Objective:To investigate the effect of synthetic borneol on penetration mechanism of ligustrazine hydrochloride. Methods: Permeation tests in vitro through rabbit skin in two compartment diffusion cells were performed to study the effect of synthetic borneol on transdermal absorption of ligustrazine hydrochloride by changing concentrations of synthetic borneol and rabbit skin condition. Results: Ligustrazine hydrochloride permeation coefficient increased linearly with incerease of concentrations of synthetic borneol, while those through strippde stratum corneum skin were not varied. Synthetic borneol enhanced the deposit functions of whole skin and stripped stratum corneum skin. Conclusions: Synthetic borneol could enhance the percutaneous absorption of ligustrazine hydrochloride, mainly through the stratum corneum, and increase the deposit function.

This paper, based on recent 10 years pharmacological experimental studies, reviews the effects of total flavones of epimedium on cardiovascular system, circulatory system, immune system and bone marrow system, etc.

AIM To investigate the inhibitory effect of paeonol on hydrogen peroxide(H2O2)-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. METHODS The injury model in PC12 cells was generated by H2O2 treatment. The cell viability was determined using methylthiazolyl tetrazolium reduction assay. Apoptotic cells and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured by flow cytometry. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) content were measured by spectroscope respectively. RESULTS After PC12 cells were treated with H2O2 (100 μmol*L-1) for 10 h,its viability obviously decreased, and apoptotic cells, LDH release into the culture media, ROS and MDA contents in PC12 cells significantly increased. When the cells were pretreated with paeonol (12, 25 and 50 μmol*L-1)for 1 h prior to incubation with H2O2, its viability was greatly increased, and apoptotic cells, LDH release, ROS and MDA contents significantly decreased. CONCLUSION Paeonol protects PC12 cells from H2O2-induced apoptosis and this effect is probably achieved through its antioxidative action.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of berberine on differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to adipocytes and its mechanism. METHODS Rat MSCs were isolated and cultured, adipocytic differentiation was induced with adipogenesis-inducing medium (AIM). Cells were assigned into 6 groups:normal control, AIM group, AIM+berberine 0.1, 0.3, 1 and 3 μmol·L-1 groups, respectively. Morphology characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells were observed under an inverted microscope and adipocyte levels were analyzed by oil O staining. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was detected using p-nitrophenyl phosphate as a substrate. The cell survival was determined by MTT assay. Expressions of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ), fatty acid binding protein (aP2) and CCAAT enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) mRNA were detected by semiquantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS Compared with normal control group, MSCs adipogenic differentiation, PPARγ, aP2 and C/EBPα mRNA expression significantly increased in AIM group (P<0.01), ALP activity in AIM group significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with AIM group, berberine inhibited MSCs adipogenic differentiation (P<0.01) and berberine 0.1, 0.3, 1 and 3 μmol·L-1 increased ALP activity by 26%, 54%, 81% and 122%, respectively. Berberine 3 μmol·L-1 significantly downregulated PPARγ expression (0.91±0.10 vs 1.34±0.06) (P<0.01), aP2 (1.05±0.10 vs 1.53±0.09) (P<0.01) and C/EBPα mRNA (1.24±0.06 vs 1.54±0.09) (P<0.01). Berberine had no effect on proliferation of MSCs. CONCLUSION Berberine inhibits differentiation of MSCs into adipocytes, which might be closely related to the downregulation of PPARγ, aP2 and C/EBPα mRNA.

AIM To determine whether norethisterone in combination with ethinylestradiol can completely prevent bone loss in ovariectomized rats. METHODS Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley female rats at the age of 4.5 months were sham-operated and treated orally with vehicle, or ovariectomized (OVX) and treated orally with either vehicle or combined norethisterone (norethisterone at 60 ?g?kg -1?d -1 and ethinylestradiol at 3.5 ?g?kg -1?d -1) for 90 days. Double in vivo fluorochrome labeling was administrated. The undecalcified longitudinal proximal tibial metaphyseal sections were used for the bone histomorphometric analysis. The humerus and urine calcium contents were assayed by the method of atomic absorption spectrometry. The humerus and urine hydroxyproline contents were assayed by colorimetry. Blood serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were tested by BECKMAN auto bio-chemistry analyzer. RESULTS After 90 days post OVX the cancellous bone mass and showed high bone turnover indices. Bone hydroxyproline contents were lost markedly. The ALP activity increased. The urine hydroxyproline contents increased significantly. The combined norethisterone treated group prevented bone lost when compared with OVX. The combined norethisterone were shown to inhibit osteoclasts surface and decrese bone turnover rate. The combined norethisterone can increase hydroxyproline contents and reduce urine hydroxyproline contents significantly from OVX group. CONCLUSION Combining norethisterone can prevent OVX-induced cancellous bone loss in rats.

AIM: To study the effects of Ginseng fiber on hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl 4 in mice. METHODS: Forty PCR Mice were randomly divided into 4 the control group, the NS group, the colchicine group and the Ginseng fiber groups. Rats in control group were treated by daily oral gavage with vehicle. Rats in other three groups were given SC injection of 40% CCl 4 10 ml?kg -1 and treated by either daily oral gavage with vehicle, or colchicine at 0.1 ml?kg -1, or Ginseng fiber at 10 g?kg -1 for 42 d. The liver injury indexes were measured. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the serum enzymes of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartic acid aminotransferase(AST) were markedly increased but serum albumin (Alb) and A/G were decreased distinctly in CCl 4 group whose liver slides also showed typical liver cirrhosis. Ginseng fiber markedly prevented CCl 4-induced increases in liver weight, serum ALT and TP. Ginseng fiber lightened the hepatic pathological necrosis resulting from CCl 4. The preventive effect of Ginseng fiber was identical to that of colchicine. CONCLUSION: Ginseng fiber can prevent hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl 4 in mice.

AIM: To study the relationship between hepatic fibrosis and osteoporosis, and observe the preventive effects of ginseng fiber on bone loss. METHODS: Forty PCR mice were randomly divided into 4 groups. The mice in control group were treated by daily oral gavage with vehicle. The mice in other three groups were given SC injection of 40% CCl_4 10 ml?kg -1 and treated by either daily oral gavage with vehicle, colchicine, or ginsen hair for 42 d. The liver injury indexes were measured and the mineral elements and hydroxyproline of femur were determined. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the serum enzyme activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartic acid aminotransferase (AST) markedly increased and serum albumin (Alb) and A/G distinctly decreased in CCl_4 group whose liver slides also showed typical liver cirrhosis. The dried weight of femur markedly reduced and the bone calcium content and bone hydroxyproline content significantly decreased in CCl_4 group. Bone copper and bone magnesium increased in CCl_4 group. Ginseng fiber markedly decreased the serum enzyme activity of ALT and increased the bone calcium content and bone hydroxyproline content. The preventive effects of ginseng fiber was similar to that of colchicine. CONCLUSION: The bone mass is lost in mice with chronic hepatic injury induced by CCl_4. Ginseng fiber can prevent bone loss and hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl_4 in mice.

AIM: To study the factors that affect bone volume in ovariectomized rats. METHODS: The bone volume and factors were analyzed by the grey system theory method in ovariectomized rats. RESULTS: Serum estradiol was the most important factor for the bone volume, followed by the bone contents of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. Serum calcium, phosphorus and the bone contents of hydroxyproline were the less important factors for the bone volume. CONCLUSION: Serum estradiol and bone contents of calcium are the most important factors that affect bone volume in ovariectomized rats.KEY WOLDS grey correlative analysis; bone volume; factors; ovariectomized rats; osteoporosis

AIM: To study the effects of epimedium pubescens flavonoids (EF) on the skeleton in ovariectomized rats. METHODS: Forty 4.5-month-old Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. Rats in sham group were sham-operated and treated by daily oral gavage with vehicle. Rats in other three groups were bilaterally ovariectomized (OVX) and treated by either daily oral gavage with vehicle, or diethylstilbestrol (DES) at 22.5 ?g?kg~ -1?d~ -1, or EF at 300 mg?kg~ -1?d~ -1 for 90 days. Bone histomorphometric analysis of the proximal tibial metaphysis (PTM), fifth lumbar vertebrae (LV5) and tibial shaft (Tx) was performed in undecalcified sections. The left femur was collected to determine bone weight, contents of calcium (Ca) , phosphorus (P ) and hydroxyproline. The uterine weight and the uterine luminal epithelial thickness (ULET) were determined. RESULTS: A significant increase in contents of Ca and P of femur was found in EF group. A tendency of increase was found in %Tb.Ar of PTM, but no significant change was found in bone histomorphometric parameters of LV5 and Tx in EF group. EF had no effect on uterine weight and ULET. CONCLUSION: EF can prevent OVX-induced bone mineral loss of femur, but does not prevent bone loss of PTM and LV5.

AIM: To study the correlative changes of bone mineral contents and histomorphometry of lumbar vertebrae in ovariectomized rats by analysis of T-type correlation degree. METHODS: Forty 10.5-month-old virgin female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: (1) Basal: at 10.5 mon of age; (2) sham-1:sham-operated at 13 mon of age; (3) OVX-1: ovariectomized at 13 mon of age; (4) sham-2: sham-operated at 16 mon of age; (5) OVX-2:ovariectomized at 16 mon of age. After ovariectomy, all rats were treated orally with NS at 5 ml?kg -1?d -1. At the end-point of study, the undecalcified longitudinal fourth lumbar vertebra (LV4) sections were cut and stained with Goldner's Trichrome for bone histomorphometric analyses. The fifth lumbar vertebra (LV5) was dried with temperature and digested with acid for testing of bone mineral content. Then the effects of bone mineral contents on bone histomorphometry were assessed by analyzing the T-type correlation degree in the Grey system. RESULTS: All degrees of correlation between bone mineral contents and static histomorphometric parameters (trabecular bone volume) (BV/TV), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) were positive, but for dynamic histomorphometric parameter (BFR/BV), the correlation degrees were negative. The effect of contents of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) on histomorphometric parameters of lumbar vertebrae was much greater than that of the other bone mineral contents. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of T-type correlation degree can evaluate the correlative changes of bone mineral contents and histomorphometry of lumbar vertebrae in ovariectomized objectively and fairly.