Effect of sodium houttuyfonate on myocardial hypertrophy in mice and rats

Houttuynia cordata Thunb repairs steroid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head through regulating NF-κB signaling pathway

To investigate the influences of Houttuynia cordata Thunb (HCT) in steroid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head (SANFH), we conducted a comprehensive study evaluating the effects of HCT on various aspects. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was used to examine bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) cell viability. Flow cytometry and lactate dehydrogenase detection assay were conducted to determine cell apoptosis. The levels of apoptosis-related proteins, osteogenic-related markers, inflammatory factors, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway-associated proteins were determined via western blotting. Hematoxylin and eosin and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling assays were utilized to verify the effects of HCT in SANFH rats. Our findings revealed that HCT could enhanced cell viability and arrested cell apoptosis in dexamethasone (Dex)-treated BMSCs. Dex increased the levels of cleaved caspase-3, Bcl2-associated X, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, IL-6, p65, and inhibitor of NF-κB kinase β (IKKβ), while this promoting trend was weakened by HCT. Moreover, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC, an inhibitor of NF-κB signaling pathway) further increased the inhibitory role of apoptosis and the levels of IL-1β, IL-18, and IL-6 and the promotional effect of the levels of RUNX2 and ALP in Dex-treated BMSCs. The in-vivo assays showed that HCT decreased the percentage of empty lacunae, apoptosis, and the levels of IL-1β, IL-18, IL-6, p65, and IKKβ in SANFH rats. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that HCT relieved SANFH, which might be possibly achieved by NF-κB pathway.

Pharmacological Effects of Houttuynia cordata Thunb (H. cordata): A Comprehensive Review

Houttuynia cordata Thunb (H. cordata) is a rhizomatous, herbaceous, and perennial plant widely distributed in Asia. It has multiple chemical constituents, such as alkaloids, essential oils, phenolic acids, and flavonoids used against various health problems. The essential oils and flavonoids are the main components of H. cordata that play an essential role in disease treatment and traditional health care. Moreover, the leaves and stems of H. cordata have a long medicinal history in China. In addition, H. cordata is used against several health issues, such as cold, cough, fever, pneumonia, mumps, and tumors, due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-oxidant, and anti-tumor effects. It protects organs due to its anti-inflammatory activity. H. cordata regulates immunity by enhancing immune barriers of the oral cavity, vagina, and gastrointestinal tract, and shows broad-spectrum activity against liver, lung, breast, and colon tumors. However, there are some gaps to be filled to understand its pathways and mechanisms. Mechanisms such as its interaction with cells, cell membranes, and various drugs are important. Studies in relation to the blood–brain barrier, lipophilicity, cAMP signaling, and skin permeability, including pharmaceutical effects, will be very useful. This review includes the biological and pharmacological activities of H. cordata based on up-to-date research.

Sodium houttuyfonate: A review of its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular protective effects

There is an almost unlimited interest in searching and developing new drugs, especially when we are in an era that are witnessing more and more emerging pathogens. Natural products from traditional medicines represent a large library for searching lead compounds with novel bioactivities. Sodium houttuyfonate is such one bioactive compound derived from Houttuynia cordata Thunb which has been employed in traditional medicine for treating infectious and inflammatory diseases. Sodium houttuyfonate has demonstrated multiple kinds of pharmacological effects, including antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and cardiovascular protective activities, which are discussed here to provide insights into our understanding of the pharmacological effects of SH and the underlying mechanisms.

Sodium Houttuyfonate and Sodium New Houttuyfonate Affect the Composition of Gut Microbiota and Production of Inflammatory Factors in Mice

Houttuynia drugs, including sodium houttuyfonate (SH) and sodium new houttuyfonate (SNH), are derivatives of the active ingredient of Houttuynia cordata, which can be used as both a vegetable and medicine in China. We aimed to explore the regulation effects of SH and SNH on the gut microbiota and production of inflammatory factors in mice. Here, we found that SH and SNH led to an increase in the production of interferon gamma and nuclear factor κ, and decreased the production of lipocalin-2 in the mice. The alpha diversity results of gut microbiota of the mice showed that the gut microbiota of the SH, SNH, and azithromycin treatment groups were significantly different from the control group, but the effects of reduced abundance and diversity of the SH and SNH groups were relatively lower than that of the azithromycin group. The beta diversity results indicated that the samples of each group were significantly grouped, and distribution of SH and SNH groups was more similar to the control group than the azithromycin group. Furthermore, SH and SNH groups had significant differences in the abundance of specific bacteria such as Escherichia–Shigella and Odoribacter, which might be associated with the increase of inflammatory factors. Therefore, our results suggested that SH and SNH may significantly affect the gut microbiota and production of inflammatory factors in the mice.

Doxorubicin toxicity changes myocardial energy metabolism in rats

BACKGROUND

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an antitumor antibiotics used against malignancies. But its toxicity limits the therapy of DOX.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate DOX toxicity and the alteration of energy metabolism after short term and long term treatment.

METHODS

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: Short term control group, short term DOX treatment group, long term control group and long term DOX treatment group. In short term treated group, rats were injected with DOX i.p. at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg every 48 h for six equal injections. In long term, treated group, rats were tail-intravenously injected with DOX at a dose of 3 mg/kg once a week for four weeks. At the end of the experiment, histopathological changes, general blood biomarkers, endogenous antioxidant enzymes, cardiac energy metabolism and related mRNA expression of AMPK signal pathway were determined.

RESULTS

DOX induced prominent oxidative stress, a higher mortality rate, histological and ECG changes, obvious cardiac hypertrophy, acute cardiac damage and cardiac energy impairment in short term treatment rats. In long term treatment rats, DOX caused serious nephropathy and systolic dysfunction, terrible cardiac energy impairment, clear alteration of substrate utilization and AMPK signal pathway.

CONCLUSION

DOX treatment can induce different damages after short term and long term treatment. In short term treatment group, rats experienced a terrible mortality rate about 40%, the acute cardiac damage, cardiac energy impairment and an early heart failure which are potential connected with reduction of glucose utilization. In the long term treatment group, serious nephropathy and obvious changes of mRNA expressions of AMPK signal pathway were observed. Meanwhile, the serious cardiac energy impairment and substrate utilization alteration denote an obviously heart failure. This study could be helpful to develop therapy strategies of DOX complications for clinical application.

Prenatal exposure to lipopolysaccharide results in myocardial remodelling in adult murine offspring

BACKGROUND

The epigenetic plasticity hypothesis indicates that pregnancy exposure may result in adult-onset diseases, including hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, in offspring. In a previous study, we discovered that prenatal exposure to inflammatory stimulants, such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS), could lead to hypertension in adult rat offspring. In the present study, we further demonstrate that maternal inflammation induces cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction via ectopic over-expression of nuclear transcription factor κB (NF- κB), and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) can protect cardiac function by reducing maternal inflammation.

METHODS

Pregnant SD rats were randomly divided into three groups and intraperitoneally injected with a vehicle, LPS (0.79 mg/kg), or LPS (0.79 mg/kg) plus PDTC (100 mg/kg) at 8 to 12 days of gestation. The offspring were raised until 4 and 8 months old, at which point an echocardiographic study was performed. The left ventricular (LV) mass index and apoptosis were examined.

RESULTS

At 4 months of age, the LPS offspring exhibited augmented posterior wall thickness. These rats displayed left ventricle (LV) hypertrophy and LV diastolic dysfunction as well as a higher apoptotic index, a higher level of Bax and a lower level of Bcl-2 at 8 months of age. The protein levels of NF-κB (p65) in the myocardium of the offspring were measured at this time. NF-κB protein levels were higher in the myocardium of LPS offspring. The offspring that were prenatally treated with PDTC displayed improved signs of blood pressure (BP) and LV hypertrophy.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal inflammation can induce cardiac hypertrophy in offspring during aging accompanied with hypertension emergence and can be rescued by the maternal administration of PDTC (the inhibitor of NF-κB).

Sodium houttuyfonate, a potential phytoanticipin derivative of antibacterial agent, inhibits bacterial attachment and pyocyanine secretion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by attenuating flagella-mediated swimming motility

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a well-known clinical pathogen for its recalcitrant infection caused by biofilm formation which are initiated by flagella-mediated attachment. Sodium houttuyfonate (SH) is a natural phytoanticipin derivative of houttuynin and has anti-pathogenic effect on P. aeruginosa biofilm formation. In this paper, when using 1/2 × MIC SH, the diameter of P. aeruginosa swimming motility was sharply shortened to 36 % in 24 h incubation, and the fold changes of fliC required for swimming motility was 0.36 in 24 h cultivation, the adherence inhibition accounted for about 46 %, and the pyocyanin production decreased to 47 % after 1-day treatment and 56 % after 3-day treatment with obvious visual changes from dark green to light green, compared with the negative control. With the help of mass spectra and scanning electronic microscope, 1/2 × MIC SH was further testified to be enough to eradicate flagella and inhibit pyocyanin secretion of P. aeruginosa. The results do not only re-affirm the close interplay of attachment and virulence (i.e. swimming motility and pyocyanin), but also unravel the potential mechanism of SH on anti-biofilm of P. aeruginosa.

Chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia prevents cardiac dysfunction through enhancing antioxidation in fructose-fed rats

High-fructose intake induces metabolic syndrome and cardiac dysfunction. Chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIHH) preserves cardiac function during ischemia. We hypothesized that CIHH restores the impaired cardiac function in fructose-fed rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly subject to treatment with fructose (10% fructose in drinking water for 6 weeks), CIHH (simulated 5000 m altitude, 6 h/day for 6 weeks in a hypobaric chamber), and CIHH plus fructose groups. In addition to an increase in blood pressure, fructose feeding caused elevated serum levels of glucose, fasting insulin and insulin C peptide, triglyceride, cholesterol, and mass ratio of heart to body. CIHH treatment decreased the arterial blood pressure, serum levels of biochemical markers, and cardiac hypertrophy in fructose-fed rats. Furthermore, CIHH treatment improved the recovery of left ventricular function after ischemia-reperfusion procedure (30 min global no-flow ischemia followed by 60 min of reperfusion) in rats with or without fructose feeding. In addition, CIHH treatment caused a significant increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and decrease in malondialdehyde level in cardiac myocardium experiencing ischemia-reperfusion in control and fructose-fed rats. Collectively, these data suggest that CIHH improve impaired cardiac function in fructose-fed rats through enhancing antioxidation in the myocardium.

A phytoanticipin derivative, sodium houttuyfonate, induces in vitro synergistic effects with levofloxacin against biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Antibiotic resistance has become the main deadly factor in infections, as bacteria can protect themselves by hiding in a self-constructed biofilm. Consequently, more attention is being paid to the search for “non-antibiotic drugs” to solve this problem. Phytoanticipins, the natural antibiotics from plants, could be a suitable alternative, but few works on this aspect have been reported. In this study, a preliminary study on the synergy between sodium houttuyfonate (SH) and levofloxacin (LFX) against the biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was performed. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of LFX and SH, anti-biofilm formation and synergistic effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and quantification of alginate were determined by the microdilution method, crystal violet (CV) assay, checkerboard method, and hydroxybiphenyl colorimetry. The biofilm morphology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was observed by fluorescence microscope and scanning electric microscope (SEM). The results showed that: (i) LFX and SH had an obvious synergistic effect against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with MIC values of 0.25 μg/mL and 128 μg/mL, respectively; (ii) ½ × MIC SH combined with 2 × MIC LFX could suppress the biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa effectively, with up to 73% inhibition; (iii) the concentration of alginate decreased dramatically by a maximum of 92% after treatment with the combination of antibiotics; and (iv) more dead cells by fluorescence microscope and more removal of extracellular polymeric structure (EPS) by SEM were observed after the combined treatment of LFX and SH. Our experiments demonstrate the promising future of this potent antimicrobial agent against biofilm-associated infections.