Zuogui Pill Attenuates Neuroinflammation and Improves Cognitive Function in Cerebral Ischemia Reperfusion-Injured Rats

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (CI/R) injury is a devasting cerebrovascular disease, accompanied with ischemia stroke, cerebral infarction. Zuogui Pill (ZGP), as a Chinese traditional medicine, is proved to be effective in many diseases and cancers. Our study aimed to detect the roles of ZGP in CI/R injury. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Neural stem cells were isolated from rats and induced by oxygen and glucose deprivation and recovery. CCK-8 and flow cytometry were applied to assess the function of ZGP on cell viability and apoptosis. Rat CI/R injury models were established by the middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion. The function of ZGP on CI/R injury was identified via evaluating modified neurological severity score, infarct area, and cognitive impairment. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Compared to the control, the cell viability was obviously decreased in the oxygen and glucose deprivation and recovery (OGD/R) group, while the adverse influence on cells was reversed by cultured plus 10% ZGP serum. Consistently, ZGP attenuated the influence of OGD/R on cell apoptosis. More importantly, ZGP could alleviate CI/R injury of rats by reducing neurological damage and infarct area and promoting cognitive function. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> This study provided protective roles of ZGP on cell viability and apoptosis induced by OGD/R. In addition, ZGP played protective roles on neuroinflammation and cognitive function in rats.

The Mechanisms of Action of Zuogui Pill on Osteoporosis in Ovariectomized Rats

Traditional Chinese medicine recommends kidney-tonifying treatment for osteoporosis. Zuogui pill is one such treatment composed of eight well characterized Chinese medicinal herbs (Radix rehmanniae preparata, Fructus lycii, Rhizoma dioscoreae, F. corni, Semen cuscutae, Colla cornus cervi, C. carapacis et Plastri testudinis, and R. achyranthis bidentatae). The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of the Zuogui pill on osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats and to identify the signaling pathways that mediate its action on the bones. A total of 46 6-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: sham-operated control, bilaterally ovariectomized, ovariectomized rats receiving diethylstilbestrol (the positive control group), and ovariectomized rats receiving the Zuogui pill. By the end of 8-week treatments, the following parameters were assessed: (a) bone mineral density and trabecular histomorphology, (b) the expression levels of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand and osteoprotegerin in rat tibial osteoblasts and (c) bone marrow stromal cells. The Zuogui pill treatment elevated the trabecular bone area and trabecular thickness and reduced the trabecular spacing in rats with ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis. Compared to the ovariectomized group, the Zuogui pill treatment significantly increased the levels of bone mineral density and osteoprotegerin and suppressed the level of receptor activator of the nuclear factor kappa B ligand. These data led us to conclude that the Zuogui pill regulates bone metabolism and improves osteoporosis symptoms possibly through the osteoprotegerin/receptor activator of the nuclear factor kappa B ligand/receptor activator of the nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway.

Mechanisms of Zuogui Pill in Treating Osteoporosis: Perspective from Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells

The current treatment strategies for osteoporosis (OP) involve promoting osteogenic differentiation and inhibiting adipogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). According to a theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the kidneys contain an “essence” that regulate bone metabolism and generate marrow. Kidney disorders are therefore considered to be a major cause of OP as per the principles of TCM, which recommends kidney-tonifying treatments for OP. The Zuogui pill (ZGP) is a classic kidney-tonifying medication that effectively improves OP symptoms. Studies have shown that ZGP can promote the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, providing scientific evidence for the TCM theory linking kidneys with bone metabolism. In this review, we have provided an overview of recent studies that examined the underlying mechanisms of ZGP mediated regulation of BMSC osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation.