Antithrombotic effects of the effective components group of Xiaoshuantongluo formula in vivo and in vitro

The present study was designed to investigate the antithrombotic effects and underlying mechanisms of the effective components group(ECG) of Xiaoshuantongluo recipe(XECG) and to further verify the rationality and feasibility of ECG-guided methodology in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) research. The arterial thrombosis model induced by ferric chloride(FeC l3) oxidation and the venous thrombosis model induced by inferior vena cava ligation were established to evaluate the antithrombotic potential of XECG. Our results indicated that XECG significantly prolonged the time to occlusion, activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT), and prothrombin time(PT), and markedly inhibited adenosine diphosphate(ADP)-induced platelet aggregation in the 20% Fe Cl3-induced arterial thrombosis model. The superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity was significantly increased and the levels of malondialdehyde(MDA) and nitric oxide(NO) were dramatically decreased in the plasma of arterial thrombosis rats after XECG treatment for 12 days. Furthermore, XECG markedly reduced the weight of thrombus formed by inferior vena cava ligation. Additionally, XECG exhibited 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) free radical scavenging activity and protective effect on mitochondrial lipid peroxidation. In summary, XECG played an important role in the prevention of thrombosis through interacting with multiple targets, including inhibition of platelet aggregation and coagulation and repression of oxidative stress. The ECG-guided methodology was validated as a feasible tool in TCM research.

Protection of Effective Component Group from Xiaoshuan Tongluo on Brain Injury after Chronic Hypoperfusion in Rats

Objective To investigate the protective effects of purified effective component group in extract from Xiaoshuan Tongluo(CGXT) formula on chronic brain ischemia in rats.Methods CGXT 75,150,and 300 mg/kg or vehicle were ig administered daily for four weeks to rats with bilateral common carotid arteries ligation(BCCAL) .From the day 24 to 28 after BCCAL,Morris water maze was performed to assess the learning and memory impairment of rats.Four weeks after BCCAL,brain gray and white matter damage were assessed.Results In Morris test,the mean escape latency of rats in the CGXT(150 and 300 mg/kg) groups was significantly shorter than that in the vehicle group.CGXT also attenuated the neuronal damage in hippocampus and cortex and reduced the pathological damage in the optic tract and corpus callosum.Conclusion CGXT could improve learning and memory impairment resulted from BCCAL in rats.These results provide the experimental basis for the clinical use of CGXT in stroke treatment and may help in investigation of multimodal therapy strategies in ischemic cerebrovascular diseases including stroke.

Anti-inflammatory Effects of Components in Shuxiong Tablet and Its Possible Formulary Rationality

Objective To determine whether the anti-inflammatory properties of Shuxiong Tablet (SXT) and the effective components group of SXT (ECGS) are equivalent and to assess the formulary rationality. Methods ECGS consisted of Panax notoginsen saponion (PNS), hydroxysafflor yellow A, and ferulic acid plus volatile oil of Ligusticum chuanxiong, which was based on the active ingredients and their ratios in SXT. We compared the anti-inflammatory actions of ECGS and SXT using the xylene-induced edema model and the carrageenan-induced edema model, as well as the analgesic activity of them using the acetic acid-induced writhing model. Moreover, cultured macrophages were incubated with media containing serum isolated from SXT-, ECGS-, or every component of ECGS-treated rats, to compare the depress effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated NO production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. Results ECGS and SXT had equivalent anti-inflammatory actions and analgesic effects at an equipotent dosage in a dose-dependent manner. The drug-containing media could inhibit the LPS-stimulated NO production and iNOS expression in cultured macrophages. A 2 × 2 × 2 ANOVA revealed that three effective components could produce synergistic effect on the inhibition of NO production, and PNS was the capital component. Conclusion ECGS and SXT display an equivalent anti-inflammatory effect, and the formula follows traditional Chinese medicine compatibility principle, which shows obvious formulary rationality.