Regulation of Cytochrome P450 2a5 by Artemisia capillaris and 6,7-Dimethylesculetin in Mouse Hepatocytes

Jaundice is a potentially fatal condition resulting from elevated serum bilirubin levels. For centuries, herbal remedies containing Artemisia capillaris Thunb. including the compound 6,7-dimethylesculetin (DE) have been used in Asia to prevent and treat jaundice in neonates. DE activates an important regulator of bilirubin metabolism, the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), and increases bilirubin clearance. In addition, murine cytochrome P450 2a5 (Cyp2a5) is known to be involved in the oxidative metabolism of bilirubin. Moreover, treatment of mice with phenobarbital, a known inducer of both CAR and Cyp2a5, increases expression of Cyp2a5 suggesting a potential relationship between CAR and Cyp2a5 expression. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of Artemisia capillaris and DE on the expression and regulatory control of Cyp2a5 and the potential involvement of CAR. Treatment of mouse hepatocytes in primary culture with DE (50 μM) significant increased Cyp2a5 mRNA and protein levels. In mice, Artemisia capillaris and DE treatment also increased levels of hepatic Cyp2a5 protein. Luciferase reporter assays showed that CAR increases Cyp2a5 gene transcription through a CAR response element in the Cyp2a5 gene promoter. Moreover, DE caused nuclear translocation of CAR in primary mouse hepatocytes and increased Cyp2a5 transcription in the presence of CAR. These results identify a potential CAR-mediated mechanism by which DE regulates Cyp2a5 gene expression and suggests that DE may enhance bilirubin clearance by increasing Cyp2a5 levels. Understanding this process could provide an opportunity for the development of novel therapies for neonatal and other forms of jaundice.

Phytoremediation Potential of Four Native Plants in Soils Contaminated with Lead in a Mining Area

Metal pollution in soils is an issue of global concern, and lead (Pb) pollution is considered to be the most serious type. The arid and semi-arid areas of Northwest China are rich in Pb ore resources. In this study, four native crops [wormwood (Artemisia capillaris), dandelion (Taraxacum mongolicum), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), and plantain (Plantago asiatica L.)] that grow naturally around tailings slag in a mining area in Northwest China were selected to screen their ecological restoration impacts on Pb-contaminated soil. In pot experiments, four different metal lead pollution gradients (0, 2, 3, and 5‰ w/w) were set, and crop growth indexes such as plant height, root length, and biomass, together with the changes of soil Pb content in different tissues and organs before and after planting were analyzed. The results showed the difference in the amount of accumulated Pb in relation to the level of Pb content in the soil. It was found that wormwood and plantain have great potential as remediation plants for soil metal lead pollution in the arid and semi-arid lead bearing mining areas of Northwest China.

The Pharmacological Effects and Pharmacokinetics of Active Compounds of Artemisia capillaris

Artemisia capillaris Thunb. (A. capillaris, Yin-Chen in Chinese) is a traditional medicinal herb with a wide spectrum of pharmacological properties ranging from effects against liver dysfunction to treatments of severe cirrhosis and cancer. We used relevant keywords to search electronic databases, including PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar, for scientific contributions related to this medicinal herb and the pharmacokinetics of its components. The pharmaceutical effects of A. capillaris contribute to the treatment not only of viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular hepatoma, but also metabolic syndrome, psoriasis, and enterovirus in the clinic. The bioactive compounds, including scoparone, capillarisin, scopoletin, and chlorogenic acid, exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antisteatotic, antiviral, and antitumor properties, reflecting the pharmacological effects of A. capillaris. The pharmacokinetics of the main bioactive compounds in A. capillaris can achieve a maximum concentration within 1 hour, but only chlorogenic acid has a relatively long half-life. Regarding the use of the A. capillaris herb by health professionals to treat various diseases, the dosing schedule of this herb should be carefully considered to maximize therapeutic outcomes while lessening possible side effects.

Four Case Reports on Treatment of elevated aminotransferase levels with Herbal medicine containing Artemisia capillaris as Principal Component

Background: Many herbal medications have been used to treat various liver diseases. But the concerns of herbal medicine induced liver injury also existed. In this respect, we would like to report several cases with imporved elevated liver aminotransferase after treating herbal medicine including Artemisia capillaris. Case Reports: We report four patients with elevated aminotransferase levels (ATLs), which indicate hepatocellular damages. After receiving herbal medicines therapy containing Artemisia capillaris as principal component (HMA), the patients` ATLs were improved. In the first case, the patient`s ATLs decreased into normal range after administration of HMA, although they have not been improved with hepatotonics for a long period. In the second case, the patient`s ATLs have been elevated after taking anticoagulants. The ATLs were improved with HMA without stopping anticoagulants. In the other two cases, the patients` ATLs were also improved after taking HMA. In addition, there were no changes of previous drugs for treating the corresponding underlying diseases and no adverse events during HMA applications. Result and Conclusion: The four patients received the herbal medicine containing Artemisia capillaris as principal component and showed improvement of ATLs. These cases suggest that HMA can be considered as alternative or complementary remedies to improve various liver diseases.

Dynamics of Community Biomass and Soil Nutrients in the Process of Vegetation Succession of Abandoned Farmland in the Loess Plateau

The interaction between vegetation and soil is important for vegetation restoration and reconstruction during the succession of abandoned farmland. We chose four kinds of abandoned farmlands with the time of 1, 6, 12, and 22 years to experiment in the Loess Plateau. The community composition, community biomass, and soil nutrients of the four kinds of abandoned farmlands were studied by the method of temporal–spatial alternation, and the interaction effects among vegetation, biomass, soil nutrients, and abandonment time were analyzed. The results showed there were 33 species belonging to 13 families during the succession and 15 species of Gramineae and Compositae, accounting for 47% of the total community species. The succession trend of abandoned farmland was as follows: The vegetation was the weed community of Heteropappus altaicus + Artemisia capillaris in the beginning of the abandonment stage and became the weed community of Tragus racemosus + Enneapogon borealis after 6 years of abandonment. Then, Leymus secalinus became the dominant population in the community after 12 years of abandonment. When the succession lasted for 22 years, the vegetation became a common advantageous community of Stipa breviflora and Cleistogenes songorica. Soil moisture (SM) was positively correlated with soil nutrients and negatively correlated with abandonment time and community biomass. Soil organic matter (SOM), soil total nitrogen (STN), and alkali hydrolyzable nitrogen (AHN) were the highest in 0–10 cm soil layer, showing obvious surface accumulation. The three decreased with the soil layer, and there was a positive correlation among them. The abandonment time had a positive effect on the above-ground biomass (AGB) and below-ground biomass (BGB) and a negative effect on the SOM, STN, and AHN. The root/shoot ratio (R/S) was positively correlated with SOM and negatively correlated with abandonment time. With the progress of succession, the hierarchical differentiation of the community was gradually obvious, and the community structure begun to complicate. The community better adapted to the arid environment and toward the local top community succession.