Pharmacological effects of Paeoniflorin and Albiflorin on IL-3, GM-CSF, IL-6 and TNF-α in the rats of syndrome of stagnation of liver qi and blood deficiency

Objective： To observe the effect of paeoniflorin （PF）, albiflorin （AF） on the hemogram, visceral index and hematopoiesis cytokine in the rats of syndrome of stagnation of liver qi and blood deficiency, and to discuss the material base and mechanism of effect of nourishing blood and smoothing the liver of Baishao （Radix Paeoniae Alba）. Methods： Male SD rats were randomly divided into groups according to the sucrose preference test and body weight （n = 12）. Except the normal control, the other groups were treated with the chronic stress stimulation combined with radiation respectively to establish the model of syndrome of stagnation of liver qi and blood deficiency. The body weight, visceral index and the quantity of Leucocyte, Red Blood Cells, Hemoglobin in peripheral hemogram were monitored, then plasma and serum were separated. Radioimmunoassay was used to analyze the levels of Lnterleukin-3, Granulocyte-macrophage Colony-stimulating Factor, Lnterleukin-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in plasma. Results： Compared with that of model group, 30 mg·kg^-1 PF and 30 mg·kg^-1 AF of the weight, spleen index, quantity of Leucocyte were increased significantly （P 〈 0.05, P 〈 0.01）. The results of Radioimmunoassay showed that the levels of Interleukin-3 increased （P 〈 0.05, P 〈 0.05） and the levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α decreased in both 30 mg·kg^-1 PF and 30 mg·kg^-1 AF groups （P 〈 0.05, P 〈 0.05）. Conclusion： The effect of PF and AF on the regulation of bone marrow hematopoietic system and immune system play a role in the blood of rats with syndrome of stagnation of liver qi and blood deficiency, which suggests that both of them are the main active ingredients of nourishing blood and smoothing the liver of Baishao.

STUDY ON THE ATTACK CONTROL ACTION OF ELECTRO-ACUPUNC-TURE ON T■IYANG(太阳EX-HN5)FOR MIGRAINE DUE TO HYPERAC-TIVITY OF LIVER YANG:RANDOMIED CONTROLED TRIAL

Objective To discuss the difference of electro-acupuncture and drug in controlling the attack of migraine due to hyperactivity of liver yang. Methods Three-centered random control method was used, and 300 qualified cases were randomly divided into treatment group （146 cases according to the design） and control group （140 cases）, which were respectively treated with electro-acupuncture and drugs （Compound Aminopyrine Phenacetin Tablets, Ergotamine Caffeine Tablets, Diazepam Tablets）, and observed the overall effect and scores of headache, accompanying symptoms, psychological and social adaptability scores, life quality scores, TCM symptoms scores and follow-up results before and after the treatment. Results In treatment group, the successful rate of attack control was 47.3 %, the improvement rate was 73.3 %, and the total effectiveness was 90.4 %, the clinical control rate and improvement were much superior to control group （the clinical control rate 35.7 %, improvement 61.4 %, the total effectiveness 85. 7 % ）, P〈0. 01, the difference in effect was mainly reflected in patients with moderate severity; the total scores of TCM syndrome after the treatment was obviously significant or very obviously significant（ P〈0. 05, P〈0. 01 ）, but the headache scores between two groups was not obviously significant（P〉0.05）, the difference in accompanying symptoms was significant（ P〈0. 01 ） ;the long term attack control action in two groups was not satisfactory, the recurrence was similar （P〉0. 05） ,the severity of headache in recurrence cases of treatment group was alleviated and superior to control group（ P 〈 0. 01 ）, the occurrence of headache after the treatment is much less than that before the treatment and the situation after 2 months was superior to control group （P〈0. 01 ）. Sleepiness and redness of face in some patients which were seen in control group weren＇t seen in treatment group. Conclusion Electro-acupuncture on Tàiyáng （太阳 EX-HN5） can control the attack of migraine due to hyperactivity of liver yang, and it has advantages in improving the accompanying symptoms and reducing the toxic and side effects of western drugs.

Effect of Chaihushugan San on expression of the Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway in the hippocampi of perimenopausal rats induced by immobilization stress

OBJECTIVE: We wished to study the impact of Chaihushugan San(CSS) on the behavior of perimenopausal rats with liver-Qi stagnation(LQS) and to investigate the effect of CSS on signal transduction of the Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase(MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK) cascade in the hippocampi of rats induced by immobilization.METHODS: Twenty 52-week-old female rats were divided into two groups by the random number table method: model control group(MCG) and CSS group(CSSG), with 10 rats in each group.Ten-week-old female rats were used as the normal control group(NCG). CSS effects were assessed using rats exposed to immobilization stress by measuring body weight and sucrose consumption, serum hormone levels, and observing performance in the open field test(OFT). Molecular mechanisms were examined by measuring the effect of CSS on expression of Raf1, MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 m RNA in hippocampi using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and by measuring levels of these proteins and related phospho-proteins using Western blotting.RESULTS: Perimenopausal rats with LQS had decreased locomotor activity; reduced sucrose consumption; and increased serum levels of corticotropin releasing hormone(CRH) and corticosterone(CORT). Activation of hippocampal Raf/MEK/ERK cascade was suppressed significantly in the MCG,and activation was increased after 21 days of CSS treatment.CONCLUSION: CSS has significant effects upon relief of the symptoms of LQS in immobilization-induced rats. The mechanism underlying this action might(at least in part) be mediated by reversal of disruption of the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway.