Pleuritis rat model was adopted to observe the influence of Eryngium foetidun L . on in- flammatory cell factors (TNF-a, IL- 6 and NO) . The results showed that Eryngium foetidum L. can decrease the contents of TNF-a , IL- 6 and NO in serum. It is indicated that the anti- inflam- matory effect of Eryngium foetidum L. is probably related to the decrease of the contents of the above factors.

Objective To observe the effect of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction ( HJD) for the treatment of dyslipidemia, thus to provide evidence for the prevention and treatment of dyslipidemia with traditional Chinese medicine. Methods A total of 80 dyslipidemia patients were randomized into HJD group ( 50 cases) and simvastatin group ( 30 cases) . After treatment for 4 weeks, blood lipid levels, metabolic parameters and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were detected. Results (1) After treatment, HJD group and simvastatin group both had lower total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (P<0.01 compared with those before treatment), and HJD group had higher high density lipoprotein cholesterol than that before treatment ( P<0.05), but the differences of TC, TG, low and high density lipoprotein cholesterol were insignificant between the two groups ( P>0.05). ( 2) After treatment, uric acid was reduced in HJD group ( P<0.05) , but fasting blood glucose only showed a decreasing trend and the other metabolic parameters stayed unchanged ( P>0.05). The inter-group comparison showed that HJD had lower blood glucose level than simvastatin group, and the difference had statisticall significance ( P<0.05). ( 3) During the treatment, the patients showed good compliance, and had no obvious hepatic or renal damage. Conclusion HJD could reduce TC, TG and low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and increase high density lipoprotein cholesterol of dyslipidemia patients, the effect being similar to simvastatin. HJD could also significantly reduce uric acid of dyslipidemia patients, showing good safety.

Splenogastric hygropyrexia syndrome, a common syndome in clinical practice, responds well to the therapy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In view of the complexity of TCM syndrome formation, proceeding from different aspects such as Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, expression of inflammatory factors, mucosal protection and change in micro-ecosystem, the authors proposed that Hp infection in gastric mucosa, nuclear factor-kappa B activation, over-expression of heat shock protein 70, and "excessive evil, dyssplenism and confliction between healthy energy and evils" due to disequilibrium between Hp and lactobacillus acidophilus in gastric mucosa and coated tongue may be the important links in the formation of Hp related gastrosis with splenogastric hygropyrexia syndrome.

Objective To compare the advantages and disadvantages of the four DNA extraction methods according to the endophytic diversity in the roots, stems, and leaves of mulberry analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) , and by taking the yield, purity and PCR amplification as indexes. Methods Four common methods, i.e., cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide ( CTAB) , sterile phosphate buffered saline (SPBS) vibration, liquid nitrogen grinding (LNG) , and KIT methods, were used to extract the total DNA from different tissues of mulberry, and then were compared based on the diversity analysis results for endophyte by PCR-DGGE. Results From the roots and stems of mulberry, we got the highest concentration of DNA by LNG extraction method, and got the lowest concentration by SPBS extraction method. But for the leaves of mulberry, the results of the four extraction methods were completely opposite to those for the roots and stems. For different tissues of mulberry, the purity of DNA extracted by KIT method was the best. According to the endophytic bacteria diversity analyzed by 16S rDNA PCR-DGGE, the appropriate method for extraction of DNA was LNG or CTAB, but was not KIT. And according to the results of endophytic fungi diversity analyzed by ITS PCR-DGGE, the best extraction method was KIT, and the unsuited methods varied from the tissues of mulberry. Conclusion The optimum DNA extraction method for mulberry varies from the tissues of mulberry and endophtic bacteria.

【Objective】 To observe the effect of acupuncture on immune organs(thymus and spleen) and T lymphocyte subtypes of CD3,CD4 and CD8 in rats with dysmenorrhea.【Methods】Thirty SD rats were randomized into normal control group,model group and electroacupunture(EA) group.Except the normal control group,rats in other groups received intraperitoneal injection of diethylstilbestrol and oxytocin to induce dysmenorrhea.EA group received EA on bilateral acupoints of Sanyinjiao and Guanyuan additionally.After 10-day treatment,body-stretching rate,the pathological changes of thymus and spleen,and blood CD3,CD4 and CD8 levels in the three groups were observed.【Results】In the model group,body-stretching rate was 100%,the pathological changes of thymus and spleen were obvious,and blood CD3 and CD4 levels were decreased as compared with the normal control group(P

[Objective] To observe the effect of Baicalin on the expression of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) induced by chlamydia pneumoniae (CPN). [Methods] The endothelial cells of umbilical veins (ECV-304) was cultured in-vitro in 6-well culture plate (3 double-wells as a group). When a single layer formed, CPN or CPN + baicalin (0.48 g/L or 0.24 g/L) was added, serving as the model group and baicalin groups respectively. The wells without adding agents served as the normal group. After 5 days of culture, the intracellular growth of CPN in ECV-304 was examined by monoclonal antibody fluorescence labeling method and Giemsa stain, and the expression of TLR2 mRNA and TLR4 mRNA was detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the model group. Protein expression of TLR2 on ECV-304 cell surface in the cultured supernatants was detected with flow cytometer. [Results] The intracellular growth of CPN can be found in ECV-304. The expression of TLR4 mRNA was undetectable, and high expression of TLR2 mRNA and TLR2 protein existed in ECV-304. Baicalin in high doses could lower the expression of TLR2 protein. [Conclusion] Baicalin has an inhibitory effect on the high expression of TLR2 protein in ECV-304 stimulated by CPN.

Objective To investigate the effects of baicalin on the apoptosis and cell migration of intestinal epithelial cells 6 (IEC-6) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) . Methods LPS was adopted to establish LPS-induced cells injury model. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium ( MTT) assay and Elisa kits were used to evaluate the effect of LPS on the tumor necrosis factor alpha ( TNF-α) and interleukin 6 ( IL-6) concentrations of IEC-6. Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the effect of baicalin ( in the dosage of 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 μg/mL ) on the cell apoptosis. Cell migration was observed and calculated on a wounding model of IEC-6 cells induced by a pipette tip. Results Compared with the control group, the survival rate of IEC-6 in 1.0 μg·mL-1 LPS group was much lowered, TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations were significantly increased, the apoptotic rate of IEC-6 was increased and the cell migration activity was significantly decreased ( P<0.05) . Compared with the model group, IEC-6 apoptosis was relieved to various degrees in baicalin groups, the apoptotic rate of IEC-6 was obviously decreased (P<0.05) and cell migration activity was increased significantly (P<0.01) in 10.0 μg·mL-1 baicalin group. Conclusion Baicalin has the capacity of protecting IEC-6 from LPS-induced injury and increasing cell migration activity.

Objective To investigate the effect of berberine anti macrophages apoptosis, initially to determine the concentration of anti-apoptosis and to explore its mechanisms of treatment in atherosclerosis (AS). Methods Apoptosis of RAW264.7 macrophages is induced by 0.5 μmol/L Tg and 50 μg/ml Fuc. The cell survival rate and apoptosis rate was detected by MIT and flow cytometry, respectively. Results There was statistical significance between the berberine group of 800 μg/ml and normal group in the cell sur-vival rate(P<0.01). With the decline in concentration of berberine, the cell apoptosis rate showed a down-ward trend, berberine (0.02-0.63 μg/ml) effectively inhibited the cell apoptosis induced by Tg and Fuc. Conclusion Berberine group has little impact on the cell proliferation. Berberine can effectively inhibit the cell apoptosis induced by Tg and Fuc.

Objective To investigate the changes of the immunological factors in subcutaneous exudate and blood components of the rats receiving cutaneous scraping method,and to compare the changes of skin histopathological features before and after cutaneous scraping under microscope.Methods SD rats were randomly divided into two groups,cutaneous-scraping group and non-cutaneous-scraping group.And then each group was divided into three subgroups.The observation indexes included the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β,IL-6 and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in the blood and the skin,routine blood examination,and skin histopathological features.Results In cutaneous-scraping group,the number of white blood cells in the blood and the levels of IL-1 β and IFN-γ in skin tissues were increased (P ＜ 0.05),the hemolysis rate was increased (P ＜ 0.05).However,the levels of IL-1β,IL-6 and IFN-γin the blood showed no obvious changes.Under the microscope,severe skin edema,vascular congestion and dilatation,and infiltration of inflammatory cells were found in the skin after cutaneous scraping.Conclusion The cutaneous scraping method can activate the immune response rapidly,and the immunological components of the subcutaneous exudate after cutaneous scraping are helpful to the disease treatment.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the pharmacological components and mechanism of Qingre huoxue decoction in improving myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury（MIRI）. METHODS Forty-two rats were randomly divided into sham operation group （normal saline）， model group （normal saline）， Qingre huoxue decoction low-dose， medium-dose and high-dose groups （4.94， 9.88， 19.79 g/kg），Qingre huoxue decoction drug-containing serum group （19.79 g/kg） and blank serum group （normal saline）， with 6 rats in each group. Each group was given corresponding drug/normal saline intragastrically， once a day， for consecutive 2 weeks. Twelve hours after last administration， except for serum groups， MIRI model was induced in other groups （only threading without ligation in sham operation group）. After modeling， cardiac histopathology was observed and apoptosis level was detected. UPLC-MS was used to analyze the samples in Qingre huoxue decoction drug-containing serum group and blank serum group. The main pharmacological components were screened with the help of relevant databases. Multivariate statistical methods were used to analyze the differential metabolites and related metabolic pathways. Validation test was performed based on oxidative stress indicators. RESULTS Qingre huoxue decoction could improve the pathological injury of cardiac tissue and decrease apoptosis rate of cardiac cells in MIRI model rats （P＜0.05）. Qingre huoxue decoction drug-containing serum contained 20 main pharmacological components such as baicalin， succinic acid， baicalein， cryptotanshinone， isoferulic acid， protocatechuic aldehyde. Qingre huoxue decoction could significantly up-regulate the levels of 15 metabolites including L-arginine， L-arginine， citric acid， glutathione， β-D- glucose and L-carnitine， and down-regulated the levels of 14 metabolites including arachidonic acid， 3-phosphate-d-glycerol phosphate， linoleic acid， docosahexaenoic acid， phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine （P＜0.05）. These metabolites were mainly involved in energy metabolism， inflammatory injury， oxidative stress and autophagy. Results of validation tests showed that Qingre huoxue decoction could significantly reduce the levels of malondialdehyde， and increased the levels of superoxide dismutase （except for low-dose group） and glutathione peroxidase significantly （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Qingre huoxue decoction can improve the injury of cardiac tissue in MIRI model rats. Its pharmacological components include baicalin， cryptotanshinone， isoferulic acid， protocatechualdehyde， etc. Furthermore， it may play a protective role in MIRI by improving myocardial energy metabolism， down-regulating oxidative stress， inhibiting inflammation infiltration.