BACKGROUND: Metronidazole has been known as the most effective drug for treatment of Trichomonas vaginalis-related diseases. However, it has been reported that metronidazole has adverse effects and incidence of metronidazole-resistant T. vaginalis (CDC085) has increased. Development of new drug, which is effective against metronidazole-resistant T. vaginalis and showing no adverse effects, has been required. METHODS: The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of various extracts from herbs such as Quisqualis indica, Gleditsia sinensis, Prunus armeniaca, Morus alba, Platycodon grandiflorum, Ailanthus altissima, Stemona japonica, Biota orientalis, Dryobalanops aromatica, and Cimicifuga heracleifolia on metronidazole resistant strain of T. vaginalis in vitro (CDC085). RESULTS: Anti-Trichomonas activities were observed in T. vaginalis treated with G. sinensis, P. armeniaca, and P. grandiflorum on the growth and fine structure of metronidazole resistant strain of T. vaginalis. Of the three standard extracts that showed the most effective anti-trichomonas activity, G. sinensis was the most effective. The inhibitory effects of fraction extracts of this drug were shown on the growth of T. vaginalis. The fine structure of the cytoplasm was changed after application of G. sinensis extract. The number of polyribosome and hydrogenosome decreased whereas the number of food vacuole and vacuole in the cytoplasm increased, compared with that of untreated control group. CONCLUSION: The results of our study indicate that G. sinensis may induce the inhibition of cell multiplication as well as impairment of protein synthesis of metronidazole resistant strain of T. vaginalis in vitro.
Ailanthus ; Cell Proliferation ; Cimicifuga ; Cytoplasm ; Dipterocarpaceae ; Gleditsia ; Incidence ; Metronidazole* ; Morus ; Platycodon ; Polyribosomes ; Prunus armeniaca ; Stemonaceae ; Thuja ; Trichomonas vaginalis* ; Trichomonas* ; Vacuoles

BACKGROUND: Metronidazole has been known as the most effective drug for treatment of Trichomonas vaginalis-related diseases. However, it has been reported that metronidazole has adverse effects and incidence of metronidazole-resistant T. vaginalis (CDC085) has increased. Development of new drug, which is effective against metronidazole-resistant T. vaginalis and showing no adverse effects, has been required. METHODS: The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of various extracts from herbs such as Quisqualis indica, Gleditsia sinensis, Prunus armeniaca, Morus alba, Platycodon grandiflorum, Ailanthus altissima, Stemona japonica, Biota orientalis, Dryobalanops aromatica, and Cimicifuga heracleifolia on metronidazole resistant strain of T. vaginalis in vitro (CDC085). RESULTS: Anti-Trichomonas activities were observed in T. vaginalis treated with G. sinensis, P. armeniaca, and P. grandiflorum on the growth and fine structure of metronidazole resistant strain of T. vaginalis. Of the three standard extracts that showed the most effective anti-trichomonas activity, G. sinensis was the most effective. The inhibitory effects of fraction extracts of this drug were shown on the growth of T. vaginalis. The fine structure of the cytoplasm was changed after application of G. sinensis extract. The number of polyribosome and hydrogenosome decreased whereas the number of food vacuole and vacuole in the cytoplasm increased, compared with that of untreated control group. CONCLUSION: The results of our study indicate that G. sinensis may induce the inhibition of cell multiplication as well as impairment of protein synthesis of metronidazole resistant strain of T. vaginalis in vitro.
Ailanthus ; Cell Proliferation ; Cimicifuga ; Cytoplasm ; Dipterocarpaceae ; Gleditsia ; Incidence ; Metronidazole* ; Morus ; Platycodon ; Polyribosomes ; Prunus armeniaca ; Stemonaceae ; Thuja ; Trichomonas vaginalis* ; Trichomonas* ; Vacuoles

OBJECTIVETo compare the antitussive activity of three kinds of Stemonae Radix specified in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, including roots of Stemona sessilifolia, S. japonica and S. tuberosa.

METHODThe antitussive activity was determined in mouse after cough induction by ammonia aerosol stimulation and the number of cough in 2 min were detected with codeine as positive control.

RESULTAll the decoctions, the total alkaloid fractions and non-alkaloid fractions of S. sessilifolia, S. japonica and three chemical types of S. tuberosa showed significant antitussive effect and exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of coughing. The ED50 values showed that the antitussive activity strength for both total alkaloid fractions and the decoctions are: S. tuberosa (Type I) > S. sessilifolia > S. japonica. The total alkaloid fractions had more potent atitussive activity than the decoctions and non-alkaloid fractions. The antitussive activity strength for the three chemical types of S. tuberosa is: Type I > Type III > Type II. The samples from different producing areas for the same species of Stemonae Radix had no significant differences in antitussive activity. The result also showed that the honey-processed slice had much stronger antitussive activity than raw slice.

CONCLUSIONThe antitussive efficacies of Stemonae Radix were influenced by chemical diversity both in same species and among different species, different fractions and processed method.

Animals ; Antitussive Agents ; administration & dosage ; Cough ; drug therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Stemonaceae ; chemistry

In this study, OVA-induced asthma mice was taken as the model, and orally administered with different concentration of ethanol extracts of crude and processed Stemona tuberosa, in order to determine the cytokine level released from Th1 and Th2 in splenocytes. RT-PCR was carried out to determine the genetic expression of T-bet/GATA-3 in lung, and compare the differentiation between ethanol extracts of crude and processed S. tuberosa in therapeutic effect on asthma in mice. According to the results, compared with the crude samples, processed samples significantly increased the levels of inflammatory factor INF-gamma (P < 0.05) and decreased IL-5 (P < 0.05) in splenocytes. According to the RT-PCR results, the administration of processed samples could increase the ratio of T-bet/GATA-3 (P < 0.05). The experiment showed that ethanol extracts of both crude and processed S. tuberosa could treat asthma by regulating Th1/Th2 ratio, but processed samples showed more notable effect. This indicated that crude and processed S. tuberosa had significant pharmacological difference. Therefore, it was more rational to apply processed S. tuberosa in clinical treatment of asthma and chronic cough, which layed a foundation for further revealing the processing mechanism of S. tuberosa.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; GATA3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Stemonaceae ; chemistry ; T-Box Domain Proteins ; metabolism ; Th1 Cells ; drug effects ; secretion ; Th2 Cells ; drug effects ; secretion