Rheum Officinale Research Articles

Chinese Herbal Medicine Improves the Long-Term Survival Rate of Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease in Taiwan: A Nationwide Retrospective Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background and purpose: Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is frequently applied in conjunction with western pharmacotherapy to relieve symptoms in patients with CKD. However, evidence-based research into the effectiveness of CHM use as applied to treat CKD is limited and warrants further investigation. The aim of this study is to assess whether adjunctive treatment with CHM affected survival rate of CKD patients undergoing conventional western medical management.Methods: A total of 14,718 CKD patients, including 6,958 CHM users and 7,760 non-CHM users, were recruited from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000, a sub-dataset of the National Health Insurance Research Database, to conduct this study. Demographic characteristics, including sex, age, job type, residential area, and comorbidity were considered as covariates to adjust the analysis. A network analysis of treatments, including with herbal formulas and single herbs, was performed to investigate the core patterns of CHM use for the treatment of CKD patients. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to determine the survival rate between CHM and non-CHM groups.Results: After matching for sex and age, there were 550 subjects in both the CHM and non-CHM cohorts. Other than presence of diabetes (adjusted OR = 0.57, p < 0.001) and urinary tract infection (adjusted OR = 0.69, p < 0.05), sex, age, job type, area of residence, and other comorbidities indicated no special preference for CHM use among subjects. Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (SM) and Ji-Sheng-Shen-Qi-Wan (JSSQW) were the most frequent single herb and formula, respectively, prescribed for patients with CKD. The most frequent CHM combination between herbs and formulas was JSSQW, associated with Rheum officinale Baill. (RO), SM and Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge (AM). The long-term survival rate demonstrated significant benefits for CHM users within a 12-year follow-up period (P < 0.004).Conclusion: This nationwide retrospective cohort study provides valuable insight into the characteristics and prescription patterns of CHM usage in CKD patients. JSSQW associated with RO, SM, and AM is the most common CHM prescription. CHM improves long-term survival in patients with CKD, suggesting that CHM is an effective adjuvant therapy for CKD.

Predicting the content of anthraquinone bioactive in Rhei rhizome (Rheum officinale Baill.) with the concentration addition model

Rhei rhizome (Rheum officinale Baill.) (RR) contains a large number of anthraquinone bioactive, yet little is known of the combined effect of these anthraquinones in a mixture. The goals of this study were: to determine the inhibitory potencies of individual anthraquinones and whole RR extract against human liver microsomal CYP1A2/3A4 activity, to predict the content of anthraquinones in RR using the concentration addition (CA) model, and to compare predicted and empirical contents in the same RR sample. Anthraquinone concentrations in the RR extract were determined using HPLC. The inhibitory potencies of individual anthraquinones were determined in incubations containing human liver microsomes. The study results were used to predict an effect-based dose measure of the anthraquinones in RR using the CA model. An empirical dose measure also was determined in the whole RR extract using the CYP1A2/3A4-based bioassay. For the CYP1A2-based studies, the predicted and empirical dose measures of anthraquinones were identical; they were 12.0 ± 1.80 and 12.20 ± 0.81 mg aloe-emodin equivalents/g RR, respectively. For the CYP3A4-based studies, the predicted and empirical dose measures were different; they were 2.80 ± 0.10 and 19.04 ± 0.41 mg aloe-emodin equivalents/g RR, respectively. Only the CYP1A2-based CA model which assumed additive effects of RR anthraquinones predicted an effect-based dose measure that was verifiable by empirical data. The CA model provides an alternative approach to the CYP1A2/3A4-based bioassay or empirical method to screen for the anthraquinones in RR. The CA model as described in this study is applicable to other botanical drugs, plant-based foods and dietary supplements.

Lipid Peroxidation and Antioxidant Activities of the Aqueous Rhizome Extract of Rheum officinale Baillon

Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is associated with dysregulation of antioxidant defense mechanisms and incidence of human diseases. The specific aim of this study was to investigate the lipid oxidation and antioxidant activity of aqueous extract of Rheum officinale Baillon rhizome in order to evaluate its potential as a future novel natural antioxidant resource and a functional ingredient in food and pharmaceutical formations. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of Rheum rhizome extract were dose dependently increased. Consistent with this, radical scavenging activities of Rheum rhizome extract as determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activity were significantly elevated as the concentration increased. In addition, the treatment of aqueous Rheum rhizome extract significantly increased ferric reducing and copper chelating activities. According to results of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance analysis, Rheum rhizome extract significantly delayed lipid oxidation. Preincubation with Rheum rhizome extract significantly inhibited tert-butyl hydroperoxide- (t-BHP-) induced ROS generation. Moreover, superoxide anion production was significantly lower in Rheum rhizome extract-treated RAW264.7 macrophage cells than t-BHP-incubated cells (p&lt;0.05). These findings suggest that Rheum officinale Baillon rhizome extract has a potential as an excellent natural antioxidant agent.

Effects of adding Rheum officinale to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers on renal function in patients with chronic renal failure: Ameta-analysis of randomized controlled trials .

<italic>Rheum officinale</italic> is a traditional medicinal herb used widely in China to treat chronic renal failure, but the proof of evidence-based medicine is poor. This meta-analysis aims to assess the benefits of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) supplemented with <italic>Rheum officinale</italic> for delaying the progression of chronic renal failure. The MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, SinoMed, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and VIP databases were searched to identify studies published before September 2016 that investigated the effects of ACEI/ARB plus the Chinese patented medicine Rheum (CPM-Rheum) compared to ACEI/ARB alone in lowering serum creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels in chronic renal failure patients. Review Manager 5.3 was used to perform the meta-analysis. Fixed- and random-effects models were used to analyze the data. The meta-analysis included nine clinical trials. Comparisons of patients before and after treatment with ACEI/ARB plus CPM-Rheum or ACEI/ARB alone revealed that ACEI/ARB plus CPM-Rheum resulted in significantly greater reductions in SCr (short-term: weighted mean difference (WMD): 17.26, 95% confidence interval (CI): 7.28-27.24; long-term: WMD: 63.71, 95% CI: 51.01-76.41) and BUN (short-term: WMD: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.27-2.12; long-term: WMD: 3.98, 95% CI: 3.14-4.82) than ACEI/ARB alone. In patients with chronic renal failure, the addition of CPM-Rheum to ACEI/ARB significantly lowered both SCr and BUN, particularly after long-term administration. Thus, the combination of ACEI/ARB and CPM-Rheum may improve the treatment of patients with impaired renal function. .

Emodin ameliorates ulcerative colitis by the flagellin-TLR5 dependent pathway in mice

Emodin is an anthraquinone compound derived from Rheum officinale Baill. Several reports showed that emodin had efficacy on acute pancreatitis, keratitis, myocarditis, and rheumatoid arthritis. However, the potency of emodin on ulcerative colitis(UC) remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of emodin on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis in mice. Our results showed that emodin significantly alleviated the symptoms of DSS-induced UC in mice, involving prevented the loss of body weight and colon shortening, decreased the disease activity index (DAI), intestinal damages and the count of white blood cells (WBC) in peripheral blood. In addition, emodin treatment decreased the level of anti-flagellin antibody in serum and significantly down-regulated the expression of TLR5 and NF-κB p65 in colon of the UC mice. Further study in vitro showed that emodin down-regulated the expression of TLR5 and MyD88, up-regulated the expression of IκB, inhibited the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 and decreased the release of IL-8 in flagellin-stimulated HT-29 cells. These results, for the first time, demonstrated that emodin had the therapeutic potential to ameliorate UC symptoms possibly via regulating the flagellin-TLR5 signaling pathway. Emodin may be a potential candidate ingredient for ulcerative colitis.

Effect of YHHJ on the expression of the hepatocellular bile acid transporters multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 and bile salt export pump in ethinylestradiol-induced cholestasis.

The herbal medicine Yin Huang Mixture (YHHJ; patent no. 200910031240.7) is an aqueous extract composed from various herbs, including Artemisia capillaries Thunb, Hypericum japonicum Thunb, Eucommia ulmoides Oliver, Rheum officinale Baill, Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, Poria cocos Wolf and Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz. Previous studies have indicated that YHHJ treatment has a beneficial effect on ameliorating itching and reducing serum bile acid levels in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). However, the molecular mechanisms of action of YHHJ in ICP have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, the present study investigated an experimental hepatocellular cholestasis model to explore the regulatory role of YHHJ on the expression of the bile acid carriers, multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2) and the bile salt export pump (BSEP). Initially, 5 mg/kg/day 17-α ethinylestradiol (EE) was used to induce cholestasis in rats and primary isolated rat hepatocytes. Subsequently, 9 or 36 g/kg/day YHHJ water extract was administrated. Blood samples were collected and serum biochemical parameters of total bile acids (TBA), total bilirubin (TBil), alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were determined. Rat livers and primary isolated rat hepatocytes were obtained and the protein and mRNA expression levels of MRP2 and BSEP were analyzed by western blot analysis and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Results revealed that EE-induced hepatocellular cholestasis was associated with a significant increase in serum TBA and TBil levels, whereas, YHHJ treatment significantly reversed this effect (P<0.01). Further experiments on the molecular mechanism revealed that EE significantly decreased the expression of MRP2 and BSEP compared with the control group, whereas YHHJ treatment significantly upregulated MRP2 and BSEP expression in vivo and in vitro compared with no YHHJ treatment (P<0.01). In addition, to establish whether upregulation of MRP2 and BSEP protein expression levels resulted from increased expression of their respective mRNA, the mRNA expression levels were determined. Results indicated that YHHJ treatment significantly increased MRP2 and BSEP mRNA expression levels in EE-induced hepatocellular cholestasis compared with no YHHJ treatment (P<0.01). In conclusion, the present findings suggest that YHHJ effects EE-induced cholestasis and this process may be mediated through regulating hepatobiliary transporters, MRP2 and BSEP.

药用大黄染色体的核型分析

对药用大黄(Rheum officinale Baill.)的染色体核型进行研究。采用常规根尖压片法分析染色体特征，并利用显微摄影技术对染色体进行分析。结果表明，药用大黄的核型公式为2n = 2x = 22 = 4M + 18m，核型类型为“1A”，核型不对称系数(As.K.%)为54.81%。染色体倍性为二倍体，不存在多倍化现象。药用大黄染色体的数量稳定，形态清晰，可为进一步深入研究奠定基础。 The karyotype of Rheum officinale was analyzed in the present study. The chromosome features were conducted by conventional root-tip squashing method and photomicrography technique. Results were as follows: The karyotype formula of R. officinale from Luanchuan in Henan was 2n = 2x = 22 = 18m + 4M; karyotype was 1A type; karyotype asymmetry index (As.K.%) was 54.81%. Chromosome ploidy was diploid, and no polyploidy was observed. The chromosome number and the morphology of R. officinale are stable and clear, which can provide the foundation for further research.

Identification of a New Uncompetitive Inhibitor of Adenosine Deaminase from Endophyte Aspergillus niger sp.

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is an enzyme widely distributed from bacteria to humans. ADA is known as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of lymphoproliferative disorders and cancer. Endophytes are endosymbionts, often bacteria or fungi, which live within plant tissues and internal organs or intercellular space. Endophytes have a broad variety of bioactive metabolites that are used for the identification of novel natural compounds. Here, 54 morphologically distinct endophyte strains were isolated from six plants such as Peganum harmala Linn., Rheum officinale Baill., Gentiana macrophylla Pall., Radix stephaniae tetrandrae, Myrrha, and Equisetum hyemale Linn. The isolated strains were used for the search of ADA inhibitors that resulted in the identification of the strain with the highest inhibition activity, Aspergillus niger sp. Four compounds were isolated from this strain using three-step chromatography procedure, and compound 2 was determined as the compound with the highest inhibition activity of ADA. Based on the results of 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopies, compound 2 was identified as 3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-phenyl isoxazole. We showed that compound 2 was a new uncompetitive inhibitor of ADA with high cytotoxic effect on HepG2 and SMCC-7721 cells (the IC50 values were 0.347 and 0.380mM, respectively). These results suggest that endophyte strains serve as promising sources for the identification of ADA inhibitors, and compound 2 could be an effective drug in the cancer treatment.

Clinical value of type III procollagen peptide in sequential treatment with Rheum officinale Ball.as a predominant agent in a traditional Chinese medicine recipe in patients with acute paraquat poisoning

Objective To investigate the clinical value of type Ⅲ procollagen peptide (PⅢP) in sequential treatment with Rheum officinale Ball.as a main agent in a traditional Chinese medicine recipe in patients with acute paraquat poisoning (APP). Methods A total of 104 patients with APP treated in Emergency Department of Harrison International Peace Hospital Affiliated to Hebei Medical University from March 2013 to December 2016 were divied into three groups: A group (n=30, routine therapeutic agents coupled with a single hemoperfusion), B group (n=34, treated by Rheum officinale Ball. as a main agent in a traditional Chinese medicine recipe coupled with a single hemoperfusion), C group (n=40, treated by Rheum officinale Ball.as a predominant agent in a traditional Chinese medicine recipe and sequential continuous hemoperfusion). Before and 3 days and 7 days after treatment, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-18 (IL-18), maleic dialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) of patients were detected, and the change of sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores were observed. Before and 3 days, 7 days, 10 days and 14 days after treatment, PⅢP were detected, and the changes of lung CT in three groups were observed before and 7 days, 14 days after treatment. Pearson correlation test was used to analyze the correlation between PⅢP in patients with APP and the concentration of paraquat, and the outcomes in 28 days were compared with chi square test. Results At admission, there were no differences in the levels of plasma TNF-α, IL-18, MDA, PⅢP, SOD, GSH-PX and SOFA scores among three groups (P>0.05). At 3 days after treatment, the levels of plasma TNF-α, IL-18, MDA and SOFA scores were elevated in three groups compared with those at admission, especially in group A were increased significantly, whereas the activity of plasma SOD and GSH-PX were decreased in thress groups, especially in group A decreased most significantly (P 0.05). At 7 days after treatment, lung CT mainly manifested ground glass lesions in C group. At 14 days after treatment, lung CT mainly manifested small size of the exudative changes and the irregular line of pleura in C group with higher proportion of those changes than that in A, B group, while pulmonary interstitial changes were found in the lung CT of A and B groups with higher proportion of these changes than that in C group, and those A group was higher than those in B group(P<0.05). The level of serum PⅢP in patients with APP was positively correlated with the concentration of paraquat (r=0.310, P=0.001). The mortality rate of three groups were 53.33%, 44.12% and 25.00%, respectively, with significant difference among three groups (P<0.05). Conclusion The clinically therapeutic effect of sequential treatment with Rheum officinale Ball.as a main agent in a traditional Chinese medicine in patients with APP was distinct. It could decrease the levels of PⅢP, TNF-α, IL-18 and MDA, enhance the expression of SOD and GSH-PX, reduce pulmonary fibrosis in patients and the mortality rate of patients.The PⅢP is the evaluation index of pulmonary fibrosis and can provide useful clinical value for the treatment of patients with APP. Key words: Acute paraquat poisoning; Type Ⅲ procollagen peptide; Traditional Chinese medicine; Hemoperfusion; Pulmonary fibrosis; Oxidative stress

Anthraquinone and Naphthoquinone Derivatives From the Root of Rheum officinale

Anthraquinone and Naphthoquinone Derivatives From the Root of Rheum officinale

Medicinal plant extracts modulate respiratory burst and proliferation activity of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) leukocytes.

The present study was designed to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of Aloe vera, Curcuma longa, Echinacea purpurea, Lavandula officinalis, Origanum vulgare, Panax ginseng, and Rheum officinale extracts on leukocytes purified from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) head kidney. The cells were cultured in a medium containing increasing doses of extracts; afterwards, they were tested for reactive oxygen species production after stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and proliferation in the presence or absence of phytohemagglutinin from Phaseolus vulgaris (PHA-P). After a 2-h exposure, the extracts of L. officinalis, O. vulgare, and R. officinale strongly reduced the oxidative burst activity of PMA-stimulated leukocytes, in a dose-dependent manner (P≤0.05). A. vera, C. longa, E. purpurea, and P. ginseng extracts reduced this response with lower efficacy and especially at lower concentrations. On the contrary, the highest concentration of ginseng extract stimulated the respiratory burst of leukocytes compared to untreated control cells. After a 72-h exposure, the extracts of L. officinalis, R. officinale, C. longa, E. purpurea, and P. ginseng had a clear dose-dependent stimulatory effect on leukocyte proliferation (P≤0.05). The results suggest that these medicinal plants can be considered as reliable sources of new antioxidants or immunostimulants to be used in aquaculture.

Cholinesterase, β-amyloid aggregation inhibitory and antioxidant capacities of Chinese medicinal plants

Traditional Chinese medicinal (TCM) plants have a long history of usage in the treatment of different diseases. Neurodegenerative disorder prevention and treatment using TCM have attracted increasing interest in recent year. In current study, the ethanolic extracts of 26 Chinese medicinal plants were prepared, two cholinesterases (ChEs), β-amyloid aggregation inhibitory, and antioxidant capacities were further investigated for evaluation their anti-Alzheimer’s disease (AD) potential as well as total phenolics and flavonoids contents (TPC, TFC). Of these, Polygonum multiflorum and Spatholobus suberectus were the most active ones against acetylcholinesterase (AChE, IC50=9.11, 9.27μg/mL), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE, IC50=4.83, 5.37μg/mL), and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrilhydrazyl (DPPH, IC50=5.69, 3.60μg/mL) with highest TPC (267, 377mg GAE/g dw) and relative higher TFC (80, 594mg RE/g dw), respectively. The highest activity was observed with the extracts of Rheum officinale in 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt assay (ABTS, IC50=1.60μg/mL) and ferric reducing antioxidant power method (FRAP, 5495.43μmol Fe2+/g). Meanwhile, both R. officinale and S. suberectus exhibited the strongest inhibition (>90%) in β-amyloid peptide (Aβ1-42) aggregation assay. The present findings may reveal the interesting potential of S. suberectus, P. multiflorum, and R. officinale as a valuable plant source of natural bioactive molecules against AD.

Medicinal Plants Harvesting in Wolong National Nature Reserve

Abstract: A combination of sample surveys and questionnaires were used to investigate the harvesting of wild medicinal plants (WMP) in Wolong National Nature Reserve (WNNR) from August 2014 to July 2015. These surveys showed that up to 20 families and 45 species of WMP were harvested in WNNR. Gastrodia elata, Paris polyphylla, Fritillaria thun-bergli, Rheum officinale, Rhodiola rosea, Saussurea medusa, Notopterygium root, Radix Ginseng, Buddha's palm were harvested intensely. The harvesting, which occurred mainly in autumn and winter (from June to October) in the test area, buffer area and core area, was located mostly in the residential and crop production areas of Wolong Town and Gengda Town, and in the timberline, alpine meadows and scree areas of Dengshenggou Ravine and Balangshan Mountain (specifically in Dengshenggou, Tangfang, Tizigou Ravine, Weijiagou Ravine and Reshuihe River areas). Among all the harvesters, 58% came from inside the WNNR, and 42% came from outside the WNNR; 87% were male, and 13...

HVC1 ameliorates hyperlipidemia and inflammation in LDLR\u2212/\u2212 mice

BackgroundHVC1 consists of Coptidis Rhizoma (dried rhizome of Coptischinensis), Scutellariae Radix (root of Scutellariabaicalensis), Rhei Rhizoma (rhizome of Rheum officinale), and Pruni Cortex (cortex of Prunusyedoensis Matsum). Although the components are known to be effective in various conditions such as inflammation, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia, there are no reports of the molecular mechanism of its hypolipidemic effects.MethodsWe investigated the hypolipidemic effect of HVC1 in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (LDLR−/−) mice fed a high-cholesterol diet for 13 weeks. Mice were randomized in to 6 groups: ND (normal diet) group, HCD (high-cholesterol diet) group, and treatment groups fed HCD and treated with simvastatin (10 mg/kg, p.o.) or HVC1 (10, 50, or 250 mg/kg, p.o.).ResultsHVC1 regulated the levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in mouse serum. In addition, it regulated the transcription level of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBP)-2, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase, lipoprotein lipase (LPL), apolipoprotein B (apo B), liver X receptor (LXR), and inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α). Furthermore, HVC1 activated 5′ adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK).ConclusionOur results suggest that HVC1 might be effective in preventing high-cholesterol diet-induced hyperlipidemia by regulating the genes involved in cholesterol and lipid metabolism, and inflammatory responses.

Affinity chromatographic methodologies based on immobilized voltage dependent anion channel isoform 1 and application in protein-ligand interaction analysis and bioactive compounds screening from traditional medicine

Voltage dependent anion channel isoform 1 (VDAC-1) serves as an attractive target of anti-cancer drugs by mediating the entry and exit of metabolites between cytoplasm and mitochondria. This work reports on the preparation of a VDAC-1-based bioaffinity chromatographic stationary phase by linking the protein on lecithin modified microspheres. An assay of chromatographic methods including frontal analysis, zonal elution, injection dependent analysis and nonlinear chromatography were utilized to investigate the bindings of ATP, NADH and NADPH to VDAC-1. Electrostatic interactions were found to be main forces during these bindings. The calculated association constants of the three ligands to VDAC-1 showed good agreements between diverse chromatographic methods. Validated application of the stationary phase was performed by screening anti-cancer compounds of Rheum officinale Baill. using high performance affinity chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization-quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry. Chrysophanol, emodin, rhein, aloe-emodin and catechin were identified as the bioactive components of the herb. These compounds targeted VDAC-1 through Thr207 and the N-terminal region of the protein. Taken together, the current stationary phase was possible to become a promising tool for protein-ligand interaction analysis and anti-cancer drug screening from complex matrices.

Poloxamer-Based Thermoreversible Gel for Topical Delivery of Emodin: Influence of P407 and P188 on Solubility of Emodin and Its Application in Cellular Activity Screening.

Emodin is a component in a Chinese herb, Rheum officinale Baill, traditionally used for diabetes and anticancer. Its poor solubility is one of the major challenges to pharmaceutical scientists. We previously reported on thermoreversible gel formulations based on poloxamer for the topical delivery of emodin. The present study was to understand the effect of poloxamer type on emodin solubility and its application in cellular activity screening. Various gel formulations composed of poloxamer 407 (P407), poloxamer 188 (P188) and PEG400 were prepared and evaluated. Major evaluation parameters were the gelation temperature (Tgel) and solubility of emodin. The emodin solubility increased with increasing poloxamer concentration and the Tgel was modulated by the proper combination of P407. In particular, this study showed that the amount of P407 in thermoreversible poloxamer gel (PG) was the dominant factor in enhancing solubility and P188 was effective at fixing gelation temperature in the desired range. A thermoreversible emodin PG was selected as the proper composition with the liquid state at room temperature and gel state at body temperature. The gel showed the solubility enhancement of emodin at least 100-fold compared to 10% ethanol or water. The thermoreversible formulation was applied for in vitro cellular activity screening in the human dermal fibroblast cell line and DLD-1 colon cancer cell line after dilution with cell culture media. The thermoreversible gel formulation remained as a clear solution in the microplate, which allowed reliable cellular activity screening. In contrast, emodin solution in ethanol or DMSO showed precipitation at the corresponding emodin concentration, complicating data interpretation. In conclusion, the gel formulation is proposed as a useful prototype topical formulation for testing emodin in vivo as well as in vitro.

Separation and purification of six components from the roots of Rheum officinale Baill. by supercritical fluid chromatography

ABSTRACTThe dried roots of Rheum officinale Baill., named Dahuang in Chinese, has many pharmacological effects and has been widely used for the treatment of many diseases. To develop a harmless and eco-friendly method for the separation of components in Dahuang is of great interest for quality control and pharmacological study of Dahuang. A method for separation and purification of components in Dahuang using supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) is established in this work. Samples were prepared by extraction of Dahuang powders with 20% H2SO4 and benzene under reflux. The extracts were obtained by evaporating benzene extracts and separating by SFC on YMC-Diol column using supercritical CO2 with CH3OH 4% (v/v) as the modifier. The flow rate of the mobile phase was 15 mL/min, the column pressure was 13 MPa, and the column temperature was 318 K. Cinnamic acid and five kinds of hydroxyanthraquinones including rhein, emodin, aloe emodin, chrysophanol, and physcion were obtained by SFC. The purities of the obtained compounds were all above 97% as determined by high performance liquid chromatography and their chemical structures were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrum. The thermodynamics of chromatographic process was also studied and it revealed that the SFC separation process of these compounds on YMC-Diol column was controlled by enthalpy.

Effects of Angelica dahurica and Rheum officinale Extracts on Excisional Wound Healing in Rats

The main objective of wound treatments is to restore the functional skin properties and prevent infection. Traditional Chinese medicine provides alternative anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound healing therapies. Both Angelica dahurica extract (AE) and Rheum officinale extract (RE) possess antimicrobial activity. In this study, AE and RE were applied in wound treatment to investigate their healing effects. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats with dorsal full-thickness skin excision were divided into normal saline (NS), AE, RE, AE plus RE (ARE), and Biomycin (BM) groups. The treatment and area measurement of wounds were applied daily for 21 days. Wound biopsies and blood samples were obtained for histology examinations and cytokine analysis. Results showed that wound contraction in ARE group was significantly higher than that in NS and BM groups (P < 0.05). Histological analysis showed that more inflammatory cell infiltration, collagen fibers, and myofibroblasts were observed in ARE treated group than those in NS group on days 3–5. In ARE group, plasma IL-6 levels were elevated during days 3–5 (P > 0.05), and plasma TGF-β1 levels were significantly lower than those in the NS group on days 3-4 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, ARE accelerates wound healing during inflammation and proliferation phases.

Renoprotective Effect of the Shen-Yan-Fang-Shuai Formula by Inhibiting TNF-α/NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Diabetic Rats.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease, and satisfactory therapeutic strategies have not yet been established. The Shen-Yan-Fang-Shuai Formula (SYFSF) is a traditional Chinese formula composed of Astragali radix, Radixangelicae sinensis, Rheum officinale Baill, and four other herbs. It has been widely used as an effective treatment for DKD patients in China. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying SYFSF's renoprotection. In this study, we compared the protective effect of SYFSF to irbesartan on the histology and renal cells in type 2 DKD rat model and high-glucose (HG) cultured mesangial cells, respectively. We found that SYFSF could significantly decrease urinary albumin, cholesterol, and triglyceride. And a decrease in serum creatinine was also found in SYFSF-treated group compared with irbesartan-treated rats. In addition, SYFSF inhibited the interstitial expansion and glomerulosclerosis in diabetic rats. Notably, SYFSF markedly downregulated the expression of MCP-1, TGF-β1, collagen IV, and fibronectin in diabetic rat models and HG-induced mesangial cell models. The renoprotection was closely associated with a reduced expression of TNF-α and phosphorylated NF-κBp65. Our study suggests that SYFSF may ameliorate diabetic kidney injury. The observed renoprotection is probably attributable to an inhibition of inflammatory response and extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation mediated by TNF-α/NF-κBp65 signaling pathway.

ITS2 barcode for identifying the officinal rhubarb source plants from its adulterants

Officinal rhubarb, the dried root and rhizome of Rheum officinale Baill., Rh. palmatum L., and Rh. tanguticum (Maxim. ex Regel) Maxim. ex Balf. of Polygonaceae family, is one of the most well-known and important traditional Chinese medicines. The growing herbal market has led to the introduction of adulterants, and difficulties in morphological based discrimination has also resulted in concerns over consumer safety. ITS2 as a potential barcode was employed to discriminate officinal rhubarb sampled from the entire distribution range and its adulterants. The minimum K2P interspecific distance between officinal rhubarb source plants and the adulterants were higher than the maximum K2P intraspecific distance within the officinal rhubarb source plants. When the phylogenetic trees were constructed by neighbor joining (NJ), maximum parsimony (MP), maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian methods, all Rheum species were grouped into one clade, while Polygonum and Rumex species were clustered in another clade. In the Rheum clade, all the officinal rhubarb source plants constituted a distinct subclade, while other Rheum species formed other subclades. Our results suggested that the ITS2 region is a more suitable and accurate DNA barcode for distinguishing officinal rhubarb source plants from their adulterants.