This study aims to investigate the molecular mechanism by which naringin alleviates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion(CI/R) injury through DRP1/LRRK2/MCU signaling axis. A total of 60 SD rats were randomly divided into the sham group, the model group, the sodium Danshensu group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose(50, 100, and 200 mg·kg~(-1)) naringin groups, with 10 rats in each group. Except for the sham group, a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(tMCAO/R) model was established in SD rats using the suture method. Longa 5-point scale was used to assess neurological deficits. 2,3,5-Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride(TTC) staining was used to detect the volume percentage of cerebral infarction in rats. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and Nissl staining were employed to assess neuronal structural alterations and the number of Nissl bodies in cortex, respectively. Western blot was used to determine the protein expression levels of B-cell lymphoma-2 gene(Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), cleaved cysteine-aspartate protease-3(cleaved caspase-3), mitochondrial calcium uniporter(MCU), microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3), and P62. Mitochondrial structure and autophagy in cortical neurons were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Immunofluorescence assay was used to quantify the fluorescence intensities of MCU and mitochondrial calcium ion, as well as the co-localization of dynamin-related protein 1(DRP1) with leucine-rich repeat kinase 2(LRRK2) and translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 20(TOMM20) with LC3 in cortical mitochondria. The results showed that compared with the model group, naringin significantly decreased the volume percentage of cerebral infarction and neurological deficit score in tMCAO/R rats, alleviated the structural damage and Nissl body loss of cortical neurons in tMCAO/R rats, inhibited autophagosomes in cortical neurons, and increased the average diameter of cortical mitochondria. The Western blot results showed that compared to the sham group, the model group exhibited increased levels of cleaved caspase-3, Bax, MCU, and the LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio in the cortex and reduced protein levels of Bcl-2 and P62. However, naringin down-regulated the protein expression of cleaved caspase-3, Bax, MCU and the ratio of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio and up-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 and P62 proteins in cortical area. In addition, immunofluorescence analysis showed that compared with the model group, naringin and positive drug treatments significantly decreased the fluorescence intensities of MCU and mitochondrial calcium ion. Meanwhile, the co-localization of DRP1 with LRRK2 and TOMM20 with LC3 in cortical mitochondria was also decreased significantly after the intervention. These findings suggest that naringin can alleviate cortical neuronal damage in tMCAO/R rats by inhibiting DRP1/LRRK2/MCU-mediated mitochondrial fragmentation and the resultant excessive mitophagy.
Animals ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury/genetics* ; Flavanones/administration & dosage* ; Rats ; Dynamins/genetics* ; Male ; Brain Ischemia/genetics* ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*

In the present study, liquiritigenin-phospholipid complex (LPC) was developed and evaluated to increase the oral bioavailability of liquiritigenin. A single-factor test methodology was applied to optimize the formulation and process for preparing LPC. The effects of solvent, drug concentration, reaction time, temperature and drug-to-phospholipid ratio on encapsulation efficiency were investigated. LPCs were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD). The apparent solubility and n-octanol/water partition coefficient were tested. The pharmacokinetic characteristics and bioavailability of the LPC were investigated after oral administration in rats in comparison with liquiritigenin alone. An LPC was successfully prepared. The optimum level of various parameters for liquiritigenin-phospholipid complex was obtained at the drug concentration of 8 mg·mL
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Biological Availability ; Flavanones/pharmacokinetics* ; Phospholipids/pharmacokinetics* ; Rats ; Solvents

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of baicalein on the gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) in the TM4 Sertoli cells of the mouse testis and its related mechanism.

METHODSWe measured the cytotoxicity of different concentrations of baicalein on the TM4 Sertoli cells in the mouse testis by MTT, detected the fluorescence transfer of the TM4 Sertoli cells by parachute assay, and determined the expression of the protein connexin 43 ( Cx43) in the baicalein-treated cells by Western blot and immunofluorescence assay.

RESULTSBaicalein produced no obvious cytotoxicity on the TM4 Sertoli cells at the concentration below 60 µmol/L but significantly increased their GJIC at 0-20 µmol/L (P < 0.01). Western blot and immunofluorescence assay showed that 0-20 µmol/L baicalein remarkably elevated the expression of Cx43 in the TM4 cells (P < 0.01) and on the membrane of the TM4 cells.

CONCLUSIONBaicalein at the concentration of 0-20 µmol/L can significantly enhance GJIC in mouse TM4 Sertoli cells by increasing the expression of the Cx43 protein.

Animals ; Cell Communication ; drug effects ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Flavanones ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Gap Junctions ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Sertoli Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; ultrastructure

The pharmacodynamic (PD) and pharmacokinetic (PK) properties of Huangqin Tang (HQT) were investigated in yeast-induced febrile rats. Blood sample and rectal temperature data of the rats were collected at different times after single oral administration of HQT at 20 g x kg(-1). The plasma concentrations of paeoniflorin, baicalin, wogonoside, baicalein, wogonin, oroxylin A, glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid were quantified by a sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS) method. The blood concentrations of PGE2, 1L-1β and TNF-α were detected by radioimmunoassay (RIA). All pharmacokinetic parameters were processed by non-compartmental analysis using WinNonlin software. The potential relationship between the mean concentration of eight constituents and the antifebrile efficacy was investigated by calculating Pearson correlation coefficients. It was found that HQT had significant antifebrile efficacy in yeast-induced febrile rats, but had no effect to normal rats. The antifebrile effect of HQT can be attributed to the inhibition of PGE2, 1L-1β and TNF-α. The constituents (baicalin, wogonoside, baicalein, wogonin, oroxylin A, glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid) in febrile rats had delayed absorption and elimination, a longer residence time in the body, and higher C(max) and AUC than those in normal rats. Febrile condition could affect the pharmacokinetic behaviour of HQT in vivo; the flavonoids with the same backbone showed the similar fate in the body; baicalein and wogonin had a strong positive correlation (R > 0.66, P ≤ 0.02) with the antifebrile efficacy determined. Together, these constituents demonstrated different pharmacokinetic properties in the febrile body.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Dinoprostone ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; Fever ; metabolism ; Flavanones ; pharmacokinetics ; Flavonoids ; pharmacokinetics ; Glucosides ; pharmacokinetics ; Interleukin-1beta ; blood ; Mass Spectrometry ; Monoterpenes ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

To establish a method for the determination of astilbin, peoniflorin, rasmarinci acid, isofraxidin and liquiritin contained in Shaolin Xiaoyin tablets, in order to lay a foundation for designing late-stage dosage forms and clinical medication schemes. In this paper, efforts were made to establish a method for the determination of the blood concentration of the five components and study the in vivo pharmacokinetics in rats. The blood concentration was determined by HPLC. Phenomenex C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) was adopted and eluted with methanol-acetonitrile-0.05% formic acid, the flow rate was 0.8 mL x min(-1), and the wavelength was 275 nm. The samples were processed by the solid phase extraction method. After oral administration of Shaoling Xiaoyin tablets, the rat bloods were collected at different time points to determine the blood concentrations. The experimental results showed that the baseline separation could be adopted for the five components, and astilbin, peoniflorin, rasmarinci acid, isofraxidin and liquiritin showed good linear relations within ranges of 2.48-248, 0.213 6-21.36, 0.531-53.1, 0.704-70.4, 0.253-25.3 mg x L(-1). All the five components could be absorbed in blood and excreted quickly. The method established in this paper is rapid and accurate, and could be used for in vivo analysis on preparations containing similar components. The main components in Shaoling Xiaoyin tablets could be absorbed and excreted quickly, and thus suitable to be made into sustained release tablets. Common preparations are required to be taken for 4-6 times a day.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cinnamates ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Coumarins ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Depsides ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; pharmacokinetics ; Flavanones ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Flavonols ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Glucosides ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Monoterpenes ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

An HPLC-UV method was developed for the determination of total naringenin and total hesperetin in rat plasma after oral administration of Citrus aurantium Immaturus extracts and Zhizi Dahuang decoction. Plasma samples were pretreated with liquid-liquid extraction procedure and acid hydrolysis method was used for converting conjugated naringenin and hesperetin to their respective free forms. Plasma samples were separated on a C18 column (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 microm), using 0.1% phosphoric acid and methanol as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1) with gradient elution. DAS 2.0 software was applied to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters while the SPSS 16.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Significant differences were observed, the C(max) AUC(0-t) of total naringenin in ZS group was 73.5% and 65.9% higher than those in ZZDHD group, respectively; the C(max), AUC(0-t) of total hesperetin in ZS group was 63.5% and 119.1% higher than those in ZZDHD group, respectively. There is a obvious decrease in C(max) and AUC(0-t) of total naringenin and total hesperetin after compatibility and their pharmacokinetic characteristics changed greatly due to the combination of other herbs. The established method was rapid, sensitive, selective and accurate, and it could be applied in the determination of total naringenin and total hesperetin in rat plasma.
Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Citrus ; chemistry ; Drug Incompatibility ; Drug Interactions ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Flavanones ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Gardenia ; chemistry ; Hesperidin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo develop a UPLC method for the simultaneous determination of liquiritin, narirutin, hesperidin, ammonium glycyrrhetate, honokiol and magnolol in Huoxiang Zhengqi oral liquid.

METHODA Zorbax Eclipse C18 column was used with the mobile phase of acetonitrile and 0. 05% phosphate acid by gradient elution at the detection wavelength of 220 nm. The flow rate was 0.42 mL x min(-1) and the column temperature was 30 degrees C.

RESULTThe calibration curves were linear in the ranges of 0.001 7-0.034, 0.003 4-0.068, 0.006 4-0.128, 0.012 8-0.256, 0.003 2-0.064, 0.006 4-0.128 microg, respectively. The average recoveries were 103.3%, 98.39%, 98.29%, 102.1%, 98.45%, 102.2% with RSDs of 2.1%,1.0%, 0.50%, 2.3%, 0.9%, 2.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe UPLC method was simple, rapid and accurate, it could be used for quality control of Huoxiang Zhengqi oral liquid.

Administration, Oral ; Biphenyl Compounds ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Disaccharides ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Flavanones ; chemistry ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; Hesperidin ; chemistry ; Lignans ; chemistry ; Pharmaceutical Solutions ; chemistry

This study is to investigate the effect of 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PNG) on osteoclastogensis of bone marrow cells and bone resorption activity of osteoclasts. Osteoclasts were separated from long bone marrow of newborn rabbits and cultured in alpha-MEM containing 10% FBS. 8-PNG was added into culture media at 1 x 10(-7), 1 x 10(-6), 1 x 10(-5) mol xL(-1), separately. 17beta-Estradiol (E2, 1 x 10(-7) mol x L(-7)) was used as positive control. T RAP staining and TRAP activity measurement were performed after 5 days, and the bone resorption pits were analyzed after 7 days. Annexin V staining for the detection of apoptotic osteoclasts was performed after 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h separately. The mRNA expression level of TRAP and cathepsin K (CTSK) was measured by real-time RT-PCR. 8-PNG significantly reduced the number of osteoclasts which was TRAP staining positive and with more than three nucleus, the area and number of bone resorption pits decreased obviously in 8-PNG-supplemented groups. The apoptosis rate peaked earlier in the 8-PNG-supplemented groups and the mRNA expression level of TRAP and CTSK decreased significantly. All these inhibitory effects were in a dose dependent manner, the highest effect was obtained by 1 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1) 8-PNG. 8-PNG inhibits bone resorption activity of osteoclasts by inducing osteoclast apoptosis and inhibiting the gene expression and enzyme activity including TRAP and CTSK, and restrains bone marrow cells to osteoclast differentiation.
Acid Phosphatase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Bone Resorption ; Cathepsin K ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Flavanones ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Isoenzymes ; genetics ; metabolism ; Osteoclasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Synergism ; Flavanones ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; pathology ; Thalidomide ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology

The current study aims to investigate the pharmacokinetic properties of Huangqin Tang on different oral doses. An LC-MS method for simultaneous determination of flavonoids and terpenoids in rat plasma was developed and validated. Plasma samples were treated with hydrochloric acid (containing 1% ascorbic acid), precipitated with acetonitrile, separated on a Zorbax SB-C18 column, detected by single quadruple mass spectrometry with an electrospray ionization interface, and quantified using selected ion monitoring mode. All pharmacokinetic parameters were processed by non-compartmental analysis using WinNonlin software. The results of specificity, linearity, intra-day and inter-day precisions, accuracy, and stability for LC-MS assay were suitable for the quantification of paeoniflorin, baicalin, wogonoside, baicalein, wogonin, oroxylin A, glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid in rat plasma. The concentration-time profiles of baicalin, wogonoside, baicalein, wogonin, oroxylin A and glycyrrhizic acid showed double-peak phenomenon after Huangqin Tang was orally administered at 40 g x kg(-1) dose; all eight constituents in rat plasma showed good dose-exposure relationship within the dosage of 10-40 g x kg(-1); although plasma concentrations were different, the flavonoids with the same backbone showed the similar fate in the body with the corresponding dosage. In conclusion, the LC-MS assay was successfully applied for the pharmacokinetic study of multi-constituents of Huangqin Tang with different doses. Additionally, these constituents demonstrated good pharmacokinetic properties in the body.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Flavanones ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Flavonoids ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Glucosides ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Glycyrrhetinic Acid ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Monoterpenes ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Pentacyclic Triterpenes ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization