OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of oxymatrine (OMT) on myocardial fibrosis induced by acute myocardial infarction in rats and its effect on TGF-beta-Smads signal pathway.

METHODArteria coronaria ligation-induced acute myocardial infarction model was established in rats. The survived rats were randomly allotted into the model group, 50, 25, 12.5 mg x kg(-1) OMT groups, the 50 mg x kg(-1) captopril group, and the Sham-operated group which was treated as the model group without the arteria coranaria ligation. After 8 weeks of ligation, myocardial fibrosis was detected by HE and Masson staining, and the RT-PCR method were used to detect the expression of mRNA of TGF-beta-Smads signal system.

RESULTThe histopathological examination showed decrease in cardiocytes, deposition of extra-cellular matrix, and increase of collagen contents after 8 weeks of ligation. RT-PCR results showed that mRNA expressions of TGF-beta1, TbetaR1, Smad2, Smad3 and Smad4 significantly increased, but mRNA expression of Smad7 is remarkable lower than the sham-operated group. Treatment with OMT for 8 weeks could remarkably inhibit myocardial fibrosis, decrease mRNA expressions of TGF-beta1, TbetaR1, Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4, and increase mRNA expressions of Smad7.

CONCLUSIONOMT has the inhibitory effect on the experimental myocardial fibrosis induced by AMI in rats. Its mechanism may be closely related to TGF-beta-Smads signal system.

Acute Disease ; Alkaloids ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Fibrosis ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Quinolizines ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction ; physiology ; Smad Proteins ; genetics ; physiology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; genetics ; physiology

OBJECTIVE：To compare the chemical compo sition difference in methanol and petroleum ether fraction from Curcuma longa of different habitats. METHODS ：The ultrasonic method was used to extract C. longa from 7 defferent producingareas（S1-S7），and methanol and petroleum ether fraction were obtained and calculated yield. The curcumin compounds in methanol fraction were determined by LC-MS ；The chemical components in petroleum ether fraction were analyzed by GC-MS ， and the relative percentage content was determined by peak area normalization method after determining its structure by comparing NIST 2005 standard mass spectra and Wiley 275 standard mass spectra. SPSS 25.0 software was used for principle component analysis（PCA）and cluster analysis of relative percentage content of common components in petroleum ether fraction from C. longa of different habitats. At the same time ，the influence of latitude of the habitats on the content of total tumerone （by tumerone and ar-tumerone ）was analyzed. RESULTS ：The yield of methanol fraction were 1.35％-8.90％ from C. longa of 7 habitats；the yield of petroleum ether fraction were 0.81％-4.90％，which were the highest in C. longa from Longyan of Fujian Province. There was no significant difference in the relative content of curcumin compounds（reference peak area ）from S 1，S3-S7，which was in descending order as follows as curcumin ＞desmethoxycurcumin＞bisdemethoxycurcumin. There was slightly different in curcumin compounds of C. longa from S 2，mainly manifesting as the content of bisdemethoxycurcumin was higher than that from other producing areas. Totally 48 chemical compositions were identified from petroleum ether fraction in C. longa from different habitats ， mainly being sesquiterpenoids and monoterpenoids. 23，10，15，18，11，14，15 chemical compositions were identified from S1-S7，accounting for 94.49％，96.09％，95.66％，98.98％，99.24％，89.05％ and 97.27％. There were 4 common compositions in C. longa from different habitats ，which were tumerone （17.90％-43.07％），ar-tumerone（6.97％-33.66％），（6R，7R）-bisabolone （1.60％-4.28％），curlone（6.80％-20.63％）. PCA analysis showed that accumulative contribution rate of former 6 principle components was 100％. Cluster analysis showed that S1，S2， S6 was clustered into a category ，respecrively；and others intoa category. Total content of total tumerone decreased first and then increased as the increase of latitude ，which was the highest in Mianyang of Sichuan province （64.28％）and the lowest in Zhangzhou of Fujian province （26.92％）. CONCLUSIONS ： There are difference in composition and content of methanol and petroleum ether fractions in C. longa from different habitats.

Based on qi-depression constitution， we systematically sorted out and summarized the manifestations of specific symptoms and prescriptions of qi-depression constitution. It is believed that a series of syndromes can be developed due to the imbalance in patients with qi-depression constitution. The four most common syndromes inclinic were summarized as liver depression， deficient depression， phlegm-heat depression， and stagnation. “Liver depression” resulted from liver failing to free flow of qi， then qi stagnated， so Xiaoyao Powder （逍遥散） was recommended as treatment for liver qi depression， spleen deficiency and blood insufficiency； Danzhi Xiaoyao Powder （丹栀逍遥散） for liver depression and spleen deficiency， depression transforming into fire； Bentun Decoction （奔豚汤） for liver depression transforming into fire， upward rushing of qi counterflow. “Deficient depression” resulted from long-term mental disorder and will consume qi and blood potentially to qi and blood deficiency， so Ganmai Dazao Decoction （甘麦大枣汤） was recommended as treatment for deficiency of both heart and spleen， and heart and spleen failing to tonify； Baihe Dihuang Decocotion （百合地黄汤） for heart and lung with yin deficiency， spirit and soul failing to guard. “Phlegm-heat depression” resulted from disturbance of qi movement， affecting the transportation of essence， blood and body fluids， gathering dampness and forming phlegm into heat. Banxia Houpo Decoction （半夏厚朴汤） was recommended as treatment for liver depression and failing to transportation， phlegm coagulation and qi stagnation； Chaihu （or Chaiqin） Wendan Decoction （柴胡（芩）温胆汤） for liver depression and phlegm-heat harassing internally， and disharmony of gallbladder and stomach； self-made Shugan Jieyu Decoction （舒肝解郁汤） for liver-qi stagnation and phlegm-fire harassing internally. “Stagnation” resulted from stagnation of Qi and blood， accumulation of turbid phlegm， and forming stasis over time， so Yueju Pill （越鞠丸） was recommended as treatment for liver depression and failing to transportation， phlegm-fire with damp diet and blood depression； self-made Rupi Sanjie Decoction （乳癖散结汤） for liver depression， stagnation of Qi and blood.