Objective To study the influence of the preparation and quality control of Xiaochuan cataplasm on its drug action. Methods Xiaochuan cataplasm was prepared with hydrosoluble polymers matrix. A sequence of tests such as adhesive force test, recontour test, paste-content test, cold-resistance test, heat-resistance test, toxicity and pharmacodynamic action tests were performed on this drug. Results Xiaochuan cataplasm contains a sound volume of medicine, and shows good adhesive property, no sensibilization and stimulation, and notable drug action. Conclusion The results demonstrate that the preparation craft of Xiao-chuan cataplasm is reasonable and practicable., the quality is controllable and the method is a safe and effective transdermal drug delivery system.

Objective To pick up the Chinese materia medica with principal antidepressive effect in Kaixin Jieyu prescription based on uniform distribution. Methods 11 groups of concerted application with different dosages of six simplex Chinese materia medica (X 1-X 6) of Kaixin Jieyu prescription were arranged by the designlist and sustentacular table of U11(1110). Positive and negative control groups were also formed. Mice were randomized into 13 groups according to body weight and fed with medicine 14 d and estimated by tail suspension test, forced swim test and autonomic activities test. Results Relationship of percentage of immovability time (Y 1) in the tail suspension test and X 1-X 6 were analyzed with multivariant non-linear regression analysis and resulted in Y 1=1.133 1-0.842 3×X 1+0.438 2×X 3-0.712 9×X 6. It indicated that both Radix Ginseng and Fructus Aurantii Immaturus had obvious antidepressive function, and Radix Paeoniae Rubra may facilitate depression. Relationship of immovability time (Y 2) in forced swim test and X1-X6 were analyzed with multivariant non-linear regression analysis and resulted in Y 2=167.69-2.99×X 12-2.14×X 1-1.65×X 6. It also indicated that both Radix Ginseng and Fructus Aurantii Immaturus had obvious antidepressive function. Relationship of autonomic activities index (Y 3) in autonomic activities test indicated that X 1-X 6 had no obvious influence on Y 3 and antidepressive function of KaixinJieyu prescription was not concerned with excitability to the central nervous system. Conclusion Radix Ginseng and Fructus Aurantii Immaturus were the Chinese materia medica with principal antidepressive effect in Kaixin Jieyu prescription.

AIM To aim at investigating the function of Kaixin Jieyu Pills (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma,Bupleuri Radix,Morindae officinalis Radix,etc.) to vascular depression and their mechanism of action.METHODS A vascular depression model of rat was established by chronic unpredictable mild stress and separation after ligation of the bilateral common carotid arteries.The rats were treated with Kaixin Jieyu Pills and fluoxetine hydrochloride (FLU) for 28 days,respectively.The sucrose preference test and open-field test were performed.Cerebral perfusion was investigated with a Perfusion Speckle Imager.The monoamines including serotonin,dopamine and noradrenaline,and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were determined with ELISA and Western bolt,respectively.RESULTS Kaixin Jieyu Pills significantly increased sucrose preference,moving distance and cortical blood flow.Kaixin Jieyu Pills could upregulate,to different extents,the expressions of monoamines,including serotonin,noradrenaline and dopamine,and BDNF.Kaixin Jieyu Pills had a function similar to FLU in behavior,upregulating monoamines and BDNF,but it is superior to FLU in cortical blood flow.CONCLUSION Kaixin Jieyu Pills has the advantage of reducing the depression-like behavior and improving cerebral hypoperfusion,which might be mediated by the upregulation of the serotonin,noradrenaline and BDNF.

This article was aimed to investigate the function and mechanism of Kai-Xin Jie-Yu (KXJY) pill on depression.The depression model rats were established by chronic unpredictable mild stress and separation.The sucrose preference test and Morris water maze (MWM) were performed.The regulation effects of neural plasticity-related genes including glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β),cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB),5-hydroxytryptamine 2C receptors (HTR2C),and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were determined.The results showed that among depression model rats,KXJY pill significantly increased the sucrose preference and the escape latency of MWM in a certain extent.The neural plasticity-related genes including GSK-3β and HTR2C mRNA were decreased significantly,whereas CREB and VEGF mRNA were increased significantly with the treatment of KXJY pill.It was concluded that KXJY pill had the function of reducing depression-like behavior,which might be mediated by the regulation of GSK-3β,CREB,HTR2C and VEGF.