AIM: To investigate the effect of glycyrrhizin(GZ) and glycyrrhefinic acid(GA) on reducing the toxicity of Radix Aconiti Laterlis(RAL) and its mechanisms of action. METHODS: Radix Aconiti Laterlis(RAL),RAL with Radix Glycyrrhizae(RG),RAL with GZ,RAL with GA were boiled for 30 min,respectively.HPLC was used to measure the concentrations of aconitine and hypaconitine in the different decoctions.Meanwhile,the acute toxicity of the above decoctions was determined by oral and intraperitoneal administration in mice respectively. RESULTS: By oral administration,the acute toxicity of the decoctions of RG with RAL and GE with RAL was obviously lower than that of RAL.The acute toxicity of the decoction of GA with RAL was slightly reduced when compared with that of RAL.By intraperitoneal administration,the acute toxicity of GA with RAL was obviously higher than that of RAL.RG significantly restrained the dissolution of alkalines contained in RAL into the decoction.But GA and GZ increased the dissolution of the alkalines. CONCLUSION: By oral administration,RG could reduce the acute toxieity of RAL.Restraint on the dissolution of the toxic alkalines contained in RAL into the decoction may be in part the reasons.But GA and GZ are not the effective components reducing the dissolution of the toxic alkalines.They may combine with the toxic alkalines,postpone the absorption of the combined compounds through gastrointestinal tract,and reduce the acute toxicity of RAL by oral administration.

AIM: To observe the effect of Shuanghuang Shengbai Granule (Radix astragli, Rhizoma polygonati, Fructus ligustri lucidi, Radix trichosanthis, Rhizoma drynariae, etc) (SHSB) on the proliferation of bone marrow cells and the growth of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor(GM-CSF) in leukopenia model mice, and to investigate the related mechanism. METHODS: Mouse leukopenia models were made by radiation, the proliferation of bone marrow cells was determined by MTT chromatoptometry, the content of GM-CSF in serum was measured by double antibody sandwich ELISA, and the protein expression of GM-CSF in cultured spleen cells was measured by SP immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: SHSB could promote the proliferation of bone marrow cells; increase the content of GM-CSF in serum and enhance the protein expression of GM-CSF in spleen cells. CONCLUSION: SHSB Granule has the improvement in enhancing the proliferation of bone marrow cells in leucopenia model mice, increasing the content of GM-CSF in serum and the protein expression of GM-CSF in spleen cells.

Objective To explore the relationship between flood ing and the prevalence of schistosomiasis in the river beach area. Met hods The subjects were investigated on the ways of exposure, frequency and duratio n of water conta cted from May to November in 1999, and eggs of Schistosoma were examined bef ore and after flooding. Results Exposure to infested water for human being s in the area comprised productive, living and recreational contacts including 11 kinds of activities, and 53.55% of the subjects contacted infested w ater. The number of person, frequency and duration of water contacted in floodin g strongly increased; the infection rate and density among population stron gly increased after flooding. There was significant difference between the infec tion rate in exposure group and that in non-exposure group. Conclusions It can be inferred that flooding has increased water contacted and i nfection, therefore, health education should be strengthened to avoid or dec rease water contact.