Altered GC- and AT-biased genotypes of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in the stromal fertile portions and ascospores of natural Cordyceps sinensis.

Objective: To examine multiple genotypes of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in a semi-quantitative manner in the stromal fertile portion (SFP) densely covered with numerous ascocarps and ascospores of natural Cordyceps sinensis and to outline the dynamic alterations of the coexisting O. sinensis genotypes in different developmental phases.

Methods: Mature Cordyceps sinensis specimens were harvested and continuously cultivated in our laboratory (altitude 2,254 m).

Differential coexistence of multiple genotypes of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in the stromata, ascocarps and ascospores of natural Cordyceps sinensis.

Objective: To examine the differential occurrence of Ophiocordyceps sinensis genotypes in the stroma, stromal fertile portion (SFP) densely covered with numerous ascocarps, and ascospores of natural Cordyceps sinensis.

Methods: Immature and mature C. sinensis specimens were harvested.

Antidiarrheal activity of the extracts of Valeriana jatamansi Jones on castor oil-induced diarrhea mouse by regulating multiple signal pathways.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Valeriana jatamansi Jones, a traditional medicine, is used for various medicinal purposes worldwide. This species is popular for its gastro-protective properties and has been verified to exert antidiarrheal effects. Qiuxieling mixture, an oral liquid preparation used to treat diarrhea in children in clinical practice, was extracted from V.

Wnt/β-catenin signaling plays an important role in the protective effects of FDP-Sr against oxidative stress induced apoptosis in MC3T3-E1 cell.

Strontium fructose 1,6-diphosphate (FDP-Sr) is a new strontium-containing compound. The primary aim of this study was to clarify whether the structure component of FDP-Sr, FDP could benefit the protective effect of Sr (II) against oxidative stress induced apoptosis, and meanwhile to further explore the important role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the anti-apoptosis effect of FDP-Sr in response to oxidative stress induced by H2O2 in an osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cell line. Results showed that FDP-Sr could improve the osteoblastic differentiation under oxidative stress with induced cell proliferation and improved mineralization.

Altered proteomic polymorphisms in the caterpillar body and stroma of natural Cordyceps sinensis during maturation.

Objective: To examine the maturational changes in proteomic polymorphisms resulting from differential expression by multiple intrinsic fungi in the caterpillar body and stroma of natural Cordyceps sinensis (Cs), an integrated micro-ecosystem.

Methods: The surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF MS) biochip technique was used to profile the altered protein compositions in the caterpillar body and stroma of Cs during its maturation. The MS chromatograms were analyzed using density-weighted algorithms to examine the similarities and cluster relationships among the proteomic polymorphisms of the Cs compartments and the mycelial products Hirsutella sinensis (Hs) and Paecilomyces hepiali (Ph).

Metabolomic analysis of simvastatin and fenofibrate intervention in high-lipid diet-induced hyperlipidemia rats.

Aim: To investigate the metabolite changes caused by simvastatin or fenofibrate intervention in diet-induced hyperlipidemia rats using a GC-MS-based metabolomic profiling approach.

Methods: SD rats were fed with high-lipid diet for 4 weeks to induce hyperlipidemia, then the rats were fed with normal diet, and orally administered with simvastatin (10 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1)) or fenofibrate (150 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1)) for 2 weeks. Blood samples were collected once a week, and potential biomarkers were examined using commercial assay kits and a metabolomic approach.

[Amplicon density-weighted algorithms for analyzing dissimilarity and dynamic alterations of RAPD polymorphisms of Cordyceps sinensis].

Objective: To examine the dynamic maturational alterations of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) molecular marker polymorphism resulted from differential expressions of multiple fungi in the caterpillar body, stroma and ascocarp portion of Cordyceps sinensis (Cs).

Methods: Used the fuzzy, integral RAPD molecular marker polymorphism method with 20 random primers; used density-weighted cluster algorithms and ZUNIX similarity equations; compared RAPD polymorphisms of the caterpillar body, stroma and ascocarp of Cs during maturation; and compared RAPD polymorphisms of Cs and Hirsutella sinensis (Hs).

Results: Density-unweighted algorithms neglected the differences in density of the DNA amplicons.

Structure and remodeling behavior of drug-loaded high density lipoproteins and their atherosclerotic plaque targeting mechanism in foam cell model.

This study is one of the first to test the relationship of formulation and structure of reconstituted high density lipoproteins (rHDL), drug behavior involved in remolding process and their targeting mechanism in a foam cell model. Tanshinone IIA-loaded rHDL (TA-rHDL) with different formulations and techniques were prepared and characterized. The targeting mechanism and drug behavior involved in remolding process were undertaken using a foam cell model.

Protective effects of ginsenoside Rb(3) on oxygen and glucose deprivation-induced ischemic injury in PC12 cells.

Aim: To investigate the protective effects of ginsenoside Rb(3), a triterpenoid saponin isolated from the leaves of Panax notoginseng, on ischemic and reperfusion injury model of PC12 cells and elucidate the related mechanisms.

Methods: PC12 cells exposed to oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) and restoration (OGD-Rep) were used as an in vitro model of ischemia and reperfusion. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage were used to evaluate the protective effects of ginsenoside Rb(3).