Objective To study the effects of the different concentrations of ethanol extracts of Smilax China on ear edema in mice and granuloma in rats,and to provide an evidence for optimizing the extraction process. Methods Effects of different concentrations of ethanol extracts of Smilax China on the xylene-induced ear edema in mice and the cotton ball-induced granuloma hyperplasia in rats were tested . Results Compared with the model controls,70% ethanol extracts of Smilax China at high,medium and low doses significantly inhibited ear edema in mice (t=2. 58,P<0. 05;t=2. 28,P<0. 05;t=2. 17,P<0. 05) and reduced the granuloma hyperplasia in rats(t=5. 28,P<0. 01;t=5. 24,P<0. 01;t=5. 17,P<0. 01). Conclusion The 70% ethanol extracts of Smilax China at three doses present the most active antiinflammatory effect,confirmed in both mice ear edema and rats granuloma models.

OBJECTIVETo determine the effective fraction of Smilax for treatment of chronic pelvic inflammatory disease (CPID) by pharmacodynamic screening as the basis for further development of sarsaparilla preparations.

METHODSThe chemical fractions of Smilax were administered intragastrically in rat models of CPID induced by injecting phenol mucilage into the uterus to observe the therapeutic effects. The anti-inflammatory effects of different extract fractions from Smilax were tested in mice with xylene-induced ear edema and in rats with cotton-ball-induced granuloma.

RESULTSHigh-dose ethyl acetate extract of Smilax could obviously inhibit uterus inflammation in rats with CPID, showing also strong anti-inflammatory effects against ear edema in mice and granuloma in rats (P<0.01). The moderate dose of ethyl acetate extract also obviously ameliorated the inflammation. Both the ethyl acetate extract fraction and the total extract fraction of Smilax showed anti-inflammatory effects, while the former produced strong effects while the latter has only weak actions.

CONCLUSIONThe ethyl acetate extract fraction of Smilax is the effective fraction to produce anti-inflammatory and anti-CPID effects.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; drug therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Smilax

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism that mediates the therapeutic effect of the bioactive fraction of Baqia (Smilax china) on chronic pelvic inflammatory disease (CPID).

METHODSSeventy rats were randomized into CPID model group, sham-operated group, normal control group, Jingangteng capsule group, and high-, medium-, and low-dose Baqia groups. Rat models of CPID were established by inducing chemical burns of the uterus and corresponding treatments were administered. After 14 days of treatment, the rat uterus was observed for swelling and inhibition rate, and the expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in the uterine tissues were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSThe bioactive fraction of Baqia at the 3 doses obviously reduced the inflammatory cells in the endometrium, promoted epithelial cell proliferation, and ameliorated congestion and edema of the serosa. High and medium doses of Baqia bioactive fraction significantly decreased uterus swelling rate of the rats (P<0.01). All the 3 doses of the Baqia bioactive fraction obviously decreased uterine TNF-α content (P<0.01) and significantly increased uterine IL-4 expression level (P<0.05), and IL-4 up-regulation was especially obvious in high and medium dose groups (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONBaqia bioactive fraction can ameliorate uterine swelling, lower uterine TNF-α and increase IL-4 expressions in rats with CPID, which may be a pharmacological mechanism underlying its therapeutic effect on CPID and cervical adhesion.

Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Smilax ; chemistry ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; Uterus ; drug effects ; metabolism

Objective:To investigate the effect of astragaloside IV (AS-IV) regulating the signal axis of stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α)/CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) on the mobilization of bone marrow endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) to peripheral blood in diabetes skin ulcer (DSU) rats.Methods:Twenty four SPF grade male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were selected to make the model of type 2 diabetes rats by intraperitoneal injection of 30 mg/kg 1% (plastid ratio) streptozotocin, and then round full-thickness skin with a diameter of 2 cm was cut on both sides of the waist and back to make the skin ulcer model of diabetes rats. After that, they were randomly divided into AS-IV group (50 mg/kg AS-IV), blocker group (50 mg/kg AS-IV+ 5 mg/kg AMD3100) and model group. At the same time, a blank group ( n=8) was set up, The drug was administered via intraperitoneal injection, and the model group and blank group were treated with 0.9% NaCl of equal volume. On the 10th day, peripheral blood, femoral bone marrow, and wound neovascularization tissues of rats were collected. The number of EPCs in peripheral blood of each group of rats was measured by flow cytometry, and the protein expression of SDF-1α and CXCR4 in peripheral blood, femoral bone marrow, and wound neovascularization tissues of rats was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); At the same time, the wound healing rates of each group were tested. Results:On the 10th and 21st day after modeling, the wound healing rate of each group of rats was compared. The blank group healed the fastest, while the model group healed the slowest. The AS-IV group had better healing than the model group and the blocker group, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). On the 10th day after modeling, the positive rates of peripheral blood EPCs in the white group, AS-IV group, and blocker group were significantly higher than those in the model group (all P<0.05), while the positive rates of peripheral blood EPCs in the blocker group were significantly lower than those in the AS-IV group (all P<0.05). On the 10th day after modeling, the protein expression of SDF-1α and CXCR4 in the wound, serum, and bone marrow of the model group was the lowest, while the protein expression in the blank group was the highest (all P<0.05). The protein expression of SDF-1α and CXCR4 in the wound, serum, bone marrow of the AS-IV group was significantly higher than that of the blocker group and model group, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Astragaloside IV can promote the mobilization and migration of endothelial progenitor cells from bone marrow to peripheral blood in diabetes ulcer rats by regulating SDF-1α/CXCR4 signal axis, and can participate in angiogenesis of diabetes ulcer wounds as seed cells to promote the healing of diabetes skin ulcers.

This paper summarized the clinical experience of XU Fengqin in the treatment of hypertension in the elderly. It is believed that the basic pathogenesis of hypertension in the elderly is liver and kidney depletion， and the key is ascendant hyperactivity of liver yang and spleen failing to transport. Therefore， the theory of “combination of disease and symptoms” is put forward that the four common clinical symptoms of hypertension in the elderly， including morning hypertension， non-dipper hypertension with abnormal circadian rhythm， postprandial hypotension and orthostatic hypotension， should be differentiated and treated with prescription in accordance with the characteristics of the corresponding pathogenesis. Specifically， the pathogenesis of morning hypertension is mainly liver-kidney yin deficiency and ascendant hyperactivity of liver yang， for which the treatment method of enriching liver and boosting kidney， calming the liver and subduing yang is suggested， and Qingxuan Jiangya Decoction （清眩降压汤） in modifications can be used. For non-dipper hypertension with abnormal circadian rhythm， the pathogenesis is mainly phlegm-dampness obstruction and clear yang failing to ascend， and treatment method should be dissolving phlegm and dispelling dampness， calming the liver and extinguishing wind， with Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction and Modified Honglong Xiahai Decoction （半夏白术天麻汤合加味红龙夏海汤） in its modifications. Regarding postprandial hypotension and orthostatic hypotension， the pathogenesis is mainly spleen-stomach depletion and clear yang failing to ascend， and thus the method of supplementing the center and boosting qi， raising yang and lifting the sunken is advised with Buzhong Yiqi Decoction （补中益气汤） or Yiqi Congming Decoction （益气聪明汤） in the modifications.