夏枯草(Prunella vulgaris)组织培养和快速繁殖

以夏枯草的叶片、茎节、顶芽为外植体在含不同浓度的6-BA和NAA的MS培养基中培养,比较其增值率和分化率。发现以茎节为外植体,诱导不定芽的最佳培养基为MS+3.0mg/L6-BA+0.1mg/L NAA,分化率为100%,增殖倍数为6.8。以顶芽为外植体,不定芽的最佳培养基为MS+3.0mg/L6-BA+0.05mg/LNAA或MS+3.0mg/L6-BA+0.1mg/LNAA,分化率分别为88.2%和84.6%,增殖倍数分别为5.8和6.2。最佳生根培养基为1/4MS+NAA0.5mg/L,生根率为100%。将生根的组培苗经过驯化移栽后,成活率为93%。表明,叶片难以分化;茎节的分化率效果最好;顶芽的分化能力介于二者之间。

Orally administered extract from Prunella vulgaris attenuates spontaneous colitis in mdr1a^(-/-) mice

AIM: To investigate the ability of a Prunella vulgaris(P. vulgaris) ethanolic extract to attenuate spontaneous typhlocolitis in mdr1a-/- mice. METHODS: Vehicle(5% ethanol) or P. vulgaris ethanolic extract(2.4 mg/d) were administered daily by oral gavage to mdr1a-/- or wild type FVBWT mice from 6 wk of age up to 20 wk of age. Clinical signs of disease were noted by monitoring weight loss. Mice experiencingweight loss in excess of 15% were removed from the study. At the time mice were removed from the study, blood and colon tissue were collected for analyses that included histological evaluation of lesions, inflammatory cytokine levels, and myeloperoxidase activity. RESULTS: Administration of P. vulgaris extracts to mdr1a-/- mice delayed onset of colitis and reduced severity of mucosal inflammation when compared to vehicle-treated mdr1a-/- mice. Oral administration of the P. vulgaris extract resulted in reduced(P < 0.05) serum levels of IL-10(4.6 ± 2 vs 19.4 ± 4), CXCL9(1319.0 ± 277 vs 3901.0 ± 858), and TNFα(9.9 ± 3 vs 14.8 ± 1) as well as reduced gene expression by more than two-fold for Ccl2, Ccl20, Cxcl1, Cxcl9, IL-1 α, Mmp10, VCAM-1, ICAM, IL-2, and TNFα in the colonic mucosa of mdr1a-/- mice compared to vehicle-treated mdr1a-/-mice. Histologically, several microscopic parameters were reduced(P < 0.05) in P. vulgaris-treated mdr1a-/-mice, as was myeloperoxidase activity in the colon(2.49 ± 0.16 vs 3.36 ± 0.06, P < 0.05). The numbers of CD4+ T cells(2031.9 ± 412.1 vs 5054.5 ± 809.5) and germinal center B cells(2749.6 ± 473.7 vs 4934.0 ± 645.9) observed in the cecal tonsils of P. vulgaris-treated mdr1a-/- were significantly reduced(P < 0.05) from vehicle-treated mdr1a-/- mice. Vehicle-treated mdr1a-/- mice were found to produce serum antibodies to antigens derived from members of the intestinal microbiota, indicative of severe colitis and a loss of adaptive tolerance to the members of the microbiota. These serum antibodies were greatly reduced or absent in P. vulgaris-treated mdr1a-/- mice. CONCLUSION: The anti-inflammatory activity of P. vulgaris ethanolic extract effectively attenuated the severity of intestinal inflammation in mdr1a-/- mice.

Prunella vulgaris L. extract improves cellular immunity in MDR-TB challenged rats

Objective： To study the effect of the extract of Prunella vulgaris L. on multiple drugs resistant bacillus tuberculosis （MDR-TB）. Methods： Experimental animal model in rats was induced by MDR-TB. Normal group model group and Prunella vulgaris L. group were set up. The contents of IFN-7, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-12 were examined by ELISA. Their genome mRNAs were extracted, the target genes were amplified by PCR. RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA levels of them. Results： The content of IFN-q, of the extract of Prunella vulgaris L. group was 1.98±0.67 pg/ml, IL-4 was 6.47±1.46 pg/ml, IL-10 was 12.13±3.43 pg/ml and IL-12 was 3.02±0.86 pg/ml. Compared with the model group, Prunella vulgaris L. group was notable difference in serum IFN-γ, IL-12 and IL-10 （P〈0.05）. The mRNA levels of IFN-γ, IL-12 increased and IL-10 decreased obviously, the differences were quite significant （P〈0.05）, but IL-4 had no obvious change. Conclusion： The extract of Prunella vulgaris L. can enhance the cellar immunological function in rats from up-regulation of the level of genetic transcription, accordingly provide the theory basis of healing of tuberculosis with it.

襄阳夏枯草(Prunella vulgaris)群落基本特征

报道了湖北省襄阳市一野生夏枯草种群。种群面积为8～10 m2,植株数为30～40株,为小种群。频度为100%,盖度为10%,密度约4株/m2。果穗平均数为5.6个/株。过度耕作和采摘是导致夏枯草中药材资源减少的重要原因。

Optimization of Extraction Process of Prunellae Spica Compound by Orthogonal Test

[Objectives] The study aimed to optimize the extraction process of Prunellae Spica compound to provide an experimental basis for the development and utilization of the compound. [Methods]Through orthogonal test,the optimal extraction process of Prunellae Spica compound was chosen by using the yield of dry paste and ursolic acid content as evaluation indicators. [Results]The optimal extraction process of Prunellae Spica compound is as follows: solvent dosage was 16 times,and extraction frequency was 3 times,while extraction time was 1 h.[Conclusions]The extraction process of Prunellae Spica compound was stable and feasible,and this study can provide a theoretical basis for further preparation of the compound.

The effects and mechanism of action of Prunella vulgaris L extract on Jurkat human T lymphoma cell proliferation

Objective:The aim of this study was to observe the effect of the Prunella vulgaris L extract on the Jurkat human T lymphoma cell line.Methods:Jurkat cells were cultivated with different concentrations of the extract from Prunella vulgaris L.The MTT assay and flow cytometry were employed to determine the cells' proliferation inhibition ratio and the apoptosis rates,respectively.Agarose gel electrophoresis was used to observe cellular DNA fragmentation,and western blotting was used to observe changes in Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression.Results:The Prunella vulgaris L extract remarkably inhibited the proliferation of Jurkat cells.This inhibition exhibited dose dependence,with an IC50 of 20.23 ± 0.31 μg/mL.Agarose gel electrophoresis showed that the apoptosis strap became wider and brighter,and flow cytometry showed that the apoptosis rate increased in a concentration-dependent manner.Western blotting showed that Bcl-2 protein was down-regulated and Bax protein was up-regulated during apoptosis.Conclusion:The extract from Prunella vulgaris L induced apoptosis of Jurkat cells by down-regulating Bcl-2 protein and up-regulating Bax protein.These actions inhibited the growth of Jurkat cells.

A Metabolomics Study of the Volatile Oil from Prunella vulgaris L.on Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Objective Pelvic inflammatory disease(PID)is one of the most common gynaecological diseases.Here,this thesis aims to investigate the therapeutic effects of Prunella vulgaris L.oil on the PID by using metabolomics based on gas chromatographymass spectrometry(GC-MS)to address this challenge.Methods First,measurements of pro-inflammatory cytokines and histological analysis of the uterus were conducted to validate the successful generation of a PID rat model.Furthermore,the volatile oil from Prunella vulgaris L.was administered to treat PID rats.Serum samples were collected before and after treatment and analyzed by GC-MS to generate metabolite profiles for each sample.The information generated from the qualitative and quantitative analysis of these metabolites was applied to distinguish between the PID model and normal control groups.Results Some metabolites,such as acetic acid,succinic acid,glyceric acid,(R*,S*)-3,4-dihydroxybutanoic acid,3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid,D-ribose and myo-inositol showed a higher contribution in the classification model;thus,they can be considered as potential biomarkers.Furthermore,the therapeutic effect of the volatile oil extracted from Prunella vulgaris L.could also be visualized using GC-MS-based metabolomics.Conclusions The results show that metabolomics studies are invaluable for disease diagnosis and therapeutic effect estimation.

The Characterization of Steam Distillation as an Extraction Method to Extract Volatile Compounds from <i>Prunella vulgaris</i>and the Investigation of Their Anti-Tumorous Effect

Prunella vulgaris (PV) is a perennial plant which is widely grown around the world. It has been widely used as a medicinal treatment for generations. Previous studies showed extracts from this plant had a wide range of therapeutic efficacy, including anti-tumorous effect. However, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) extracted from it were rarely explored. This paper reports on the characterization of a steam distillation process to extract VOCs in PV and also the anti-tumorous effects of the PV distillate using the tetrazolium-based Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) as the test agent, when the VOCs were used to treat oral squamous cancer cells, SSC154. It was found that most abundant VOCs came out steadily and continuously for as long as the duration of the steam extraction could extend. However, some compounds such as benzaldehyde did show depletion as the distillation process progressed, while some compounds such as caryophyllene oxide was only sparsely found at the beginning of distillation. The PV distillate was mildly effective in its cytotoxicity to cancer cells SCC154, in a dosage dependent manner.

Establishment of Specific Chromatogram of Spica Prunellae Formula Granules Based on Standard Decoction

[Objectives]This study aimed to establish HPLC chromatograms of decoction pieces,standard decoction and formula granules of Spica Prunellae.[Methods]The chromatographic conditions were as follows:column,SHISEIDO CAPCELL PAK C18 MGII column(4.6 mm×250 mm,5μm);mobile phase,acetonitrile-0.1%phosphoric acid;gradient elution;detection wavelength,280 nm;flow rate,1.0 mL/min;and column temperature,30℃.The correlation between the decoction pieces,standard decoction and formula granules of Spica Prunellae was analyzed by specific chromatograms.[Results]The fingerprint chromatograms of decoction pieces,standard decoction and formula granules of Spica Prunellae showed five common peaks,with good correlation.Among the five common peaks,four of them were tanshinol,protocatechuic acid,caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid.[Conclusions]The main chemical constituents of decoction pieces,standard decoction and formula granules of Spica Prunellae are basically the same.The HPLC specific chromatogram established can be used for the quality control of Spica Prunellae formula granules.

The Effect of <i>Prunella</i>on Anti-Inflammatory Activity in RAW264.7 Mouse Macrophage Cells

The extracts of Prunella vulgaris L. (Labiatae), a popular Western and Chinese herbal medicine, was shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, which might be due to partially, their rosmarinic acid content. Inhition of prostaglandine E2 (PGE2) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cells was assessed with an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) following 8-hour treatments with Prunella vulgaris extracts or fractions. Results showed that 95% ethanol extracts from P. vulgaris significantly inhibited PGE2 production. In further studies, fraction 2 from the 95% ethanol extract of P. vulgaris significantly reduced PGE2 production at 66 μg/ml (72% reduction). Cytotoxic-ity did not play a role in the noted reduction of PGE2 seen in either the extracts or fractions from P. vulgaris. High performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that there was 1.4 mM rosmarinic acid in 95% ethanol Prunella extract (201 mg/ml crude extract). Our results suggest that rosmarinic acid may contribute toward the anti-inflammatory activity of Prunella in a dose-response manner. Prunella might have a potential to be used as a functional food for anti-inflammatory activity.

The mechanism of Astragalus-Prunella vulgaris in the treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

Objective:To study the main chemical components and mechanism of Astragalus and Prunella vulgaris in the treatment of diabetes cardiomyopathy(DCM)based on network pharmacology and in vitro experiments.Methods:The main active components and prediction targets of Astragalus membranaceus and Prunella vulgaris herbal pairs were obtained by TCM Pharmacology database and analysis platform(TCMSP),and the disease genes were retrieved by genecards,OMIM,PharmGKB and drugbank databases.The disease and drug prediction targets were intersected to screen out common potential therapeutic targets.Cytoscape3.7.2 software was used to construct"drug component disease target"interaction network diagram;The PPI network of protein-protein interaction was constructed by using string database.R software was used to analyze the function enrichment of GO and KEGG for drug disease common targets,and autodock Vina 1.1.2 for molecular docking.Finally,the specific mechanism of Astragalus and Prunella vulgaris medicated serum on high glucose stimulated cardiomyocytes was verified in vitro.H9c2 cardiomyocytes were divided into five groups:normal group:low glucose(5.5 mmol/L)culture group,model group:high glucose(33 mmol/L)culture group,5%serum group:high glucose+5%Astragalus membranaceus Prunella vulgaris herb serum culture group,10%serum group:high glucose+10%Astragalus membranaceus Prunella vulgaris herb serum culture group,15%serum group:Hg high glucose+15%Astragalus membranaceus Prunella vulgaris herb serum culture group.MTT assay was used to detect the cell survival rate,and Western blot was used to detect the effect of Astragalus and Prunella vulgaris medicated serum on the expression of AKT1,p-AKT1,MAPK14 and p-MAPK14 proteins.Results:In this study,31 active components of Astragalus and Prunella vulgaris were screened,involving 157 targets of diabetes cardiomyopathy and 178 related signal pathways.The results of network analysis showed that Astragalus and Prunella vulgaris herbs may play a role in the treatment of DCM by acting on key targets such as AKT1,FOS,MAPK1,MAPK8,MAPK14,Jun and key pathways such as PI3K-AKT.Molecular docking showed that Astragalus membranaceus and Prunella vulgaris medicine had good binding between the active components luteolin,quercetin,pistil isoflavone,kaempferol and key targets such as AKT1,MAPK14,MAPK1,FOS,mapk8 and Jun,and the Vina score of luteolin and AKT1 was the lowest.The results in vitro showed that Astragalus and Prunella vulgaris medicated serum significantly improved the inhibition of H9c2 cardiomyocyte proliferation induced by high glucose,and increased the phosphorylation levels of AKT1 and MAPK14 proteins to play a role in the treatment of DCM.Conclusion:Astragalus and Prunella vulgaris have the characteristics of multi-target and multi-channel in the treatment of DCM.Its mechanism may be related to the regulation of the protein expression of p-AKT1 and p-MAPK14.These findings provide a new idea and basis for further experimental study on the mechanism of Astragalus and Prunella vulgaris in the treatment of diabetes cardiomyopathy.

Mechanism of Prunella vulgaris in treating Graves' disease based on network pharmacology

Objective:To use the network pharmacology method to screen the effective components and targets of Prunella vulgaris to treat Graves disease,and to explore the relationship between its components and targets and diseases.Methods:Collect and screen active components and targets of Prunella vulgaris through TCMSP;use GeneCards and DisGeNET databases to screen disease-related genes of Graves disease,construct a"drug-component-disease-target"network and screen The core target of Prunella vulgaris to treat Graves disease.Then further protein interaction network analysis(PPI),GO biological function annotation,KEGG pathway analysis and molecular docking verification.Results:The ten active components of Prunella vulgaris can control 57 Graves'disease targets such as PPARG,PIK3CG,CASP9,AKT1,TNF,ICAM1,BCL2,BAX,etc.,affecting the inflammatory response,negative regulation of apoptosis and other related organisms.Academic process and TNF signaling pathway,HIF-1 signaling pathway,PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and cancer-related pathways and other related signaling pathways,thus playing a role in the treatment of Graves disease.Conclusion:This study initially verified the target and mode of action of Prunella vulgaris for Graves disease,which can lay the foundation for further revealing its clinical mechanism of action.

Advances in the Intervention of Prunella Spica Capsules on Postoperative Recurrence of Nodular Goiter

As important drugs for the treatment of nodular goiter(NG),Prunella Spica preparations are widely used clinically,and have a significant effect on NG.Various active ingredients in the preparations intervene in the formation of NG by inhibiting the proliferation of thyroid follicular cells,promoting cell apoptosis,regulating immunity,improving the microcirculation of thyroid tissue and other mechanisms,and can reduce the postoperative recurrence of NG.

Review of the Studies on the Anti-Tumoral Effect of <i>Prunella vulgaris</i>

Prunella vulgaris (PV) is a herb which grows widely around the world. It is used in traditional medicine in different continents worldwide. This article reviewed the research studies in the last three decades about the use of this herb in the treatment of cancer. Specifically, this study concentrates on the scientific in-vitro methods used, as the in-vitro methods were the most preferred methods used in the past. Cell viability/apoptosis, migration, anti-oxidative activities, and the underlying molecular mechanisms were the features which most of the research focused. The aim of this article was to summarize on what molecular mechanisms, which these previous research found responsible for the anti-tumoral effect of PV. The assays to investigate the aforementioned items were organized and displayed, including the proteomic methods which study the underlying molecular mechanisms. By categorizing and organizing these methods, the directions and emphases taken by the research efforts were revealed.

Exploring the antihypertensive mechanism of Prunella vulgaris through integrated network pharmacology analysis

Prunella vulgaris,a traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),exerts a significant hypotensive effect,particularly in managing various forms of hypertension.Nonetheless,the precise antihypertensive constituents and their respective targets remain elusive.This study endeavored to identify the hypotensive components of P.vulgaris and elucidated its mode of action based on hypotensive targets.Utilizing the Systematic Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP),UniProt,GeneCards,STRING,RCSB,and the Human Genome Annotation and Analysis Database(Metascape),we conducted a screening of active ingredients and hypotensive targets.The Network Analyzer software Cytoscape 3.9.0 facilitated a comprehensive analysis of the active ingredients.Molecular docking was executed employing Sybyl-X 2.0 and Discovery Studio 2019.Predictions and analyses of the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of active ingredients were performed using the ADMETlab 2.0 online platform.Eight active compounds(1–8)and 11 hypotensive targets were identified,with IL1B and PPARG exhibiting a high degree of correlation.Dominant biological processes included negative regulation of apoptotic processes,positive regulation of gene expression,response to xenobiotic stimulus,and response to hypoxia.KEGG analysis unveiled core pharmacological mechanisms,notably fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis,lipid and atherosclerosis,P13K-Akt,MAPK,and relaxin signaling pathways.Compounds 5–8 demonstrated robust interactions with multiple targets through hydrogen bonds,van der Waals forces,and pi-alkyl interactions,which serve as primary stabilizers of docking complexes.Notably,compound 7 exhibited promising ADMET prediction results,suggesting its potential for drug molecule development.Our findings underscored the synergistic effects of P.vulgaris on multiple targets and pathways in hypertension treatment,reflecting the characteristic multi-component and multi-target effects of TCM.

Integrating qualitative and quantitative characterization of Prunellae Spica by HPLC-QTOF/MS and HPLC-ELSD

The present study was designed to analyze the major constituents in Prunellae Spica and establish a method for simultaneous determination of two constituents contained in Prunellae Spica. High performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry(HPLC-QTOF-MS/MS) technique was used to identify the constituents in the extractive of Prunellae Spica. High performance liquid chromatography coupled with evaporative light scattering detection(HPLC-ELSD) was used to simultaneously quantify two kinds of constituents contained in Prunellae Spica. Principal component analysis(PCA) was applied to compare the similarity and difference among samples from different regions of China. In the present study, 22 compounds were identified and some new fragmental pathways of triterpenic acids were discovered. An accurate and reliable HPLC-ELSD method was developed and validated for the first time to simultaneously quantify multiple constituents, including rosmarinic acid, maslinic acid, corosolic acid, betulin, oleanolic acid, and ursolic acid in the extract of Prunellae Spica.(PCA) revealed some similarities and differences among different samples from different regions of China. In conclusion, our results from this study would be helpful in establishing a scientific and rational quality control method for Prunellae Spica.

Prunella vulgaris Polysaccharide Inhibits Growth and Migration of Breast Carcinoma-Associated Fibroblasts by Suppressing Expression of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor

Objective:To study the effects of Prunella vulgaris polysaccharide(PVP)on human breast carcinoma-associated fibroblasts(CAFs).Method:Cell viability was detected by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-4-sulfophenyl)?2H?tetrazolium(MTS)assay.Wound healing experiment and transwell migration assay were used to investigate the anti-migration effects.Flow cytometry was applied to detect cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution.Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to detect the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF)in CAFs.Culture SKBr-3 with CAFs conditioned medium(CAFs-CM)to evaluate the indirect function on the proliferation of breast cancer SKBr-3 cells.Results:PVP inhibited the viability of CAFs by inducing apoptosis(P<0.01)and arresting cell cycle(P<0.01).It also inhibited the migration of CAFs(P<0.01).bFGF promoted CAFs proliferation(P<0.01)and migration(P<0.01),protected CAFs from apoptosis(P<0.05)and reduced Go phase to 49.06%(P<0.01).However,these effects of bFGF on CAFs could be abrogated by PVP.Culturing SKBr-3 with CAFs-CM,PVP could inhibit the viability of breast cancer SKBr-3 cells indirectly.Moreover,PVP reduced the mRNA expression(P<0.01)and protein secretion of bFGF(P<0.01)in CAFs.Conclusion:PVP could exert an anti-cancer effect on breast CAFs by inhibiting bFGF expressi on,thus inhibit!ng the growth of breast can cer SKBr-3 cells in directly.

湖北夏枯草(Prunella vulgaris)不同分布区的群落特征和物种多样性

采用重要值和α-多样性指数分析了湖北4个不同分布区夏枯草群落:蕲春县九棵松(QCX)、大别山区的罗田县骆驼坳(LTX)、鄂西北的襄阳市古隆中(XYX)和武汉东湖(WHX)的基本特征和物种多样性,结果表明:LTX的物种最丰富(17种,隶属15科16属),而XYX物种数目最低(7种,隶属6科7属);QCX的夏枯草重要值/相对重要值(IV/Pi)相对较高(0.20/0.19),LTX的夏枯草IV/Pi值最低(0.06/0.06);WHX与QCX、LTX之间的Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H′)呈现显著性差异(p<0.05),WHX和LTX之间、QCX和LTX之间的均匀度指数(J)也存在差异性(p<0.05);而4个群落之间的生态优势度(SN)没有差异性(p=0.27>0.05);夏枯草密度与数目、相对重要值之间呈正相关(r分别为0.96和0.99,p<0.05),物种数目与H′之间也呈正相关(r=0.97,p<0.05).由此得出结论:生境差异和外界干扰影响夏枯草群落植物成分和结构.

Effects of triterpenic acid from Prunella vulgaris L. on glycemia and pancreas in rat model of streptozotozin diabetes

Background The effects of triterpenic acid from Prunella vulgaris L. （TAP） on diabetes and its mechanism are uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of TAP on antihyperglycemic, antioxidant, and pancreas-protective in streptozotozin （STZ）-diabetic rats. Methods The diabetic model was produced by injection of 60 mg/kg STZ. Blood was drawn from the tail vein of rats after 72 hours. Rats with blood glucose 〉16.7 mmol/L were considered diabetic. Diabetic rats were randomly divided into four groups： （1） Diabetes rat （STZ）, （2） Diabetic rats treated with 50 mg/kg of triterpenic acid from Prunella vulgaris L （STZ＋TAP50）, （3） Diabetic rats treated with 100 mg/kg TAP （STZ＋TAP100）, and （4） Diabetic rats treated with 200 mg/kg TAP （STZ＋TAP200）. Normal rats （n=10） acted as the control group （NC）. TAP was administered by the intragastric route once each day for six weeks. Body weight and the concentration of blood glucose （BG） were measured after three and six weeks. Fructosamine （FMN）, malondialdehyde （MDA）, and nitric oxide （NO）, and the activities of nitric oxide synthase （NOS） and superoxide dismutase （SOD） in serum were determined after six weeks using commercially available kits following the manufacturer＇s instructions. Pathologic changes in pancreatic β-cells were also investigated by microscopic examination after hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The level of SOD mRNA in pancreatic β-cells was measured by polymerase chain reaction （PCR）. Results The levels of BG, FMN, NO, and MDA and the activities of NOS in serum in the four diabetes groups were significantly increased compared with the control group （P 〈0.01）. The activity of SOD in serum and the body weight was significantly decreased compared with the control group （P 〈0.01）. After administration of TAP to diabetic rats for six weeks, the body weight and the levels of BG, FMN, MDA, NO and the activity of NOS in serum decreased significantly compared with the STZ group in a dose-dependent manner. The activity of SOD in serum and body weight increased significantly compared with the STZ group in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, diabetic rats showed a significant decrease in SOD mRNA expression in pancreatic β cells. However, these changes were reversed by TAP. Histopathological examination also showed the protective effect of TAP on pancreatic β cells. Conclusions Triterpenic acid from Prunella vulgaris L. has an anti-diabetic effect, by controlling blood glucose and antioxidants, and has a protective effect on the pancreas.

Emerging therapeutic role of Prunella vulgaris in thyroid disease

Thyroid disease is characterized by unusual levels of thyroid hormones,which results in either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.The pathology of a particular type or stage of thyroid disease is very complicated,and always linked to a variety of biological functions.Although the mortality rate is not high,thyroid dysfunction could lead to metabolic and immunological disorders that can subsequently cause discomfort.To date,many drugs are suggested to have curative effects on thyroid disease,however,drug toxicity and long treatment periods encourage the search for more promising ones.Prunella vulgaris L.(Labiatae)is a popular herb that has shown great potential for improving human immunity and organ protection.It has been extensively used in the treatment of many diseases but its ability to treat specific diseases has not been fully reported.In this review,a literature search regarding herbs and herbal recipes for treating thyroid disease were carried out,organized,and summarized.In addition,this study conducted a literature search on the current situation and progress of P.vulgaris treatment for various diseases.Finally,this study discussed studies regarding P.vulgaris treatment of goiter,and the mechanism of treatment through the regulation of apoptosis.Accordingly,a combination therapy of herbs and Western medicine can provide significant therapeutic effects in the clinical treatment of thyroid disease.Furthermore,the association between P.vulgaris and various diseases suggests that P.vulgaris is rich in a variety of active substances that can fight oxidation and participate in the regulation of apoptosis,thus having a protective effect on the thyroid.Here,a comprehensive literature review regarding the application of herbs or herbal recipes in the treatment of thyroid disease was presented.It is concluded that there is strong evidence for further research regarding the use of P.vulgaris in the treatment of thyroid diseases.