Objective: To study the protective effects of canthaxanthin against decreasing of i mmuno-function of the acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide in mice and research its possible mechanism for offering scientific basis of its health function. Methods: Randomly distribute 60 male Kunming mices into control group, lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury model group(ALI), dexamethasone (DXM) group (5 mg/kg) and low, middle, high dose groups of canthaxanthin (10 mg/kg, 15 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg). After 30 d feed by different dosage canthaxanthin, control group were given physiological saline, ALI model group, canthaxanthin administrated groups and DXM group were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (6.0 mg/kg) to induce ALI. Six hours after LPS or physiological saline challenged, abdominal aorta blood for measuring lymphocyte subpopulations(CD3+, CD4+, CD8+), tumour factor-?(TNF-?), leckocyte interpose-8(IL-8), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione perioxidase (GSH-Px) activities, and lung wet weight/dry weight ratio, neutrophil MPO activity of lung, tumour factor-?(TNF-?), leckocyte interpose-10 (IL-10) content of lung. Results: Treatment with different dosage canthaxanthin could significantly decrease serum TNF-?, IL-8, MPO, MDA content and lung wet weight/dry weight ratio, while inhibit the reduction of IL-10 in lung and SOD, GSH-Px activities, improve the percent of lymphocyte subpopulations. Conclusion: Canthaxanthin showed protective effects on immuno-function of the acute lung injury induced by LPS in mice.

Objective To investigate the effect of ?,?-carotene in enhancing the function of anti-oxidative damage in osteoblasts.Methods M3T3-E1 osteoblasts were randomly divided in five groups: control group,model group,and ?,?-carotene group [low-dose(1?10-8mol/L),medium-dose(1?10-7mol/L),high-dose(1?10-6mol/L)].The activity of cells,superoxide dismutase(SOD),the content of reactive oxygen species(ROS),lipid oxygen(LPO),and membrane fluidity were tested and compared. Results Compared with those in ?,?-carotene groups,the activity of cells,SOD activity and membrane fluidity in the model group were significantly decreased(P

In this article, the authors firstly summarized the number of applications submitted to and projects supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) in the field of traditional Chinese medicine research in 2010. Then they described the district distribution, research direction layout and allotment of the approved projects in the three primary disciplines (traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese materia medica and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine) and their 43 subdisciplines. The targeting suggestions for improvement were given respectively by concluding the reason of disapproved projects from the point of view of applicants and supporting institution, and by stating the common problems existing in the review process from the perspectives of fund managers and evaluation experts. Lastly, the major funding fields in the near future were predicted in the hope of providing guidance for applicants.

Objective: To study the active ingredients in the root bark of Aralia echinocaulis. Methods: Three triterpenoid saponins were separated from the 70% ethanol extracts and purified by column chromatography and their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis. Compound 1 and 3 were evaluated for antioxidant activity by the in vitro DPPH free radical scavenging ability and the protective effect of OH