Evidence and Potential Antibacterial Mechanism of Chinese Traditional Medicine Compounds for the Development of E. coli

Astragalus membranaceus (huangqi), Allium sativum (garlic), Cinnamomum cassia (cinnamon), and Dolichos lablab L. (white hyacinth bean) are the traditional Chinese herbs that were used in prescriptions in treating diarrhea caused by bacterial infection. These herbs are relatively safe for use and investigation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Astragalus membranaceus, Allium sativum, Cinnamomum cassia, and Dolichos lablab L. on the metabolism of Escherichia coli (E. coli). The growth rate of E. coli was monitored under the influence of each herb, revealing that Astragalus membranaceus and Allium sativum exhibited significant antibacterial activity, whereas Cinnamomum cassia and Dolichos lablab L. demonstrated moderate inhibitory effects on E. coli growth. Further inhibition zone testing allowed for the evaluation of each herb’s potency and the number of generations required for E. coli to develop resistance. Additionally, the impact of the four herbs on the expression of outer membrane protein A (OmpA) in E. coli was examined by using qPCR. The findings revealed that Astragalus membranaceus acted as a sustainable bactericide by inhibiting the growth and metabolism of E. coli MG1655 through the suppression of OmpA expression. These results suggest that Astragalus membranaceus has potential as a natural antimicrobial agent for treating E. coli infections.

Foundation and Clinical Research on the Effect of Traditional Chinese Herbs on Gastrointestinal Motility

Gastric dyskinesis functional dyspepsia is a commonly clinical condition characterized as epigastric discomfort,distension after meals,early satiety and belching,which are commonly associated with the dysfunction of gastrointestinal motility.

Determination of vanadium in food and traditional Chinese medicine by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy

Various experimental conditions were described for the vanadium determinationby graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS). The experiments showed that whenatomization took place under the conditions where the combination of a pyrolytic coating graphitetube and fast raising temperature were used and the temperature was stable, the signal peak shapescould be improved, the sensitivity was enhanced, and the memory effect was removed. The vanadium infood and traditional Chinese medicinal herbs can be accurately determined using the standard curvemethod.

Research progress on the regulation of androgen receptor signaling pathway in the treatment of prostate cancer by traditional Chinese medicine monomers

The prevalence of prostate cancer in males worldwide is increasing every year.Androgen and androgen receptor drive the development of prostate cancer and are important targets for the treatment of prostate cancer.A growing number of reports indicate that the traditional Chinese medicine has a clear advantage in the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.This article provides an overview of the in vitro and in vivo studies of different traditional Chinese medicine monomers acting on the androgen receptor-signaling pathway in prostate cancer.

Effects of Dan-Shao-Hua-Xian on the expression of collagen type I and III in rats with hepatic fibrosis

BACKGROUND: Hepatic fibrosis is the common patholo gical change in various chronic liver diseases,and its major cause is the imbalance between the production and degra dation of the extracellular matrix, which is mainly com posed of collagens. Dan-Shao-Hua-Xian ( DSHX) cap sule, a traditional Chinese herbal compound, has shown marked preventive effects on hepatic fibrosis in rats in our previous studies. The present study was designed to further investigate its therapeutic actions on hepatic fibrosis in rats and its possible mechanisms. METHODS: Eighty male Wistar rats were randomly divid- ed into normal control group, hepatic fibrosis group, non DSHX-treated group, low-dose-treated group, and high dose-treated group. The rat models of hepatic fibrosis were established by subcutaneous injecton of CC14 , drinking al- cohol , giving diet of hyperliprosis and hypoprotein for 8 weeks. The two DSHX-treated groups were treated respec- tively with low dose (0.5 g/kg) and high dose (1.0 g/kg) of DSHX capsule p. o. everyday for 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, liver indexes were calculated in each group in addition to the levels of the serum hyaluronic acid and alanine aminotransferase. Their degree of hepatic fibrosis and urinary excretion of hydroxyproline and expression of collagen , were detected. RESULTS: Comparison of the indexes of the hepatic fibro- sis group and non-DSHX-treated group revealed that the liver indexes, levels of serum hyaluronic acid and alanine aminotransferase, and stage of hepatic fibrosis were all sig- nificantly reduced in the two DSHX treated groups. The urinary excretion of hydroxyproline was increased and the expression of collagen I and HI in liver tissue was lessened. These alterations were more obviously observed in the high-dose-treated group. CONCLUSION: DSHX capsule has certain therapeutic effect on hepatic fibrosis in rats.

Effect of Danshao Huaxian Capsule (丹芍化纤胶事囊) on the Expression of Collagen Ⅰ, Ⅲ, and Caspase-3 in Hepatic Fibrosis Rats

Objective: To study the effect of Danshao Huaxian capsule (丹芍化纤胶囊,DSHX), a traditional Chinese medical prescription, on the expression of collagen (Col) Ⅰ, Ⅲ and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteases-3 (caspase-3) in CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats. And also it is to explore the mechanism of DSHX in anti-fibrosis. Methods: Eighty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the normal control group (A), the model group (B), the un-treated model group (C), the low-dose-DSHX treated group (D) and the high-dose-DSHX treated group (E). Except those in Group A, all the other rats were made into hepatic fibrotic models by comprehensive processes including subcutaneous injecting of CCl4, and feeding them with alcoholic high-fat and low-protein diet for 8 weeks. Then the two DSHX-treated groups were treated respectively with low dose (0.5 g/kg) and high dose (1.0 g/kg) DSHX capsule by gastrogavage everyday for 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the liver index, levels of hyaluronic acid (HA) and alanine amin-otransferase (ALT) in serum, degree of hepatic fibrosis, and urinary excretion of hydroxyproline (Hyp) were measured, and the expression of Col Ⅰ , Col Ⅲ and caspase-3 in liver tissues were detected respectively by immunohistochemistric technique. Results: Compared with those in Group B and C, the two DSHX treated groups showed that the liver index, levels of serum HA and ALT and severity of hepatic fibrosis were all significantly lower, the urinary excretion of Hyp was significantly higher; the Col Ⅰ and Col-Ⅲ expression was lower (Col Ⅰ :1. 23±1.14,1. 07±0. 96 vs 4.18±2. 26, 3. 22±1. 44, P<0. 01;Col Ⅲ : 1. 31±0. 69, , 1. 09± 0.58 vs 3.04±0.62,2.23±0.58, P<0.05). At the same time, the expression of caspase-3 in Group E was fewer than Group B and C in hepatocytes (3. 09±0. 65 vs 9. 60±2. 32, 8. 82 ±1. 45, P<0.01),but it was extensively expressed in fibrous septal cells(4.52±0.87 vs 1.69±0.23,2.98±0.36, P<0.01). Conclusion: DSHX capsule shows certain therapeutic effect on hepatic fibrosis in rats, and the mechanism might be related with reducing Col Ⅰ and Col Ⅲ deposition, inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis and promoting fibrous septal cells (mainly the activated hepatic stellate cells) apoptosis.

Effect of Yiqi Huoxue Recipe(益气活血方)on Cardiac Function and Ultrastructure in Regression of Pressure Overload-induced Myocardial Hypertrophy in Rats

Objective： To investigate the effect of Yiqi Huoxue Recipe （YHR, 益气活血方） on the cardiac function and ultrastructure during the regression of myocardial hypertrophy induced by pressure overload in rats. Methods： The model of myocardial hypertrophy was established by abdominal aortic banding. Eighty male Wistar rats were divided into six groups, the normal control group Ⅰ （n=20）, the normal control group Ⅱ（n=12）, the hypertension model group Ⅰ （n=12）, the hypertension model group Ⅱ （n=12）, the YHR group （n=12） and the Captopril group （n=12）. The observation was carried out in the normal control group Ⅰ and the hypertension model groupⅠ after 4 weeks of modeling, and the other four groups were observed after 16 weeks of modeling （12 weeks of administration）. The cardiac function was measured with a multichannel biological signal analysis system, and the myocardium ultrastructure was observed by a transmission electron microscope. Results： （1） Compared with the normal control group Ⅰ, the systolic blood pressure and cardiac coefficient （left ventricular weight/body weight） in the model Ⅰ group was higher （P〈0.05, P〈0.01）. （2） In the YHR group, cardiac coefficient and -dp/dtmax were lower, left ventricular systolic pressure and ＋dp/dtmin were higher when compared with the model group Ⅱ and the Captopril group （P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）. In the Captopril group, only cardiac coefficient was lower when compared with the mode group Ⅱ （P〈0.05）. （3） Compared with the normal control group Ⅱ, ＋dp/dtmax was higher （P〈0.01）, -dp/dtmax and isovolumetric contraction time （ICT） was lower （P〈0.05, P〈0.01） in both the YHR group and the Captopril group. （4） Results of the myocardium ultrastructure showed edema under myocardium plasmalemma, enlarged sarcoplasmic reticulum and T tube, and significantly enlarged intercalated disc of the cardiac muscle in the model groups. In the Captopril group, the extension of sarcoplasmic reticulum and T tube as well as the pathological changes of intercalated disc were lighter, with slight edema under the myocardium plasmalemma. In the YHR group, the expansion of the sarcoplasmic reticulum was less than in the Captopril group, part of the pathological changes of intercalated discs was slightly more severe than that in the Captopril group, the dissolution of nuclear chromatin was not found, which was similar to that of the Captopril group, and no injury of the nucleus was found, either. Conclusion： YHR could reverse myocardial hypertrophy in rats with abdominal aortic banding and improve the systolic and diastolic function of the left ventricle. The ultrastructure of the myocardium such as arcoplasmic reticulum, intercalated disc, and cell nucleus in abdominal aortic banding rats could be partly reversed by the recipe.