OBJECTIVETo investigate the cytoprotective effects of Saeng-kankunbi-tang (, SKT), a herbal prescription consisting of Artemisia capillaris and Alisma canaliculatum, and its underlying mechanism involved.

METHODSIn mice, blood biochemistry and histopathology were assessed in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced oxidative hepatic injury in vivo. The animal groups included vehicle-treated control, CCl4, SKT 500 mg/(kg day) CCl4+SKT 200 or 500 mg/(kg day). In HepG2 cell, tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP) induced severe oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in vitro. The cyto-protective effects of SKT were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, flfluorescence activated cell sorting analysis and western blotting.

RESULTSThe administration of SKT prevented liver damage induced by CCl4 in mice, by inhibition of hepatocyte degeneration and inflflammatory cell infifiltration as well as plasma parameters such as alanine aminotransferase (P<0.01). Moreover, treatment with tBHP induced hepatocyte death and cellular reactive oxygen species production in hepatocyte cell line. However, SKT pretreatment (30-300 μg/mL) reduced this cell death and oxidative stress (P<0.01). More importantly, SKT inhibited the ability of tBHP to induce changes in mitochondrial membrane transition in cell stained with rhodamine 123 P<0.01). Furthermore, treatment with SKT induced extracellular signal-regulated kinases-mediated nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activation as well as the expressions of heme oxygenase 1 and glutamate- cystein ligase catalytic, Nrf2 target genes.

CONCLUSIONSSKT has the ability to protect hepatocyte against oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage mediated by Nrf2 activation.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Cell Death ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; metabolism ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; metabolism ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Peroxides ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of three differently concentrated at-home bleaching agents on the structure and the structure-related mechanical properties of human enamel.

METHODSSixty enamel specimens were randomly divided into four groups and treated with 10% carbamide peroxide (CP), 15% CP, 20% CP and distilled water, respectively. The bleaching process was 8 h/day for 14 consecutive days. Baseline and final atomic force microscopy (AFM) surface detection, Raman spectroscopy, attenuated total reflectance-infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR), microhardness and fracture toughness (FT) measurements were carried out before and after bleaching experiments.

RESULTSCP didn't change the morphology of enamel. Meanwhile, the three bleached groups and the control group had no significant difference in root mean square detection (P = 0.774), ν(2)CO(3)(2-) : ν(1)ν(3)PO(4)(3-) (P = 0.263) and microhardness (P = 0.829). The percentage of relative Raman intensity in the three bleached groups and the control group were (105.74 ± 11.34)%, (104.46 ± 8.83)%, (99.52 ± 9.32)% and (97.62 ± 7.46)%, respectively. There was no significant difference among them (P = 0.062). However, the percentage of laser-induced fluorescence in the three bleached groups and the control group were (20.86 ± 7.23)%, (22.14 ± 7.34)%, (21.10 ± 7.59)% and (100.78 ± 3.70)%, respectively. There was significant difference between either of the bleached groups and the control group (P < 0.001). Moreover, FT declined significantly in the three groups (P = 0.024, P = 0.005, P = 0.013) when compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONSUnder in vitro condition, three differently concentrated at-home bleaching agents wouldn't induce the demineralization and the decline of microhardness on enamel. However, the decrease of FT on enamel seemed to be inevitable after bleaching.

Dental Enamel ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Hardness ; drug effects ; Humans ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Peroxides ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Spectrophotometry, Infrared ; Spectrum Analysis, Raman ; Surface Properties ; Tooth Bleaching ; Tooth Bleaching Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Tooth Demineralization ; chemically induced ; Urea ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the acting mechanism of Buxu Huayu Qutan Decoction (BHQD) for impacting the anti-oxidative capacity in aged patients with stable angina pectoris of coronary heart disease (AP-CHD).

METHODSForty patients of AP-CHD, Chinese medicine diagnosed as Xiong-bi, were equally assigned to the treatment group and the control group. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and lipid peroxide (LPO) contents in blood, and mRNA expression of manganese-containing superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in peripheral mononuclear cells were determined before and after treatment by biochemical and molecular biologic techniques.

RESULTSNo significant change of plasma SOD and LPO was found in the control group after treatment (P >0.05), while the plasma SOD activity increased and LPO content lowered in the treatment group significantly (P<0.01). Moreover, mRNA expression of MnSOD in the treatment group after treatment was obviously higher than that in the control group (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe acting mechanism of BHQD for AP-CHD treatment might partially due to its effects in inducing gene expression of MnSOD in mononuclear cells, enhancing SOD activity, decreasing LPO content, maintaining oxidation/antioxidation equilibrium in myocardial cells, blocking the chain reaction of lipid peroxidation, intervening the production and enhancing the scavenging of oxygen free radicals.

Aged ; Angina Pectoris ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Coronary Disease ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Lipid Peroxides ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxidative Stress ; Phytotherapy ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has been described as an inducible protein that is capable of cytoprotection via radical scavenging and the prevention of apoptosis. Chronic exposure to hyperglycemia can lead to cellular dysfunction that may become irreversible over time, and this process has been termed glucose toxicity. Yet little is known about the relation between glucose toxicity and HO-1 in the islets. The purposes of the present study were to determine whether prolonged exposure of pancreatic islets to a supraphysiologic glucose concentration disrupts the intracellular balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and HO-1, and so this causes defective insulin secretion; we also wanted to evaluate a protective role for HO-1 in pancreatic islets against high glucose levels. The intracellular peroxide levels of the pancreatic islets (INS-1 cell, rat islet) were increased in the high glucose media (30 mM glucose or 50 mM ribose). The HO-1 expression was induced in the INS-1 cells by the high glucose levels. Both the HO-1 expression and glucose stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) was decreased simultaneously in the islets by treatment of the HO-1 antisense. The HO-1 was upregulated in the INS-1 cells by hemin, an inducer of HO-1. And, HO-1 upregulation induced by hemin reversed the GSIS in the islets at a high glucose condition. These results suggest HO-1 seems to mediate the protective response of pancreatic islets against the oxidative stress that is due to high glucose conditions.
Reactive Oxygen Species ; Rats, Wistar ; Rats ; Peroxides/metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Male ; Islets of Langerhans/*metabolism ; Insulin/secretion ; Hemin/metabolism ; Heme Oxygenase-1/metabolism/*physiology ; Glucose/metabolism/*pharmacology ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Flow Cytometry ; Animals

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) and depakine (DP) on the changes of membrane potential and peroxidate in rat cortex neurons exposed to ferrous chloride (FeCl(2)).

METHODSCultured cortex neurons of newly born SD rats were randomly divided into control group (PBS group), model group (FeCl(2) group), NAC pretreatment group (NAC group), DP pretreatment group (DP group) and NAC+DP pretreatment group (NAC+DP group). In the latter three groups, NAC (0.08 mg/ml) and DP (0.1 mg/ml) were added in the cell culture 2 and 3 h before FeCl(2) (1 mmol/L) exposure, respectively. After exposure to FeCl(2), the membrane potential of the neurons was detected with fluorescent dye DiBAC4(3) (bis-(1,3-dibutylbarbituric acid) trimethine oxonol), and the peroxidate level with 2,7-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (H(2)DCF) by laser confocal scanning microscope (LCSM) and nuclear factor-KappaB (NF-KappaB) level with immunocytochemistry.

RESULTSCompared with FeCl(2) group, the expression of NF-KappaB and peroxidate level in the neurons were decreased significantly in NAC and NAC+DP groups (P<0.01), but not in DP group (P>0.05). FeCl(2) depolarized the membrane potential and increased the expression of NF-KappaB in the neurons. Compared with FeCl(2) group, significant changes in the membrane potential were observed in DP and NAC+DP groups (P<0.01) but not in NAC or PBS group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONBoth NAC and DP can protect the neurons from FeCl(2)-induced damage but through different pathways, and their combined use can significantly alleviate neuronal damages due to FeCl(2) exposure. Antioxidants such as NAC in combination with antiepileptic drugs may produce favorable effect in prevention and treatment of posttraumatic epilepsy.

Acetylcysteine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cells, Cultured ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Female ; Ferrous Compounds ; pharmacology ; Male ; Membrane Potentials ; drug effects ; Neurons ; cytology ; metabolism ; physiology ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Peroxides ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Valproic Acid ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the therapeutic effects and mechanism of Jiechangning (JCN) decoction on carrageenan induced experimental ulcerative colitis (UC).

METHODSAfter sensitizing guinea pigs with carrageenan, we established UC animal models by free drinking water containing 2% acid degraded carrageenan (ADC). JCN decoction was orally administered once a day for 2 weeks after carrageenan treatment. Salicylazosulfapyridine (SASP) and normal saline were given to the other two groups as control. The levels of colon lipid peroxide (LPO), acid phosphatase (ACP) activity and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured; colitis activity score (CAS) was carried out for assessment of the degree of tissue inflammation and injury; the colonic pathological changes were examined simultaneously with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and toluidine blue staining used to evaluate the therapeutic effects of JCN decoction and SASP.

RESULTSExperimental colitis models resembling human UC were successfully induced. The levels of tissue LPO, ACP activity and the content of tissue TNF-alpha were markedly increased in the model group as compared with the normal control group (P < 0.01) and were positively correlated with CAS. JCN decoction could reverse these changes like SASP. HE staining showed that JCN decoction and SASP could reduce CAS and the degree of tissue injury, toluidine blue staining revealed that mucosa and submucosa red metachromasia pellets in JCN group and SASP group were markedly fewer than those in the model group.

CONCLUSIONJCN decoction is effective in treating experimental UC, which provides theoretical basis for its clinical application.

Acid Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Carrageenan ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Colon ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gastrointestinal Agents ; pharmacology ; Guinea Pigs ; Lipid Peroxides ; metabolism ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plant Preparations ; pharmacology ; Sulfasalazine ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo discuss the protective effects of pueraria compound on the cerebral ischemic injury.

METHODUsing the middle cerebral artery occlusion model (MCAO) in rats and cerebral ischemia-reperfusion models in gerbils and mice, we investigated the influence of pueraria compound on the brain water content and the infarct size, the cerebral apoplexy exponent, the contents of lactic acid (LA) and lipid peroxide (LPO), the activities of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and Na+ -K+ -ATPase.

RESULTPueraria compound obviously reduced the brain water content and the infrarct size in MCAO, improved motor abilities in the cerebral ischemia-reinfusion model of gerbils, decreased the contents of LA and LPO and increased the activities of LDH, GPx and Na+ -K+ -ATPase in cerebral ischemia-reinfusion model of mice.

CONCLUSIONPueraria compound has the function of antioxidation and protective effect on ischemic brain tissue.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Brain ; metabolism ; pathology ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Drug Combinations ; Gerbillinae ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Isoflavones ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Lactic Acid ; metabolism ; Lipid Peroxides ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Neuroprotective Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; pathology ; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase ; metabolism ; Soybeans ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the physiopathologic basis of Weikangfu Granule (WKFG) in treating precancerosis of gastric mucosa in patients of chronic gastritis with Pi-deficiency syndrome (CG-PDS).

METHODSOne hundred and fifteen patients of CG-PDS who suffered from intestinal metaplasia (IM) and atypical hyperplasia (ATHP) of gastric mucosa, were divided into two groups. The treated group (n = 61) was treated by WKFG with its ingredients modified according to the syndrome type of patients. The control group (n = 54) was treated with Weishu granule. The histopathological and subcellular ultrastructural changes were detected by optical microscope, screening electronic microscope, transmission electronic microscope and histochemical staining; the nuclear and mitochondrial ultrastructure of gastric mucosa were analyzed with energy dispersion X-ray analyser and image analysis system. And the changes of cAMP, lipid peroxide (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) before and after treatment in the treated group were measured and compared with those of the health control group consisting of 15 volunteers.

RESULTSThe symptomatic and pathological therapeutic effect in the treated group were significantly superior to those in the control group (P < 0.05). The contents of Zn, Cu, cAMP, SOD and (3)H-TdR LCT in gastric mucosa of the treated group before treatment were all lower than those of the healthy control group, yet all these indexes markedly increased after treatment, while serum LPO level, which increased before treatment was lowered after treatment. All the changes showed statistical significance (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONWKFG can reverse IM and ATHP in patients of CG-PDS, and the effect may be realized by way of increasing the level of Zn, Cu, cAMP and SOD in gastric mucosa, promoting cell differentiation, enhancing cellular immunity and reducing oxygen free radicals and lipid peroxidation.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Chronic Disease ; Copper ; analysis ; Cyclic AMP ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Gastric Mucosa ; chemistry ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; pathology ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxides ; analysis ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Precancerous Conditions ; pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; analysis ; Syndrome ; Yang Deficiency ; complications ; Zinc ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Phragmites communis polysaccharide on aging mice induced by injections of D-gulactose.

METHODAging mice were used as experimental objective.

RESULTPhragmizes communis polysaccharide could obviously increase the activity of CAT, SOD, GSH-PX in blood, lower the levels of LPO in plasma and the thick liquid made of grinding the tissues of brain and liver, and markedly resist the atrophy of the thymus, spleen and brain tissues of aging mice.

CONCLUSIONPhragmites communis polysaccharide has good anti-aging actions.

Aging ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Animals ; Catalase ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; blood ; Lipid Peroxides ; blood ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Poaceae ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood

OBJECTIVETo observe effects of ginsenoside-Rb (G-Rb) on total cholesterol, lipoprotein cholesterol metabolism and anti-oxidation in experimental hyperlipidemia rats.

METHODHyperlipidemia rats were respectively given G-Rb 50, 100, 200 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) ig for twelve days. Total cholesterol, lipoprotein cholesterol and lipid peroxidation (LPO) contents, prostacycline (PGI2), thromboxane (TXA2), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and blood viscosity were measured. Fat accumulation in liver was also observed.

RESULTTriglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) in serum, TXA2 in plasma, LPO in serum and liver, and blood viscosity were decreased significantly. High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) in serum, PGI2 in plasma and SOD in serum and liver were significantly increased by G-Rb (100, 200 mg x kg(-1)) in experimental hyperlipidemia rats. In addition, G-Rb could decrease TC/HDL-c, LDLc/HDL-c ratio, increase PGI2/TXA2 ratio and inhibit fat accumulation in liver.

CONCLUSIONG-Rb could have anti-arteriosclerosis effect by improving cholesterol and lipoprotein-cholesterol metabolism, suppressing lipid peroxidation, increasing anti-oxidase activity and PGI2/TXA2 ratio.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Female ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Hyperlipidemias ; metabolism ; Lipid Peroxides ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar