Objective: To investigate the effects of taraxerol and taraxeryl acetate on cell cycle and apoptosis of human gastric epithelial cell line AGS cells. Methods: The inhibitory effects of taraxerol and taraxeryl acetate at different concentrations on AGS cell growth were measured by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method and the concentrations of taraxerol and taraxeryl acetate to be used in following experiments were decided. Then, cell cycle analysis was performed by FACScan flow cytometry after culture with taraxerol or taraxeryl acetate. Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide staining was used to measure cell apoptosis. Results: Taraxerol significantly inhibited AGS cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Taraxerol arrested the AGS cells at G(2)/M stage. 110 μmol/L taraxerol elevated the population of AGS cells arrested in G(2)/M phase compared with solvent (P<0.05). Taraxerol also promoted early cell apoptosis in AGS cells. 110 μmol/L taraxerol increased the early cell apoptosis rate from 4.45% to 10.29%, which was 1.31 times higher than that of the untreated cells. However, taraxeryl acetate had a lower inhibitory effect than taraxerol, and it showed a tendency of G(2)/M arrest and apoptosis promotion but with no statistical significance (P>0.05). Conclusion: Taraxerol has inhibitory effects on AGS cell growth through inducing G(2)/M arrest and promotion of cell apoptosis. Taraxeryl acetate has less effect on cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of AGS cells than taraxerol.

Objective: The main ingredients and the inhibitory effects of essential oil of a compound Chinese herbal medicine Weiqi Decoction (WQD) on AGS cell proliferation were to be investigated. Methods: Chemical compounds of WQD essential oil were detected by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis. Cell viability was measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium method. Cell cycle distribution was detected by flow cytometry. Apoptosis and necrosis of AGS cells were determined by Hoechst 33342/propidium iodine staining. Results: Chemical analysis showed that the main ingredients of WQD essential oil were bornylene and 3-n-butylphthalide. Ligustilide, which is the effective compound of Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), was not detected in WQD essential oil. The essential oil inhibited cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and blocked cell cycle progression at G(2)/M stage. At the concentrations that resulted in significant inhibition of cell proliferation and cell cycle arrest, essential oil induced both apoptosis and necrosis. Conclusion: The results suggest that WQD essential oil contains some effective ingredients for treating chronic atrophic gastritis and functional dyspepsia, and also has an antiproliferative effect on AGS cells through cell cycle arrest and apoptosis promotion in vitro. Therefore, essential oil should be retained as much as possible during stewing this decoction.

The healing of chronic wounds is a very complicated process,affected by many factors,and the wound is closely related to the local environment.Appropriate dressing contributes to improving the healing of the wound.Wet dressings are widely used in the clinical care of chronic wounds for the advantage of making moderately moist,low oxygen,slightly acid,and being close to the body temperature.