There are 250 species of Zanthoxylum (Rutaceae) in the world. This genus distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. Alkaloids are the major and representative ingredients in these plants including quinolines, isoquinolines, and amide alkaloids, with such biological activities as anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-virus, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-bacteria and anti- oxidant. These species have been used for a long time to treat toothache, urinary and venereal diseases, lumbago and rheumatism. This review summarizes the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities from the Z. sppplants, in an effort to the systematic research and application of the alkaloids of this genus.
Alkaloids ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Zanthoxylum ; chemistry

Nowadays, nanotechnologies have shown wide application foreground in the biomedical field of medicine laboratory tests, drug delivery, gene therapy and bioremediation. However, in recent years, nanomaterials have been labeled poisonous, because of the disputes and misunderstandings of mainstream views on their safety. Besides, for the barriers of technical issues in preparation like: (1) low efficacy (poor PK & PD and low drug loading), (2) high cost (irreproducibility and difficulty in scale up), little of that research has been successfully translated into commercial products. Currently, along with the new theory of "physical damage is the origin of nanotoxicity", biodegradability and biocompatibility of nanomaterials are listed as the basic principle of safe application of nanomaterials. Combining scientific design based on molecular level with precision control of process engineering will provide a new strategy to overcome the core technical challenges. New turning point of translational medicine in nanotechnology may emerge.
Biocompatible Materials ; Nanostructures ; toxicity ; Nanotechnology ; Translational Medical Research

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes on lipopolysaccharide(LPS) induced hepatocyte inflammation of rats and TLR4/p38MAPK signal pathway.

METHODThe hepatocytes of SD rats were cultured and identified in vitro. The medicated serum of soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes was prepared. The hepatocytes were treated with soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes. Then Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression in cultural supernatants were assayed by ELISA. The expressions of Toll-Like 4 (TLR4), p38 mitogen activated protein kinases (p38MAPK) and p-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38MAPK) were detected by Western blot.

RESULTThe rat medicated serum of soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes was extracted for 2-3 mL. The purified rat hepatocytes were 1.5 x 10(8)-2.0 x 10(8). The cell viability was above 95% detected by Typan blue staining. The hepatocytes were identified by immumofluorescence assay. The detection of hepatocyte cultural supernatants: compared with that of the control group, IL-6 and TNF-α expression were increased in the LPS group (P < 0.01). While compared with that of the LPS group, the expressions of IL-6 and TNF-α were decreased after soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes intervention (P < 0.01). The detection of hepatocyte proteins: compared with that of the control group, the protein expressions of p38MAPK, p-p38MAPK and TLR4 were all increased significantly in the LPS group (P < 0.01). Compared with that of the LPS group, the protein expressions of p38MAPK was decreased significantly in SB239063 group and it was also decreased in the soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes group, but with no significant difference. Compared with that of the LPS group, p38MAPK expression was reduced significantly in the soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes group and the SB239063 (p38MAPK pathway inhibitor) group (P < 0.01). TLR4 protein expression was decreased markedly in the soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes group (P < 0.01) but had no difference between the SB239063 group and the LPS group.

CONCLUSIONThe soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes may regulate hepatocyte inflammatory injury of rats through TLR4/p38MAPK signaling pathway.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; injuries ; metabolism ; Male ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Spleen ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism

1H NMR metabonomics approach was used to reveal the chemical difference of urine between patients with Xiao-Chaihu Tang syndrome (XCHTS) and healthy participants (HP). The partial least square method was used to establish a model to distinguish the patients with Xiao-Chaihu-Tang syndrome from the healthy controls. Thirty-four endogenous metabolites were identified in the 1H NMR spectrum, and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis showed the urine of patients with Xiao-Chaihu Tang syndrome and healthy participants could be separated clearly. It is indicated that the metabolic profiling of patients with Xiao-Chaihu Tang syndrome was changed obviously. Fifteen metabolites were found by S-pot of OPLS-DA and VIP value. The contents of leucine, formic acid, glycine, hippuric acid and uracil increased in the urine of patients, while threonine, 2-hydroxyisobutyrate, acetamide, 2-oxoglutarate, citric acid, dimethylamine, malonic acid, betaine, trimethylamine oxide, phenylacetyl glycine, and uridine decreased. These metabolites involve the intestinal microbial balance, energy metabolism and amino acid metabolism pathways, which is related with the major symptom of Xiao-Chaihu Tang syndrome. The patients with Xiao-Chaihu Tang syndrome could be identified and predicted correctly using the established partial least squares model. This study could be served as the basis for the accurate diagnostic and reasonable administration of Xiao-Chaihu-Tang syndrome.
Humans ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics ; Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Syndrome ; Urinalysis

AIMTo study the metabolic kinetics of MN9202 in Beagle dog liver microsome.

METHODSBeagle dog liver microsomes were prepared by using ultracentrifuge method. After incubating 0.4 micromol x L(-1) MN9202 with 1 g x L(-1) microsomes for 30 min at 37 degrees C, the reaction was terminated by adding 0.5 mL alkalization. The RP-HPLC was used to determine the drug in the incubation mixture. The Michaelis-Menten parameters Km, and Vmax in Beagle dog liver microsomes were initially estimated by analyzing Lineweave-Brurk plot. Various selective CYP inhibitors were used to investigate their inhibitory effect on the metabolism of MN9202.

RESULTSThe Km, Vmax and CLint of MN9202 were (22.6 +/- 8.0) micromol x L(-1), (0.54 +/- 0.17) micromol x g(-1) x min(-1) and (0.0242 +/- 0.0009) L x g(-1) x min(-1), respectively. The metabolism of MN9202 was significantly inhibited by ketoconazole (Ket) and troleandomycin (Tro) in Beagle dog liver microsomes. Tranylcypromine (Tra) could inhibit the metabolism of drug as well. While other inhibitors showed little inhibitory effect on the metabolism of MN9202.

CONCLUSIONIt was shown that CYP3A and CYP2C19 were involved in MN9202 metabolism. The inhibitors of human CYP3A and CYP2C19 may have potential interaction with MN9202, and this can reduce the metabolism rate and increase the toxicity of MN9202.

Animals ; Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19 ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Inhibitors ; Dihydropyridines ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Dogs ; Ketoconazole ; pharmacology ; Microsomes, Liver ; metabolism ; Mixed Function Oxygenases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Nitrobenzenes ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Tranylcypromine ; pharmacology ; Troleandomycin ; pharmacology

AIMTo study the pharmacokinetics of genistein in Beagle dogs.

METHODSGenistein, suspended in 0.5% CMC-Na solution, was orally administered to Beagle dogs at the dose of 5.34 mg.kg-1. At various time intervals, 1.5 mL of blood was drawn from the vein of dogs in their front legs. At the same time, urine and feces were collected. After the collection, the feces were homogenized with physiological saline (to 1 g feces, 10 mL physiological saline were added). The genistein in plasma, urine and homogenized feces was extracted twice by vortexing with 2.0 mL mixture of methyl tert-butyl ether and pentane (8:2). The organic phase was transferred into tubes and evaporated in ventilation cabinet. The residue was dissolved in 50 microL of methanol and 20 microL of the solution was drawn and detected by high-performance liquid chromatography. The pharmacokinetic parameter was calculated by 3P97 software.

RESULTSThe plasma concentration-time curve was fitted to a one-open-compartment model. The peak time was 0.29 h, and the elimination half-life was 0.52 h. After genistein was administered, 10.79% of genistein were excreted from urine and 21.55% from feces within 24 h. It was also found that 13.00% genistein were excreted from urine and 52.46% from feces within 60 h.

CONCLUSIONIt showed that the speed of absorption and elimination of genistein was high in Beagle dog, and genistein was mainly excreted in the form of parent compound in urine and feces.

Animals ; Anticarcinogenic Agents ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; urine ; Area Under Curve ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dogs ; Feces ; chemistry ; Genistein ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; urine

This study examined the ability of 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose (β-PGG) to induce the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the PC12 cells and its regulation in the PC12 cells. One week before treatment with the drug, nerve growth factor (NGF) was added to the cultures at a final concentration of 50 ng/mL to induce neuronal differentiation. After drug treatment, HO-1 gene transcription was analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Expression of HO-1 and NF-E2-related factor2 (Nrf2) and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt were detected by Western blotting. The viability of the PC12 cells treated with different medicines was examined by MTT assay. The oxidative stress in the PC12 cells was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively by DCFH-DA. The results showed that β-PGG up-regulated HO-1 expression and this increased expression provided neuroprotection against MPP(+)-induced oxidative injury. Moreover, β-PGG induced Nrf2 nuclear translocation, which was found to be upstream of β-PGG-induced HO-1 expression, and the activation of ERK and Akt, a pathway that is involved in β-PGG-induced Nrf2 nuclear translocation, HO-1 expression and neuroprotection. In conclusion, β-PGG up-regulates HO-1 expression by stimulating Nrf2 nuclear translocation in an ERK- and Akt-dependent manner, and HO-1 expression by β-PGG may provide the PC12 cells with an acquired antioxidant defense capacity to survive the oxidative stress.
Animals ; Cell Death ; drug effects ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; genetics ; Hydrolyzable Tannins ; pharmacology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; genetics ; PC12 Cells ; Piperidines ; adverse effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; Pyrazoles ; adverse effects ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of volatile oil of amomum (VOA) on the expressions of mastocarcinoma-related peptide (PS2) and platelet activating factor (PAF) in helicobacter pyloriassociated gastritis (HPG) and to analyze its potential mechanism.

METHODSEighty patients with HPG were randomly assigned to two groups, 42 patients in the treated group treated with 0.5 mL VOA, thrice per day; and the 38 patients in the control group receiving Western tertiary medicinal treatment. Gastroscopic picture and helicobacter pylori (HP) infection (by quick urease and Warthin-Starry stain) of the gastro-membrane, expressions of PS2 and PAF (by immunohistochemical assay and Western blotting) as well as the contents of aminohexose and phospholipid (by Neuhaus method) in the gastric membrane of all patients were detected before treatment and 4 weeks after treatment. The clinical efficacy in the two groups was compared.

RESULTSThe total effective rate in the treated group was 88.1%, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (78.9%, P<0.05). After treatment, in the treated group, gastric membranous contents of aminohexose and phospholipid was increased, expression of PS2 elevated but that of PAF lowered, all showing significant difference as compared with those in the control group (P<0.01). In the control group, the expressions of PS2 and PAF changed insignificantly. The radical eliminating rate of HP in the treated group and the control group was insignificantly different between them (76.1% vs. 65.8%, P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe mechanism of VOA for anti-gastritis might be related with its action in increasing the expression of PS2 and decreasing the expression of PAF, and thus regulating the hydrophobicity of the gastric membrane.

Adult ; Aged ; Amomum ; Blotting, Western ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Gastric Mucosa ; chemistry ; Gastritis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Helicobacter Infections ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oils, Volatile ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Peptides ; analysis ; Phospholipids ; analysis ; Platelet Activating Factor ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) combined with chromosomal analysis for the detection of Robertsonian translocation type trisomy 21 in amniotic fluid cells.

METHODSAmniotic fluid samples from pregnant women requesting prenatal diagnosis were cultivated. Metaphase cells were prepared for G-banding karyotype analysis. For the 5 Robertsonian translocation type trisomy 21, interphase nuclei from amniotic fluid and parental peripheral blood cells were prepared for FISH analysis.

RESULTSIn 2 cases, analysis of parental peripheral blood cells showed normal karyotypes. FISH analysis of amniotic fluid cells indicated that one sample had two copies of chromosome 21, which has a 46, XY, rob(21;21)(q10;q10) karyotype, whilst another had trisomy 21 by FISH, which has a 46, XY, rob(14;21)(q10;q10) karyotype. For the remaining three samples, analysis of parental peripheral blood cells indicated that their karyotypes were 45, XX, rob(14;21)(q10;q10), 45, XX, rob(15;21)(q10;q10) and 45, XX, rob(21;22)(q10;q10), whilst the karyotypes of amniotic fluid cells were 46, XX, rob(14;21)(q10;q10), 46, XY, rob(15;21)(q10;q10) and 46, XX, rob(21;22)(q10;q10), respectively.

CONCLUSIONCombined FISH and chromosomal analysis is an efficient method for detecting non-homologous Robertsonian translocation type trisomy 21. However, FISH has limited ability to detect homologous Robertsonian translocation type trisomy 21.

Adult ; Down Syndrome ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Karyotyping ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Translocation, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors for hearing impairment induced by cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in children.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty-eight children diagnosed with CMV infection were enrolled as subjects. Based on the results of the brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) test, patients were classified into normal hearing group (n=117; BAEP≤35) and abnormal hearing group (n=41; BAEP>35). A retrospective analysis was performed on the general information, routine blood indices, liver function, copy number of CMV-DNA in urine and breast milk. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to predict the copy number of CMV-DNA resulting in abnormal BAEP. The Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to test the correlations of the copy number of CMV-DNA in urine with the degree of hearing impairment and platelet count.

RESULTSThe incidence rates of platelet abnormality and abnormal liver function and the copy number of CMV-DNA in urine were significantly higher in the abnormal hearing group than in the normal hearing group (P<0.01). According to the ROC curve, the copy number of CMV-DNA in urine had a sensitivity of 46.3% and a specificity of 93.2% in predicting hearing impairment when it reached 1.415×10(6) per mL. The results of correlation analysis showed that the degree of hearing impairment was positively correlated with the copy number of CMV-DNA (r=0.382, P<0.01); the platelet count was negatively correlated with the copy number of CMV-DNA in urine (r=-0.233, P=0.003).

CONCLUSIONSAn increased copy number of CMV-DNA in urine might be a risk factor for hearing impairment induced by CMV infection. Children are likely to have hearing impairment when the copy number of CMV-DNA reaches 1.415×10(6) per mL. The monitoring of hearing should be strengthened in CMV-infected children with a decreased platelet count.

Cytomegalovirus Infections ; complications ; DNA, Viral ; urine ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Female ; Hearing Loss ; etiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Platelet Count ; ROC Curve ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors