Effects of processing method on the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of orally administered ginseng

Chen, Jianbo,Li, Meijia,Chen, Lixue,Wang, Yufang,Li, Shanshan,Zhang, Yuwei,Zhang, Lei,Song, Mingjie,Liu, Chang,Hua, Mei,Sun, Yinshi The Korean Society of Ginseng 2018 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.42 No.1

Background: The use of different methods for the processing of ginseng can result in alterations in its medicinal properties and efficacy. White ginseng (WG), frozen ginseng (FG), and red ginseng (RG) are produced using different methods. WG, FG, and RG possess different pharmacological properties. Methods: WG, FG, and RG extracts and pure ginsenosides were administered to rats to study the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution characteristics of the following ginsenosides-DRg1, Re, Rb1, and Rd. The concentrations of the ginsenosides in the plasma and tissues were determined using UPLC-MS/MS. Results: The rate and extent of absorption of Rg1, Re, Rb1, and Rd appeared to be affected by the different methods used in processing the ginseng samples. The areas under the plasma drug concentration-time curves (AUCs) of Rg1, Re, Rb1, and Rd were significantly higher than those of the pure ginsenosides. In addition, the AUCs of Rg1, Re, Rb1, and Rd were different for WG, FG, and RG. The amounts of Rg1, Re, Rd, and Rb1 were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the tissues than those of the pure ginsenosides. The amounts of Re, Rb1, and Rd from the RG extract were significantly higher than those from the WG and FG extracts in the heart, lungs, and kidneys of the rats. Conclusion: Our results show that the use of different methods to process ginseng might affect the pharmacokinetics and oral bioavailability of ginseng as well as the tissue concentrations of Rg1, Re, Rd, and Rb1.

Nitric Oxide Exerts Different Functions on Porcine Oocytes Cultured in Different Models, Which is Affected by Beta-mercaptoethanol

Tao, Yong,Xia, Guoliang,Bo, Shumin,Zhou, Bo,Zhang, Meijia,Wang, Fenghao Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2004 Animal Bioscience Vol.17 No.3

The present study was conducted to investigate the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in cumulus expansion, oocyte mortality and meiotic maturation of porcine cumulus enclosed oocytes (CEOs) cultured in two different models when gonadotropins, including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) were presented or not. And the interaction between NO and $\beta$-mercaptoethanol ($\beta$-ME), a free radical scavenger was also investigated. Two models refer to spontaneous maturation model and hypoxanthine (HX) medium model. All the 3,433 eligible CEOs were incubated at $39^{\circ}C$ and the cumulus expansion, oocyte morphology and nuclear phase were evaluated 44 h after incubation. (1) In spontaneous maturation model, NO stimulates the cumulus expansion and $\beta$-ME delayed it. NO doesn't affect the oocyte meiotic resumption but inhibits the oocytes to develop to metaphase II. (2) In HX medium model, NO or $\beta$-ME doesn't affect the expansion in the absence of gonadotropins, but in the presence of gonadotropins, NO or $\beta$-ME inhibits the expansion. In the presence of gonadotropins, NO inhibits the oocyte meiotic resumption and it especially inhibits the oocyte to develop to metaphase II, and $\beta$-ME reverses such inhibitory effects. The cooperation of gonadotropins and $\beta$-ME stimulates the meiotic resumption and especially, promotes the CEOs to develop to metaphase II in both models. Moreover, HX might contribute to the fragility of oocyte zona pellucida and gonadotropins, nitric oxide and $\beta$-ME could alleviate it separately, and cooperatively. It is concluded that NO exerts different functions in two models and $\beta$-ME affected the functions of NO in different models.

Characterization of the in vitro Activities of the P1 and Helper Component Proteases of Soybean mosaic virus Strain G2 and Tobacco vein mottling virus

Lim, Hyoun-Sub,Jang, Chan-Yong,Nam, Ji-Ryun,Li, Meijia,Hong, Jin-Sung,Bae, Han-Hong,Ju, Ho-Jong,Kim, Hong-Gi,Ford, Richard E.,Domier, Leslie L. The Korean Society of Plant Pathology 2012 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.28 No.2

Potyviruses express their RNA genomes through the production of polyproteins that are processed in host cells by three virus-encoded proteases. Soybean plants produce large amounts of protease inhibitors during seed development and in response to wounding that could affect the activities of these proteases. The in vitro activities of two of the proteases of Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) and Tobacco vein mottling virus (TVMV) were compared in the rabbit reticulocyte lysate in vitro translation system using synthetic RNA transcripts. Transcripts produced from SMV and TVMV cDNAs that included the P1 and helper component-protease (HC-Pro) coding regions directed synthesis of protein products that were only partially processed. Unprocessed poly-proteins were not detected from transcripts that included all of the P1, HC-Pro, P3 and portions of the cylindrical inclusion protein coding regions of either virus. Addition of soybean trypsin inhibitor to in vitro translation reactions increased the accumulation of the unprocessed polyprotein from TVMV transcripts, but did not alter the patterns of proteins produced from SMV. These experiments suggest that SMV-and TVMV-encoded proteases are differentially sensitive to protease inhibitors.

Characterization of the in vitro Activities of the P1 and Helper Component Proteases of Soybean mosaic virus Strain G2 and Tobacco vein mottling virus

임현섭,Leslie L. Domier,Chan-Yong Jang,Jiryun Nam,Meijia Li,홍진성,배한홍,Ho-Jong Ju,김홍기,Richard E. Ford 한국식물병리학회 2012 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.28 No.2

Potyviruses express their RNA genomes through the production of polyproteins that are processed in host cells by three virus-encoded proteases. Soybean plants produce large amounts of protease inhibitors during seed development and in response to wounding that could affect the activities of these proteases. The in vitro activities of two of the proteases of Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) and Tobacco vein mottling virus (TVMV) were compared in the rabbit reticulocyte lysate in vitro translation system using synthetic RNA transcripts. Transcripts produced from SMV and TVMV cDNAs that included the P1 and helper component-protease (HCPro)coding regions directed synthesis of protein products that were only partially processed. Unprocessed polyproteins were not detected from transcripts that included all of the P1, HC-Pro, P3 and portions of the cylindrical inclusion protein coding regions of either virus. Addition of soybean trypsin inhibitor to in vitro translation reactions increased the accumulation of the unprocessed polyprotein from TVMV transcripts, but did not alter the patterns of proteins produced from SMV. These experiments suggest that SMV- and TVMVencoded proteases are differentially sensitive to protease inhibitors.

An Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotide to the LH Receptor Attenuates FSH-induced Oocyte Maturation in Mice

Yang, Jiange,Fu, Maoyong,Wang, Songbo,Chen, Xiufen,Ning, Gang,Xu, Baoshan,Ma, Yuzhen,Zhang, Meijia,Xia, Guoliang Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2008 Animal Bioscience Vol.21 No.7

It has been recently shown that expression of the LH receptor (LHR) in cumulus cells is related with FSH-induced meiotic resumption of mouse cumulus enclosed oocytes (CEOs). However, to date, it is still unclear whether LHR expression in cumulus cells plays a key role during FSH-induced oocyte maturation. The purpose of this study was to characterize the functional role of LHRs in cumulus cells. CEOs were isolated from eCG-primed preovulatory follicles and cultured in hypoxanthine (HX) arrested medium. LHR protein expression in cumulus cells was time-dependent increasing during the process of FSH-induced oocyte maturation. While the sense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) had no effect, antisense ODN inhibited FSH-induced LHR expression and meiotic resumption. Moreover, this antisense ODN against LHR could inhibit FSH-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation. This study suggested that LHR expression in cumulus cells is involved in FSH-induced oocyte meiotic resumption, which process is possibly regulated by MAPK cascade.

Stage-specific Expression of Lanosterol 14${\alpha}$-Demethylase in Mouse Oocytes in Relation to Fertilization and Embryo Development Competence

Song, Xiaoming,Ouyang, Hong,Tai, Ping,Chen, Xiufen,Xu, Baoshan,Yan, Jun,Xia, Guoliang,Zhang, Meijia Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2009 Animal Bioscience Vol.22 No.3

Follicular fluid meiosis-activating sterol (FF-MAS) has been suggested as a positive factor which could improve the oocyte quality and subsequent embryo development after in vitro fertilization. However, FF-MAS is a highly lipophilic substance and is hard to detect in studying the relationship between MAS and quality of oocyte maturation. The present study focused on the expression of lanosterol 14${\alpha}$-demethylase (LDM), a key enzyme that converts lanosterol to FF-MAS, on mouse oocyte maturation and its potency on development. LDM expression was strong in gonadotropin-primed germinal vesicle stage oocytes, weak after germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), and then strong in MII stage oocytes. The LDM-specific inhibitor azalanstat significantly inhibited oocyte fertilization (from 79.4% to 68.3%, p<0.05). Also, azalanstat (5 to 50 ${\mu}M$) decreased the percentage of blastocyst development dosedependently (from 78.7% to 23.4%, p<0.05). The specific inhibition of sterol ${\Delta}14$-reductase and ${\Delta}7$-reductase by AY9944 accumulates FF-MAS and could increase blastocyst development rates. Additionally, in the AY9944 group, the rate of inner cell mass (ICM)/ total cells was similar to that of in vivo development, but the rate was significantly decreased in azalanstat treatment. In conclusion, LDM, the key enzyme of FF-MAS production, may play an important role in fertilization and early development of the mouse embryo, especially in vitro.