The paeonol proniosomes ointment and ordinary ointment were administered to rats. Physiological saline served as perfused solution. The perfusion rate was 5 mL x L(-1) and the microdialysis samples were collected every 20 min intervals. The paeonol concentration in perfused solution was determined by HPLC. Investigation of the pharmacokinetics of paeonol proniosomes ointment and ordinary ointment by the skin-blood synchronous microdialysis coupled with HPLC is reported in this study. The results show that the recovery was (54.80 +/- 1.50)% in vitro and (54.58 +/- 4.61)% in vivo. The results showed that paeonol proniosomes ointment significantly raised the drug concentrations in skin more than the paeonol ordinary ointment. The paeono proniosomes ointment has less drugs into the blood as the ordinary ointments in blood, but its blood drug concentrations were steadier. The paeonol proniosomes ointment may be developed into a new preparation.
Acetophenones ; administration & dosage ; blood ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Animals ; Drug Delivery Systems ; instrumentation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Microdialysis ; Ointments ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Skin ; metabolism

To evaluate in vitro release and transdermal behaviors of Huoxue Zhitong gel, modified Franz diffusion cell methods was applied to investigate in vitro transdermal absorption of Huoxue Zhitong gel and the content of paeonolan in receptor fluid composed of PEG400%-95% ethanol-water (l:3:6)were determined by HPLC. The results were processed and different equations were fitted. The release law were in accordance with Weibull equation and the fitting equation was In[-1/(1 - Q)] = -0.790 51nt - 1.7012 (r = 0.9809). In 8 hours, cumulative release of paeonol was 85. 18% and the release rate was 2.827 µg . cm-2 h-1. Transdermal actions were consistent with zero-level model fit and the fitting equation was Q(t) = 1.7579t + 0. 7213 (r = 0.9991). In 8 hours, cumulative transdermal rate and transmission rate of paeonol was 54. 85%, 1. 820 µg . cm-2 h-1. So the Huoxue Zhitong gel had a good release and transdermal properties.
Acetophenones ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Gels ; Mice ; Skin Absorption

The aim of this study is to prepare self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) of the mixture of paeonol (Pae) and borneol (Bor). Solubility test, ternary phase diagrams and simplex lattice method were employed to screen and optimize the formulation of the mixture of Pae and Bor-loaded SMEDDS. After formed into microemulsions, the particle diameter (PD) was determined and a TEM was employed to observe the microemulsions' morphology. The contents of Pae and Bor were determined by gas chromatography. As a result, while ethyl oleate (EO) as the oil phase, cremophor EL35 (EL35) as surfactant and Transcutol HP (HP) as cosurfactant, the range of the microemulsion on the ternary phase diagram was larger than other combinations. And at a ratio of 20:45:35, the microemulsions' PD was about 34 nm and the polydispersity index (PI) was about 0.2. There were 16% of Pae, 2% of Bor, 16% of EO, 37% of EL35 and 29% of HP in the prepared SMEDDS. The preparation process of the Pae and Bor-loaded SMEDDS based on Xingbi Fang is simple and feasible. This study provides a reference for the researches on the related traditional Chinese medicine and the related components.
Acetophenones ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Administration, Intranasal ; Animals ; Bornanes ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Bufonidae ; Cilia ; drug effects ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Delivery Systems ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Emulsions ; Ethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Female ; Male ; Nasal Mucosa ; drug effects ; Oleic Acids ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Solubility ; Surface-Active Agents ; chemistry

The effects of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase inhibitor apocynin on the enhanced hypoxia induced factor-1α (HIF-1α) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) expression, elevated systolic blood pressure under chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) condition and its action mechanism were investigated. Thirty healthy 8-week old Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=10 each): sham group, CIH group, and apocynin-treated CIH group. Tail artery systolic blood pressure was measured by tail-cuff method. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of HIF-1α and ET-1 in the carotid body, and the HIF-1α protein expression was examined by using Western blotting. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined by using colorimetric method. In addition, the plasma ET-1 and HIF-1α levels were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. It was found that CIH exposure was associated with increased MDA levels, and apocynin-treated CIH animals showed reduction in MDA levels. Apocynin treatment prevented CIH-induced hypertension as well as CIH-induced decrease in SOD. The increases of HIF-1α and ET-1 mRNA along with HIF-1α protein expression in the carotid body, and elevated circulating HIF-1α and ET-1 levels were observed in CIH-exposed animals. Treatment with apocynin significantly decreased the ET-1 mRNA, HIF-1α protein expression and circulating HIF-1α level in CIH-exposed animals, and there was no statistically significant difference in the HIF-1α mRNA expression between CIH group and apocynin-treated group. These results indicated that apocynin alleviated CIH-induced hypertension by inhibiting NADPH oxidase, further leading to the reduced vasoconstrictor ET-1 level and oxidative stress. HIF-1α/ET-1 system signal pathway may interact with CIH-induced NADPH oxidase-dependent oxidative stress. Inhibition of NADPH oxidase activity may hopefully serve as a useful strategy for prevention and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome-induced hypertension.
Acetophenones ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; administration & dosage ; Carotid Body ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Endothelin-1 ; metabolism ; Hypoxia ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Male ; NADP ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the protective effects of paeonol, paeoniflorin, and their compatibility on in vitro cultured cardiomyocytes suffering from hypoxia-reoxygenation injury.

METHODSCardiomyocytes from neonatal rats were in vitro cultured and injured by a hypoxia of 2.5 - 5 h and a following 2-h reoxygenation. To observe the effects of paeonol and paeoniflorin, four doses of 100, 75, 50 and 25 mg/L were respectively set up. And to observe the compatibility of paeonol and paeoniflorin, five doses were set up as follows: paeonol 40 and 20 mg/L, paeoniflorin 40 and 20 mg/L, compatibility of paeonol 20 mg/L and paeoniflorin 20 mg/L. The above drugs were incubated with cardiomyocytes during the hypoxia and reoxygenation period respectively. No drug intervention was given to the model group, while no modeling was given to the normal control group. The transudatory creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the culture medium were determined after the hypoxia period and the reoxygenation period respectively, and the total outleakage and the leakage inhibition ratio during the whole procedure were calculated. Results of each group were got from parallel operations for 5 times.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the MDA leakage increased 2.5 h after hypoxia, the leakage and the total outleakage of CK, LDH, and MDA all significantly increased 3 and 5 h after hypoxia, and 2 h after reoxygenation. The leakage inhibition ratio of each index decreased with statistical difference (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the leakage and the total outleakage of LDH and MDA both decreased in the high dose paeonol group, and the high and middle dose paeoniflorin groups after hypoxia and 2 h after reoxygenation (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the leakage inhibition ratio of each index increased (P<0.01, P<0.05). However, the leakage and the total outleakage of CK decreased in the low dose and the extreme low dose paeonol groups only 2 h after reoxygenation (P<0.01, P<0.05), while the leakage inhibition ratio of CK increased (P<0.01). The leakage and the total outleakage of LDH decreased in the extreme low dose paeoniflorin group only 2 h after reoxygenation (P<0.01), while the leakage inhibition ratio of LDH increased (P<0.01). The effects of their compatibility showed no significant difference (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPaeonol, paeoniflorin, and their compatibility all have remarkable protective effects on in vitro cultured cardiomyocytes suffering from hypoxia-reoxygenation injury. There was no significant synergistic effect when paeonol was used with paeoniflorin together.

Acetophenones ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Benzoates ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Creatine Kinase ; metabolism ; Glucosides ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Monoterpenes ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats

Investigation of the pharmacokinetics of paeonol microemulsion, microemulsion-based gels and marketed paeonol ointments by the skin-blood synchronous microdialysis coupled with LC/MS is reported in this study. The microdialysis systems were established by linear probes and concentric circles probes. In vivo recovery of paeonol in skin is (69.7 +/- 4.8) % and in blood is (51.6 +/- 7.2)%. The paeonol microemulsion, microemulsion-based gels and marketed paeonol ointments were administered to rats. PBS (pH 7.4) served as perfused solution. The perfusion rate was 5 microL x mL(-1) and the microdialysis samples were collected every 20 min intervals. The paeonol concentration in perfused solution was determined by LC/MS. The results showed that paeonol microemulsion and microemulsion-based gels significantly raised the drug concentrations in skin more than that of paeonol ointments. The paeonol microemulsion-based gels has similar bioavailability as the paeonol ointments in blood, but its blood drug concentrations were steadier. The paeonol microemulsion-based gels may be developed into a new preparation for dermis eczema. The skin-blood synchronous microdialysis technique proved to be a new method for the pharmacokinetics study of transdermal delivery systems.
Acetophenones ; administration & dosage ; blood ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Biological Availability ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Emulsions ; Gels ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; Microdialysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin ; metabolism ; Skin Absorption

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of Baixiangdan capsule (BXD), a Chinese medicinal formula, on the premenstrual syndrome (PMS) rats with Liver-qi invasion and the possible underlying micro-mechanisms.

METHODWistar rats were randomly assigned to two groups, nomal group and BXD group After evaluated by macro-behavior observation and open-field test, MTT assay and the whole-cell patch clamp recording were performed respectively to evaluate the effects of serum from BXD capsule-treated rats on the viability and GABA(A) R-induced currents of cortical neurons in vitro.

RESULTIn the open-field test, the crossing score, rearing score and total score of BXD rats decreased significantly (P < 0.05), compared by the normal rats. Compared with cells exposed to serum of normal rats, the viability values of those incubated with serum of BXD group for 24 h and 48 h significantly increased (P < 0.05), measured by MTT assay. The results of whole-cell patch clamp recording showed that concentration-response relationship curves revealed an EC50 value of (29.0 +/- 4.4) micromol x L(-1) and a Hill coefficient of 1.07 for normal-exposed cultures, (63.5 +/- 8.2) micromol x L(-1), 1.04 for BXD-exposed cultures after incubation for 24 h. Furthermore, the difference in EC50 values was statistically significant (P < 0.01), that in the Hill coefficient was not obvious.

CONCLUSIONBXD capsule could significantly decrease crossing score and total score of open-field test and effectively enhance the neuron viability and GABA(A) receptor activity in rat cortex. Paeonimetabolins I and paeonol may play a significant role in treating PMS model rats with Liver-qi invasion by BXD capsule, and paeonol may target at GABA(A) receptor, especially.

Acetophenones ; administration & dosage ; Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Benzoates ; administration & dosage ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; administration & dosage ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Glucosides ; administration & dosage ; Liver Diseases ; drug therapy ; Monoterpenes ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Premenstrual Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Qi ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, GABA-A ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between deposition content and time of the active ingredients in rat skin, and investigate the dermatopharmacokinetics of Liangfu Cream.

METHODThe contents of paeonol, dictamnine, fraxinellone and glycyrrhetinic acid in rat skin were determined by HPLC. The dermatopharmacokinetics parameters were calculated by DAS software.

RESULTThe dermatopharmacokinetics of paeonol and glycyrrhetinic acid were two compartment model, while that of dictamnine and fraxinellone were one compartment model: T(1/2Ka) of four active ingredients were 0.307, 0.112, 0.146, 0.216 h, respectively; T(lag) of them were 0.006, 0.123, 0.136, 0.109 h, respectively; all the Tmax of them was 0.5 h; the Cmax, were 40.163, 1.607, 6.725, 100.553 microg x cm(-3), respectively; the t(1/2beta), were 14.719, 1.262, 0.838, 234.807 h, respectively; the AUC(0-infinity), were 16.987, 2.713, 9.345, 697.000 microg x cm(-3) x h(-1), respectively; and the MRT(0-infinity) were 3.662, 1.67, 1.585, 10.897, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe skin pharmacokinetics characteristic of four ingredients in Liangfu cream is lined with the cataplasm long time.

Acetophenones ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Benzofurans ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Glycyrrhetinic Acid ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Mice ; Quinolines ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Skin ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the origin of oxidative stress induced by angiotensin II (AngII) in human mesangial cells and the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in AngII-induced monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression.

METHODSMCP-1 expression was determined by real time RT-PCR. ROS production was measured by DCFDA fluorescence. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activity was examined by lucigenin chemiluminescence. p47phox and p67phox translocation was assayed by Western blot. Twenty-four male mice were randomly divided into three groups: the control, the AngIIinfusion [AngII 400 ng/(kg.min)], and the apocynin treatment. AngII was infused by subcutaneously osmotic minipump for 14 days. Urinary albumin and 8-isoprostane excretion were measured by ELISA.

RESULTSIn cultured human mesangial cells, AngII induced the MCP-1 expression in a dose-dependent manner with 3.56 fold increase as compared with the control. AngII increased intracellular ROS production as early as 3 min with the peak at 60 min and was in a time and dose-dependent. Incubation with different dosages of AngII (1 nmol/L, 10 nmol/L, and 100 nmol/L AngII) for 60 min, ROS production increased at 1.82, 2.92, and 4.08 folds respectively. AngII-induced ROS generation was sensitive to diphenyleneiodonium sulfate (DPI, 10 micromol/L) and apocynin (500 micromol/L), two structurally distinct NADPH oxidase inhibitors. In contrast, inhibitors of other oxidant-producing enzymes, including the mitochondrial complex Iinhibitor rotenone, the xanthine oxidase inhibitor allopurinol, the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin, the lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguiaretic acid, the cytochrome P450 oxygenase inhibitor ketoconazole and the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester were without an effect. AngII-induced ROS generation was inhibited by the AT1 antagonist losartan (10 micromol/L) but not the AT2 antagonist PD123319 (10 micromol/L). AngII treatment induced translocation of cytosolic of p47phox and p67phox to the membrane. The antioxidants almost abolished AngII-induced MCP-1 expression. AngII infusion increased urinary and p67 translocation by 2.69-, 2.97-, and 2.67-fold, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSNADPH oxidase-derived ROS is involved in AngII-induced MCP-1 expression. Inhibition of NADPH oxidase alleviates AngII-induced renal injury.

Acetophenones ; pharmacology ; Angiotensin II ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CCL2 ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Losartan ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mesangial Cells ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; NADPH Oxidases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Onium Compounds ; pharmacology ; Oxidative Stress ; Phosphoproteins ; metabolism ; Protein Transport ; Random Allocation ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of different penetration enhancers on the in vitro percutaneous absorption and amount retained in skin of active ingredients in Liangfu cream and to screen out the effective accelerator.

METHODUsing improved Franz-type difusion cell and excised small mouse skin in vitro as transdermal barrier, the amount retained in skin and kinetics parameters of active ingredients such as cumulative permeation quantity, permeation rate and permeation lagged time were determined by HPLC. The enhancement ability of four different enhancers such as azone, oleic acid, transcutol P and isopropyl myristate were investigated.

RESULT3% IPM enhanced the cumulative permeation quantity better than other penetration enhancers. The enhancive permeation multiples of paeonol, dictamnine, fraxinellone and glycyrrhetinic acid were 1.52, 1.24, 1.73 and 3.21 times (P < 0.05). The enhancive amount retained in skin multiple of glycyrrhetinic acid was 1.96 times (P < 0.05), but for other components there were no significant impacts.

CONCLUSIONThe effects of penetration enhancers on the in vitro percutaneous absorption and amount retained in skin of components in Liangfu cream are different. 3% IPM which can enhance the cumulative permeation quantity of four components and amount retained in skin of glycyrrhetinic acid is the most suitable penetration enhancer for Liangfu cream.

Acetophenones ; chemistry ; Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Benzofurans ; chemistry ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Glycyrrhetinic Acid ; chemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Quinolines ; chemistry ; Skin ; drug effects ; Skin Absorption ; drug effects