灵芝多糖的急性毒性和抗肿瘤作用

目的：探讨灵芝多糖的急性毒性和抗肿瘤作用。方法：观察灵芝多糖的LD50及对S180小鼠肉瘤细胞的抑制作用。结果：灵芝多糖的LD50远大于国家标准15g/kg,属无毒级别。同时当灵芝多糖的剂量为250mg/kg时,对S180小鼠肉瘤细胞的抑瘤率为43.44%。结论：灵芝多糖有很好的抗肿瘤作用,同时无急性毒性,值得推广应用。     

Comparison of the antitumor activity on spore polysaccharides （G／-SP） and broken spore polysaccharides （Gl-BSP） isolated from Ganoderma lucidum

AIM: To compare the antitumor activity of spore polysaccharides (GI-SP) and broken spore polysaccharides (GI-BSP) from spores of Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss ex fr) Karst. METHODS: BALB/c mice were implanted with Sarcoma 180 and administered intragastrically with Gl-SP or G/-BPS (50, 100, 200 mg/kg)respectively for 14 d. At the end of experiment, the tumor were removed and weighted. At the same time, spleens of tumorbearing mice were prepared to observe the effect of Gl-SP and     

Grateloupia longifolia polysaccharide inhibits angiogenesis by downregulating tissue factor expression in HMEC-1 endothelial cells

1. The antiangiogenic and antitumor properties of Grateloupia longifolia polysaccharide (GLP), a new type of polysaccharide isolated from the marine alga, were investigated with several in vitro and in vivo models. Possible mechanisms underlying its antiangiogenic activity were also assessed. 2. GLP dose-dependently inhibited proliferation of human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), with IC50 values of 0.86 and 0.64 mg ml(-1), respectively. In tube formation and cell migration assays using HMEC-1 cells, noncytotoxic doses of GLP significantly inhibited formation of intact tube networks and reduced the number of migratory cells. Inhibition by GLP was VEGF-independent. 3. In the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay, GLP (2.5 microg egg(-1)) reduced new vessel formation compared with the vehicle control. GLP (0.1 mg plug(-1)) also reduced the vessel density in Matrigel plugs implanted in mice. 4. The levels of pan and phosphorylated receptors for VEGF, VEGFR-1 (flt-1) and VEGFR-2 (KDR) were not significantly altered by 5 mg ml(-1) GLP treatment of HMEC-1, although tissue factor (TF) showed significant decreases at both mRNA and protein levels following GLP treatment. 5. In mice bearing sarcoma-180 cells, intravenous administration of GLP (200 mg kg(-1)) decreased tumor weight by 52% without obvious toxicity. Vascular density in sections of the tumor was reduced by 64% after GLP treatment. 6. Collectively, these results indicate that GLP has antitumor properties, associated at least, in part, with the antiangiogenesis induced by downregulation of TF.     

A comparison of the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activity of nitroaspirin and aspirin

1. Nitroaspirin (2.5 - 50 mg kg(-1), i.p. or 2.5 - 100 mg kg(-1), p.o.) and aspirin (2.5 - 100 mg kg(-1), i.p. or p.o.) exhibit anti-inflammatory activity in the carrageenan-induced hindpaw oedema model in the rat. When administered i.p., nitroaspirin was a more effective anti-oedema agent than aspirin particularly in the 'early' phase (i.e. up to 60 min) of the response. The ED(50) values for nitroaspirin and aspirin as inhibitors of the 'late' phase response (measured at 180 min) were 64.3 micromol kg(-1) and >555 micromol kg(-1), respectively. When administered p.o., neither nitroaspirin nor aspirin exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in the 'early' phase and were of similar potency in the 'late' phase. Thus, at the highest dose used (100 mg kg(-1), 360 min) orally administered nitroaspirin (aspirin in parenthesis) inhibited oedema formation by 46.9+/-1.6% (47.2+/-3.8%, both n=6, P<0.05). 2. Nitroaspirin and aspirin (25 - 200 mg kg(-1), p.o.) caused dose-related inhibition of the hyperalgesia to mechanical stimulation following intraplantar injection of carrageenan in the rat. ED(50) values were 365 micromol kg(-1) and 784 micromol kg(-1), respectively. Neither drug influenced the threshold for mechanical stimulation in the contralateral (i.e. untreated) hindpaw. 3. Nitroaspirin and aspirin (2.5 - 100 mg kg(-1), p.o.) caused dose-related inhibition of acetic acid induced abdominal constrictions in the mouse (ED(50) values of 154.7 micromol kg(-1) and 242.8 micromol kg(-1), respectively). 4. Nitroaspirin and aspirin (>200 mg kg(-1), p.o.) reduced the 'late' phase (but not the 'early' phase) of the formalin-induced hindpaw licking assay in the mouse. Similarly, nitroaspirin and aspirin (>50 mg kg(-1), p.o.) prolonged tail withdrawal latency following application of a noxious heat stimulus in the mouse.     

灵芝多糖分离鉴定及抗肿瘤活性的研究

目的探讨灵芝多糖的分离纯化、理化性质及初步抗肿瘤活性。方法采用热水提取 ,乙醇分级沉淀 ,DEAE 32离子交换柱色谱等方法从灵芝子实体中分离得到灵芝多糖。用SephadexG 10 0凝胶柱色谱法测定其纯度和平均分子量。用薄层色谱及气相色谱法测定其单糖组成。溴化四唑蓝法测定其初步体外抗肿瘤活性。结果从灵芝子实体中分离得到 4种均一多糖 (GLPL1 ～GLPL4 ) ,其中GLPL1 和GLPL3为主要成分 ,其分子量为 4 10 0和 5 70 0。GLPL1 由葡萄糖组成 ;GLPL3由葡萄糖和半乳糖组成。GLPL1 和GLPL3对人鼻咽癌细胞增殖有显著的抑制作用 ,GLPL3还对人胃癌细胞、人结肠癌细胞增殖有一定的抑制作用。结论灵芝多糖GLPL1 、GLPL3是很有潜力的抗肿瘤或辅助抗肿瘤药物     

Characterization of the novel nitric oxide synthase inhibitor 7-nitro indazole and related indazoles: antinociceptive and cardiovascular effects.

1. 7-Nitro indazole (7-NI, 10-50 mg kg-1), 6-nitro indazole and indazole (25-100 mg kg-1) administered i.p. in the mouse produce dose-related antinociception in the late phase of the formalin-induced hindpaw licking and acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction assays. The ED50 values (mg kg-1) were as follows: 7-NI (27.5 and 22.5), 6-nitro indazole (62.5 and 44.0) and indazole (41.0 and 48.5) in the two assays respectively. 3-Indazolinone, 6 amino indazole and 6-sulphanilimido indazole (all 50 mg kg-1) were without effect. With the exception of 5-nitro indazole (50 mg kg-1) which produced sedation, none of the other indazole derivates examined caused overt behavioural changes. 2. The antinociceptive effect of 7-NI (25 mg kg-1, i.p.) in the late phase of the formalin-induced hindpaw licking assay was partially (46.7 +/- 16.2%, n = 18) reversed by pretreatment with L- but not D-arginine (both 50 mg kg-1, i.p.). 3. The time course of 7-NI induced antinociception in the mouse was correlated with inhibition of brain (cerebellum) nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity. Maximum antinociceptive activity and NOS inhibition was detected 18-30 min following i.p. administration. In contrast, no antinociceptive effect or inhibition of cerebellar NOS was detected 75 min post-injection. 4. 7-NI, 6-nitro indazole, indazole, 3-indazolinone and 6-amino indazole (all 50 mg kg-1) failed to influence mean arterial pressure (MAP) over the 45 min after i.p. administration in the anaesthetized mouse.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Antitumor and anti-angiogenic activity of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides peptide

AIM: To investigate the antitumor and anti-angiogenic activity of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides peptide (GLPP). METHODS: Antitumor effect of GLPP was observed in tumor-bearing mice in vivo. At the same time,the effects of GLPP on proliferation of tumor cells and human umbilical cord vascular endothelial cell (HUVEC) were detected by MTr assay in vitro. Subsequently, spleen lymphocytes proliferation of nude mice was stimulated by LPS or ConA. To investigate the anti-angiogenic effect of GLPP, GLPP 80 μg per disc and GLPP-treated serum 10μL per disc were added to the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) respectively in vivo. RESULTS: GLPP 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg inhibited growth of Sarcoma 180 in BALB/c mice markedly by 35.2 %, 45.2 %, and 61.9 %,respectively. GLPP which was directly added to the cultured medium did not inhibit PG cell proliferation in vitro;but GLPP-treated serum 50, 100, 200 mg/kg potently inhibited PG cell proliferation by 22.5 %, 26.8 %, and 30.3 %,respectively; and reduced the xenograft (human lung carcinoma cell PG) in BALB/c nude mice greatly in vivo by 55.5 %, 46.0 %, and 46.8 %, respectively. Lymphocytes proliferation of nude mice could be stimulated by LPS 5 mg/L but not by ConA 2.5 mg/L, indicating that GLPP could not promote the T lymphocyte proliferation and neutral red phagocytosis of peritoneal macrophages of nude mice. The CAM assay showed that GLPP and GLPP-treated serum had anti-angiogenic effect. GLPP (1, 10, and 100 mg/L) inhibited HUVEC proliferation in vitro with the inhibitory rate of 9.4 %, 15.6 %, and 40.4 %, respectively. CONCLUSION: GLPP has antitumor and antiangiogenic activity. The anti-angiogenesis of GLPP may be a new mechanism underlying its anti-tumor effects.     

Suppression of tumor growth by a new glycosaminoglycan isolated from the African giant snail Achatina fulica

Acharan sulfate is a new type of glycosaminoglycan from the giant African snail, Achatina fulica. Acharan sulfate, which has a primary repeating disaccharide structure of alpha-D-N-acetylglucosaminyl-2-O-sulfo-alpha-L-iduronic acid, was studied as a potential antitumor agent in both in vivo and in vitro assays. The antiangiogenic activity of acharan sulfate was evaluated in the chorioallantoic membrane assay and by measuring its effect on the proliferation of calf pulmonary artery endothelial cells. In vivo, a matrigel plug assay showed that acharan sulfate suppressed basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-stimulated angiogenesis and lowered the hemoglobin (Hb) content inside the plug. Acharan sulfate was administered s.c. at two doses for 15 days to C57BL/6 mice implanted with murine Lewis lung carcinoma in the back. It was also administered i.p. to ICR mice bearing sarcoma 180 at a dose of 30 mg/kg. Subcutaneous injection of acharan sulfate at doses of 10 and 30 mg/kg decreased tumor weight and tumor volume by 40% without toxicity or resistance. Intraperitoneal injection of acharan sulfate also decreased tumor weight and volume by 40% in sarcoma 180-bearing mice. These results suggest that the antitumor activity of acharan sulfate may be related to the inhibition of angiogenesis.     

灵芝多糖对S180荷瘤小鼠血清细胞因子水平与脏器指数的影响

目的:研究灵芝多糖对S180荷瘤小鼠血清细胞因子水平与脏器指数的影响。方法:瘤细胞悬液接种于小鼠右前肢腋窝皮下(0.2 ml/只)以复制S180荷瘤模型。60只KM小鼠随机均分为正常对照(等容生理盐水)组、模型(等容生理盐水)组、环磷酰胺(40 mg/kg,连续3 d)组与灵芝多糖高、中、低剂量(160、80、40 mg/kg,连续10 d)组。灌胃给药,每天1次。ELISA法测定小鼠血清干扰素(IFN)-γ与白细胞介素(IL)2含量,称定瘤质量并计算抑瘤率,称定胸腺和脾脏质量并计算胸腺和脾脏指数。结果:与正常对照组比较,模型组小鼠血清IFN-γ和IL-2含量减少,瘤质量增加,胸腺和脾脏指数降低,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);与模型组比较,灵芝多糖高、中剂量组小鼠血清IFN-γ和IL-2含量增加,瘤质量减少,胸腺和脾脏指数升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:灵芝多糖对S180荷瘤小鼠具有一定的抗肿瘤及增强免疫的功能,其机制与调节血清细胞因子水平,降低脏器指数有关。     

北沙参多糖的免疫抑制活性

北沙参为伞形科珊瑚属植物珊瑚菜(Glehnia littoralis F.Schmidt ex Mig.)的根,是一种常用中药,具有养阴清肺功能。据报道北沙参可延长家兔抗甲胎球蛋白抗体的存在时间。不少植物多糖,如人参、黄芪、刺五加和当归等的多糖成分,对机体的免疫功能有促进作用。为此我们观察了北沙参的多糖成分对机体免疫功能的影响。     

The potential role of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors in the treatment of experimentally-induced mammary tumour: does celecoxib enhance the anti-tumour activity of doxorubicin?

The potential anti-tumour activity of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) has been previously discussed. This study was undertaken to assess the possible anti-tumour activity of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor; celecoxib in an animal model of mammary carcinoma; the solid Ehrlich carcinoma (SEC). The possibility that celecoxib may modulate the anti-tumour activity of doxorubicin on the SEC was also studied. Some of the possible mechanisms underlying such modulation were investigated. The anti-tumour activity of celecoxib (25 mg kg(-1)), diclofenac (12.5 mg kg(-1)) and doxorubicin (2 mg kg(-1)) either alone or in combination were investigated on SEC in vivo through the assessment of tumour growth delay (TGD) and tumour volume (TV), changes in tumour DNA content and nitric oxide (NO) levels, immunohistochemical staining of the tumour suppressor gene product; p53 histopathological examination and determination of apoptotic index of SEC. In addition, the influence of these drugs on the DNA fragmentation pattern of Ehrlich carcinoma cells (ECC) was studied. It was found that both celecoxib and diclofenac lack the anti-tumour activity on SEC. In addition there was a significant increase in doxorubicin anti-tumour activity when administered in combination with celecoxib. Moreover, it was found that both celecoxib and diclofenac have the potential to inhibit the function of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in ECC using rhodamine uptake and efflux assays. Therefore, the current study suggested the chemosensitizing potential of celecoxib in the SEC animal model of mammary tumour, which could be explained in part on the basis of inhibition of P-gp function, with possible enhancement of doxorubicin anti-tumour activity.     

Enhancing effect of bromovinyldeoxyuridine on antitumor activity of 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine against adenocarcinoma 755 in mice. Correlation with pharmacokinetics of plasma 5-fluorouracil levels

5'-Deoxy-5-fluorouridine (DFUR), whether or not combined with (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (BVDU) was pursued in BDF1 mice from both a pharmacokinetic viewpoint, following a single oral dose administration, and an anticancer viewpoint, following 5 daily oral doses in mice inoculated subcutaneously with adenocarcinoma 755 tumor cells. Half-life (t1/2) values for the elimination of DFUR and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) from plasma following DFUR (100 mg/kg) administration were about 0.80 and 0.39 hr, respectively. Plasma 5-FU AUC (area under the curve) values following oral DFUR (100 mg/kg) was 0.224 micrograms.hr/ml. If DFUR (100 mg/kg) was combined with BVDU (10 mg/kg) the t1/2 and AUC values for 5-FU increased from 0.39 to 1.24 hr, and from 0.224 to 1.699 micrograms.hr/ml, respectively. Thus, BVDU significantly increased the plasma levels of 5-FU. It had no effect on the plasma levels of DFUR. At 100 mg/kg, DFUR did not show a significant antitumor activity. At 500 mg/kg it effected a 90% inhibition in tumor growth. When combined with BVDU (10 mg/kg), DFUR at 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg reduced tumor growth by 96, 100 and 100%, respectively. The antitumor activity achieved by DFUR, in the presence or absence of BVDU, correlated highly significantly with the AUC values for plasma 5-FU.     

Antitumor activity of a new orally active organotin compound: a preliminary study in murine tumor models

The toxicity and antitumor activity of the novel organotin compound triethyltin(IV)lupinylsulfide hydrochloride (IST-FS 29), administered by the oral route, have been evaluated against three transplantable murine tumor models: P388 lymphocytic leukemia, B16F10 melanoma and 3LL Lewis lung carcinoma. Mild and reversible signs of acute toxicity such as behavioral symptoms, weight loss and histological alterations were mainly reported at the highest single dose of 28 mg/kg. Conversely, lower concentrations of compound ranging from 7 to 21 mg/kg did not result in major toxic effects, even after repeated dosing. The antitumor activity studies showed that fractionation dosing, rather than single bolus administration, over 1 week, might prove more active and better tolerated by allowing the achievement of the highest therapeutic total dose of IST-FS 29 (42 mg/kg). Indeed, repeated administrations of IST-FS 29 resulted in marked significant improvement of antitumor activity against B16F10 (50% of tumor volume inhibition, p = 0.0003) and, to a greater extent, 3LL (90% of tumor volume inhibition, p = 0.0001) tumors. These results indicate that IST-FS 29 might be a suitable candidate as an orally administrable anticancer drug and support its further development in human tumor xenografts.     

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the essential oil from Eremanthus erythropappus leaves

The chemical composition of the essential oil from air-dried leaves of Eremanthus erythropappus was studied. The main compounds were beta-pinene (23.24%), beta-caryophyllene (22.92%), beta-myrcene (10.03%) and germacrene D (9.40%). The essential oil had an LD50 of 2.90 g kg(-1) in mice. Doses of 200 and 400 mg kg(-1) inhibited 10.69% and 27.06% of acetic-acid-induced writhing in mice, respectively. In the formalin-induced nociception test in mice, the essential oil inhibited the first phase of paw licking by 29.13% (400 mg kg(-1)) and the second phase by 32.74% (200 mg kg(-1)) and 37.55% (400 mg kg(-1)). In the hot-plate test in mice, doses of 200 mg kg(-1) and 400 mg kg(-1) significantly increased the reaction time after 30, 60 and 90 min of treatment. Doses of 200 and 400 mg kg(-1) inhibited carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rats by 15.18% and 36.61%, respectively. Doses of 200 and 400 mg kg(-1) administered 4 h before intrapleural injection of carrageenan significantly reduced exudate volume (by 20.20% and 48.70%, respectively) and leucocyte mobilization (by 5.88% and 17.29%, respectively). These results demonstrate that E. erythropappus has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, supporting the use of this plant in folk medicine.     

Cinnamamide, an antitumor agent with low cytotoxicity acting on matrix metalloproteinase

The antitumor activity of cinnamamide (CNM), an agent acting on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), was investigated in the present study. CNM displayed low cytotoxicity. By the MTT assay the IC50 (50% inhibitory concentration) values of CNM on cell proliferation ranged from 1.29 to 1.94 mM in human oral epidermoid carcinoma KB cells, human hepatoma BEL-7402 cells and human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells. Moreover, the IC50 for human fetal lung 2BS cells reached 4.33 mM. The administration of CNM in the range of 50-150 mg/kg (i.p. or p.o.) showed moderate antitumor effects in mice. When administered i.p. or p.o., CNM (150 mg/kg) inhibited the growth of transplanted hepatoma 22 by 48.8 or 40.5%, respectively. At the dose of 100 mg/kg, CNM inhibited the growth of colon 26 carcinoma by 39.0% and that of Lewis lung carcinoma by 53.9%. In the Lewis lung carcinoma model, CNM at the dose of 100 mg/kg (i.p.) also reduced the lung metastasis by 59.1%. Gelatine zymography revealed that CNM was able to decrease the level of MMP-2 in conditioned medium of HT-1080 tumor cells in a concentration-dependent manner. These results indicate that CNM is an antitumor agent with low cytotoxicity acting on MMP and may serve as a lead compound in the development of antitumor drugs.     

Antitumor activity of erlotinib (OSI-774, Tarceva) alone or in combination in human non-small cell lung cancer tumor xenograft models

Our objective was the preclinical assessment of the pharmacokinetics, monotherapy and combined antitumor activity of the epidermal growth factor receptor (HER1/EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor erlotinib in athymic nude mice bearing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) xenograft models. Immunohistochemistry determined the HER1/EGFR status of the NSCLC tumor models. Pharmacokinetic studies assessed plasma drug concentrations of erlotinib in tumor- and non-tumor-bearing athymic nude mice. These were followed by maximum tolerated dose (MTD) studies for erlotinib and each chemotherapy. Erlotinib was then assessed alone and in combination with these chemotherapies in the NSCLC xenograft models. Complete necropsies were performed on most of the animals in each study to further assess antitumor or toxic effects. Erlotinib monotherapy dose-dependently inhibited tumor growth in the H460a tumor model, correlating with circulating levels of drug. There was antitumor activity at the MTD with each agent tested in both the H460a and A549 tumor models (erlotinib 100 mg/kg: 71 and 93% tumor growth inhibition; gemcitabine 120 mg/kg: 93 and 75% tumor growth inhibition; cisplatin 6 mg/kg: 81 and 88% tumor growth inhibition). When each compound was given at a fraction of the MTD, tumor growth inhibition was suboptimal. Combinations of gemcitabine or cisplatin with erlotinib were assessed at 25% of the MTD to determine efficacy. In both NSCLC models, doses of gemcitabine (30 mg/kg) or cisplatin (1.5 mg/kg) with erlotinib (25 mg/kg) at 25% of the MTD were well tolerated. For the slow growing A549 tumor, there was significant tumor growth inhibition in the gemcitabine/erlotinib and cisplatin/erlotinib combinations (above 100 and 98%, respectively), with partial regressions. For the faster growing H460a tumor, there was significant but less remarkable tumor growth inhibition in these same combinations (86 and 53% respectively). These results show that in NSCLC xenograft tumors with similar levels of EGFR expression, the antitumor activity of erlotinib is robust both as monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapies.     

Minimal contribution of desmethyl-gefitinib, the major human plasma metabolite of gefitinib, to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mediated tumour growth inhibition

Desmethyl-gefitinib is a major metabolite of gefitinib observed in human plasma at concentrations similar to those of gefitinib. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-related inhibitory effects of gefitinib and desmethyl-gefitinib have been compared both in vitro, using enzyme kinase assays and tumour cell growth inhibition, and in vivo by assessment of tumour xenografts growth inhibition in the mouse. Both gefitinib (IC(50) = 0.022 microM) and its desmethyl metabolite (0.036 microM) inhibited subcellular EGFR tyrosine kinase activity with a similar potency and selectivity. However, desmethyl-gefitinib (IC(50) = 0.76 microM) was 15 times less active than gefitinib (0.049 microM) against EGF-stimulated KB cell growth in a whole cell assay. Following a preliminary pharmacokinetic study to compare apparent oral bioavailability, gefitinib (75 mg kg(-1)) and desmethyl-gefitinib (150 mg kg(-1)) were administered orally for 15 days to female nude mice bearing LoVo tumour xenografts. Tumour concentrations of gefitinib (AUC = 300 microg h g(-1)) were much higher than those of desmethyl-gefitinib (44.3 microg h g(-1)), although plasma concentrations of gefitinib (48.4 microg h ml(-1)) and desmethyl-gefitinib (39.0 microg h ml(-1)) were quite similar at these dose levels. Gefitinib produced significant tumour growth inhibition throughout the course of the study ultimately resulting in a 50% decrease (compared with controls) by day 15. In contrast, although present at comparable plasma levels, desmethyl-gefitinib had little effect on tumour growth and is, therefore, considered unlikely to contribute significantly to the therapeutic activity of gefitinib in the clinical situation.     

Anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous leaf extract of Chromolaena odorata

The anti-inflammatory activity of the aqueous extract of Chromolaena odorata was investigated in rats using the carrageenan-induced oedema, cotton pellet granuloma and formalin-induced oedema methods. The extract was administered orally at doses of 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg. In the carrageenan method the paw oedema was significantly reduced by all the doses of the extract administered, with the 200 mg/kg dose producing the highest oedema inhibition (80.5%). In the cotton pellet method, granuloma weight was significantly reduced from 14 ± 0.1 to 9.0 ± 0.1 mg, while in the formaldehyde induced arthritis the extract inhibited the oedema during the 10-day period. In conclusion, this study has established the anti-inflammatory activity of C. odorata and, thus, justifies the traditional uses of the plant in the treatment of wounds and inflammation.     

Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and gastric effects of Ginkgo biloba in the rat.

Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) was assessed in models of acute inflammation induced by carrageenan, formalin or capsaicin in the rat, in models of nociceptive pain, such as hot-plate (55 degrees C) latency, tail-electric stimulation assay and capsaicin-induced paw licking and in the model of acute gastric damage induced by indomethacin. The agent showed marked anti-inflammatory activity in the carrageenan model of paw oedema. When given subcutaneously (s.c.) (25 and 50 mg kg(-1)) 30 min before challenge, GbE inhibited paw oedema with a maximal effect of 43.7 and 56.9%, respectively, at 2h post-carrageenan. Significant inhibition of oedema was also observed when GbE (50 mg kg(-1), s.c.) was given 30 min after carrageenan challenge. The agent was also active p.o. in acute inflammation caused by carrageenan. The administration of GbE with indomethacin, rofecoxib, celecoxib, dexamethasone or melatonin resulted in an additive effect. GbE (50 mg kg(-1), s.c.) caused significant inhibition of formalin-induced paw oedema, but did not reduce the capsaicin-induced paw oedema. In tests of nociception, GbE (25, 50 or 100 mg kg(-1)) decreased in dose-dependent manner the capsaicin-induced hind paw licking time and was similarly effective in the hot-plate assay of nociception. In contrast, when assessed in the tail-electric stimulation test, GbE was only effective in the highest dose (100 mg kg(-1)). In pylorus-ligated rats, GbE (25 or 50 mg kg(-1)) increased gastric acid secretion, but reduced gastric mucosal damage caused by IND. Results suggest that GbE may be of clinical value as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic drug alone or in conjunction with NSAIDs.     

Anti-tumor and immunoregulatory activities of Ganoderma lucidum and its possible mechanisms

Ganoderma lucidum (G lucidum) is a medicinal fungus with a variety of biological activities. It has long been used as a folk remedy for promotion of health and longevity in China and other oriental countries. The most attractive character of this kind of medicinal fungus is its immunomodulatory and anti-tumor activities. Large numbers of studies have shown that G lucidum modulate many components of the immune system such as the antigen-presenting cells, NK cells, T and B lymphocytes, The water extract and the polysaccharides fraction of G lucidum exhibited significant anti-tumor effect in several tumor-bearing animals mainly through its immunoenhancing activity. Recent studies also showed that the alcohol extract or the triterpene fraction of G lucidum possessed anti-tumor effect, which seemed to be related to the cytotoxic activity against tumor cells directly. Preliminary study indicated that antiangiogenic effect may be involved antitumor activity of G lucidum.