祛湿解痛汤配合手法综合治疗颈性头痛50例

目的:观察祛湿止痛类中药配伍组方再配合手法综合治疗颈性头痛的疗效。方法:采用祛湿解痛汤(羌活、荆芥、防风、川芎、香薷、蔓荆子、丹参等)内服,配合使用手法和中草药烫疗,观察病人头痛的治疗效果。结果:总有效率100%。结论:祛湿解痛汤配合手法综合治疗颈性头痛的疗效较好。

头痛宁胶囊治疗紧张型头痛113例

目的:探讨步长头痛宁胶囊治疗紧张型头痛的治疗效果。方法:收集紧张型头痛患者113例随机分3组,分别单独服用步长头痛宁胶囊、单独服用西比灵及联合服用头痛宁、西比灵28d。结果:头痛宁组总有效率为92.3%,西比灵组总有效率为66.67%,两组间总有效率与显效率比较均有显著性差异(P<0.017);联合组总有效率为90.24%,头痛宁组与联合组总有效率与显效率比较均无显著性差异(P>0.017);头痛宁组未见明显不良反应。结论:头痛宁胶囊治疗紧张型头痛方便、临床安全、有效。

小柴胡汤加味合西药治疗支气管哮喘43例

目的:观察小柴胡汤加味配合西药治疗支气管哮喘的疗效。方法:采用随机、对照的方法应用小柴胡汤加味配合西药治疗支气管哮喘,观察临床疾病疗效、临床中医证候疗效的改善情况。结果:治疗组与对照组比较,差异有显著性(P<0.05)。结论:小柴胡汤加味配合西药治疗支气管哮喘有明显的定喘止咳作用,在治疗支气管哮喘时,对于患者中医证候、临床症状的改善均优于单纯用西药治疗。

肾特灵治疗慢性肾小球肾炎60例

慢性肾小球肾炎是临床上比较常见而又难以治愈的疾病。自1997-10～1999-02笔者运用河南同济肾病研究中心提供的肾特灵治疗慢性肾小球肾炎60例,疗效满意,并设对照组进行对比观察,现总结报告如下.

周永明辨治周期性血小板减少性紫癜1例

周期性血小板减少性紫癜（cyclical thrombocytopenic purpura,CTP）是一种临床极为少见的血液病,临床以血小板周期性减少或伴发出血症状为特点,恢复期血小板计数经常超过正常值,血小板数量呈现出规律的、周期性的高峰和低谷交替的波动曲线,其周期大致为20～40天。国内有关本病的报道鲜见,隋涛等应用激素治疗4例周期性血小板减少性紫癜患者,1例基本治愈,2例无效,1例因合并纯红再障（PRCA）使用环孢素,疗效不能肯定。

Screening of Common Traditional Chinese Drugs for Reversing Multidrug Resistance of KBV200 In Vitro

The ethanolic extracts of 100 common traditional Chinese drugs, which are widely used in many prescriptions in treatment of cancer in China, were screened for MDR of KBV200 cell line in vitro with MTT method. The result showed 9 extracts having MDR reversal activity. They were the extracts of Fructus Lagenariae Sicerariae, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Poria, Herba Andrographitis, Radix Sophorae Tonkinensis, Caulis Mahoniae, Folium Artemisiae Argyi, Rhizoma Curcumae, Fructus Cnidii. Other 5 extracts showed cytotoxic on KBV200 cell line. $$$$

In vitro screening of traditionally used medicinal plants in China against Enteroviruses

AIM： To search for new antiviral agents from traditional Chinese medicine, specifically anti-enterovirosuses agents. METHODS： The aqueous extracts （AE） of more than 100 traditionally used medicinal plants in China were evaluated for their in vitro anti-Coxsackie virus B3 activities with a MTT-based colorimetric assay. RESULTS： The test for AE of 16 plants exhibited anti- Coxsackie virus B3 activities at different magnitudes of potency. They can inhibit three steps （inactivation, adsorption and replication） during the infection. Among the 16 plants, Sargentodoxa cuneata （Oliv.） Rehd. et Wils., Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep., Paeonia veitchii Lynch, Spatholobus suberectus Dunn. and Cyrtorniurn fortunei J, sm. also have activity against other enterovirus, including Coxsackie virus 135, Polio virus I, Echo virus 9 and Echo virus 29. Cell cytotoxic assay demonstrated that all tested AE had CC50 values higher than their EC50 values. CONCLUSION： The sixteen traditionally used medicinal plants in China possessed antMral activity, and some of them merit further investigations.

Antitumor effect and mechanism of Gecko on human esophageal carcinoma cell lines in vitro and xenografted sarcoma 180 in Kunming mice

AIM: To investigate the anti-tumor effect of Chinese medicine Gecko on human esophageal carcinoma cell lines and xenografted sarcoma 180 in Kunming mice and its mechanism. METHODS: The serum pharmacological method was used in vitro . The growth rates of the human esophageal carcinoma cells (EC9706 or EC1) were measured by a modifi ed 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The transplanted tumor model of the mouse S180 sarcoma was established. Fifty mice were randomly divided into fi ve groups (n = 10). Three Gecko groups were treated respectively with oral administration of Gecko powder at a daily dose of 13.5 g/kg, 9 g/kg, and 4.5 g/kg. The negative group (NS group) was treated with oral administration of an equal volume of saline and the positive group (CTX group) was treated with 100 mg/kg Cytoxan by intraperitoneal injection at the fi rst day. After 2 wk of treatment, the anti-tumor activity was evaluated by tumor tissue weighing. The impact on immune organ was detected based on the thymus index, spleen index, phagocytic rate and phagocytic index. The protein expression of vascular endothelingrowth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were detected by immunohistochemistry. The cell apoptotic rate was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. RESULTS: The A value in each group treated with Gecko after 72 h was reduced signif icantly in EC9706 and in EC1. The tumor weight in each group of Gecko was decreased signifi cantly (1.087 ± 0.249 vs 2.167 ± 0.592; 1.021 ± 0.288 vs 2.167 ± 0.592; 1.234 ± 0.331 vs 2.167 ± 0.592; P < 0.01, respectively). However, the thymus index and Spleen index of mice in Gecko groups had no significant difference compared with the NS group. The immunoreactive score of VEGF and bFGF protein expression of each Gecko group by immunohistochemical staining were lowered signifi cantly. The apoptosis index (AI) of each group was increased progressively with increase of dose of Gecko by TUNEL. CONCLUSION: Gecko has anti-tumor effects in vitro and in vivo; induction of tumor cell apoptosis and the down-regulation of protein expression of VEGF and bFGF may be contributed to anti-tumor effects of Gecko.

Comparison of integrated Chinese and Western medicine with and without somatostatin supplement in the treatment of severe acute pancreatitis

AIM: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of the combined use of early short-term somatostatin and conventional integrated Chinese and Western medicine in treating severe acute pancreatitis. METHODS: Sixty patients with severe acute pancreatitis were divided at random into a somatostatin group and a basic treatment group. Both groups received integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine without surgery. For patients in the somatostatin group, somatostatin was infused intravenously 250 μg/h for 72 h; other medications were the same as in the basic treatment group. In both groups, comparisons of therapeutic effectiveness were made in terms of morbidity of organic dysfunction and mortality rate, and severity of the disease according to serum levels of C-reaction protein, scores of acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE Ⅱ), and scores of Balthazar-CT. RESULTS: The indexes for C-reaction protein levels on the fourth and seventh clays, and APACHE II scores on the seventh day after treatment, were significantly improved in the somatostatin group than in the basic treatment group. The morbidity of organic dysfunction was lower in the somatostatin group than in the basic treatment group, although the difference was not statistically significant. There was no significant difference in mortality between the two groups. CONCLUSION: We conclude that combined traditional Chinese and Western medicines with an early short-term use of somatostatin can improve the condition of patients with severe acute pancreatitis.

Effects of total glucosides of peony on immunological hepatic fibrosis in rats

AIM: To study the effects of total glucosides of peony (TGP) on immunological hepatic fibrosis induced by human albumin in rats.METHODS: Sixty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into: Normal group, model group, TGP (60 and 120 mg/kg) treatment groups and colchicines (0.1 mg/kg) treatment group. On the day before the rats were killed, those in TGP or colchicine groups received TGP or colchicine as above from the first day of tail vein injection of human albumin. The rats in normal and model groups were only administered with the same volume of vehicle. At the end of the 16th wk, rats in each group were killed. Blood and tissue specimens were taken. Levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), nitric oxide (NO), content of malondialdehyde (MDA), activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px), were measured by biochemical methods. Serum procollagen type Ⅲ (PC Ⅲ) and laminin (LN) were determined by radioimmunoassay. Liver collagen level was determined by measuring hydroxyproline content in fresh liver samples. Hepatic tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and examined under a light microscope.RESULTS: Histological results showed that TGP improved the human albumin-induced alterations in the liver structure, alleviated lobular necrosis and significantly lowered collagen content. The antifibrotic effect of TGP was also confirmed by decreased serum content of LN and PCⅢ in TGP-treated group. Moreover, the treatment with TGP effectively reduced the hydroxyproline contentin liver homogenates. However, the level of ALT and AST increased in fibrotic rat but had no significance compared with normal control, whereas the ratio of A/G decreased without significance. TGP had no effect on level of ALT, AST and the ratio of A/G. Furthermore, TGP treatment significantly blocked the increase in MDA and NO, associated with a partial elevation in liver total antioxidant capacity including SOD and GSH-px.CONCLUSION: TGP has beneficial effects on hepaticfibrosis in rats by inhibition of collagen synthesis and decreasing oxidative stress.

Effects of rhubarb on isolated gastric muscle strips of guinea pigs

AIM:To study the effects of rhubarb (dried root of Rheum officinale Baill.) on contractile activity of isolated gastric muscle strips of guinea pigs and its possible mechanism. METHODS: A total of 48 guinea pigs were killed to remove the whole stomach. Then, the stomach was opened and the mucosal layer was removed. Parallel to the circular fibers, muscle strips were cut from the body. Each isolated gastric muscle strip was suspended in a tissue chamber containing 5 mL Krebs solution, constantly warmed by water jacket at 37℃ and bubbled continuously with a mixed gas of 950 mL/L O2 and 50 mL/L CO2. After being incubated for 1 h with 1 g tension, rhubarb of varied concentrations (1%, 2%, 7%, 20% and 70%) was added cumulatively into the tissue chamber at intervals of 2 min. Atropine (10-6 mol/L) or isoptin (5x10-8 mol/L) or hexamethonium (10-5 mol/L) was given 2 min before the administration of rhubarb. The isometrical response was measured with an ink-writing recorder. RESULTS: Rhubarb dose dependently increased the resting tension of gastric body circular muscle (CM) (r = 0.726, P<0.05). Atropine (r= 0.829, A:0.05), isoptin (r= 0.764, A;0.05) and hexamethonium (r = 0.797, P<0.05) did not affect its action in a dose-related manner. Atropine apparently reduced the increasing action of 1%, 3%, 10%, 30% and 100% rhubarb on the resting tension of gastric body CM. Isoptin inhibited the effect of 10%, 30% and 100% rhubarb on the resting tension of gastric body CM. Hexamethonium reduced the increasing action of 1%, 10%, 30% and 100% rhubarb on the resting tension of gastric body CM. Rhubarb increased the contractile frequency of CM of body. While atropine, isoptin and hexamethonium did not inhibit the contractile frequency of gastric body CM in comparison with rhubarb at the same concentration, rhubarb at the highest concentration (100%) decreased the mean contractile amplitude of gastric body CM. Atropine, isoptin and hexamethonium did not affect the mean contractile amplitude of gastric body CM compared to rhubarb at the same concentration. CONCLUSION: Rhubarb has exciting actions on isolated gastric smooth muscle strips of guinea pig. The exciting action of rhubarb is partly mediated via cholinergic M receptor, cholinergic N receptor and L-type calcium channel.

Efficacy of Chinese medicine Yi-gan-kang granule in prophylaxis and treatment of liver fibrosis in rats

AIM:To investigate the efficacy of a Chinese medicine, Yi-gan-kang granule (granules for benefiting the liver), in prophylaxis and treatment of liver fibrosis in rats and its possible mechanism. METHODS: One hundred and forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven groups (20 each): group 1, blank control group without any interference during the study; group 2, CCI4-induced liver fibrosis group; group 3, pig serum-induced liver fibrosis group; group 4, prophylaxis group of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis by Yi-gan-kang; group 5, prophylaxis group of pig serum-induced liver fibrosis by Yi-gan-kang; group 6, treatment group of CCI4-induced liver fibrosis by Yi-gan-kang; group 7, treatment group of CCI4-induced liver fibrosis by Yi-gan-kang. At wk 6,10,14 and 20 (baseline for CCl4., or big serum induction), five rats in each group were anesthetized and their livers were removed for pathological studies including immunohistochemical studies for α-SMA, type I collagen and In situ hybridization of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TTMP-1) mRNA of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Anti-lipid peroxidation in isolated mitochondria and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay for proliferation and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-medicated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL), flow cytometry and electron microscopy for apoptosis in isolated HSCs were also studied. RESULTS: The mean number of pseudolobuli at wk 10, 14 and 20 in the prophylaxis group was significantly less than that in the control group (P<0.05 or 0.01). The effect of prophylaxis at wk 14 in CCI4 rats and at wk 10 in pig serum-induced rats was much better than that of treatment group (P<0.01). The thickness (in μm) of fibers both in pig serum-induced prophylaxis and in treatment groups at wk 14 and. 20 was significantly less than that in control group (P<0.05). The number of fibers both in prophylaxis and in treatment groups from wk 10 or 14 to 20 was significantly less than that in control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The tissue HSC positive rates of type I collagen, α-SMA and TIMP-1 mRNA, which represented the active phenotype of HSCs in tissues, remained very high from wk 6 to the end of model making in control group. While in prophylaxis group, they were at a relatively low level. In treatment group, there was a gradual decreasing trend. Time- and dose-dependent effects of anti-lipid peroxidation on isolated mitochondria, cell proliferation and apoptosis in cultured HSCs were also observed during the study. CONCLUSION: Yi-gan-kang can effectively inhibit or inverse the course of liver fibrogenesis in CCI4- and pig serum-induced rat models.

Gastroprotective activity of Nigella sativa L oil and its constituent, thymoquinone against acute alcohol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats

AIM: To evaluate the role of reactive oxygen species in the pathogenesis of acute ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions and the effect of Nigella sativa L oil (NS) and its constituent thymoquinone (TQ) in an experimental model.METHODS: Male Wistar albino rats were assigned into 4groups. Control group was given physiologic saline orally (10 mL/kg body weight) as the vehicle (gavage); ethanol group was administrated 1 mL (per rat) absolute alcohol by gavage; the third and fourth groups were given NS (10 mL/kg body weight) and TQ (10 mg/kg body weight p.o) respectively 1 h prior to alcohol intake. One hour after ethanol administration, stomach tissues were excised for macroscopic examination and biochemical analysis.RESULTS: NS and TQ could protect gastric mucosa against the injurious effect of absolute alcohol and promote ulcer healing as evidenced from the ulcer index (UI) values. NS prevented alcohol-induced increase in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), an index of lipid peroxidation. NS also increased gastric glutathione content (GSH), enzymatic activities of gastric superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). Likewise, TQ protected against the ulcerating effect of alcohol and mitigated most of the biochemical adverse effects induced by alcohol in gastric mucosa, but to a lesser extent than NS. Neither NS nor TQ affected catalase activity in gastric tissue.CONCLUSION: Both NS and TQ, particularly NS can partly protect gastric mucosa from acute alcohol-induced mucosal injury, and these gastroprotective effects might be induced, at least partly by their radical scavenging activity.

Effect of Chinese medicine Qinggan Huoxuefang on inducing HSC apoptosis in alcoholic liver fibrosis rats

AIM： To investigate the effect of Qinggan Huoxuefang （QGHXF） on improvement of liver function and pathology in rats, and to analyze the mechanism. METHODS： Wistar rats were divided into three groups at random： normal control group （12）, micro-amount carbon tetrachlodde group （CCh）（12） and model group A （60）. The model group A was ingested with the mixture （500 mL/L alcohol, 8 mL/kg per day; corn oil, 2 mL/kg per day; pyrazole, 24 mg/kg per day） once a day and intraperitoneal injections of 0.25 mL/kg of a 250 mL/L solution of CCh in olive oil twice a week for 12 wk. The CCh group received intraperitoneal injections only. At the end of 8 wk the model group A （60） was divided into 5 subgroups： model group, Xiaochaihu Chongji （XCH） group, QGHXF high dose group, moderate dose group and low dose group, and were given the drugs respectively. At the end of 12 wk, all the rats were killed and blood samples collected, as well as liver tissue. Blood samples were used for evaluation of alanine transaminase （ALT）, aspartate aminotransferase （AST）, alkaline phosphatase （ALP）, gamma-glutamyltransferase （y-GT）. Liver specimens were obtained for routine HE, apoptosis gene array and flow cytometry analysis. RESULTS： A liver fibrosis animal model was successfully established. Fibrosis was obviously reduced in QGHXF high dose group, and no fibrosis formed in CCh group. Compared with model group the QGHXF group and XCH group could obviously decrease the level of ALT, AST, ALP, and GGT （P〈0.05）. QGHXF high dose group was better than XCH group in ALT （615± 190 vs 867± 115）,and AST（1972 ± 366 vs 2777 ± 608）. Moreover, QGHXF could reduce liver inflammation, fibrosis-induced hepatic stellate cell （HSC） apoptosis and regulate apoptosis gene expression. The HSC apoptosis rates of QGHXF groups were 22.4±3.13, 13.79±2.26 and 10.07± 1.14, higher than model group, 6.58±1.04 （P〈 0.05）. Compared to model group, 39 genes were up-regulated, 11 solely expressed and 17 down-regulated in high dose group. CONCLUSION： QGHXF can improve liver fibrosis and induce HSC apoptosis.

The Effect of Lumbrokinase on P-selectin and E-selectin in Cerebral Ischemia Model of Rat

Purpose: To find the effect of lumbrokinase (LK) on P-selectin and E-selectin in ischemic rats. Methods: Male healthy Spragur-Dawley rats weighing 180-220 g (n=90) were divided into 4 groups: (1) normal control group (n=5), (2) sham-operated group (n=35), (3) ischemic group (n=35), (4) LK group (n=15). LK 10mg/kg (2000UK activity of LK) was given by intraperitoneal injection in the LK group 30 minutes before experiment. Same volume of normal saline was given in the sham-operated group and ischemic group. The ischemic model was made by modified Haruo Nagasawa's method. Immunohistochemistry was used to observe the P-selectin and E-selectin positive cells in the ischemic region. Results: P-selectin and E-selectin positive cells in ischemic regions were observed in the ischemic group, and the peak of expression was at 6 hours and 12 hours, respectively. The similar changes were not observed in normal control group. There were only a few positive cells in the sham-operated group. In LK group, the P-selectin and E-selectin positive cells were significantly less than those in the ischemic group (P<0.05 at 3 hours after the onset, P<0.01 at 6 hours and P<0.01 at 12 hours, respectively). Conclusions: LK might significantly decrease the immunoreactions of P-selectin and E-selectin in ischemic lesion.

Chinese medicine compound Changtong oral liquid on postoperative intestinal adhesions

AIM: The aim of this study was to observe the effect of a Chinese medicine compound Changtong oral liquid (CT) on tissue plasminogen activity (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI), TGF-β1 and hydroxyproline (OHP). METHODS: Two sets of animal experiments were performed in the present study. Forty New Zealand rabbits and 48 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were assigned randomly to one of the five groups: sham adhesion, adhesion with saline, adhesion with low dosage of the CT, adhesion with middle dosage of the CT and adhesion with high dosage of the CT. t-PA and PAI activity in plasma, OHP and TGF-β1 expression in adhesion were investigated. Analysis of variance was used to test differences among groups. RESULTS: CT treatment increased plasma t-PA activity in rabbits but decreased TGF-β1 activity in rats. The data were expressed from low to high dose respectively as follows: t-PA, 46.1±8.6 μkat/L, 59.6±10.1 μkat/L, 64.0±11.5 μkat/L; TGF-β1 28±7.23%, 31±3.05%, 30±4.04%. There were significant differences compared with saline-treated animals (t-PA 26.4±5.1 μkat/L, TGF-β1 54±5.51%). OHP content in cecum of rabbits from middle and high but not low dose of CT lowered significantly as compared with saline-treated rabbits, 0.3641±0.1373, 0.3348±0.0321, 0.2757±0.0497 mg/g vs 0.4183±0.0883 mg/g of protein, P>0.05, P<0.05, P<0.05 respectively. The rabbit plasma PAI activity and OHP content in abdominal wall had no difference in all groups. CONCLUSION: CT treatment significantly enhanced t-PA activity in rabbits, but decreased TGF-β1 content in rats, OHP content in cecum of rabbits, and failed to affect the activity of PAI and OHP content in abdominal wall in rabbits, compared with saline group. The result suggests that CT could effectively prevent adhesions without interfering wound healina.

Effect of Hewei-Decoction on chronic atrophic gastritis and eradication of Helicobacter pylori

AIM: To demonstrate the effect of Hewei-Decoction (Decoction for regulating the stomach) on chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) and eradication of Helicobacter pylori. METHODS: Ninety patients with CAG entering the investigation were divided into six differentiation syndromes, based on their major symptoms and signs. Hewei-Decoction was taken by all the patients orally for 4 or 8 wk. The efficacy was assessed by both the composite accumulation of reduced scores of major symptoms and the eradication of H pylori.X2 test was used to compare the efficacy between H pylori-positive and negative cases, and to disclose the relationship between efficacy and eradication of H pylori. RESULTS: In patients with six different syndrome types, the efficacy of Hewei-Decoction was 91.67% (11/12), 92.86% (13/14), 97.22% (35/36), 87.50% (14/16), 75.00% (6/8), 75.00% (3/4) respectively. The rate of highly efficacious was 58.33% (7/12), 50.00% (7/14), 77.78% (28/36), 62.50% (10/16), 12.50% (1/8) and 25.00% (1/4), respectively. The total efficacy was 91.11% (82/90), and the rate of highly efficacious was 60.00% (54/90). The eradication rate of H pylori was 67.86% (38/56). The therapeutic effect of Hewei-Decoction was better in H pylori positive cases than that in H pylori-negative cases with the total effect of 96.43% vs 82.35% (P<0.05). In 56 H pylori positive cases, the therapeutic effect was better in H pylori eradicated cases than that in H pylori-existent cases with the total effect of 97.37% vs 72.22% (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Hewei-Decoction is effective in most cases of all the syndrome types. The results indicate that eradication of H pylori is one of the important mechanisms for alleviation of symptoms and signs. Also, the decoction is efficacious in H pylori-negative cases.

Preliminary Investigation on Regulating Effects of Different TCM Treatments on Transcription of the Correlated Genes of Liver Cancer in Rats

The regulating effects of TCM treatments including clearing away heat and toxic materials,promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis,and strengthening the spleen and regulating qi on the oncogene transcription were observed in the liver cancer model rats.The preliminary results indicated that the mRNA levels of H-ras N-ras and K-ras,and signal molecules correlated with the ras/MAPK signal transduction pathway were down-regulated by the different TCM treatments in varying degrees.Also,the regulating effects of the treatments on differently-displayed genes were discrepant.It is suggested that the molecular mechanisms of the TCM treatments for liver cancer was complex with different target genes.

Effects of magnolol and honokiol derived from traditional Chinese herbal remedies on gastrointestinal movement

AIM： To study the effects of magnolol and honokiol on isolated smooth muscle of gastrointestinal tract and their relationship with Ca^2＋, and on the gastric emptying and the intestinal propulsive activity in mice.METHODS： Routine experimental methods using isolated gastric fundus strips of rats and isolated ileum segments of guinea pigs were adopted to measure the smooth muscle tension, The effects of magnolol 10^-3, 10^-4, 10^-5 mol/L, and honokiol 10^-4, 10^-5, 10^-6 mol/L on the contractility of gastric fundus strips of rats and ileum of guinea pigs induced by acetylcholine （Ach） and 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT） was assessed respectively, The method using nuclein and pigment methylene blue was adopted to measure the gastric retention rate of nuclein and the intestinal propulsive ratio of a nutritional semi-solid meal for assessing the effect of magnolol and honokiol （0.5, 2, 20 mg/kg） on gastric emptying and intestinal propulsion.RESULTS： Magnolol and honokiol significantly inhibited the contractility of isolated gastric fundus strips of rats treated with Ach or 5-HT and isolated ileum guinea pigs treated with Ach or CaCl2, and both of them behaved as non-competitive muscarinic antagonists. Magnolol and honokiol inhibited the contraction induced by Ach in Ca^2＋-free medium and extracellular Ca^2＋-dependent contraction induced by Ach, Each group of magnolol and honokiol experiments significantly decreased the residual rate of nudein in the stomach and increased the intestinal propulsive ratio in mice.CONCLUSION： The inhibitory effect of magnolol and honokiol on contractility of the smooth muscles of isolated gastric fundus strips of rats and isolated ileum of guinea pigs is associated with a calcium-antagonistic effect. Magnolol and honokiol can improve the gastric emptying of a semi-solid meal and intestinal propulsive activity in mice.

Amelioration effects of traditional Chinese medicine on alcohol-induced fatty liver

AIM： To examine the effects of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） on alcohol-induced fatty liver in rats. TCM consists of Astragalus membranaceus, Morus alba, Crataegus pinnatifida, Alisma orientale, Salvia miltiorrhiza, and Pueraria lobata. METHODS： The rats were separated randomly into five groups. One （the CD group） was fed a control diet for 10 wk, another （the ED group） fed an ethanol-containing isocaloric liquid diet for 10 wk, and the last three （the TCM group） were fed an ethanol-containing isocaloric liquid diet for 10 wk and dosed orally with TCM （222 mg/kg.d, TCM222; 667 mg/kg·d, TCM667; and 2 000 mg/kg.d, TCM2000, respectively） weekly during the last 4 wk. RESULTS： ED group developed fatty liver according to lipid profile and liver histological findings. Compared with the control group, liver/body weight, serum triglyceride （TG） and total cholesterol （TC）, liver TG and TC, serum alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartic aminotransferase （AST） significantly increased in the ED group. Whereas, in the rats administered with TCM, liver/body weight, serum TG and TC, liver TG and TC, serum ALT and AST were significantly decreased, and the degree of hepatic lipid droplets was markedly improved compared with those in the ED group. CONCLUSION： TCM treatment causes significant reduction in alcohol-induced lipid hepatic accumulation, reversing fatty liver and liver damage, and can be used as a remedy for alcoholic fatty liver.