Stachydrine Protects Against Pressure Overload-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy by Suppressing Autophagy.

Background: Autophagy is required for the maintenance of cardiomyocyte homeostasis. However, excessive autophagy plays a maladaptive role in pressure overload-induced heart failure. To identify mechanisms by which Stachydrine inhibits pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy, we determined inhibitory activities against activation of NADPH oxidase, reactive oxygen species(ROS) production and excessive activation of autophagy.

The Zuo Jin Wan Formula Induces Mitochondrial Apoptosis of Cisplatin-Resistant Gastric Cancer Cells via Cofilin-1.

Despite the status of cisplatin (DDP) as a classical chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of cancer, the development of multidrug resistance often leads to a failure of DDP therapy. Here we found that phosphorylated cofilin-1 (p-cofilin-1) was overexpressed in the DDP-resistant human gastric cancer cell lines SGC7901/DDP and BGC823/DDP, relative to the respective parent cell lines (SGC7901 and BGC823), and that DDP induced the dephosphorylation of p-cofilin-1 in both parent lines but not in the DDP-resistant lines. However, we noted that the traditional Chinese medicine formula Zuo Jin Wan (ZJW) could induce the dephosphorylation of p-cofilin-1 and promote cofilin-1 translocation from the cytoplasm into the mitochondria in both SGC7901/DDP and BGC823/DDP cells.

Shengmai San Ameliorates Myocardial Dysfunction and Fibrosis in Diabetic db/db Mice.

In this study, we mainly investigated the effects of Shengmai San (SMS) on diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) in db/db mice. The db/db mice were randomly divided into model group and SMS group, while C57BLKS/J inbred mice were used as controls. After 24-week treatment, blood glucose, body weight, and heart weight were determined.

Effects of stachydrine on norepinephrine-induced neonatal rat cardiac myocytes hypertrophy and intracellular calcium transients.

Background: Leonurus heterophyllus sweet has been suggested to have cardioprotective effects against heart diseases, including ischemic diseases and ventricular remodeling. However, the active ingredients of the herb and the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of stachydrine (STA), a major constituent of Leonurus heterophyllus sweet, on norepinephrine (NE) induced hypertrophy and the changes of calcium transients in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.

[Effects of buyang huanwu decoction on the sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium uptake in abdominal aortic constriction induced myocardial hypertrophic rats].

Unlabelled: objective: To investigate effects of buyang huanwu decoction (BYHWD) on the rats' myocardial hypertrophic model induced by abdominal aortic constriction, and to clarify the molecular regulatory mechanisms for sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium uptake.

Methods: Hypertrophic myocardium rat model was induced by abdominal aorta constriction (AAC). Four weeks after modeling, rats were randomly divided into the sham-operation group (Group S), the AAC model group (Group M), the Enalapril group (Group E), and the BYHWD treatment group (Group BYHWD), respectively.

[Effect of Leonurus stachydrine on myocardial cell hypertrophy].

Objective: To investigate the effects of Leonurus stachydrine on myocardial cell hypertrophy induced by angiotensin II in rats.

Methods: Myocardial cells of neonatal rats were incubated with angiotensin II for 48 hours to establish myocardial cell hypertrophy models. The cell surface area and protein/DNA ratio were detected as index for hypertrophy of myocardial cells.

[Protective effects of Leonurus japonicas on myocardial remodeling induced by isoproterenol in rats].

Objective: To investigate the effects of Leonurus japonicas on myocardial remodeling induced by isoproterenol (ISO) in rats.

Methods: The model of rat myocardial remodeling was established by subcutaneous injection of ISO (20,10 and 5 mg/kg for 3 days, subsequently 3 mg/kg for 7 days). Rats were randomly divided into five groups: Control, ISO, ISO + enalapril, ISO + Leonurus 8 g/ kg and ISO + Leonurus 16 g/kg.

[Dynamic study on inhibition of qi-benefiting, blood-activating recipe on myocardial hypertrophy induced by ISO in rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of Qi-Benefiting, Blood-Activating Recipe on the different pathologic stage of myocardial hypertrophy induced by ISO in rats.

Methods: Myocardial hypertrophy rats were induced by isoproterenol, and treated with Qi-Benefiting, Blood-Activating Recipe for 5,10 and 15 weeks, hemodynamic parameters, LVMI, HMI were determined, ANP and BNP were analysed.

Results: Qi-Benefiting, Blood-Activating Recipe could increase cardiac output and improve hemodynamic parameters all after 5, 10 and 15 weeks' treatment (P<0.

[Enriching of total flavonoids from Herba Leonuri with polyamide and macroporous resin].

Objective: To study the enriching method of total flavonoid from Herba Leonuri with polyamide and macroporous resin.

Method: Seven enriching and purifying methods were compared with the yield and purity as indexes. The method of enriching with polyamide and macroporous resin was confirmed and the process of purifying was determined by orthogonal design.

[Effect of dahuang zhechong pill on content of amino acids in hippocampal tissue of ischemic cerebral hemorrhagic rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of Dahuang Zhechong Pill (DZP) on the content of amino acids in hippocampal tissue of model rats of ischemic cerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

Methods: Collagenase and heparin were injected into caudate nucleus to establish ICH rat model. The content of glutamic acid (Glu), aspartic acid (Asp) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in hippocampal tissue was detected by anti-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic fluorimetry to observe the effect of DZP on the content of amino acids in brain tissue.

[Effect of Chinese and western medicine integration on spinning behavior of rats with Parkinson disease].

Objective: To observe the effect of Chinese and western medicine integration on the spinning behavior of rats with Parkinson disease.

Methods: Model of the lateral Parkinson disease was made with injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the black substance of the right side of the brain, and the model rats were treated with madopar and Chinese herbs for nourishing the liver and kidney, clearing collaterals and detoxification. The rat's spinning behavior was observed, and was compared with the normal control group, madopar group and sham-operation group at the same time.