RESUMEN
Euphorbia pekinensis Rupr. is a traditional herb generally distributed in most areas of China, north Korea and Japan. The dried roots of Euphorbia pekinensis Rupr. (REP), famous as 'Jing Da Ji' () have been applied as traditional herb medicines to expel water and rheum; disperse swelling, dissipate binds and to treat edoema, pleural effusions, uraemia, nephritis, cirrhosis with ascites, as well as other diseases. Recent advances in botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, quality control, and toxicology of E. pekinensis roots are methodically outlined and current limitations as well as future perspectives also are discussed in order to guide scientifical investigation and rational application of REP. Up to now, 79 structurally diverse compounds have been obtained and characterised from REP, principally including diterpenoids, triterpenoids, tannins, phenols, and 29 volatile constituents. Among which, diterpenoids are considered as primary characteristic and active constituents. The extracts and individual compounds from REP have demonstrated significant pharmacological effects such as diuretic and purgative, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic effects. REP are widely used in traditional medicine due to diverse chemical constituents with obvious pharmacological effects. Modern phytochemical and pharmacological studies justified and explained relevant traditional uses of REP and offer worthy clues for new medical fields of industrial application. Nevertheless, a great number of thorough and detailed investigations should be carried out in active constituents, mechanisms of action, quality-marker, toxicology assessment, and detoxification mechanisms of REP.
RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To isolate the cardiogenic fraction, which can enhance cardiogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from Geum japonicum. The therapeutic effect of the isolated cardiogenic fraction was further tested in a rat myocardial infarction (MI) model.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Bioassay guided fractionation method was used for the isolation of the cardiogenic fraction, named as heart repair fraction (HRF). MI was induced by a permanent ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery. The rats exhibiting similarly decreased values of left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) and fraction shortening (LVFS) were used. The rats in test group (n = 10) were subject to HRF treatment (20 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1)) through gastric gavage daily for 4 weeks. Water alone (2 ml/d) was given through gastric gavage to rats in the control group (n = 10). The cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography at different time points. Masson trichrome staining was used for evaluation of the infarct size. Morphological and immunohistochemical studies were performed to investigate the HRF mediated myocardial regeneration.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>LVEF (66.2% ± 6.9%) and LVFS (46.8% ± 5.8%) were significantly increased two weeks post HRF treatment compared with the values (LVEF: 55.7% ± 6.0% and LVFS: 36.4% ± 5.2%) in control rats (all P < 0.01). The improved heart function was further restored 4 weeks post HRF treatment (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the treatment of acute MI with this HRF significantly reduced the infarct size (19.0% ± 6.1%) compared with that (31.1% ± 8.6%) in control rats (P < 0.01). Substantial regeneration of cardiomyocytes in infarcted region of the HRF treated heart was also observed that replaced a considerable part of the infarcted heart tissues resulting in remarkable reduction of the infarct size.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The properties of this HRF isolated from Geum japonicum in stimulating substantial regeneration of myocardium in infarct region with consequently improved cardiac function appear to be new and represent a new approach for the treatment of MI.</p>