Arch Pharm Res
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The roots of Angelica tenuissima have been commonly used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and menstrual discomfort in Asian countries, such as China and Korea. The primary volatile flavor components are essential oil ingredients, phthalide lactones. In this study, (Z)-ligustilide was tested for its anti-inflammatory activities in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. ⋯ Further study revealed that (Z)-ligustilide inhibited the phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of IBα, an inhibitor protein of NF-B. In addition, (Z)-ligustilide inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these data suggest that (Z)-ligustilide can exert its antiinflammatory effects by regulating the NF-B and MAPK signal pathways.
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Paclitaxel is a P-gp substrate and metabolized via CYP2C and 3A subfamily in rats. It has been reported that cysteine causes the changes in expression of CYP isozymes and intestinal P-gp mediated efflux activity in rats. Thus, the effects of cysteine on the pharmacokinetics of intravenous and oral paclitaxel were investigated in rats. ⋯ Also the pharmacokinetic parameters between CON and ST rats were comparable after oral administration of paclitaxel (30 mg/kg) to rats. These results are consistent with that oral cysteine supplement on a single day did not considerably inhibit the metabolism of paclitaxel via hepatic and/or intestinal CYP3A subfamily and P-gp mediated efflux of paclitaxel in the liver and/or intestine both after intravenous and oral administration to rats. After oral administration of paclitaxel (30 mg/kg) to rats, the greater AUC(06 h) in CT rats was mainly due to that oral cysteine supplement for seven consecutive days enhanced the gastrointestinal absorption of paclitaxel compared with those in CON and ST rats.