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Psoralen has potential hepatotoxicity and has a certain promoting effect on the clinical liver injury of Psoralea corylifolia L (Fructus Psoraleae). This study investigated the underlying mechanism...

This study is to investigate the protective effect of Acetyl-α-boswellic acid and Acetyl-β-boswellic mixture(α/β-ABA), which is the active ingredients isolated from Frankincense, on actue pancreatitis and its mechanism. Our experimental results showed that 2 μM α/β-ABA reduced production of NO, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-1β in RAW264.7 cells that were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) which indicates its anti-inflammatory role. In pancreatitis model induced by caerulein, intra-gastrical administration of 100 mg/kg α/β-ABA relieved inflammatory cells infiltration significantly and attenuated the serum elevation of amylase TNF-α and IL-6 remarkably in mice. Furthermore, α/β-ABA down-regulated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family phosphorylated proteins in pancreas, including phosphorylated p38, ERK1/2 and JNK, to reduce the serum inflammatory factors. Finally, α/β-ABA alleviated the pancreatic edema and inflammatory cell infiltration in pancreatitis mice model. This study suggests that α/β-ABA may be targeted for drug development against pancreatitis via modulating MAPKs pathway.

We investigated the beneficial effects and underlying mechanisms of Zhuanggu Guanjie (ZGGJ) pill in osteoporosis in vitro and in vivo. Bone marrow macrophages from 4–6-week-old mice were cultured in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (15 ng/mL) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (30 ng/mL). Osteoclast differentiation was determined by quantification of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity. Gelatin zymography was used to detect the activity of matrix metalloproteinases in osteoclasts. Ovariectomized rats were administered orally with estradiol valerate or ZGGJ for 8 weeks. Blood was collected to measure serum indices. Tibiae were harvested to carry out bone microcomputed tomography scanning, histomorphological analysis, and bone strength determination. ZGGJ inhibited tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity, matrix metalloproteinase 9 expression, and bone resorption in vitro. At doses of 0.55, 1.1, and 2.2 g/kg, ZGGJ exerted significant osteoprotective effects including inhibition of bone turnover markers and improved tibia bone strength in ovariectomized rats. Microcomputed tomographic analysis showed that ZGGJ improved the trabecular architecture with increased connectivity density and trabecular thickness and decreased trabecular spacing. These results revealed that ZGGJ prevents bone loss induced by ovariectomy in rats and that inhibition of bone resorption is involved in the bone-protective effects of ZGGJ.

We investigated the beneficial effects and underlying mechanisms of Zhuanggu Guanjie (ZGGJ) pill in osteoporosis in vitro and in vivo. Bone marrow macrophages from 4–6-week-old mice were cultured in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (15 ng/mL) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (30 ng/mL). Osteoclast differentiation was determined by quantification of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity. Gelatin zymography was used to detect the activity of matrix metalloproteinases in osteoclasts. Ovariectomized rats were administered orally with estradiol valerate or ZGGJ for 8 weeks. Blood was collected to measure serum indices. Tibiae were harvested to carry out bone microcomputed tomography scanning, histomorphological analysis, and bone strength determination. ZGGJ inhibited tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity, matrix metalloproteinase 9 expression, and bone resorption in vitro. At doses of 0.55, 1.1, and 2.2 g/kg, ZGGJ exerted significant osteoprotective effects including inhibition of bone turnover markers and improved tibia bone strength in ovariectomized rats. Microcomputed tomographic analysis showed that ZGGJ improved the trabecular architecture with increased connectivity density and trabecular thickness and decreased trabecular spacing. These results revealed that ZGGJ prevents bone loss induced by ovariectomy in rats and that inhibition of bone resorption is involved in the bone-protective effects of ZGGJ.

This study was performed to determine the optimal window of time during which the properties of osteoporosis are obvious and to explore the best region of interest for microstructural evaluation in antiosteoporosis research in an ovariectomized mouse model by examining changes in micro-computed tomography parameters and serum indices. Ovariectomized mice and sham-operated mice were randomly divided into five groups. At the end of the 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 20th weeks after ovariectomy, the microstructure of the proximal tibia and distal femur was scanned by micro-computed tomography and blood samples were collected to detect serum biochemical indicators including alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (P1NP), and C-terminal telopeptide fragment of type I collagen (CTX1). The trabecular number and connectivity density decreased while the trabecular thickness and trabecular separation increased, indicating substantial changes in the trabecular microstructure of both the tibia and femur and significant changes in bone turnover after ovariectomy, as indicated by lower levels of serum alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and P1NP and higher level of CTX1 in the ovariectomy than sham group. The proximal tibia from weeks 8 to 16 after ovariectomy was optimal for osteoporosis research in this model.