Previously, we demonstrated that
Rhizoma Paridis
saponins (RPS), the major active component of
Rhizoma Paridis
, may exhibit hepatoprotective effects. The present study aimed to identify the potential mechanism of RPS on hepatic injury and improvement in hepatic fibrosis (HF). A HF model was created in Sprague-Dawley rats by administration of carbon tetrachloride. RPS was administered for treatment following creation of the HF model. The protein and mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) was detected by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. RPS was demonstrated to improve hepatic inflammation and decrease HF severity according to hematoxylin and eosin and Masson trichrome staining. Following RPS treatment, the level of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and malondialdehyde, and expression levels of the mRNA and protein of VEGF, ERK1/2, PDGF and α-SMA in the model group was decreased. By contrast, the content of glutathione-PX and superoxide dismutase was increased. These data suggest that RPS may treat HF primarily through downregulation of the expression levels of the mRNA and phosphorylated VEGF, ERK1/2, PDGF and α-SMA proteins.
In this work, a mixed strain which could degrade hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) was constructed based on SS5 and SS6 isolated from two wastewater samples. SS5 is a globular gram-negative bacterium, and SS6 is a rod-shaped gram-negative bacterium. Moreover, SS5 and SS6 were identified as Acinetobacter sp. and Pseudomonas sp., respectively. The removal performance of the mixed strain was optimized using single-factor experiment and response surface methodology. The maximal HPAM removal efficiency 29.78% was observed at pH 7.5, 35 C, 170 rpm rotation speed, and inoculum loading 3% (v/v) for 7 days. The optimal concentrations of nutrients were 0.32 g/L glucose, 0.21 g/L NaNO 3 , 2.10 g/L KH 2 PO 4-K 2 HPO 4 , and the HPAM removal efficiency reached 45.82%. Finally, the optimal HPAM concentration and the HPAM removal efficiency were 300 mg/L and 45.82%, respectively. The results indicate that the mixed strain was a potential candidate for dealing with oil-or gasfield sewage with high hydrolyzed polyacrylamide concentration.
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