forsythiaside and Disease-Models--Animal

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a common urinary system disease that carries a poor progrnosis due to nonresponsivess to current treatments. The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of Forsythiaside (FA) in a rat model of adriamycin-induced nephropathy (AN). Compared with control group, FA treatment significantly reduced proteinuria, serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels and reduced the number of apoptotic cells in the kidneys. FA alleviated Adr induced renal injury, and increased the sactivity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), while decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the serum. In addition, FA, in a dose-dependent manner, decreased the levels of NF-kappaBp65/MIP-2 in the kidenys, reduced the serum level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1 β and TNF-alpha), and increased the survival rate of Adr treated rats. Taken together, the results show that FA alleviates renal dysfunction in adriamycin-induced nephropathy rats.

Topics: Animals; Chemokine CXCL2; Creatinine; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal; Doxorubicin; Glycosides; Humans; Kidney; Kidney Diseases; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Male; Malondialdehyde; Proteinuria; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Superoxide Dismutase; Survival Analysis; Transcription Factor RelA

Forsythiaside A, an active constituent isolated from air-dried fruits of Forsythia suspensa, has been reported to have multiple pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and antioxidant activities. In the present study, the hepatoprotective effect of forsythiaside A was investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/d-galactosamine (GalN)-induced acute liver injury in mice. Mice acute liver injury model was induced by LPS (50μg/kg)/GalN (800mg/kg). Forsythiaside A was administrated 1h prior to LPS/GalN exposure. The results showed that forsythiaside A attenuated hepatic pathological damage, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and serum ALT, and AST levels induced by LPS/GalN. Moreover, forsythiaside A inhibited NF-κB activation, serum TNF-α and hepatic TNF-α levels induced by LPS/GalN. Furthermore, we found that forsythiaside A up-regulated the expression of Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1. Our results showed that forsythiaside A protected against LPS/GalN-induced liver injury through activation of Nrf2 and inhibition of NF-κB activation.

Topics: Animals; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Forsythia; Fruit; Galactosamine; Glycosides; Lipid Peroxidation; Lipopolysaccharides; Liver Function Tests; Male; Mice, Inbred BALB C; NF-kappa B; Protective Agents; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

This study examined the inhibitory effect of forsythiaside-A, a natural substance derived from Forsythia suspensa (F. suspensa), on entry into catagen induced by dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in an androgenic alopecia mouse model. In vitro experiment comparing finasteride with forsythiaside-A showed that forsythiaside-A treatment resulted in a 30% greater inhibition of DHT-induced apoptosis in human hair dermal papilla cell (HHDPCs) and human keratinocytes (HaCaTs). In vivo experiment showed that mouse hair density and thickness were increased by 50% and 30%, respectively, in the forsythiaside-A-treated group when compared to a DHT group. Tissue histological results revealed that the forsythiaside-A-treated group had an increase in size and shape of the hair follicles and a 1.5 times increase in the follicle anagen/telogen ratio when compared to the finasteride group. Western blot examination of TGF-β2 expression related to apoptosis signaling in mouse skin verified that forsythiaside-A reduced the expression of TGF-β2 by 75% and suppressed apoptosis by reducing the expression of caspase-9 by 40%, and caspase-3 by 53%, which play an roles up-regulator in the apoptosis signal. The forsythiaside-A group also showed a 60% increase in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, which is a factor related to mitochondrial apoptosis. Our results indicated that forsythiaside-A prevents apoptosis by similar mechanism with finasteride, but forsythiaside-A is more effective than finasteride. In summary, forsythiaside-A controlled the apoptosis of hair cells and retarded the entry into the catagen phase and therefore represents a natural product with much potential for use as a treatment for androgenic alopecia.

Topics: Alopecia; Animals; Apoptosis; Caspase 3; Caspase 9; Cells, Cultured; Disease Models, Animal; Forsythia; Glycosides; Hair Follicle; Humans; Keratinocytes; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Transforming Growth Factor beta2