Evodiamine Inhibits Angiotensin II-Induced Rat Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy.

Objective: To investigate the effects of evodiamine (Evo), a component of Evodiaminedia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth, on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy induced by angiotensin II (Ang II) and further explore the potential mechanisms.

Methods: Cardiomyocytes from neonatal Sprague Dawley rats were isolated and characterized, and then the cadiomyocyte cultures were randomly divided into control, model (Ang II 0.

Rutaecarpine Inhibits Intimal Hyperplasia in A Balloon-Injured Rat Artery Model.

Objective: To investigate the effect and potential mechanisms of rutaecarpine (Rut) in a rat artery balloon-injury model.

Methods: The intimal hyperplasia model was established by rubbing the endothelia with a balloon catheter in the common carotid artery (CCA) of rats. Fifty rats were randomly divided into five groups, ie.

Rutaecarpine inhibits angiotensin II-induced proliferation in rat vascular smooth muscle cells.

Objective: To evaluate the effects and possible mechanisms of rutaecarpine on angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced proliferation in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

Methods: VSMCs were isolated from Male Sprague-Dawley rat aorta, and cultured by enzymic dispersion method. Experiments were performed with cells from passages 3-8.

Toxicology evaluation of realgar-containing niu-huang-jie-du pian as compared to arsenicals in cell cultures and in mice.

Niu-Huang-Jie-Du Pian (NHJD) is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine containing realgar (As4S4). Realgar has been included in many traditional medicines, but is often taken as arsenite for risk assessment. To evaluate true risk of realgar and realgar-containing NHJD, their toxicity was compared with common arsenicals.

Protective effects of icariin on cognitive deficits induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion in rats.

1. Icariin is a major constituent of flavonoids derived from the Chinese medicinal herb Epimedium revicornum Maxim. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether icariin has protective effects on learning ability and memory in a rat model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion.

Effects of isorhynchophylline on angiotensin II-induced proliferation in rat vascular smooth muscle cells.

Proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is a crucial event in cardiovascular diseases. Isorhynchophylline, an alkaloid from a traditional Chinese medicine Gambirplant, has been used to treat cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of isorhynchophylline on angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced proliferation of rat VSMCs.

[Effects of combined use of total alkaloids of Uncaria rhynchophylla and Coryadlis ambailis migo on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats].

Objective: To study the effects of combined use of total alkaloids (TA) of Uncaria rhynchophylla (UR) and Coryadlis ambailis migo (CAM) on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.

Methods: Rat model of middle cerebral artery ischemia/reperfusion was established, the changes of neurological state was scored before and after treatment with the two kinds of TA, single or combined, and the changes of cerebral infarcted volume, cerebral water content, activities of NOS and SOD and content of MDA in rats' brain were estimated as well.

Results: After being treated with the combination of both TA, the average neurological score, cerebral infracted volume, cerebral water content, activity of NOS and content of MDA in the model rats significantly decreased, and the activity of SOD was significantly increased (all P < 0.

Protective effect of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract on learning and memory deficit induced by aluminum in model rats.

Objective: To examine the protective effect of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GbE) on learning and memory deficit induced by aluminum chloride (AlCl(3)), and explore its mechanisms.

Methods: The rat models with learning and memory deficit were induced by administering via gastrogavage and drinking of AlCl(3) solution. And the model rats were treated with GbE at the dose of 50, 100, 200 mg/kg every day for 2 months accompanied with drinking of AlCl(3) solution, respectively.

Protective effects of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract on aluminum-induced brain dysfunction in rats.

This study examined the protective effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) on the learning and memory function in aluminum-treated rats and potential mechanisms. Wistar rats were given daily aluminum chloride 500 mg/kg, i.g, for one month, followed by continuous exposure via the drinking water containing 1600 ppm aluminum chloride for up to 5 months.

Effects of protopine on intracellular calcium and the PKC activity of rat aorta smooth muscle.

We have previously shown that the vasodilator effect of protopine (Pro) on rabbit aorta is related to the elevations of cAMP and cGMP. In the present study, the vasodilator mechanisms of Pro were further explored by recording the isotonic contraction of the rat aortic strips, detecting directly the intracellular free Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) with Fura-2/AM loaded vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of rat aorta, and determining the activity of protein kinase C (PKC) in rat aortic tissue with radioactive isotope gamma-32P -ATP-catalyzing assay. By recording the aortic strips contraction induced by noradrenaline (NA) and high potassium (K(+)), Pro shifted nonparallelly the concentration-response curves of NA and high K(+) to right, in which the maximal response was depressed in the presence of Pro (30 and 100 micromol/L), and the values of pD'(2) were 3.

[Effects of Corydalis ambailis migo total alkaloids on experimental cerebral ischemia].

Objective: To observe the protective effects of Corydalis ambailis migo total alkaloids (COAMTA) on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats and to investigate its mechanism.

Methods: The effects of COAMTA on decapitated gasping mouse model and rat model of middle cerebral artery ischemia (2 h)/reperfusion (22 h) were observed. The neurological scale, cerebral infarcted volume and cerebral water content subjected to cerebral middle artery ischemia/reperfusion in rats were recorded.

Ginkgo biloba leaf extract enhances levels of caspase-3 and amyloid precursor protein in normal rat hippocampus.

Aim: To explore the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) on the levels of caspase-3 and amyloid precursor protein (APP) in normal rats' hippocampus.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry method was used for qualitative analysis of the expressions of caspase-3 and APP, and an image analysis method was used for the quantification of the levels of caspase-3 and APP after GbE was administered to rats of different ages for 14 d.

Results: The mean absorbance of staining of caspase-3 and APP was markedly higher in GbE group than that in control groups.