Combination of total Astragalus extract and total Panax notoginseng saponins strengthened the protective effects on brain damage through improving energy metabolism and inhibiting apoptosis after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in mice.

Objective: To explore the effects and molecular mechanisms of the combination between total Astragalus extract (TAE) and total Panax notoginseng saponins (TPNS) against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Methods: C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into sham-operated group, model group, TAE (110 mg/kg) group, TPNS (115 mg/kg) group, TAE-TPNS combination group and Edaravone (4 mg/kg) group, treated for 4 days, then, cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury was established by bilateral common carotid artery (CCA) ligation for 20 min followed by reperfusion for 1 and 24 h.

Results: TPNS could increase adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level, TAE and TAE-TPNS combination increased ATP, adenosine diphosphate (ADP) contents and Na-K-ATPase activity, and the effects of TAE-TPNS combination were stronger than those of TAE or TPNS alone after reperfusion for 1 h.

Astragalus extract alleviates nerve injury after cerebral ischemia by improving energy metabolism and inhibiting apoptosis.

This aim of this study was to explore the effects and molecular mechanisms of Astragalus extract against cerebral ischemia injury through the energy metabolism and apoptosis pathways of c‑Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signal transduction. After the bilateral common carotid artery of C57BL/6 mice was occluded for 20 min followed by 1-h reperfusion, the ATP content, total adenine nucleotides (TAN), energy charge (EC), and sodium potassium ATPase (Na(+)-K(+)‑ATPase) activity were decreased markedly in brain tissues. Astragalus extract markedly increased the ATP and ADP levels, EC value, and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity.

Effect of total saponins of "panax notoginseng root" on aortic intimal hyperplasia and the expressions of cell cycle protein and extracellular matrix in rats.

Aim Of The Study: the effect of total saponins of "panax notoginseng root" on aortic intimal hyperplasia and the expressions of cell cycle protein and extracellular matrix in rats

Materials And Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham-operated, control, TSPN and atorvastatin group. Rat aorta intima in all groups were injured by insertion of domestic balloon catheter into the aortae except sham-operated rats. Drugs were administrated orally from the second day after vascular injury and continued for 14 days.

Inhibition of aortic intimal hyperplasia and cell cycle protein and extracellular matrix protein expressions by BuYang HuanWu Decoction.

Aim Of The Study: The inhibitive effect of BuYang HuanWu Decoction (BYHWD) and its major components on vascular intimal hyperplasia and the expressions of cell cycle protein and extracellular matrix protein.

Materials And Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham-operated, control, alkaloid, glycoside, BYHWD and atorvastatin groups. Rat aorta intima in all groups were injured by insesion of domestic balloon catheter into the aortae except sham-operated rats.

Total saponins of Panax notoginseng modulate the expression of caspases and attenuate apoptosis in rats following focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Total saponins of Panax notoginseng (TSPN), main constituents extracted from Panax Notoginseng, a highly valued traditional Chinese medicine, have been shown to be an effective agent on cerebral infarction.

Aim Of The Study: The effects of TSPN on apoptosis and expressions of caspase-1, caspase-3 and caspase-8 were studied after cerebral ischemia for 2 h followed by reperfusion for 46 h in rats.

Materials And Methods: Rats were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model using the intraluminal thread.

[Effects of Buyang Huanwu Decoction and its alkaloids and glycosides on aortic intimal hyperplasia and expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in rats with aortic intimal injuries].

Objective: To explore the effects of alkaloids and glycosides extracted from Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD), a compound of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on aortic intimal hyperplasia and the expression of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in rats with aortic intimal injuries.

Methods: The vessel restenosis model was established by denuding aortic endothelium with domestic balloon catheter in rats. Drugs were administered intragastrically on the first day after operation.

[Effect of active fraction of buyang huanwu decoction on caspase expression in rats after focal cerebral ischemic reperfusion].

Objective: To investigate effect of the four kinds of active fractions extracted from Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD) on caspase expression in rats after focal cerebral ischemic reperfusion.

Methods: The focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion model rats were established by middle cerebral artery occlusion for 2 hrs followed with reperfusion for 46 hrs. Before and at 12th, 24th and 36th hour after cerebral ischemia, the rats were administered with alkaloid, glycoside, polysaccharide and aglycone from BYHWD respectively, and nimodipine was given as control medicine to observe the effect of them on protein expression of caspase-1, caspase-3 and caspase-8 using immunohistochemical method.