Icariin (ICA), as one of the flavones compounds, possess strong pharmacological effects. With wide body distribution, it even could pass through blood-brain barrier into brain tissues. When intaken as a pure compound, distribution of ICA in body was accord with open type of two compartment model. If it is one ingredient of a complex prescription, other component of these could promote the absorption and distribution of ICA. After metabolism, the main component left was its aglycone. A lot of research about ICA based on immunology, phymatology, genesiology and endocrinology sustained it was a valuable compounds. Recently more research about ICA concentrated their interesting to its mysterious effect on bone tissues, cardiovascular system and especially nervous systems.
Animals ; Cardiovascular System ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; Flavonoids ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Immune System ; drug effects ; Nervous System ; drug effects

Animals ; Humans ; Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Metals ; toxicity ; Nervous System ; drug effects

In the present review, English literature on the pharmacological effects of Gastrodia elata was summarized. The literature mainly reported the effects of G. elata on central nervous system, including anticonvulsant, neuroprotection, improvement on learning and memory, and so on. These pharmacological effects were closely associated with its phenolic components.
Animals ; Central Nervous System ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gastrodia ; chemistry ; Humans ; Memory ; drug effects

This experiment aimed to investigate the effect of adrenergic system in the subnucleus commissuriu of nucleus solitrius tractus (CNTS) on renal nerve discharges. Norepinephrine (NE) was microinjected into the CNTS of rabbits and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and renal nerve discharges (FRND) were synchronously recorded. The results indicated that (1) microinjection of norepinephine into the CNTS of rabbit could significantly attenuate the frequency of renal nerve discharge, and at the same time decrease markedly the mean arterial pressure. (2) Microinjection of 0.3 nmol yohimbin into CNTS had no significant influence on FRND and MAP, but could attenuate and even reverse the effects of NE on FRND and MAP. These results suggest that microinjection of NE into CNTS may activate the alpha-adrenorecptor located in CNTS and secondarily produce a depressor effect by attenuating the activity of periphenal sympathetic nervous system.
Blood Pressure/drug effects ; Depression, Chemical ; Kidney/*innervation ; Microinjections ; Norepinephrine/*pharmacology ; Solitary Nucleus/*physiology ; Sympathetic Nervous System/drug effects ; Sympathetic Nervous System/*physiopathology ; Vasomotor System/physiopathology

Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of varied nervous system diseases. Recent studies have demonstrated that hydrogen has selective antioxidative effect. It selectively reduces the hydroxyl radical (*OH) and peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)), the most cytotoxic of reactive oxygen species (ROS); however, it does not affect other ROS, which play important physiological roles at low concentrations. A large body of experimental studies has proved that hydrogen, through anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory and inhibiting apoptosis, has a significant therapeutic effect in various neurological diseases, such as ischemia, hypoxia, degeneration and spinal cord contusion. It provides us with a new clinical method for the prevention and treatment of neurological diseases.
Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hydrogen ; pharmacology ; Hydroxyl Radical ; metabolism ; Nervous System ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Nervous System Diseases ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; physiology ; Peroxynitrous Acid ; metabolism

Child ; Child Development ; drug effects ; Endocrine Glands ; drug effects ; growth & development ; physiology ; Hazardous Substances ; poisoning ; Humans ; Nervous System ; drug effects ; Urogenital System ; drug effects

BACKGROUNDIt has been argued that the benefits of reducing sodium loading may be offset by increased activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and sympathetic nervous system. This study aimed to investigate the long-term effects of an increase in dialysis sodium removal on circulating RAAS and sympathetic system in hypertensive hemodialysis (HD) patients with "normal" post-HD volume status.

METHODSThirty hypertensive HD patients were enrolled in this pilot trial. After one month period of dialysis with standard dialysate sodium of 138 mmol/L, the patients were followed up for a four months period with dialysate sodium set at 136 mmol/L, without changes in instructions regarding dietary sodium control. During the period of study, the dry weight was adjusted monthly under the guidance of bioimpedance spectroscopy to maintain post-HD volume status in a steady state; 44-hour ambulatory blood pressure, plasma renin, angiotensin II (Ang II), aldosterone, and norepinephrine (NE) were measured.

RESULTSAfter four months of HD with low dialysate sodium of 136 mmol/L, 44-hour systolic and diastolic blood pressures (BPs) were significantly lower (-10 and -6 mmHg), in the absence of changes in antihypertensive medications. No significant changes were observed in plasma renin, Ang II, aldosterone, and NE concentrations. The post-HD volume parameters were kept constant.

CONCLUSIONMildly increasing dialysis sodium removal over 4 months can significantly improve BP control and does not activate circulating RAAS and sympathetic nervous system in hypertensive HD patients.

Adult ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Renal Dialysis ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; drug effects ; Sodium ; pharmacology ; Sympathetic Nervous System ; drug effects

Recently, the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory efficacy of bee venom (BV, Apis mellifera) has been confirmed in rodent models of inflammation and arthritis. Interestingly, the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effect of whole BV can be reproduced by two water-soluble fractions of BV (>20 kDa:BVAF1 and<10 kDa: BVAF3). Based on these scientific findings, BV and its effective water-soluble fractions have been proposed as potential anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive pharmaceuticals. While BV's anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties have been well documented, there have been no careful studies of potential, side effects of BV and its fractions when administered in the therapeutic range (BV, 5 microgram/kg; BVAF1, 0.2 microgram/kg: BVAF3, 3 microgram/kg; subcutaneous or intradermal). Such information is critical for future clinical use of BV in humans. Because of this paucity of information, the present study was designed to determine the general pharmacological/physiological effects of BV and its fractions administration on the rodent central nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory and gastrointestinal system. Subcutaneous BV and its fractions treatment did not produce any significant effects on general physiological functions at the highest dose tested (200-fold and 100-fold doses higher than that used clinically, respectively) except writhing test. These results demonstrate that doses of BV or BV subfractions in the therapeutic range or higher can be used as safe antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory agents.
Analgesics/*pharmacology ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/*pharmacology ; Bee Venoms/*pharmacology ; Cardiovascular System/*drug effects ; Central Nervous System/*drug effects ; Digestive System/*drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Respiratory System/*drug effects

In recent years there have been more widely and deeply studies in investigating melamine toxicity. Generally, it is believed that the main target of melamine is the urinary system. However, previous studies revealed that it also had additional biological actions. Obviously, the toxicity mechanisms of melamine have not been fully clarified. It is well known that fetus and infant periods play the most fundamental role in the brain development. And melamine can pass through the placental and blood-brain barrier, and then exerts toxic effects on the central nervous system. This article reviewed the reports about the topic in recent years, for better understanding the dangers of melamine to infants and providing experimental data for further study.
Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; drug effects ; Brain ; growth & development ; Central Nervous System ; drug effects ; Cognition ; drug effects ; Female ; Humans ; Maternal-Fetal Exchange ; drug effects ; Pregnancy ; Triazines ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity

Heavy Metal Poisoning ; Humans ; Nervous System ; drug effects ; Poisoning ; Thallium ; poisoning