Scutellaria barbata Flavonoids Improve the Composited Aβ-induced Abnormal Changes in Glial Cells of the Brains of Rats.

Aim: It has been reported that glial cells are involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In our previous research, Scutellaria barbata flavonoids (SBFs) were found to protect the AD-like rats from neuronal disorder and memory impairment; however, the effect of SBFs on the glial cells disorder in AD-like rats has been less studied. The effects of SBFs on astrocytes (ASs), microglial cells (MGs), and oligodendrocytes (Ols), as well as heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and apolipoprotein E (ApoE), were investigated in the present study.

Unloading Characteristics of Sand-drift in Wind-shallow Areas along Railway and the Effect of Sand Removal by Force of Wind.

Wind-shield walls decrease the velocity of wind-drift sand flow in transit. This results in sand accumulating in the wind-shadow zone of both windshield wall and track line, causing severe sand sediment hazard. This study reveals the characteristics of sand accumulation and the laws of wind-blown sand removal in the wind-shadow areas of three different types of windshield walls, utilizing three-dimensional numerical simulations and wind tunnel experiments and on-site sand sediment tests.

[Impacts of Chk1 and Chk2 gene expressions on sperm concentration and motility].

Objective: To study the correlation of the gene expressions of Chk1 and Chk2 with sperm concentration and motility.

Methods: According to sperm concentration and motility (percentage of progressively motile sperm), we divided 80 semen samples into four groups of equal number: normal control, oligozoospermia (OS), asthenospermia (AS), and oligoasthenozoospermia (OAS). We detected the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and viability and determined the expressions of Chk1 and Chk2 in the sperm by RT-PCR and Western blot.

[Tea polyphenols reduces the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in rats with experimental varicocele].

Objective: To study the effect of tea polyphenols (TP) on the apoptosis of germ cells in rats with experimental varicocele.

Methods: Thirty-two adolescent male Wistar rats were randomly and equally divided into groups A (sham-operation), B (high-dose TP), C (low-dose TP), and D (experimental left varicocele). Experimental varicocele was induced by partial ligation of the left renal vein in the latter three groups of rats.

Icacinlactone H and Icacintrichantholide from the Tuber of Icacina trichantha.

The 17-norpimarane diterpene is a small group of natural products. A new member, icacinlactone H (1), and a new rearranged 17-norpimarane with an unprecedented carbon skeleton, icacintrichantholide (2), were isolated from Icacina trichantha. Their structures including the absolute configuration were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and electronic circular dichroism analysis.

Flavonoids from Scutellaria attenuate okadaic acid-induced neuronal damage in rats.

Primary Objective: To study the effect of flavonoids isolated from aerial parts of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SSF) on cerebral damage induced by okadaic acid (OA) in rats.

Methods And Procedures: OA was microinjected into the right lateral ventricle of male rats at a dose of 200 ng kg(-1) twice with a 3-day interval between injections to establish a model of Alzheimer's-disease-like cerebral damage. Neuronal morphology was observed with thionin staining and the expressions of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and β-amyloid peptide 1-40 (Aβ1-40) were monitored via immunohistochemistry.

Enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-(S)-stepholidine.

Enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-(S)-stepholidine, a drug candidate for the treatment of schizophrenia and/or drug abuse, is described. Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of imines with use of Noyori's catalyst was used as the key step and (-)-(S)-stepholidine was synthesized in 6 steps, with 42% overall yield and >99% ee.

Scutellaria flavonoid supplementation reverses ageing-related cognitive impairment and neuronal changes in aged rats.

Primary Objective: To study the effects of flavonoid, isolated from aerial parts of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SSF), on memory impairment, neuronal damage, free radicals and energy metabolite disorders in aged rats.

Methods And Procedures: Approximately 25-month-old rats were used to establish the ageing model. The cognition of the rats was determined using the Morris water maze, neuronal morphology was observed by light/electron microscope, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase were measured by spectrophotometry.

Effect of Scutellaria flavonoids on KCN-induced damages in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells.

Background & Objective: Cerebral hypoxia is known to be involved in many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and cerebrovascular dementia. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of flavonoids from aerial part of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SSF) on potassium cyanide (KCN) -induced hypoxic cytotoxicity in rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC12, and to understand the probable mechanism.

Methods: The rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC12 was subjected to hypoxia by 200 microM KCN for 30 min.

Effects of amelioration of total flavonoids from stems and leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi on cognitive deficits, neuronal damage and free radicals disorder induced by cerebral ischemia in rats.

Previous studies reported that the total flavonoids from the stems and leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (TFSS) could enhance and improve learning and memory abilities in experimental animals, and reduce the neuronal pathologic alterations induced by some reagents in mice. The present study examined whether TFSS can improve memory dysfunction, neuronal damage, and abnormal free radicals induced by permanent cerebral ischemia in rats. The permanent cerebral ischemic model in rats was produced by bilateral ligation of the common carotid arteries.

Prevention of oxidative injury by flavonoids from stems and leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in PC12 cells.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important mediators in a number of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). The neuroprotective effects of flavonoids from the stems and leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SSF) against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced rat pheochromocytoma line PC12 injury were evaluated by cell lesion, free radicals and ATPase disorders. Following a 30 min exposure of the cells to H2O2 (100 microm), a marked decrease in cell survival and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Na+-K+-ATPase as well as an increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) production and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release were observed.