Huangqi decoction attenuates renal interstitial fibrosis transforming growth factor-β1/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways in 5/6 nephrectomy mice.

Objective: To investigate the effect of Huangqi decoction on renal interstitial fibrosis and its association with the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) / mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway.

Methods: 120 C57/BL mice were randomly divided into six groups: sham group, Enalapril (20 mg/kg) group, 5/6 nephrectomy model group, and 5/6 nephrectomy model plus Huangqicoction (0.12, 0.

Astragaloside IV prevents endothelial dysfunction by improving oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse aortas.

Oxidative stress serves a role in endothelial dysfunction exhibited by patients with diabetes mellitus. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is a major active ingredient of Radix Astragali, which is considered to exhibit vasoprotective effects through unknown mechanisms. Thus, the current study was performed to investigate the protective effects of AS-IV in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced endothelial dysfunction and to explore whether antioxidant mechanisms were involved.

HuangQi Decoction Ameliorates Renal Fibrosis via TGF-β/Smad Signaling Pathway In Vivo and In Vitro.

Objective: Traditional Chinese Medicine compound HuangQi decoction is widely used in clinical treatment of chronic kidney disease, but its role on renal interstitial fibrosis and the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of HuangQi decoction on renal interstitial fibrosis and its association with the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway Methods: A total of 120 C57/BL mice were randomly divided into six groups: sham group, sham plus high-dose HuangQi decoction (1.08g/kg) group, unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model group, and UUO model plus low to high doses of HuangQi decoction (0.

Ursodeoxycholic acid and 4-phenylbutyrate prevent endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced podocyte apoptosis in diabetic nephropathy.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, resulting from the accumulation of misfolded and/or unfolded proteins in ER membranes, is involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN). The aim of this study was to investigate the role of ER stress inhibitors ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA) in the treatment of DN in db/db mice. Findings have revealed that diabetic db/db mice were more hyperglycemic than their non-diabetic controls, and exhibited a marked increase in body weight, water intake, urine volume, fasting plasma glucose, systolic blood pressure, glucose and insulin tolerance.

HuangQi Decoction Improves Renal Tubulointerstitial Fibrosis in Mice by Inhibiting the Up-Regulation of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway.

Object: To explore the effects of HuangQi decoction on tubulointerstitial fibrosis in mice and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Methods: Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model was used. A total of 120 C57/BL mice were randomly divided into 6 groups, sham group, sham+HuangQi decoction group (1.

You-gui Pill ameliorates renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis via inhibition of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: You-gui Pill (YGP), a traditional Chinese medicinal prescription, was widely used to warm and recuperate "kidney-yang" clinically for hundreds of years in China. Recent studies found that YGP had a potential benefit for renoprotection.

Aim Of The Study: The present study aimed to elucidate the in vivo and in vitro efficacy of YGP on renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis, and the molecular mechanism is also investigated.

Ras/ERK signaling pathway is involved in curcumin-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human gastric carcinoma AGS cells.

Curcumin, the biologically active compound from the rhizome of Curcuma longa, could inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis in gastric carcinoma. However, the underlying mechanism of curcumin on gastric carcinoma cells still needs further investigation. In this study, morphological observation indicated that curcumin inhibited the proliferation of AGS cells in a dose-dependent manner.

Airway hyperresponsiveness induced by repeated esophageal infusion of HCl in guinea pigs.

Gastroesophageal reflux is a common disorder closely related to chronic airway diseases, such as chronic cough, asthma, chronic bronchitis, and chronic obstructive disease. Indeed, gastroesophageal acid reflux into the respiratory tract causes bronchoconstriction, but the underlying mechanisms have still not been clarified. This study aimed to elucidate functional changes of bronchial smooth muscles (BSMs) isolated from guinea pigs in an animal model of gastroesophageal reflux.

Synergistic Effect of Zuo Jin Wan on DDP-Induced Apoptosis in Human Gastric Cancer SGC-7901/DDP Cells.

A traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, Zuo Jin Wan (ZJW), has been found as an anticancer drug in human cancer. In this study, we investigated the synergistic effect of ZJW extracts on DDP-induced apoptosis in human gastric cancer SGC-7901/DDP cells. Our results demonstrated that ZJW extracts could increase the sensitivity of SGC-7901/DDP cells to DDP by increasing the concentration of DDP in cytoplasm and enhance the proapoptosis of DDP by upregulating the JNK and Bax expression, downregulating the Bcl-2 expression, increasing the accumulation of Cytochrome C in cytoplasm, and promoting the activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9.

Antiproliferative effects of essential oil of a compound Chinese herbal medicine Weiqi Decoction on AGS cells.

Objective: The main ingredients and the inhibitory effects of essential oil of a compound Chinese herbal medicine Weiqi Decoction (WQD) on AGS cell proliferation were to be investigated.

Methods: Chemical compounds of WQD essential oil were detected by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis. Cell viability was measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium method.