Safflower leaf ameliorates cognitive impairment through moderating excessive astrocyte activation in APP/PS1 mice.

In addition to beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is typically triggered or accompanied by abnormal inflammation, oxidative stress and astrocyte activation. Safflower ( L.) leaf, featuring functional ingredients, is a commonly consumed leafy vegetable.

Antioxidant and neuroprotective activities of Mogami-benibana (safflower, Carthamus tinctorius Linne).

Free radical scavenging activity of the extracts of petals (bud, early stage, full blooming and ending stage), leaf, stem, root and seeds of Mogami-benibana (safflower, Carthamus tinctorius Linne), the contents of the major active components of carthamin and polyphenols, and neuroprotective effect of the petal extracts and carthamin in the brain of mice and rats were examined. Water extracts of Mogami-benibana petals scavenged superoxide, hydroxyl and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and singlet oxygen. The scavenging activities of the extract of safflower petals with various colors showed the order of orange, yellow and white from high to low.

A role for guanidino compounds in the brain.

Guanidino compounds of guanidinoethanesulfonic acid, guanidinoacetic acid, guanidinosuccinic acid, N-acetylarginine, beta-guanidinopropionic acid, creatinine, gamma-guanidinobutyric acid, arginine, guanidine, methylguanidine, homoarginine and alpha-guanidinoglutaric acid are present in the mammalian brain. These guanidino compounds except for arginine and guanidine induce seizures and convulsions in rat, rabbit and cat by intracisternal injection. Hirudonine, audonine, alpha-keto-delta-guanidinovaleric acid, N,N'-dibenzoylguanidine and phenylethylguanidine are also convulsants.

Japanese herbal medicine Toki-shakuyaku-san (TJ-23) enhances cardiac contractile function in isolated ventricular cardiomyocytes.

Toki-shakuyaku-san (TJ-23), a Japanese traditional herbal medicine, has a long history in Asia for the treatment of neurodegenerative, immune, and airway diseases. However, the effect of TJ-23 on heart function has not been elucidated. This study was designed to examine the effect of TJ-23 on ventricular contractile function at the single cardiomyocyte level.