AIM: Artemisia amygdalina Decne. (Asteraceae) is a critically endangered and endemic herb of Kashmir Himalayan sub-alpine region and Pakistan. Scientific research throughout the world has evidence to support the tremendous medicinal utility of the genus Artemisia. The natural resources of medicinal plants are being reduced day by day. This study provides the alternative way for medicinal resource utilization and conservation of A. amygdalina. METHODS: In vitro-raised plants and greenhouse acclimatized plants were obtained by culturing wild explants on Murashige and Skoog's medium. Plant extracts were obtained and subjected to different antioxidant assays: DPPH assay, riboflavin photo-oxidation assay, deoxy ribose assay, ferric thiocyanate assay, thiobarbituric acid assay, post mitochondrial supernatant assay and DNA damage on agarose gel. RESULTS: In vitro grown plants, as well as those acclimatized in the greenhouse reveals antioxidant activity against hydroxyl, superoxide, and lipid peroxyl radicals. CONCLUSION This preliminary study revealed the free radical scavenging potential of tissue culture-raised plant extracts of A. amydalina.
Acclimatization ; Artemisia ; chemistry ; growth & development ; physiology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Tissue Culture Techniques

OBJECTIVETo study the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of pur derivative nanopaticles 4ac in mice.

METHODAfter intravenous administration of 15 mg x kg(-1) of pur derivative 4ac, the plasma and tissue concentration was detected by HPLC. The pharmacokinetics parameters were calculated by the method of 3p97.

RESULTThe concentration time curves were conformed to two compartment model. The Re of 4ac nanopaticles was 21.18 times higher than suspension.

CONCLUSIONOur present study demonstrates that, compared to nanopaticles and suspension, nanopaticles significantly alter the pharmacokinetics in plasma and tissues targeting. Biodistribution of pur derivative 4ac nanopaticles in heart of mice was better than 4ac suspension. It will become a new drug for cardiovascular disease therapy.

Animals ; Female ; Isoflavones ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Mice ; Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Tissue Distribution

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; chemistry ; physiology ; Liver ; chemistry ; Molecular Weight ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; Tissue Extracts ; chemistry

A rapid method of Liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF-MS) combined with pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC) oxidation has been developed to determine chemical structures of two novel isomers in bear bile powder. Derivatives of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) were semi-synthesized by PCC oxidation, then were analyzed by LC-Q-TOF-MS. Separation was carried out on a reverse column with the mobile phase of acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid (45:55). The data of Q-TOF-MS was acquired by MS, MS/MS, positive and negative modes. Since UDCA and CDCA were stereochemical isomeric at an alcohol position, two oxidation products were same and have been confirmed by LC-Q-TOF-MS. Other two products were also determined based on the PCC oxidation theory. Samples of bear bile powder were dissolved by methanol and measured by LC-Q-TOF-MS. Two unknown peaks were found and identified by matching their retention times and accurate mass spectra ions with PCC oxidation productS. Finally, the structures of two new bile acids in bear bile powder were confirmed as 3alpha-hydroxy-7-oxo-5beta-cholanic acid, 7alpha-hydroxy-3-oxo-5beta-cholanic acid, respectively.
Animals ; Bile ; chemistry ; Chromatography, Liquid ; methods ; Isomerism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Powders ; chemistry ; Pyridinium Compounds ; chemistry ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Tissue Extracts ; chemistry ; Ursidae ; Ursodeoxycholic Acid ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of thrombomodulin(TM) in both plasma and tissue extracts of cancer patients for evaluating its clinical significance.

METHODSPlasma TM levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) in plasma of 188 cancer patients and in 24 cancer tissue extracts including their adjacent normal tissue.

RESULTSThe plasma TM levels both in cancer patients and in metastasis patients were significantly higher than that in controls [(33.47+/-14.25) microg/L/ (41.68 +/-16.96) micro/L, compared with (20.40+/-7.22) microg/L, P<0.01]. The plasma TM levels in cancer patients after operation decreased obviously [(18.45+/-9.96) microg/L, compared with (28.29+/-11.74) microg/L,P<0.01]. Whereas, the plasma TM levels in patients with recurrence and metastasis after operation increased obviously [(34.50+/-12.57 micro/L]. The plasma TM levels in metastasis of lung cancers, gastric cancers and pancreatic cancers were significantly higher than that in non-metastasis (P<0.05 approximate, equals 0.01) respectively, but no significant differences were found between controls and non-metastasis cancers including gastric cancers, pancreatic cancers, nasopharyngeal cancers, large intestine cancers and laryngeal cancers (P>0.05). The TM levels in cancer tissue extracts were significantly lower than that in their adjacent normal tissue extracts [(647.71+/-317.51)) microg/L,compared with (1455.63+/-772.22) microg/L,P<0.01]. On the contrary, the plasma TM levels in these cancers were higher than that in controls.

CONCLUSIONThe rise of plasma TM levels in cancer patients is associated with metastasis and diffusion of cancers. The TM levels can be used as an sensitive index for judging progression and metastasis of cancers.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasms ; blood ; chemistry ; Thrombomodulin ; analysis ; blood ; Tissue Extracts ; chemistry

AIM: To study the chemical constituents and bioactivity of the seeds of Crataegus pinnatifida. METHODS: The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by macroporous adsorptive resin D101, silica gel, and ODS column chromatography, and preparative HPLC. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods. In addition, the cytotoxic activities of compounds 1-4 were investigated on OPM2 and RPMI-8226 cells. RESULTS: Four compounds were obtained and their structures were identified as (7S, 8S)-4-[2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy]-3, 5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde (1), (+)-balanophonin (2), erythro-guaiacylglycerol-β-coniferyl aldehyde ether (3), buddlenol A (4). CONCLUSION Compound 1 is a novel norlignan, while compounds 1-4 exhibited marginal inhibition on the proliferation of OPM2 and RPMI-8226 cells.
Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Crataegus ; chemistry ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Seeds ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the affects of the different bioreactors on the Salvia miltiorrhiza adventitious root culture.

METHODAdventitious roots of S. miltiorrhiza were induced and in vitro cultured in bioreactors. The type of bioreactors was optimized and the kinetics of root growth, accumulation of the active ingredients was also investigated by HPLC.

RESULTIt showed that the 3-1 conical bubble bioreactor (CNBB) with 60 degrees taper favors achieved the highest active compounds accumulation in adventitious roots. The growth curve and secondary metabolites accumulation curve looks like "S" in CNBB bioreactor. The maximum adventitious roots biomass of 16.24 g x L(-1) (fresh weight) was obtained at 35 day. The highest content of tanshinone IIA (TA) and protocatechuic aldehyde (PA) reached 0.23 mg x g(-1) DW and 0.51 mg x g(-1) DW at 40 day, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe 3-1 conical bubble bioreactor (CNBB) with 60 degrees taper favors was the best bioreactors for the accumulation of active compounds.

Biomass ; Bioreactors ; Culture Media ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Tissue Culture Techniques ; methods

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the influence of adipose tissue extract on inducing angiogenesis and adipogenesis in adipose tissue engineering chamber in vivo.

METHODS6 months' healthy New Zealand rabbits (n = 64) were picked. The inguinal fat pads were cultured, centrifuged, filtered, and the liquid was called adipose tissue extract (ATE). Two adipose tissue engineering chamber were built in the rabbit's back. A week later, 0.2 ml normal saline (control group, left) and 0. 2 ml ATE (experimental group, right) was respectively injected into the chamber. The contents were evaluated morphometrically, histologically and immunohistochemically 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks and 7 weeks after injection. 8 rabbits were observed each time. The data regarding the number of the volume of fat flap and blood capillary at each time point were analyzed by paired t test.

RESULTSAfter injection, new tissue volume was significantly increased in the experimental group [(5.12 ± 0.22) ml], compared with that in control group [(4.90 ± 0.15) ml]. Early angiogenesis was also increased after ATE injection and the total number of capillaries reached peak 1 week after injection, which was (72.80 ± 9.67) in experimental group and (51.40 ± 6.09) in control group. In the mid-term of experimental period, earlier adipogenesis appeared in experimental group. In the later period, the outer capsule of the new construction was thinner in experimental group which reduced the suppression of the adipogenesis.

CONCLUSIONSATE can promote the angiogenesis and adipogenesis in the chamber, and reduce the capsule contracturing, so as to induce the large volume of adipose tissue regeneration

Adipogenesis ; drug effects ; physiology ; Adipose Tissue ; chemistry ; physiology ; Animals ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Rabbits ; Regeneration ; Tissue Engineering ; instrumentation ; Tissue Extracts ; pharmacology

Cockroaches have been implicated as a cause of respiratory allergy in urban areas worldwide. IgE-reactive German cockroach proteins were identified with molecular weights (MWs) of 90, 66, 50, 43 and 36 KD by immunoblot analysis in both immune BALB/c mice and sensitized humans. Prominent IgE-reactive proteins were purified using FPLC by ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration and hydrophobic chromatography. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of a purified protein with a MW of 66 KD on SDS-PAGE was Val-Thr-Leu-Lys-Lys(Val)-Met-Ile-Lys-Thr-Phe-Tyr. No homologous protein was found through a search of GenBank that indicated a novel IgE-reactive protein in German cockroach extract. Another purified protein with a MW of 36 KD reacted strongly with a monoclonal antibody against Bla g 2.
Amino Acid Sequence/genetics ; Animal ; Cockroaches/chemistry* ; Human ; IgE/immunology* ; Insect Proteins/isolation & purification* ; Insect Proteins/immunology* ; Insect Proteins/genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Tissue Extracts/chemistry*

Silk fibroin (SF)/sodium alginate (SA) hydrogels can be used as drug injection materials. Homogenate was prepared by centrifugation of the pig myocardial extracellular matrix (PMM) and its modification of SF gel material. This paper observes and compares the different components SF, SF/SA, SF/SA/PMM to illustrate the SF/SA/PMM ternary material as a drug delivery composition material. This ternary material can shorten the gel time, and can make the gel form to be maintained better. Meanwhile, it makes the internal structure of the gel looser so that the hole wall becomes thinner and more conducive to the drug release. In addition, it has good biocompatibility proved by pathological analysis, and is able to enhance the mesenchymal stem cells growth activity, which has great significance in carrying out drug control release.
Alginates ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemical synthesis ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; chemistry ; Drug Carriers ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Extracellular Matrix ; chemistry ; Fibroins ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Glucuronic Acid ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Hexuronic Acids ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Hydrogels ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Myocardium ; chemistry ; Rats ; Swine ; Tissue Extracts ; chemistry