甘草的药理作用概述

通过对国内外期刊中有关甘草药理作用的文献进行查阅,综述了甘草具有肾上腺皮质激素样作用、抗消化性溃疡、解痉、抗炎及免疫抑制作用和解毒、抗病毒、镇咳祛痰、抗肿瘤、抑菌、防治肝损害、抗衰老、抗心律失常、抑制气道平滑肌细胞增生、降血脂与抗动脉粥样硬化等药理作用,其临床应用有广阔的前号。     

甘草抗动脉粥样硬化机制的网络药理学研究

利用网络药理学方法探讨甘草在抗动脉粥样硬化中的分子机制。本研究利用中医药系统药理学数据库和分析平台(traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform,TCMSP)分析甘草中的有效活性成分,并获得有效成分的作用靶点。通过Cytoscape软件构建可视化靶点互相作用网络,对网络中的关键靶点进行基因本体(GO)富集分析和KEGG通路富集分析。结果显示甘草中40种有效活性成分的预测靶点共97个,47个靶点与动脉粥样硬化(AS)相关,其中18个是血管保护药物和脂质修饰药物的作用靶点,表明甘草可作为调控AS发展的药物。基于97个预测靶点的GO富集分析,发现甘草可参与多种生物学过程,尤其是应对外源性刺激,以及参与细胞凋亡等过程。通过构建甘草靶点与AS疾病靶点相互作用网络(PPI),确定了AKT1、MAPK3、MAPK1、JUN和CASP3等关键靶点,并对关键靶点进行KEGG富集分析,结果表明甘草主要影响调控细胞增殖、生存以及凋亡的细胞信号转导相关通路,并激活先天免疫相关信号通路,调节炎性细胞因子释放,从而发挥抗动脉粥样硬化作用。甘草具有多成分、多靶点、多途径的作用特点,主要通过PI3K-AKT信号途径、MAPK信号途径、NOD样受体信号通路调控细胞增殖和凋亡,同时发挥免疫调控作用,从而影响动脉粥样硬化的发展,由此可见,甘草可作为动脉粥样硬化疾病治疗的候选中草药。     

三种中药的醇提液对嗜水气单胞菌的抑制作用

嗜水气单胞菌（Aeromonas hydrophila）是引起水产动物细菌性疾病常见的病原菌,不仅严重威胁着海产品的安全,还带来了巨大的经济损失. 而中药(traditional Chinese medicines,TCM)具有天然性、多功能性、毒副作用小和抗药性低等特点. 本文研究了大黄醇提液(RRR)、甘草醇提液(GRR)和金银花醇提液(LJF)对嗜水气单胞菌的作用. 实验结果表明,它们对嗜水气单胞菌的最低抑菌浓度(MIC)分别是1.0 mg/mL,7.8 mg/mL 和3.9 mg/mL;最小杀菌浓度分别是4.0 mg/mL,31.2 mg/mL 和 7.8 mg/mL. 经SDS-PAGE,2-DE和蛋白质质谱(MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS)分析,发现中药醇提液抑制嗜水气单胞菌体内4种蛋白质的表达,分别是30S 核糖体蛋白(S1),F0F1 ATP合酶β 亚基(ATPase-β),异柠檬酸裂解酶(isocitrate lyase)和烯醇酶(NSE). 另外,实时荧光定量PCR结果表明,中药醇提液影响4种蛋白质的mRNA表达.实验揭示,中药醇提液通过调节S1,ATPase-β,isocitrate lyase和NSE这4种代谢酶表达而抑制嗜水气单胞菌的生长,为中药作为饲料添加剂在水产养殖中应用提供理论依据.     

Glycyrrhizae Radix attenuates peroxynitrite-induced renal oxidative damage through inhibition of protein nitration

We investigated the protective effects of Glycyrrhizae Radix extract against peroxynitrite (ONOO^-)-induced oxidative stress under in vivo as well as in vitro conditions. The extract showed strong ONOO^- and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging effects under in vitro system, in particular higher activity against ONOO^-. Furthermore, elevations of plasma 3-nitrotyrosine levels, indicative of in vivo ONOO^- generation and NO production, were shown using a rat in vivo ONOO^--generation model of lipopolysaccharide injection plus ischemia-reperfusion. The administration of Glycyrrhizae Radix extract at doses of 30 and 60 mg/kg body weight/day for 30 days significantly reduced the concentrations of 3-nitrotyrosine and NO and decreased inducible NO synthase activity. In addition, the nitrated tyrosine protein level and myeloperoxidase activity in the kidney were significantly lower in rats given Glycyrrhizae Radix extract than in control rats. However, the administration of Glycyrrhizae Radix extract did not result in either significant elevation of glutathione levels or reduction of lipid peroxidation in renal mitochondria. Moreover, the in vivo ONOO^- generation system resulted in renal functional impairment, reflected by increased plasma levels of urea nitrogen and creatinine, whereas the administration of Glycyrrhizae Radix extract reduced these levels significantly, implying that the renal dysfunction induced by ONOO^- was ameliorated. The present study suggests that Glycyrrhizae Radix extract could protect the kidneys against ONOO^- through scavenging ONOO^- and/or its precursor NO, inhibiting protein nitration and improving renal dysfunction caused by ONOO^-.