Objective To observe the acute toxic reaction and death of mice one day after intragastric administration of Baicalein capsule so as to appraise its safety.Methods The ICR mice were intragastrically administered with Baicalein powder at maximum concentration. There was no death of mice found and no LD50 detected. Hence the maximum dosage was measured. Results The maximum dosage of Baicalein powder is 15g/kg. Conclusions The Baicalein capsule is relatively safe.

Objective To observe the acute toxic reaction and death of mice one day after intragastric administration of Baicalin capsule so as to appraise its safety. Methods The ICR mice were intragastrically administered with Baicalin powder in capsule at maximum concentration. There was no death of mice found and no LD_ 50 detected after administration. Hence the maximum dosage was identified. Results The maximum dosage of Baicalin powder is 15g/kg. Conclusions The Baicalin capsule is relatively safe.

Objective To explore the regulatory effect of astragalus polysaccharide ( APS) on immune function in immunosuppressed mice, and to establish a set of feasible indexes of immunological regulation and evaluation system of pol-ysaccharides.Methods Both Cytoxan ( CTX)-induced immunosuppressed mice and normal mice were treated with astrag-alus polysaccharide ( APS) .Spleen index, thymus index, phagocytosis rate and phagocytic index of peritoneal macrophages were assessed, and the spleen and thymus tissues were examined by histology.The percentage of CD3 +, CD4 +, and CD8 +cells in peripheral blood were determined by flow cytometry.Results APS significantly increased the thymus and spleen indexes in both immunosuppressed mice and normal mice, promoted the histological development of spleen and thy-mus in normal mice, enhanced the recovery of histological structures in the spleen and thymus in the CTX-induced immuno-suppressed mice.APS also enhanced the phagocytosis rate and phagocytic index of peritoneal macrophages in both immuno-suppressed mice and normal mice.In addition, the percentage of CD3 +and CD4 +cells,the ratio of CD4 +/CD8 +in pe-ripheral blood of both CTX-induced immunosuppressed mice and normal mice were increased while CD8 +cells were de-creased.Conclusions The results of this study suggest that astragalus polysaccharide can improve the non-specific immu-nity and cellular immunity in mice, and indicate that we established comprehensive evaluation indexes of immunoregulatory effects of polysaccharides.

Objective To observe the effect of emodin capsule on constipation model mice caused by diphenoxylate and compare it with the effect of Rhubarb & sodium bicarbonate tablet.Methods The ICR mice were divided into 6 groups as blank control group, diphenoxylate model group, emodin 25mg/kg,50mg/kg,100mg/kg group, and Rhubarb & sodium bicarbonate tablet 500mg/kg group. The blank control group and model group were given distilled water intragastrically while the rest 4 groups were given certain doses. The time of first dark stool defecation and 6-hour defecation quantity of each mouse were observed and recorded. The total weight of stool was weighed.Results The time of first dark stool defecation of the model group is markedly longer than that of control group (P

OBJECTIVE:To study the chemical constituents of the flower of Zang Epipremnum aureum. METHODS:The con-stituents of ethyl acetate extract of the flower of E. aureum were separated and purified with varied chromatographic techniques, and the structures were identified based on spectral data and chemical properties. RESULTS:Ten compounds were isolated from eth-yl acetate extract of the flower of E. aureum,they were identified as rutamontine(1),edgeworoside C(2),edgeworin(3),tiliro-side (4),helichrysoside (5),kaempferol (6),2,4-dihydroxypheny-2-hydroxy-4-metho-xybenzyl-ketone (7),ethyl caffeate (8), phthalic acid bis-(2-ethyl-hexyl) ester (9) and noreugenin (10). CONCLUSIONS:Compound 7 is firstly isolated from natural source,compounds 5,8 and 9 is firstly isolated from the family Thymelaeaceae,compound 6 is firstly isolated from Edgeworthia and compound 2 and 10 are firstly isolated from the flowers of E. aureum. The study lays certain foundation for the quality evalua-tion of E. aureum.

Objective To investigate the effect of doxapram on inhibition of medullary respiratory center excitability by sevoflurane in rats.Methods Neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes,aged 1-4 days,were used in this study.Isolated medulla oblongata-spinal cord specimens were made according to the method described by Suzue and perfused with the artificial cerebrospinal fluid saturated with 95％O2-5％CO2.The specimens were randomly divided into 3 groups ( n =9 each):control group (group C),sevoflurane group (group S) and sevoflurane + doxapram group (group S + D).Respiratory rhythmical discharge activity of the hypoglossal nerve rootlets was recorded using suction electrode.After 10 min of equilibration,the specimens were perfused with the artificial cerebrospinal fluid,5％ sevoflurane and the mixture of 5％ sevoflurane and 5 μmol/L doxapram for 10 min in groups C,S,and S + D respectively.The respiratory cycle,inspiratory time and integral amplitude of inspiratory discharge were recorded.Results Compared with group C,the respiratory cycle was significantly prolonged,the inspiratory time was significantly shortened,and the integral amplitude of inspiratory discharge was significantly decreased in group S (P ＜ 0.05),and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group S + D (P ＞ 0.05).Compared with group S,the respiratory cycle was significantly shortened,the inspiratory time was significantly prolonged,the integral amplitude of inspiratory discharge was significantly increased in group S + D ( P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Doxapram antagonizes sevoflurane-induced inhibition of excitability of medullary respiratory center in rats.

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of urinary BNP for diagnosis of chronic heart failure (CHF). MethodsThe levels of Urinary BNP and plasma BNP were measured by microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) in 83 patients with CHF and 30 control subjects. The heart function was classified according totheNYHAcriteria. Leftventricularejectionfractions(LVEF)weremeasuredby echocardiology. ResultsThe level of urinary BNP in patients with CHF was[90. 0(38. 3 -209. 5 )]ng/L and the level of plasma BNP was[680. 0 ( 289. 7 - 1543.5)]ng/L, both of them were much higher than those in healthy subjects,[17. 0 ( 13.0 - 33. 0)]ng/L and[84. 5 ( 56. 0 - 158.0 )]ng/L, respectively (P＜0. 01 ). The concentrations of urinary BNP increased gradually with more severe symptoms ( NYHA cl ass Ⅰ -ⅣV ). The level of urinary BNP was positively correlated with NYHA class ( r = 0. 742, P ＜ 0. 01 )and the level of plasma BNP (r =0. 842,P ＜0. 01 ) while negatively related with LVEF (r = -0. 801 ,P ＜0. 01 ). The level of urinary BNP in patients with LVEF ＜ 40％ was[143.0 ( 85. 0 - 258.0)]ng/L , which was much higher than that in patients with LVEF≥40％ ,[31.5( 17.3 -38. 8)]ng/L, (P ＜0. 01 ). At a decision threshold of 36. 5 ng/L, the urine BNP assay demonstrated a clinical sensitivity and specificity of 84％ and 80％ ,respectively. In this study,the area under the curve(AUC) was 0. 905. ConclusionUrinary BNP is a new candidate marker for the diagnosis of CHF,it provides a similar accuracy with plasma BNP.

Objective To detect the mutagenicity of sulfur mustard in the tk gene of L5178Y3.7.2c tk +/- mouse lymphoma cells. Methods The plating efficiency and the mutant frequency were detected by the microtiter procedure. Results Sulfur mustard induced tk locus mutation with mutation frequency 2-15 times higher than that of spontaneous mutation frequency of L5178Y3.7.2c tk +/- cells. There were two different phenotypes of mutation colonies induced, which were large and small colonies, but most of them were small colonies. Conclusion Sulfur mustard is characterized by marked mutagenic activity and cytotoxicity. The compound may result in large range of DNA damage.

Objective Diallyl disulfide ( DADS) has achieved remarkable effects in treatment and research of diverserfied cancers.The article was to explore the effects and the mechanism of DADS on the xenograft growth of human small cell lung cancer ( SCLC) cells in nude mice . Methods A total of 25 nude mice were selected to establish xenograft model of NCI-H446 human SCLC cells.The nude mice bearing with SCLC H446 were divided into 5 groups by random selection:positive control group(DDP 66 mg/kg), negative control group(physiological saline), 20 mg/kg DADS group, 60 mg/kg DADS group and 180 mg/kg DADS group, which is 40.6%, 53.1%and 66.4%, respectively.The growth of xenograft tumor in mice was observed after being treated with differ-ent concentrations of DADS .The morphological changes of the tumors were examined under light microscopy .Phase distribution and apoptosis of xenograft cells were analyzed by flow cytometry ( FCM) . Results The growth of xenograft tumor were inhibited signifi-cantly by DADS, resulting in decreased cell density and cellular atypia .Moreover, xenograft cell cycle was blocked in G 2/M and cell apoptosis rate was enhanced . Conclusion DADS can significantly inhibit the growth of NCI-H446 cells and lead to apoptosis .

Objective:To investigate the protective effect of Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on triptolide (TP)-induced immunological liver injuries, and explore the relevant mechanisms of action. Methods: A total of 40 female C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups:control group,EGCG group,TP group and TP+EGCG group. The ALT levels in serum was examined by Reitman Frankel method. The activity of hepatic MDA,SOD and GSH was examined by spectrophotometry. HE staining was used to observed the changes of the hepatic histopathology. The hepatic IL-17,IL-6 levels was examined by ELISA and the expression of hepatic TLR4 protein was examined by Western blot. Results:The results showed that serum alanine aminotransaminase ( ALT) levels of TP group were obviously elevated (P<0. 005,vs normal control group) and serum ALT levels were obviously reduced in EGCG treatment group(P<0. 005,vs normal TP group). There were no significantly differences between EGCG group and control group (P>0. 05). Meanwhile,EGCG could ameliorate hepatic pathological damage. Furthermore,in TP group,the activity of malondialdehyde ( MDA) ,the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) protein and the contentration of hepatic interleukin (IL)-17,IL-6 were higher than normal control group ( P<0. 005 ) . On the contrary, the activity of superoxide dismutase ( SOD ) and restored glutathione ( GSH ) were significantly lower than normal control group ( SOD, P<0. 05;GSH, P<0. 005 ) . In EGCG treatment group, the expression of TLR4 protein and the concentration of MDA,hepatic IL-17 and IL-6 were lower than TP group ( TLR4,P<0. 05;MDA,P<0. 005;IL-17,P<0. 005;IL-6,P<0. 005). On the contrary,SOD and GSH were significantly higher than TP group (SOD,P<0. 05;GSH,P<0. 005). Conclusion:This study suggests that EGCG possesses hepatoprotective effect against TP-induced immunological liver injury through its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant actions.