OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on improving motor function and regulating microglial activation based on Notch receptor 1 (Notch1)/Hes family bHLH transcription factor 1 (Hes1) pathway in mice with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: Thirty-six male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a control group, a model group and an EA group, 12 mice in each group. PD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) for 7 consecutive days in the model group and the EA group. From the 1st day of modeling, EA was applied at "Baihui" (GV20) and bilateral "Shenshu" (BL23) in the EA group, with continuous wave, in frequency of 2 Hz and current of 2 mA, 15 min a time, once a day for 14 days continuously. The behavioral performance was evaluated by gait test, pole climbing test and hanging test, the number of positive cells of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and the co-expression positive cells of Notch1/ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1) in the substantia nigra of midbrain was assessed by immunofluorescence, the protein expression of TH, α-synuclein (α-syn), Notch1, Hes1, Iba-1, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), Arginase-1 (ARG1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 was detected by Western blot, the mRNA expression of Notch1 and Hes1 was detected by real-time PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, in the model group, the stride frequency was accelerated (P<0.001) and the stride length was shortened (P<0.001) for the four limbs, the pole climbing test time was prolonged (P<0.01) and the grip level was reduced (P<0.01); in the substantia nigra of midbrain, the number of positive cells of TH was decreased (P<0.001), the number of co-expression positive cells of Notch1/Iba-1 was increased (P<0.001), the protein expression of α-syn, Notch1, Hes1, Iba-1, iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1βand IL-6 was increased (P<0.01, P<0.05, P<0.001), the protein expression of TH, ARG1 and IL-10 was decreased (P<0.01, P<0.001), the mRNA expression of Notch1 and Hes1 was increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, in the EA group, the stride frequency was decelerated (P<0.001) and the stride length was increased (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.001) for the four limbs, the pole climbing test time was shortened (P<0.05) and the grip level was increased (P<0.05); in the substantia nigra of midbrain, the number of positive cells of TH was increased (P<0.01), the number of co-expression positive cells of Notch1/Iba-1 was decreased (P<0.001), the protein expression of α-syn, Notch1, Hes1, Iba-1, iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β was decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), the protein expression of TH, ARG1 and IL-10 was increased (P<0.05, P<0.001, P<0.01), the mRNA expression of Notch1 and Hes1 was decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION EA can improve the behavioral performance and protect the dopaminergic neurons in PD mice, its mechanism may relate to the inhibition of Notch1/Hes1-mediated neuroinflammation, thus inhibiting the microglial activation.
Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Microglia/metabolism* ; Male ; Receptor, Notch1/metabolism* ; Parkinson Disease/physiopathology* ; Transcription Factor HES-1/metabolism* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Humans ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVE： To study the anti-gout effect of aqueous extract from the stems and leaves of Erythropalum scandens （ASLE）. METHODS： The mice were randomly divided into normal group， model group， allopurinol group （positive control， 5 mg/kg）， ASLE low-dose， medium-dose and high-dose groups （1 300， 2 600， 5 200 mg/kg， by raw material； similarity hereinafter）， with 10 mice in each group. Except for normal group， other groups were given potassium oxonate intragastrically to induce hyperuricemia model. One hour after modeling， normal group and model group were given constant volume of normal saline intragastrically； administration group was given relevant medicine intragastrically， once a day， for consecutive 7 d. One hour after last administration， the levels of serum uric acid （SUA） and serum creatinine （Scr） were detected by colorimetry assay. Another mice were randomly divided into normal group， model group， indomethacin group （positive control， 7.5 mg/kg）， ASLE low-dose， medium-dose and high-dose groups， with 10 mice in each group. Normal group and model group were given constant volume of normal saline intragastrically； administration group was given relevant medicine intragastrically， once a day， for consecutive 7 d. After last administration， except for normal group， the mice were given sodium microcrystalline urate via toes to induce gouty arthritis model. Before and 1， 2， 4， 6， 8 h after modeling， the circumference of the same part of the inflamed limbs and toes of mice in each group was measured by wire binding method， and the degree of toe swelling was calculated. The number of white blood cell （WBC）， neutrophil （NEU） and lymphocyte （LYM） were detected by animal hematology analyzer. The levels of SUA and Scr were measured by colorimetry assay. The content of NO in toe tissue was determined by Griess method. RESULTS： The experimental results of hyperuricemia model showed that the levels of SUA and Scr in mice were significantly higher in model group than those in normal group （P＜0.01）. Compared with model group， above indexes of mice were decreased significantly in administration group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. The experimental results of gouty arthritis model showed that the level of SUA， the degree of toe swelling （2-8 h）， the number of WBC， NEU and LYM， NO content in model group were increased significantly， compared with normal group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with model group， the levels of SUA and Scr （ASLE groups）， the degree of toe swelling [indomethacin group， ASLE high-dose group （2-8 h）， ASLE low-dose group （2， 6 h）， ASLE medium-dose group （6 h）]， the number of WBC and NEU （administration groups）， the number of LYM （indomethacin group） and NO content （administration groups except for ASLE low-dose group） were decreased significantly in administration groups （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS： The anti-gout effect of ASLE may be associated with promoting uric acid metabolism， anti-inflammatory and improving renal function.

OBJECTIVETo optimize the method of Fructus Auranti extracts preparation.

METHODThe extraction conditions and resin type were examined by using naringin as main indices. The sampling amount, the elution solvent and their flow rates were optimized. The recycling times and recovery capacity of resin were also studied.

RESULTThe best extraction could be obtained by adding 10 times amount of NaOH (pH 11) for 3 times, 1 hour each time. The purification conditions were specified as follows: using D101 macroporous resin, the sampling ratio of resin weight to raw material was 1:0.8 with a flow rate of 2 BV x h(-1) and 4 BV 50% aqueous ethanol as elusion solven.

CONCLUSIONBy using this method, the naringin in the product could reach above 30%. Besides, the optimum method is simple and practical.

Chemical Fractionation ; methods ; Citrus aurantiifolia ; chemistry ; Flavanones ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; isolation & purification