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.

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.

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.