Chinese materia medica is mostly taken orally. The permeability of a drug’s biofilm (e.g. cell membrane) reflects its ability of absorption and transportation in the body. It is of guiding significance to evaluate the membrane permeability of the active components of Chinese materia medica by using appropriate drug permeation model, so as to clarify, the oral absorption and transport mechanism of active ingredients, pharmacodynamic substance basis and dosage form design. The evaluation method of oral drug membrane permeability, as well as the application of various methods in Chinese medicine was summarized for reference in this review.

Study on the pharmacodynamic material basis of Chinese materia medica (CMM) is the key and difficult points of CMM research due to its complicated components and synergistic effect of multiple pathways and multiple targets in pharmacological action. Currently, research ideas and research methods of the pharmacodynamic material basis of CMM are being constantly innovated. In this review, research ideas and progress on screening and identification of pharmacodynamic substance of CMM were summarized. It suggested that the research model of interdisciplinarity, multi-dimensional screening and evaluation should be established, in order to provide references for further and comprehensively revealing the mechanism of action of CMM and the law of compatibility, and establishing quality evaluation system of CMM.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy of combined traditional Chinese and western medicine for treatment of patients with deep venous thrombosis(DVT)in lower extremity.Methods A retrospective study was conducted. Forty patients with DVT admitted into Mindong Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University were randomly divided into control and treatment groups, 20 cases in each group. Conventional therapy was given in both groups. The patients in control group were hypodermically injected with low molecular heparin 3.075 kU, and orally took warfarin sodium; the former injection was terminated on the 3rd day, and afterwards warfarin was solely administered. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, the patients in treatment group were additionally treated with Huoxue Tongmai decoction(ingredients: peach kernel 15 g, red paeonia 15 g, honeysuckle flower 15 g, rhizoma alismatis 12 g, semen coicis 30 g, semen plantaginis 9 g, suberect spatholobus stem 12 g, radix scrophulariae 9 g, pawpaw 12 g, radix achyranthis bidentatae 12 g), the formula could be modified in accordance with patients' symptoms and signs, and Jiangjun powder was applied at the lesion externally(ingredients of the powder: rhubarb 250 g, mirabilite 200 g, flour 100 g, vinegar 500 g were mixed to form a smooth paste), once a day, 30 days constituting a therapeutic course and totally 2 courses being taken. The perimeter of the affected limb, visual analogy score(VAS), revascularization rate, curative effect and adverse reaction were observed before and after treatment and compared between the two groups.Results The total effective rate in treatment group was higher than that in control group〔90.0%(18/20) vs. 70.0%(14/20),P<0.05〕. After treatment, the perimeter of the affected limb in both groups was significantly smaller than that before treatment, the decrease in treatment group being more marked〔the upper leg(cm):46.21±4.80 vs. 53.18±4.45, the lower leg(cm): 32.57±4.26 vs. 36.21±5.01, bothP<0.05〕. TheVAS scores were significantly decreased in both groups after treatment for 1 month, they reached the valley values after treatment for 2 months, the degree of descent being more significant in the treatment group(2.24±0.58 vs. 3.36±0.61,P<0.01). The revascularization rate of the treatment group after treatment was higher than that of the control group〔85.0%(17/20) vs. 70.0%(14/20),P<0.05〕.ConclusionThe combined treatment of traditional Chinese and western medicine was obviously superior to the sole western medicine for treatment of patients with DVT.

Ginsenosides are the abundant secondary metabolites in American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium), it could be released into soil through root exudation and decomposition during plant growth. This study determined ginsenoside contents in American ginseng cultivated soil by HPLC. Three ginsenosides, Rb1, Rb2 and Rd, were detected in the rhizosphere soil of 3-4 years old American ginseng cultivated in Huairou District, Beijing, and their contents were 0.80-3.19 mg x kg(-1). Correspondingly, the contents of the three ginsenosides in soil solution were 4-16 mg x L(-1) at field water-holding capacity of 20%. According to the field soil test data, we designed the concentration of ginsenosides for bioassays (0.2-125 mg x L(-1) in solution or 0.2-125 mg x kg(-1) in soil). The results showed that radicle lengths of American ginseng were reduced by 6%-23% in solution containing 0.2-125 mg x L(-1) ginsenoside extract, and a significant difference was observed at concentration of 125 mg x L(-1) (P < 0.05). The shoot lengths of American ginseng were not significantly inhibited by 0.2-125 mg x L(-1) ginsenosides extractions. After 20 days of growth in nutrient solution amended with 25 mg x L(-1) ginsenosides extraction, plant height of 3-year-old American ginseng seedling was decreased by 28% compared to the control, and the biomass of aerial parts was also reduced by 50% (P < 0.05). However, the growth of newly-grown fibrous root was not significantly inhibited. Comparatively, when American ginseng embryos were cultivated into sterile or non-sterile soil, neither radicle lengths nor shoot lengths were significantly affected by 0.2-125 mg x kg(-1) ginsenoside extracts. In conclusion, ginsenosides showed autotoxic effect on growth of American ginseng radicle and adult seedling, however, this effect was weakened in field soil.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Culture Media ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Ginsenosides ; analysis ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Panax ; chemistry ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Soil ; chemistry

This study was aimed to establish a method for simultaneous determination of seven anions and organic acids in Huo-Xue Tong-Luo (HXTL) injection by HPCE. With tartaric acid as the internal standard, separation was performed on an uncoated fused silica capillary (50 μm × 64. 5 cm, 56 cm of effective length). The 14 mmol·L-1 potassium acid phthalate and 0.1 mmol·L-1 hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride were selected for the running buffer solution (pH 5.6). The separation voltage was -16 kV. The detection wavelength was set at 210 nm. The column temperature was maintained at 25 ℃ . The sample was injected at 50 mbar×4 s. The results showed that
calibration curves of chloride ion, sulfuric acid root ion, formate ions, malic acid, succinic acid, iodate ion and acetic acid ions showed good linear relationship 41.4-248.2 μg·mL-1 (r = 0.999 3), 12.5-74.8 μg·mL-1 (r = 0.999 8), 18.2-109.1 μg·mL-1 (r = 0.999 8), 20.3-121.6 μg·mL-1 (r = 0.999 5), 17.2-103.1 μg·mL-1 (r=0.999 1), 17.6-105.6μg·mL-1 (r=0.999 6), 51.6-309.6μg·mL-1 (r=0.999 7), respectively. The average recoveries were 102.6%, 97.3%, 102.2%, 99.0%, 99.2%, 97.8%, and 103.4%, respectively. The RSD were 1.7%, 2.0%, 1.6%, 2.6%, 2.1%, 2.9%, and 1.0%, respectively (n = 6). It was concluded that the method was accurate and reproducible. It was suitable for the determination of anions and organic acids in HXTL injection.

Senna contains anthraquinones, flavonoids, polysaccharide and volatile oil and other chemical substances, which show the effect of diarrhea, antibacterial, hemostatic, regulating immune function and antioxidation. This article reviewed the Senna chemical composition, pharmacological effects, clinical application and new formulations of drug development, in order to provide reference for the research and clinical application of Senna.

To study on the effects of Achyranthes bidentata on Tongsaimai pellets main active ingredients chlorogenic acid, isoliquiritin, harpagoside and glycyrrhizin in rats in vivo pharmacokinetic behaviors, a method for the simultaneous determination of chlorogenic acid, isoliquiritin, harpagoside and liquiritigenin in rat plasma was established by UPLC-MS/MS. The analysis was performed on a waters Acquity BEH C18 column (2.1 mm x 100 mm, 1.7 microm) with the mixture of acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid/water as mobile phase, and the gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.3 mL x min(-1). The analytes were detected by tandem mass spectrometry with the electrospray ionization (ESI) source and in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. It turned out that the analytes of Tongsaimai pellets groups C(max) and AUC(Q-infinity) values were higher than that with A. bidentata group, and the C(max) values of chlorogenic acid had significantly difference (P < 0.05), the AUC(0-infinity) values of chlorogenic acid and glycyrrhizin had significantly difference (P < 0.05); The T(max) and CL values of two groups had no significantly difference. Results showed that the established method was specific, rapid, accurate and sensitive for the studies of Tongsaimai pellets four main active ingredients in rat in vivo pharmacokinetic, and A. bidentata have varying degrees of effects on Tongsaimai pellets four main active ingredients in rat in vivo pharmacokinetic behaviors.
Achyranthes ; chemistry ; Animals ; Chalcone ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Chlorogenic Acid ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Glucosides ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Glycosides ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Herb-Drug Interactions ; Male ; Pyrans ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Sedum sarmentosum Bunge Extract (SSBE) on severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) induced acute lung injury (ALI) model rats and their excessive inflammatory reactions.

METHODSForty-two healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, the sham-operated control group (C), the SAP group (SAP), and the SSBE treated group (SSBE), 14 in each group. SAP induced ALl rat model was induced by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate (1 mL/kg) into the pancreatic duct. SSBE (100 m/kg) was administrated subcutaneously after the establishment of the SAP model. Equal dose of SSBE was injected again 12 h later. Equal volume of normal saline was administrated in the same way for rats in the C group and the SAP group. Rats were sacrificed after successful modeling and samples taken at 12 and 24 h. Pathological changes in the pancreas and the lung tissue were observed under light microscope. The ascites, serum amylase (AMS), wet/dry proportion (W/D) of the lung tissue, activities of myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were also measured.

RESULTSAscites and serum AMS activities significantly increased; MPO, IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha contents, and W/D ratio also significantly increased in the SAP group, when compared with the C group (P<0.05). Compared with the SAP group, those parameters were all attenuated in the SSBE group at 12 and 24 h (P<0.05, P<0.01). Pathological changes in the pancreas and the lung tissue were alleviated in the SSBE group under light microscope. The injury degree ranged between that of the C group and the SAP group.

CONCLUSIONSSBE could relieve the ALl in SAP model rats, which could be achieved through alleviating inflammation responses of SAP rats.

Acute Lung Injury ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Interleukin-1 ; Interleukin-6 ; Lung ; Male ; Pancreas ; Pancreatitis ; complications ; drug therapy ; Peroxidase ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sedum ; Taurocholic Acid ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

BACKGROUND:Hand-foot-mouth disease has become a major public health issue in children in China. In the present prospective study we investigated the clinical characteristics and emergency management of children with severe encephalitis associated with NPE caused by enterovirus 71. METHODS:The study was conducted in 2 pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) over a 2-month period. Clinical records were reviewed of critically ill children with severe encephalitis associated with NPE caused by EV71 who were admitted to PICUs during the period of May to June 2008 in Fuyang. RESULTS:We reviewed the complete records of 36 children, of whom 23 (63.9％) were male and 13 (36.1％) female. Their age ranged from 4 to 48 months, with an average of 15.8 months. Al children except one were under 3 years of age. The overal mortality in these children was 19.4％. The average duration of critical life threatening signs and symptoms was 2.1 days (12 hours-5 days). Nervous system diseases included brainstem encephalitis in 27 children (75％), brainstem encephalitis associated with myelitis in 6 children (16.7％), and general encephalitis in 3 chidren (8.3％), respectively. In 12 patients of NPE (33.3％) pink or bloody bubble sputum and asymmetric pulmonary edema or hemorrhage was the primary manifestation but no typical exanthema was observed. Five children died of acute onset of NPE and / or pulmonary hemorrhage with rapid progression of cardiopulmonary failure within hours after admission. Therapeutic management consisted of mechanical ventilation and administration of mannitol, methylprednisolone, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and vasoactive drugs, associated with the need of fluid volume resuscitation in 9 (25％) of the 36 children. CONCLUSIONS:In children less than 3 years of age found to be affected by severe EV71 encephalitis associated with NPE, one fifth may die. The major organ systems infected by severe EV71 include the central nervous system, the respiratory system, and the cardiovascular system. Early diagnosis and evaluation, respiratory support, treatment of intracranial hypertension, and mainttenance of function of the cardiovascular system are the most important therapeutic measures.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Scalp acupuncture on serum neuron specific enolase (NSE) and S-100β concentrations, and incidence rates of postoperative delirium (POD) and postoperative cognitive function (POCD) of elderly patients undergoing hip replacement.

METHODSEighty-four patients undergoing scheduled hip replacement under combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSEA) were assigned to the control group (group C) and the scalp acupuncture group (group S) according to random digit table, 42 cases in each group. In group S, scalp acupuncture was additionally performed according to International Standardized Scheme for Scalp Acupuncture. Scalp acupuncture was performed during the operation from the MS1 middle line of forehead [1 cun before Shenting (GV24), including Shenting (GV24)] and MS5 middle line of vertex [from Baihui (DU20) to Qianding (DU21), including Baihui (DU20) and Qianding (DU21)]. The operation time and post-operative length of stay were observed. The midazolam dosage, hemorrhage amount, fluid transfusion amount, urine amount, use rates of ephedrine and atropine during the operation were also observed and compared between the two groups. The occurrence rate of POD and POCD at post-operative day 3 (T₁), week 1 (T₂), month 3 (T₃), and month 6 (T₄) were measured. Eighteen patients were randomly selected to collect blood from internal jugular vein before anesthesia t₀), immediately after ending the surgery (t₁), 6 h after operation (t₂), 24 h after operation (t₃), and 48 h after operation (t₄), respectively. Serum levels of NSE and S-100β were correspondingly measured.

RESULTSThere was no statistical difference in the operation time, midazolam dosage used during the operation, hemorrhage amount, fluid transfusion amount, urine amount, use rates of ephedrine and atropine (P > 0.05). Compared with group C, the post-operative length of stay was shortened in group S (P < 0.05). The incidence rate of POD and that of POCD at each time point were lower in group S (P < 0.05). The expression level of NSE decreased at t₂, t3, and t₄, and the expression level of S100β also decreased at t₁, t₂, t₃, and t₄(P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in expression levels of NSE or S100β between the two groups at other time points (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONScalp acupuncture could attenuate central nervous system lesion and improve POCD of elderly patients undergoing hip replacement.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Cognition ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; blood ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period ; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit ; blood ; Scalp