Objective To investigate the effect of bifidobacteria on dextran sulphate sodium(DSS)- induced acute ulcerative colitis in mice.Methods Thirty BALB/C mice were randomly divided into nor- mal control group (n=10),0501 strain group (n=10) and c122 strain group (n=10).Fifty BALB/ C mice received 5% dextran sulphate sodium(DSS) for 7 days to induce ulcerative colitis.The mice were then divided to model group,negative control group(perfused with 0.9 NaCl solution ),positive control group(perfused with SASP of 20 mg/ml),DSS + 0501 strain group(perfused with 1?10~9 CFU/ml bifidobacteria 0501 strain solution and DSS + c122 strain group (perfused with 1?10~9 CFU/ml bifidobacteria c122 strain solution).All mice were sacrificed 9 days later.The colon specimens were measure by histoehemical staining with H-E.The expressions of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and its protein were detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry respectively.Results The degree of colon inflam- mation in mice both in DSS+ 0501 strain and DSS+ c122 strain groups were aggravated and expressions of IL-10 mRNA and protein were reduced compared to model group.No colon inflammation was found in 0501 strain and c122 strain groups.Conclusion Some strain of bifidobaeteria may aggravate colon in- flammation in mice when mucosal harrier is destroyed.

Background The select of supporter is critical for the construction of tissue engineering cornea.Many carrier carl be utilized in the construction of tissue engineering cornea,but de-cellular corneal matrix is known to be one of optimal supporters.Objective Present study was to investigate the characteristics of de-cellular corneal matrix of porcine of structure and biocompatibility for rabbit cornea stroma and limbal epithelial ceHs. Methods The porcine cornea was prepared as de-cellular corneal matrix of porcine by the application of detergent enzyme combined process.The corneal epithelial cells,keratocyte and endothelial cells of porcine were removed completely and stored in -20℃ refrigerator after sterilization.The morphology of de-cellular corneal matrix of porcine was examined by hematoxylin-eosin staining under the light microscope.The structure characteristics of de.cellular corneal matrix of porcine under the scan electron microscope,and its physics features were investigated by the evaluation of water content,strength,expansion and transparency.The de-cellular corneal matrix of porcine were implanted to cornea stroma of rabbit and co-cultured with rabbit corneal epithelial cells for 4 weeks in vitro to assess the keracyte compatibility. Results The epithelial cells,keratocyte and endothelial cells of porcine were removed completely by trypsogen digestion.The collagen fibril network and collagen plates paralleled to corneal surface under the light microscope.The water content,strength,expansion。Ratio of light transparency of de-cellular corneal matrix of porcine were similar to normal porcine cornea.After implantation of de.cellular comeal matrix of porcine into rabbits corneal stroma,the edema of tissue was found in one week,and edema disappeared on two weeks and became clear on four weeks after surgery.The de-cellular eorneal matrix attached to rabbit cornea stroma well.No inflammatory eell and new vessel were found after surgery.The co-cultured rabbit corneal epithelial cells differentiated and proliferated on the surfaee of de-cellular corneal matrix and showed positive response for CK3.No statistically significant differences were found in the water content,strength,expansion of de-cellular cornea matrix of porcine among the normal,before dehydration,2 and 4 hours after dehydration cornea matrix(P＞0.05).However,the transparency was much better in the corneal matrix with 2-hour,4-hour dehydration in comparison with non-dehydration one(P＜0.05). Conclusion The structure features of de-cellular cornea matrix of porcine are similar to normal porcine cornea.Good biocompatibility is proved for xenogenesis of rabbit cornea.

Six flavonol glycosides were isolated and calibrated from Ginkgo biloba extract, and then used to calibrate the content in 2 baiches of G. biloba reference extract, so was rutin. RSD values of rutin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoside-2-glu- coside, quercetin-3-O-rhamnop-yranosyl-2-O-(6-O-p-coumaroyl)-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-rhamnopyranosyl-2-O-(6-O-p-coum-aroyl) - glucoside were around 1.1%-4.6%, nevertheless, RSD values of quercetin-3-O-glucoside and isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside were more than 5%. According to the results, the reference extract of G. biloba can be used as the substitute to determine rutin, kaempferol-3-O- rutinoside, kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoside-2-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-rhamnopyranosyl-2-O-(6-O-p-coumaroyl)-glucoside and kaempferol-3-0-rhamnopyranosyl-2-O-(6-O-p-coumaroyl)-glucoside instead of corresponding reference substances. So reference extract in place of single component reference in assay is feasible.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavonols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

OBJECTIVETo investigate the matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression in vascular endothelial cells stimulated by the serum obtained from children with Kawasaki disease (KD) during the acute phase in the absence and presence of MMP-9 small interfering RNA (siRNA).

METHODSMMP-9 siRNA plasmids were constructed and transduced into vascular endothelial cells (ECV-304) by liposomal transfection. ECV-304 were cultured in 6 different conditional media: KD serum + siRNA negative control, normal serum, KD serum + MMP-9 siRNA1 (pSilencer3.1-MMP1), KD serum + MMP-9 siRNA2 (pSilencer3.1-MMP2), KD serum + gamma-globulin, and KD serum. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect MMP-9 expression at mRNA and protein levels in ECV-304.

RESULTSThe mRNA and protein expression of MMP-9 in ECV-304 cultured with 10% serum from KD patients (2.49 +/- 0.03, 1.20 +/- 0.04) and KD serum + siRNA negative control plasmid (2.45 +/- 0.03, 1.15 +/- 0.03) were significantly higher than those cultured with 10% serum from normal control children (1.21 +/- 0.03, 0.52 +/- 0.03, respectively; all P < 0.01) and the increased MMP-9 expression could be significantly inhibited by MMP-9 siRNA1, MMP-9 siRNA2 and gamma-globulin (100 mg/ml, all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe increase of MMP-9 expression in vascular endothelial cells induced by the serum from KD patients might take part in the formation of coronary artery lesions. Two customized MMP-9 siRNA plasmids (pSilencer3.1-MMP1 and pSilencer3.1-MMP2) can significantly inhibit both MMP-9 mRNA and protein expression.

Cells, Cultured ; Child ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection

Plant active components characterized of many different structures and activities on multiple targets, have made them to be the important sources of inhibitors on HIV-1. For finding leading compounds with new structure against HIV-1, three key HIV-1 replicative enzymes (reverse transcriptase, protease and integrase) were used as screening models. The in vitro activities of 45 plant derived components isolated from Schisandraceae, Rutaceae and Ranunculaceae were reported. Within twelve triterpene components isolated, eight compounds were found to inhibit HIV-1 protease, in these eight active compounds, kadsuranic acid A (7) and nigranoic acid (8), inhibited both HIV-1 protease and integrase; Among fifteen lignans, meso-dihydroguaiaretic acid (15) and kadsurarin (16) were active on HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, and 4, 4-di(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenly)-2, 3-dimethylbutanol (13) active on HIV-1 integrase. All of the six alkaloids, seven flavones, and five others compounds were not active or only with low activities against HIV-1 replicative enzymes. Further studies of the triterpene components showing strong inhibitory activities on HIV-1 were warranted.
Alkaloids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Anti-HIV Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Flavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Guaiacol ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; HIV Integrase ; drug effects ; HIV Protease ; drug effects ; HIV Reverse Transcriptase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Lignans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Ranunculaceae ; chemistry ; Rutaceae ; chemistry ; Schisandraceae ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the culture of adventitious root of Salvia miltiorrhiza in vitro systemically.

METHODEffects of sucrose concentrations, medium pH, inoculum size and plant growth regulators on adventitious root growth and secondary metabolites production in S. miltiorrhiza were investigated.

RESULTWith the increase of initial sucrose concentration, adventitious root growth rates increased and tanshinone II A content decreased, while content of protocatechuic aldehyde showed a broken line change and its highest production was obtained under 30 g x L(-1) sucrose in the medium. As for the effect of medium pH, medium pH of 6.5, 5.5 (or 6.0) and 5.8 was favorable for adventitious root growth, tanshinone II A and protocatechuic aldehyde synthesis respectively. Furthermore, adventitious root growth, rate was greatly increased when inoculum size was 2.5%. MS medium added with 0.5 mg x L(-1) KT was much favorable for tanshinone II A and protocatechuic aldehyde accumulation.

CONCLUSIONParameters including sucrose concentrations, medium pH, inoculum size and plant growth regulators have distinct effects on the in vitro culture of adventitious root growth and secondary metabolites synthesis of S. miltiorrhiza.

Benzaldehydes ; metabolism ; Catechols ; metabolism ; Culture Media ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Phenanthrenes ; metabolism ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Sucrose ; Tissue Culture Techniques

OBJECTIVETo provide some research clues from Chinese herbal medicine for SARS prevention and treatment.

METHODAccording to the experience and information, to select several perspective candidates from anti-SARS effective TCM prescriptions and drugs.

RESULTA list of Chinese herbal medicine and more than 14 botanical taxa could be served for further anti-SARS investigation.

CONCLUSIONThis investigation indicated that Chinese herbal medicine will be an important source for ant-SARS new drug searching.

Animals ; Berberidaceae ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Ephedra ; chemistry ; Ferns ; chemistry ; Humans ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; SARS Virus ; drug effects ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; drug therapy ; prevention & control

To compare the anti-HIV-1 activities of (+/-)-11-demethyl-calanolide A and its mother compound (+/-)-calanolide A in vitro and in vivo, the inhibitory activities of the two compounds on HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) were detected in vitro with isotope 3H assay. The cytotoxicity and inhibition of cytopathic effect (CPE) were studied in HIV-1 IIIB infected MT-4 cell cultures by MTT staining method; Mice were given with the two compounds 100 mg x kg(-1) once intraperitoneally, then the mouse sera taken on 30 min and 60 min after administration were detected for the inhibition of HIV-1 RT in vitro. The data showed that (+/-)-11-demethyl-calanolide A and (+/-)-calanolide A inhibited HIV-1 RT in vitro with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of (3.028 +/- 2.514) micromol x L(-1) and (3.965 +/- 5.235) micromol x L(-1), and also inhibited CPE in HIV-1 IIIB infected MT-4 cell cultures with IC50 of (1.081 +/- 0.337) micromol x L(-1) and (1.297 +/- 0.076) micromol x L(-1), respectively. After intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg x kg(-1) of the two compounds in mice, all the mice sera taken 30 and 60 min afterward inhibited HIV-1 RT in vitro. In comparison with control mice sera, the inhibitory rates of the sera for (+/-)-11 -demethyl-calanolide A were (42.7 +/- 1.5)% at 30 min (P < 0.01) and (32.2 +/- 6.1)% at 60 min (P < 0.05), separately, while the inhibitory rates of the sera for (+/-)-calanolide A were (40.7 +/- 6.3)% at 30 min (P < 0.01) and (29.2 +/- 6.7)% at 60 min. The results suggested that (+/-)-11-demethyl-calanolide A is a new non-nucleoside HIV-1 RT inhibitor, its anti-HIV-1 activities in vitro, in cell cultures and in mice were slightly higher than that of its mother compound (+/-)-calanolide A and warrants further studies.
Animals ; Anti-HIV Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; HIV Reverse Transcriptase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; HIV-1 ; drug effects ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; pharmacology ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Male ; Mice ; Molecular Structure ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; pathology ; virology ; Pyranocoumarins ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Stereoisomerism

For obtaining new structural compounds with unique resistance profiles or novel mechanisms of action on HIV-1 from natural products, anti-HIV-1 drug screening models were used in vitro. Norcantharidin (NCTD), a derivative from cantharidin, was found to have inhibitory activities on HIV-1(IIIB) p24 antigen in lymphocyte lines MT-4, CEM and H9. It inhibited HIV-1 strain 018a (sensitive to zidovudine) from replicating with EC50 (50% effective concentration) of 14.9 micromol L(-1) and also inhibited HIV-1 strain 018c (resistant to zidovudine) from replicating with EC50 of 20.2 micromol L(-1) in primary lymphocytes peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Norcantharidin showed synergistic activity with zidovudine on HIV-1(IIIB) in MT-4 cells, the combination index was less than 0.3. But, it was not active on HIV-1 integrase, reverse transcriptase or protease in vitro. As the structure of norcantharidin is unique and different from that of all clinic drugs approved, it would be possible to obtain new and effective compounds against HIV-1 with low toxicities after modification of norcantharidin.
Anti-HIV Agents ; pharmacology ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; Drug Synergism ; HIV Core Protein p24 ; metabolism ; HIV Integrase ; metabolism ; HIV-1 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; cytology ; virology ; Peptide Hydrolases ; metabolism ; RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; virology ; Virus Replication ; Zidovudine ; pharmacology

A new UPLC method was developed for the simultaneous determination of eleven characteristic flavonoid glycosides in Ginkgo biloba leaves. The natural occurrence of flavonoid glycosides in Ginkgo biloba leaves within one vegetative season was investigated for the first time. The analysis was performed on an Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C18 column (50 mm x 4.6 mm, 1.8 microm), the mobile phase A was acetonitrile, the mobile phase B was 0.4% phosphate aqueous solution in a gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.6 mL x min(-1), the detection was carried out at 360 nm. The result showed that eleven flavonoid glycosides had good linearity with good average recovery, separately. The method was proved to be accurate, rapid and good reproducible for the quality evaluation of Ginkgo biloba leaves, and provide an easy and rapid means for the quantitative analysis of flavonoid glycosides and their content fluctuation with seasons.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; chemistry ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Glycosides ; analysis ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results ; Seasons