1.Research on mechanism of effect of total flavonoidsextracted from Polygonum perfoliatum L.onanti-hepatic fibrosis in rats
Houkang CAO ; Ya GAO ; Simao HUANG ; Kefeng ZHANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2017;33(9):1303-1308
Aim Based on the effect of total flavonoids extracted from Polygonum perfoliatum L.(TFP) against dimethylnitrosamine(DMN)-induced hepatic fibrosis(HF), to investigate the anti-fibrotic mechanism of TFP.Methods Ninety SD rats were divided into normal group, model group, colchicines(0.1 mg·kg-1) group, and TFP(200, 100, 50 mg·kg-1) group.Except the rats of normal group, other rats were injected intraperitoneally with volume fraction 0.5% DMN solution(2 mL·kg-1) for eight weeks, once every two days.From the first day of modeling, each administration group was given the corresponding dose of drugs to intervene, and the normal group and model group were given an equal volume of solvent, once a day.At the end of the eighth week, the blood and liver tissues were collected.Liver tissue was taken at a fixed position, and the degree of liver tissue was observed by HE staining.The contents of serum ALT, AST, SOD and MDA were measured using colorimetric method;the levels of serum HA, LN, PCⅢand Ⅳ-C were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA);the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in liver tissues were detected by ELISA;the expression of α-SMA, TGF-β1, p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the model group, TFP(200, 100, 50 mg·kg-1) could improve the liver tissue lesions, reduce the expression of ALT, AST, HA, LN, PCⅢ, IV-C and MDA, increase SOD activity, reduce the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, and inhibit the expression of α-SMA, TGF-β1, JAK2, STAT3, p-JAK2 and p-STAT3.Conclusion TFP could inhibit DMN-induced HF of rats, which may be involved with antioxidant and inhibiting expression of TGF-β1, JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and inflammatory response.
2.Effects of DCP on alcoholic fatty liver disease in rats via anti-inflammation and antioxidation
Ya GAO ; Kelan ZHANG ; Mingli ZHONG ; Houkang CAO ; Simao HUANG ; Kefeng ZHANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2016;32(12):1665-1669
Aim To study the effects of Dicliptera chinensis polysaccharide(DCP)on alcoholic fatty liver disease(AFLD)in rats based on anti-inflammation and antioxidation.Methods 60 rats were randomly divid-ed into six groups:control group,model group,silybin group and DCP of high,medium and low dose groups. The control group was fed with normal diet, other groups were fed with high sugar and high fat diet,and given 5% alcohol 5 mL·kg-1 by gavage.The alcohol consistency increased 5%every week until AFLD mod-els in rats were made after 7 weeks.Except control group,other groups were fed with high sugar and high fat diet,and given 35% alcohol 5 mL · kg-1 and DCP.All rats were killed after five weeks,and blood and liver tissues were collected.The activity of alanine aminotransaminase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST ), alkaline phosphatase (AKP ), triglyceride (TG),total cholesterol (TC ),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)and high-density lipoprotein cho-lesterol(HDL-C)in serum were detected by using bio-chemical method. The contents of malondialdehyde (MDA),superoxide dismutase (SOD),reduced gluta-thione(GSH)in liver tissues were detected.The con-tents of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6 (IL-6 )and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1 ) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent as-say(ELISA)in liver tissues.The liver tissues were ob-tained and histologic analysis was done through HE. Results DCP reduced the activity or content of ALT, AST,AKP,TG,TC,LDL-C,HDL-C,TNF-α,IL-6, TGF-β1 in serum and liver tissues of rats(P<0.05 ), and increased the activity or content of HDL-C,SOD and GSH (P<0.05 ).DCP could remarkably inhibit the NF-κB expression in liver tissues(P<0.01 ).The pathological examination indicated that DCP could ob-viously alleviate the inflammation and fat denaturation of the liver cells.Conclusion DCP can inhibit the de-velopment of AFLD.The mechanism may be related to antioxidation,free radical scavenging, inhibition of lipidperoxidation,anti-inflammation,and inhibition of the TGF-β1 and NF-κB expression.
3.Protective Effects and the Mechanism Study of Water Extract of Rabdosia serra on Hepatic Fibrosis Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride in Rats
Qiongmei XU ; Yuelong LI ; Houkang CAO ; Chun CHEN ; Gang WANG ; Yizhun ZHU ; Kefeng ZHANG
China Pharmacy 2018;29(20):2791-2796
OBJECTIVE:To study the protective effects and the mechanism of Rabdosia serra water extract(RWE)on hepatic fibrosis(HF)induced by carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)in rats. METHODS:Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into normal group,model group,colchicine group(0.12 mg/kg),and RWE low-dose,medium-dose and high-dose groups(4,8,16 g/kg,by crude drug),with 10 rats in each group. Except for intraperitoneal injection of olive oil for normal group,other groups were given 40% CCl4olive oil solution intraperitoneally to induce HF model. Since the first day of modeling,each treatment group was given relevant medicine (10 mL/kg) intragastrically, while normal group and model group were given constant volume of water intragastrically,once a day,for consecutive 6 weeks. After medication,biochemical process or ELISA were used to determine the contents of ALT,AST,HA,LN,PCⅢ and Ⅳ-C in serum,the activities or contents of SOD,GSH-Px,MDA,TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-1β in liver tissue. Pathological changes of liver tissue in rats were observed by HE staining. The expression of α-SMA and TGF-β1 in liver tissue were detected by Western blot. RESULTS:Compared with normal group,the contents of ALT,AST,LN,HA,PCⅢ and Ⅳ-C in serum,the contents of MDA,TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-1β in liver tissue were all increased significantly in model group (P<0.01);the activities of SOD and GSH-Px in liver tissue were decreased significantly(P<0.01). Liver fibrosis was obvious, and the relative expression of α-SMA and TGF-β 1were increased significantly (P<0.01). Compared with model group,the contents of ALT,AST,HA,LN,PCⅢ and Ⅳ-C in serum as well as the contents of MDA,TNF-α and IL-6 in liver tissue in colchicines group and RWE groups,the contents of IL-1 β in liver tissue of rats in colchicines group,RWE medium-dose and high-dose groups were all decreased significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The activities of SOD and GSH-Px in liver tissue of rats were increased significantly in colchicines group and RWE groups(P<0.05 or P<0.01). The fibrosis degree of liver tissue was significantly reduced, while the relative expression of α-SMA and TGF-β 1decreased significantly (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS:RWE can protect CCl4-induced HF model rats,the mechanism of which may be associated with regulating lipid metabolism,relieving liver lipid peroxidation injury and anti-oxidative stress response,inhibiting the release of inflammatory factors and the expression of TGF-β1.
4.Prediction Analysis on the Potential Suitable Areas of Zanthoxylum nitidum(Roxb.)DC.in China under Climate Change
Zhiyuan ZHANG ; Mingli ZHONG ; Bo LI ; Kefeng ZHANG ; Houkang CAO
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;31(6):7-13
Objective To predict and analyze the potential suitable areas of the Guangxi characteristic medicinal plant Zanthoxylum nitidum(Roxb.)DC.in China under climate change;To provide reference for ecological conservation and artificial cultivation of Zanthoxylum nitidum(Roxb.)DC.Methods Based on the 49 pieces of geographical distribution information of Zanthoxylum nitidum(Roxb.)DC.in China,19 environmental factors,and the maximum entropy(MaxEnt)model,a species distribution model was constructed to predict and analyze the potential growth areas of Zanthoxylum nitidum(Roxb.)DC.under current and future climate change.Results Under the current climate change,the potential suitable areas of Zanthoxylum nitidum(Roxb.)DC.in China mainly depended on 4 environmental factors:precipitation in the coldest season(Bio19),precipitation in the warmest season(Bio18),precipitation in the driest season(Bio17),and average annual temperature(Bio1).Under the future climate change,the center of mass of the high suitable areas of Zanthoxylum nitidum(Roxb.)DC.will mainly migrate to the northeast and northwest,and the migration distance will range from 13.63 km to 153.95 km.Compared with the present,the stable and unchanged high suitable areas of Zanthoxylum nitidum(Roxb.)DC.under future climate change will be reduced to about 21.68%,and mainly distributed in southwest Guangxi,and these stable and unchanged areas will become the first choice for semi-artificial planting of Zanthoxylum nitidum(Roxb.)DC.Conclusion The results are helpful to provide scientific basis for formulating reasonable ecological conservation and artificial cultivation strategies to reduce the impact of climate change on the population spread of Zanthoxylum nitidum(Roxb.)DC.
5.Spatial Distribution Pattern of Medicinal Plant Resources in Gansu Province and Driving Factors
Yanxiu GUO ; Houkang CAO ; Shaoyang XI ; Li LIU ; Xiaohui MA ; Yi MA ; Li LIN ; Guisen ZHENG ; Ling JIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2022;28(17):140-149
ObjectiveTo clarify the spatial distribution characteristics of medicinal plant resources in Gansu province, analyze the causes, changing trends, and driving factors of the spatial differentiation, and thus lay a scientific basis for the rational development and sustainable development of medicinal plant resources in this province. MethodBased on the data of The Fourth National Survey of Chinese Medicine Resources, the richness and spatial distribution difference of medicinal plant resources in 87 counties (districts) of Gansu province were analyzed via the global spatial autocorrelation analysis, trend surface analysis, local spatial autocorrelation analysis, and hotspot analysis. Moreover, the correlation of vegetation type, soil texture, annual average temperature, annual average precipitation, and altitude with the spatial distribution pattern of the medicinal plant resources was discussed. ResultCounties (districts) with high or low richness of medicinal plant resources in Gansu province were respectively clustered together. To be specific, counties (districts) with high richness of the medicinal resources were mainly in southeastern Gansu, while those with low richness in northwestern Gansu. The leading driving factors affecting the cold and hot spots included vegetation type, soil texture, and average annual rainfall. ConclusionThe species richness of medicinal plant resources in Gansu province rises from west to east and from north to south. The natural driving factors are the key to the diversity and spatial distribution pattern of medicinal plant resources, which show significant influence on them.
6.Herbal Textual Research on Moschus in Famous Classical Formulas
Juanjuan LIU ; Sini LI ; Jie JI ; Liping YANG ; Houkang CAO ; Xiaohui MA ; Ling JIN ; Zhilai ZHAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(18):194-202
In this paper, by consulting the ancient and modern literature, the name, origin, quality evaluation, harvesting and processing, and others of the original animal and medicinal materials of Moschus were systematically sorted out and verified, in order to provide the basis for the development and utilization of the famous classical formulas containing Moschus. According to the textual research, musk deer was first recorded in Shanhaijing. Shennong Bencaojing was recorded as Moschus and all generations were used as the correct name, but there were also aliases such as Shefu, Xiangzhang and Xiangqizi. In ancient times, Moschus berezovskii, M. sifanicus and M. moschiferus were the main sources of Moschus, and the quality of Moschus produced in northwest China was better than that produced in the Yangtze River basin. In modern times, Moschus of M. moschiferus produced in northeast China, M. sifanicus produced in Gansu, Sichuan and other places, and M. berezovskii produced in Ningxia, Shaanxi and other places are regarded as genuine. In ancient times, gunshots, lassoes, arrow shots and other methods were generally used to hunt live musk deer, and the sachets were immediately cut off. Those with high quality were called Xiangshanhuo, and dried in the shade after harvesting, which was known as Maoke Shexiang. Cut open the sachet, remove the shell and dry preservation, commonly known as Moschus kernel. In modern times, the method of taking Moschus from the living body of cultured musk deer is adopted, that is, Moschus kernel is directly taken from its sachet, dried in the shade or dried in a closed dryer. This method realizes the sustainable utilization of Chinese herbal medicine resources, but attention should be paid to the frequency and quality of Moschus. The harvesting time is mostly after the autumnal equinox every year, and before the next summer, it is better to gather sachet in winter. In recent times, it is believed that the shell Moschus is dry, full, thin, elastic, loose inside, many particles, strong and persistent aroma for the best, while the Moschus kernel is particle purple-black, powder yellow-brown, soft and oily texture, strong and persistent aroma for the best. The ancient processing method of Moschus was extracting kernels from the shell. After removing impurities, it is ground and used as medicine. Because its composition is not suitable for heating, the processing method is most common in preparations such as grinding into powder and putting into pills or powders, which has the effect of opening up the orifices and refreshing the mind, and it has continued to this day. Based on the research conclusions, it is suggested that the development of famous classical formulas containing Moschus, M. sifanicus, M. moschiferus and M. berezovskii should be used as the origins. According to the processing requirements specified in the original formula, it should be processed and used as medicine, while those without processing requirements should be used as raw products.