OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of aqueous extract of Aralia echinocaulis Hand.-Mazz on the expression of fracture healing-ralated factor receptors.

METHODSSingle factor model was set up in SD rat. Selecting 14 and 28 days in the experiment. Immunohistochemistry was employed to determine the expression of Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2), Fms-like tyrosine kinase (Flt-1) and Fetal licer kinase (Flk-1) at 14 and 28 days after model establishing.

RESULTSThe expression of Flt-1 and Flk-1 at 14 days (the latter was more remarkable) were obviously promoted in High dose group of aqueous extract of Aralia echinocaulis Hand.-Mazz, and higher than that in normal group and model group. The expression of FGFR2 in the high dose group of Aralia echinocaulis Hand -Mazz was also promoted visibility, close to that in the compare group (traditional Chinese medicine), but higher than than in the model group. There was no significant difference among them. At 28 days, the expression of FGFR2, Flt-1 and Flk-1 in all groups decreased except normal group, and got higher expression in model groups than each control groups.

CONCLUSIONAqueous extract of Aralia echinocaulis Hand.-Mazz can promote angiogenesis in fracture healing, improve the activity and aggregation of fibroblasts, osteoblasts and chondrocytes. It also helps to quicken ossification in the cartilage and promote fracture healing.

Animals ; Aralia ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Wound Healing ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo provide fundamental information for its exploiting. Aralia echinocaulis by the resource and identification study on.

METHODResource survey and various identification were carried out.

RESULTThe county level distribution and ecological environment of A. echinocaulis were initially observed. It mainly distributed in the mountainous areas of the Yangtze River basin and the south, and was usually used as folk drug. This study also displayed its morphological, microscopic and chemophysical identification features.

CONCLUSIONThe morphological features of original plant and crude drug, and the anatomical and chemophysical characteristics of A. echinocaulis are of identification value, and the species are also of greater development and utilization potentiality, but the resource does not support the sustainable utilization. Therefore, artificial propagation is apparently crucial to its exploitation.

Aralia ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; therapeutic use ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; Oleanolic Acid ; analysis ; Pharmacognosy ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Leaves ; cytology ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; cytology ; Plants, Edible ; anatomy & histology ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; Stomach Ulcer ; drug therapy ; Triterpenes ; analysis

Total aralosides of Aralia elata (Miq) Seem (TASAES) from Chinese traditional herb Longya Aralia chinensis L was found to improve cardiac function. The present study was to determine the protective effects of TASAES on diabetic cardiomyopathy, and the possible mechanisms. Therefore, a single dose of streptozotocin was used to induce diabetes in Wister rats. Diabetic rats were immediately treated with low, medium and high doses of TASAES at 4.9, 9.8 mg/kg and 19.6 mg/kg body weight by gavage, respectively, for eight weeks. Cardiac function was evaluated by in situ hemodynamic measurements, and patch clamp for the L-type Ca2+ channel current (ICa2+-L) and transient outward K+ channel current (Ito). Histopathological changes were observed under light and electron microscope. The expression of pro-fibrotic factor, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was monitored using immunohistochemistry staining. Compared with diabetic group, medium and high doses, but not low dose, of TASAES showed a significant protection against diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction, shown by increased absolute value of left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and maximum rates of pressure development (+/-dp/dt(max)), and enhanced amplitude of ICa2+-L (P < 0.05). Histological staining indicated a significant inhibition of diabetes-caused pathological changes and up-regulation of CTGF expression (P < 0.05). The results suggest that TASAES prevents diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction and pathological damage through up-regulating ICa2+-L in cardiac cells and decreasing CTGF expression.
Animals ; Aralia/*chemistry ; Calcium Channels, L-Type/physiology ; Cardiomyopathies/*drug therapy/etiology/physiopathology ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor/metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/*complications ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/*chemistry ; Heart/drug effects/physiopathology ; Hemodynamics ; Male ; Myocardium/pathology ; *Oleanolic Acid/analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium Channels/physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Saponins/*therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

Hepatic fibrosis models were induced by CCl4 in rats. To explore vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFβ1) mRNA expression and bcl-2, Bax protein expression levels of intervention and explore the mechanism of the Aralia chinesis anti-hepatic fibrosis. Sixty male Sprague-Dawlley (SD) rats were randomly divided into six groups: nomal group, model group, high-dose (10 mL x kg(-1)), medium-dose (7.5 mL x kg(-1)), low-dose (5.0 mL x kg(-1)) of A. chinesis treated group and colchicine treated group. The change of liver histopathology was observed by HE and Masson staining. The mRNA of VEGF, TGF-β1 were detected by RT-PCR. The protein of Bcl-2 and Bax were detected by Western blot. In the model group liver cell obvious degeneration, necrosis, a large number of collagen fibers of the cable hyperplasia, part visible pseudolobule formation. A. chinesis large, medium, low-dose group and colchicine group liver cell degeneration and necrosis reduced A. chinesis small, medium, and high-dose group was gradually reduced trend and A. chinesis large, middle dose group degree of reduction is particularly significant. Compared with model group, A. chinesis of large, medium and small dose group and colchicine group VEGF mRNA expression, A. chinesis of large, medium-dose group TGF-β1 mRNA expression reduce (P < 0.05); compared with colchicine group, A. chinesis of large, middle dose group of VEGF mRNA expression decreased (P < 0.05); A. chinesis of large, middle dose group of TGF-β1 mRNA expression decreased (P < 0.01), and compared with colchicine group, large dose group of of TGF-β1 mRNA expression decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with model group, A. chinesis of large, medium and small dose group and colchicine group Bcl-2 protein expression reduce (all is P < 0.05). But A. chinesis of large, medium and small dose group and colchicine group of Bax protein expression were increased (P < 0.05). A. chinesis regulation of VEGF, TGF-β1 may prevent the activation of hepatic stellate cells, liver tissue by up regulating the anti-apoptotic protein Bax and down pro-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 expression, thereby to improve the degree of liver fibrosis.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Aralia ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

To discuss the protective effect of aralosides (AS) on I/R-induced rat myocardial injury. The adult rat ventricular myocyte ischemia model was established through perfusion with sodium lactate perfusate and reperfusion with Ca(2+) -containing Tyrode's solution simulation. The cell contraction and ion concentration synchronization determination system was applied to detect the effect of AS on single I/R cell contraction and Ca2+ transients. According to the findings, AS could increase resting sarcomere length, contraction amplitude, ± dL/dt(max), calcium transient amplitude and speed of post-reperfusion myocardial cells (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and decrease in time for achieving 90.0% of maximum relaxation, time for achieving peak value, resting calcium ratio, contraction period [Ca2+] i, time for achieving 50.0% of maximum relaxation and attenuation rate of intracellular calcium transient (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Therefore, it is suggested that AS improved the post-reperfusion cell contraction and injury of calcium homeostasis.
Animals ; Aralia ; chemistry ; Biological Transport ; drug effects ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle Contraction ; drug effects ; Myocardial Ischemia ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Saponins ; administration & dosage