The growth environment of medicinal plants plays an important role in the formation of their medicinal quality. However, there is a lack of combined analysis studying the close relationship between the growth environment, chemical components, and related biological activities of medicinal plants. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of different soil moisture treatments on the efficacy to eliminate dampness and relieve jaundice and the flavonoid content of Sedum sarmentosum, and explored their correlation. The flavonoid content in the decoction of S. sarmentosum growing under field conditions with soil moisture levels of 35%-40%(T1), 55%-60%(T2), 75%-80%(T3), and 95%-100%(T4) was compared. The effects of these treatments on liver function parameters, liver inflammation, and oxidative damage in mice with dampness-heat jaundice were evaluated, and the correlation between pharmacological indicators and flavonoid content was analyzed. The results showed that the total flavonoid and total phenolic acid content in the decoction of S. sarmentosum were highest in the T1 treatment, followed by the T3 treatment. The content of quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin was highest in the T2, T1, and T3 treatments, respectively. Among the different moisture treatments, the T3 group of S. sarmentosum effectively reduced the levels of serum ALT, AKP, TBIL, DBIL, TBA, as well as hepatic TNF-α and IL-6 in mice with jaundice, followed by T2 treatment, especially in reducing AST level. The T4 treatment had the poorest effect. Correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation between AST, ALT, AKP levels in mice and the total content of quercetin and the three flavonoids. MDA showed a significant negative correlation with the total flavonoid content and kaempferol. TNF-α exhibited a significant negative correlation with the content of isorhamnetin. In conclusion, S. sarmentosum growing under field conditions with a soil moisture level of 75%-80% exhibited the best efficacy to eliminate dampness and relieve jaundice. This study provides insights for optimizing the cultivation mode of medicinal plants guided by pharmacological experiments.
Mice ; Animals ; Flavonoids/chemistry* ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Quercetin ; Sedum/chemistry* ; Kaempferols ; Soil ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Plants, Medicinal/chemistry* ; Jaundice/drug therapy*

Objective: To investigate the effects of different prescription compositions of traditional Chinese medicine and its different extraction methods of compound formula extracts on hypoxia tolerance in mice, in order to preferably select their prescription compositions and preparation extraction methods. Methods: Male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 6 groups: blank control group, compound danshen group, compound Rhodiola Rosea alcohol-water extract group (Rhodiola rosea, Astragali Radix, Polygonati Rhizoma, Lycii Fructus), compound Rhodiola Rosea water extract group, compound Astragalus alcohol-water extract group (Astragali Radix, Polygonati Rhizoma, Lycii Fructus) and compound Astragalus water extract group, 30 mice in each group. Each group was administered continuously by gavage for 10 d. The blank group was gavaged with sterilized injection water. The mice in the other groups were treated with 0.15 g/kg of compound danshen, 3 g/kg of compound Rhodiola Rosea alcohol-water extract or water extract, and 1.7 g/kg of compound Astragalus alcohol-water extract or water extract, respectively. Each group was subjected to normobaric hypoxia tolerance test, sodium nitrite toxicity survival test and acute cerebral ischemia-hypoxia test 1 h after the last gavage, and the mice brain tissues were used to determine the activity of antioxidant enzymes and metabolites related to oxidative stress. Results: Compared with the blank control group, in normobaric hypoxia tolerance test, the survival time of mice in the compound danshen group and the compound Astragalus alcohol-water extract group and water extraction group was prolonged significantly (P＜0.01), and the number of open-mouth gasping after cerebral ischemia and hypoxia was increased significantly (P＜0.05). There was no statistical difference in survival time after sodium nitrite injection in each group. Compared with the blank control group, the activities of T-AOC, SOD, GSH and CAT were increased significantly (P＜0.05, P＜0.01) and the content of MDA was decreased significantly (P＜0.01) in the compound Astragalus water extract group. Compared with the compound danshen group, the activities of SOD, CAT and GSH were increased significantly (P＜0.01, P＜0.05) and the content of MDA was decreased significantly (P＜0.05). Conclusion: Compound Astragalus water extraction has the best effect of hypoxia tolerance, compound Rhodiola Rosea can eliminate Rhodiola rosea and consists of Astragali Radix, Polygonati Rhizoma, Lycii Fructus and its extraction method is water extraction.
Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; Ethanol ; Hypoxia ; Male ; Mice ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Rhodiola ; Sodium Nitrite ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism* ; Water

To explore the effect of light intensity in cultivating environment on the hepetoprotective activity of Sedum sarmentosum, S. sarmentosum were planted under five water treatments for 60 days, namely 100% full sunlight(G1), 77% full sunlight(G2), 60% full sunlight(G3), 38% full sunlight(G4), and 16% full sunlight(G5) and CCl_4 drug-induced liver injury model in vitro was used. Cell viability, cell cycle, and cell apoptosis were individually detected by MTT, PI single staining, and Annexin-V FITC/PI double staining assays. Additionally, ALT, AST and antioxidant index in supernatant were determined by colorimetry. And the relationship among the protective effects, chemical composition and antioxidant activity were also analyzed. The results showed that S. sarmentosum aqueous extract could significantly improve the HepG2 cell viability. Among the five S. sarmentosum groups, the cell viability of G1(100% full sunlight) treatment was the highest, and the cell apoptosis was the least. Meanwhile, the level of ALT, AST, and MDA in G1 was the lowest, but it achieved the highest level of SOD and GSH. Moderate light shading(60% full light) also improved the effect of protecting liver and reducing the enzyme. It was found that cell viability was positively correlated with ferricion reducing capacity. ALT activity was positively correlated with isorhamnetin content. Taken together, different light intensity had great influence on hepatoprotective effect of S. sarmentosum, which may be related to its antioxidant capacity. From the perspective of hepetoprotective activity, S. sarmentosum should be planted under full light.
Antioxidants ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Liver ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Sedum ; Water

This paper was aimed to observe the interventional effect of Sedum sarmentosum total flavanones on hepatic fibrosis and its possible mechanism through the subcutaneous injection of CCl_4 in rats. Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, low-dose, medium-dose, high-dose S. sarmentosum total flavanones groups(100, 200, 400 mg·kg~(-1)) and silymarin group(200 mg·kg~(-1)). The model of liver fibrosis was established by subcutaneous injection of rats with 40% CCl_4. After the modeling, the drug groups were intragastrically administered with corresponding drugs once a day for consecutively five weeks, while the normal group and the model group were given 0.9% sodium chloride solution during the same period. After the experiment, the general conditions of rats and the pathological changes of liver tissues were observed, and the contents of serum ALT, AST, HA and LN were measured. Besides, the expressions of the protein and relevant mRNA of Smad2/3, Smad4 and α-SMA in rats were detected. Compared with model group, S. sarmentosum total flavanones could significantly increase the rats' body weight, inhibit the increase of liver and spleen index in rats of liver fibrosis, reduce the levels of ALT, AST, HA and LN, and alleviate pathological changes. Meanwhile, compared with the model group, the protein expressions of Smad2/3, Smad4 and α-SMA as well as relevant mRNA expressions in S. sarmentosum total flavanones group were obviously decreased, while Smad7 expression was markedly increased. As a result, S. sarmentosum total flavanones could significantly alleviate CCl_4-induced liver fibrosis, and its anti-hepatic fibrosis mechanism may be related to intervention with Smads pathway, so as to inhibit the activation of HSC.
Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Flavanones/therapeutic use* ; Hepatic Stellate Cells/drug effects* ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis/drug therapy* ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sedum/chemistry* ; Signal Transduction ; Smad Proteins/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of notoginseng, gingko leaf and rhodiola on cardiac functions and the serum inflammatory factors interleukin-6,interleukin-10, and TNF-α of rats with hypoxia deacclimatization, to explore the mechanism of hypoxia detoxification. METHODS: Forty SD rats were randomly divided into notoginseng group(n=10), gingko leaf group(n=10), rhodiola group(n=10) and high altitude control group(n=10) after fed in a hypobaric hypoxia chamber(simulated altitude of 5 000 m) for 3 month, while 10 rats fed at normal pressure and oxygen environment for 3 month were used as the plain control group. Rats in notoginseng group, gingko leaf group and rhodiola group were treated with notoginseng, gingko leaf tablets or rhodiola suspension through intragastric administration (200 mg/kg,twice a day, for 10 days). After the rats got intraperitoneal anesthesia with 10% urethane, 5 min pulmonary artery pressure curve were traced continuously while pulmonary artery pressure (PAP). Left and right ventricular systolic pressure (VSP) and ventricular diastolic pressure (VEDP), the hemodynamic parameters were detected through a multi-channel physiological recorder. Serum tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. RESULTS: Right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), right ventricular end-diastolic pressure (RVEDP), mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), left vent-ricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP),IL-6,and IL-10 were higher in notoginseng group, gingko leafgroup, rhodiola group and high altitude control group than those in plain control group(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01). The contents of MDA and TNF-α were higher while the level of SOD was lower in rhodiola group and high altitude control group than those in plain control group(P＜0.01). The contents of MDA and TNF-α were lower while the level of SOD was higher in notoginseng group, gingko leaf group and rhodiola group than those in high altitude control group(P＜0.01). The levels of RV,RVHI,RVSP,RVEDP,LVSP,LVEDP,IL-10 and TNF-α were statistically changed in notoginseng group than those in gingko leaf group and rhodiola group(P＜0.05orP＜0.01). CONCLUSION Notoginseng, gingkoleaf and rhodiola can enhance antioxidant capacity of body and improve ventricular functions and Notoginseng, gingko leaf and rhodiola can effectively enhance the functions of ventricular and hypoxia tolerance and inhibit the expressions of inflammatory factors in rats during the hypoxia deacclimatization.
Animals ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiology ; Hypoxia ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhodiola ; chemistry ; Tablets

The present study was conducted to explore the effect of light intensity on growth, bioactivity compounds accumulation and anti-oxidative activity of Sedum sarmentosum. The growth, yield, contents of total flavonoids, total phenolic, quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin, and antioxidant activities were assessed in S. sarmentosum under five light intensities, namely 100% full sunlight (G1), 77% full sunlight (G2), 60% full sunlight (G3), 38% full sunlight (G4), and 16% full sunlight (G5). The results showed that light intensity significantly affected the growth and the chemical compounds accumulation. With the decrease of light intensity, the maximum branch length and the average internode distance increased. G2 treatment greatly promoted the numbers of leaf layers and branches, and G3 treatment remarkably improved the yield. The highest total flavonoids and phenolic contents were obtained in G3 treatment. Meanwhile, the highest quercetin and isorhamnetin contents were obtained in G1 treatment. The difference of kaempferol content was not significant. In addition, based on DPPH, FTC and FRAP methods, the antioxidant activities of the aqueous extracts under G1 treatment were superior to the others. The results indicated that more than 60% full sunlight was the optimum light intensity condition to achieve high yield and quality of S. sarmentosum.
Antioxidants ; Flavonoids ; Phenols ; Plant Extracts ; Sedum

At present, there were few studies about the effects of cultivation measures on the quality and pharmacological activity of medicinal plants. To explore the hepetoprotective activity of Sedum sarmentosum aqueous extracts after different water treatments, S. sarmentosum were planted under five water treatments for 60 days, namely 15%-20% FC (field capacity, S1), 35%-40% FC (S2), 55%-60% FC (S3), 75%-80% FC(S4), and 95%-100% FC (S5) and CCl₄ drug-induced liver injury model in vitro was used. Cell viability, cell cycle, and cell apoptosis were individually detected by MTT, PI single staining, and Annexin-V FITC/PI double staining assays. Additionally, ALT, AST and antioxidant index in supernatant were determined by colorimetry. The results showed that, compared with the model group, S. sarmentosum aqueous extract could significantly improve the HepG2 cell viability. Among the five S. sarmentosum groups, the cell viability of S4 (75%-80% FC) treatment was the highest, and the cell apoptosis was the least. Meanwhile, the level of ALT, AST, and MDA in S4 was the lowest, but it achieved the highest level of SOD and GSH. Taken together, different water treatments had great influence on hepatoprotective effect of S. sarmentosum, and the soil moisture of the 75%-80% FC is beneficial to the hepetoprotective activity of S. sarmentosum.
Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Sedum ; chemistry ; Soil ; Water

Seven flavonoid compounds, kaempferol (1), quercetin (2), quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnoside (5), quercetin-3-O-sophoroside (6) and quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (7), were isolated from the methanolic extract of leaves of Kalanchoe prolifera. Compounds 1-7 were isolated for first time from this plant. These compounds were evaluated their cytotoxic activity against P-388 murine leukimia cells in vitro. Among those compounds kaempferol (1) and quercetin (2) showed strongest cytotoxic activity with IC₅₀ values of 4.45 ± 0.05 and 6.28 ± 0.02 µg/mL, respectively.
Crassulaceae ; Flavonoids ; In Vitro Techniques ; Kalanchoe* ; Methanol ; Plants ; Quercetin

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Neuroinflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. Conditioned medium (CM) derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) revealed substantial benefits due to its rich content of trophic factors. Salidroside (Sal), extracted from Rhodiola rosea, is known for its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. This study was designed to investigate the effect of Sal pretreated CM (CM-Sal) derived from bone marrow MSCs in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced neuroinflammation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty adult male mice were equally divided into 5 groups: Group I (Normal Control), Group II (LPS): single 0.8 mg/kg LPS intraperitoneally; Group III (LPS-DMEM), Group IV (LPS-CM) and Group V (LPS-CM-Sal): LPS was injected as group II followed, 24 hours later, by intranasal injection of 50 μl of filtered serum-free Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's medium (DMEM), CM or CM-Sal, respectively, twice daily for 4 days. Animals were sacrificed at day 6 and paraffin cerebral sections were subjected to Hematoxylin and Eosin staining and immunohistochemistry with caspase 3 (apoptosis), glial fibrillary acidic protein GFAP (astrocytes) and CD68 (active microglia) followed by quantitative morphometric study. RESULTS: Examination of LPS and LPS-DMEM groups revealed neuronal apoptosis with reactive astrogliosis and increased active microglia. LPS-CM and LPS-CM-Sal groups showed less apoptosis, less astrocytes and less active microglia. The regression in neuroinflammation was more evident in LPS-CM-Sal group and the difference was statistically significant compared to other groups. CONCLUSION: CM-Sal derived from MSCs culture elicited significant histopathological improvement in LPS induced neuroinflammation which could be used as new therapeutic modality.
Adult ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Astrocytes ; Bone Marrow ; Caspase 3 ; Culture Media, Conditioned* ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* ; Mice* ; Microglia ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Neurons ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Paraffin ; Rhodiola

The extracting technology of salidroside, tyrosol, crenulatin and gallic acid from Rhodiolae Crenulatae Radix et Rhizoma was optimized. With extraction rate of salidroside, tyrosol, crenulatin and gallic acid as indexes, orthogonal test was used to evaluate effect of 4 factors on extracting technology, including concentration of solvent, the dosage of solvent, duration of extraction, and frequency of extraction. The results showed that, the best extracting technology was to extract in 70% alcohol with 8 times the weight of herbal medicine for 2 times, with 3 hours once. High extraction rate of salidroside, tyrosol, crenulatin and gallic acid were obtained with the present technology. The extracting technology was stable and feasible with high extraction rate of four compounds from Rhodiolae Crenulatae Radix et Rhizoma, it was suitable for industrial production.
Chemical Fractionation ; methods ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Coumarins ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; Gallic Acid ; isolation & purification ; Glucosides ; isolation & purification ; Phenols ; isolation & purification ; Phenylethyl Alcohol ; analogs & derivatives ; isolation & purification ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Rhodiola ; chemistry