of caspase-3,Bcl2,and Bax.Results:The levels of glucose,cholesterol,triglyceride,creatinine,urea,uric acid,alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,alkaline phosphatase,bilirubin,and malondialdehyde considerably declined(P<0.001)in diabetic rats after treatment with Astragalus adscendens methanolic extract especially at a dose of 200 mg/kg.In addition,treatment with Astragalus adscendens methanolic extract noticeably increased the level of insulin,total protein,and albumin as well as improved the activities of catalase,glutathione peroxidase,and superoxide dismutase,as well as the expression levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,caspase-3,Bcl2 and Bax(P<0.001)compared to the diabetic control group.The extract also inhibitedα-amylase in a dose-dependent manner with an IC_(50)value of 19.6μg/mL.Conclusions:Astragalus adscendens methanolic extract shows potent antidiabetic,anti-inflammatory,anti-apoptotic,and antioxidant effects in diabetic rats.However,more studies are needed to verify the underlying mechanism of the effect of this plant extract and test its efficacy in clinical trials.

Tea polyphenols and their chemopreventive and therapeutic effects on colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer(CRC),a multifactorial disease,is usually induced and developed through complex mechanisms,including impact of diet and lifestyle,genomic abnormalities,change of signaling pathways,inflammatory response,oxidation stress,dysbiosis,and so on.As natural polyphenolic phytochemicals that exist primarily in tea,tea polyphenols(TPs)have been shown to have many clinical applications,especially as anticancer agents.Most animal studies and epidemiological studies have demonstrated that TPs can prevent and treat CRC.TPs can inhibit the growth and metastasis of CRC by exerting the antiinflammatory,anti-oxidative or pro-oxidative,and pro-apoptotic effects,which are achieved by modulations at multiple levels.Many experiments have demonstrated that TPs can modulate several signaling pathways in cancer cells,including the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway,phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt pathway,Wnt/β-catenin pathway,and 67 kDa laminin receptor pathway,to inhibit proliferation and promote cell apoptosis.In addition,novel studies have also suggested that TPs can prevent the growth and metastasis of CRC by modulating the composition of gut microbiota to improve immune system and decrease inflammatory responses.Molecular pathological epidemiology,a novel multidisciplinary investigation,has made great progress on CRC,and the further molecular pathological epidemiology research should be developed in the field of TPs and CRC.This review summarizes the existing in vitro and in vivo animal and human studies and potential mechanisms to examine the effects of tea polyphenols on CRC.

Antiinflammatory activity of the methanolic extract of the seeds of Carica papaya in experimental animals

Objective:To scientifically verify the claims of our traditional healers on the anti-inflammatory activity of Carica papaya(C.papaya) and possibly deduce its activities.Methods:0.1 mL of fresh egg albumin was injected into the right hind-paw of adult white Wistar rats to induce inflammation an hour post intraperitoneal(IP) administration of 50-200 mg/kg doses of the extract to 3 groups of 5 rats per group.The 4th group of 5 rats was used as negative control and received 2 mL/kg(IP) of physiological saline,while the 5th group of 5 rats was used as positive-comparative control and received(IP) 150 mg/kg of aspirin.Increases in diameter of the paw were measured with the aid of Veneer Calipers before extract administration and at interval of 30 minutes post administration for further 2 hours.Percentage inhibition of oedema was calculated for each dose group and results were subjected to statistical analysis using student /-test and analysis of variance(ANOVA).Results:All doses of extract showed a dose and time dependent inhibition effects of oedema(P【0.05).Conclusions:This work is at present though limited to animals,the anti-inflammatory activity of the seeds of C.papaya is perhaps proven.

Hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning improves postoperative cognitive dysfunction by reducing oxidant stress and inflammation

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction is a crucial public health issue that has been increasingly studied in efforts to reduce symptoms or prevent its occurrence. However, effective advances remain lacking. Hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning has proved to protect vital organs, such as the heart, liver, and brain. Recently, it has been introduced and widely studied in the prevention of postoperative cognitive dysfunction, with promising results. However, the neuroprotective mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain controversial. This review summarizes and highlights the definition and application of hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning, the perniciousness and pathogenetic mechanism underlying postoperative cognitive dysfunction, and the effects that hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning has on postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Finally, we conclude that hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning is an effective and feasible method to prevent, alleviate, and improve postoperative cognitive dysfunction, and that its mechanism of action is very complex, involving the stimulation of endogenous antioxidant and anti-inflammation defense systems.

A review of studies on the therapeutic effect of vagus nerve stimulation

BACKGROUND： Vagus nerve widely innervates in the human body, and it has diverse physiological functions. Many new physiological functions are gradually found. Studies on its action mechanism have been gradually deepened. Vagus nerve stimulation （VNS） has been used for treatment of epilepsy and depression in clinic. OBJECTIVE： To retrospectively investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanism of VNS. RETRIEVE STRATEGY： A computer-based online research in Pubmed with the key words of ＂vagus nerve stimulation＂ published between February 1990 and October 2006 in English were systemically reviewed. Totally 583 articles were collected and primarily selected. Inclusive criteria： the mechanism of therapeutic effects of VNS-related literatures. Exclusive criteria： repetitive study. LITERATURE EVALUATION： According to inclusive criteria, of the 57 articles, which met the inclusive criteria, 42 were associated with the therapeutic function of VNS, and 15 with the mechanism of these related functions. DATA SYNTHESIS： Vagus nerve has special nerve innervation and wide projection with extensive physiological effects. Till now, VNS has been used in the therapy of epilepsy and depression, and exact clinical effects have been obtained. Further studies have discovered other functions of VNS, such as the effect on the memory power, cognition, and perception to pain. Thus, the studies about VNS become diverse. Just because of the special physiological functions of vagus nerve, VNS can bring some adverse reactions such as foreign body sensation, hoarseness, trigeminal neuralgia, etc. The mechanism of therapeutic function of VNS is still under exploration. CONCLUSION： As a mature surgical technique, VNS has been widely used in the therapy of epilepsy, depression, inflammation, analgesia, relieving itching, etc. Although the mechanism is still unclear, it brings obvious clinical effects.

South Asian medicinal plants and chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease remains as one of the serious health issues in South Asia.The paucity of effective pharmacotherapy targeting the management of chronic kidney disease has led to a search for alternative pharmacologic therapies.The traditional knowledge of medicinal plants plays a key role in the discovery of novel nephroprotective agents.This review aims to present the use of such South Asian ethnomedicinal plants that have sufficient therapeutic potency for the management of kidney diseases.Medicinal plants are rich sources of bioactive compounds that have been reported to exert nephroprotective mechanisms,such as antioxidant,anti-inflammation,diuretic,and immunomodulation.Many South Asian medicinal plants have been detailed in traditional medicinal pharmacopoeias for the management of kidney-related diseases.Some have shown promising effects to address nephropathy in animal models and in vitro research.This information can be beneficial in the development of novel pharmaceutical agents targeting the management of kidney diseases and improvement of quality of life for chronic kidney disease patients by fulfilling the requirements for disease management unmet by modern allopathic medicine.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of the <i>Isatis tinctoria</i>L. Root Extract on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Periodontitis in Rats

Objectives: Isatis tinctoria L., clary, is an herbal plant traditionally used in folk medicine for the treatment of various diseases and conditions. Although it has been primarily used as an antimicrobial and antifungal, there are data on traditional use of I. tinctoria as an agent against antiallergic, anti-thrombocytosis. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of the I. tinctoria root extract on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced periodontitis in rats on osteoclast associated bone resorptive activity, cell death including apoptosis, and inflammation in a rat of disease model of periodontitis. Materials and Methods: Periodontitis, acute or chronic inflammatory status in periodontal tissue in rats could be induced by repeated injections of LPS from Escherichia coli into the periodontal pocket area between the first and second right maxillary molars. Eighteen male rats were distributed among the following treatment groups: 1) I. tinctorial root extract (Antifect) 200 mg/kg body weight, 2) acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), 20 mg/kg body weight and 3) Phosphate buffered saline (PBS) treatment used as a control. After 15 days, maxilla, alveolar bone, molar teeth and associated periodontal tissues were harvested. Inflammatory alveolar bone resorption was analyzed by microcomputerized tomography (μCT) (microcomputer tomography). Tissues fixed with paraformaldehyde and formalin for 2 days, after that paraffin embedded histological sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H/E) for the assessment of histopathological changes or tested to immunohistochemistry for detecting TRAP (tartrate resistant acid phosphatase) positive cells and caspase 3. Cell death and Apoptosis were analyzed in the periodontal tissues by tunnel assay. The inflammatory status was assessed by the measurements of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-Iβ (IL-Iβ), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) of gingival tissues and descriptive analysis of histological sections of periodontal. Results: Treatment with Antifect, compared to the control group, significantly diminished the process of inflammation decreasing the levels of IL-Iβ, IL-6 and TNF-α, reducing the gingival tissue lesions and preserving bone alveolar resorption. Considerably a smaller number of inflammatory cells and a larger number of fibroblasts were noticed. Also, μCT analysis showed that only Antifect treated group reduced bone resorption and the number of TRAP-positive multinucleated cells (osteoclasts), also, significantly reduced the number of apoptotic cells in the gingival tissues and of osteocytes in the alveolar bone crest. Conclusion: Antifect manifested anti-inflammatory elect and reducing alveolar bone resorption in LPS-induced periodontitis suggest that it may have a role as a therapeutic agent in periodontal diseases.

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Ethnic Vegetables Osonshak <i>(Spilanthes calva)</i>and Chikipung <i>(Rumex vesicarius)</i>in Animal Model

The aqueous leaf extract of ethnic vegetables Osonshak (Spilanthes calva), Chikipung (Rumex vesicarius) and Kochi ampata (Mangifera indica) widely consumed by the ethnic people of Chittagong Hill Tracts was investigated for their anti-inflammatory activity. Carrageenan induced rat paw edema model was employed to test the anti-inflammatory property. The plant extract (500 mg/kg body weight) was given orally to the rats. Diclofenac sodium (50 mg/kg) was used as the positive control. Osonshak and Chikipung showed significant anti-inflammatory activity.

Petiveria alliacea Suppresses Airway Inflammation and Allergen-Specific Th2 Responses in Ovalbumin-Sensitized Murine Model of Asthma

Objective： To examine the effect of metanol extract of Petiveria alliacea （PM） on airway inflammation in a murine model of chronic asthma. Methods： Two-month-old male BALB/c mice （n=6-8/group） were sensitized on days 0 and 14 by intraperitoneal injection of 20μg ovalbumin （OVA）. On day 25, the mice received an airway challenge with OVA （3%, w/v, in phosphate buffered saline）. PM was administered orally by oral gavage to mice at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight once daily from days 18 to 23. Control mice were orally administered phosphate buffered saline （PBS） to induce a model of asthma. At the end of the test, respiratory reactivity was assayed, the total cell number, interleukin-4 （IL-4）, IL-5, IL-13, tumor necrosis factor-alpha （TNF-α） and reactive oxygen species （ROS） in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid （BALF） were determined and the levels of serum IgE, intercellular cell adhesion molecule 1 （ICAM-1） and eotoxin were measured. In addition, lung tissue was used to qualify the IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, TNF-α and transforming growth factor beta 1 （TGF-β1）. Histologic examination was performed to observe inflammatory cellular infiltration. Results： The administration of PM in comparison with the OVA-only treated group significantly attenuated the infiltration of eosinophUs and other inflammatory cells （P〈0.01）. Airway resistance （RI） in the OVA-only induced group was significantly higher than that of the PBS control group （P〈0.01） when methacholine was added. TNF-α, IgE, TGF-β1 and cytokine levels IL-4, IL-5, IL-β in the BALF decreased compared to control mice （P〈0.01 or P〈0.05）. PM treatment also inhibited the production of chemokines, eotaxin and ICAM-1 in BALF （P〈0.01）, which improved lung function. Histopathological examination revealed that the sensitized treated PM groups had significant lower in inflammatory scores similar to dexamethasone treatments and the untreated group. Conclusion： Administration of PM could inhibit airway inflammation, regulate cytokines, chemokines and enhance pulmonary conditions in allergic murine model of asthma.

Aqueous Extracts of Ocimum Grasstimum Inhibits Lipopolysaccharide-lnduced Interleukin-6 and Interleukin-8 Expression in Airway Epithelial Cell BEAS-2B

Objective： To investigate the antiinflammatory activities of aqueous extract of Occimum gratissmium （OGE） with emphasis on expression of proinflammatory cytokines in Lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-stimulated epithelial cell BEAS-2B. Methods： Effects of OGE on cell viability were determined by MTT assay, mRNA expression were analyzed by and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） and quantitative real-time PCR. Activation of kinase cascades was investigated by immunoblot. Intracellular reactive oxygen species （ROS） was analyzed by flow cytometry. Results： OGE （〈200 μg/mL） treatment or pretreatment and following LPS exposure slightly affected viability of BEAS-2B cells. Increase of interleukin （IL）-6 and IL-8 and the elevated level of intracellular ROS in LPS-stimulated BEAS-2B cells were diminished by OGE pretreatment in a dose-dependent manner. OGE suppressed inflammatory response-associated mitogen-activated protein kinases （MAPKs） and Akt activation. Additionally, OGE pretreatment increased level of cellular inhibitor of K B α （I K B α ） and inhibited nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B （NF- K B）. Conclusion： These findings indicate that significant suppression of IL-6 and IL-8 expressions in LPS-stimulated BEAS-2B cells by OGE may be attributed to inhibiting activation of MAPKs and Akt and consequently suppressing nuclear translocation of NF- K B.