Effect of forsythiaside A on immune function in rats with ulcerative colitis

AIM To investigate the effect of forsythiaside A (FA) on immune function in rats with ulcerative colitis and its related mechanism. METHODS Healthy SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: control group (no treatment, normal feeding), model group (establishment of rat ulcerative colitis model), and low, medium and high doses of FA groups (treatment of the model rats with FA at 5 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg, respectively). The malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in rat colon tissues were measured by colorimetry, and the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-4 were detected by ELISA. The spleen index and thymus index, the percentages of CD3⁺, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells （PBMC）, the serum IgA and IgG levels, and the serum complement C3 and C4 levels were also determined. RESULTS The colon tissues of the rats in model group showed obvious inflammation and ulceration, indicating that the animal model was successfully established. Compared with model group, the colonic inflammation and ulceration were significantly attenuated in FA groups, among which the high dose had the best effect. Compared with control group, the spleen index and thymus index of the rars in model group were decreased (P<0.05), MDA content in colon tissues was increased (P<0.05), and SOD activity in colon tissues was decreased (P<0.05). The levels of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes in PBMC, and the serum levels of C3, C4 and IL-4 were decreased (P<0.05), while the serum levels of IgA, IgG, TNF-α, and IL-2 were increased in model group as compared with control group. Furthermore, the spleen index and thymus index of the rats in FA groups were increased (P<0.05), the MDA content in the colon tissues was decreased (P<0.05), and the SOD activity in the colon tissues was increased (P<0.05). The levels of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes in PBMC, and the serum levels of C3, C4 and IL-4 were increased (P<0.05), while serum IgA, IgG, TNF-α and IL-2 levels were decreased in FA groups as compared with model group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Forsythiaside A effectively attenuates the colonic lesions in rats with ulcerative colitis, and its mechanism may be related to reinforcement of oxygen free radical scavenging power, alleviation of inflammatory response, and enhancement of immune function.     

连翘酯苷对体外培养细胞的毒性研究

探讨了连翘酯苷对体外培养细胞的毒性,以期为人们更好地研究利用连翘酯苷提供实验依据。实验采用细胞病变法观察连翘酯苷对猪肾细胞（PK-15）、猴肾细胞（Mare-145）、鸡胚肾细胞（CEK）、鸡外周血淋巴细胞（PBL）等4种细胞的形态损伤;用MTT法检测连翘酯苷作用这4种细胞后的细胞活性和细胞数量的变化。根据这两种方法的结果计算出连翘酯苷对这4种细胞的半数致死量。实验结果显示高剂量的连翘酯苷可致细胞发生病变,而低剂量组的细胞形态优于对照组。经SPSS16．0统计,连翘酯苷对PK-15、Mare-145、CEK3种细胞的半数致死量分别为137．8、87．1、384．4μg／mL,对PBL应用到中华人民共和国兽药典（2000年版）规定药量的10倍剂量,结果未发现致死性。因此,适当合理的连翘酯苷用量对体外培养的细胞没有毒性,反而有一定的维持细胞形态的营养作用和刺激细胞增殖的作用。     

连翘酯苷A对内毒素致鸡脾淋巴细胞白介素-17的影响

[目的]研究内毒素和连翘酯苷A对鸡脾淋巴细胞中白介素-17(IL-17)水平的影响。[方法]将1日龄雏鸡正常饲养至50日龄时,心脏采血处死,表面消毒后,剖检用脾淋巴细胞分离液分离脾淋巴细胞,将脾淋巴细胞分为20个组,具体为4个剂量组×5个时间点。4个剂量组分别为:对照组、LPS组(5μg/m L)、连翘酯苷A预防低剂量组(200μg/m L连翘酯苷A+5μg/m L LPS)、连翘酯苷A预防高剂量组(400μg/m L连翘酯苷A+5μg/m L LPS)。5个时间点分别为0、6、12、24、48 h。通过采用ELISA和Real time-PCR方法检测脾脏淋巴细胞中IL-17水平。[结果]ELISA结果显示,与正常组相比,LPS组脾脏淋巴细胞中炎症因子IL-17含量升高;与LPS组比较,连翘酯苷A组脾脏淋巴细胞中上述炎症因子含量下降,表明脾脏中炎症因子的变化呈正相关性,通过抑制LPS诱导的鸡脾脏中上述炎症因子的升高,减轻炎症反应。Real time-PCR结果显示,与正常组相比,LPS组脾脏淋巴细胞中炎症因子IL-17 mRNA表达量升高;与LPS组比较,连翘酯苷A组预防组脾脏淋巴细胞中上述炎症因子表达量下降,变化呈相关性,试验表明连翘酯苷A可以通过转录水平抑制LPS诱导的鸡脾脏淋巴细胞中上述炎症因子表达量的升高,减轻炎症反应。[结论]连翘酯苷A抑制鸡脾脏淋巴细胞中IL-17水平,可起到抗炎功能。     

连翘适宜采收期研究

[目的]确定连翘的适宜采收期。[方法]以太行山道地产区连翘为研究对象,对不同时间采收的连翘进行鉴别和分析。[结果]随着采收时间的延后,连翘中浸出物、连翘苷、连翘酯苷A含量均呈现降低趋势,但6月中旬到7月初采收的连翘的性状和理化鉴别不符合《中国药典》2015年版要求。[结论]综合考虑连翘药材的性状、理化鉴别、水分、总灰分、浸出物、连翘苷、连翘酯苷A等指标,确定连翘适宜的最佳采收期为7月中下旬。