Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine

89-97

Authors: Hnin Ei Thu, Zahid Hussain, Isa Naina Mohamed, Ahmad Nazrun Shuid

Eurycoma longifolia Jack (E. longifolia) is a well-recognized traditional herbal medicine that offers a wide dynamic range of biomedical applications including anti-osteoporotic, anticancer, anti-proliferative, anti-malarial, antimicrobial, antioxidant, aphrodisiac, anti- inflammatory, anxiolytic, anti-diabetic, anti-rheumatism and anti-ulcer properties. This review aims to overview the pharmacokinetic and a pharmacodynamic algorithm of E. longifolia and its bioactive components. Analysis of pharmacokinetic profile revealed that E. longifolia exhibit higher bioavailability, high volume of distribution, slow elimination rate, and does not show inhibitory effects on cytochrome P450 isoenzymes. E. longifolia has been used, alone or in combination with other pharmacological agents, in the form of crude extracts, standard extracts, or decoctions of different plant parts (i.e., herbs, shrubs, stem, leaves, and roots) for the treatment of various ailments in animals and humans. Among various bioactive constituents, eurycomanone has been found to be the most remarkable, super-stable, versatile, and most potent phytochemical (isolated or extracted from root extracts) against various types of animals and human diseases. Based on its well-established pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles, we suggested that E. longifolia can be a well-accepted complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of different types of human ailments.

109-115

Authors: Young Soo Kim, Jin Yeul Ma

Objective: To investigate the fungistatic activity and synergistic effects of natural products and their constituents, including traditional oriental medicines (TOMs). Methods: Fungistatic activities of TOMs prepared by hot-water (115 曟) or ethanol (70%; 40 曟) extraction were determined by their minimum inhibitory concentration. To assess possible synergistic effects, minimum inhibitory concentrations of various combinations were evaluated. Results: By evaluating antifungal susceptibility of Trichophyton rubrum, which is a major causative fungus for several types of dermatophytosis, we confirmed that ethanol extracts were more active than hot-water extracts in 25 of the 36 TOMs, suggesting that the constituents with high hydrophobicity tend to contribute significantly to fungistatic activity. We selected four TOMs with high fungistatic activity, including Aucklandiae radix, Gentianae macrophyllae radix, Scutellariae radix, and Galla rhois, and their synergistic effects were investigated through the combination studies between TOMs or TOM-conventional drug terbinafine. In combinations between four TOMs, partial synergistic effects were observed in Aucklandiae radix–Galla rhois and Gentianae macrophyllae radix–Galla rhois combinations, as supported by the lowest fractional inhibitory concentration index value of 0.66 for both combinations. Furthermore, Galla rhois showed the strongest synergistic effect on growth inhibition of Trichophyton rubrum with a fractional inhibitory concentration index value of 0.50 in combination with terbinafine. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the combination of TOMs and TOM-terbinafine may be effective on treatment for chronic and recurrent dermatophytosis by improving fungistatic activity and led to decrease systemic toxicity in clinical practice.

123-130

Authors: Sanila Amber, Syed Adnan Ali Shah, Touqeer Ahmed, Saadia Zahid

Objective: To investigate the neuroprotective effects of Syzygium aromaticum (S. aromaticum) extract (500 mg/kg) on AlCl3 (300 mg/kg)-induced mouse model of oxidative stress and neurotoxicity. Methods: An ethanolic extract of S. aromaticum seeds was prepared and the active compounds were identified using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. BALB/ c mice were divided into five groups (negative control, AlCl3-treated, self-recovery, AlCl3 + S. aromaticum, S. aromaticum only; n=10) and treated with AlCl3 and S. aromaticum extract. Expression of oxidative markers [Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6)] and amyloid precursor protein (APP) in the hippocampus and cortex was evaluated via PCR. Histopathological assessment was performed to investigate the extent of neurodegeneration. Results: It was observed that AlCl3 exposure increased the expression of APP770 while simultaneously down regulated the expression of APP695. AlCl3 also induced a significant decrease (P<0.05) and an increase (P<0.05) in the expression level of SOD1 and Prdx6, respectively. A substantial decrease substantial (P<0.05) in the density of Nissl substance was also observed in cortex of the mice treated with AlCl3. Interestingly, treatment with S. aromaticum extract normalized the alterations in the expression level of SOD1, Prdx6 and APP isoforms and improved the neuronal structural damage. Conclusions: The results showed that S. aromaticum is a promising antioxidant and a neuroprotective agent.

136-140

Authors: Peng Zhang, Gang Feng, Wei-Na Zhang, Ying-Ying Zhang, Chun-Sheng Liu

Objective: To study the effect of RNA interference (RNAi) on WD101 gene and its effect on the expression of WD101 mRNA and protein in Schistosoma japonicum. Methods: Double- stranded RNA (dsRNA) WD101 gene and control gene (lacZ) were generated by in vitro transcription and transfected into mechanically transformed schistosomula. The total RNA and protein were isolated simultaneously using TRIzol reagent. The expression levels of mRNA and the protein were determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and Western blotting, respectively. After injected dsRNA-electroporated schistosomula into BALB/c mouse six weeks, the male and female reproductive organs were observed and measured under the confocal laser scanning microscope. Results: After 1, 3 and 5 d of RNAi, WD101 mRNA level was decreased by 15%, 39%, and 58% in experiment group compared to that in control group; meanwhile, WD101 protein level was decreased by 11%, 28%, and 43% in experiment group compared to that in control group. There were significantly more sperms in testicular lobes in experiment group than that in control group, while there were no significant differences in terms of ovary and vitelline glands between two groups. Conclusions: The dsWD101-RNAi can effectively induce suppression of WD101 gene expression at both mRNA and protein levels. WD101 gene might be a reproduction-related gene in Schistosoma japonicum.

147-150

Authors: Ju-Fei Wang, Cheng Jiang

Objective: To study the effect of fructose 1,6-diphosphate (FDP) on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury in rats and its molecular mechanism. Methods: Male SPF SD rats were selected as experimental animals and randomly divided into four groups. Sham group received sham operation, I/R group were made into myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury models, FDP group were made into myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury models and then were given FDP intervention, and FDP+AG490 group were made into myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury models and then were given FDP and JAK2 inhibitor AG490 intervention. Results: CK, CK-MB, cTnI and LDH contents in serum as well as Bax and Caspase-3 protein expression in myocardial tissue of I/R group were significantly higher than those of Sham group whereas Bcl-2, p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 protein expression in myocardial tissues were significantly lower than those of Sham group; CK, CK-MB, cTnI and LDH contents in serum as well as Bax and Caspase-3 protein expression in myocardial tissue of FDP group were significantly lower than those of I/R group whereas Bcl-2, p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 protein expression in myocardial tissue were significantly higher than those of I/R group; CK, CK-MB, cTnI and LDH contents in serum as well as Bax and Caspase-3 protein expression in myocardial tissue of FDP+AG490 group were significantly higher than those of FDP group whereas Bcl-2 protein expression in myocardial tissue was significantly lower than that of FDP group. Conclusion: FDP could reduce the myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury in rats by activating the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

155-161

Authors: Zhong-Cui Sun, Min Wang, Jia-Wen Fan, Ge-Zhi Xu

Objective: To study the foveal displacement during the closure of idiopathic macular holes (MHs). Methods: Thirty-seven idiopathic MH patients treated by pars plana vitrectomy and internal limiting membrane peeling were studied prospectively. Locations of MH center and foveal pit were measured by optic coherence tomography. Retinal displacement was observed using confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. Results: A total of 40 eyes were included in this study and MHs were closed in 37 eyes (92.5%). The confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy showed that all of the retinal capillaries in the superior, inferior, nasal and temporal sides of the MHs moved toward the optic nerve head (ONH). The optic coherence tomography results showed that the mean nasal displacements of foveal pits were (102.9±61.2), (109.6±53.1), and (137.0±52.0) μm at 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively. And the mean vertical displacements were (55.9±49.4), (61.4±57.8) and (67.8±54.3) μm, respectively. Post-operative foveal pits were located in the nasal side of the MH centers. The extension of retina and nasal to the MH were in opposite directions: the nasal hole margin moved toward the MH, but the retina located closer to the ONH moved toward the ONH. The fellow eyes of three patients developed into idiopathic MH during the follow-up period and operations were performed for all of the three patients. Conclusion: Our results showed that center of macula does not move when an idiopathic MH develops, but it moves toward ONH during closure of hole; thus, new fovea is in nasal side of original fovea.

166-170

Authors: Zhen-Wei Ge, Zhao-Yun Cheng, Bao-Cai Wang, Jun-Long Hu, Jian-Chao Li, Zi-Niu Zhao, Gang Qiao, Xiao-Qiang Quan, Guo-Bao Zhang

Objective: To investigate the mid- and long-term clinical effects of tricuspid valvuloplasty with the implantation of an artificial plastic ring. Methods: Data of 677 patients who had functional tricuspid regurgitation and left cardiac valve disease and underwent tricuspid valvuloplasty and left cardiac valve surgery were retrospectively. Among these patients, 353 underwent simple suture annuloplasty (group A) while the rest 324 patients underwent artificial plastic ring annuloplasty (group B). The two-year and more-than-two-year clinical and ultrasonocardiograph (UCG) follow-up data of the two groups were obtained and compared. Results: A total of 600 patients (88.6%) completed the long-term follow-up (more than two years). The two-year follow-up showed no significant difference in the incidence of mild tricuspid regurgitation between the two groups (82.2% vs. 92.7%, P=0.37). However, there were significantly more cases that developed into moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation in group A than in group B (17.8% vs. 7.3%, P=0.031). The long-term follow-up revealed that the recurrence rate of tricuspid regurgitation in group B was significantly lower than that in group A (11.0% vs. 25.0%, P=0.029), and the ratio of cases developing into moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation in group A was significantly higher than that in group B (28.9% vs. 9.9%, P=0.007). The comparison between the two intra-group time segments showed that the development of tricuspid regurgitation in group A was significantly increased (28.9% vs. 17.8%, P=0.022), but in group B it was relatively stable (9.9% vs. 7.3%, P=0.52). Conclusions: Artificial ring annuloplasty is associated with significantly less tricuspid regurgitation than simple suture annuloplasty.