No abstract

Astragaloside IV (ASI) has been reported to promote neural stem cells proliferation in vitro and CXCR2 expression on neutrophils. The present study was aimed to investigate the influence of ASI on adult neurogenesis in hippocampal dentate gyrus (DGs) of mouse and to discuss the possible underlying mechanisms. Total number of proliferative cells (BrdU+), pre-mature neurons (DCX+), early proliferative cells (BrdU+/DCX+), proliferative radial gila-like cells (BrdU+/GFAP+) and newly generated neurons (BrdU+/NeuN+) after ASI or vehicle administration for two weeks were counted, respectively. The results showed that BrdU+ cells and DCX+ cells were significantly increased in DGs of mice administered with ASI. The numbers of BrdU+/DCX+, BrdU+/GFAP+ cells and BrdU+/NeuN+ cells were also elevated in the ASI group. Correspondingly, ASI increased the protein expression of hippocampal DCX, GFAP and NeuN. Further study disclosed that ASI remarkably up-regulated the mRNA and protein expressions of CXCL1 as well as that of CXCR2 in the hippocampus. The promotive effect of ASI on DCX, GFAP and NeuN protein expression was abolished by SB225002, the inhibitor of CXCR2. Our results indicated that ASI modulated the homeostasis of the CXCL1/CXCR2 signaling pathway, which might be responsible for the increased neurogenesis within the hippocampal DGs of mice.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the antifungal activity of Shikonin (SK) against Candida albicans (C. albicans) and to clarify the underlying mechanism. The results showed that the NO donors S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) and L-arginine could enhance the antifungal activity of SK, whereas the NO production inhibitor Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) attenuated antifungal action. Using the fluorescent dye 3-amino,4-aminomethyl-2′, 7-difluorescein, diacetate (DAF-FM DA), we found that the accumulation of NO in C. albicans was increased markedly by SK in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In addition, the results of real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) demonstrated that the transcription level of YHB1 in C. albicans was greatly increased upon incubation of SK. Consistently, the YHB1-null mutant (yhb1Δ/Δ) exhibited a higher susceptibility to SK than wild-type cells. In addition, although the transcription level of CTA4 in C. albicans was not significantly changed when exposed to SK, the CTA4-null mutant (cta4Δ/Δ) was more susceptible to SK. Collectively, SK is the agent found to execute its antifungal activity directly via endogenous NO accumulation, and NO-mediated damage is related to the suppression of YHB1 and the function of CTA4.

Twenty-three monoketone derivatives of curcumin were synthesized to investigate the synergy with fluconazole against fluconazole-resistant spp. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) of the antifungal synergist fluconazole were measured against fluconazole-resistant , and . Most of these compounds showed good synergistic activities against. Among them, compound exhibited significant synergistic activities against spp. SARs were also discussed. In particular, a cell growth test exhibited that a combination of 1 μg ml fluconazole and 64 μg ml or 128 μg ml compound showed the most potent fungicidal effect against. The synergistic effect may be associated with the changes of the intracellular ATP content and cell membrane permeability. Our results provided a basis for future evaluation and development of these compounds as leads for therapeutics for fluconazole-resistant candidiasis.