Protective effects of kidney-tonifying Chinese herbal preparation on substantia nigra neurons in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease

The Chinese herbs Herba Epimedii, Fructus Ligustri Lucidi and Rhizoma Polygonati were injected into Parkinson＇s disease mice established via intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine hydrochloride. The selective monoamine oxidase B inhibitor selegiline was used as a positive control drug. After successive administration for 4 weeks, Herba Epimedii could downregulate the expression of caspase-3 and increase the brain-derived neurotrophic factor level, as well as increase tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the substantia nigra of Parkinson＇s disease mouse models. Rhizoma Polygonaticould downregulate the expression of caspase-3 and FasL, and increase neural growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels. Fructus Ligustn Lucidi could downregulate caspase-3 expression. Rhizoma Polygonati and Fructus Ligustn Lucidi did not produce obvious effects on tyrosine hydroxylase activity. Herba Epimedii and Fructus Ligustri Lucidi yielded similar effects on apoptosis-promoting factors to those elicited by selegiline. Herba Epimedii and Rhizoma Polygonati significantly increased the levels of neurotrophic factors compared with selegiline. Herba Epimedii significantly increased tyrosine hydroxylase activity compared with selegiline. It is indicated that the kidney-tonifying Chinese herbal preparation can downregulate the expression of apoptosis-promoting factors, increase neurotrophic factors levels in the substantia nigra and striatum, as well as increase tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the substantia nigra of Parkinson＇s disease mouse models, thereby exerting a stronger or similar neuroprotective effects compared with selegiline.

Therapeutic Efficacy of Chinese Herbal Compound Preparation on Viral Diseases in Poultry

[Objective] To develop a new antiviral agent with high and long efficacy, wide spectrum, low toxicity and low cost from traditional Chinese herbal medicine and their compound. [ Method] The ＂Quxie＂ （ i. e. eliminating pathogenic factors） drugs including Hedyotis diffusa and Loni- cera japonica and ＂Fuzheng＂ （ i. e. strengthening body resistance） drugs including Radix astragali and Glycyrrhiza uralensis were taken to form an antiviral herbal compound preparation. Taking the astragalus polysaccharide monomer as control, the experiment was constructed by using the agent to treat some naturally occurring viral diseases, including Newcastle disease （ND）, infectious bursal disease （IBD）, duck viral hepatitis （DVH）, avian influenza （Al） H9 subtype and avian swollen head syndrome. [Ressult] The effective rates of the agent for treatment of the above- mentioned diseases were 87%, 87%, 69%, 100% and 100%, respectively, which were higher than that of astragalus polysaccharide monomer. The cure rates for these diseases were 33%, 37%, 13%, 69% and 75%, respectively, which were significantly higher than that of astragalus polysacchadde monomer （ P 〈 0.01 ）. The rates of poor therapeutic efficacy were 15%, 21%, 24%, 6% and 7%, respectively, which were significantly lower than that of astragalus polysaccharide monomer （P 〈 0.01 ）. [ Condusion] The Chinese herbal compound preparation shows good therapeutic effects on some avian viral diseases, which can decrease mortality rate and improve production performance of poultry more greatly than astragalus polysaccharide monomer.

PROGRESS OF RESEARCH IN THE PREPARATION OF CHINESE TRADITIONAL AND HERBAL DRUGS WITH ANTICANCER ACTIVITY

Research into anticancer substances madefrom Chinese herbal drugs and their clinicalapplication is gaining international attention bythe medical profession of the more than 20analogues of camptothecine isolated from Camp-totheca tree in China, most exhibited anticanceractivity. Among them, 10-hydroxycamptothe-cine has a wide anticancer spectrum and is lesstoxic. In suspension, it exhibits some therapeu-tic effects on primary hepatic cancer, gastriccarcinoma, cancer of the urinary bladder andleukemia.

Effects of Fermented Nano Chinese Herbal Medicines Replacing Antibiotics on Production Performance and Carcass Quality of Growing-Finishing Pigs

[Objectives]To study the effects of fermented nano Chinese herbal medicines replacing antibiotics on the production performance and carcass quality of growing-finishing pigs.[Methods]200 healthy and disease-free Duroc-Landrace-Yorkshire(DLY)growing-finishing pigs with similar birth time(45±2 d)and body weight of about 31.5 kg were randomly divided into group A(fed with non-antibiotic basal diet),group B(fed with antibiotic basal diet),group C(fed with non-antibiotic basal diet+0.1%fermented nano Chinese herbal medicine preparation),group D(fed with non-antibiotic basal diet+0.3%fermented nano Chinese herbal medicine preparation)and group E(fed with non-antibiotic basal diet+0.5%fermented nano Chinese herbal medicine preparation).The experiment lasted for 90 d.At the end of the experiment,the production performance and carcass indicators were measured.[Results]Compared with group A,the final weight,average daily gain(ADG)and average daily feed intake(ADFI)of groups B,C,D and E were extremely significantly increased(P<0.01),while the feed-to-gain ratio(F/G)was extremely significantly decreased(P<0.01).Compared with group B,the ADG of group E was significantly increased(P<0.05),while the F/G was significantly decreased(P<0.05).Compared with group A,the slaughter rate and carcass length of pigs in groups B,C,D and E were extremely significantly increased(P<0.01);compared with group B,the slaughter rate of groups D and E was extremely significantly increased(P<0.01).[Conclusions]The fermented nano Chinese herbal medicine preparation has better effects in promoting growth than that of antibiotic additives,and it can significantly improve the carcass quality of growing-finishing pigs.