Publications by authors named "Fengming Shen"

Polysaccharides from Hua (PSP) exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidepressant effects. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activation of the calpain system and the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome are closely related to the pathogenesis of depression. However, the relationships among those pathways and the protective effects of PSP have not been characterized.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study is aimed at investigating the potential roles of G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER, also known as GPR30) in the preventive effect of ginsenoside Rg1 against cognitive impairment and hippocampal cell apoptosis in experimental vascular dementia (VD) in mice. The effects of bilateral common carotid artery stenosis (BCAS) on GPR30 expression at mRNA level were evaluated. Thereafter, the BCAS mouse model was utilized to evaluate the protection of Rg1 (0.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory (Yi Xue Zheng Zhuan), the main factors associated with the pathogenesis of depression are deficiencies relating to five zang organs, Qi, and blood. Polygonatum sibiricum F. Delaroche (PS), which may avert these pathological changes, has been used in a variety of formulas to treat depression.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Ginsenoside Rg1 is efficient to prevent or treat mental disorders. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of ginsenoside Rg1 on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are still not known. In this study, single-prolonged stress (SPS) regime, as well as injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), was used to produce PTSD-like behaviors in C57 mice, and the effects of ginsenoside Rg1 (10, 20, 40 mg/kg/d, ip, for 14 days) on PTSD-like behaviors were evaluated.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Delivery of diphencyprone (DPCP) and minoxidil to hair follicles and related cells is important in the treatment of alopecia. Here we report the development of "squarticles," nanoparticles formed from sebum-derived lipids such as squalene and fatty esters, for use in achieving targeted drug delivery to the follicles. Two different nanosystems, nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) and nanoemulsions (NE), were prepared.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Diphencyprone (DPCP) is a therapeutic agent for treating alopecia areata. To improve skin absorption and follicular targeting nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) were developed.

Methods: Nanoparticles were characterized by size, zeta potential, molecular environment, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF