Physcion prevents high-fat diet-induced endothelial dysfunction by inhibiting oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways.

High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity leads endothelial dysfunction and contributes to cardiovascular diseases. Palmitic acid (PA), a free fatty acid, is the main component of dietary saturated fat. Physcion, a chemical ingredient from Rhubarb, has been shown anti-hypertensive, anti-bacteria, and anti-tumor properties.

Emodin protects against homocysteine-induced cardiac dysfunction by inhibiting oxidative stress via MAPK and Akt/eNOS/NO signaling pathways.

Elevated levels of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) causes severe cardiac dysfunction, which is closely associated with oxidative stress. Emodin, a naturally occurring anthraquinone derivative, has been shown to exert antioxidant and anti-apoptosis activities. However, whether emodin could protect against Hcy-induced cardiac dysfunction remains unknown.

Decreased gene expression of K and K channels in hyperthyroid rabbit atria.

Cardiac hypertrophy is a common myocardial structural abnormality which may cause heart failure. Many studies have shown that cardiac hypertrophy can be induced by hyperthyroidism. Ligand-gated potassium channels have been reported to be involved in various biological processes in the cardiovascular system, such as GPCR coupled K and metabolism sensor K channel.

Physcion, a tetra-substituted 9,10-anthraquinone, prevents homocysteine-induced endothelial dysfunction by activating Ca- and Akt-eNOS-NO signaling pathways.

Background: Homocysteine (Hcy) induced vascular endothelial dysfunction is known to be closely associated with oxidative stress and impaired NO system. 1,8-Dihydroxy-3-methoxy-6-methylanthracene-9,10-dione (physcion) has been known to has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to define the protective effect of physcion on Hcy-induced endothelial dysfunction and its mechanisms involved.

Protective effects of oxymatrine on homocysteine-induced endothelial injury: Involvement of mitochondria-dependent apoptosis and Akt-eNOS-NO signaling pathways.

Homocysteine (Hcy) is an independent risk factor in the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), induces the injury of vascular endothelial cells via oxidative stress. Oxymatrine (OMT), one of the main components of Sophora flavescens, has displayed anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic activity.

Involvement of heme oxygenase-1 induction in anti-vascular inflammation effects of Xanthoceras sorbifolia in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Objective: To define the effects of Xanthoceras sorbifolia (EXS) on vascular inflammation and the mechanisms in endothelial cells.

Methods: Vascular protective effects of an ethanol extract of seeds from EXS (1-50 μg/mL) against tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced vascular inflammation were examined in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Results: EXS significantly decreased TNF-α-induced expression of cell adhesion molecules, such as intracellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and endothelial cell selectin, in a dose-dependent manner.

Emodin accentuates atrial natriuretic peptide secretion in cardiac atria.

Emodin, an active anthraquinone constituent isolated from the rhubarb, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine which is widely used in clinical treatment, has cardiovascular protective properties. However, it remains unclear whether the cardiovascular protective actions of emodin are related to an activation of cardiac natriuretic hormone secretion. The purpose of the present study was to explore the effect of emodin on the secretion of ANP, a member of the family of cardiac natriuretic hormones, and its mechanisms involved.

Accentuation of ursolic acid on muscarinic receptor-induced ANP secretion in beating rabbit atria.

Aims: Ursolic acid has recently been reported to increase both atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) secretion and mechanical dynamics in rabbit atria.

Main Methods: The present study was designed to clarify the regulatory effects of ursolic acid on the β-adrenergic or muscarinic receptor-mediated changes in ANP secretory and contractile function allowing measurement of atrial dynamics such as pulse pressure, stroke volume, and cAMP efflux in isolated perfused beating rabbit atria.

Key Findings: Pretreatment with ursolic acid significantly attenuated the isoproterenol (β-adrenergic agonist)-induced decrease in ANP secretion and increases in cAMP levels and atrial dynamics.

Vasorelaxant action of an ethylacetate fraction of Euphorbia humifusa involves NO-cGMP pathway and potassium channels.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Euphorbia humifusa Willd. (EH) is an important traditional Chinese medicine that has commonly been used for treating bacillary dysentery and enteritis in many Asian countries for thousands of years. EH has a wide variety of pharmacological actions such as antioxidant, hypotensive, and hypolipidemic effects.

Poria cocos inhibits high glucose-induced proliferation of rat mesangial cells.

Mesangial cell proliferation is correlated with the progression of renal failure. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a water extract of Poria cocos Wolf (WPC), a well-known medicinal plant, regulates rat mesangial cell proliferation in the presence of high glucose (HG). HG significantly accelerated [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation, which was inhibited by WPC (1-50 μg/mL) in a dose-dependent manner.

Vasodilatory effects of ethanol extract of Radix Paeoniae Rubra and its mechanism of action in the rat aorta.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Radix Paeoniae Rubra (RPR) is an important traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) commonly used in clinic for a long history in China. RPR is the radix of either Paeonia lactiflora Pall. or Paeonia veitchii Lynch.

The mechanism of vasorelaxation induced by ethanol extract of Sophora flavescens in rat aorta.

Aim Of The Study: Sophora flavescens (SF) is a known medicinal herb for the treatment of cardiovascular symptoms associated with arrhythmia in China. However, the pharmacological action mechanisms involved have not been well studied. The aim of the present study was to define effects of roots of SF on the vascular tension and responsible mechanisms in rat thoracic aorta.

Vascular relaxation by ethanol extract of Xanthoceras sorbifolia via Akt- and SOCE-eNOS-cGMP pathways.

Aim Of The Study: The aim of the present study was to define the effect of Xanthoceras sorbifolia extracts (XS) on vascular tension and responsible mechanisms in rat thoracic aortic rings.

Materials And Methods: Ethanol extract of the leaves of XS (EXS) was examined for their vascular relaxant effects in isolated phenylephrine-precontracted rat thoracic aorta.

Results: EXS (0.

[Study on the genetic diversity of natural chestnut of Shandong by ISSR].

The genetic diversity of 279 indivdiuals from 10 populations in Shandong Province was investigated using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. As a result, 116 bands were amplified by 10 informative and reliable primers, of which 101 were polymorphic loci. A relatively high level of genetic diversity was revealed: PPL = 87.