OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of effects of total saponin fraction from Dioscorea Nipponica Makino (TSDN) on M1/M2 polarization of monocytes/macrophages and arachidonic acid (AA) pathway in rats with gouty arthritis (GA). METHODS: Seventy-two Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=18 in each): normal, model, TSDN at 160 mg/kg, and celecoxib at 43.3 mg/kg. Monosodium urate crystal (MSU) was injected into the rats' ankle joints to induce an experimental GA model. Blood and tissue samples were collected on the 3rd, 5th, and 8th days of drug administration. Histopathological changes in the synovium of joints were observed via hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The expression levels of arachidonic acid (AA) signaling pathway were assessed via real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blot. Flow cytometry was used to determine the proportion of M1 and M2 macrophages in the peripheral blood. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect interleukine (IL)-1 β, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), IL-4, IL-10, prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), and leukotriene B4 (LTB4). RESULTS: HE staining showed that TSDN improved the synovial tissue. qPCR and Western blot showed that on the 3rd, 5th and 8th days of drug administration, TSDN reduced the mRNA and protein expressions of cyclooxygenase (COX)2, microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 derived eicosanoids (mPGES-1), 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), recombinant human mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 (Smad3), nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NALP3), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in rats' ankle synovial tissues (P<0.01). TSDN decreased COX1 mRNA and protein expression on 3rd and 5th day of drug administration and raised it on the 8th day (both P<0.01). It lowered CD68 protein expression on days 3 (P<0.01), as well as mRNA and protein expression on days 5 and 8 (P<0.01). On the 3rd, 5th, and 8th days of drug administration, TSDN elevated the mRNA and protein expression of Arg1 and CD163 (P<0.01). Flow cytometry results showed that TSDN decreased the percentage of M1 macrophages while increasing the percentage of M2 in peripheral blood (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ELISA results showed that on the 3rd, 5th, and 8th days of drug administration, TSDN decreased serum levels of IL-1 β, TNF-α, and LTB4 (P<0.01), as well as PGE₂ levels on days 3rd and 8th days (P<0.05 or P<0.01); on day 8 of administration, TSDN increased IL-4 serum levels and enhanced IL-10 contents on days 5 and 8 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION The anti-inflammatory effect of TSDN on rats with GA may be achieved by influencing M1/M2 polarization through AA signaling pathway.
Rats ; Humans ; Animals ; Arthritis, Gouty/drug therapy* ; Monocytes/pathology* ; Interleukin-10/metabolism* ; Arachidonic Acid/pharmacology* ; Dioscorea/chemistry* ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Saponins/therapeutic use* ; Interleukin-4/metabolism* ; Leukotriene B4/pharmacology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Macrophages ; Signal Transduction ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism*

Objective: To clarify the roles of yam polysaccharide (YPS) in improving sperm viability and protecting sperm DNA integrity in vitro and provide a new approach to the treatment of oligoasthenozoospermia. METHODS: We collected samples by masturbation from 36 normal fertile males aged 27－39 years. Each sample was divided into six groups: blank control or treated with normal saline, vitamin C solution, and YPS solution at low (0.25 mg/ml), medium (1.0 mg/ml) or high concentration (5.0 mg/ml). Using eosin-Y staining, sperm hypotonic swelling (HOS) and sperm chromatin diffusion (SCD) test, we observed the effects of different concentrations of YPS on sperm viability, membrane integrity and nuclear DNA. RESULTS: After 24 and 48 hours of treatment, sperm viability was markedly reduced in the vitamin C (［28.5 ± 3.1］ and ［6.5 ± 1.2］%), low-YPS (［31.3 ± 3.5］ and ［6.5 ± 2.2］%), medium-YPS (［37.1 ± 3.5］ and ［9.5 ± 2.8］%) and high-YPS groups (［38.3 ± 3.3］ and ［9.0 ± 3.2］%) as compared with the blank control (［17.3 ± 2.1］ and ［3.2 ± 1.3］%) (P <0.01) and normal saline groups (［13.4 ± 4.1］ and ［3.1 ± 2.0］%) (P <0.01), and it was significantly higher in the medium- and high-YPS than in the vitamin C group (P <0.05 and P <0.01). The rate of sperm DNA fragmentation was remarkably decreased at 48 hours in the vitamin C (［30.5 ± 3.1］%), low-YPS (［29.4 ± 2.6］%), medium-YPS (［28.5 ± 2.3］%) and high-YPS groups (［27.9 ± 1.9］%) in comparison with the blank control (［41.7 ± 2.2］%) (P <0.01) and normal saline groups (［42.1 ± 3.3］%), markedly lower in the medium- and high-YPS than in the blank control, normal saline and vitamin C groups (P <0.05 or P <0.01), but with no statistically significant difference between the low-YPS and vitamin C groups (P >0.05). CONCLUSIONS Yam polysaccharide can improve sperm viability and protect sperm DNA integrity in vitro.
Adult ; Ascorbic Acid ; pharmacology ; DNA ; drug effects ; DNA Fragmentation ; Dioscorea ; chemistry ; Humans ; Male ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; physiology ; Vitamins ; pharmacology

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of total saponins of Dioscorea (TSD), an extract of the Chinese herbal Bi Xie, on hyperuricemia and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. The rat hyperuricemia model was established by administration of adenine. Thirty-two rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups: model group, low/high-dose TSD-treated groups, and allopurinol-treated group. Meanwhile, 8 rats were used as normal controls. Serum uric acid (UA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr), and organic anion transporting polypeptide 1A1 (OATP1A1) levels were measured. Comparison between the model group and treatment (allopurinol and TSD) groups showed the serum UA levels were significantly decreased in treatment groups. TSD had similar effects to allopurinol. It was found that the OATP1A1 protein expression levels in treatment groups were higher than in model group and normal controls. And different from the allopurinol-treated groups, TSD-treated group had elevated OATP1A1 expression levels in the stomach, liver, small intestine and large intestine tissues. It was suggested that TSD may facilitate the excretion of UA and lower UA levels by up-regulating OATP1A1 expression.
Animals ; Creatinine ; blood ; Dioscorea ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hyperuricemia ; drug therapy ; Intestines ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Organic Anion Transporters, Sodium-Independent ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Stomach ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; Uric Acid ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of ethanol extracts from Dioscoreae Nipponicae Rhizoma on hyperuricemic mice.

METHODSThe hyperuricemia was induced by gavage of hypoxanthine and subcutaneous injection of potassium oxonate (model A) or subcutaneous injection of uric acid (model B) in ICR male mice. The mice in ethanol extracts groups were administrated with Dioscoreae Nipponicae Rhizoma ethanol extracts 5.4 g/kg by gavage, the positive control groups were given with 10 mg/ml allopurinol or 5 mg/ml benzbromarone by gavage, respectively. The plasma uric acid levels were measured by using HPLC.

RESULTSThe plasma uric acid levels of model group, control group and ethanol extract group in model A mice were (40.03±27.24), (4.08±1.47) and (18.10±8.87) g/mL (compared with model group, P <0.05), respectively. The plasma uric acid levels of model group, control group and ethanol extract group in model B mice were (18.57±3.83), (4.29±2.36) and (15.36±2.71) g/mL (compared with model group, P <0.05), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe ethanol extracts from Dioscoreae Nipponicae Rhizoma have certain hypouricemic effect in hyperuricemic mice induced by hypoxanthine and potassium oxonate or by uric acid.

Animals ; Dioscorea ; chemistry ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hyperuricemia ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Uric Acid ; blood

Based on the results of the morphologic studies on genus Dioscorea, the paper summarized the entire chemical constituent that isolated from this genus and analyzed it with the methods of chemotaxonomy. The rules of the chemical constituent and pharmacodynamic effects were analyzed. Seventeen species which belong to Sect. Stenophora Uline of Dioscorea contain steroidal sapogenin. Other species with different main components such as polysaccharide and tannin have have different effects. This chemotaxonomic view point will conduce to establish a phylogeny of the genus Dioscorea.
Animals ; China ; Dioscorea ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; growth & development ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology

To study the potential effect of Dioscorea nipponica(DN) in intervening peripheral system of rats based on metabolomic analysis. The identification of the potential intervention targets of DN in peripheral system may facilitate its safe application and therapeutic potential exploitation. Totally 20 male SD rats were randomly divided into the blank group and the DN-treated groups, with 10 rates in each group. The DN-treated group was orally administrated with DN extracts once a day for 5 days, with the dose of 80 mg x kg(-1) (equivalent to 15 g crude drug in human), and the blank group was given equal volume of saline once a day for 5 days. Heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney tissues and serum samples were collected from each rat 24 h later after the last administration. The ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight-mass spectrometry based metabolomics was used to investigate the effect of DN in intervening peripheral system of rats. After the treatment with DN, 5 modulated metabolites in heart tissue, 6 in liver tissue, 5 in spleen tissue, 3 in lung tissue, 5 in kidney tissue and 6 in serum sample were identified and considered as the potential intervention targets of DN. Effect of DN in regulating some endogenous metabolites was beneficial for protecting peripheral system, while that in other endogenous metabolites produced potential toxicity to peripheral system. The metabolomic analysis revealed the coexistence of protective and toxic effects of DN on peripheral system, which may be a practical guidance for its safe application and beneficial to the expansion of its application scope.
Animals ; Dioscorea ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Heart ; drug effects ; Kidney ; chemistry ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Liver ; chemistry ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Lung ; chemistry ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Metabolomics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spleen ; drug effects ; metabolism

To breed a new yam cultivar of Dioscorea alata, the different and excellent germplasm resources were investigated within artificially cultivated population and some superior individuals, with a higher yield and medicinal properties, were selected. Considering results of the yield and medicinal properties during 2006-2013 cropping season, strains and lines were established and selected. As a result, the yield of the new developed cultivar (Wenshanyao No. 1, WSY01-1) reached 2217. 0 kg per 667 m2 (fresh weight) and 348.3 kg per 667 m2 (dry weight), and increased 23.8% and 23.9% comparing with control cultivars (landraces). Comparing with control cultivars, the level of polysaccharide, allantoin, and dioscin increased 36.9%, 48.3%, 20.9%, and reached 12.2%, 1.30%, 579.7 µg · g(-1), respectively. This result showed that the systematic selection method can significantly improve yield and medicinal properties of D. alata, and the developed " Wenshanyao No. 1" exhibits wide spreading prospects.
Allantoin ; analysis ; Breeding ; Dioscorea ; chemistry ; genetics ; growth & development ; Diosgenin ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Polysaccharides ; analysis

Using the absorbent resin, silica gel and ODS column chromatography as well as semi-preparative HPLC, ten compounds were isolated from 70% ethanol extract of tubers of Dioscorea zingiberensis C. H. Wright, and their structures were elucidated as trigoneoside XIIIa (1), parvifloside (2), trigoneoside IVa (3), deltoside (4), protobioside (5), lilioglycoside k (6), zingiberensis newsaponin I (7), deltonin (8), prosapogenin A of dioscin (9), and trillin (10) on the basis of NMR and MS spectral data analysis. Among these compounds, 1, 3, 5 and 6 were isolated from this plant for the first time. In the screening test on platelet aggregation, compounds 7 and 8 exhibited induction effect on platelet aggregation, while compound 9 exhibited significant inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation in vitro.
Animals ; Dioscorea ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Saponins ; chemistry ; pharmacology

Animals ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; Dioscorea ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of total saponin of dioscorea (TSD) on uric acid excretion indicators in chronic hyperuricemia rats, and to study the correlation between blood levels of uric acid (SUA) and uric acid excretion indicators.

METHODSTotally 90 SD male rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, i.e., the normal group, the model group, the benzbromarone group (10 mg/kg), the high, middle, and low dose TSD group (300,100, 30 mg/kg, respectively), 15 in each group. The chronic hyperuricemia model was prepared by potassium oxonate (200 mg/kg) and ethambutol (250 mg/kg) except in those of the normal group. All rats were intragastrically administered with corresponding medication once daily for 4 successive weeks since the third week. Contents of SUA and urine uric acid (UUA), serum creatinine (SCr), urine creatinine (UCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and urine volume (UV) were measured on day 14 and day 28 respectively. Uric acid excretion indicators [including the amount of 24 h uric acid excretion (24 h UUA), fractional excretion of uric acid (FEUA), uric acid clearance (CUr), creatinine clearance (CCr), excretion of uric acid per volume of glomerular filtration (EurGF), and ratio of urinary uric acid to creatinine (UUA/UCr)] were calculated. The correlation between SUA and uric acid excretion indicators was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis.

RESULTScontents of SUA and SCr significantly increased, while the UUA, 24 h UUA, CCr, CUr, FEUA, EurGF, and UUA/UCr significantly decreased in the model group on day 14 and day 28. TSD could dose-dependently reduce the SUA level, significantly increase the UUA, 24 h UUA and CCr, Cur, FEUA, EurGF, showing an approximate effect to that of benzbromarone. But it had no effect on BUN, UCr, UUA/UCr, or UV of hyperuricemia rats. Correlation analysis showed that SUA level was positively correlated with SCr on day 14 and day 28 (r = 0.359, r = 0.306), but negatively correlated with CUr, FEUA, and CCr (r = -0.749 and -0.733; r = -0.669 and -0.646; r = -0.359 and -0.273). SUA level was not correlated with EurGF or UUA/UCr (r = 0.134 and 0.078; r = -0.057 and -0. 065). SUA level was negatively correlated with 24 h UUA on day 14 (r = -0.267), but not correlated with UUA or UCr on day 14. SUA level was negatively correlated with UUA and UCr on day 28 (r = -0.269, r = -0.275), but not correlated with 24 h UUA on day 28.

CONCLUSIONSTSD could promote the excretion of uric acid and significantly increase the excretion of uric acid indicators. SUA was positively correlated with SCr, negatively correlated with Cur, FEUA, and CCr. FEUA and CUr were sensitive indicators of renal excretion of uric acid.

Animals ; Dioscorea ; chemistry ; Hyperuricemia ; drug therapy ; urine ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Uric Acid ; urine