The effect of alpha asarone, olive oil, and dexamethasone on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in the mouse

Aim of the Study: The primary aim of the study was to test the effect of 2,4,5-trimethoxy-1-propenylbenzene (alpha asarone), a hypocholes terolaemic drug, on the progression of collagen induced arthritis (CIA) in mice. Olive oil,the vehicle of alpha-asarone, and dexamethasonewere used as control treatments. Set-Up: Four groups of DBA/1 mice were immunised with chicken type II collagen (CII) via the intradermal route and either left untreated or were treated with alpha asarone, olive oil, or dexamethasone. A non-immunised group was an additional control. Follow-Up: The thicknesses of the rear and front footpads were continuously monitored, and the levels of anti-collagen antibodies were measured at the end of the experiment. The animals were then sacrificed, and their rear and front limbs were removed and processed forhistological examination. Results: Alpha asarone had no anti-inflammatory effect on CIA, and in one third of the animals, it showed a proinflammatory effect that was characterised by a marked accumulation of neutrophils. Olive oil did not show any obvious antiinflammatory effect on CIA, but it lowered the level of CII antibodies by 50%, suggesting a potential long-term antiinflammatory effect. As expected, dexamethasone had a clear anti-inflammatory effect on CIA. Con- clusion: Alpha asarone did not show any antiinflammatory effect on CIA in the mice under the above conditions;however, the accumulation of neutrophils in the CIA lesions of mice treated with alpha asarone and the effect of olive oil in downregulating the levels of anti-CII antibodies in CIA are two findings that warrant further investigation.

Isolation and characterization of insecticidal activity of （Z）- asarone from Acorus calamus L.

The insecticidal activity of Acorus calamus L. rhizome-derived material against adults of Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky was examined by using repellency method and contact toxicity. The biologically active constituent of the A. calamus rhizome was separated and identified. The results showed that the ethanol extract of A. calamus had strong repellency and contact effect to S. zeamais and the active constituent of the A. calamus was characterized as （Z）-asarone by spectroscopic analysis. Responses from the tests varied with exposure times and doses. In the repellency test, ethanol extract of A. calamus had 93.92% repellency at 629.08 μg/cm^2 but only 71.38% at 157.27 μg/cm^2 12 h after treatment. As a contrast, （Z）-asarone showed 84.50% repellency at 314.54μg/cm^2 and 77.02% at 78.63 μg/cm^2 12 h after treatment. In the filter paper diffusion test, ethanol extract of A. calamus caused 95.56% and 17.78% mortality to S. zeamais at 314.54 μg/cm^2 and 78.63 μg/ cm^2 4 days after treatment, while （Z）-asarone brought about 100.00% and 15.56% mortality at 40.89 μg/cm^2 and 15.73 μg/cm^2 respectively. These results indicate that the insecticidal activity of the A. calamus extract may be due to （Z）-asarone.

Inhibition of P2X_7 Receptor by Extracts of Chinese Medicine

Objective： To investigate the influence of Acorus gramineus （Soland）, a crude extract, SCP01, and a purified component, SCP02, and of Rosmarinus officinalis L., X0728 on human mast cells （HMC-1 Cell Line）. Methods： Current-voltage of P2X7 receptors on human mast cell membrane activated by ATP was recorded by the whole-cell patch clamp technique. Results： The current at -100 mV mediated by P2X7 was inhibited by （27.6 ± 2.0） % in the presence of 40 μg/mL SCP01 and by （29.5 ± 2.2） % in the presence of 40 μg/mL SCP02, which was identified as α-asarone. 42 μg/mL of the commercially available α-asarone inhibited the P2X7-mediated current by （52.2 ± 2.0） %. In contrast to SCP01 and SCP02, 40 μg/mL X0728 provoked stimulation of the current by （28.6 ± 2.8） %. All effects were voltage- independent. Conclusion： The inhibition of P2X7 by α-asarone will inhibit intracellular calcium increase and this may account for the inhibition of reported excitotoxic cell death. The pharmacological function of P2X7 stimulation by X0728 needs further investigation.