Mentha piperita L.Mentha piperita L. was collected from Sapa, Lao Cai province and cultivated at Co Nhue – Tu Liem – Ha Noi. The content of the essential oil in fresh branches of this peppermint was about 0.16%. Its green yield is 1.85-2.10 Kg/m2. First time in Vietnam, the chemical composition of peppermint oil was analyzed by GC/MS and 43 constituents were identified. The main constituents were L-menthol (47.60%), menthol (24.10%), menthofuran (6.07%) and 1.8 cineol (5.55%), pulegone (4.22%). Base on these data. The quality of Sa Pa peppermint oil is good as one from native origin. Peppermint collected from Sa Pa enrich the gene source of medicinal plant in general and particularly the gene source of essential oil plant group of Vietnam
Oils, Volatile ; Chemistry ; Plants

This paper presented a study on the dynamic of essential oil accumulation in Japanese mint SK33 (M. arrvensis L.) and the influence of storage time on its quantity and quality. This mint was cultivated at Co Nhue experimental station, Tu Liem district, Ha Noi City between 2000 and 2002. The results showed that during the vegetation and development process, the essential oil content in the plant gradually increased and achieved maximum at first branch flowering stage and reduced to minimum at the end of flowering stage. The menthol content in essential oil of Japanese mint SK33 reached the highest value at full flowering stage (81.79%). The best harvest time for this mint is from the beginning flowering stage to full flowering period. After harvesting the whole plants can be stored during 20 days without the change in content and quality of essential oil
oils ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Oils, Volatile

This paper presents the study on Japanese mint SK-33 (M.arvensis L.) and its essential oil. After 3 years cultivated and observed this mint at CoNhue - TuLiem-Hanoi, we have some following notes: its essential oil content at full flowering stage is about 0.64-0.71% in fresh aerial part of plants, 1.38-1.55% in fresh leaves and flowers, 5.13-5.29% in absolute dry leaves and flowers. The chemical composition of this oil was analyzed by GC/MS, 32 constituents were identified. The main constituents are menthol (81.79%), menthone (7.86%), isomenthone (4.95%). Japanese mint SK-33 has rather high content of essential oil, good quality and can create a large quantity of underground stems. It is prospective new mint form for cultivation at large area in our country.
Plants, Medicinal ; Oils, Volatile

Berberine and Palmatine were extracted from the powdered Huong Lien pills with a mixture of methanol and hydrochloric acid (100:1) and subjected to HPLC to simultaneously determine the alkaloids. The HPLC technique was carried out on a Lichrosorb RP-8 (10 m, 250x4 mm) column using a UV detector at =345 nm and a mixture of 3,4g potassium dihydrogen phosphate and 1,7g sodium lauryl sulfate dissolved in 1000 ml of water-acetonitrile (1:1) as a mobile phase. The experimental results proved that the proposed HPLC method was rapid, specific, accurate and precise.
Berberine ; Medicine, Traditional ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Biochemistry ; Berberine Alkaloids

Background: Gestational diabetes is a special form of diabetes mellitus, which is initially diagnosed during gestation. In Vietnam, routine screens for gestational diabetes are not performed. The risk factors of the disease are not taken into account during early screening. Many pregnancies are later diagnosed when complications present themselves. Objective: To determine the prevalence and discover the risk factors for Gestational Diabetes (GD) among pregnant women, who followed up at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bach Mai Hospital. Subject and methods: A cross-sectional, prospective study was conducted on 415 pregnant women, who had 24-28 weeks of gestation, followed up at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bach Mai Hospital from December, 2006 to April, 2007. All were asked about the risk factors and given an oral glucose tolerance test with 75g of glucose. Results: The prevalence of GD in general population accounted for 7.9%. The prevalence of GD, who had BMI \u226523, family history with 1st degree relative of diabetes and positive glycosuria at gestational age under 24 weeks in subgroups were 25.8%, 37.8% and 55.6%, respectively. None of the pregnant women who had a child weighed \u22654.000g at the previous delivery was diagnosed as GD. However, all thepregnant women, who had history of abnormal glucose tolerance, were GD. Conclusion: Prevalence of GD is increasing. BMI\u226523, family history with 1st degree relative of diabetes and positive glycosuria at age of gestation <24 weeks are considered as high risk factors of GD.
gestational diabetes

Background:\r\n', u'There are two virus known as Nam Dinh Virus, and Colti group B be found in Viet Nam. These viruses have appeared in the South, the Middle and the Highland. They haven\u2019t been reported in the Southern provinces and Can Thoas well. \r\n', u'Objectives: \r\n', u'To identify the circulation of Nam Dinh virus strain, and coltivirus group B strain in Can Tho, Southern Viet Nam, and their existence in nature.\r\n', u'Subjects and method: \r\n', u'Thirty-four mosquito samples (7, 453 individual mosquitoes) from Culex quinque faciatus and Culex pseudovishnui were collected in Can Tho provice, southern Vietnam 2005.\r\n', u'Isolatingviruses on Aedes albopictuc clone C6/36, Vero cells, and using PT- PCR and ELISA Sandwich for identification. \r\n', u'Results:\r\n', u'2 Nam Dinh virus strains, 2 coltivirus group B strains and 1 flavivirus strain (insect flavivirus) were isolated from Culex quinque faciatus, and no virus was isolated from Culex pseudovishnui.\r\n', u'Conclusion: \r\n', u'The identification of the transmission of Nam dinh Virus, and coltivirus group B in Can Tho province by isolating virus from Culex quinque faciatus has shown the evidence for natural vertical transmission of these viruses.\r\n', u'
Viruses ; Coltivirus ; Flavivirus ; Arboviruses ; Culex ;

In this report, we investigated the antioxidant (peroxyl radical-scavenging and reducing capacities) and anti-osteoporotic activities of extracts and isolated constituents (1 - 16) from the rhizomes of Kaempferia parviflora Wall. ex Baker on pre-osteoclastic RAW 264.7 cells. Compound 5 exhibited significant peroxyl radical-scavenging capacity, with TE value of 8.47 ± 0.52 µM, while compound 13 showed significant reducing capacity, with CUPRAC value of 5.66 ± 0.26 µM, at 10.0 µM. In addition, flavonoid compounds 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and terpene compound 15 showed significant inhibition of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) in NF-κB ligand-induced osteoclastic RAW 264.7 cells, with values ranging from 16.97 ± 1.02 to 64.67 ± 2.76%. These results indicated that K. parviflora could be excellent sources for the antioxidant and anti-osteoporotic traditional medicinal plants.
Acid Phosphatase ; Osteoclasts ; Plants, Medicinal ; Rhizome* ; Zingiberaceae*

The substantia gelatinosa (SG) within the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Vc) is recognized as a pivotal site of integrating and modulating afferent fibers carrying orofacial nociceptive information. Although naringenin (4',5,7-thrihydroxyflavanone), a natural bioflavonoid, has been proven to possess various biological effects in the central nervous system (CNS), the activity of naringenin at the orofacial nociceptive site has not been reported yet. In this study, we explored the influence of naringenin on GABA response in SG neurons of Vc using whole-cell patch-clamp technique. The application of GABA in a bath induced two forms of GABA responses:slow and fast. Naringenin enhanced both amplitude and area under curve (AUC) of GABA-mediated responses in 57% (12/21) of tested neurons while decreasing both parameters in 33% (7/21) of neurons. The enhancing or suppressing effect of naringenin on GABA response have been observed, with enhancement occurring when the GABA response was slow, and suppression when it was fast. Furthermore, both the enhancement of slower GABA responses and the suppression of faster GABA responses by naringenin were concentration dependent. Interestingly, the nature of GABA response was also found to be sex-dependent. A majority of SG neurons from juvenile female mice exhibited slower GABA responses, whereas those from juvenile males predominantly displayed faster GABA responses. Taken together, this study indicates that naringenin plays a partial role in modulating orofacial nociception and may hold promise as a therapeutic target for treating orofacial pain, with effects that vary according to sex.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of acid etching treatment on surface characteristics and biological response of glass-infiltrated zirconia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A hundred zirconia specimens were divided into four groups depending on surface treatments: untreated zirconia (group Z); acid-etched zirconia (group ZE); glass-infiltrated zirconia (group ZG); and glass-infiltrated and acid-etched zirconia (group ZGE). Surface roughness, surface topography, surface morphology, and Vickers hardness of specimens were evaluated. For biological response test, MC3T3-E1 cell attachment and proliferation on surface of the specimens were examined. The data were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test at a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: Group ZGE showed the highest surface roughness (Ra = 1.54 µm) compared with other groups (P < .05). Meanwhile, the hardness of group Z was significantly higher than those of other groups (P < .05). Cell attachment and cell proliferation were significantly higher in group ZGE (P < .05). CONCLUSION: We concluded that effective surface roughness on zirconia could be made by acid etching treatment after glass infiltration. This surface showed significantly enhanced osteoblast cell response.
Cell Proliferation ; Glass ; Hardness ; Osteoblasts

Objective: To evaluate the anti-arthritic effects of Polygonatum kingianum rhizome extract using both in vitro and in vivo models.Methods: Lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages were treated with an ethanol extract of Polygonatum kingianum rhizomes at different concentrations to determine nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. For in vivo study, Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract was further investigated for its anti-inflammatory effect in a mouse model with collagen antibody-induced arthritis. Phytochemical study of Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract was also performed. Results: Saponins (142 mg/g total yield) was the main component in the Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract. 5α,8α-ergosterol peroxide, (E,E)-9-oxooctadeca-10,12-dienoic acid and 3-(2?-hydroxy-4?-methoxy-benzyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-8-methyl-chroman-4-one were isolated from the extract. Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract exhibited potential anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting nitric oxide and PGE2 production in RAW 264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The level of arthritis in mice with collagen antibody-induced arthritis was significantly reduced (P<0.01) after treatment with Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract, particularly at a dose of 1?000 mg/kg body weight. Besides, the extract demonstrated the regulatory effects on serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10 in treated mice. Conclusions: Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract has beneficial effects on inflammatory cytokine regulation and PGE2 inhibition in an experimental mouse model with collagen antibody-induced arthritis. The phytochemical screening reveals that the saponin, as the main component, and sterols (daucosterol and 5α,8α-ergosterol peroxide) from Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract may contribute to its promising in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activities.