Optimization and pharmacodynamic evaluation of stir-frying with bran for Tangshen processing

Background:Traditional Chinese medicine requires special processing before it can be effectively used for clinical treatment of diseases.In particular,Tangshen stir-fried with wheat bran smoke has been found to enhance the function of the stomach and spleen.However,there is limited research on the technology and pharmacodynamic effects of Tangshen fried with bran.Therefore,the objective of this article is to optimize the method of stir-frying with bran for Tangshen processing and to compare the anti-fatigue and hypoxia-resistance effects of Tangshen before and after bran-frying.Methods:The response surface methodology was utilized to optimize the frying temperature,frying time,and the bran-to-Tangshen ratio,using lobetyolin as the indicator.The swimming time of mice and the levels of blood urea nitrogen,lactate dehydrogenase,and blood glucose in fatigued mice were compared before and after Tangshen was fried with bran.Additionally,the hypoxic resistance ability of Tangshen before and after bran-frying was determined through normobaric hypoxia test and sodium nitrite poisoning test.Results:The optimal bran-frying conditions for Tangshen processing were determined as:frying temperature of 167°C,frying time of 2.67 min,and the bran-to-Tangshen ratio of 50:100.Pharmacodynamic analysis results indicated that Tangshen significantly increased the GLU content(P<0.01)and significantly reduced the LDH content(P<0.01)both before and after bran-frying.While both traditional and new bran-frying methods significantly increased the content of muscle glycogen(P<0.05),the optimized method in this study also significantly elevated the content of liver glycogen(P<0.05).The traditional method significantly prolonged the survival time of mice from sodium nitrite poisoning(P<0.05).Conclusion:The response surface model proved to be highly effective in optimizing the stir-frying process with bran for Tangshen processing.The results of this study indicate that Tangshen possesses anti-fatigue and hypoxia-resistance effects both before and after bran-frying,with bran-fried Tangshen exhibiting significantly stronger effects.

不同产地党参药材质量评价研究进展

党参是桔梗科多年生草本植物党参（Codonopsis pilosola（Franch.）Nannf.）、素花党参（Codonopsis pilosola Nannf.var.）或川党参（Codonopsis tangshen Oliv.）的干燥根,为我国常用大宗药材之一。具有健脾益肺,养血生津的功效,可用于治疗脾肺气虚,食少倦怠,咳嗽虚喘,气血不足,面色萎黄,心悸气短,津伤口渴,内热消渴。

Codonopsis tangshen Oliv.Amelioration Effect on Diabetic Kidney Disease Rats Induced by High Fat Diet Feeding Combined with Streptozotocin

Diabetic kidney disease(DKD)is the most serious microvascular complication during the development of diabetes with the characterizations of glomerular basement membrane thickening,mesangial expansion,and glomerular sclerosis,eventually leading to end-stage renal disease.This study aimed to investigate the melioration effect of Codonopisis tangshen Oliv.(COD)on the DKD model,which was established by unilateral nephrectomy(UN)-high fat diet feeding(HFD)combined with streptozotocin(STZ).After the DKD rats were oral treated with COD at a dose of 2.7 mg/kg for 4 consecutive weeks,the blood glucose,lipid metabolism,renal function,inflammatory mediators,and fibrosis-associated proteins were examined.In vivo,the COD administration obviously relieved the weight loss,water intake,and blood glucose;decreased the total cholesterol,triglyceride,and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels;and improved the renal function by reducing the expression of serum creatinine,uric acid,and urinary protein compared with the model group.The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines of tumor necrosis factor-a,interleukin-1β,and IL-6 were significantly inhibited by COD.Meanwhile,the deposition of collagen fiber was markedly increased,and the protein and mRNA expressions of transforming growth factor-b1 and a-smooth muscle actin were markedly elevated in DKD rats,but they were decreased to some extent after the COD treatment.In conclusion,COD exhibited a protective effect on the UN-HFD feeding combined with STZ-induced DKD model by improving the blood glucose and lipid metabolism,relieving the inflammatory response,and mitigating the renal fibrosis,which provided scientific evidence for its applications in clinic.

Effects of Qidi Tangshen granules and their separate prescriptions on podocytes in mice with diabetic nephropathy

Objective:Previous studies have found that Qidi Tangshen granules(QDTS),a combination therapy of supplementing essence(Tianjing,TJ)and unblocking the collaterals(Tongluo,TL),can reduce kidney damage in db/db mice.This study aimed to explore the effect of QDTS and their separate prescriptions on podocytes in mice with diabetic nephropathy.Methods:The db/db mice were used in this experiment as an animal model,while wild-type C57BL/6J mice were used as normal controls.At the age of 12 weeks,the db/db mice were randomly divided into 5 groups(db/db,db/dbþvalsartan,db/dbþQDTS,db/dbþTJ and db/dbþTL).The urine albumin excretion ratio(UAE)was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay before and after the intervention.The ultrastructure of the kidney podocytes was observed by transmission electron microscopy.The protein expression levels of nephrin and desmin were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results:QDTS and their separate prescriptions significantly decreased the UAE and attenuated the renal pathological injury.QDTS and their separate prescriptions also reduced the fusion rate of the foot processes and increased the expression of nephrin protein.In contrast,QDTS and their separate prescriptions(TJ and TL)reduced the expression level of desmin protein.Conclusion:QDTS and their separate prescriptions might reduce diabetes-induced renal injury by reducing podocyte damage.The therapeutic effect of QDTS was more pronounced than TJ and TL.

Protective Effect of Tangshen Formula on Interstitial Cells of Cajal in Colon of Diabetic Rats

Objective:To explore the effect of Tangshen Formula(TSF),a Chinese herbal medicine,on interstitial cells of Cajal(ICC)in the colon of diabetic rats.Methods:Fifty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control(NC,n=14)and high-fat diet(HFD)groups(n=40).After 6 weeks,the rats in the HFD group were injected intraperitoneally streptozotocin once(30 mg/kg).Thirty rats with fasting blood glucose higher than 11.7 mmol/L were randomly divided into diabetes(DM)and TSF groups,15 rats in each group.Rats in the NC and DM groups were intragastrically administered with saline,and those in the TSF group were given with TSF(2.4 g/kg)once daily for 20 weeks.Expression levels of Bax,Bcl-2,and caspase-3 in colonic smooth muscle layer were measured by Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining.The number of ICC was determined by immunohistochemical staining.Immunofluorescence was used for analyzing the ratio of classically activated macrophages(M1)and alternatively activated macrophages(M2)to total macrophages.Electron microscopy was used to observe the epithelial ultrastructure and junctions.Results:TSF appeared to partially prevented loss of ICC in DM rats(P<0.05).Compared with the NC group,expression levels of Bcl-2,Bax,caspase-3,and TNF-αas well as the ratio of M1 to total macrophages increased in DM rats(all P<0.05),and the ratio of M2 to total macrophages decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Compared with the DM group,TSF decreased the expression levels of abovementioned proteins and restore M2 to total macrophages ratio(P<0.05 or P<0.01).TSF appeared to attenuate the ultrastructural changes of epithelia and improve the tight and desmosome junctions between epithelia reduced in the DM rats.Conclusions:Reduced number of ICC in DM rats may be associated with damage of the intestinal barrier.The protective effects of TSF on ICC may be through repair of the epithelial junctions,which attenuates inflammation and inflammation-initiated apoptosis in colon of DM rats.