Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic comparison of chinese herbal ointment liu-he-dan and micron liu-he-dan ointment in rats with acute pancreatitis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014;2014:389576. [PMID: 24693322 PMCID: PMC3947679 DOI: 10.1155/2014/389576]

New challenges for microRNAs in acute pancreatitis: progress and treatment

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common clinical abdominal emergency, with a high and increasing incidence each year. Severe AP can easily cause systemic inflammatory response syndrome, multiple organ dysfunction and other complications, leading to higher hospitalization rates and mortality. Currently, there is no specific treatment for AP. Thus, we still need to understand the exact AP pathogenesis to effectively cure AP. With the rise of transcriptomics, RNA molecules, such as microRNAs (miRNAs) transcribed from nonprotein-coding regions of biological genomes, have been found to be of great significance in the regulation of gene expression and to be involved in the occurrence and development of many diseases. Increasing evidence has shown that miRNAs, as regulatory RNAs, can regulate pancreatic acinar necrosis and apoptosis and local and systemic inflammation and play an important role in the development and thus potentially the diagnosis and treatment of AP. Therefore, here, the current research on the relationship between miRNAs and AP is reviewed.

Experimental Study on the Expression of IL-1β and bFGF in Wound Healing Process of Rabbit Cutaneous Infective Wound in Liu-He-Dan

Objective

This study applied Liu-He-Dan (LHD) to treat the infective wounds of rabbits to explore the mechanism of LHD in promoting wound healing.

Method

Five circular infective incisions were generated on the back of each rabbit. Wound dressings were performed every day since postoperative day 1. Ten rabbits were euthanized on days 3, 7, 14, and 21. Each specimen was divided into two parts, one was used for detecting interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and the other one was used for detecting basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF).

Result

The content of IL-1β in the model group was higher than those in the other groups (P < 0.05). The content of IL-1β in the treatment group was lower than the other groups on days 14 and 21. The expression of bFGF in treatment group is significant on days 3, 7, and 14, compared with traditional Chinese medicine group and model group. The expression of bFGF has no significant difference with Western group.

Conclusion

The research approved that LHD could specifically suppress the expression of IL-1β and upregulate the expression of bFGF in the wound, decreasing the release of inflammatory factor of the infective wounds and promoting the healing of the infective wounds.

Perspectives of traditional Chinese medicine in pancreas protection for acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one of the most common diseases. AP is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, but it lacks specific and effective therapies. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is one of the most popular complementary and alternative medicine modalities worldwide for the treatment of AP. The current evidence from basic research and clinical studies has shown that TCM has good therapeutic effects on AP. This review summarizes the widely used formulas, single herbs and monomers that are used to treat AP and the potential underlying mechanisms of TCM. Because of the abundance, low cost, and safety of TCM as well as its ability to target various aspects of the pathogenesis, TCM provides potential clinical benefits and a new avenue with tremendous potential for the future treatment of AP.

Synergistic effects of clopidogrel and fufang danshen dripping pills by modulation of the metabolism target and pharmacokinetics

Background and Objective. The aim was to evaluate the synergistic effects of clopidogrel and FDDP by modulating the metabolism target and the pharmacokinetics. Methods. The inhibition effect of FDDP on the CES1 was first investigated by the molecular simulation method, and the synergistic effects on the pharmacokinetics of CPGS were studied as follows: SD rats were treated with oral clopidogrel alone at a dosage of 30 mg/kg or the combination of clopidogrel and FDDP at dosages of 30 mg/kg and 324 mg/kg, respectively, for 21 days. The concentrations of CPGS in the blood plasma samples were determined and the calculated concentrations were used to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters. Results. 20 compounds in FDDP potentially interacted with CES1 target. The CPGS showed a two-compartment model pharmacokinetic profile. The concentration-time course of CPGS was not changed by FDDP, but FDDP decreased the peak plasma concentration and area under the curve of CPGS. Conclusion. The CES1's activity could be partly inhibited by FDDP through the molecular simulation investigation. The concentration-time course of CPGS was altered slightly by FDDP. The results demonstrated the synergistic effects of clopidogrel and FDDP by modulating both the pharmacokinetics and the target metabolism.

Comparative pharmacokinetics of rhein in normal and loperamide-induced constipated rats and microarray analysis of drug-metabolizing genes

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Rhein is a pharmacological active component found in Rheum palmatum L. that is the major herb of the San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang (SHXXT), a medicinal herbal product used as a remedy for constipation. Here we have investigated the comparative pharmacokinetics of rhein in normal and constipated rats. Microarray analysis was used to explore whether drug-metabolizing genes will be altered after SHXXT treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The comparative pharmacokinetics of rhein in normal and loperamide-induced constipated rats was studied by liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Gene expression profiling in drug-metabolizing genes after SHXXT treatment was investigated by microarray analysis and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTS

A validated LC-MS/MS method was applied to investigate the comparative pharmacokinetics of rhein in normal and loperamide-induced constipated rats. The pharmacokinetic results demonstrate that the loperamide-induced constipation reduced the absorption of rhein. Cmax significantly reduced by 2.5-fold, the AUC decreased by 27.8%; however, the elimination half-life (t1/2) was prolonged by 1.6-fold. Tmax and mean residence time (MRT) were significantly prolonged by 2.8-fold, and 1.7-fold, respectively. The volume of distribution (Vss) increased by 2.2-fold. The data of microarray analysis on gene expression indicate that five drug-metabolizing genes, including Cyp7a1, Cyp2c6, Ces2e, Atp1b1, and Slc7a2 were significantly altered by the SHXXT (0.5 g/kg) treatment.

CONCLUSION

The loperamide-induced constipation reduced the absorption of rhein. Since among the 25,338 genes analyzed, there were five genes significantly altered by SHXXT treatment. Thus, information on minor drug-metabolizing genes altered by SHXXT treatment indicates that SHXXT is relatively safe for clinical application.