Wu-ling-san formula inhibits the crystallization of calcium oxalate in vitro.
Am J Chin Med. 2007;35(3):533-41
Authors: Chen YC, Ho CY, Chen LD, Hsu SF, Chen WC
Urinary stone disease is a common disease and has a high rate of recurrence. There is no ideal long-term medical treatment to prevent the recurrence of urinary stones. Wu-Ling-San (WLS) formula has been used for centuries in China for long-term treatment of urological diseases. However, no pharmacological studies have been conducted to evaluate its effect on urinary stone disease. Therefore, using a photospectrometer, we studied the effects of WLS on nucleation, growth and aggregation of calcium oxalate in vitro. The results showed that WLS extract significantly slowed the speed of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystal nucleation. WLS extracts at concentrations of 6.25, 12.5, 25, and 50 mg/ml inhibited nucleation of calcium oxalate crystallization by 344, 387, 543, and 943%, respectively. WLS extracts did not inhibit the growth of CaOx crystallization; however, WLS extracts at concentrations of 12.5 and 25 mg/ml significantly inhibited the aggregation of CaOx crystallization by 74.24% and 75.05%, respectively. WLS extract at a concentration of 50 mg/ml inhibited CaOx aggregation by 92.49%. In conclusion, our results indicate that WLS extract inhibited calcium oxalate nucleation and aggregation, and may have the potential to prevent stone recurrence.
PMID: 17597511 [PubMed - in process]
(Source: The American Journal of Chinese Medicine)
Mechanism of the Anti-Cancer Activity of Zizyphus jujuba in HepG2 Cells.
Am J Chin Med. 2007;35(3):517-32
Authors: Huang X, Kojima-Yuasa A, Norikura T, Kennedy DO, Hasuma T, Matsui-Yuasa I
The Zizyphus jujuba fruit has been used as a traditional Chinese medicinal herb and considered to affect various physiological functions in the body for thousands of years. However, its anti-cancer activity and mechanism of action remain to be elucidated. We investigated the anti-cancer activity of Zizyphus jujuba Mill and its underlining mechanisms of action in human hepatoma cells (HepG2) and found that the extract of Z. jujuba decreased the viability of the cells. Further extraction of the initial Z. jujuba extract with organic solvents revealed that the chloroform fraction (CHCl(3)-F) was the most effective. Interestingly, the CHCl(3)-F induced not only apoptosis but also G1 arrest at a low concentration (100 mug/ml) and G2/M arrest at a higher concentration (200 mug/ml) by cell cycle assay. Apoptosis, an increase in intracellular ROS (reactive oxygen species) level, a decline of mitochondrial membrane potential at low Z. jujuba concentrations, and a ROS-independent mitochondrial dysfunction pathway at high concentrations were all observed. CHCl(3)-F-induced G1 arrest in HepG2 cells was associated with an increase in hypohosphorylation of Rb and p27(Kip1), and a decrease of phosphorylated Rb. However, CHCl(3)-F-induced G2/M arrest in HepG2 cells correlated with a decrease of the p27(Kip1) levels and generation of the phosphorylation of p27(Kip1), however the hypohosphorylation of Rb protein remained. Collectively, our findings suggest that the CHCl(3)-F extract of Z. jujuba extract induced a concentration dependent effect on apoptosis and a differential cell cycle arrest in HepG2 cells.
PMID: 17597510 [PubMed - in process]
(Source: The American Journal of Chinese Medicine)
Armillariella mellea Shows Anti-inflammatory Activity by Inhibiting the Expression of NO, iNOS, COX-2 and Cytokines in THP-1 Cells.
Am J Chin Med. 2007;35(3):507-16
Authors: Wu SJ, Tsai JY, Lai MN, Ng LT
Armillariella mellea (AM), also known as Mi-Huan-Ku, a popular medicinal fungus used in the traditional Chinese medicine for treating headache, neurasthenia and insomnia. In the present study, our aim was to determine the effects of aqueous (AAM) and ethanol (EAM) extracts of A. mellea on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response by measuring the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 (COX-1 and COX-2) protein expression, cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-4 and IL-8) formation, nitric oxide (NO) release and prostaglandin (PGE(2)) production in human monocytic (THP-1) cells. At concentration of 100 mug/ml, EAM, but not AAM, effectively protected against LPS-induced cell death in THP-1 cells. At concentrations of 10~100 mug/ml, EAM showed a potent anti-inflammatory activity as demonstrated by a dose-dependent inhibition of LPS (1 mug/ml)-induced release of NO and PGE(2), and significantly decreased the transcription of proinflammatory cytokines. EAM at 100 mug/ml significantly blocked the LPS induction of iNOS and COX-2 expression, but not COX-1. Therefore, the protective effect of EAM against LPS-induced inflammatory mediators release could explain, at least in part, its effectiveness in alleviating certain inflammatory related diseases.
PMID: 17597509 [PubMed - in process]
(Source: The American Journal of Chinese Medicine)
Anticariogenic Properties of the Extract of Cyperus rotundus.
Am J Chin Med. 2007;35(3):497-505
Authors: Yu HH, Lee DH, Seo SJ, You YO
Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is known as the causative bacteria in the formation of dental plaque and dental caries. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of Cyperus rotundus (C. rotundus) tuber extract on the growth, acid production, adhesion, and water-insoluble glucan synthesis of S. mutans. The growth and acid production were reduced by the extract of C. rotundus in a dose dependent manner. The extract of C. rotundus markedly inhibited the adherence of S. mutans to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite beads (HAs). The adherence was repressed by more than 50% at the concentration of 0.5 mg/ml of the extract and complete inhibition was observed at the concentration of 4 mg/ml of the extract. On the activity of glucosyltransferase (GTFase) which synthesizes water-insoluble glucan from sucrose, the extract of C. rotundus showed more than 10% inhibition at a concentration of 2 mg/ml. These results suggest that C. rotundus may inhibit cariogenic properties of S. mutans. Further studies are necessary to clarify the active constituents of C. rotundus responsible for such biomolecular activities.
PMID: 17597508 [PubMed - in process]
(Source: The American Journal of Chinese Medicine)
Ligustilide Reduces Phenylephrine Induced-Aortic Tension In Vitro but has No Effect on Systolic Pressure in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.
Am J Chin Med. 2007;35(3):487-96
Authors: Du JR, Yu Y, Yao Y, Bai B, Zong X, Lei Y, Wang CY, Qian ZM
Radix Angelica sinensis, known as Danggui in Chinese, has been used to treat cardiovascular diseases in traditional Chinese medicine for a long time. Experimental evidence showed that the essential oil of Danggui could reduce blood pressure in rabbits, cats or hypertensive dogs when given intravenously. In this study, we investigated the effects of Z-ligustilide, the main lipophilic component of the essential oil of Danggui on aortic tension induced by phenylephrine, an alpha-adrenergic agonist, in vitro and the systolic blood pressure in SHR rats. We demonstrated for the first time that ligustilide can significantly reduce the phenylephrine-induced aortic tension in vitro with IC(50) about 64 mug/ml, but has no in vivo effect on systolic blood pressure in SHR rats when administrated orally. The data on transport of ligustilide across Caco-2 monolayer suggested an efficient intestinal absorption of ligustilide in vivo, implying that the non-effectiveness of ligustilide in vivo is not due to the poor absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Further studies on whether ligustilide is one of the main anti-hypertensive components of the essential oil are needed.
PMID: 17597507 [PubMed - in process]
(Source: The American Journal of Chinese Medicine)
Inhibitory effect of dauricine on inflammatory process following focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats.
Am J Chin Med. 2007;35(3):477-86
Authors: Yang XY, Jiang SQ, Zhang L, Liu QN, Gong PL
Our previous experimental studies showed that dauricine could protect the brain from ischemic damage, but the underlying mechanisms were unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of dauricine on the changes of the inflammation process induced by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). After I/R, the enzyme activity of MPO, the expression of ICAM-1 and the transcription of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha mRNA were all significantly increased (p < 0.01). And after treatment with dauricine, they were all significantly reduced compared to the vehicle-treated I/R group (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). These results suggest that dauricin attenuates the inflammation process induced by I/R. The neuroprotective effect of dauricine may partly due to the inhibition acute inflammation induced by I/R.
PMID: 17597506 [PubMed - in process]
(Source: The American Journal of Chinese Medicine)
Protective Effect of Houttuynia cordata Extract on Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rats.
Am J Chin Med. 2007;35(3):465-75
Authors: Ng LT, Yen FL, Liao CW, Lin CC
The present study aimed to examine the antioxidant properties of Houttuynia cordata (HC) and its protective effect on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Results showed that aqueous extract of HC exhibited a different magnitude of antioxidant activities in all model systems tested. Although HC showed weaker free radical scavenging and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity than vitamin E, its anti-lipid peroxidation activity in rat liver homogenate was close to that of vitamin E. In animal studies, HC significantly decreased the levels of superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, hydroxyproline, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. However, an increase in the concentration of catalase was noted in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. HC also remarkably improved the morphological appearance of the lung of bleomycin-treated rats. These results suggest that HC possesses a protective effect against bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Interestingly, this protective effect was more pronounced than that of vitamin E. In conclusion, the protective effect of HC on pulmonary fibrosis could be partly associated with the reduction of oxidative damage caused by bleomycin.
PMID: 17597505 [PubMed - in process]
(Source: The American Journal of Chinese Medicine)
Electro-Acupuncture of Foot YangMing Regulates Gastric Activity Possibly through Mediation of the Dorsal Vagal Complex.
Am J Chin Med. 2007;35(3):455-64
Authors: Wang JJ, Ming Q, Liu XD, Huang YX, Chen LW, Qiu JY, Duan L, Cao R, Rao ZR
Acupuncture at some specific acupoints of Foot Yangming can regulate gastric activity. However, its precise mechanism remains unknown. In our study, the effects and mechanism of electro-acupuncture (EA) at Tsusanli (ST 36), Shangchuhsu (ST 37) on the regulation of gastric activity were observed. EA at Tsusanli showed that gastric electric change had a significantly higher frequency and wave amplitude as compared to that of the Shangchuhsu group and other groups. EA at Shangchuhsu demonstrated the change of gastric electric was greater than that of the non-acupoint group and the control group. After bilateral vagotomy, the change of electro gastric graph (EGG) of EA at Tsusanlis was not significant compared to the control group. In the mean time, we have observed the electric discharge of the neurons in NTS and DMV. The frequency of electro-physiological activity in nucleus of solitary tract (NTS) and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve (DMV) in Tsusanli group and Shangchuhsu group were markedly increased compared with that in other groups. The results have indicated that EA at Tsusanli and Shangchuhsu not only regulate gastric activity, but also activate neurons in NTS and DMV significantly. Our study suggests that the effect of EA at Tsusanli and Shangchuhsu on the gastric activity may partially depend upon integrated nerve pathway and related central neurons in dorsal vagal complex.
PMID: 17597504 [PubMed - in process]
(Source: The American Journal of Chinese Medicine)
Anti-emetic effect of oculo-acupuncture on dogs with xylazine induced vomiting.
Am J Chin Med. 2007;35(3):447-53
Authors: Liu J, Lee YT, Lee SE, Lee JY, Kim DH
The present study was conducted in order to clarify the anti-emetic effect of oculo-acupuncture (OA) on dogs with xylazine-induced vomiting, and also to compare the anti-emetic effect of OA and body acupuncture (AP). Twelve dogs induced to vomit by xylazine were selected from total 29 mongrel dogs in preliminary experiment and were used as subjects in this study. This study was comprised of two experiments. In experiment 1, the anti-emetic effects of OA on dogs were examined in the stomach/spleen region (experimental group I), the zhongjiao region (experimental group II), and the stomach/spleen region plus the zhongjiao region (experimental group III) using 12 dogs induced to vomit for one week interval repeatedly. On the other hand, needle acupuncture (AP) (BL20 + BL21, experimental group A) and OA (stomach/spleen and zhong jiao regions) combined with needle AP (BL20 + BL21) (experimental group B) were examined using 6 vomiting dogs, for one week interval repeatedly in experiment 2. As a result, the vomiting rates of experimental group I (50%, p < 0.05), experimental group II (58.3%) and experimental group III (41.6%, p < 0.01) were lower than that of control (100%), respectively in experiment 1. The vomiting rates of both experimental group A (50%, p < 0.05) and experimental group B (50%, p < 0.05) were lower than that of control (100%) in experiment 2. The starting vomiting time in experimental groups was similar to that of the control groups in experiment 1 and 2. This study demonstrated that OA had anti-emetic effects on dogs with xylazine-induced vomiting and OA in the stomach/spleen region plus the zhongjiao region was the most effective in anti-emesis among the experimental groups. In addition, body AP and OA combined with body AP had a similar anti-emetic effect on dogs with xylazine-induced vomiting.
PMID: 17597503 [PubMed - in process]
(Source: The American Journal of Chinese Medicine)
The Spatial and Segmental Innervation of Somatic Acupoint - A Study of Canine Shen-Shu Point (BL-23).
Am J Chin Med. 2007;35(3):437-46
Authors: Chien CH, Tsai YC, Tseng CY, Huang BM, Chang YH
Although an acupuncture needle penetrates the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and underlying muscle, the most effective locus for the somatic acupoint on the needle path is not well established. We therefore investigated the sensory innervations of tissues in the needle path of the canine Shen-Shu point and evaluated their roles in initiating an acupunctural signal. Horseradish peroxidase solution was injected at all three levels within the acupoint. Only a few peroxidase-positive neurons were observed in the L1 dorsal root ganglion following intradermal injection. Following subcutaneous injection, peroxidase-labeled neurons were detected extending from spinal levels T10 to L2, with maximal labeling at T12 (46.3%). Approximately 95% of positive neurons were at spinal levels T11, T12, T13, and L1. As a result of an intramuscular injection, labeled neurons were observed at spinal levels T12 to L3, with most labeling occurring at L1 (39.9%). Approximately 95% of positive neurons were at spinal levels T13, L1, and L2. The results suggest that most afferent terminals are in the subcutaneous tissue rather than the muscular tissue, with an approximate ratio of 3.75:1. The data provide solid evidence that sensory innervation to a somatic acupoint is confined to a spinal segment and spatially organized, and we speculate that to cause a maximum effect, the centripetally transmitted signal from needling a somatic acupoint is spatio-segmental and divergently amplified.
PMID: 17597502 [PubMed - in process]
(Source: The American Journal of Chinese Medicine)