The zebra fish model, as an integral animal model, features small volume, high throughput, low cost, short cycle and reliable experimental results, thus has been widely used in medical studies. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) constitute a complex system, their active ingredients and action mechanisms are among study hotspots in during the development of modern TCMs. Along with the constant improvement of advanced technologies and methods, zebra fishes have been increasingly applied in studies on TCMs and shown advantages in active screening, and toxicity and metabolism studies. In this paper, TCM studies by using zebra fishes in recent years are summarized to provide new ideas and methods for basic studies on TCMs.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Models, Animal ; Zebrafish ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; metabolism ; therapeutic use ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; immunology ; metabolism ; physiology ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; GPI-Linked Proteins ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; methods ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; immunology ; metabolism ; physiology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Proteins ; immunology ; metabolism ; physiology

Adenosine ; metabolism ; Adenosine Kinase ; metabolism ; Adenosine Triphosphate ; metabolism ; Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted ; methods ; Diet, Ketogenic ; Energy Metabolism ; Epilepsy ; diet therapy ; metabolism ; Humans

At the 50th Anniversary of Project 523,we reviewed the course and progress made by the Artemisinin Anti-malaria Research Group of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine in the application of artemisinin for treating malaria.As one of the groups participating in the mission of Project 523,Artemisinin Anti-malaria Research Group of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine was in charge of the clinical trials in treating malaria with artemisinin and its derivatives of various preparation forms,dosages and treatment courses(years 1974-1989),developed the artemisinin-based combinations(ACTs) Artekin and Artequick for malaria treatment and performed their clinical trials(years 1984-2006).For the recent 10 years,the group has been devoted in the implementation of anti-malaria programme FEMSE (Fast Elimination of Malaria by Source Eradication) in south-east Asia and Africa.The scientific explorations and achievements of this research group have made great contribution in bringing artemisinins to the world and creating a simple,practical and cost-effective new method for rapid global malaria elimination.

Objective To investigate the association of Galectin-3 ( lectin, galactoside-binding soluble , LGALS3)gene-191(rs4644)polymorphism and breast cancer in Chinese female population .Methods Galectin-3 gene rs4644 polymorphisms was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymor-phism(PCR-RFLP)in 172 breast cancer patients and 17 controls.The experimental results of PCR-RFLP were verified and sample of 10 cases were sequenced randomly .Results The frequency of CC ,CA and AA genotype in breast cancer group and normal control group was 72.7%, 25.0%, 2.3% and 52.9%, 41.2%, 5.9%, respectively .The frequency of C and A allele in breast cancer group and normal control group was 85.2%, 14.8%and 73.5%, 26.5% respectively .The genotype and frequency of allele had no statistical difference between breast cancer patients and the control group .rs4644C allele was more likely to occur in breast cancer patients with T>2 cm (χ2 =8.295,P=0.004) and Ki67<14%(χ2 =3.917,P=0.048).Conclusions There is no significant association between Galectin-3 gene 191 polymorphism rs4644 and susceptibility of breast cancer in Chinese female population .It is closely associated with the size of tumor and Ki 67.

Objective To enhance and improve the accuracy of data,security of system and user friendliness of on-line editing system processing ancient TCM books.Methods Web and java technology were applied to implement and demonstrate the key algorithm.Results In these solutions,pictures could be watermarked,on-line editing was supported,picture-naming was standardized with 7-characters,multi-user on-line editing was available,etc.The ancient TCM books on-line editing system became more practical,effective and user-friendly.Conclusion The solutions mentioned above have achieved the expected effects in digitalization research of ancient TCM books,showing its feasibility and practicability.

AIM: To investigate the effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate(EGCG) on 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion(MPP+)-induced apoptosis in rat pheochromocytoma(PC12) cells and to explore the relationships between its roles of anti-oxidation,intracellular calcium homeostasis and anti-apoptosis.METHODS: Rat PC12 cells were pretreated with vehicle control or EGCG(10,50,and 100 ?mol/L) for 30 min,then cultured with MPP+(900 ?mol/L) for 24 h.The cell viability and apoptosis were monitored by MTT assay and flow cytometry using Annexin V and PI.The activity of intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS),contents of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and malondialdehyde(MDA),cytoplasmic Ca2+ density and apoptotic morphology of mitochondria were examined by fluorescent plate-based assays,confocal microscope,and transmission electron microscope,respectively.RESULTS: MPP+ impaired the PC12 cells in a concentration-dependent pattern and induced apoptosis of the cells(31% versus control).Compared with the control,the cells pretreated with EGCG showed markedly higher rate of viability and lower apoptosis.Meanwhile,EGCG pretreatment significantly increased the SOD activity and decreased the levels of MDA and ROS.Interestingly,EGCG also decreased the concentration of cytoplasmic Ca2+ and improved the morphology of mitochondria.CONCLUSION: EGCG exhibits inhibitory effects on MPP+-induced apoptosis in rat PC12 cells,which is possibly associated with increasing the cell ability of anti-oxidation and decreasing the concentration of cytoplasmic Ca2+.

Aim To investigate the antagonistic action of EGCG on apoptosis of rat PC12 cell induced by MPP+.Methods PC12 cells were cultured and the apoptosis induced by MPP+(900 ?mol?L-1)was observed.The cells were randomly divided into 6 groups:blank group without any treatment,MPP+ control group,vitamin E group and EGCG groups(10,50,100 ?mol?L-1).After treatment of drugs,cell viability,leakage of LDH,morphological changes of mitochondria and apoptosis were detected by MTT,Hoechst 33342 staining,transmission electron microscope and flow cytometry,respectively.Results After treatment of cultured PC12 cells with MPP+,cell viability was decreased,leakage of LDH and apoptotic rate were increased,and mitochondria swelling,vacuole and cristae breakage were observed.Vitamin E and EGCG en-hanced cell viability,reduced the leakage of LDH and apoptotic rate,and decreased the damage degree of mitochondria.Conclusions EGCG possesses the ability of inhibiting rat PC12 cell apoptosis induced by MPP+,and its protective action may relate to its function of keeping mitochondria integrality.

Object Isolation and structural identification of xanthone derivative from medicinal plant Swertia mileensis T N Ho et W L Shih were carried out Methods The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by extensive silica gel column chromatography and their structures were elucidated by chemical evidences and spectral analysis Results There were 12 xanthone analogues named 1 hydroxy 2, 3, 4, 5 tetramethoxyxanthone, (Ⅰ); 1 hydroxy 2, 3, 7 trimethoxyxanthone, (Ⅱ); 1 hydroxy 2, 3, 5, 7 tetramethoxyxanthone, (Ⅲ); 1, 5 dihydroxy 2, 3 dimethoxyxanthone, (Ⅳ); 1, 5 dihydroxy 2, 3, 7 trimethoxyxanthone, (Ⅴ); 1 hydroxy 2, 3, 5 trimethoxyxanthone, (Ⅵ); 1, 5 dihydroxy 2, 3, 4, 7 tetramethoxyxanthone, (Ⅶ); 1, 8 dihydroxy 2, 3, 6 trimethoxyxanthone, (Ⅷ); 1 hydroxy 2, 3, 4, 7 tetramethoxyxanthone, (Ⅸ); 1, 2, 3, 5 tetromethoxyxanthone, (Ⅹ); 1 hydroxyl 2, 3, 4, 6 tetramethoxyxanthone, (Ⅺ); 1 hydroxyl 2, 3, 6, 8 tetramethoxyxanthone, ( ⅩⅡ ) Conclusion Compounds Ⅰ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ, Ⅴ, Ⅶ ⅩⅡ were first isolated from S. mileensis

Objective To investigate the changes of blood lipid,endothelin(ET)and carbohydrate tolerance in simple obesity children.Methods Serum total cholesterol(TC),triglyeride(TG),low density lipoprotein(LDL),endothelin(ET) and oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT) of 436 cases(light obesity group 242,moderate obesity group 138,heavy obesity group 56) were detected respectively.Results The levels of TC,TG,LDL,ET and OGTT in 3 simple obesity groups were all higher than those in control group obviously and there were significant differences.The significant positive correlation between the obesity children serum lipids,ET and obese degrees were observed.Four insulin resistant children were found in heavy obesity group and none in other groups.Conclusions The levels of serum lipids and ET increases in obesity children and the OGTT decreases in some heavy obesity children.For preventing the obesity related health problems,the simple obesity children should be paid more attention to earlier.