Danshen-Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae，is one of the common traditional Chinese medicines，which has been used clinically in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases more than 20 centuries.The active ingredients of Danshen has been researched 5 decades by the modern methods.Many researchers investigated the pharmacological effects of water soluble ingredients of Danshen-salvianolic acids in vivo and in vitro.The results demonstrated that salvianolic acids have different pharmacological effects such as potent antioxidative effects，scavenging free radicals，protect neural cells against injuries caused by anoxia， etc.In present paper，the pharmacological effects of salvianolic acids and the mechanisms of their actions are reviewed based on the research results obtained in our laboratory and other authors.

The research and development (R & D) of novel Chinese materia medica (CMM) have made a great progress in recent years.But problems still exist in druggability evaluation of novel CMM,such as uncertain evaluation content and lack of key technology.Druggability evaluation is the key to the success or failure for R & D of novel CMM.Observation on the effect and safety of novel CMM is the core of druggability evaluation.The important pharmacological problems include the choice of evaluation indicator,clinical indication,analysis of material basis,investigation of mechanism,research on pharmacokinetics and safety evaluation.Modem technologies should be used in druggability evaluation.We should have a correct understanding of the concept of novel CMM.The grasp of the meaning of novel drugs and the essence of CMM theory will be helpful for R & D of novel CMM.

The experiment was conducted in the Central Laboratory of Tianjin Stomatological Hospital from November 2004 to March 2005. Epithelial cells were isolated from normal parotid gland tissues obtained form resected benign tumor of an adult, so as to prepare rat tail collagen. Two adult rats were selected to obtain the tendon fascia from rat tail, which were then immersed in the 500 mL of 0.1% glacial acetic acid. The infiltration culture board of collagen glacial acetic acid, proximal wall of culture flask and beaker with ammonia water were placed in a sterile containers to reserve at 37 ℃ for 72 hours. The epithelial cells were isolated from parotid gland tissues by enzyme digestion and cultured in 1:1 DMEM/F12 culture medium supplemented with some growth stimulating factors such as insulin (INS), hydrocortisone (HC) and isoproterenol (ISO) by using self-made rat tail collagen gel substrate. The cytomorphological characteristics of primary and passage cells were observed with inverted microscope. The result showed that the primary culture of parotid gland epithelial cells: cells were in polarity arrangement on the 4th day and formed in different size of acinus and pip kind structure. The serial subcultivation of parotid gland epithelial cells. In the culture period of 50 days, parotid gland epithelial cells were passed to the F3 generation, and the cells of F3 generation frozen in liquid nitrogen recovered and survived. It could be seen by HE staining that the cell body was bigger, the kytoplasm was abundant and the nuclear membrane was clear with one or two entoblasts. The karyogenetic division could be found in partial entoblast, whereas no abnormal karyogenetic division was seen.

The anti-inflammatory mechanism of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is mainly due to inhibition of COX-2 activity. NSAIDs can also inhibit COX-2 expression and produce anti-inflammatory effect independent of COX. These COX-independent mechanisms include inhibiting transcription factors such as NF-?B and AP-1, interfering with signal transduction pathways through actions on Erk、p38MAPK、IKK and RSK2, activating PPAR? and HSF-1, inhibiting iNOS and transport of prostanoids from their generating cells.

AIM The aim of our study was to establish drug screening models which can evaluate samples' effects on cytokines related with inflammtion, capable of fast and efficient screening of anti-inflammatory lead compounds on the release of inflammtory cytokines. METHODS Heparinized human blood leukocytes was evaluated as a model to study the effects of various classes of anti-inflammatory lead compounds on cytokine release/biosynthesis from leukocytes. Human blood leukocytes was stimulated with LPS (final concentration 0.5～50 mg?L -1), with or without test drugs (diclofenac, a cytooxygenase inhibitor, nordihydroguaiaretic acid NDGA, a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor) for 1～4 h to induce cytokine release. RESULTS Human blood leukocytes stimulated with LPS could product IL-1, IL-8 and TNF-? in a dose-dependent manner. Human blood leukocytes was stimulated with LPS(5 mg?L -1) for 4h to induce cytokine release. TNF-?, IL-1 and IL-8 time-course profiles were determined in culture media, using bioassays and ELISA. LPS-mediated release of IL-1 and TNF-? was significantly suppressed by NDGA and Diclofenac. In LPS stimulated blood, NDGA and Diclofenac inhibited the release of TNF-?(IC 50 of 149 ?mol?L -1 and 23.88 ?mol?L -1) or IL-1 (IC 50 of 222.57 ?mol?L -1 and 126 ?mol?L -1). CONCLUSION This human blood leukocytes screening system in vitro has the potential to screen new cytokine release inhibitors and sites of action of new anti-inflammatory lead compounds, and increases the screening efficiency.

Phosphodiesterases(PDEs) is the only protein enzyme family,which catalyze the hydrolysis of cyclic nucleotide second messages(cAMP and cGMP).PDEs regulate many physiologic and pathologic processes.Recent advance showed that PDE7 hydrolyze cAMP exclusively and is divided into PDE7A and PDE7B. PDE7 mainly express in immune and inflammatory cells.The selective inhibition of this family generates profound,functional effects and PDE7 has been used as a therapeutic target for diseases related with inflammation,such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD),rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimers disease(AD).

PKC plays a pivotal role in the mechanism of myocardial preconditioning. After preconditioning, PKC is activated and translocated to membranes and cytoskeleton structures by multiple endogenous substances such as adenosine, calcium, etc. Recent studies imply that MAPK carries the signal from PKC to the mitochondria K ATP channel and thus protect the heart.

AIM To study the protective effect of total salvianolic acid against cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury. METHODS The cerebral ischemia reperfusion model in mice was made by means of ligating bilateral common carotid arteries in mice. After reperfusion, latency, error number of step down test and the gasping time after cutting head in ischemia reperfusion mice were recorded. Spectrophotometric assay were used to measure the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), the contents malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH) in brain of experimental mice brain homogenate. RESULTS In step down test, the ischemia reperfusion impaired the function of learning and memory in mice. The total salvianolic acid markedly improved the function of learning and memory, reduced the error number and extended the latency in ischemia reperfusion mice. The total salvianolic acid also significantly inhibited the changes of SOD, MDA and GSH in the cerebrum induced by ischemia reperfusion. CONCLUSION The total salvianolic acid has protective effect against cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury via its antioxidant activity.

AIM To study the protective effect of total salvianolic acid against cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury. METHODS The cerebral ischemia reperfusion model in mice was made by means of ligating bilateral common carotid arteries in mice. After reperfusion, latency, error number of step down test and the gasping time after cutting head in ischemia reperfusion mice were recorded. Spectrophotometric assay were used to measure the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH) in brain of experimental mice brain homogenate. RESULTS In step down test, the ischemia reperfusion impaired the function of learning and memory in mice. The total salvianolic acid markedly improved the function of learning and memory, reduced the error number and extended the latency in ischemia reperfusion mice. The total salvianolic acid also significantly inhibited the changes of SOD, MDA and GSH in the cerebrum induced by ischemia reperfusion. CONCLUSION The total salvianolic acid has protective effects against cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury via its antioxidant activity.

Objective: To review the results with an approach of primary repair for tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and double-outlet right ventricle (DORV) with anomalous coronary arteries. Methods: From June 1995 to June 2002, 12 patients with TOF and DORV associated with anomalous coronary arteries crossing an obstructed right ventricle outflow tract underwent primary surgical repair. To avoid injury of the anomalous coronary arteries, some modified surgical techniques were used. Main pulmonary artery translocation in 2 patients, repair under a mobilized left anterior descending coronary artery in 3, displaced ventriculotomy with subcoronary suture lines in 5, and the right ventricle outflow tract was repaired via the arteriotomy and/or pulmonary incision in 2. Results: There were no early or late death, and no myocardial infarction. Follow-up ranged from 3 months to 6 years, there were no residual leakage and obstruction of right ventricle outflow tract. Conclusion: Primary repair of TOF with anomalous coronary arteries can be done with excellent results. A proper surgical technique should be used during operation.