OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effects of saikosaponin-d (SSd) on angiogenesis in chicken embryos and its mechanism of action.

METHODSChorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model was established successfully in 86 chicken embryos. They were divided into 4 groups after fenestration: the three SSd treated groups (A, B and C) treated with high (20 microg/mL, n = 16), middle (10 microg/mL, n = 19) and low (5 microg/mL, n = 25) dose of SSd respectively, and the control group treated with 0.01 mol/L PBS (n = 26). The drug or reagent was administered by grafting 20 microL onto the surface of CAM. After incubation for 3 days, the vessel growth was recorded by digital photography; inflammatory cells were counted under light microscope with HE staining, and the positive rate of angiogenesis reaction was calculated by Leica image analyzer.

RESULTSOn the 6th day of the embryonic age, vessels in the chicken embryo CAM showed a radial growing in spok-wheel pattern around the gelatin sponges with lateral axis running through it. Whereas after 3 days of SSd treatment, the angiogenesis reduced significantly with vague microvessels around the sponge, and vascular truncation and absence revealed. Microscopic examinations showed that the number of microvessels and infiltrated inflammatory cells in the sponge and peripheral CAM mesenchyme in the SSd groups were less than those in the control group, especially on vessels of medium and small size (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively), but was insignificant on great vessels (P > 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed no correlation between the number of the great vessels in CAM and the infiltrated inflammatory degrees (r = 0.117, P > 0.05), but the increase of small vessels in CAM was positively correlated with that of inflammatory cells (r = 0.971, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSSd could inhibit the physiological angiogenesis of chicken embryoe, especially for the medium and small vessels, while there was no significant effect on great vessels (P > 0.05). Its mechanism of action may be related to its inhibition on leukocyte migration and activation.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Chick Embryo ; Chorioallantoic Membrane ; drug effects ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Saponins ; pharmacology

BACKGROUNDChinese medicine plays an important role in hepatoprotective treatment. This study was conducted to investigate the protective effects of emodin and astragalus polysaccharides (APS) in a rat model of chronic hepatic injury.

METHODSChronic hepatic injury was induced by hypodermic injection of an olive oil solution containing 40% carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) twice a week, in addition to a diet of 79.5% maizena, 20% fat, 0.5% cholesterol, and 10% alcohol in the drinking water ad libitum for 12 weeks. Meanwhile, the rats were exposed to different concentrations of emodin (40 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)), APS (200 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)), combination drug (emodin 40 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) combined with APS 200 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and colchicine (0.1 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) in parallel by oral gavage (once a day for 12 weeks). At the end of 12 weeks, blood serum and liver tissue were taken. Serum was collected to determine the levels of total bilirubin (TBIL), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminose (AST), and albumin (ALB). Liver and spleen indexes were assayed, followed by the measurements of the liver associated enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Histopathological changes were studied using optical microscopy.

RESULTSSplenohepatomegalia was alleviated and serum levels of TBIL and ALT were reduced in the groups treated with emodin and APS when compared to the control group. In addition, the ALB level in the APS and combination groups was higher. Similarly, the SOD activity of liver homogenates was significantly higher in the groups treated with emodin and APS, while administration of the herbal derivatives prevented the elevation in MDA levels. Histological analysis showed that the APS and combination groups significantly ameliorated the hepatic injury.

CONCLUSIONSCo-administration of emodin and APS demonstrated a synergistic action in reducing ALT and restoring ALB in the serum from a rat model of chronic hepatic injury. Emodin and APS may ameliorate the CCl(4)-induced hepatic injury in rats by elevating antioxidant-enzyme activities and reducing lipid peroxidation.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; toxicity ; Chronic Disease ; Emodin ; pharmacology ; Liver ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the inhibitory effect of estrogen against metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma MHCC97H cells and explore the molecular mechanism.

METHODSThe inhibitory effect of estrogen on the migration and invasion of MHCC97H cells was evaluated with wound healing assay and Transwell assay. Western blotting was used for investigating the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, AKT and p-AKT in the cells treated with estrogen.

RESULTSEstrogen treatment significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of MHCC97H cells in a dose-dependent manner. Estrogen significantly down-regulated the protein expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and lowered the phosphorylation level of AKT.

CONCLUSIONThe anti-metastatic effect of estrogen involves inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in MHCC97H cells probably by regulating AKT signal pathway.

Objective:In the early stage, in vivo experiments of coronavirus infection and pulmonary syndrome syndrome combined with mouse model verified that Reyanning mixture has a significant therapeutic effect on human coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). This study further evaluated the clinical efficacy of Reyanning mixture in the treatment of COVID-19, providing a basis for clinical medication. Method:Patients were collected from January 21, 2020 to February 24, 2020 in Xi'an No. 8 Hospital, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Yan'an Second People's Hospital and Songzi People's Hospital. 54 common-type patients who met the diagnostic criteria of COVID-19 were enrolled in this study,5 patients of them were not included in the statistical analysis because they did not meet the requirements, including 26 cases in the treatment group using Reyanning mixture on the basis of chemical drug treatment, and 23 cases in the control group receiving chemical drug treatment only. The symptom disappearance rates (throat dryness, throat pain, cough, fever, fatigue, chest tightness, runny nose, nasal congestion, headache), time to complete fever clearance (d), the nucleic acid conversion rate and time to recovery on chest CT were compared between two groups. Result:After treatment, except cough and fatigue, other symptoms disappeared in the treatment group, and the disappearance rate of symptoms such as dry throat, cough, fatigue, chest tightness and headache was statistically significant compared with the control group (P<0.05). The median time to complete fever clearance in the treatment group was 3 days, which was 2 days shorter than that in control group. The remission rate of chest CT was 88.46% (23/26) in the treatment group, which was higher than 73.91% (17/23) in control group. The negative conversion rate of viral nucleic acid detection was 96.15% (25/26) in treatment group, higher than 60.87% (14/23) in control group (P<0.01). Conclusion:Reyanning mixture can improve the clinical symptoms of COVID-19 patients, promote the improvement of chest CT. Can shorten the duration of fever.Can improve the novel coronavirus nucleic acid conversion rate, providing a basis for clinical treatment.