Many species of genus Bupleurum L. have been pharmaceutically used mainly in Asia and Europe for thousand years. Their roots are the most popular ingredients in Chinese materia medica prescriptions for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and auto-immune diseases. A plenty of chemical constituents have been isolated and identified from the species in Bupleurum L., such as saikosaponins, polysaccharides, volatile oils, flavonoids, polyacetylenes, lignins, and coumarins, most of which possess a variety of biological activities, especially for the hepatoprotective effect, antitumor activity, immunoregulation, and febrifuge efficacy. Therefore, the species in genus Bupleurum L. could be potential herbs of immunomodulator, antineoplastic, anti-oxidant, etc. Meanwhile, as potential toxicities have been discovered in some constituents, it is urgent to establish a comprehensive quality evaluation system to ensure the safety and efficiency of herbs. This paper reviews on the phytochemical and pharmacological studies, especially for the toxicology and quality control of the species in Bupleurum L., which is a reference for the species in this genus for safe usage and further development. © 2013 Tianjin Press of Chinese Herbal Medicines.

OBJECTIVETo explore material bases and neurobiological mechanisms of "Shen storing will" by observing learning and memory capacities and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor expressions in Shen deficiency constitution (SDC) rats.

METHODSTotally 40 SD rats were randomly divided into the model group, the Zuogui Pill (ZP) group, the Yougui Pill (YP) group, the blank control group (consisting of normal pregnant rats), 10 in each group. SDC young rat model (inherent deficiency and postnatal malnutrition) was prepared by the classic way of "cat scaring rat". Medication started when they were scared by cat. Rats in the ZP group and the YP group were administered by gastrogavage with ZP suspension 0.1875 g/mL and YP suspension 0.0938 g/mL respectively. Equal volume of normal saline was administered to rats in the blank control group and the model group by gastrogavage. All medication was given once per day, 5 days in a week for 2 consecutive months. Learning and memory capacities were detected by Morris water maze test. Expressions of NMDA receptor subunits NR2A and NR2B in hippocamus were detected by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, the latency period, total distance in Morris water maze test were longer in the model group (P < 0.05). All the aforesaid indices all decreased in the ZP group and the YP group, with statistical difference when compared with the model group (P < 0.05). The protein expressions of NR2A and NR2B in hippocamus were lower in the model group than in the blank control group (P < 0.05). But when compared with the model group, they were obviously higher in the ZP group and the YP group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSDC rats had degenerated learning and memory capacities and lowered NMDA receptor expressions. ZP and YP could up-regulate learning and memory capacities and NMDA receptor expressions, thereby improving deterioration of brain functions in SDC rats.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Pregnancy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation

In order to investigate the comprehensive quality differences of the seeds harvested in different growing time, and offer theoretical guide for the optimization of seeds' production technology, we analyzed the apparent size, 1 000-grain weight, water absorbency, germination indexes, postharvest embryo rate change, relatively contents of coumarins and the yield of single plant of its seeds of different harvesting time, and compared their comprehensive quality by Topsis analysis. The results showed that there existed obvious differences in yield and quality between seeds of 3 harvesting times. While the harvesting time postponed, the yield of single plant raised, and the shrunken seeds rate decreased, the quality of seedlings increased, while the contents of coumarins showed a steady increase, and the germination rate decreased. The comprehensive quality of the seeds harvested in the black ripe time rank the first place, followed by the brown ripe time and the yellow ripe time. As the harvesting time delays, the seeds' comprehensive quality increases, therefore, we could put off the seeds' harvesting time properly for the high efficient seed production.
Bupleurum ; growth & development ; metabolism ; physiology ; Germination ; Plant Proteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Quality Control ; Seeds ; growth & development ; metabolism ; physiology ; Solubility ; Time Factors ; Water ; metabolism

Objective: To investigate the deterioration mechanism of Bupleurum chinense seeds from Qingchuan county, thus to study the seeds harvesting and storage characteristics, and to reveal the deterioration mechanism. Methods: Artificial aging method is used to study the seeds deterioration and to observe the changes of nutrient substance, anti-oxidase activities, and conductivity of seeds. Results: While the seeds deteriorated, their activities of anti-oxidase (POD, SOD, and CAT) decreased, and the content of soluble sugar and soluble protein reduced also as the aging time prolonged. After 3 d treatment, SOD, POD, and CAT activities decreased to a low level. Moreover, the conductivity of seeds leachate decreased. The germination ability of B. chinense seeds lost after 1 d aging treatment. Conclusion: The seeds deterioration mechanisms include the heavy oxidative injury, over consumption of nutrients, and membrane damage. The seeds long-time storage is inappropriate and the seeds storage should avoid from high temperature and humid environment.

Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Plasma Cells ; pathology ; Skin Diseases ; diagnosis

Objective To investigate the effects of different standard cross sections and angles on the measurement accuracy of induced postnatal fetal long bones. Methods Fetal long bones (femori and humeri) in 30 cases with induced abortion were measured utilizing ultrasound from different angles and /or at different directions. The values measured from different sections and angles with vernier calipers were compared prenatally and postnatally. Results There was no apparent difference between the pre-induced abortion and those of the post-induced abortion. The results in the 30 cases showed that: (1) the values measured from anterior 90 degree, the long bone length would best match with the bare long bone length up to 96.7%, the match rate of other angles and/or directions was up to 80%; (2) no apparent statistical difference was between the length of left and right bone and no difference was found using 4 different directions and 3 different angles; (3)there was no difference between the left and right femuri and humeri.Conclusions Though the measured value from anterior 90 degree direction was the most accurate one, the statistical analtical results showed no difference among 12 values measured from 3 different angles and/or 4 different directions.

Objective To study the value of fast dynamic contrast enhanced MRI in the diagnosis of orbital occupying lesions. Design Retrospective ease series.Participants 21 patients with orbital occupying lesions.Methods All the 21 patients were performed on fast dynamic contrast enhanced MRI and were verified by pathology.The raw datum were processed by the software of GE Functool. Parameters such as time-intensity curve(TIC),time to peak(Tpeak),1 minute enhancement ratio(ERlmin)and maximum enhancement ratio(ERmax)were analyzed to study the characteristics of orbital diseases on fast dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.Main Outcome Measures TIC,ERlmin,and ERmax.Results The characteristics of TIC between benign diseases and malignant tumors were different. Of the 16 cases of benign lesions,12 demonstrated as continuous increasing type,and of 5 cases of malignant lesions,3 cases of lym- phoma were all platform type.The ER1min of the malignant tumors(150.47?42.18)was higher than that of the benign lesions (101.37?43.02)(P=0.021).Cavernous hemangiomas had special progressing enhancing model.Conclusions Fast dynamic contrast enhanced MRI is valuable to distinguish malignant tumors from benign occupying lesions.(Ophthalmol CHN,2007,16:305-308)

OBJECTIVETo extract two kinds of phenols 4-hydroxy-3, 5-dimethoxy-4-(2-oxopropyl) cyclohexa-2, 5-dien-l-one and 6-methoxy-5,7-dihydroxy coumarin (named as I and H compounds respectively) from Ajania salicifolia and to investigate their antioxidation and cytotoxicity to tumors and explore their pro-apoptosis mechanism.

METHODSThe antioxidant activities of two compounds were assessed by ABTS and DPPH radical-scavenging assays. Two compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against human chronic myelogenous leukemia (K562) cells using the MIT assay. The expression of NF-kappaB P65 mRNA in K562 apoptotic cells was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), real-time quantitative PCR. In addition, protein expression levels of the NF-ICB P65, p-Akt, Fas, P-catenina and E-cadherin were also measured by Western blot.

RESULTS(1) We found that compound I displayed significant inoxidizability, while compound II had no obvious antioxidizability. (2) In cytotoxicity experiments, compound I didn't display cytotoxicity while compound H displayed obvious cytotoxicity. (3) Compared with the blank group, the expression of NF-kappaB P65 mRNA in K562 cell after treatment with compound II was obviously up-regulated. (4) Compared with the blank group, the expression levels of NF-kappaB P65, Fas, beta-catenina and E-cadherin were significantly increased in compound II treated groups and it appeared obvious dose-effect relationship between the expression of protein and drug concentration.

CONCLUSIONTwo phenols have obvious antioxidizability and cytotoxicity respectively. On the one hand, the tumor-suppressing mechanism of compound II maybe act by up-regulation the expression of NF-kappaB P65 and Fas protein; thereby, affecting the classical Fas apoptosis signaling pathways. On the other hand, it can also up-regulate the expression of protein beta-catenin and E-cadherin, which participate in the adhesion between cells, and accordingly, playing an important role in preventing the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells.

Apoptosis ; Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Oncogene Protein v-akt ; metabolism ; Phenols ; chemistry ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; beta Catenin ; metabolism ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

Objctive To explore the clinical value of Chitinase-3-like protein 1(CHI3L1)in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB),liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.Methods 96 clinically diagnosed patients in Department of Infectious Diseases Hos-pital of Anhui Provincial Hospital from Jan 2016 to Feb 2017(28CHB,44livercirrhosis,24liver cancer,15healthy controls) were analyzed.The serum level of CHI3L1 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay(ELISA).The Golgi pro-tein(GP73)was tested by double-antibody sandwich immunochromatographic assay.The Alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)was tested by means of chemical luminescence.Results There were significant differences between the groups of chronic hepati-tis B(CHB),liver cirrhosis,liver cancer and healthy controls on the CHI3L1 level(χ2=70.249,P<0.001).The CHI3L1 level of the liver cirrhosis group and the liver cancer group increased significantly compared with that of the healthy controls (P<0.001).The GP73 levels of these groups were significantly different(χ2=44.963,P<0.001).The GP73 levels of the CHB group,the liver cirrhosis group and the liver cancer group all increased significantly compared with that of the healthy controls(P<0.05).The AFP levels of these groups were significantly different(χ2=57.606,P<0.001).The AFP level of the liver cancer group increased significantly compared with that of the CHB group,the liver cirrhosis group and the healthy controls(P<0.001).Based on the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve of CHI3L1,GP73 and AFP in the CHB group and the liver cirrhosisgroup,the Area Under roc Curve(AUC)of CHI3L1 was 0.953(95%CI:0.902~1.000),the sensitivity was 88.6%,and the specificity was 92.9%,which was higher than GP73 and AFP.Based on the ROC curve of CHI3L1,GP73 and AFP in the liver cirrhosis group and the liver cancer group,the AUC of AFP was 0.930(95% CI:0.871~0.989),the sensitivity was 75.0%,and the specificity was 97.7%,which was higher than CHI3L1 and GP73.The corre-lation between the CHI3L1,GP73 and AFP in CHB,liver cirrhosis and liver cancer groups were analyzed.There was a posi-tive correlation between AFP and GP73(rs=0.491,P<0.001),a positive correlation between AFP and CHI3L1(rs=0.452,P<0.001),a positive correlation between GP73 and CHI3L1(rs=0.554,P<0.001).Conclusion CHI3L1 is good at diagnosis of liver cirrhosism,better than GP73 and AFP.And AFP could be more beneficial in patients with liver cancer, better than CHI3L1 and GP73.