Polyethyleneimine-mediated assembly of DNA nanotubes for KRAS siRNA delivery in lung adenocarcinoma therapy.

Self-assembled DNA nanostructures hold great promise in biosensing, drug delivery and nanomedicine. Nevertheless, challenges like instability and inefficiency in cellular uptake of DNA nanostructures under physiological conditions limit their practical use. To tackle these obstacles, this study proposes a novel approach that integrates the cationic polymer polyethyleneimine (PEI) with DNA self-assembly.

Structural-Activity Relationship of Ginsenosides from Steamed Ginseng in the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction.

Ginseng has been reported to have diverse pharmacological effects. One of the therapeutic claims for ginseng is to enhance sexual function. Ginsenosides are considered as the major active constituents.

Comparison of Immunomodulatory Effects of Fresh Garlic and Black Garlic Polysaccharides on RAW 264.7 Macrophages.

Garlic has a long history to be used for medicine and food purposes. Black garlic, the fermented product of fresh garlic, is considered with better biological activities, such as antioxidant activity, and is developed as an increasingly popular functional food. Polysaccharides are the major components of fresh and black garlic, and immunomodulatory activity is one major pharmacological effect of polysaccharides.

Distinct urine metabolome after Asian ginseng and American ginseng intervention based on GC-MS metabolomics approach.

Ginseng occupies a prominent position in the list of best-selling natural products worldwide. Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) show different properties and medicinal applications in pharmacology, even though the main active constituents of them are both thought to be ginsenosides. Metabolomics is a promising method to profile entire endogenous metabolites and monitor their fluctuations related to exogenous stimulus.

ACE2 and Ang-(1-7) protect endothelial cell function and prevent early atherosclerosis by inhibiting inflammatory response.

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a counter-regulator against ACE by converting angiotensin II (Ang-II) to Ang-(1-7), but the effect of ACE2 and Ang-(1-7) on endothelial cell function and atherosclerotic evolution is unknown. We hypothesized that ACE2 overexpression and Ang-(1-7) may protect endothelial cell function by counterregulation of angiotensin II signaling and inhibition of inflammatory response.

Methods: We used a recombinant adenovirus vector to locally overexpress ACE2 gene (Ad-ACE2) in human endothelial cells in vitro and in apoE-deficient mice in vivo.

Integrated evaluation of malonyl ginsenosides, amino acids and polysaccharides in fresh and processed ginseng.

Many analytical methods have been developed to characterize ginsenosides in ginseng. Relatively less attention has been paid to the malonyl ginsenosides, amino acids and polysaccharides in various processing ginsengs. In this study, malonyl ginsenosides were characterized by LC-Q-TOF/MS.

ACE2 activity was increased in atherosclerotic plaque by losartan: Possible relation to anti-atherosclerosis.

Introduction: Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a new member of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and it has been proposed that ACE2 is a potential therapeutic target for the control of cardiovascular disease. The effect of losartan on the ACE2 activity in atherosclerosis was studied.

Methods: Atherosclerosis was induced in New Zealand white rabbits by high-cholesterol diet for 3 months.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 overexpression improves left ventricular remodeling and function in a rat model of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that angiotensin (Ang)-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) overexpression may inhibit myocardial collagen accumulation and improve left ventricular (LV) remodeling and function in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Hyperglycemia activates the renin-Ang system, which promotes the accumulation of extracellular matrix and progression of cardiac remodeling and dysfunction.

Methods: Ninety male Wistar rats were divided randomly into treatment (n = 80) and control (n = 10) groups.

ACE2 overexpression ameliorates left ventricular remodeling and dysfunction in a rat model of myocardial infarction.

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that overexpression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) may favorably affect left ventricular (LV) remodeling and function after myocardial infarction (MI). The left anterior descending coronary artery was ligated to produce anterior MI in 100 Wistar-Kyoto rats that were randomly divided into Ad-ACE2, Ad-ACE2+A779, Ad-EGFP, model, and sham groups. Two weeks later, rats in the Ad-ACE2 and Ad-EGFP groups received direct intramyocardial injection of Ad-ACE2 and Ad-EGFP, respectively.

[Overexpression of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 inhibits inflammatory response of atherosclerotic plaques in hypercholesterolemic rabbits].

Objective: Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) efficiently hydrolyses the potent vasoconstrictor angiotensin II to vasodilative angiotensin (1-7). We hypothesized that ACE2 overexpression may inhibit inflammation response in atherosclerotic plaque by degrading Ang II into Ang-(1-7).

Methods: Atherosclerosis (AS) plaques were induced in the abdominal aorta of 38 rabbits by endothelial injury and atherogenic diet for 3 months.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of Radix Astragali products by fast high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry through dynamic adjustment of fragmentor voltage.

A novel fast high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method coupled with diode array detection (DAD) and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF/MS) was developed for qualitative and quantitative analysis of Radix Astragali products. The potential of fast HPLC on 1.8-microm particles was compared with the performance of HPLC on conventional 5-microm particles columns.

Overexpression of ACE2 enhances plaque stability in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that ACE2 overexpression may enhance atherosclerotic plaque stability by antagonizing ACE activity and converting angiotensin II to angiotensin 1-7.

Methods And Results: Atherosclerotic plaques were induced in the abdominal aorta of 114 rabbits by endothelial injury and atherogenic diet. Gene therapy was performed in group A at week 4 and in group B at week 12, respectively.

Application of high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry for analysis and quality control of Radix Astragali and its preparations.

A high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-TOF-MS) method has been developed for qualitative and quantitative analysis of isoflavonoids and saponins, as well as for the quality control of Radix Astragali and its preparations. The selectivity, reproducibility and sensitivity are compared with HPLC with diode array detection (DAD) and evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD). Limits of detection and quantification fell in ranges of 9-40 and 23-103 ng/mL for 13 analytes with a injection of 10 microL samples, and all calibration curves showed good linear regression (r(2)>0.

Simultaneous determination of 15 marker constituents in various radix Astragali preparations by solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography.

An improved quality control method was developed to simultaneously determine 15 major constituents (eight flavonoids and seven saponins) in various radix Astragali preparations, using SPE for pretreatment of samples, HPLC with diode-array and evaporative light scattering detectors (DAD-ELSD) for quantification in one run, and HPLC-ESI-TOF/MS for definite identification of compounds in preparations. Optimum separations were obtained with a ZORBAX C(18) column, using a gradient elution with 0.3% aqueous formic acid and ACN.

Screening and identification of potential bioactive components in a combined prescription of Danggui Buxue decoction using cell extraction coupled with high performance liquid chromatography.

A cell extraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis has been developed to screen the potential bioactive components in combined prescription of Danggui Buxue decoction. The method was validated by using HL-7702 cells, RAW 264.7 cells and Caco-2 cell extraction.

Determination of seventeen main flavonoids and saponins in the medicinal plant Huang-qi (Radix astragali) by HPLC-DAD-ELSD.

A simple, rapid, and reliable method, namely high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array and evaporative light scattering detectors (HPLC-DAD-ELSD), was developed to simultaneously determine twelve major flavonoids and five main saponins in different parts of the medicinal plant Huang-qi (Radix Astragali). The DAD wavelength was set at 280 nm for the UV detection of flavonoids, while the drift tube temperature was set at 105 degrees C and the nebulizing gas flow rate at 2.7 L/min for ELSD detection of saponins.

Quality evaluation of Radix Astragali through a simultaneous determination of six major active isoflavonoids and four main saponins by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array and evaporative light scattering detectors.

A method, high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array and evaporative light scattering detectors (HPLC-DAD-ELSD), was developed to evaluate the quality of Radix Astragali through a simultaneous determination of six major active isoflavonoids and four main saponins. The wavelength at 280 nm was chosen to determine six isoflavonoids: calycosin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside (1), ononin (2), (6alphaR, 11alphaR)-9,10-dimethoxypterocarpan-3-O-beta-D-glucoside (3), (3R)-2'-hydroxy-3',4'-dimethoxyisoflavan-7-O-beta-D-glucoside (4), calycosin (5), and formononetin (6); and ELSD connected after DAD was employed to determine four saponins: astragaloside IV (7), astragaloside II (8), astragaloside I (9), and acetylastragaloside I (10). This assay was fully validated with respect to precision, repeatability and accuracy.