OBJECTIVETo study the hypolipidemic active compounds from Crataegus pinnatifida and mechanism of action of those.

METHODGuided by the inhibitory activity to HMG-CoA reductase, the active compounds were separated and purified with macroporous resin and silica gel.

RESULTFour active compounds were obtained, which were quercetin, hyperoside, rutin and chlorogenic acid, the sum of their inhibitory rate was 50.01%, and the total inhibitory rate of the mixture of four active compounds matched was 79.48%.

CONCLUSIONQuercetin and hyperoside were the principle active components inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase in Hawthorn fruit, and there were synergistic action among them.

Crataegus ; chemistry ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases ; analysis ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology

Dental Implants ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Osteogenesis ; Prostheses and Implants ; Simvastatin ; pharmacology ; X-Ray Microtomography

Animals ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; drug therapy

The present study was designed to isolate and characterize a purified extract from Fusarium solani FG319, termed MFS (Metabolite of Fusarium solani FG319) that showed anti-atherosclerosis activity by inhibiting 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to achieve an improved yield from the fermentation medium. The inhibiting effect of the isolate, MFS, on HMG-CoA reductase was greater than that of the positive control, lovastatin. The average recovery of MFS and the relative standard deviation (RSD) ranged between 99.75% to 101.18%, and 0.31% to 0.74%, respectively. The RSDs intra- and inter-assay of the three samples ranged from 0.288% to 2.438%, and from 0.934% to 2.383%, respectively. From the RSM, the concentration of inducer, cultivation time, and culture temperatures had significant effects on the MFS production, with the effect of inducer concentration being more pronounced that other factors. In conclusion, the optimal conditions for the MFS production were achieved using RSM and that MFS could be explored as an anti-atherosclerosis agent based on its ability to inhibit HMG-CoA reductase.
Analysis of Variance ; Biological Factors ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Fermentation ; physiology ; Fusarium ; metabolism ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases ; metabolism ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Lovastatin ; pharmacology ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques

Recently, several studies showed that gastrointestinal tract may be associated with pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). Intestine tight junction protein zonula occluden-1 (ZO-1) is an important component of intestinal barrier which can be degraded by matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9). In our previous study, a significant decline in ZO-1 was observed along with enhanced MMP-9 activity in the duodenum and distal colon of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-intoxicated mice. In this study, the protective effect of simvastatin on ZO-1 was investigated using an MPTP mouse model of PD. Seven days after the end of MPTP application, the expression level of ZO-1 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The protein expression levels of ZO-1 and MMP9 were detected by Western blotting. Meanwhile, MMP-9 activity was analyzed by gelatin zymography. MPTP treatment led to a decrease in the expression of ZO-1, which was accompanied by elevated MMP-9 activity. Treatment with simvastatin could partly reverse the MPTP-induced changes in ZO-1 expression and reduce MMP-9 protein and activity. Taken together, these findings suggest that simvastatin administration may partially reverse the impairment of ZO-1 induced by MPTP via inhibiting the activity of MMP9, fortify the impaired intestinal barrier and limit gut-derived toxins that pass across the intestinal barrier.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Parkinson Disease ; metabolism ; Simvastatin ; pharmacology ; Zonula Occludens-1 Protein ; drug effects

No abstract available.
*Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Coronary Artery Disease/*drug therapy ; Coronary Vessels/*drug effects/pathology ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/*pharmacology ; Metals ; Simvastatin/*pharmacology ; *Stents ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

3-hydroxy-3-methylgulutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors or statins are a kind of lipid-lowering agents and have been used for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Recent studies suggested that statins, besides lowering cholesterol, may protect vessels by enhancing the activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). In the present study, we investigated if simvastatin increases eNOS activity through its phosphorylation in 293 cells (293-eNOS) with stable expression of eNOS. The results showed that incubation of 293-eNOS cells with simvastatin (10 microm/L) for 2 h significantly increased in the activity of eNOS as shown by the conversion of L-arginine to L-citrulline (2889.70+/-201.51 versus 5630.18+/-218.75 pmol/min . mg proteins) (P<0.01). Western blotting revealed that simvastatin increased phosphorylation of eNOS at 1177 (ser) and also 495 (thr) but did not affect the overall expression of eNOS or inducible NOS. Further study found that simvastatin raised phosphorylation levels of Akt and AMPK, and such effect could be antagonized by Akt inhibitor or AMPK inhibitor. These results suggest that simvastatin could stimulate the activity of eNOS via its phosphorylation by Akt and AMPK, which provides a new mechanism, other than lipid-lowering effect, for the cardiovascular protection of statins.
Cell Line ; Epithelial Cells/cytology ; Epithelial Cells/*enzymology ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/*pharmacology ; Kidney/*cytology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/*metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Simvastatin/*pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the effects and mechanism of lovastatin on cell cycle phase and proliferation of cultured human glomerular mesangial cells in vitro.

METHODSHMC proliferation was determined by 3H-Thymidine incorporation. HMC cell cycle was measured by flow cytometric analysis.

RESULTSLovastatin was found to inhibit HMC proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that lovstatin induced G1/S transition arrest. Concomitant addition of mevalonate or farnesol restored all the inhibitory effect of lovstatin on HMC.

CONCLUSIONLovastatin is a HMC proliferation inhibitor. It provides an experimental evidence for re-evaluate renal protective effect of HRI, which has already been widely used in clinical treatment.

Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Flow Cytometry ; Glomerular Mesangium ; cytology ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Kinetics ; Lovastatin ; pharmacology

BACKGROUNDMucus hypersecretion in the respiratory tract and goblet cell metaplasia in the airway epithelium contribute to the morbidity and mortality associated with airway inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to examine the effect and mechanisms of simvastatin on airway mucus hypersecretion in rats treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

METHODSMucus hypersecretion in rat airways was induced by intra-tracheal instillation of LPS. Rats treated with or without LPS were administered intra-peritoneally simvastatin (5 and 20 mg/kg) for 4 days. Expression of Muc5ac, RhoA and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) p38 in lung were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunohistochemistry or Western blotting. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and IL-8 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were assayed by an enzyme-linked lectin assay and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSSimvastatin attenuated LPS-induced goblet cell hyperplasia in bronchial epithelium and Muc5ac hypersecretion at both the gene and protein levels in lung (P <0.05). Moreover, simvastatin inhibited neutrophil accumulation and the increased concentration of TNF-alpha and IL-8 in BALF follows LPS stimulation (P < 0.05). The higher dose of simvastatin was associated with a more significant reduction in Muc5ac mRNA expression, neutrophil accumulation and inflammatory cytokine release. Simultaneously, the increased expression of RhoA and p38 MAPK were observed in LPS-treated lung (P <0.05). Simvastatin inhibited the expression of RhoA and p38 phosphorylation in lung following LPS stimulation (P < 0.05). However, the increased expression of p38 protein in LPS-treated lung was not affected by simvastatin administration.

CONCLUSIONSSimvastatin attenuates airway mucus hypersecretion and pulmonary inflammatory damage induced by LPS. The inhibitory effect of simvastatin on airway mucus hypersecretion may be through, at least in part, the suppression of neutrophil accumulation and inflammatory cytokine release via inactivation of RhoA and p38 signaling pathway.

Animals ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; toxicity ; Male ; Mucin 5AC ; secretion ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Respiratory Mucosa ; drug effects ; secretion ; Simvastatin ; pharmacology ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; rhoA GTP-Binding Protein ; antagonists & inhibitors

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of atorvastatin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNF-α production in RAW264.7 macrophages.

METHODSRAW264.7 macrophages were treated in different LPS concentrations or at different time points with or without atorvastatin. TNF-α level in supernatant was measured. Expressions of TNF-α mRNA and protein and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were detected by ELISA, PCR, and Western blot, respectively. HO activity was assayed.

RESULTSLPS significantly increased the TNF-α expression and secretion in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The HO-1 activity and HO-1 expression level were significantly higher after atorvastatin treatment than before atorvastatin treatment and attenuated by SB203580 and PD98059 but not by SP600125, suggesting that the ERK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways participate in regulating the above-mentioned effects of atorvastatin. Moreover, the HO-1 activity suppressed by SnPP or the HO-1 expression inhibited by siRNA significantly attenuated the effect of atorvastatin on TNF-α expression and production in LPS-stimulated macrophages.

CONCLUSIONAtorvastatin can attenuate LPS-induced TNF-α expression and production by activating HO-1 via the ERK and p38 MAPK pathways, suggesting that atorvastatin can be used in treatment of inflammatory diseases such as sepsis, especially in those with atherosclerotic diseases.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Atorvastatin Calcium ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Heptanoic Acids ; pharmacology ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Pyrroles ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism