Herbal compatibility of Traditional Chinese Medical formulas for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

OBJECTIVE:Because herbal compatibility is one of the most important reasons why Traditional Chinese Medcine(TCM) formulas are effective for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(AIDS),our study aimed to determine the compatibility of herbs based on published AIDS clinical research in Chinese periodicals.To achieve this aim,we designed a new data-mining algorithm according to TCM data characteristics.METHODS:We found 25 clinical AIDS studies,all using Chinese herbs for treatment,in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Database System,and information on diagnosis and treatment was extracted.To find out herbal compatibility,especially the formulae for herbal combinations,we proposed an improved association rule algorithm based on the frequency of combinations.In this algorithm,all the compatibility relationships were displayed in a tree structure,by which the relationship between formulas and their derivation could be clearly inferred.RESULTS:Data analysis showed that approximately 100 herbs have been used for treating AIDS.Based on the whole herb compatibility tree,we calculated a basic formula for AIDS:Huang Qi combined with Ren Shen,Fu Ling,Bai Zhu,Bai Zhu,Dang Gui,and Bai Shao.This formula,deriving from most of clinical prescriptions,and was chosed by most of clinicians for AIDS treatment.From data mining we found that Qi replenishment and detoxification were the main treatment principles,which coincided with the AIDS pathological mechanism in which immune function is destroyed by human immunodeficiency virus(HIV).CONCLUSIONS:Our data-mining results suggest that the core TCM treatment of AIDS is replenishing Qi and detoxification,by which AIDS patients' immune system may be enhanced.Compatibility of Huang Qi with some frequently-used herbs have shown real efficacy in clinical practice,which warrants pharmacological research in the future.

Prescriptions from Traditional Chinese Medicine compared with salbutamol and montelukast for the treatment of pediatric asthma： a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of a series of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) empirical prescriptions with salbutamol and montelukast(SM) in children with asthma.METHODS: A total of 182 children with asthma were randomized into the TCM group(n = 97) or SM group(n = 85). Patients in the TCM group were treated with a series of TCM prescriptions, whereas those in the SM group received salbutamol and montelukast; both groups received their respective treatment for 12 weeks. Asthma control, changes in scores of TCM symptom patterns, and asthma symptom control(SC) scores after treatment were compared between the two groups.RESULTS: A higher percentage of patients in the TCM group had asthma control compared withthose in the SM group(91.67% and 76.83%, respectively, P = 0.006). Scores for abnormal feces(P <0.001), hyperhidrosis(P < 0.001), and tongue appearance(P = 0.001) in the TCM group were significantly better than those in the SM group. However,the total scores of TCM symptom patterns and SC scores did not differ significantly between the two groups(P > 0.05).CONCLUSION: Compared with salbutamol and montelukast, the TCM prescriptions tested were better for symptom control in children with asthma.

A combination extract of Renshen(Panax Ginseng),Yinyanghuo(Herba Epimedii Brevicornus),Yuanzhi(Radix Palygalae) and Jianghuang(Rhizoma Curcumae Longae) decreases glycogen synthase kinase 3β expression in brain cortex of APPV717I transgenic mice

OBJECTIVE： To investigate the neuroprotective mechanism of combination extract of Renshen （Ponax Ginseng）, Yinyanghuo （Herba Epimedii Brevi-comus）, Yuanzhi （Radix Palygalae） and Jianghuang （Rhizoma Curcumae Longae） （GEPT） in treating AI- zheimer＇s disease on the target of glycogen syn- thase kinase 3β（GSK-3β）. METHODS： Three-month-old APPV7171 transgenic mice were randomly divided into ten groups （n=12 per group） and intragastrically administrated vehi- cle or medicines： APP group was given 0.5% CMC, donepezil group was given donepezil （APP ＋ D group） （0.92 mg/kg-1. day-1）, and GEPT groups were given small dose of GEPT （APP＋Gs group） （0.075 g/ kg-1. day-1）, medium dose （APP＋Gm group） （0.15 g/ kg-1. day-1）, and large dose （APP＋GI group） （0.30 g/ kg-1. day-1） for 4 or 8 months, respectively. Three-month-old C57BL/6J mice as vehicle controls （n=12） were given 0.5% CMC for 4 or 8 months as well. The GSK-3β expression in the cortex of 7- and 11-month-old APPV7171 transgenic mice with and without GEPT or donepezil treatment and normal C57BL/6J mice were measured via Western blotting and Immunohistochemistry. RESULTS： Immunohistochemistry analysis showed significant increase of GSK-3β in the cerebral cortex of 7-month-old APP group （compare to control group P=0.003）, while the GSK-313 expression of donepezil or OEPT group were all significantly de-creased （Donepezil vs APP： P=0.041; GI vs APP： P=0.049, Gm vs APP： P=0.029, Gh vs APP： P=0.036）. Western blot analysis showed similar results. The densitometric measures of GSK-3β in APP mice in- creased significantly as compared with the control group （P=0.008）. And the GSK-3β expression indonepezil and GEPT groups were all decreased. There was significant difference between Gh group or donepezil group and the control group （P=0.05）. Similar findings were shown in the 11-month-old mice in each group, except for greater decrease of GSK-3β in the GEPT group. CONCLUSION： GEPT can effectively decrease the level of GSK-3β expression in the brain cortex of AP- PV7171 transgenic mice, and such effect is more sig- nificant in 11-month-old mice. This partially ex- plains the neuroprotecting mechanism of GEPT in preventing and treating of AD.

Efficacy of Bushenjianpi prescription on autoimmune premature ovarian failure in mice

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of Bushenjianpi prescription(BSJPP), a formula from Traditional Chinese Medicine, on a mouse model of autoimmune premature ovarian failure(POF) induced by mouse zona pellucida(ZP3) and to investigate the mechanisms underlying the action.METHODS: After randomization, POF was induced in the model mice by immunization with ZP3. One week later, mice received low(8.1 mg/kg), moderate(16.2 mg/kg) and high(32.4 mg/kg) doses of BSJPP by gastrogavage once daily for 90 days. Premarin(0.03 mg/kg) served as the positive group. Serum samples were collected 1 week after the last dose and stored at-20 ℃ for analysis. After cervical dislocation, the uterus and ovaries were collected aseptically for evaluation by histological assessment, scanning electron microscopy, immunohistochemical staining, and Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses.RESULTS: Serum E2 levels in POF model mice were decreased, whereas follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH) and luteinizing hormone(LH) levels were dramatically increased. Serum levels of E2,LH and FSH were reduced in POF model mice treated with BSJPP(moderate and high doses) and premarin. Anti-bone morphogenetic protein 15(BMP-15) and connexin 43(Cx43) were repressed in autoimmune POF model mice, whereas high expression was observed in control mice and those treated with BSJPP(moderate and high doses)and premarin.CONCLUSION: BSJPP is effective in treating ZP3-induced POF in mice and the increase in the expression of BMP-15 and Cx43 may be implicated in the mechanism underpinning the action.