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Epilepsy is a serious public health problem in the world. At present, over 30% of affected patients remain refractory to currently available treatment. Medicinal plants as pharmaceuticals and healthcare treatments have been frequently used in the management of epilepsy in China for many centuries. Gastrodia elata-Acous tatarinowii (GEAT), as a classic and most commonly used herb pair in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been employed to control seizures for thousands of years. However, the animal experiment data on its anticonvulsant effect is limited in the literature. Thus, this study aimed to reveal the therapeutic actions of GEAT decoction against seizures in mice. UHPLC-MS/MS was performed to analyze the chemical components of GEAT decoction. The mice were given GEAT decoction for 7 days, and MES, PTZ, and 3-MP injection was given 30 min after the last administration. Video monitoring was performed for comparisons. In addition, the PTZ-induced kindling models were conducted to investigate the seizure severity, anxiety and cognitive profile, inflammation, and oxidative stress parameters in mice. The results showed that GEAT decoction dose-dependently protected mice against MES, 3-MP, and PTZ-induced acute seizures. Furthermore, GEAT decoction significantly ameliorated seizure severity, decreased the accumulation of inflammatory mediators TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, mitigated oxidative stress, as well as alleviated anxious-like behavior and cognitive deficits in PTZ-kindled mice. These results suggest that GEAT decoction possesses certain anticonvulsant properties, which might be clinically useful as phytotherapy alone or as an adjunct therapy for the prevention and treatment of seizures and epilepsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nine new gastrodin derivatives, including seven p-hydroxybenzyl-modified gastrodin ethers (1–7), 6′-O-acetylgastrodin (8), and 4-[α-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 →6)-β-d-glucopyranosyloxy]benzyl alcohol (9), together with seven known derivatives, were isolated from an aqueous extract of Gastrodia elata ("tian ma") rhizomes. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods as well as single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compounds 1–4, 7, 10, and 11 were also isolated from a reaction mixture by refluxing gastrodin and p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol in H2O. As both gastrodin and p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol exist in the plant, the reaction results provide evidence for the production and increase/decrease of potential effective/toxic components when "tian ma" is decocted solely or together with ingredients in Chinese traditional medicine formulations, though the isolates were inactive in the preliminarily cell-based assays at concentrations of 10 μM. Moreover, using ultra-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRESIMS), 4, 7, 10, and 11, as well as component variations, were detectable in the freshly prepared extracts of different types of samples, including the freeze-dried fresh G. elata rhizomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effects of Gastrodia elata Blume (GEB) and 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (HBA) on brain damage, GEB or HBA was administered orally for 14 days before middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). After 24 h reperfusion, the proportion of circling was significantly reduced in the GEB (79%) or HBA (69%) group compared to the MCAO group (100%) in the corner test, and the removal time in the adhesive removal test was significantly decreased in the GEB (117 ± 21.0 s) and HBA (101 ± 20.9 s) groups compared to the MCAO group (161 ± 12.6 s). GEB treatment significantly reduced infarct volume compared to the MCAO group. In the GEB and HBA group, necrosis of nerve cells in hippocampus and cortex, expressions of TNF-α and TUNEL positive cells were significantly reduced compared to the MCAO group. These results suggest that GEB and HBA prevents brain damage by anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An overdose of acetaminophen (AAP) causes hepatic and renal toxicity. This study examined the protective effects of Gastrodia elata Blume (GEB) on hepatic and renal injury induced by AAP. Rats were orally administered distilled water or GEB for 14 days and injected with AAP 1 h after the oral last administration; control rats were administered water without AAP injection. All rats were sacrificed 24 h after AAP injection. The GEB pretreatment group showed decreased necrosis and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the liver and kidney. TUNEL-positive cells and oxidative stress marker, such as malondialdehyde, were decreased. However, antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione and superoxide dismutase, were increased. The expression of CYP2E1 and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase was decreased in the GEB pretreatment group. This study shows that GEB prevents AAP-induced liver and kidney injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of different initial processing methods on the amount of gastrodin and gastrodigenin isolated from Gastrodia elata Blume were investigated and the best initial processing technology was optimized. The contents of gastrodin and gastrodigenin were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It is established that G. elata boiling in water followed by ethanol extraction is the best initial processing technology, which can provide the basis and reference for the standardized processing of G. elata herbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we isolated and characterized Gastrodia elata Blume-derived vanillyl alcohol (GEVA) to elucidate biomedical efficacies in improving memory. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition assay revealed that GEVA has an inhibitory activity against AChE. In addition, GEVA inhibited amyloid β-peptide (Aβ25–35)-induced caspase (CASP)-3/7 activities in SH-SY5Y cells. Therefore, this work indicates that GEVA may be effective in preventing memory loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastrodia elata Blume (GE) has been used in traditional medicine as a sedative, an anti-convulsant and anti-epileptic drug. This study was performed to investigate antihyperglycemic effect of fermented- Gastrodia elata Blume (FGE) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetic mice. FGE was prepared by fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisia. GE and FGE were orally administered at 20 or 100 mg/kg/day for 3 weeks to STZ (70 mg/kg)-induced diabetic mice. Administartion of FGE significantly reduced blood glucose levels in an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) compared to GE. In addition, FGE significantly decreased serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and at the same time markedly increased serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and plasma insulin levels. The results of this experimental study indicate that FGE possesses antihyperglycemic effect in STZ-induced diabetic mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Insulin resistance is a common symptom of metabolic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia. Aim of the study: We investigated whether Gastrodia elata Blume water extract(GEB), containing phenolic compounds, had a beneficial action on insulin resistance in male Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high fat diet(HFD) and determined how this effect was produced. In addition, the bioactive candidates involved were identified. Methods: Rats fed HFD were daily administered with 0.3 g GEB(GEB-L), 1 g GEB(GEB-H), or 1 g cellulose(control) per kg body weight for 8 weeks, while rats in the fourth group were fed a low fat diet(LFD). In vitro study, 4 major components of GEB were tested for their impact on fat accumulation. Results: Rats in the control group exhibited a higher weight gain of epididymal and retroperitoneal fat pads than those fed LFD, while GEB prevented such an increment in a dose-dependent manner. GEB-H significantly decreased energy intake partly through potentiating STAT3 phosphorylation and attenuating AMPK phosphorylation in the hypothalamus. GEB-H also increased energy expenditure with the increase in fat oxidation. GEB-H increased whole body glucose disposal rates and decreased hepatic glucose output compared to the control. Among the major components of GEB, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and vanillin decreased triglyceride accumulation by modulating the expression of genes involved in fat metabolism in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. They increased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake to reduce insulin resistance. Conclusions: GEB-H, mainly as a result of the action of 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and vanillin, reduces insulin resistance by decreasing fat accumulation in adipocytes by activating fat oxidation and potentiating leptin signaling in diet-induced obese rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastrodia tuber and its component gastrodin have many pharmacological effects. The chemical fingerprints and gastrodin contents of eight Gastrodia populations were determined, and the genomic DNA polymorphism of the populations was investigated. Genetic distance coefficients among the populations were calculated using the DNA polymorphism data. A dendrogram of the genetic similarities between the populations was constructed using the genetic distance coefficients. The results indicated that the genomic DNA of Gastrodia tubers was highly polymorphic; the eight populations clustered into three major groups, and the gastrodin content varied greatly among these groups. There were obvious correlations among genetic makeup, gastrodin content, and place of origin. The ecological environments in Guizhou and Shanxi may be conducive to evolution and to gastrodin biosynthesis, and more suitable for cultivation of Gastrodia tubers. These findings may provide a scientific basis for overall genetic resource management and for the selection of locations for cultivating Gastrodia tubers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]