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Inhibiting Low-Density Lipoproteins Intimal Deposition and Preserving Nitric Oxide Function in the Vascular System
Published in Christophe Wiart, Medicinal Plants in Asia for Metabolic Syndrome, 2017
Catalpol isolated from Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) Libosch. ex Fisch. & C.A. Mey. given orally to high-fat diet streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic Sprague–Dawley rats (glycemia ≥16.7 mmol/L) at a dose of 60 mg/kg/day for 10 weeks lowered kidney weight.306 This iridoid decreased glycemia from 27.4 to 17.7 mmol/L (normal: 5.3 mmol/L; metformin at 200 mg/kg: 19.1 mmol) as well as glycated serum protein.306 Catalpol also lowered plasma urea from 23.3 to 13.2 mmol/L (normal: 7.2 mmol/L; metformin at 200 mg/kg/day: 12.5 mmol/L). It had no effect on plasma creatinine and improved glomerular cytoarchitecture.306 Catalpol inhibited renal cortex expression of transforming growth factor-β1 and connective tissue growth factor and reduced the concentration of fibronectin and collagen type-IV.306
Monoterpenes Modulating IL-10
Published in Parimelazhagan Thangaraj, Phytomedicine, 2020
Saravanan Shanmugam, Jullyana S. S. Quintans, Parimelazhagan Thangaraj, Luciana Scotti, Marcus T. Scotti, Adriano A. S. Araújo, Lucindo J. Quintans-Júnior
Catalpol, an iridoid glycoside extracted from the roots of Rehmannia glutinosa, is a nutraceutical substance already used in food supplementation for neurodegenerative disorders and plays a vital role in the regulation of anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and has been shown to have anti-oxidant, anti-apoptosis, and anti-inflammatory activities (Zhang et al. 2007, 2009; Fu et al. 2014). Catalpol was found to inhibit LPS and IFN-r-induced inflammatory responses in astrocytes (Bi et al. 2013). Catalpol can also downregulate the messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of TGF-1 and CTGF in the renal cortex and lower blood glucose concentrations in diabetic rats with nephropathy. It stimulated the synthesis of Extracellular Matrix (ECM) in the glomeruli through the TGF-1/Smad protein cell signaling pathway (Lan 2011). TGF-1 mRNA expression and protein levels are increased in the glomeruli in various experimental animal diabetic models (Nakamura et al. 1993). Only two reports are available on the catalpol compound. The evidence that pre-treatment of catalpol has a protective effect on LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice, and that the potential mechanism of this action may be related to the inhibition of Toll-like Receptor 4 (TLR4) expression, which subsequently leads to the suppression of NF-κB and MAPK activation and pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines production (Fu et al. 2014). Another study investigated the effect of catalpol on diabetic nephropathy in rats (Dong and Chen 2013). The obtained results from this study reveal that catalpol 30, 60, 120 mg/kg could significantly reduce the Kidney Weight Index (KWI), improve the kidney function and pathological change, decrease the tissue level of Angiotensin II (Ang II), TGF-1, Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF), fibronectin (FN), and collagen type IV (Col IV), catalpol ameliorated the early diabetic nephropathy. It improved the renal function and decreased the overproduction of the FN and Col IV expressions in the renal cortex of the diabetic rats. The mechanism may be related to depressing TGF-1 and CTGF mRNA expression and decreasing the excretion of Ang II, TGF-1, and CTGF.
Antipsoriatic Medicinal Plants
Published in José L. Martinez, Amner Muñoz-Acevedo, Mahendra Rai, Ethnobotany, 2019
José Luis Ríos, Guillermo R. Schinella, Isabel Andújar
Deng et al. (2013a,b, 2017) reviewed and evaluated the efficacy and safety of topically used plant extract preparations by psoriasis patients. A total of twelve studies were investigated, including three with Aloe vera, five with Berberis aquifolium, two with indigo naturalis, one with kukui nut oil (Aleurites moluccanus) and one with Camptotheca acuminata nut. Some of these plant extracts have partial effects on psoriasis symptoms, such as inflammation and cell proliferation. However, the clinical trials analyzed did not provide clear evidences that would support their topical use on psoriatic plaques, probably due to the small size of most studies and methodological weaknesses (Deng et al. 2013a). Similar results were obtained by the same authors after reviewing the evidence for the efficacy and safety of herbal medicines used topically in conjunction with antipsoriatic pharmacotherapy (Deng et al. 2013b). In a third study, they analyzed the efficacy and safety of oral forms of phytotherapy in psoriasis management and discussed the pharmacological actions of the plants used in clinical trials. Their results demonstrated that the most commonly used plants were Oldenlandia diffusa, Rehmannia glutinosa and Salvia miltiorrhiza, which also have anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and anti-oxidative properties, which are of relevance to psoriasis management (Deng et al. 2014). In a recent study, these same authors analyzed a preparation formed by different medicinal plants (PSORI-CM01, a modified form of Yinxieling) comparing the results with the original Chinese herbal formula for psoriasis Yinxieling (in tablet) and placebo, and demonstrated in a randomized, double-blinded and multicentral clinical trial, that this formula improved PASI scores and relapse rates in psoriasis vulgaris (Deng et al. 2017). The formula was then modified (PSORI-CM02) eliminating two herbs (liquorice and lithospermum), keeping the remaining five from PSORI-CM01 (Curcumae rhizoma, Radix paeoniae rubra, Rhizoma smilacis glabrae, Mume fructus, and Sarcandrae herba). PSORI-CM02 was tested as a possible suppressor of alloimmunity; results show that it inhibited murine skin allograft rejection and reduced graft-infiltration of CD3+ T cells, which led the authors to hypothetize a potential interest of this new formula against autoimmune psoriasis (Lu et al. 2018).
The protective effect of decoction of Rehmanniae via PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in MPP+-induced Parkinson's disease model cells
Published in Journal of Receptors and Signal Transduction, 2021
Rehmannia glutinosa, a member of the Scrophulariaceae family, has long been used as a traditional Chinese medicine. Previous studies suggest that Rehmannia glutinosa possesses various pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory [18], anti-tumor [19], anti-oxidative [20], and antidepressant [21] functions. Rehmanniae is the root of Rehmannia glutinosa, and the decoction of Rehmanniae (DOR), which serves as a classical prescription, has long been used to treat neurological disorders. The combination of levodopa and Zishenpingchan granules (consisting of Radix Rehmanniae preparata, etc.) can markedly improve dyskinesia and delay the progression of Parkinson's disease [22]. However, the protective effect of Rehmanniae decoction on SH-SY5Y cells with acute injury induced by MPP+ has not been concretely studied yet.
Armillariella Oral Solution Ameliorates Small Intestinal Damage in a Mouse Model of Chemotherapy-Induced Mucositis
Published in Nutrition and Cancer, 2019
Dong Wenqin, Zhu Yaodong, Song Wanji, Zhang Fengli, Su Li, Jiang Haili, Li Ping, Zhang Mei
Intestinal mucositis remains a debilitating side effect of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, which is difficult to treat, therefore can directly impact survival rate and quality of life for cancer patients (3). A number of studies have shown that TCM has many advantages, especially its relatively low side effects. TCM can also be prescribed with chemotherapy drug, which can improve clinical response, enhance the quality of life and potentially improve immune function in cancer patients (27). Therefore, combined use TCM with chemotherapy drug is increasingly common and is more effectively to improve the clinical management of cancer patients. A recently published study showed that Pien Tze Huang, a TCM, can effectively attenuate 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis by inhibiting intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis through regulation of Bcl-2/Bax expression (3). Another study indicated that steamed rehmannia root (SRR) derived from Rehmannia glutinosa can protect against methotrexate-induced intestinal mucositis by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation (13). Therefore, Chinese herbal medicine has been widely used in clinical prevention and treatment of chemotherapeutic-induced intestinal mucositis.
Acteoside relieves mesangial cell injury by regulating Th22 cell chemotaxis and proliferation in IgA nephropathy
Published in Renal Failure, 2018
Lu Gan, Xiaozhao Li, Mengyuan Zhu, Chen Chen, Huimin Luo, Qiaoling Zhou
Rehmannia glutinosa is a traditional medicine, which is widely used in Chinese, Russian and Japanese medicine for its anti-infection, anti-inflammation and immune-regulation abilities. Acteoside (ACT), the main component of Rehmannia glutinosa, has a wide range of effects, including regulation of immune and inflammatory responses [3]. Previous researches demonstrated that acteoside could improve urinary protein excretion and decrease the incidence of mesangial expansion [4,5]. This makes acteoside a possible therapy of IgAN.