Abstract The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of swertiamarin (STM) in attenuating paraquat (PQ)-induced human lung alveolar epithelial-like cell (A549) apoptosis and the underlying mechanisms. A549 cells were pretreated with different concentrations of STM for 2 hr and then cultured with or without PQ (700 μM) for 24 hr. Cell survival was determined using the CCK8 assay. Morphological changes, MDA content, inflammatory factors, fibrogenesis parameters, apoptosis rates, redox status and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were evaluated. The expression of several genes involved in the modulation of redox status was measured by Western blotting. Cell viability and MMP were decreased, but the apoptosis rate and DCFH oxidation were elevated by PQ exposure. STM pretreatment notably increased cell viability and MMP and reduced the apoptosis rate and DCFH oxidation. Furthermore, TLR4- NOX4 signaling was significantly inhibited by STM. The downregulation of NOX4 by siRNA exerted the same protective effects as STM. This study provides the first evidence that STM attenuates PQ-induced pulmonary epithelial-like cell apoptosis via NOX4-mediated regulation of redox and mitochondrial function.

The aim of the present study is to illustrate the effects of swertiamarin (STM), a natural iridoid from herbal medicines, on hepatic inflammation induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to CCl4 with or without STM co-administration for 8 weeks. Our results revealed that STM administration (100 and 200 mg/kg b.w.) significantly attenuated inflammation in livers of CCl4-treated rats. STM remarkably reduced the production of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), macrophage inflammatory protein-1a (MIP-1α), and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in liver tissue of CCl4-treated rats. In addition, STM treatment downregulated connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and ser307pIRS-1 expression, which was induced by CCl4 exposure. In the process of exploring the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of STM action, we demonstrated that STM significantly inhibited Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 expression in the liver. In conclusion, these results suggested that the inhibition of CCl4-induced inflammation by STM was, at least in part, due to its regulation of the TLR4 /NF-κB signaling pathway.

resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos da cafeína, do polifenol do chá e da daidzeína na farmacocinética do lansoprazol e de seus metabólitos. Administraram-se, intragastricamente, aos ratos cafeína (30 mg·kg-1, uma vez ao dia), polifenol do chá(400 mg·kg-1, uma vez ao dia) ou daidzeína (13,5 mg·kg-1, uma vez ao dia), por 14 dias, seguindo-se a administração de lansoprazol (8 mg·kg-1) no 15º. dia. As concentrações plasmáticas do lansoprazol e de seus dois metabólitos primários, 5-hidroxilansoprazol e sulfona de lansoprazol, foram determinadas por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência acoplada com espectrometria de massas (CLAE-EM/EM). O polifenol do chá elevou, significativamente, a Área Sob a Curva (ASC) do lansoprazol de 680,29 ± 285,99 para 949,76 ± 155,18 μg/L.h e reduziu a da sulfona de lansoprazol de 268,82 ± 82,37 para 177,72 ± 29,73 μg/L.h. A daidzeína aumentou a ASC do lansoprazol de 680,29 ± 285,99 para 1130,44 ± 97,6 μg/L.h e reduziu a da sulfona de lansoprazol de 268,82 ± 82,37 para 177,72 ± 29,73 μg/L.h. A farmacocinética do 5-hidroxilansoprazol permaneceu intacta na presença de polifenol do chá ou daidzeína. A cafeína não afetou a farmacocinética do lansoprazol e de seus metabólitos. Os resultados sugerem que o polifenol do chá e a daidzeína podem inibir o metabolismo in vivo do lansoprazol por supressão da CYP3A.

abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of caffeine, tea polyphenol and daidzein on the pharmacokinetics of lansoprazole and its metabolites. Rats were intragastrically administered caffeine (30 mg·kg-1, once per day), tea polyphenol (400 mg·kg-1, once per day) or daidzein (13.5 mg·kg-1, once per day) for 14 days, followed by an intragastric administration of lansoprazole (8 mg·kg-1) on the 15th day. The plasma concentrations of lansoprazole and its two primary metabolites, 5-hydroxylansoprazole and lansoprazole sulfone, were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Tea polyphenol significantly elevated the Area Under the Curve (AUC) of lansoprazole from 680.29 ± 285.99 to 949.76 ± 155.18 μg/L.h and reduced that of lansoprazole sulfone from 268.82 ± 82.37 to 177.72 ± 29.73 μg/L.h. Daidzein increased the AUC of lansoprazole from 680.29 ± 285.99 to 1130.44 ± 97.6 μg/L.h and decreased that of lansoprazole sulfone from 268.82 ± 82.37 to 116.23 ± 40.14 μg/L.h. The pharmacokinetics of 5-hydroxylansoprazole remained intact in the presence of tea polyphenol or daidzein. Caffeine did not affect the pharmacokinetics of lansoprazole and its metabolites. The results imply that tea polyphenol and daidzein may inhibit the in vivo metabolism of lansoprazole by suppressing CYP3A.

O tegumento da semente de feijão-mungo (MBSC) é um produto para tratamento de saúde em países asiáticos. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o efeito de extrato etanólico de MBSC na biodisponibilidade da ciclosporina A (CVsA) em ratos. Administrou-se aos ratos CsA sozinha ou em associação com extrato etanólico de MBSC (500 mg/kg, p.o.), por via oral. Os níveis sanguíneos de CSA foram determinados por cromatografia a líquido com ionização por electrospray, associada à espectrometria de massas (LC-MS/MS). Utilizou-se a técnica de inversão do saco intestinal de rato para determinar a influência do MBSC na absorção de CsA. Os resultados revelaram que a ingestão combinada de CsA e MBSC diminuiu os valores de Cmax, AUC0-t, t1/2z e MRT0-tde CsA em 24%, 47,28%, 34,73% e 23,58%, respectivamente (P<0.05), e aumentou, significativamente, CL/F em 51,79% (P<0.05). Os resultados in vitro demostraram que, significativamente, menos CsA foi absorvida (P<0.05). Os resultados totais indicaram que após ser concomitantemente ingerida, a MBSC reduziu, ao menos parcialmente, a biodisponibilidade de CsA, na fase de absorção.

Mung bean seed coat (MBSC) is a healthcare product in Asian countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an MBSC ethanol extract on the bioavailability of cyclosporine A (CsA) in rats. Rats were orally dosed with CsA alone or in combination with MBSC ethanol extracts (500 mg/kg, p.o.). The blood levels of CsA were assayed by liquid chromatography with an electrospray ionization source and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The everted rat intestinal sac technique was used to determine the influence of MBSC on the absorption of CsA. The results reveal that combined CsA intake with MBSC decreased the Cmax, AUC0-t, t1/2z and MRT0-t values of CsA by 24.96%, 47.28%, 34.73% and 23.58%, respectively (P<0.05), and significantly raised the CL/F by 51.97% (P<0.01). The in vitro results demonstrated that significantly less CsA was absorbed (P<0.05). The overall results indicate that after being concomitantly ingested, MBSC reduced the bioavailability of CsA, at least partially, in the absorption phase.