Objective To explore the effect of total flavonoids of Epimedium sagittatum (TFE) on the mRNA expressions of the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and estrogen receptor beta(ERβ) in hippocampus and hypothalamus in ovariectomized (OVX) Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats, and the mechanism of TFE against postmenopausal osteoporosis. Methods Forty-eight female SD rats,aged 10-11 months old, were randomly divided into 4 groups: a sham group, an ovariectomy group (rats were bilaterally ovariectomized), a TFE group, and a 17β-estradiol group (rats were fed with TFE and 17β-estradiol for 4 months, respectively). The RT-PCR was performed to determine the mRNA expression of ERα and ERβ in hypothalamus and hippocampus. Results Serum estradiol level, bone mineral density (BMD) of vertebra,wet weight of uterus, and the mRNA expressions of ERα and ERβ in hypothalamus and hippocampus were markedly decreased in OVX rats, all of which were reversed by 17β-estradiol treatment except the mRNA expression of ERβ. Similar results were achieved by TFE treatment except the wet weight of uterus. Conclusion TFE can improve BMD of vertebra in the OVX rats without side effects on the uterus. The mechanism may be related to increasing the mRNA expressions of ERα and ERβ in hypothalamus and hippocampus.

Aim To investigate the effect of total flavonoids of Epimedium sagittatum(TFE)and its metabolites on the proliferation and function expression of newborn rats calvarial osteoblasts(ROB).Methods TFE was supplemented into the culture medium of ROB at 0.2,2,20,100 and 200 mg?L-1 respectively.The serum of rats administered TFES(SRAT) was also added into the medium in a parallel treatment at 2%,4%,8% and 16% respectively.Their effects on cell proliferation and function expression were studied by MTT and the analysis of osteogenic differentiation marks.Results TFE had no effect on cell proliferation and function expression at any concentration.However,2% and 4% SRAT stimulated cell proliferation and,4% SRAT promoted the maturation and function of osteoblast by improving the alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity,bone gla protein(BGP) secretion,calcium deposition and the number of mineralized nodular structures.Conclusions The effective substance of herba epimedii treating on osteoporosis is not TFE itself but certain of metabolites derived from TFE and the products induced by these metabolites in serum.The metabolites in serum of TFE may enhance the cell function expression and proliferation.

Aim To investigate the effect of catalpol from Radix rehmanniae on the proliferation,differentiation and matrix mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells in vitro.Methods Catalpol from Radix rehmanniae of different concentration preparations were extracted with ethanol(catalpol ethanol-extract),respectively.A mouse osteoblast cell line MC3T3-E1 was used to determine the potency of catalpol.MTT were applied to determine proliferation of the cell treated by catalpol at different concentrations.Differentiating effects of the catalpol with different concentrations in the cell were evaluated through the examinations of alkaline phosphatase(ALP)activities and bone gla protein(BGP)levels.Von kossa staining method was used to demonstrate the effects of the catalpol on calcification of the cells.Results Catalpol at concentration from 1×10~(-7) to 1×10~(-9) mol·L~(-1) for 24 hours and 48 hours effective promoted the proliferation of osteoblasts of MC3T3-E1 cells line.Catalpol at concentration from 1×10~(-5) to 1×10~(-6) mol·L~(-1) for 48 hours and 72 hours effective stimulated the activity of ALP of osteoblasts of MC3T3-E1 cells line.Catalpol at concentration from 1×10~(-5) to 1×10~(-6) mol·L~(-1) for 8 days and 12 days effective increased the synthesis and secretion of bone gla protein(BGP) of osteoblasts of MC3T3-E1 cells line.Catalpol at concentration from 1×10~(-5) to 1×10~(-6) mol·L~(-1) for 19 days effective increased the mineralized bone nodular structure number of osteoblasts of MC3T3-E1 cells line.Conclusion Catalpol could promote proliferation and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells in vitro.Catalpol may be one of effective monomer of Radix rehmanniae on treatment of osteoporosis.

BACKGROUND: In the research, the recipe for kidney tonification is prepared into "topical form" and "oral form". According to the interrelationship of "acupoints-meridans and collaterals-internal organs-target organs", osteoporosis is treated by the approaches of point compress and oral application respectively. According to the traditional theory of Chinese medicine, it is to infer that the herbs bring the adjustment into play by"being attributive to kidney meridian", but,whether does the specialty of herbs on "targeting medication" happenpractically or not? Hormones in "hypothalamus-pituitary- target gland" system is assayed to further analyze estrogen receptor and androgen receptor of target organs,such as kidney,bone, uterus, thyroid gland and testis so as to observe the relativity between "tropism and receptor".DESIGN: Complete random design with the objects of osteoporosis rats, and the control experimental study with kidney tonification recipe administrate with different approaches.OBJECTIVE: To probe into the effect of kidney tonification recipe on pituitary-thyroid axis in experimental osteoporosis.SETTING: College of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Hebei Medical University.MATERIALS: The experiment was performed in Chinese-Western integrated Basic Experiment Room of Hebei Medical University from January 2000 to December 2004. Sixty SD healthy female rats of 3-month old were employed,weighted(300 ± 20) g. The experimental animals were provided by Hebei Experimental Animal Center. After bred routinely for 1 week in Experimental Room, the rats were randomized into 6 groups,namely normal control(10rats), pathological model group(10 rats), infusing group(10 rats) in which kidney tonification recipe was applied based on 0. 8 g/100 g body mass,acupoint paste on bladder meridian group (10 rats), acupoint paste on kidney meridian group(10 rats) and paste on non-meridian group(10 rats). METHODS: Osteoporosis model was prepared with injection of dexamethasonc. Antagonism osteoporosis acupoint paste(AOAP)on acupoints and non-neridian places was administrated to compare with oral recipe for kidney tonification in the treatment of osteoporosis. It took the changes in serum estrogen, bone density, calcitonin/parathyroid hormone(CT/PTH), thyrotropic hormone(TSH), freeT3andfreeT4asthemeasuringindexes. Immunocyto-chemistry stain and morphological measurement of TSH cell,follicular adenoma of thyroid gland(C cell) and thyroid globulin(Tg) were applied in pituitary gland and thyroid gland to observe the therapeutic results.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Adjustment of the recipe for kidney tonification on thyroid function. ② Adjustment of the recipe for kidney tonification on bone density.RESULTS: AOAP improved the levels of estrogen, CT/PTH, TSH, free T3and free T4, increased bone density. The counts of TSH cell, C cell and Tg positive reaction substance were increased and they were colored deeply.CONCLUSION: AOPA, by "multiple relevant convergence reaction", adjusts and affects systematically the endocrinal function of bone metabolism,improves the levels of estrogen and CT/PTH, reverses the declining tendency of pituitary-thyroid axis function and improves thyroid function so as to weaken osteocyte in the bony absorption, enhance osteoblast in osteogenesis and increase bone density.

BACKGROUND: According to correlation of "acu-points-meridians-viscera-target-organs", two administration ways of acu-point application and oral medication have been used to treat osteoporosis, both ways can effect via "kidney-meridian tropism"; however whether there is a specificity of target-administration?OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of different administration ways of kidney-strengthening remedy on "yang abating and yin hoarding" of osteocytes in experimental osteoporosis by observation the correlation between "receptor and meridian-tropism".DESIGN: A randomized and controlled trial of different administration ways of kidney-strengthening remedy, taking rats with osteoporosis as subject.SETTING: Departments of Prescription Science and Biochemistry of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Collage, Hebei Medical University, and Qiaodong District Hospital of Shijiazhuang City.MATERIALS: The experiment was completed from June 2004 to May 2005 at the Laboratory of Integrative Medicine Basis of Hebei Medical University. Totally 120 SD rats, aged 3 months and of clean grade, were at random divided into 6 groups: normal control, pathological model, kidney strengthening, bladder meridian application, kidney meridian application and non-special application groups, with either sex being 10 in each group.The kidney strengthening remedy mainly consisted of fortune's Dry Naria Flavoniods and Icarine, each gram of fluid extract contained 9.543 g of the crude drug. The application recipe for anti-osteoporosis consisted of Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata, Cortex Moutan Radicis, Herba Epimedii, etc.METHODS: Except for those in normal group, the rats in the other groups were all given injection of dexamethasone to set up the osteoporosis models. The rats in normal control and pathological model groups were not given medicine, the rats in kidney strengthening group were by gavage given kidney strengthening remedy at 0.8 g/100 g wet. The rats in bladder meridian group were treated by anti-osteoporosis application at the points of Shenshu (BL 23) and Feiyang (BL 58) of the bladder meridian; the rats in kidney meridian group were treated by anti-osteoporosis application at the points of Taixi (KI 3 23) and Dazhong (KI 4) of the kidney meridian;and the rats in non-special application group were treated by anti-osteoporosis application at the areas of non-point-meridian. After 13 weeks administration, the rats were put to death, the concentrations of serum estradiol, testosterone, calcitonin and parathyroid hormone were detected with radio-immunoassay, and both the dynamic and static status parameters about bone morphosis were also measured.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:① Estradiol,testosterone,estradiol/testosterone, bone mineral density, calcitonin, parathyroid hormone, and calcitonin/parathyroid hormone of rats in each group after administration ② Both the dynamic and static status parameters about bone morphosis of rats in each group after administration.RESULTS: All rats involved in the trial entered the final result analysis.① The results of biochemical indexes of the rats in each group after administration: Compared with normal control group, the levels of estradiol,testosterone, estradiol/testosterone, bone mineral density, calcitonin and calcitonin/parathyroid hormone of the rats in pathological and non-special application groups after administration were remarkably decreased (P ＜ 0.01), but the level of parathyroid hormone was obviously increased (P ＜ 0.01); however for the levels of the above indexes of rats in kidney strengthening, bladder meridian application and kidney meridian application groups there were obvious changes (all P ＞ 0.05).② The results ofdynamic and static status parameters about bone morphosis of rats in each group after administration: Compared with normal group, in pathological and non-special application groups the volume percentage of bone trabecula, surface percentage of bone trabecula, formation surface percentage of bone trabecula, activity formation surface percentage of bone trabecula,mineralization deposition rate of bone trabecula, longitudinal bone growth rate, and velocity of bone trabeculation were all decreased (P ＜ 0.01), but the absorbance surface percentage of bone trabecula remarkably increased (P ＜ 0.01); however for the levels of the above indexes of rats in kidney strengthening, bladder meridian application and kidney meridian application groups there were obvious changes (all P ＞ 0.05).CONCLUSION: The anti-osteoporosis application can inhibit bone absorption and promote bone formation. It can be effectively controlled in quantity of drug entering the blood circulation, and with the same effect as that given orally. It can check the state of "bone destruction being more than bone formation" in osteoporosis, reverse the process of "yang abating and yin hoarding", making the bone absorption of osteoclast decrease, and the ability of the bone formation of osteoblast increase, enhancing bone mineral density, so that the "amplifying effect of point-meridian-passageway" comes into play.

BACKGROUND:Recent studies have suggested that intranasal administration is one of the ways to target drugdelivery, and can effectively make the drug that cannot pass through the blood brain barrier by other pathways to bypass the blood brain barrier, resulting in targeted delivery to the brain. It provides a promising route for the treatment of central nervous system diseases. OBJECTIVE: To study the pharmacokinetic and brain-targeted channel-tropism tissue distribution character of cimicifugoside H-1 after nasal and intravenous administration in plasma and tissues in rats, in order to evaluate the feasibility of developing brain-targeted nasal delivery system of cimicifugoside H-1 by the passage between nose and brain in nasal olfactory area. METHODS: After intravenous injection and nasal administration of cimicifugoside H-1, the drug concentrations of plasma and channel-tropism organs (lung, spleen, stomach, large intestine, liver, kidney, brain, brain, cerebelum, cerebrospinal fluid, olfactory bulb and olfactory region) were detected. Drug-time curve was drawn. DAS program was used to select apartment model and pharmacokinetics parameters. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) The pharmacokinetics characters of cimicifugoside H-1 are rapidly absorbed and extensively distribution. Among major channel-tropism organs, drug concentrations were higher in the lung and brain than in the other organs. (2) Cimicifugoside H-1 could be straightly transported into brain by the intranasal administration. The molecule through olfactory mucosa in nasal cavity entered into olfactory bulb in arachno-hypostegal cavity, and then entered into olfactory region, cerebrospinal fluid, cerebrum and cerebelum gradualy. Olfactory bulb was the only way for drug molecule to go through nasal cavity into brain. (3) Compared with the intravenous injection, cimicifugoside H-1 through the intranasal administration has a significant

BACKGROUND:Cuscuta chinensis is a mature seed of Cuscutachinensis Lam., can warm kidney. Previous studies demonstrated that kidney compound composed of Cuscuta chinensis could apparently inhibit bone loss and improve bone density.
OBJECTIVE:To explore the influence of flavonoids from Cuscuta chinensis on bone mineral density of femur, 1,25(OH)2D3 levels of serum and kidney, the expression of smal intestine CaBp-D9K mRNA in model rats with ovariectomized osteoporosis.
METHODS:A total of 72 Sprague-Dawley female rats were equal y and randomly divided into six groups (n=12):sham surgery group, model group, vitamin D3 group and low-, moderate-and high-dose flavonoids groups. The sham surgery group only received sham operation and the other five groups were ovariectomized respectively. One week after ovariectomy, the rats were given flavonoids from low-, moderate-and high-dose Cuscuta chinensis and vitamin D3 (2 mg/kg) by intragastric administration for 3 consecutive months. Blood was obtained from the abdominal aorta. Serum was isolated. The kidney was obtained. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine 1,25(OH)2D3 contents of renal and serum. Rats were sacrificed at the end of experiment. The thighbone was taken out to determine bone mineral density. The second lumbar vertebra was taken out to measure the expression of lumbar vertebra and renal vitamin D receptor mRNA using real-time fluorescent reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The smal intestine was taken out to measure the expression of smal intestine CaBp-D9K mRNA using real-time fluorescent reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the sham operation group, bone mineral density of femur, and 1,25(OH)2D3 levels of serum and kidney and the expression of lumbar vertebra vitamin D receptor mRNA significantly decreased in model group, and the expression of smal intestine CaBp-D9K mRNA significantly decreased in model group. Compared with the model group, bone mineral density of femur, and 1,25(OH)2D3 levels of serum and kidney, and the expression of the second lumbar vertebra vitamin D receptor mRNA, and the expression of smal intestine CaBp-D9K mRNA were increased in moderate-and high-dose flavonoids groups and vitamin D3 group. Results indicated that flavonoids from Cuscuta chinensis could significantly raise bone mineral density of femur, and 1,25(OH)2D3 levels of serum and kidney and the expression of lumbar vertebra vitamin D receptor mRNA and the expression of smal intestine CaBp-D9K mRNA, accelerate intestinal calcium absorption and osteoblast activity, and reinforce quality of the bone.

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between tissue quantitative distribution and pharmacokinetics of 3H-achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone and the channel-tropism of herbal drugs in mice.

METHOD3H-achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone was used as a tracer agent and injected into mice by the caudal vein. In 36 hours, the contents of the tracer agent of samples involving 9 different tracing phases and organ or tissue were determined in order to observe the dynamic quantitative distribution and excretion and pharmacokinetics of 3H-achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone and to understand the channel-tropism of herbal drugs achyranthes bidentata.

RESULT3H-achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone of same organs in different tracing phases and the contents of 3H-achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone in same tracing phases of different organs were significantly different (P<0.01). 3H-achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone was mainly distributed, in the liver, kidney, adrenal gland, small intestine and lung. The concentration-time profiles of achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone in rats injected into mice by the caudal vein were shown to fit a two-compartment open model with half-lives of (778.65 +/- 12.36) min, the elimination of achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone from plasma was found to be in accord with linear kinetics.

CONCLUSIONThe above mentioned selective distribution of 3H-achyranthes bidentata ecdysterone basically coincides with the meridian affinity and zang fu selection of the traditional Chinese medicine drug Achyranthes bidentata. This study will provide a scientific basis for the channel-tropism of A. bidentata.

Achyranthes ; chemistry ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Ecdysterone ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Isotope Labeling ; Male ; Meridians ; Mice ; Organ Specificity ; Tissue Distribution ; Tritium ; chemistry