Acta pharmacologica Sinica
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Acta Pharmacol. Sin. · Jul 2010
Protective effects of luteolin against lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury involves inhibition of MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways in neutrophils.
To investigate whether luteolin, the major polyphenolic components of Lonicera japonica, has beneficial effects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) and to determine whether the protective mechanism involves anti-inflammatory effects on neutrophils. ⋯ These results indicate that luteolin has beneficial effects against LPS-induced ALI in mice, and the attenuation of neutrophil chemotaxis and respiratory burst by luteolin involves the blockade of MEK-, ERK-, and Akt-related signaling cascades.
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Acta Pharmacol. Sin. · Jun 2010
ReviewRetrospect and prospect of active principles from Chinese herbs in the treatment of dementia.
With an ageing population, dementia has become one of the world's primary health challenges. However, existing remedies offer limited benefits with certain side effects, which has prompted researchers to seek complementary and alternative therapies. China has long been known for abundant usage of various herbs. ⋯ These herbs are regarded as new and promising sources of potential anti-dementia drugs. With the rapid evolution of life science and technology, numerous active components have been identified that are highly potent and multi-targeted with low toxicity, and therefore meet the requirements for dementia therapy. This review updates the research progress of Chinese herbs in the treatment of dementia, focusing on their effective principles.
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Acta Pharmacol. Sin. · May 2010
Dexmedetomidine blocks thermal hyperalgesia and spinal glial activation in rat model of monoarthritis.
To investigate the effect of systemic administration dexmedetomidine, a selective alpha 2 adrenergic receptor (alpha(2)AR) agonist, on thermal hyperalgesia and spinal glial activation evoked by monoarthritis (MA). ⋯ Systemic dexmedetomidine inhibits the activation of spinal glia, which is possibly associated with its antihyperalgesia in monoarthritic rats.
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Acta Pharmacol. Sin. · May 2010
GLP-1 receptor plays a critical role in geniposide-induced expression of heme oxygenase-1 in PC12 cells.
To explore the role of activation of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) and its relative cell signaling pathway in the cytoprotection of geniposide. ⋯ GLP-1R plays a critical role in geniposide-induced HO-1 expression to attenuate oxidative insults in PC12 cells.
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Acta Pharmacol. Sin. · Mar 2010
The novel squamosamide derivative FLZ enhances BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling and inhibits neuronal apoptosis in APP/PS1 mice.
The aim of this study was to study the effects of compound FLZ, a novel cyclic derivative of squamosamide from Annona glabra, on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB)/cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) signaling and neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampus of the amyloid precursor protein (APP)/presenilin-1 (PS1) double transgenic mice. ⋯ FLZ exerted neuroprotection at least partly through enhancing the BDNF/TrkB/CREB pathway and inhibiting neuronal apoptosis in APP/PS1 mice, which suggests that FLZ can be explored as a potential therapeutic agent in long-term Alzheimer's disease therapy.