Objective: To investigate the effect of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on ischemia reperfusion (I/R) induced rat mesenteric microcirculatory dysfunctions. Methods: Male Wistar rats weighting 200–250 g were subjected to 10 min ligation of the superior mesenteric artery and vein, followed by 60 min reperfusion. PNS (5 mg/kg/hr) was continuously administrated starting from 10 min before ischemia or 10 min after reperfusion until 60 min after reperfusion via left jugular vein. Leukocytes adhesion, mast cell degranulation, endothelial peroxidation, and albumin leakage of rat mesenteric venules were observed. Serum myeloperoxidase (MPO) level, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression and Src phosphorylation were examined. Results: PNS ameliorated leukocyte adhesion and mast cell degranulation, while with no obvious effects on endothelial peroxidation and albumin leakage. In addition, PNS inhibited serum MPO increase, intestinal ICAM-1 expression and Src phosphorylation induced by I/R. Conclusions: PNS ameliorated I/R-induced leukocyte adhesion and mast cell degranulation, the former is related to its inhibition of Src phosphorylation and ICAM-1 expression. Abbreviations: DHR, Dihydrorhodamine-123; FITC, Fluorescein isothiocyanate; ICAM-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1; I/R, ischemia-reperfusion; MPO, myeloperoxidase; NF-κB, nuclear factor-kappa B; PN, Panax notoginseng; PNS, Panax notoginseng saponins; p-Src, phosphor-Src; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor.

Herbal medicines may benefit from metabolomics studies, and applying metabolomics may provide answers about which herbal interventions may be effective for individuals, which metabolic processes are triggered, and the subsequent chemical pathways of activity. Physalis pubescens L (PPL) is an herbal fruit for one year living plant and has been developed into healthy function’s food. However, the mechanisms of health functions are still unclear. To comprehensively and holistically assess its anti-fatigue and antioxidant effects, a novel integrative metabolomics approach was applied. In this study, we present metabolomics analysis applying ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS) to determine metabolite alterations after oral administration PPL to rats. Fifteen metabolites in urine were identified as potential biomarkers. Pattern analysis of the UPLC-Q/TOF-MS data disclosed that PPL could relieve fatigue rats by ameliorating the disturbance in amino acids metabolism and energy metabolism, alleviating the oxidative stress from reactive oxygen species and the inflammatory damage, and recovering the destructed regulation. Based on these results, we demonstrated that PPL is a promising source of natural anti-fatigue and antioxidants material for use in functional foods and medicines.

Objective: To establish a rapid, accurate and reliable analytical method for the simultaneous determination of four major anthraquinones in Polygoni Multiflori Radix (PMR) using single reference standard. Methods: The four components including emodin-8-O-β-D- (EMG), physcion-8-O-β-D-glucoside, emodin and physcion were separated on an ODS C18 column within 13 min and detected at 280 nm. Emodin was selected as the reference standard, and the response factor for each analyte with respect to emodin were calculated. Robustness were also tested including different columns, equipments, temperatures, detection wavelengths, and other chromatographic conditions which might influence stability of response factors. Results: The method was validated in terms of linearity (r² > 0.9995), LOQs (0.820–3.05 ng/mL), LODs (0.180–0.920 ng/mL), precision, accuracy (95.8–103.6%, RSD < 2.80%) and stability. A total of 40 batches of PMR were analyzed and the results were found to have no statistically significant differences compared with those obtained using the external standard method. Conclusion: This work provided a single standard to determine multi-components method for quantitation of four anthraquinones in PMR, which could be applied in the quality control of this herbal drug.

Background: Danshen is an important traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used for the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Separation and analysis of its components have been widely investigated. However, the systematical two dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC) methods have not been developed to comprehensively separate and characterize its components. Objective: In this work, double off-line 2D-LC methods were aimed to develop for the systematical separation of compounds from Danshen. Methods: Using solid phase extraction (SPE), the Danshen extract was divided into a medium-polar fraction (Sample I) and a weak-polar fraction (Sample II) according to their polarities. Based on reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) modes, a 2D-HILIC × RPLC system and a 2D-RPLC × RPLC system were designed for the separation of Sample I and Sample II, respectively. According to reversed-phase and HILIC columns selectivities characterized in our previous reports, ZIC-HILIC and XTerra C18 were employed to build the 2D-HILIC × RPLC system and Click TE-CD and XTerra C18 for the 2D-RPLC × RPLC system, respectively. Results: The 2D-HILIC × RPLC and 2D-RPLC × RPLC systems exhibited excellent orthogonality for the separation of Sample I and Sample II, respectively. Their orthogonalities were 88.42% and 63.24%. Based on these double 2D-LC systems combined with mass spectrometry, at least 200 compounds were found and 33 compounds of them were identified, including 16 phenolic acids and 17 diterpenoid quinines. Conclusion: These results suggest that these two off-line 2D-LC methods are effective for the separation and characterization of components in Danshen.

Kidney governing bone theory plays an important role in treating bone metabolic disease such as osteoporosis, and many tonifying kidney prescriptions/herbs are widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). However, the exact biological basis of kidney governing bone theory in the context of new advances in biology is still not fully established. In this paper, the content of kidney governing bone theory in biology has been fully demonstrated from different aspects. We first propose that bone and kidney mutually affect each other in pathology and physiology, particularly through homeostasis of calcium, phosphorus and fibroblast growth factor-23(FGF-23). Next, we identify that tonifying kidney prescriptions/herbs exert bone protective effects, thus treating osteoporosis by regulating bone formation and bone resorption. Furthermore, the exact molecular mechanisms of tonifying kidney prescriptions, herbs and their effective components in treating osteoporosis have been systematically reviewed. Finally, we come into the conclusion that kidney regulating bone mineral homeostasis, bone protective effects of tonifying kidney herbs and regulatory effects on bone homeostasis are all the manifestations of kidney governing bone theory. Therefore, the new insights into kidney governing bone theory in biology will promote the development of clinical practices, and drugs discovery in treating osteoporosis.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major health threat worldwide. The literature on herbal intervention in AKI was searched from English and Chinese databases and reports were critically analyzed in terms of preventing AKI, promoting repair and regeneration, enhancing extrarenal clearance of uremic toxins, and preventing progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Altogether, 16 herbal formulae and a few extracts derived from individual herbs were reported to prevent or mitigate AKI in animal models induced by renal ischemia/reperfusion, cisplastin, gentamicin, glycerol, adenine, sepsis or physical exhaustion. Four formulae and six individual herbs were reported to accelerate recovery and/ or to prevent CKD in established AKI animal models. Intrarectal herbal medicines, with or without simultaneous oral administration, were reported in six clinical trials and in an animal model to increase extrarenal clearance of uremic toxins. Additional 13 clinical trials reported oral or intravenous herbal interventions in AKI of different etiologies. Despite recurring problems, notably poor compliance with good practice guidelines for clinical trials and for authentication, naming and quality control of herbal materials, accumulating experimental data on the preventive effects of herbal medicines in AKI look encouraging and urge for better, definitive trials to guide clinical practice. Herbal enemas promoting extrarenal clearance of uremic toxins seem cost-effective, but better clinical evidence is certainly needed before any affirmative recommendation be made for AKI patients without access to dialysis. New frontiers, however, lie in those herbal remedies that promote repair/ regeneration and prevent chronicity after AKI. Recent experimental data suggest that this may be possible. Abbreviations: AKI: acute kidney injury; AKIN: Acute Kidney Injury Network; αSMA: α smooth muscle actin; ARF: acute renal failure; ATN: acute tubular necrosis; BUN: blood urea nitrogen; CAT: catalase; CKD: chronic kidney disease; CXCL12: chemokine C-X-C motif ligand 12; CXCR4: chemokine C-X-C motif receptor 4; CLP: cecal ligation and puncture; Cu-Zn-SOD: copper-zinc superoxide dismutase; ECM: extracellular matrix; eGFR: estimated glomerular filtration rate; EMT: epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition; ESWL: extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy; FSP: fibroblast-specific protein 1; GSH: glutathione; GSH-Px: glutathione peroxidase; HMP: herbal medicinal product; HO-1: heme oxygenase 1; ICAM-1: intercellular adhesion molecule-1; ICU: intensive care unit; IFN-γ: interferonγ; IL: interleukin; iNOS: inducible nitric oxide synthase; i.p.: intraperitoneally or intraperitoneal; I/R: ischemia/reperfusion; i.v.: intravenous or intravenously; JNK: c-Jun N-terminal kinase; KDIGO: Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes; KIM-1: kidney injury molecule 1; LPS: lipopolysaccharides; MCP-1: monocyte chemotactic protein 1; MDA: malondialdehyde; MMP9: matrix metalloproteinase 9; Mn-SOD: manganese superoxide dismutase; NF-κB: nuclear factor κB; NGAL: neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin; NO: nitric oxide; PCI: percutaneous coronary intervention; PCNA: proliferating cell nuclear antigen; p.o.: per os (oral administration); pRIFLE: modified RIFLE guideline for pediatric use; RCT: randomized controlled clinical trial; ROS/RNS: reactive oxygen/nitrogen species; RIFLE: Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, and End-stage renal disease; RPTECs: renal proximal tubular epithelial cells; Scr: serum creatinine; TCM: traditional Chinese medicine; TGF-β: transforming growth factor β; TIMP1: tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1; TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-α; UUO: unilateral ureteral obstruction.

Objective: To observe the change of heart rate variability in anesthetized mice after electroacupuncture on PC6 and ST36, and compare the difference between these points. Methods: A total of 33 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control, PC6 and ST36 groups with 11 mice in each group. The electrocardiogram was recorded by two needle electrodes. The HRV data were analyzed by time and frequency analysis with heart rate, Standard Deviation of R-R Intervals and LF/HF Ratio. Result: During the EA at PC6, SDRR was significantly increased (P < 0.05) and maintained with a significantly higher level at the end of experiment, and the LF/HF ratio was gradually increased throughout the experiment. During the EA at ST36, SDRR was significantly increased (P < 0.05) and there was no observable tendency of the change in LF/HF ratio during the experiment. In comparison with control, the HR of group PC6 mice decreased significantly during EA stimulation (P < 0.01) and continued declining throughout the experiment (P < 0.05). Time spectral analysis of the ECG recordings showed that control mice had significantly lower SDRR compared to group PC6 and group ST36 after EA stimulation(P < 0.05). SDRR was significantly increased when measured at 90mins after EA in group PC6 in comparison with control (P < 0.01). EA at PC6 caused a significant increase than ST36 in SDRR when measured at Stim. (P < 0.05) and 90mins after EA (P < 0.01). Conclusion: EA at PC6 and ST36 protected anesthesia mice against decline of HRV. In comparison with ST36, the effect of EA at PC6 was more significant, which was caused by the increase of the sympathetic nerve activities from the postganglionic fibers with the same spinal cord segments to heart.