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25 April 2013, Volume 8 Issue 12 Previous Issue    Next Issue

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Therapeutic potential of Gastrodia elata Blume for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease Guang-Biao Huang, Tong Zhao, Sushma Shrestha Muna, Hong-Mei Jin, Jong-Il Park, Kyu-Sik Jo, Bo-Hee Lee, Soo-Wan Chae, Sun-Young Kim, Soo-Hyun Park, Eun-Ock Park, Eun-Kyung Choi, Young-Chul 2013, 8 (12):  1061-1070.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.12.001 Abstract ( 263 )   PDF (476KB) ( 953 )   Save Several studies have demonstrated that the Chinese herb Gastrodia elata Blume can protect against amyloid beta-peptide (Aβ)-induced cell death. To investigate the possible therapeutic effects of Gastrodia elata Blume on Alzheimer’s disease, we established a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease by injecting Aβ25-35 into bilateral hippocampi. These rats were intragastrically administered 500 or 1 000 mg/kg Gastrodia elata Blume per day for 52 consecutive days. Morris water maze tests showed that Gastrodia elata Blume treatment significantly improved the spatial memory of Alzheimer’s disease rats. Congo red staining revealed that Gastrodia elata Blume significantly reduced the number of amyloid deposits in the hippocampus of these rats. Western blot analysis showed that choline acetyltransferase expression in the medial septum and hippocampus was significantly increased by the treatment of Gastrodia elata Blume, while Ellman method showed significant decrease in the activity of acetylcholinesterase in all three regions (prefrontal cortex, medial septum and hippocampus). These findings suggest that long-term administration of Gastrodia elata Blume has therapeutic potential for Alzheimer’s disease. References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Luteolin attenuates neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampi of diabetic encephalopathy rats Guiru Ren, Jingjing Kong, Ning Jia, Xiuli Shang 2013, 8 (12):  1071-1080.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.12.002 Abstract ( 260 )   PDF (265KB) ( 859 )   Save Luteolin (3’,4’,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone) has powerful anti-apoptotic and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to investigate the effects of luteolin on hyperglycemia-mediated apoptosis in the hippocampi of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetic encephalopathy after injection into the tail veins, and the molecular mechanisms involved. Biochemistry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labelling detection results showed that luteolin treatment (given twice daily for 15 days) significantly inhibited hyperglycemia-mediated apoptosis, decreased malondialdehyde levels and increased glutathione levels in the hippocampi of streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats. Western blot analysis revealed that luteolin also inhibited the expression of apoptosis-related factors and cytochrome c release from mitochondria. Luteolin also improved the learning and memory abilities of rats with diabetic encephalopathy in a water maze test. Further western blot analysis revealed that luteolin treatment facilitated neuronal cell survival through activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway, an extracellular signal pathway involved in the suppression of cell apoptosis and promotion of cell survival. These experimental findings indicate that luteolin can inhibit apoptosis of hippocampal nerve cells in rats with diabetic encephalopathy, and that this effect is mediated by an indirect antioxidative effect, the inhibition of activation of apoptosis-related factors and the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signal pathway. References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Scutellaria baicalensis stem-leaf total flavonoid reduces neuronal apoptosis induced by amyloid-beta peptide (25–35) Ruiting Wang, Xingbin Shen, Enhong Xing, Lihua Guan, Lisheng Xin 2013, 8 (12):  1081-1090.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.12.003 Abstract ( 230 )   PDF (412KB) ( 1035 )   Save Scutellaria baicalensis stem-leaf total flavonoid might attenuate learning/memory impairment and neuronal loss in rats induced by amyloid beta-peptide. This study aimed to explore the effects of Scutellaria baicalensis stem-leaf total flavonoid on amyloid beta-peptide-induced neuronal apoptosis and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in the rat hippocampus. Male Wistar rats were given intragastric administration of Scutellaria baicalensis stem-leaf total flavonoid, 50 or 100 mg/kg, once per day. On day 8 after administration, 10 μg amyloid beta-peptide (25–35) was injected into the bilateral hippocampus of rats to induce neuronal apoptosis. On day 20, hippocampal tissue was harvested and probed with the terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotin-16-dUTP nick-end labeling assay. Scutellaria baicalensis stem-leaf total flavonoid at 50 and 100 mg/kg reduced neuronal apoptosis induced by amyloid beta-peptide (25–35) in the rat hippocampus. Immunohistochemistry and western blot assay revealed that expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax, cytochrome c and caspase-3 was significantly diminished by 50 and 100 mg/kg Scutellaria baicalensis stem-leaf total flavonoid, while expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was increased. Moreover, 100 mg/kg Scutellaria baicalensis stem-leaf total flavonoid had a more dramatic effect than the lower dosage. These experimental findings indicate that Scutellaria baicalensis stem-leaf total flavonoid dose-dependently attenuates neuronal apoptosis induced by amyloid beta-peptide in the hippocampus, and it might mediate this by regulating the expression of Bax, cytochrome c, caspase-3 and Bcl-2. References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Jiaweisinisan facilitates neurogenesis in the hippocampus after stress damage Lili Wu, Chuanlian Ran, Shukao Liu, Lizhen Liao, Yanling Chen, Hualei Guo, Weikang Wu, Can Yan 2013, 8 (12):  1091-1102.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.12.004 Abstract ( 255 )   PDF (440KB) ( 867 )   Save The traditional Chinese medicine Jiaweisinisan has antidepressant effects, and can inhibit hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal gland axis hyperactivity in stress-induced depression. In this study, rat hippocampal neural precursor cells were cultured in serum-free medium in vitro and a stress damage model was established with 120 μM corticosterone. Cells were treated with 10% (v/v) Jiaweisinisan drug-containing serum and the corticosterone antagonist RU38486. Results of the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-3,5-di-phenytetrazoliumromide assay showed that both Jiaweisinisan drug-containing serum and RU38486 promoted the proliferation of neural precursor cells after corticosterone exposure. Immunofluorescence detection showed that after Jiaweisinisan drug-containing serum and RU38486 treatment, the 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine/terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling ratio in hippocampal neural precursor cells significantly increased, and the apoptotic rates of glial cells reduced, and neuron-like cell differentiation from neural precursor cells significantly increased. Our experimental findings indicate that Jiaweisinisan promotes hippocampal neurogenesis after stress damage. References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Eleutheroside B or E enhances learning and memory in experimentally aged rats Debin Huang, Zehua Hu, Zhaofen Yu 2013, 8 (12):  1103-1112.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.12.005 Abstract ( 198 )   PDF (276KB) ( 1014 )   Save Eleutheroside B or E, the main component of Acanthopanax, can relieve fatigue, enhance memory, and improve human cognition. Numerous studies have confirmed that high doses of acetylcholine significantly attenuate clinical symptoms and delay the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The present study replicated a rat model of aging induced by injecting quinolinic acid into the hippocampal CA1 region. These rats were intraperitoneally injected with low, medium and high doses of eleutheroside B or E (50, 100, 200 mg/kg), and rats injected with Huperzine A or PBS were used as controls. At 4 weeks after administration, behavioral tests showed that the escape latencies and errors in searching for the platform in a Morris water maze were dose-dependently reduced in rats treated with medium and high-dose eleutheroside B or E. Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that the number of surviving hippocampal neurons was greater and pathological injury was milder in three eleutheroside B or E groups compared with model group. Hippocampal homogenates showed enhanced cholinesterase activity, and dose-dependent increases in acetylcholine content and decreases in choline content following eleutheroside B or E treatment, similar to those seen in the Huperzine A group. These findings indicate that eleutheroside B or E improves learning and memory in aged rats. These effects of eleutheroside B or E may be mediated by activation of cholinesterase or enhanced reuse of choline to accelerate the synthesis of acetylcholine in hippocampal neurons. Related Articles | Metrics

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Protective effect of Jiaweibugan decoction against diabetic peripheral neuropathy Yu Wang, Zeqi Chen, Renqun Ye, Yulei He, Yuhong Li, Xinjian Qiu 2013, 8 (12):  1113-1121.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.12.006 Abstract ( 203 )   PDF (295KB) ( 972 )   Save Oxygen free radical damage is regarded as a direct or indirect common pathway associated with diabetic neuropathy and is the main cause of complications in peripheral neuropathies. We speculate that Jiaweibugan decoction has a significant effect in treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy through an anti-oxidative stress pathway. In this study, a diabetic rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Rats were treated with Jiaweibugan decoction via intragastric administration. The levels of malondialdehyde and glutathione, which are indirect indexes of oxidative stress, in serum were determined using a colorimetric method. The expression levels of nuclear factor kappa B p65 mRNA and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, which are oxidative stress associated factors, in the dorsal root ganglion of spinal S4–6 segments were evaluated by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Results showed that, Jiaweibugan decoction significantly ameliorated motor nerve conduction velocity in diabetic rats, effectively decreased malondialdehyde levels in serum and the expression of nuclear factor kappa B p65 mRNA and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase mRNA in the dorsal root ganglion, and increased glutathione levels in serum. Therefore, our experimental findings indicate that Jiaweibugan decoction plays an anti-oxidative stress role in the diabetic peripheral neuropathy process, which has a protective effect on peripheral nerve injury. References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Optimal electroacupuncture frequency for maintaining astrocyte structural integrity in cerebral ischemia Yicai Xiao, Xingui Wu, Xiangfa Deng, Liping Huang, Yuancheng Zhou, Xuejie Yang 2013, 8 (12):  1122-1131.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.12.007 Abstract ( 179 )   PDF (479KB) ( 802 )   Save The astrocyte is a critical regulator of neuronal survival after ischemic brain injury. Electroacupuncture may be an effective therapy for cerebral ischemia, as electroacupuncture frequency can affect the structural integrity of astrocytes. In this study, a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion established using the modified thread embolism method was treated with electroacupuncture of the bilateral Quchi (LI11) and Zusanli (ST36) at 15, 30, and 100 Hz frequencies. Behavioral testing, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy were used to explore the effect of these electroacupuncture frequencies used on maintaining the structural integrity of ischemic brain tissue. Compared with the model and 100 Hz electroacupuncture groups, the 15 and 30 Hz electroacupuncture groups displayed decreased neurological deficit scores, as evaluated by the “Longa” method, significantly increased glial fibrillary acidic protein expression, and alleviated ultrastructural damage of astrocytes at the edge of the infarct. Our experimental findings indicate that 15 and 30 Hz electroacupuncture intervention can favorably maintain the structural integrity of astrocytes and play a protective role in cerebral ischemic injury. Astrocyte structural integrity may be the mechanism underlying acupuncture production of ischemic tolerance. References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Efficacy of suspended moxibustion in stroke rats is associated with a change in tail temperature Rixin Chen, Zhimai Lv, Dangdang Huang, Mingren Chen, Fan Yi 2013, 8 (12):  1132-1138.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.12.008 Abstract ( 172 )   PDF (166KB) ( 836 )   Save Suspended moxibustion-produced heat can transfer from the acupoint to other sites of the body. The suspended moxibustion should be terminated when clinical propagated sensation disappears, because this implies that the quantity of moxibustion is sufficient. We wanted to investigate if this phenomenon also occurs in experimental animals. In the present study, a rat model of stroke was established and treated with suspended moxibustion at Dazhui (DU14) for 60 minutes. Results showed that the increase in tail temperature began at 15 minutes after suspended moxibustion and decreased gradually at 40 minutes. In addition, neurological function was significantly improved in stroke rats with tail temperature increase following suspended moxibustion, and this effect was associated with significantly reduced tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 1β mRNA. However, there was no significant difference between 40- and 60-minute suspended moxibustion. The findings indicate that elevated tail temperature began to decrease at 40 minutes after suspended moxibustion, and further suspended moxibustion was not useful in the recovery of stroke rats. Related Articles | Metrics

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Reduction in nerve root compression by the nucleus pulposus after Feng’s Spinal Manipulation Yu Feng, Yan Gao, Wendong Yang, Tianyou Feng 2013, 8 (12):  1139-1145.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.12.009 Abstract ( 201 )   PDF (252KB) ( 834 )   Save null References | Related Articles | Metrics

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Is Goshinjo therapy effective in cognitive impairment after severe traumatic brain injury? Keiji Hashimoto, Kisho Kida 2013, 8 (12):  1146-1150.  doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.12.010 Abstract ( 202 )   PDF (201KB) ( 740 )   Save We report a case of a 21-year-old man who had severe traumatic brain injury as a result of an accident at the age of 16 years. Two years and 4 months after the trauma, at the age of 19 years, he still had severe right hemiplegia and cognitive dysfunction including aphasia and attention and memory disturbance. Conventional rehabilitation programs could not resolve all of the neuropsychological problems. He started receiving Goshinjo therapy over a period of 22 months. Following the therapy, significant improvements in verbal intelligence quotient (assessed by the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition) and attention and concentration function (using the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised), and remission of traumatic epilepsy were observed. Goshinjo therapy is suspected to be effective in the treatment of cognitive dysfunction in the chronic stage after severe traumatic brain injury. References | Related Articles | Metrics