Chun Li1, Yi Zhang2, Qiyan Wang3, Hui Meng2, Qian Zhang3, Yan Wu4, Wei Xiao5, Yong Wang6, Pengfei Tu7. 1. Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China. Electronic address: chunli@bucm.edu.cn. 2. Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China. 3. School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China. 4. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China. 5. National Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical New Technology for Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Kanion Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Lianyungang 222001, China. 6. School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China. Electronic address: doctor_wangyong@163.com. 7. Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China. Electronic address: pengfeitu@163.com.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Dragon's Blood (DB), the red resin of Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S. C., has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat acute myocardial infarction (AMI) for centuries. Evidence indicated that DB may exert cardio-protective effect by inhibiting inflammatory response during myocardial infarction. However, its pharmaceutical mechanism is still to be elucidated. AIM OF THE STUDY: Due to its potential anti-inflammatory effect, Dragon's Blood extract (DBE) was applied on AMI mice model in this study and its mechanism on inflammation via PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway was to be validated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: AMI mice model was established by ligation of left anterior descending (LAD) arteries. DBE was administered for 7 days before the surgery. Heart function was evaluated by 2D echocardiography. Levels of CK-MB and LDH1 in serum as well as TXB2, 6-keto-PGF1α and ET-1 in plasma were detected. Level of IL-6 in cardiac tissues was quantified by ELISA. Expressions of key proteins in PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: The result demonstrated that DBE could improve heart function in AMI mice model. Meanwhile, it could also regulate levels of CK-MB and LDH1, and restore balance between TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1α. Further study suggested that DBE could inhibit inflammation and regulate expressions of key proteins in IL-6-JAK2/STAT3 pathway in cardiac tissue. Western blot results validated that DBE could activate PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway, thereby regulating the expressions of its downstream targets, including VEGF, COX2 and PPARγ. CONCLUSION: DBE exerts cardio-protective efficacy by activating JAK2-STAT3 and PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathways in cardiac tissue. These findings provide insight into the pharmacological mechanism of DBE and validate the beneficial effects of DBE in the clinical application for AMI.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Dragon's Blood (DB), the red resin of Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S. C., has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat acute myocardial infarction (AMI) for centuries. Evidence indicated that DB may exert cardio-protective effect by inhibiting inflammatory response during myocardial infarction. However, its pharmaceutical mechanism is still to be elucidated. AIM OF THE STUDY: Due to its potential anti-inflammatory effect, Dragon's Blood extract (DBE) was applied on AMI mice model in this study and its mechanism on inflammation via PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway was to be validated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: AMI mice model was established by ligation of left anterior descending (LAD) arteries. DBE was administered for 7 days before the surgery. Heart function was evaluated by 2D echocardiography. Levels of CK-MB and LDH1 in serum as well as TXB2, 6-keto-PGF1α and ET-1 in plasma were detected. Level of IL-6 in cardiac tissues was quantified by ELISA. Expressions of key proteins in PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: The result demonstrated that DBE could improve heart function in AMI mice model. Meanwhile, it could also regulate levels of CK-MB and LDH1, and restore balance between TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1α. Further study suggested that DBE could inhibit inflammation and regulate expressions of key proteins in IL-6-JAK2/STAT3 pathway in cardiac tissue. Western blot results validated that DBE could activate PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway, thereby regulating the expressions of its downstream targets, including VEGF, COX2 and PPARγ. CONCLUSION: DBE exerts cardio-protective efficacy by activating JAK2-STAT3 and PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathways in cardiac tissue. These findings provide insight into the pharmacological mechanism of DBE and validate the beneficial effects of DBE in the clinical application for AMI.
Authors: Chun Li; Xia Du; Yang Liu; Qi-Qi Liu; Wen Bing Zhi; Chun Liu Wang; Jie Zhou; Ye Li; Hong Zhang Journal: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med Date: 2020-01-08 Impact factor: 2.629