The protective effect of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural（5-HMF） against hydrogen peroxide（H2O2）-induced injured in human umbilical vein endothelial cells（HUVECs） was examined. Treatment of HUVECs with 5-HMF significantly increased their viability, decreased cell apoptosis induced by H2O2, accompanied by the decreased nitric oxide level. Western blotting analysis demonstrated that Bcl-2 expression was increased whereas Caspase-3 and NF-κB expression was decreased in 5-HMF groups. In conclusion, the results showed that 5-HMF could prevent endothelial dysfunction and related complications caused by oxidative stress.
Albiflorin （AF） is the main active component extracted from Paeoniae Radix Alba. This study investigated the efficacy of AF in attenuating inflammatory injury by regulating the TLR4 signaling pathway and its negative regulating factor Tollip in an experimental ulcerative colitis （UC） model. We administrated trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid for 21 d to induce UC in rats. The efficacy of AF in attenuating UC was assessed using various biochemical markers, such as tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）, interleukin- 1 （IL- 1）, interleukin- 10 （IL- 10）, 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT）, and tissue myeloperoxidase （MPO）, along with histopathological studies on toll-like receptor-4 （TLR-4） signaling pathway and its negative regulating factor Tollip. The results showed that AF can significantly downregulate the levels of TNF-α, IL-1, IL-10, and 5-HT. AF decreased the activation of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB p65 protein expression by increasing Tollip expression. AF can relieve symptoms of UC by suppressing the activation of the TLR4 signaling pathway and upregulating its negative regulating factor Tollip. Therefore, AF may be a potential natural product for treating UC.
