Objective To evaluate the in vitro effect of ferulic acid on the proliferation of,as well as melanin synthesis,tyrosinase activity and expressions of c-kit and ERK proteins in cultured normal human epidermal melanocytes.Methods Cultured normal human epidermal melanocytes were treated with various concentrations of ferulic acid for different durations,and those remaining untreated served as the control.Then,3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium,inner salt (MTS) assay was performed to estimate cell proliferative activity at 24,48 and 72 hours,sodium hydroxide solubilization method to quantify melanin content in melanocytes at 72 hours,dopa oxidation assay to evaluate tyrosinase activity at 72 hours,Western blot to measure the expressions of c-kit and ERK1/2 proteins at 72 hours.Results Cellular proliferative activity was significantly inhibited in melanocytes treated with ferulic acid of 0.01,0.1 and 1 mg/ml for 24,48 and 72 hours compared with untreated melanocytes (all P ＜ 0.05),and the 72-hour treatment with ferulic acid of 1 mg/ml showed the strongest inhibitory effect.Ferulic acid at 0.01,0.1 and 1 mg/ml all markedly suppressed melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity,decreased the expressions of c-kit and ERK1/2 proteins in melanocytes,with significant differences in these parameters between ferulic acid-treated and untreated melanocytes (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Ferulic acid could downregulate the proliferation of,as well as melanin synthesis,tyrosinase activity,and expressions of c-kit and ERK proteins in cultured human epidermal melanocytes.

Objective To investigate the effect and safety of eurycoma longifolia in the treatment of erectile dysfunction(ED) in climacteric males.Methods One hundred and thirty-four climacteric males with ED were divided into the observation group and control group,67 cases in each group.The observation group was given the therapy of eurycoma longifolia and the control group was treated with testosterone undecanoate.After 3-month treatment,the scores of EHS,SHIM,AMS,EDITS,changes of serum to-tal testosterone(TT),free testesterone(FT),luteinizing hormone(LH),follicle stimulating hormone(FSH)and sex hormone-bind-ing globulin(SHGB)and complication occurrence rate were compared between the two groups.Results After 3-month treatment, the scores of EHS,SHIM,AMS and EDITS,and serum TT and FT levels in the two groups were significantly improved(P<0.05),moreover the results in the observation group were better than those in the control group(P<0.05);serum LH and FSH in the observation group had no obvious changes compared with before treatment(P>0.05),while which in the control group were significantly decreased compared with before treatment(P<0.05);serum SHGB level in the observation group was decreased com-pared with before treatment(P<0.05),while which in the control group was increased compared with before treatment(P<0.05);the EDITS score in the observation group was higher than that in the control group(P<0.01);the complication incidence rate in the observation group was 2.29 %,which was significantly lower than 16.41% in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion Eury-coma longifolia can significantly improve sexuality and sexual function in climacteric males.