Natural products represent a rich reservoir of potential small chemical molecules exhibiting antiproliferation and anticancer properties. An example is berberine, a protoberberine alkaloid widely distributed in medical plants used in traditional Chinese prescriptions. Recent advances have shown that berberine exerts anticancer activities both in vitro and in vivo through different mechanisms. Berberine shows inhibitory effects on the proliferation and reproduction of certain tumorigenic microorganisms and viruses, such as Heliobacter pylori and hepatitis B virus. Transcriptional regulation of some oncogene and carcinogenesis-related gene expression and interaction with both DNA and RNA are also well documented. Besides, berberine is a broad spectrum enzyme inhibitor, which affects N-acetyltransferase, cyclooxygenase-2, and topoisomerase activities and gene/protein expression. These actions, together with the regulation of reactive oxygen species production, mitochondrial transmembrane potential, and nuclear factor-kappaB activation might underlie its antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects. More importantly, the suppression of tumor growth and metastasis, the beneficial application in combined medication, and the improvement of multidrug resistance both in vivo and in vitro clearly show its potential as an alternative medicine for tumor chemotherapy.
Chronic pharyngitis, a chronic inflammation of the pharyngeal mucous membrane and submucous lymphoid tissues, is often caused by unsatisfactory treatment of acute pharyngitis or repeated occurrences of upper respiratory tract infection and is related to a high-dust environment. Traditional herbal pharmacotherapy is well known for combining plant species to create complex phytochemical mixtures in the attempt to ameliorate pathophysiological processes. The aim of current study is to investigate the effect of immunoregulation and anti-inflammation with the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) "Li-Yan Zhi-Ke Granule" in rats. Determination of serum hemolysin and the carbon particle clearance test were performed. The results demonstrate that administration of the TCM "Li-Yan Zhi-Ke Granule" may improve the effect of phagocytosis by mononuclear macrophages and immune function in rats, and may also increase the immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory responses of rats with chronic pharyngitis. This traditional drug could relieve the symptoms of sore throat and cough in rats with chronic pharyngitis.
The applications of hydrophobic vaterite in various fields have been limited by its thermodynamic instability and complex preparation methods. A facile batch, green, rapid, and controllable method is proposed to prepare stable hydrophobic vaterite microparticles with the presence of stearic acid (SA) via in situ synthesis. A possible formation process of SA‐modified calcium carbonate (CaCO3) particles is proposed. Hydrophobic vaterite is prepared by mixing calcium chloride and sodium carbonate aqueous solutions in the presence of SA within 1 min by high shearing stirring. The hydrophobic vaterite particles show more uniform morphology and particle size than that without SA. Interestingly, the hydrophobic vaterite particles exhibit sumac‐fruit‐like morphology consisting of spherical nanoparticles. The hydrophobicity of CaCO3 particles is enhanced significantly by 1% SA addition. Vaterite is stabilized by SA and vaterite content in CaCO3 particles is significantly enhanced from 35% to 97% based on the analysis of X‐ray diffraction data. CaCO3 particles without SA translate into rhombohedron completely after 24 h of incubation, while the sumac‐fruit‐like morphology of hydrophobic vaterite particles shows no obvious change after 96 h of incubation. No obvious phase transformation of the hydrophobic vaterite particles is found after 72 h of incubation, indicating high stability of the hydrophobic vaterite.
MPEG was modified with 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole, then the activated MPEG reacted with primary amino groups of chitosan. Synthesize the graft copolymer of chitosan and polyethylene glycol in two steps. The structure of the copolymer was characterized by FT-IR and 1H-NMR. It agrees with the PEG content of classical stealth nanoparticles materials. The X-ray diffraction and DSC analysis proved that the crystallinity of the copolymer increased. It is a promising material for the stealth nanoparticles. It is a potential new carrier for the drug delivery systems of long-circulation and solid carcinoma.
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