Yindanxinnaotong, a Chinese compound medicine, synergistically attenuates atherosclerosis progress.

Yindanxinnaotong (YD), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been introduced to clinical medicine for more than a decade, while its pharmacological properties are still not to be well addressed. This report aimed to explore the anti-atherosclerosis properties and underlying mechanisms of YD. We initially performed a computational prediction based on a network pharmacology simulation, which clued YD exerted synergistically anti-atherosclerosis properties by vascular endothelium protection, lipid-lowering, anti-inflammation, and anti-oxidation.

Triptolide inhibits human breast cancer MCF-7 cell growth via downregulation of the ERα-mediated signaling pathway.

Aim: To investigate the anticancer mechanisms of triptolide, a diterpenoid isolated from the plant Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, against human breast cancer cells and the involvement of the estrogen receptor-α (ERα)-mediated signaling pathway in particular.

Methods: Human breast cancer ERα-positive MCF-7 cells and ERα-negative MDA-MB-231 cells were tested. PrestoBlue assay was used to evaluate the cell viability.

[Triptolide inhibits cell proliferation by downregulating phosphorylation of estrogen reporters in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice].

In order to investigate the anti-proliferative effects of triptolide (TP) on 4T1 mice breast cancer cell line in vitro and in mouse model, as well as the possible mechanisms, we detected the effect of TP on cell proliferation by MTT assay or Crystal Violet Staining in our research. Flowcytometry combined with FITC-Annexin V/PI staining were used for detecting TP induced 4T1 cell apoptosis. The protein expression of ERalpha, p-ERalpha, ERbeta, p-ERbeta, ERK, p-ERK, p38, p-p38, SAPK/JNK, and p-SAPK/JNK was tested by western blotting.

Evaluation of anxiolytic-like effect of aqueous extract of asparagus stem in mice.

There are few studies on the neuropharmacological properties of asparagus, which was applied in Chinese traditional medicine as a tonic and heat-clearing agent. The present study was designed to investigate the anxiolytic-like activity of the aqueous extract of asparagus stem (AEAS) using elevated plus maze (EPM) and Vogel conflict tests (VCT) in mice. AEAS significantly increased the percentage of time spent in open arms in EPM, when compared with control group.

Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of cordymin, a peptide purified from the medicinal mushroom Cordyceps sinensis.

The anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of cordymin, a peptide purified from the medicinal mushroom Cordyceps sinensis, were studied. The effects of cordymin on cytokine levels and total antioxidant activity were analysed. The antinociceptive effects of cordymin in vivo and in vitro were also determined.

[Absorption of extractive Rhizoma Coptidis in rat everted gut scas].

Objective: Using in vitro everted gut seas to research the intestinal absorption of the extractive Rhizoma Coptidis at the different intestinal section and the different density.

Method: Berberine (BER) and palmatine (PAL) which are representative compositions of the extractive Rhizoma Coptidis in everted gut seas are detected by HPLC, and calculated the absorption parameter to describe the character of absorption.

Result: The absorption of BER and PAL is linearity in different intestine and different dose, and the square of coefficient correlation exceed 0.