AIM: To study the antiepileptic effect of Annao Tablet (?-asarone extracted from Acorus tatarinowii schott). METHODS: The medicine was administered orally. The effects were observed in mouse's convulsion models induced by picrotoxin, thiosemicarbazide, maximal electroshock seizure (MES) and Penicillin G. RESULTS: Annao Tablet had obvious effect against convulsion induced by picrotoxin and thiosemicarbazide, postponed the delitescence, reduced the convulsion times, prolonged the survival time; antagonized MES. The medicine could depress the epileptic degree, postpone spasm latent period, reduce the wet dog shack times. CONCLUSION: Annao Tablet has obvious antiepileptic effect.

Objective To observe the effect of β-asarone on the proliferation, cycle, apoptosis and migration of tumor cells A549, PC3, and PC9-R, thus to provide experimental basis for the application of β-asarone to the treatment of cancer. Methods After A549, PC3, and PC9-R were cultured with different concentrations ofβ-asarone for 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h respectively, CCK-8 was used to detect the optical density (D) of cell proliferation, and then the cell proliferation rate was calculated. The flow cytometry was used to measure the cell DNA cycle and cell apoptosis, and Transwell Chambers were used to detect the cell migration. Results After treatment with different concentrations of β-asarone for 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h respectively, the growth of A549, PC3, and PC9-R showed declining trend in concentration- and time-dependent manner. The proportion of A549, PC3, and PC9-R at G0/G1 phase was increased, the proportion of the three kinds of cells at S phase and the proliferation indexes were declined, the apoptotic rate of A549, PC3, and PC9-R was increased, and the migration of A549, PC3, and PC9-R was reduced (P<0.05 or P<0.01 compared with those of the normal control group). Conclusion β-asarone has certain effects on suppressing proliferation, blocking G0/G1 phase developing into S phrase, inhibiting DNA synthesis, promoting the apoptosis, and inhibiting the migration of A549, PC3 and PC9-R.

[Objective] To analyze the main chemical constituents of decoction and concentrated decoction of Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii (RAT) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). [Methods] RAT was decocted and concentrated in the pottery for two times and then 6 batches of the decoction and its concentrated decoction were analyzed by GC-MS. [Results] Five kinds of components in a higher amount were found in the first and second decoction of RAT, including: ?-asarone, ?-asarone, 2, 3-dihydro-3, 5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and acoramone. The contents of volatile components of ?-asarone and ?-asarone were lower while those of water-soluble components higher in the concentrated decoction of RAT. [Conclusion] The therapeutic effect of RAT is the co-action of the multiple components of RAT; the effect is related not only with the volatile components but also with the water-soluble components. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the difference of components in the concentrated decoction, which is generally used in the research of new Chinese herbal medicine, and in the clinically used decoction.

Objective To investigate the effects of ?-asarone,the major constituent of Acorus tarinowii schott,on the expression of endothelial cell adhesion molecules induced by hypoxia and reoxygenation.Methods The expression rates of endothelial cell surface adhesion molecules VCAM-1 and CD62E were detected by flow cytometry(FCM) and specific labeled monoclonal antibody.Results Compared to the normal group,the expression rates of VCAM-1 and CD62E were increased significantly in the model group(hypoxia-reoxygenation group)(P

Objective To observe the effect of ?-asarone combined with eugenol against PC12 cell injury induced by amyloid beta protein (A?25-35) and to explore the advantage of compatibility of monomers in herbs.Methods PC12 cells injury were induced by A?25-35.The morphological features and survival rate of PC12 cells as well as the changes of intracellular Ca2+concentration and NO concentration were observed after administration.Results The optimum combination was 10?mol/L ?-asarone+3 ?mol/L eugenol,which can decrease the concentration of intracellular Ca2+,inhibit the production of NO and increase the survival rate of PC12 cells.Conclusion The combination of effective components in Acorus tatarinowii has a better protective effect on A?25-35-induced PC12 cell injury than Acorus tatarinowii.

Objective To study the protective effects of ?-asarone on PC12 cells damage induced by Glutamate. Method The effects of ?-asarone on PC12 cells after Glutamate intoxication on morphology, extent of damage, livability, intracellular calcium concentration and apoptosis ratio were observed. Result Morphological changes, LDH leakage and intracellular calcium concentration increasing, and cell survival decreasing were observed in PC12 cells exposured to Glutamate. 7.5, 15, 30 ?g/mL?-asarone can increase cell survival, decrease LDH leakage. 15, 30 ?g/mL ?-asarone can reduce intracellular calcium concentration and apoptosis ratio. Conclusion ?-asarone prevents the toxicity of Glutamate, and it maybe attribute to its effect of anticalcium.

Gas chromatography combined with mass spectrography (GC - MS) was used to analyze the content of Muscone, a form of natural Moschus in high purity, with N2 as the carrier gas and isopsoralen as the internal standard. Results: The linear range of Muscone was from 0.056 to 0.451 g/L, regression equation: y=0. 3454 x-0. 1076,r=0.9999,the recovery was 97.99%and its RSD was 5.0%. RSD of within - day precision was 3.85% and RSD of day - to - day was 2.20% . The contents of Muscone from three batches of natural Moschus were 1.82% (RSD= 2.50%) ,3.33%(RSD = 1.36%) and 4.40%(RSD3.85%) respectively. The method is simple, rapid, reliable, and can be used as quality control for Muscone of Moschus and its preparation.

Objective: To determine the component of naphtha from Acorus tatarinowii Schott.which can pass through the blood-brain barrier. Methods: Naphtha in rat brain was analyzed by GC-MS after gastric infusion of naphtha. Results: The methylisoeugenol,elemicin, ?-asarone and ?-asarone were detected in rat brain. Conclusion: The resuscitative effect of naphtha is resulted from the comprehensive action of multiple components.

Object To research the percutaneous absorption of ?-asarone in various solvents in vitro. Methods To measure the concentration of ?-asarone passed through rat skin in various solvents which contained borneol and azote-ketone by HPLC, count the penetration of accumulation within 24 h and steady velocity. Results 0.1% Borneol could not promote the penetration of ?-asarone; azote-ketone could decrease the penetration of ?-asarone. The penetration of accumulation within 24 h and steady velocity of ?-asarone in 20% ethanol were (352.624?87.049) ?g/cm2, (18.902?4.840) ?g/(cm2?h), respectively. Conclusion The percutaneous absorption of ?-asarone is the best when the solvents contain no promoter.

AIM:To explore the effect of ?-asarone on vascular endothelium and adhesion molecule expression of endothelium induced by ?-amyloid peptide from Alzheimer's disease and to estimate the injury repair.METHODS:Cultured ECV304 cells were incubated with freshly solublized A?_ 1-42 and the mixture of A?_ 1-42 and ?-asarone,the expression of three central adhesion molecules,CD106,CD62P,CE62E and Ca 2+ concentration were examined and apoptosis was recorded by Flow cytometry.Test viability of cells by MTT methods.RESULTS:The results showed that in model group and treated group,ligation of endothelial CD106,CD62P,CE62E,markers for endothelial cell activation and Ca 2+ concentration,leads to a lot of release.The livability decreased and the apoptosis increased.Further more,simultaneous treatment of ECV304 cells with ?-asarone resulted in the decrease significantly in these three adhesion molecules described above and Ca 2+ concentration as well as the livability upper and apoptosis lower.CONCLUSION:CD106,CD62P,CE62E,important inflammational factor of A?-induced endothelial injury,may be promotion of the inflammatory scade in vascular endothelial.?-asarone may protect ECV304 cell apoptosis by regulate Ca 2+ and expression of cell surface markers.