Exogenous hypercholesterolemia in mice was induced by feeding with diets containing 2% cholesterol. It was found that Oil of Piper Longum Unsaponifiable Matter ( OPUM ) at 40mg/kg?d-1 ig for 20d could reduce the levels of total cholesterol (TC). ( LDL + VLDL) - c and the hepatic cholesterol content, increase that of biliary cholesterol in exogenous hypercholesterolemic mice. The hypocholesterolemic effect of OPUM is in a dose-dependent manner over the range of 20~40mg/kg. OPUM at 40mg/kg ig could elevate Lecithin - Cholesterol Acyltransferase ( LCAT ) activity inhibited by treating with ip of yolk. It was suggested that the hypochole-sterol effect of OPUM could be concerned with protectiong cholesterol esterification and be of great advantage to protection from arteriosclerosis arteriosclerosis in mice.

Aim To investigate the effect of piperine (PIP)on triglycerides(TG),free fatty acid(FFA), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and leptin of model rats with insulin resistance syndrome(IRS).Methods By feeding rats with high-fat,high-glucose and high-salt diet,IRS model rats were established.Triglycer-ides(TG)was observed dynamically every 4 weeks, treating on the 4th weeks and 8 weeks continuously. TG (method of GOD-POD),FFA (method of colori-metric),TNF-αand leptin (method of ELISA)were measured.Results After 8 weeks treatment,the level of TG,FFA,TNF-αand leptin in PIP group decreased obviously,while it increased in model group signifi-cantly.Conclusions PIP could reduce TG and FFA and improve abnormal lipid metabolism of model rats with IRS significantly.Perhaps the mechanism is relat-ed with the down-regulation of cytokine TNF-αand leptin.

Aim To observe the effect of three steroidal saponins on the M-cholinoceptor density of cultured rat myocardiac cells. Methods The time course of M-cholinoceptor density was observed and diosgenin (DIO),timosaponin aglycone (ZMS,S-configuration) and XMS,a stereoisomeric compound of ZMS in C-25 methyl group,R-configuration) were added to the culture medium from the 12th day of culture at three final concentration of 10~(-7),10~(-6) and 10~(-5) mol?L~(-1),and the M-cholinoceptor density was measured on the 16th day with radioligand binding assay. Results The density of M-cholinoceptor increased gradually at the beginning of culture,reached a plateau at 4～10 days,and then dropped gradually. On the 16th day of culture,the M-cholinoceptor density was about 60% of the plateau value.The up-regulation effect of ZMS on the density of cultured rat myocardiac cells on the 16 th day was only significant at a final concentration of 10~(-5) mol?L~(-1). On the contrary,XMS was effective even when its final concentration was as low as 10~(-7) mol?L~(-1). DIO showed no effect on the M-cholinoceptor density at any of its three concentration. Conclusion The above results indicate that XMS with lower concentration showed similar effect on the M-cholinoceptor density of cultured mylcardiac cells as that of ZMS with more higher concentration.

Motherwort (Herb of Leonurus heterophyllus) was a traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of various kinds of gynaecological diseases, which was considered as non-toxic medicine since ancient times. However, adverse effects such as kidney damage, uterus damage, allergy and diarrhea were frequently reported recently. This paper reviews the possible target site, toxic dosage, chemical substance and other related factors of these kidney damage caused by motherwort from both the clinic and animal experiment view.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Kidney ; drug effects ; pathology ; Leonurus ; chemistry

Clinical traditional Chinese pharmacology is the subject that study of basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine, property of Chinese materia medica and clinical application. The study on the standardization research of the terminology of clinical traditional Chinese pharmacology is an important premise and foundation to standardization, modernization and internationalization, informationization construction of clinical traditional Chinese pharmacology and is also the important content of the subject construction. To provide some exploring ideas for clinical traditional Chinese pharmacology noun terminology standardization, this article elaborates the concept of strengthening Yin with bitter-flavor herbs in several aspects, such as connotation and the historical origin, the clinical application in the traditional, modern clinic application, and the modern basic research and so on.
China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; history ; pharmacology ; standards ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Materia Medica ; chemistry ; history ; standards ; Taste ; Terminology as Topic