Objective To investigate influence of Panax notoginseng saponins ( PNS) on Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2),Prostaglandin E2(PGE-2)and Phospholipases A2(PLA-2)in patients of acute exacerbation of chronic ob-structive pulmonary disease ( AECOPD) with respiratory failure .Methods One hundred AECOPD patients with re-spiratory failure were divided into the control group (n=50)and PNS group(n=50).The levels of blood serum COX-2,PGE-2 and PLA-2 of patients in the two groups were detected .Results The levels of blood serum COX-2,PGE-2 and PLA-2 of patients in PNS group were lower than those in control group ,the two groups after treatment significantly lower than those before treatment(P<0.05).Conclusion The levels of COX-2,PGE-2 and PLA-2 have influence on respiratory failure.PNS can reduce the COX-2,PGE-2 and PLA-2 concentrations in blood serum of patients ,mean-while it play a prominent role in inhibiting airway inflammatory and obstruction process .

The effect of anisodine on brain monoamine was studied in 30 rats. The brain monoamine levels of caudate nucleus, hippocampus, diencephalon, brain stem and cerebral cortex were estimated by fluoro-metric method in drug-treated rats and saline-treated controls. Only the NE level of the brain stem was significantly increased in anisodine-treated animals 48 hours after injection. There were no significant differences in the dopamine values between anisodine-treated rats and saline-treated controls, while the 5HT and 5HIAA levels were significantly increased in anisodine-treated animals. The relation of brain monoamines to learning and memory is discussed. The increased 5HT and 5HIAA levels caused by anisodine may play a role in the impairment of memory.