Carthamus tinctorius L. is a traditional Chinese medicine with the effect of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. HSYA (hydroxysafflor yellow A) is the main effective component of Carthamus tinctorius L. In order to study the inhibitory effects of HSYA against PMN (polymorphonuclear) activation induced by LPS (lipopolysaccharide), rabbit PMN adhesion potency which was activated by LPS through colorimetry method was observed. Cellular free calcium concentration was determined by fluorescence spectrophotometry. RT-PCR was applied to study the effect of HSYA on PMN TNF-alpha and IL-6 mRNA expression; The inhibition of HSYA on NF-kappaB activation was monitored with immunofluorescence. The results showed that after treated with HSYA, the increase of adhesion potency (HSYA dose 1.01 x 10(-4) mol x L(-1)), free calcium concentration (HSYA dose 3.1 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1)), TNF-alpha and IL-6 mRNA expression elevation (HSYA dose 5.2 x 10(-1) mol x L(-1)) induced by LPS were inhibited. HSYA can inhibit NF-kappaB p65 subgroup nuclear translocation (HSYA dose 5.2 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1)). It is suggested that HSYA is effective in PMN activation induced by LPS.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of atorvastatin calcium on the carotid intima-media thickness(IMT)and other related indicators in patients with metabolic syndrome(MS). METHODS:The data of 1 444 patients with MS were retrospectively analyzed and randomly divided into observation group(874 cases)and control group(570 cases)by different medication. All patients were given healthy lifestyle,antihypertensive,hypoglycemia and lowering blood lipid guidance. On this basis,treatment group was orally given atorvastatin calcium 20 mg,once every evening. The follow-up was conducted for 3 years. The clinic data in 2 groups was compared,including body mass index(BMI),waist circumference(WC),systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic blood pressure (DBP),pulse pressure(PP),IMT,total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),low conspired lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP),fasting plasma glucose(FPG)and incidence of adverse reactions before and after treatment. RESULTS:After treatment,compared with before and control group,the BMI、WC、SBP、DBP、PP、IMT、TC、TG、LDL-C、HDL-C、hs-CRP and FPG in observation group were significantly improved,only TG、LDL-C and HDL-C in control group were significantly improved,the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). There were no obvious adverse reactions during treatment. CONCLUSIONS:Based on the conventional treatment,atorvastatin calcium can effectively improve the IMT and blood lipid,blood pressure and blood glucose of patients with MS,with good safety.

This study is to investigate the pharmacological effect and mechanism of action of hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) on acute lung injury (ALI). The rat ALI was induced by oleic acid and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. The incidence of acidosis, PaO2 (arterial blood oxygen pressure), W/D (wet weight/dry weight) and lung index (LI) were measured. Electron microscope and optical microscope were applied to observe lung morphological changes in rat. RT-PCR was used to determine TNF-alpha and ICAM-1 mRNA level. Inhibition effect of HSYA on plasma inflammatory cytokine expression was measured by ELISA. HSYA could alleviate pulmonary edema, reduce acidosis, keep PaO2 from descending, inhibit inflammatory cell infiltration, inhibit rat lung TNF-alpha and ICAM-1 mRNA expression and plasma IL-6 and IL-1beta level elevation. HSYA is an effective ingredient to remit ALI induced by oleic acid and LPS in rat.

To observe the protective effect of hydroxyl safflor yellow A (HSYA) on endothelial cell (EC). It has been observed by RT-PCR that HSYA can inhibit the elevation of TNF-alpha, IL-6, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 mRNA level induced by LPS. The result of immunofluorescence test suggested that HSYA can alleviate p65 subgroup of NF-kappaB nuclear translocation. The experiment on EA-HY926 cell line proved that HSYA can protect EC against inflammation injury.
Cell Line ; Chalcone ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; toxicity ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Quinones ; pharmacology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of hydroxy safflor yellow A (HSYA) on the expression of bFGF protein and MMP-9 mRNA or protein of transplantation tumor of gastric adenocarcinoma cell line BGC-823 in nude mice.

METHODThe BGC-823 cells were subcutaneously injected into the right anterior armpit of BALB/C nu/nu nude mice, and the animal model of transplantation tumor was established. The experimental groups were treated with HSYA at concentration of 0.056 and 0.028 g x L(-1) and cyclophosphamide at 2 g x L(-1), or with physiologic saline. The tumor inhibitory effect was observed, and the mRNA expression of MMP-9 of transplantation tumor was detected by real time-fluorescent quantitation PCR and the protein expression of MMP-9 and bFGF were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTThe IR in the group with HSYA at the concentration of 0.028 g x L(-1) is higher than in the group with normal sodium. After treatment with HSYA, the mRNA expression of MMP-9 has significant difference at the concentration of 0.028 g x L(-1) as compared with physiologic saline-treated group (P < 0.05), but the protein expression of MMP-9 and bFGF is obviously less than that in the physiologic saline-treated group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe possible mechanism of HSYA in given concentration to antagonize tumor angiogenesis may be related with inhibiting the protein expression of MMP-9 and bFGF or the mRNA expression of MMP-9 in tumor tissue to reduce the degradation of blood vessel basilar membrane, and to restrain the migration of blood vessel and decrease the tumor vascularization.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology