Oral treatment with herbal formula B401 alleviates penile toxicity in aging mice with manganism

Effects of Pentoxifylline in a Rat Model of Manganism: Evaluation of the Possible Toxicity

Objective. Manganese (Mn) has been reported, through dietary and occupational overexposure, to induce neurotoxicity named manganism. Pentoxifylline (PTX) administration attracts much attention considering the beneficial properties of PTX, as an anti-inflammatory and smooth muscle relaxation agent. This in vivo study aims to evaluate the effect of PTX on manganism in rat model. Materials and Methods. Thirty adult male Sprague Dawley rats received MnCl2 (100 mg/kg, i.p. on days 1, 3, and 7) during a week alone or in combination with PTX (300 mg/kg, i.p. every day for 8 consecutive days on manganism rat model). Several locomotor activity indices, as well as biomarkers of oxidative stress, were monitored in the brain tissue of Mn-exposed animals. Results. It was found that PTX supplementation (300 mg/kg, i.p.) deteriorated the Mn-induced locomotor deficit. This drug also increased the Mn brain accumulation as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation products in the manganism rat model. Moreover, the levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and glutathione (GSH) were shown to be reduced significantly compared to the control group. Conclusion. The results of this study revealed that PTX at a high dose (300 mg/kg) might increase manganism complications. PTX lowers the blood viscosity, improves the tissue perfusion, and increases the Mn levels in the brain.

Chinese Herbal Medicine, Guilu Erxian Glue, as Alternative Medicine for Adverse Side Effects of Chemotherapy in Doxorubicin-Treated Cell and Mouse Models

Doxorubicin (DOX), a chemotherapeutic drug, often causes many adverse side effects in patients with cancer, such as weight loss, motor disability, blood circulation defects, myelosuppression, myocardial injury, joint degeneration, and bone loss. The Chinese herbal medicine Guilu Erxian Glue (GEG) has been used in the prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis for hundreds of years, with considerably fewer side effects. We expected that GEG could serve as a protective and beneficial alternative treatment for DOX-induced adverse side effects. In this study, we evaluated whether GEG can alleviate DOX-induced weight loss, motor disability, abnormal blood circulation, myelosuppression, myocardial injury, joint degeneration, and bone loss by using chemotherapy models of synoviocyte cell line HIG-82 and mice. Moreover, we examined the antioxidant capacity of GEG by using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) free-radical scavenging. Our results revealed that GEG treatment can significantly enhance DPPH free-radical scavenging and reduce DOX-induced cytotoxicity in synoviocyte HIG-82 cells. In addition, GEG treatment for 2 weeks can significantly relieve weight loss, enhance exhaustive exercise capacity, improve blood circulation, alleviate myocardial oxidative stress and inflammation, and strengthen the tibias of DOX-treated mice. Thus, we suggest that GEG treatment can be a protective and alternative therapy for alleviating chemotherapy-related side effects such as weight loss, motor disability, blood circulation defects, and bone loss.

Chinese Veterinary Medicine B307 Promotes Cardiac Performance and Skeletal Muscle Contraction via Enhancing Intracellular Calcium Levels and Neural Electrical Activity in Animal and Cell Models

The study mainly investigated the effects of Chinese veterinary medicine B307 in cardiac and motor functions in animal models of pigeons and mice. Related cellular mechanisms were also studied in the neuroblastoma cell model of SH-SY5Y. Cardiac functions of pigeons and mice were examined by using moorFLPI Laser color Doppler imager and M-mode echocardiography, and motor functions were examined by using muscle electrical stimulation and force recording in the isolated breast muscle. Intracellular calcium levels and electrical activity of SH-SY5Y cells were examined by using Fura 2-AM fluorescence and MED64 system separately. Our results in vivo found that those pigeons under oral B307 treatment obviously enhanced subcutaneous microcirculation and contractile force and prolonged fatigue time in their breast muscles. Those mice under oral B307 treatment obviously elevated ejection fraction and cardiac output in their hearts. Our results in vitro showed that those SH-SY5Y cells under B307 treatment obviously increased intracellular calcium mobilization and electrical activities. These results revealed that improvement of cardiac and motor functions under B307 treatments may be caused by increasing electrical activities and intracellular calcium levels in neuromuscular cells and a similar mechanism may also occur in muscle cells. Thus, we suggested that B307 can be a functional Chinese veterinary medicine for flying pigeons.

The Natural-Mineral-Based Novel Nanomaterial IFMC Increases Intravascular Nitric Oxide without Its Intake: Implications for COVID-19 and beyond

There are currently no promising therapy strategies for either the treatment or prevention of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), despite the urgent need. In addition to respiratory diseases, vascular complications are rapidly emerging as a key threat of COVID-19. Existing nitric oxide (NO) therapies have been shown to improve the vascular system; however, they have different limitations in terms of safety, usability and availability. In light of this, we hypothesise that a natural-mineral-based novel nanomaterial, which was developed based on NO therapy, might be a viable strategy for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19. The present study examined if it could induce an increase of intravascular NO, vasodilation and the consequent increase of blood flow rate and temperature in a living body. The intravascular NO concentration in the hepatic portal of rats was increased by 0.17 nM over 35.2 s on average after its application. An ultrasonic Doppler flow meter showed significant increases in the blood flow rate and vessel diameter, but no difference in the blood flow velocity. These were corroborated by measurements of human hand surface temperature. To our knowledge, this result is the first evidence where an increase of intravascular NO and vasodilation were induced by bringing a natural-mineral-based nanomaterial into contact with or close to a living body. The precise mechanisms remain a matter for further investigation; however, we may assume that endothelial NO synthase, haemoglobin and endothelium-derived hyperpolarising factor are deeply involved in the increase of intravascular NO.