OBJECTIVE:To study the protection effect of Fritillaria thunbergii against hyperthyroidism in rats and mice. MET-HODS:Hyperthyroidism rats and mice were induced with thyrine. The effect of F. Thunbergii on T3,T4,cAMP,cGMP and hypoxia tolerance were observed. RESULTS:F. Thunbergii can decrease T3,T4 and cAMP of rats significantly. It also can increase the abi-lity of hypoxia tolerance of mice significantly. CONCLUSION:F. Thunbergii has sound effect on hyperthyroidism.

Nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) is an ubiquitous and important transcription factor. It regulates antioxidant response elements (AREs)-mediated expression of antioxidant enzyme and cytoprotective proteins. A large body of research showed that Nrf2-Keap1 (Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1, Keap 1)-ARE signaling pathway is involved in the endogenous antioxidant defense mechanisms. Nrf2 increases the expression of a number of cytoprotective genes, protects cells and tissues from the injury of a variety of toxicants and carcinogens. As a result, Nrf2 enhances the expression of glutathione and antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase, and subsequently scavenging free radicals. Air pollution especially from PM2.5 particles, is associated with an increasing morbidity of inflammatory pulmonary diseases and their deterioration. More and more studies demonstrated that Nrf2 was a novel signaling molecule in the modulation of inflammatory responses in these inflammatory respiratory diseases, such as asthma, acute lung injury (ALI) and COPD. Therefore, Nrf2 targeting might be a therapeutic target, which will provide clinical benefit by reducing both oxidative stress and inflammation in asthma, acute lung injury (ALI) and COPD. This review focused on the relationship between Nrf2 and inflammatory respiratory diseases and oxidative stress.

Folium Perillae (FP) is a traditional Chinese materia medica, which has been used for treating inflammatory diseases. In order to clarify the material basis of FP' s pharmacological activity and anti-inflammatory mechanism, we presented a review about some of the primary chemical components in FP, such as volatile oils, flavonoids, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, glycosides, triterpenes and steroids, and about the anti-inflammatory activity of FP extract and its major mechanism, such as regulating the viability and function of innate immune cells, controlling the balance of helper T cells, based on related research in recent years. This study aims to provide reference for further research and development of new drugs based on FP.

Fructus Bruceae, the dry and ripe fruits of Brucea ja-vanica( L. ) Merr. ( Simaroubaceae) , has been used for dysenter-y, tumor, malaria and furunculosis treatment, and topical appli-cation for warts and corns. Quassinoids are the main chemical constituents of Fructus Bruceae, which have been proved to have anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, insecticidal, anti-viral, anti-bac-terial and hypoglycemic activities, and so on. In view of the ex-tensive pharmacological activities of Fructus Bruceae, and better development and utilization of its medicinal value, the advances of quassinoids in Fructus Bruceae and their pharmacological ac-tivities are reviewed in this paper.

Ginsenoside Rg1 (GR), a major bioactive compound of traditional Chinese medicine, such as Panax ginseng or Radix Notoginseng, has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects against ischemic stroke. However, pharmacokinetic studies have suggested that GR could not be efficiently transported through the blood-brain barrier. The mechanism by which GR attenuates cerebral ischemic injury in vivo remains largely unknown. Therefore, this study explored potential neuro-protective effects of GR through its systemic metabolic regulating mechanism by using mass spectrometry-based metabolomic profiling. Rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) were treated with GR intravenously. Their metabolic profiles in serum were measured by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry on 1 and 3 days after MCAO. GR exhibited a potent neuro-protective effect by significantly decreasing the neurological scores and infarct volume in the MCAO rats. Moreover, 18 differential metabolites were tentatively identified, all of which appeared to correlate well with these disease indices. Our findings suggested that GR carries a therapeutic potential in stroke possibly through a feed-back mechanism by regulating systematic metabolic mediation.