A Simple Method for Isolation of Plumbagin from Roots of Plumbago rosea.

Abstract

Plumbagin, the major active compound and a potential biomarker characteristically found to be present in different Plumbaginales, is isolated by an austere and efficient method involving column chromatography. A literature survey suggests that the roots of Plumbago rosea. Linn. are the richest source of plumbagin. Chemically identified as a naphthoquinone, the compound is claimed to sublime at 90°C. This disposition of the compound correlates with the implication of cold maceration employed in isolation methodology for extraction of root powder with acetone. Plumbagin, being hydrophobic and insoluble in water, was precipitated out by addition of water to the acetone extract. The filtered residue was taken in chloroform, and the concentrated chloroform extract, when subjected to column chromatography, yielded plumbagin (1.65%), elution being carried out with n-hexane:ethyl acetate (92:8). The identity of the compound was confirmed by melting point data, UV, IR, and mass spectral data reported in the literature. The purity of the compound was further analyzed by subjecting the compound to HPTLC studies.     

Extract of Rhodiola rosea radix reduces the level of C-reactive protein and creatinine kinase in the blood

The effects of extracts ofRhodiola rosea radix on blood levels of inflammatory C-reactive protein and creatinine kinase were studied in healthy untrained volunteers before and after exhausting exercise.Rhodiola rosea extract exhibited an antiinflammatory effect and protected muscle tissue during exercise. Translated fromByulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 138, No. 7, pp. 73–75, July, 2004     

美能注射液治疗玫瑰糠疹48例临床观察

目的观察美能注射液治疗玫瑰糠疹的临床疗效。方法80例患者被随机分为治疗组48例和对照组32例,对照组口服氯雷他定、维乐生片、复方蒲公英片治疗,治疗组在此治疗的基础上应用美能注射液40 mL/d静脉滴注。结果治疗组总有效率为77.1%,对照组总有效率为53.1%,两组比较差异有显著性(P<0.05)。结论美能治疗玫瑰糠疹疗效较好,值得临床推广应用。     

红景天对慢性应激导致的抑郁大鼠体质量和摄取糖、水量的影响

目的：探讨红景天对慢性应激（chronic mild stress，CMS）导致的抑郁模型大鼠体质量和摄取糖、水量的影响。方法：70只雄性SD大鼠分为正常对照组（予0．5％羧甲基纤维素钠）、模型对照组、阴性对照模型组（予0．5％羧甲基纤维素钠）、阳性对照模型组（予氟西汀）和红景天低剂量、中剂量、高剂量模型组[分别予1．5、3、6g／（kg·d）红景天]。除正常对照组大鼠外，其余6组大鼠给予4周的慢性刺激制备抑郁模型。模型建立成功后，予相直的药物灌胃治疗．每周检测大鼠体质量、1％糖水摄取量和自来水摄取量。结果：经过4周慢性中等强度剌激后，与正常对照组大鼠相比，抑郁模型组大鼠的体质量以及1％糖水摄取量明显降低。灌服药物后．低剂量红景天组大鼠的体质量以及1％糖水摄取量恢复至正常对照组水平。结论：低剂量红景天能够促使抑郁大鼠恢复体质量和糖摄取量。     

Transition of pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta to febrile ulceronecrotic Mucha-Habermann disease is associated with elevated serum tumour necrosis factor-alpha

Febrile ulceronecrotic Mucha-Habermann disease (FUMHD) represents a fulminant and potentially lethal variant of pityriasis lichenoides. Only 24 cases have been described so far. We report a 9-year-old boy who initially presented with classical pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (PLEVA) following a mild enteritis. Three weeks later, his skin lesions started to ulcerate progressively, involving > 90% of his body surface, accompanied by high fever, normal C-reactive protein, but highly elevated serum levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. Methotrexate 10 mg m(-2) weekly was required to halt disease progression, while oral steroids (initial dose 2.8 mg kg(-1) daily) alone proved insufficient. Sequential histology revealed progressively dense perivascular and intramural lymphocytic inflammation as well as keratinocyte necrosis. Our case demonstrates the clinical and histological continuum between 'classical' PLEVA and FUMHD and points to the potentially pathogenic significance of TNF-alpha. We hypothesize that in future cases, treatment with TNF-alpha antagonists might represent a reasonable alternative to high-dose immunosuppressive therapy.     

Paraneoplastic pityriasis lichenoides in cutaneous lymphoma: case report and review of the literature on paraneoplastic reactions of the skin in lymphoma and leukaemia

Paraneoplastic dermatoses are non-neoplastic skin disorders which occur in the context of an underlying malignant neoplasm. The classic paraneoplastic dermatoses are mostly associated with solid internal malignancies. They only rarely occur in the context of nodal or primary cutaneous lymphomas. Apart from these classic paraneoplastic dermatoses, there are additional skin disorders reported to occur in close association with haematological and lymphoproliferative disorders which can thus be regarded as paraneoplastic manifestations. We report for the first time two patients with pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta in association with mycosis fungoides. In addition, we review the literature on paraneoplastic dermatoses of the skin which have been described in patients with leukaemias and primary cutaneous lymphomas.     

红景天对慢性应激导致的抑郁大鼠大脑海马5-羟色胺水平及其细胞增殖、分化和神经元数量的影响

目的：探讨中药红景天Rhodiola rosea对慢性应激导致的抑郁大鼠大脑海马5-羟色胺(5-HT)水平及其细胞增殖、分化和神经元数量的影响。方法：50只大鼠被分为正常对照组、模型组、阴性对照组、阳性对照组及红景天治疗组，每组各10只动物。除正常对照组外，给予其余4组大鼠为期4周的慢性应激，以建立抑郁症模型。在模型建立后，除模型组正常饲养外，其余4组大鼠分别灌服5%羧甲基纤维素钠、氟西汀、红景天，灌药周期均为3周。灌药结束后，采用高效液相色谱法检测海马组织5-HT水平，5-溴脱氧尿嘧啶 (BrdU)和β-微管蛋白Ⅲ(β-tubulin Ⅲ) 免疫荧光组化双标记染色检测海马神经干细胞的增殖和分化、采取形态计量学方法计数海马神经元。结果：与正常对照组比较，红景天治疗组的大脑海马5-HT水平、BrdU标记细胞数量、β-tubulin III和BrdU双标记细胞百分率以及神经元数量恢复性增加到正常对照组大鼠的水平。结论：红景天能够提高慢性应激导致的抑郁大鼠大脑海马5-HT水平，促进其海马神经干细胞增殖和分化，同时具有保护受损伤的海马神经元的作用。     

A case of pityriasis versicolor atrophicans

A case of pityriasis versicolor atrophicans caused by Malassezia globosa is reported in a 49-year-old woman. Diagnosis was based on direct microscopic examination and culture. Differential diagnosis was performed with respect to other skin diseases manifesting with cutaneous atrophy.     

Cell-mediated immunity to the mycelial phase of Malassezia spp. in patients with pityriasis versicolor and controls

BACKGROUND: Malassezia is the aetiological agent of pityriasis versicolor. The mycelial phase of the organism predominates in lesions of pityriasis versicolor. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the cell-mediated immune (CMI) response to the mycelial phase of Malassezia in patients with this disease, which has not previously been studied. METHODS: The CMI status of 12 patients with pityriasis versicolor and 12 age- and sex-matched controls to mycelial antigen(s) of the organism was examined. The responses to the mycelial form of three strains of the organism were assessed using lymphocyte transformation and leucocyte migration inhibition assays. RESULTS: The transformation responses of the lymphocytes from both patients and controls gave transformation indices < or = 3, although the responses of lymphocytes from patients with pityriasis versicolor to the mycelial form of Malassezia strains were generally higher than those of the controls. In the leucocyte migration inhibition assay, leucocytes from patients with pityriasis versicolor and controls responded to the mycelial antigens of three different Malassezia strains; however, there was no significant difference in leucocyte response between patients with pityriasis versicolor and controls. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with pityriasis versicolor do not therefore have a CMI deficiency to Malassezia mycelial antigens but fail to generate a protective CMI response to mycelial antigens over and above that of control individuals during active disease.