Antioxidant activity and phenol and flavonoid contents of eight medicinal plants from Western Nepal

OBJECTIVE： The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity, phenolic and flavonoids contents of selected medicinal plants form the Western region of Nepal.METHODS： The antioxidant activity of selected medicinal plants were determined by using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity; total ferric ion reducing ability through spectroscopic analysis. The content of total phenols was determined using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, whereas Aluminum chloride colorimetric method was used for flavonoid determination.RESULTS： Extracts of Syzygium Operculatus（87%）,Astilbe Rivularis（83%） and Mallotus Philippnensis（88%） showed significant free radical scavenging activity with effective concentration（EC50） close to that of ascorbic acid. Syzygium Operculatus（96%）,Astilbe Rivularis（97%） and Mallotus Philippnensis（97%） had potent reducing power in concentration dependent fashion. Those plant extract with higher free radical scavenging and ferric reducing effect also showed the greater content of both phenols and flavonoids, suggesting the correlation between polyphenolic content and antioxidant activity. Those plant extracts which showed better antioxidant activity assays, also demonstrated higher total phenol and flavonoid contents. These three plants showed the presence of higher amount of phenols and flavonoids.CONCLUSION： This study may provide the scientific basis for the traditional use of those plants and may provide valuable idea for further research.     

Effects of Chinese herbs combined with in vitro fertilization and em- bryo transplantation on infertility： a clinical randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE： To assess the effects of using Chinese herbs in assisted reproductive technology. METHODS： Four hundred and thirty-three subjects aged less than 42 years with infertility due to Fallo- pian tube or male-related factors who were willing to undertake in vitro fertilization and embryo trans- plantation were randomly allocated to a Chinese herb intervention group （n=216） or a conventional treatment control group （n=217）. All subjects re- ceived one of four routine ultra-ovulation-promot- ing therapies at the Reproductive Center in the Third Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University ac- cording to their physician＇s assessments. The sub- jects in the intervention group received various Chi- nese herbs depending on their conventional treat- ment. Endometrial thickness, number of acquired eggs, and rates of normal fertility, high-quality em- bryos, biochemical and clinical pregnancy of sub- jects were assessed in both groups.RESULTS： The high-quality embryo rate of 51.9%, biochemical pregnancy rate of 51.0%, clinical preg- nancy rate of 44.2% and endometrial thickness of （10.84± 1.75） mm in the intervention group were all significantly higher than those in the control group [48.7%, 38.9%, 34.8%, and （10.52±1.50） mm, respec- tively; P〈O.05]. The normal fertility rate of 58.5% in the Chinese herb group was also significantly supe- rior to the 54.7% achieved in the control group （P〈 0.01）. There were no statistically significant differ- ences （P〉0.05） in the average number of acquired eggs within a single cycle, incidence of excessive stimulation of ovary, rates of embryo transplanta- tion or early abortion and birth of living babies be- tween the two groups. CONCLUSION： Our findings indicate that Chinese herbs increase endometrial thickness, improve the quality of fertility and embryo, and promote embry- onic nidation, thus enhancing the success rate of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injec- tion-embryo transplantation cycle. Using Chinese herbs improves th     

Comparsion analysis of data mining models applied to clinical re- search in Traditional Chinese Medicine

OBJECTIVE： To help researchers selecting appropriate data mining models to provide better evidence for the clinical practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine（TCM） diagnosis and therapy.METHODS： Clinical issues based on data mining models were comprehensively summarized from four significant elements of the clinical studies：symptoms, symptom patterns, herbs, and efficacy.Existing problems were further generalized to determine the relevant factors of the performance of data mining models, e.g. data type, samples, parameters, variable labels. Combining these relevant factors, the TCM clinical data features were compared with regards to statistical characters and informatics properties. Data models were compared simultaneously from the view of applied conditions and suitable scopes.RESULTS： The main application problems were the inconsistent data type and the small samples for the used data mining models, which caused the inappropriate results, even the mistake results. These features, i.e. advantages, disadvantages, satisfied data types, tasks of data mining, and the TCM issues, were summarized and compared.CONCLUSION： By aiming at the special features of different data mining models, the clinical doctors could select the suitable data mining models to resolve the TCM problem.     

Protective effect of Tanreqing injection on axon myelin damage in the brain of mouse model for experimental autoimmune encephalo- myelitis

OBJECTIVE： To evaluate the effect of Tanreqing injection on axon myelin in the mouse brain of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis（EAE）.METHODS： An EAE model was established by myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein（MOG）35-55 immunization in C57BL/6 mice. Mice were randomly divided into the following groups： normal, model,prednisone acetate（PA）（6 mg/kg）, Tanreqing high dose（5.14 m L/kg）, Tanreqing low dose（2.57 m L/kg）. On the day of immunization, both Tanreqing groups were treated by intraperitoneal injection,with the PA group treated by intragastrical perfusion after T cell response, and the other groups treated with saline. Changes in body weight, neurological deficit score, incidence rate, mortality rate,and course of disease were observed for all mice.Brain tissue was isolated and stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and pathological investigations performed to evaluate axon myelin damage by transmission electron microscopy（TEM）. Myelin basic protein and microtubule associated protein-2 were analyzed by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS： Tanreqing injection significantly prolonged EAE latency and decreased the neurological deficit score, alleviated infiltration of inflammatory cells in the focus area, up-regulated hippocampal MBP expression at the acute stage and the remission stage, and increased microtubule associated protein-2 expression in the EAE brain to varying degrees in the acute stage. TEM analysis indicated that Tanreqing injection alleviates myelin damage in the EAE mouse and maintains the integrity of circular layer structures and alleviates axon mitochondrial swelling.CONCLUSION： Tanreqing injection alleviates EAE symptoms.     

Effect of Zhuyeshigao granule on tumor necrosis factor-a and inter- leukins serum protein levels in rats with radiation esophagitis

OBJECTIVE： To investigate the effects of Zhuyesh- igao granule （ZSG） on tumor necrosis factor-a （TNF-a）, interleukin-1 （IL-1）, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8 in rats with radiation esophagitis. METHODS： Fifty Wistar rats were randomly divid- ed into five groups （10 rats in each group）： con- trol （without radiation）, saline-treated, and low, medium, and high-dose ISG-treated groups. Rats were given normal saline （10 mL/kg） or 1.15, 2.3, or 4.6 g/kg ZSG by intragastric administration once a day for 7 days. A rat model of radiation esophagi- tis was established by local irradiation of Co60 （490.25 cGy/min, totaling 30 Gy）. The administra- tion of ZSG was continued for another 7 days and on the 7th day post-irradiation, inferior vena cavablood was collected. The serum was separated, and TNF-a, IL-1, IL-2, 11_-6, and IL-8 protein levels were determined. RESULTS： Inflammatory response factors were found in the serum of each group. However, levels in ZSG-treated groups were significantly lower than in the saline-treated group （P〈0.05）. CONCLUSION： ZSG may prevent the development of radiation esophagitis, perhaps by inhibiting the generation and release of the inflammatory re- sponse factors TNF-a, IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8.     

Establishment of safety evidence for Xingxue Shuxuening injection

OBJECTIVE： To systematically investigate the safety of Xingxue Shuxuening injection（SXN） in preand post-marketing, and to ensure clinical drug safety.METHODS： Strict quality control in raw herb selection and production processes was adopted and pharmacology research on SXN was performed by the drug manufacturing company, Heilongjiang ZBD Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. We systematically reviewed the safety literature of Xingxue SXN. Adverse drug reaction（ADR） data of the drug, extracted from Spontaneous Reporting System（SRS）, and clinical characters based on 20 hospital information systems（HIS） in China, were analyzed. Large-scale prospective safety monitoring and Risk Minimization Action Plans（Risk MAPs） of XingxueSXN were carried out.RESULTS： The quality of SXN was stable and controllable when it was produced. Drug toxicology studies found no effect on rabbits with hemolytic or condensed, local stimulation and muscle stimulation, and no allergic reactions in guinea pigs. The ADRs of Xingxue SXN were dizziness, phlebitis,and vomiting based on SRS data. The injection did not conform to instructions in clinical practice when we analyzed HIS database, and patient＇s abnormal blood urea nitrogen levels may be related to the drug, when analyzed using the propensity score method. A nested case-control study was designed and performed to analyze the influencing factors of suspected allergic reactions to SXN. The study showed that patients with an allergy history were more prone to allergic reactions（P〈0.001）,and some medicine combinations could cause allergic reactions.CONCLUSION： These studies have established a body of evidence on Xingxue SXN safety, and provide a good model for Chinese medicine injection for clinical safety. The Xingxue SXN production process and toxicology research indicate the safety of the injection. However, the use of the injection is not consistent with instructed clinical practice.Xingxue SXN causes ADRs perhaps from inappropriate usage or its     

Aqueous extract of Taxus Chinensis （Pilger） Rehd inhibits lung carci- noma A549 cells through the epidermal growth factor receptor/mi- togen-activated protein kinase pathway in vitro and in vivo

OBJECTIVE： To explore the anticancer mechanism of aqueous extract of Taxus Chinensis （Pilger） Rehd （AETC）. METHODS： The serum pharmacological method was used to avoid interference from administration of the crude medicinal herbs. Eight purebred NewZealand rabbits were used for preparation of serum containing various concentrations of AETC. For- ty-eight Balb/c-nu mice were used for in vivo experi- ments. The effects of serum containing AETC on the proliferation of A549 cells and expression levels of the epidermal growth factor receptor/mito- gen-activated protein kinase （EGFR/MAPK） path- way-related proteins in vitro were investigated. Ad- ditionally, the effects on the growth of A549 xeno- grafts in nude mice, and expression levels of the EG- FR/MAPK pathway-related proteins in the xeno- grafts, were investigated. RESULTS： 3-（4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-2,5-diphenyl- tetrazolium bromide （MTT） assay revealed that the serum containing AETC significantly decreased the viability of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Western blot showed that the serum containing various concentrations of AETC strongly reduced the levels of phospho-Jun N-terminal kinase （p-JNK） and phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinasel/2 （ERK1/2） while it increased the level of p-p38. However, no significant effects on the ex- pression levels of JNK, ERK1/2, and p38 MAPK were found. In addition, an anticancer effect from AETC was observed in vivo in the Balb/c-nu mice bearing A549 xenografts.CONCLUSION： AETC has significant effects on the growth of A549 xenografts and on the activity of the EGFR/MAPK pathway. Therefore, AETC may be beneficial in lung carcinoma treatment.     

Xinfeng capsule improves pulmonary function in ankylosing spon- dylitis patients via NF-κB-iNOS-NO signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE： To study changes in the nuclear factor-κB p65（NF-κB p65）-inducible nitric oxide synthase（i NOS）-nitric oxide（NO） signaling pathway and the effects of Xinfeng capsules（XFC） in patients with ankylosing spondylitis（AS）METHODS： One hundred twenty patients with AS were randomly divided into an XFC group and a Salazopyrin group. Sixty health subjects were included as a normal control group. In the two treatment groups, pulmonary functional parameters,forced vital capacity（FVC）, forced expiratory volume in 1 second（FEV1）, maximal voluntary ventilation（MVV）, peak expiratory flow（PEF）, forced expiratory flow at 25% of forced vital capacity（FEF25）,forced expiratory flow at 50% of forced vital capacity（FEF50）, and forced expiratory flow at 75% of forced vital capacity（FEF75） were determined. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assays were used for detection of the serum oxidative stress indexes,NF-κB p65, i NOS, NO, reactive oxygen species（ROS）, reactive nitrogen species（RNS）, malondialdehyde（MDA）, superoxide dismutase（SOD）, catalase（CAT）, total antioxidative capacity（TAOC） and interleukin-4（IL-4）, IL-10, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α（TNF-α） contents. Westergren＇s method was used for determination of erythrocyte sedimentation rate（ESR）. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein（Hs-CRP） was detected with a 7060 full-automatic biochemical analyzer（Hitachi, Japan）.RESULTS： The clinical therapeutic effect in the XFC group was significantly superior to that in the Salazopyrin group（P〈0.01）. Compared with the normal control group, FEV1, MVV, PEF, FEF50, FEF75, SOD, CAT,TAOC, IL-4, IL-10 were significantly lower, and NF-κB p65, i NOS, NO, ROS, RNS, MDA, IL-1β, TNF-α, ESR,and Hs-CRP significantly higher in patients with AS（P〈0.01 or P〈0.05）. Compared with before treatment, FEV1, MVV, PEF, FEF50, FEF75, SOD, CAT, TAOC,IL-4, and IL-10 were significantly increased, and NF-κB p65, i NOS, NO, ROS, RNS, MDA, IL-1?     

Relationship between Renying pulse augmentation index and Cunk- ou pulse condition in different blood pressure groups

OBJECTIVE： To explore the relationship between Renying pulse （carotid） augmentation index （AI） and Cunkou pulse condition in different blood pres- sure groups, and the clinical significance of Reny- ing and Cunkou pulse parameters to reflect vascu- lar function. METHODS： Eighty-six patients with essential hyper- tension （EH） and 52 individuals with normal blood pressure （control group） between and January 2012 were included September 2010 this study. Reny- ing pulse AI was examined by a new diagnostic tool （ALOKA ProSound Alpha 10） --wave intensity （Wl） that is calculated as the product of the deriva- tives of the simultaneously recorded blood pres- sure changes （dP/dt） and blood-flow-velocity changes （dU/dt）, while Cunkou pulse condition was detected by DDMX-100 Pulse Apparatus inboth EH and control groups. A multifactorial corre- lation analysis was performed for data analysis. RESULTS： After adjusting for potential confound- ing variables, in the EH group, AI was positively cor- related with ts, w2/t （rts=0.225, P〈0.05; rw2/t=0.230, P〈 0.05） and negatively correlated with hs, hs/hl and w2 （rhs=- 0.393,P〈0.01 ;rhs/l=- 0.444, P〈0.01 ;rw2=- 0.389, P〈0.01）. In the control group, AI was positively cor- related with t3, t4, ts and w, （rt3=0.595, P〈0.01; r,4= 0.292, P〈0.05; rt5=0.318, P〈0.05; rw1=0.541, P〈0.01） and negatively correlated with h1, h2, h3, Ad and A （rh1= - 0.368, P〈0.05; rh2= - 0.330, P〈0.05; rh3= - 0.327, P〈 0.05; rAd=- 0.322, P〈0.05; rA=- 0.410, P〈0.01）. In the total sample group （EH plus control group, n= 138）, AI was positively correlated with t, ts, w1 and w, （rt=0.257, P〈0.01; rt5=0.266, P〈0.01; rw1=0.184, P〈 0.05; rw/t=0.210, P〈0.05） and negatively correlated with hs, hs/hl, w2 and Ad （rhs= - 0.230, P〈0.01; rh5/h1= - 0.218, P〈0.05; rw2= - 0.267, P〈0.01; rAd= - 0.246, P〈0.01）. Multiple linear regression analysis was car- ried out to model the relationship （F=7.887, P〈 0.001）.CONCLU     

Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine on oligoasthenospermatism： a narrative review

OBJECTIVE： To summarize the treatment of oligoasthenospermatism（OAS） with Traditional Chinese Medicine（TCM）.METHODS： The literature describing OAS treatment with TCM in the past 4 years was searched.Three studies were reviewed, evaluated, and summarized. The etiology and pathogenesis, pattern differentiation, medicine administration, and combination of TCM with Western Medicine were all examined.RESULTS： TCM had an advantage in treating OAS and had fewer adverse events than conventional treatments.CONCLUSION： Although TCM has an advantage in treating OAS and fewer adverse events, the efficacy of TCM and modern medicine on OAS is unsatisfactory.     

Clinical Application of Yongquan （KI 1）Acupointd

Yongquan （KI 1） is the Jing-Well point of Kidney Meridian of Foot Shaoyin. It can be used to treat many kinds of diseases, such as parietal headache, vertigo and blurred vision, hypopharynx swelling and pain, dry tongue, voice loss, epistaxis, apoplexy and apoplectic sequela, dysufia, ungratifying defecation, epilepsy, syncope, planter fever, palpitations, lower limbs spasm, hypertension, vomiting, infantile convulsion. The author applied Yongquan （KI 1） in clinical practice and obtained satisfactory therapeutic effects. Now five cases were introduced as follows.     

Effect of a comprehensive therapy plus Gushenyutai plaster admin- istered at Guanyuan （CV 4） on male infertility associated with se- men non-liquefaction

OBJECTIVE： To observe the clinical effect of Gushenyutai plaster administered at the Guanyuan（CV4） acupoint on male infertility associated with semen non-liquefaction.METHODS： Sixty-two male patients with infertility caused by semen non-liquefaction were random-ized into a treatment and control group. The control group received comprehensive therapy, which included oral administration of clarithromycin sustained release tablets, hip bath with Zhongyaoxiaoyan granules, prostate massage, and transurethral microwave treatment. The treatment group was administered Gushenyutai plaster in addition to the comprehensive therapy. Both groups were treated for 8 weeks. After treatment, the clinical effect and pregnancy rate were assessed and compared between the two groups.RESULTS： The effective rate of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group（96.77% vs 70.97%, P〈0.05） and the pregnancy rates of the treatment group and control groups were 38.71% and 16.13%, respectively（P〈0.05）.CONCLUSION： The effect of Gushenyutai plaster plus comprehensive therapy was better than that of the comprehensive therapy alone on male infertility induced by semen non-liquefaction.     

Reversal effect of bufalin on multidrug resistance in K562/VCR vin- cristine-resistant leukemia cell line

OBJECTIVE： To probe insights into the reversal effect of bufalin on vincristine-acquired multidrug resistance（MDR） in human leukemia cell line K562/VCR.METHODS： Proliferative inhibition rate and the reversal index（RI） of bufalin were determined by Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay. The uptake of Adriamycin（ADM） in K562/VCR cells, cell cycle and apoptosis rate were determined by flow cytometry（FCM）. Cell morphologic changes were observed with Wright-Giemsa staining. The expression of P-glycoprotein（P-gp）, multidrug-associated protein-1（MRP1）, Bcl-x L and Bax protein were measured by immunocytochemistry.RESULTS： The human leukemia multidrug resistant K562/VCR cells showed no cross-resistance to bufalin. The RIs of bufalin at concentrations of 0.0002,0.001 and 0.005 μmol/L were 4.85, 6.94 and 14.77,respectively. Preincubation of 0.001 μmol/L bufalin for 2 h could increase intracellular ADM fluorescence intensity to 28.07%（P〈0.05） and down-regulate MRP1 expression simultaneously, but no remarkable effect was found on P-gp protein. Cell cycle analysis indicated increased apoptosis rate and apparent decreased G2/M phase proportion after treatment with bufalin. When exposed to 0.01μmol/L bufalin, typical morphological changes of apoptosis could be observed. Down-regulation of Bcl-x L and up-regulation of Bax expression in K562/VCR cells could be detected by immunocytochemistry.CONCLUSION： Bufalin could partly reverse the MDR of K562/VCR cells, with a possible mechanism of down-regulating MRP1 expression and activating apoptosis pathway by altering Bcl-x L/Bax ratio.     

Clinical Application of Sanjian（LI 3） Acupoint

Sanjian （LI 3） is one of the classical acupoint in the author＇s 40-year acupuncture-moxibustion practice. On the 3rd Academic Conference on Magnetism Medicine in 2000, the author reported ＂initial recognition of Sanjian （LI 3）＂, and got favorable comments. Now the clinical application of Sanjian （LI 3） was discussed again as follows.     

Use of gated myocardial perfusion imaging to assess clinical value of Xinmailong injection in chronic congestive heart failure

OBJECTIVE： This study used gated myocardial perfusion imaging（G-MPI） to assess the clinical value of Xinmailong injection in chronic congestive heart failure（CHF）.METHODS： A total of 102 CHF patients were randomly divided into the control group（n=51） and the Xinmailong group（n=51）. Patients in the control group were routinely treated. Patients in the Xinmailong group were additionally treated with Xinmailong injection in addition to routine treatment. Before and 3 months after treatment, G-MPI was used to determine changes in the left ventricular ejection fraction（LVEF）, left ventricular end-diastolic volume（LVEDV） and left ventricular end-systolic volume（LVESV）. Fourteen days after treatment, changes in plasma brain natriuretic peptide（BNP） levels were determined.RESULTS： Before treatment, there were no significant differences in LVEF, LVEDV, LVESV, and BNP levels between the two groups（all P〉0.05）. After treatment, LVEDV, LVESV, and BNP levels were significantly lower, and LVEF was significantly higher in the Xinmailong group than in the control group（all P〈0.05）.CONCLUSION： Additional use of Xinmailong injection in addition to routine treatment improves cardiac function of CHF patients. Because of the safety and effectiveness of Xinmailong injection, this therapy should be promoted.     

通冠散加减治疗冠心病心绞痛76例

近年来，本人采用自拟通冠散加减治疗冠心病心绞痛76例，效果显著，现报道如下。     

Postmarketing safety evaluation： depside salt injection made from Danshen （Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae）

OBJECTIVE： To systematically examine the postmarketing safety of depside salt injection made from Danshen（Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae）,identifythe potential risk factors, and ensure its clinical safety.METHODS： We examined a comprehensive series of studies on the production process, quality standards, pharmacology, population pharmacokinetics, and safety evaluation of depside salt injection made from Danshen（Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae）. Data from Ⅰ-Ⅳ clinical drug trials, hospital information systems（HIS）, and spontaneous reporting systems（SRS） were also analyzed.RESULTS： The effective components of salvianolic acid salt content reached almost 100%, and the magnesium lithospermate B content reached morethan 80%. The median lethal dose（LD50） calculated by the Bliss method was 1.49 g/kg, with 95%confidence intervals of 1.29-1.72 g/kg. Long-term tests on Beagle dogs indicated that doses of less than 80 mg/kg were safe and doses of 320 mg/kg were toxic. Adverse drug reactions（ADRs） included digestive disorders; drug-induced erythrocyte deformation in lung, liver, spleen, kidney, bone marrow, intestinal mucosa, lymph nodes, and other tissues; megakaryocytes in lung, liver, and spleen resulting from mild hemolysis; and mild hyperplasia in bone marrow hematopoietic tissue. Other studies indicated no irritative effect of the injection on local tissues and blood vessels, and no allergic reactions, erythrocyte coagulation, or hemolysis. SRS data showed that the most common ADRs were headache, head distention, dizziness, facial flushing, skin itching, thrombocytopenia, and the reversibility of elevated Aspartate transaminase. HIS data indicated no damage to renal function from using depside salt injection made from Danshen（Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae） at a dosage higher than the recommended dose.CONCLUSION： This study analyzes the clinical characteristics of ADRs from depside salt injection made from Danshen（Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae）,and discusses the factors influencing such