Screening of Epstein-Barr Virus Early Antigen Expression Inducers from Chinese Medicinal Herbs and Plants

Ether extrilcls of 1693 Chinesc medicinal herbs and plilnts from 268 families werestudied for the induction of Epstcin-Barr viral (EBV ) early antigcn (EA ) expression in theRaji cell line. Fifty-two from 18 families were found to have inducing activity. Twenty-fiveand seven of them were from Euphorbiaccae and Thymclaeaceae, respectively. Some ofthem, such as Croton tiglium, Euphorbia kansui, Daphnc genkwa, Wikstrocmia chamacdaphen, Wikstroemia indica, Prunus mandshurica Koehne and Achyranthes bidentata arecommonly used drugs. The significance of these herbs in the activation of EBV in vivo andtheir relation to the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma were discussed.

The Influence of Chinese Medicinal Herb on Chicken Immune Organs and Small Intestinal Mucosa Immune Organization

[Objective] The aim was to explore the mechanism of Chinese medicinal herb to enhance the body＇s immune. [Method] The quantitative distribution of immunocytes in chicken small intestinal mucosa lymphoid tissue-secretory type immune globulin cell A were dynamic observed to research chicken immune organ growth with histology conventional slice technology and immunohistochemistry dye. 1 day age healthy roosters were divided into 3 groups： the group 3 was control group. 1% and 0.5% concentration of Chinese herbal medicine immunopotentiator drinking water were added in the group 1 and 2 in continuous 60 d. The immune organ index was determined every 12 d and the histotomy of chicken small intes- tine in group control and 1% were taken for histological observation on day 24, 36 and 48. [ Result] Treatment group immune organ index was significantly higher than that of the control group and 1% group of small intestinal villus inherent intraformational immune cells number significantly increased （P〈0.01） compared with controls. Day 36 age group and day 48 group immune cells were higher than day 24 group of cell number （P〈 0.01 ）. [ Conclusionl Chinese medicinal herb had obvious role in promoting chicken immune organ growth and obvious influence on the quantity change of the intestinal mucosal immune cells.

Effects of the Chinese Medicinal Herb Com plex Additives on Non-specific Immunity of Amursturgeon( Acipenser schrencki Brandt)

This study was to investigate the effects of aqueous decotion from three Chinese medicinal herb additives （ Cyrtomium fortunei, prescription I and prescription II） on non-specific immunity of 1 ＋ age old Amur sturgeon （Acipenser schrencki Brandt） by oral perfusion. Cyrtomiumfortunei, prescription I and prescription II were orally given to 15 fishes for each experimental group once a day, with the concentration of 9,175 and 36 g/S0 kg body weight, respectively. The administration was lasted for 14 days. Meanwhile, distilled water was orally given as the control. After the experiment, some of the experimental fishes were stimulated with high temperature （30 ℃ ） for two hours. Sampling was performed from fishes treated at 22 ℃ and 30 ℃ for measuring the protein content in the serum, phagocytic activity of leucocytes and the activity of the lysozyme in six tissues. The results indicated that Cyrtomiumfortunei and prescription II could help to enhance the content of various proteins and the phagocytic activity of leucocytes. There was no significant change in the effects between these two additives at either the normal temperature or high temperature. Prescription I did not show an obvious effect on the immunity of fishes at the normal temperature, but it did in promo- ting high-efficiency response and improving immunoregulation of fish shocked by some stimuli.

ANALYSIS OF VOLATILE CONSTITUENTS OF CHINESE MEDICINAL HERBS BY FLASH DISTILLATION/CAPILLARY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY/MASS SPECTROMETRY

In present work,the volatile constituents of Curcuma longa L.,A.lancea (Thunb.) DC.,Foeniculum vulgare Mill,and Cinnamomun cassia Presl.have been analyzed by flash distillation/capillary gas chro-matography/mass spectrometry.The results are consistent with those obtained by conventional steam distillation extraction method.The optimum condition of flash distillation has been studied.The experimental results showed that this new technique proved to be a simple,rapid and efficient tool for microanalysis of volatile constituents of Chinese medicinal herbs.

Treatment of Retinal Vein Obstruction with Acupuncture and Chinese Medicinal Herbs

We have treated thirty-two cases (52 eyes) of retinal vein obstruction by acupuncture and oral administration of Huo Xue Ming Mu Decoction. The total effective rate of 90.38% demonstrated that the treatment was definitely effective.

China Beijing Tongrentang Holdings Corp.Beijing Tongrentang Chinese Medicinal Herb Refinery

Beijing Tongrentang was founed byMr. Le Zunyu in the eighth year of the reignof Emperor Qianlong (1669) in Qing Dynasty.Le Zunyu once served as an official in chargeof documents and archives for the imperialhospital for the Qing imperial palace. Takingthe advantage of his position, he collectednumerous proven prescriptions and folkrecipes as well as secret prescriptions of afamily handed down from generation togeneration, and prepared ready-made herbalcompounds. With unique recipes, carefully-chosen ingredients, fine technology andconspicuously curative effect of such ready-made herbal compounds, BeijingTongrentang thus established itself areputation. In 1952, under the leadership of LeSongsheng, descendant of the Le family andformer manager of Tongrentang, thecountry’ s first medicinal herb tablet producer,Beijing Tongrentang Chinese Medicinal HerbRefinery, was set up. With the developmentin the past four decades, the refinery hasbecome one of the core enterprises underBeijing Tongrentang Group

COMBINED TREATMENT OF 200 CASES OF PERIPHERY FACIAL PARALYSIS WITH ACUPUNCTURE AND CHINESE MEDICINAL HERBS

In the present study, 200 cases of periphery facial paralysis were treated with combined therapies of handle needle, electroacupuncture (EA), electronic moxibustion and oral administration of Supplemented Qianzheng San. After treatment, of the 200 cases, 176 were cured, 15 had marked improvement and 9 had improvement. Two groups of acupoints were chosen and used alternately for keeping the excitement of acupoints, preventing acupoint fatigue and raising the therapeutic effect. In the acute stage of periphery facial palsy, acupuncture treatment was performed using shallow needling, mild manipulation and no needling penetration. In the convalescence stage and sequela stage, penetration needling was adopted and stronger stimulation given. During acute period and when facial muscular spasm appeared, EA stimulation was not suitable for facial acupoints. Over use of vision should be avoided.

A Review of Chinese Herb Medicine Additives on Chicken Growth Performance

Researches showed that many Chinese herb medicines can improve chicken growth performance not only by their pharmacological function, but also by the improvement of antioxidant function, immunity and disease resistance of chicken. The menace to human health and environment has occurred since too much antibiotics have been used as growth-promoting additives in long term in chicken industry. Therefore, research on replacement of antibiotics by Chinese herb medicines as additives for chicken growth is underway. This paper summarized some research results in the topic briefly to provide information for researchers and readers.

Effects of Nourishing “Yin”-Removing “Fire” Chinese Herb Mixture on the Expression of GABAB Receptors in Hypothalamus of Precocious Puberty Female Rats

Objectives: To investigate the potential role of GABAB Receptors (GABABRs) involved in the effect of Nourishing “Yin”-Removing “Fire” Chinese herb mixture (TCM) treatment on precocious puberty. Methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal (N), central precocious puberty (CPP) model (M), CPP fed with normal saline (S) and CPP fed with Nourishing “Yin”-Removing “Fire” Chinese herb mixture (TCM). Rats of postnatal day 5 were given a single subcutaneous injection of 240 μg danazol to establish CPP model rats. Rats of S and TCM groups were continuously administered with saline or nourishing “Yin”-removing “Fire” Chinese herb mixture since postnatal day 15. The expression of GABABRs was detected by means of real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. Results: The expression of hypothalamic GnRH mRNA in M was significantly increased on the day of pre-puberty when compared with that of N (P < 0.01). On the day of onset-puberty, LH levels were higher in M than those in N (P < 0.01), while the serum E2 and LH levels of TCM decreased when compared with those of M (P B1 receptor (GABABR1) immunoreactive cells in the arcuate nucleus (ARN) was decreased in M when compared with that of N (P < 0.05) and increased in TCM compared with that of M (P < 0.05);simultaneously, the expression of GABABR1 mRNA in hypothalamus was significantly decreased in M when compared with that of N (P < 0.01) and increased in TCM compared with that of M (P < 0.01). On the day of onset-puberty, the number of GABABR1 immunoreactive cells in medial septum (MS) was decreased in M compared with that in N (P < 0.05) and increased in TCM comparing with that of M (P < 0.05);meanwhile, the mRNA expression of GABABR1 in hypothalamus was decreased in M compared with that in N (P B2 receptor (GABABR2) immunoreactive cells in the ARN, MS and diagnonal band of broca (DBB) were decreased in M when compared with those of N (P < 0.05) and increased in TCM compared with those of M (P < 0.05) on the day of onset-puberty. At the same time, the mRNA expression of GABABR2 was significantly decreased in M compared with that of N (P < 0.01). Conclusions: These results indicated that the GABABRs might involve in the curative effect of Nourishing “Yin”-Removing “Fire” Chinese herbal mixture on CPP rats.

An optimal medicinal and edible Chinese herbal formula attenuates particulate matter-induced lung injury through its anti-oxidative,anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis activities

Objective:Identifying novel strategies to prevent particulate matter(PM)-induced lung injury is crucial for the reduction of the morbidity of chronic respiratory diseases.The combined intervention represented by herbal formulae for simultaneously targeting multiple pathological processes can provide a more beneficial effect than the single intervention.The aim of this paper is therefore to design a safe and effective medicinal and edible Chinese herbs(MECHs)formula against PM-induced lung injury.Methods:PM-induced oxidative stress,inflammatory response and apoptosis A549 cell model were used to screen anti-oxidant,anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic MECHs,respectively.A network pharmacology method was utilized to rationally design a novel herbal formula.Ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer was utilized to assess the quality control of MECHs formula.The excretion of magnetic iron oxide nanospheres of the MECHs formula was estimated in zebrafish.The MECH formula against PM-induced lung injury was investigated with mice experiments.Results:Five selected herbs were rationally designed to form a new MECH formula,including Citri Exocarpium Rubrum(Juhong),Lablab Semen Album(Baibiandou),Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma(Baizhu),Mori Folium(Sangye)and Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma(Yuzhu).The formula effectively promoted the magnetic iron oxide nanospheres excretion in zebrafish.The mid/high dose formula significantly prevented PM-induced lung damage in mice by enhancing the activity of SOD and GSH-Px,reducing the MDA and ROS level and attenuating the upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine(IL-6,IL-8,IL-1βand TNFa),down regulating the protein expression of NF-κB,STAT3 and Caspase-3.Conclusion:Our findings suggest that the effective MECHs formula will become a novel strategy for preventing PM-induced lung injury and provide a paradigm for the development of functional foods using MECHs.

Determination of vanadium in food and traditional Chinese medicine by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy

Various experimental conditions were described for the vanadium determinationby graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS). The experiments showed that whenatomization took place under the conditions where the combination of a pyrolytic coating graphitetube and fast raising temperature were used and the temperature was stable, the signal peak shapescould be improved, the sensitivity was enhanced, and the memory effect was removed. The vanadium infood and traditional Chinese medicinal herbs can be accurately determined using the standard curvemethod.

Study on Early Application of Chinese Medicinal Herbs after Total Gastrectomy

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Chinese medicinal herbs on digestive function, nutritional status, immune function and complication rate in patients after total gastrectomy. Methods: Thirty-nine patients performed total gastrectomy were divided into two groups and had their small intestine intubated for administering medicine postoperatively. Twenty-one of them belonged to the treated group and had Chinese medicinal herbs dripped into their small intestine intraluminally during the early postoperative stage, while the 18 cases in the control group were dripped with 0.9% sodium chloride. Results: The digestive function of the treated group recovered rapidly, and the nutritional status and immune function improved markedly as compared with those of the control group (P<0.01-0.05). Conclusion: Early application of Chinese medicinal herbs after total gastrectomy could promote the digestive function to recover to normal, and improve the nutritional status and immune function. And occurrence of complication was reduced.

Study on the Networks of "Nature-Family-Component" of Chinese Medicinal Herbs Based on Association Rules Mining

Objective： To explore appropriate methods for the research of the theory of Chinese medicine nature property and find the relationship between Nature-Family-Component of Chinese herbs. Methods： From perspective of systems biology, we used Associate Network to identify useful relationships among ＂Nature- Family-Component＂ of Herbs. In this work, Associate Network combines association rules mining method and network construction method to evaluate the complicate relationship among ＂Nature-Family-Component＂ of herbs screened. Results： The results of association rules mining showed that the families had a close relationship with nature properties of herbs. For example, the families of Magnoliaceae, Araceae had a close relationship with hot nature with confidence of 100%, the families of Cucurbitaceae has a close relationship to cold nature with confidence of 90,91%. Moreover, the results of constructed Associate Network implied that herbs belonging to the same families generally had the same natures. In addition, some herbs belonging to different families may also have same natures when they contain the same main components. Conclusion： These results implied that the main components of herbs might affect their natures; the relationships between families and natures were based on the main compounds of herbs.

Effects of 24 Chinese Medicinal Herbs on Nucleic Acid, Protein and Cell Cycle of Human Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells

Objective: To study the effects of 24 Chinese medicinal herbs on nucleic acid, protein and cellcycle of human lung adenocarcinoma cells. Methods: Using flow cytometry the authors analysed the effects of 24Chinese medicinal herbs (CMH) in compound recipe on proliferation index (PI), DNA index, protein index andratio of various phases in cell cycle of human lung adenocarcinoma cells (SPC-A-1). Results: The PI was morethan 20%, in 4 CMH, while 3 CMH, Gynostemma Pentaphylla, Radix Glehnia, and Radix Ginseng couldstrengthen the body resistance. That suggested using CMH of strengthening body resistance could not only serveas conventional ionic but also as tumor cell inhibitor. Meanwhile the action points of 24 CMH on cell cycle weredifferent from one another. Conclusions: According to these results, Chinese recipes were more effective in clinical practice.

Photosensitizer Screeningfrom Chinese Medicinal Herbs and Photodynamic Anticancer Studies

Objective: To find new photosensitizers from Chinese medicinal herbs for cancer photodynamic therapy. Methods: The extracts of thirteen herbs were examined: (1) Their fluorescence excitation wave lengths and emission wave lengths; (2) Their fluorescence intensity in living cells and (3) Their distribution and localization in the living cells and the fixed cells both stained in each extract, and responses of cell fluorescence intensity to pH value change. Furthermore, the herb's anticancer photosensitive efficiencies were studied by using BGC823 human stomach cancer cells. Results: Cortex Phellodendri and Rhizoma Coptidis, were found with optimal fluorescence properties as photosensitizers in this test. The latter could remarkably reduce the cell metabolic viability, proliferative ability and increase the cell mortality when the cells exposed to both drugs and luminance but not to drug only. Conclusions: The potential of Chinese medicine as a new kind of photosensitizer and its possibility for using in anticancer photodynamic therapy are existed.

Screening of Anti-SIV Drugs from Chinese Medicinal Herbs

The inhibitory activities of more than 40 species of Chinese medicinal herbs or their singlechemical components against simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) have been studied. The study revealedthat four species of medicinal herbs and a single chemical component had a more than 50% inhtbition ef-fect on SIV antigen expression. and the inhibitory rate of five other herbs on SIV antigen expression wasbetween 30%-50%. The results suggest Chinese medicinal herbs could inhibit SIV activity.

Progress of Experimental Study on Treatment of Psoriasis by Chinese Medicinal Monomer and Single or Compound Recipe in Chinese Materia Medica

Psoriasis is a common, chronic, recurrent inflammatory skin disorder whose etiology is still unknown. It is believed that a multiple-gene inheritance is involved and it also involves various factors such as immunity, inflammation, cell proliferation, apoptosis, neural media, etc. Since cytokines are key mediators in inflammation, a number of Chinese medicines （CMs） have been reported to have certain antagonist effects on pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）, platelet active factor （PAF） and interleukin-8 （IL-8）. Some researches on CMs have made significant breakthroughs in psoriasis by intervening with cytokines. Abnormalities with keratinocyte proliferation and apoptosis are considered to be present in patients with psoriasis and a number of studies show that the mechanism of CMs on psoriasis may be through the inhibition of the keratinocyte proliferation and induction of apoptosis. Other studies also show that the inhibition of fibroblast-secreted cytokines could regulate keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation and reduce the level of Calcitonin gene-related peptide （CGRP） in plasma and in lesions so as to slow down the process of inflammation and proliferation in psoriasis. The most commonly used models for psoriasis are the scaled tails or the vaginal epithelium of mice in China. They were used to observe the histopathological changes after the model mice were treated with CMs with the inhibition on the mitosis of vaginal epithelium or promotion of granular layer in rat tail taken as the indices of clinical efficacy. A variety of signs occur in psoriasis patients with TCM blood-stasis syndrome type and the effect of CMs in activating blood circulation to remove blood stasis on psoriasis suggested that the mechanism of CMs may be partially correlated to hemorrheology and microcirculation. Along with the continuous development of the biosciences, some TCM theories for psoriasis have been confirmed by laboratory studies. However, the exploration into traditional Chinese medicines＇ biomechanics in psoriasis and the therapeutic mechanism of CMs by integrative medicine still requires further studies.

The traditional Chinese medicines treat chronic heart failure and their main bioactive constituents and mechanisms

Chronic heart failure(CHF)is a severe public health problem with increasing morbidity and mortality,any treatment targeting a single session is insufficient to tackle this.CHF is characterized by reduced cardiac output resulting from neurohumoral dysregulation and cardiac remodeling,which might be related to oxidative stress,inflammation,endoplasmic reticulum stress,apoptosis,autophagy,mitochondrial function,and angiogenesis.These molecular mechanisms interact with each other through crosstalk.Historically,Chinese medicinal herbs have been widely applied in the treatment of CHF,and therapeutic effects of Chinese medicinal herbs and their ingredients have been scientifically confirmed over the past decades.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)with multiple components can confront the different pathogenesis of CHF through multiple targets.This review analyzes commonly used TCM patent drugs and TCM decoctions that are applicable to different stages of CHF based on clinical trials.Diverse bioactive ingredients in Chinese medicinal herbs have been found to treat CHF via multiple molecular mechanisms.This review comprehensively covers the key works on the effects and underlying mechanisms of TCM,herbal ingredients and synergistic effects of constituent compatibility in treating CHF,providing additional ideas to address this threat.

Chinese Medicine Involving Triple Rehabilitation Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis in 696 Outpatients:A Multi-Center,Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective:To determine the effects of Chinese medicine(CM)involving triple rehabilitation therapy on the progression of knee osteoarthritis(KOA).Methods:A total of 722 patients recruited from 38 community health service centers located in China from March 2013 to March 2017 were randomly divided into treatment and control groups equally,using a cluster randomization design.Health education combined with CM involving triple rehabilitation therapy for KOA(electro-acupuncture,Chinese medicinal herb fumigating-washing,and traditional exercises)was administered in the treatment group while conventional rehabilitation therapy(physical factor therapy,joint movement training,and muscle strength training)was administered in the control group.Patients with a visual analog scale(VAS)scores>A were treated with dispersible meloxicam tablets(7.5 mg,once daily).The Lequesne index scores,VAS scores,range of motion(ROM),lower limb muscle strength,knee joint circumference,quantitative scores of KOA symptoms,and the short-form 36 item health survey questionnaire(SF-36)scores were measured for each patient at 5 checkpoints(before treatment,at the 2nd week and the 4th week during the 4-week treatment period,at 1 month and 3 months after end of treatment),and adverse reactions were observed also.Results:A total of 696 patients completed the entire process,with 351 in the treatment group and 345 in the control group.At all treatment checkpoints,the treatment group demonstrated better outcomes than the control group with regard to the total Lequesne index scores,effective rate and improvement rate of the total Lequesne index scores,VAS scores,lower limb muscle strength,knee circumference,quantitative scores of KOA symptoms,and SF-36 scores as well(P<0.05 or P<0.01).No adverse reactions were encountered in this study.Conclusions:CM involving triple rehabilitation therapy can alleviate KOA-related pain and swelling,improve lower limb muscle strength,promote flexion and activity of the knee and improve the quality of life in patients undergoing KOA.It is suitable for patients with early or mid-stage KOA.(Registration No.ChiCTR-TRC-12002538)