Angong Niuhuang Pill (ANP) is a well-known patented Chinese medicine which is used for hundreds of years for treating the central nervous system diseases. Atherosclerosis is a polyaetiological chronic inflammatory vascular disease. Preventing inflammation is fundamental for treating atherosclerosis in early stages. In this study, we investigated the protective effects and possible mechanisms of ANP action on a high-fat diet induced early and mid-term atherosclerosis ApoE -/mice. The effects of ANP were compared with accepted drug simvastatin. Twelve male C57BL/6J mice were used as the control group, and 60 male ApoE -/mice were randomly divided into five groups: Model group, Simvastatin group, Low-, Medium-, and High-dose ANP group these groups received, respectively, saline, simvastatin (3.0mg/kg), low-dose ANP (0.25 g/kg), medium-dose ANP (0.50 g/kg), and high-dose ANP (1.0 g/kg), once every other day for 10 weeks. After administration, serum biochemical indices were detected by the automatic biochemical analyzer, the concentrations of IL-6 and IL-10 in the serum were assayed by ELISA, expression levels of IL-1b, TNF-a, MMP-2, MMP-9, CCL2, and its receptor CCR2 in the full-length aorta, and expression levels of transcription factors Foxp3, RORgt in the spleen were assayed via western blotting and RT-qPCR. Flow cytometry was used to analyze Th17 cells and Treg cells. Pathological and histological analysis was completed on aortic root. ANP decreased LDL/HDL ratio, concentrations of IL-6 while increased IL-10 in serum. Moreover, ANP down-regulated the expression levels of IL-1b, TNF-a, MMP-2, MMP-9, CCL2, and CCR2 receptor in the full-length aorta. In addition, ANP decreased Th17 cells and expression levels of transcription factor RORgt, increased Treg cells and expression levels of transcription factor Foxp3. ANP decreased content of

Atherosclerosis (AS) is the primary cause of cardiocerebrovascular disease, and inflammation is responsible for the initiation of its pathogenesis. Therefore, targeting inflammatory pathways to prevent AS progression is an ideal strategy. Angong Niuhuang pill (ANP) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine and has been widely used for thousands of years to treat central nervous system and cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we investigated the role of ANP in reducing inflammation during early AS, using a high-fat diet-induced ApoE−/− mouse model of AS. Compared to those with simvastatin, ANP had no significant effect on serum triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein levels. However, it effectively inhibited splenic and vascular inflammation. This agent also reduced the Th17/CD4+T ratio and mRNA expression of IL-6 and increased the Treg/CD4+T ratio and mRNA expression of TGF-β1. Thus, ANP restored Th17/Treg homeostasis in the spleen. It also regulated pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine expression in the aorta in a similar manner. Further, it downregulated the expression of chemokine receptors (CCR2, CXCR3), their ligands (MCP-1, MCP-2, and MCP-3), and cell adhesion molecules (VCAM-1, ICAM-1) in arterial vessels. These results indicate that ANP can ameliorate the development of early AS, mainly by reducing inflammation instead of acting as an antihyperlipidemic drug.

Aim: To explore the action of doxorubicin on vascular smooth muscle cells. Methods: Isometric tension of denuded or intact thoracic aortic vessels was recorded and [Ca 2+ ] i in isolated aortic smooth muscle cells was measured by using Fluo-3. Results: Doxorubicin induced phasic and tonic contractions in denuded vessels and increased levels of [Ca 2+ ] i in single muscle cells. Treatment with 10 µmol/L ryanodine had no effect on basal tension, but it did abolish doxorubicin-induced phasic contraction. Treatment with 10 mmol/L caffeine induced a transient phasic contraction only, and the effect was not significantly altered by ryanodine, the omission of extracellular Ca 2+ or both. Phenylephrine induced rhythmic contraction (RC) in intact vessels. Treatment with 100 µmol/L doxorubicin enhanced RC amplitude, but 1 mmol/L doxorubicin abolished RC, with an increase in maximal tension. Caffeine at 100 µmol/L increased the frequency of the RC only. In the presence of 100 µmol/L caffeine, however, 100 µmol/L doxorubicin abolished the RC and decreased its maximal tension. Treatment with 10 µmol/L ryanodine abolished the RC, with an increase in the maximal tension. In Ca 2+ -free solution, doxorubicin induced a transient [Ca 2+ ] i increase that could be abolished by ryanodine pretreatment in single muscle cells. The doxorubicin-induced increase in [Ca 2+ ] i was suppressed by nifedipine and potentiated by ryanodine and charybdotoxin. Conclusion: Doxorubicin not only releases Ca 2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum but also promotes the entry of extracellular Ca 2+ into vascular smooth muscle cells.

We have demonstrated that OMT exhibits anti-pruritic and anti-inflammatory effects in ACD mice by regulating inflammatory mediators. OMT might emerge as a potential drug for the treatment of pruritus and skin inflammation in the setting of ACD.

Objectives This study aimed to discover the active compounds of Sophora flavescens Ait. (SF), the anti-itch effects and underlying mechanisms of oxymatrine (OMT), one of the bioactive compounds from SF. Methods Dorsal root ganglion cell membrane immobilized chromatography was used to screen potential anti-pruritic active compounds from SF. The scratching behaviour was analysed to systematically study the anti-pruritic effects of OMT in chloroquine- (CQ), peptide Ser–Leu–Ile–Gly–Arg–Leu- (SLIGRL), histamine- (HIS) and allyl-isothiocyanate-(AITC)-induced itch mice models. Real-time quantitative PCR, in-vivo study and molecular docking were employed to explore the underlying mechanisms. Key findings All in all, 21 compounds of SF were identified and 5 potential bioactive compounds were discovered. OMT significantly reduced scratching bouts in two HIS-independent itch models induced by CQ and SLIGRL but was not effective in the HIS-induced itch model. OMT reduced scratching bouts in a dose-dependent manner and decreased the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channel in two HIS-independent itch models; in addition, OMT reduced the wipes and scratching bouts induced by AITC. Conclusions This study discovered five potential anti-pruritic compounds including OMT in the SF extract, and OMT has strong anti-pruritic effects in HIS-independent itch via TRPA1 channel.