The past decade has witnessed the remarkable progress on nanotechnology and nanoherb. With the globally rapid development of nanotechnology, we are considering to construct new nanoformula systems of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) by using porous materials, multilayered core-shell particles or nanoparticles containing various multifunctional parts. With the compatibility of sovereign, minister, assistant and courier in a formula, new nanoformula systems of TCM will have various advantages, such as containing multiple active species, controlled release, targeting function, and labeling and tracing capabilities. Using the latest breakthroughs of nanotechnology for the modern research of TCM will greatly help enhance the ability to investigate the principles of TCM, and to design, screen and utilize new nanoformula systems of TCM.

[Objective]The purpose of the review was to summarize the research progress on traditional Chinese medicine to prevent and treat scar and its mechanism in recent 10 years. [Methods]Retrieving the literature of the past 10 years on Chinese medicine to prevent scar , it is to summarize scar mecha-nism of prevention and cure both in vivo and in vitro experiments. [Result]Main mechanism of preventing and treating scar by traditional Chinese medicine is through studying fibroblasts and col agen. The specific mechanism is that Chinese medicine can inhibit the growth of scar fibroblasts in a con-centration-time-dependent manner, so as to reduce the scar tissue and control of infection and other complications; Additionly, by adjusting the levels of col agenⅠ,Ⅲ, Chinese medicine can regulate synthesis of col agen, reduce scar, and improve the quality of wound repair. [Conclusion]Traditional Chinese medicine has certain advantages in preventing and treating scar, but needs to further standardize methodology to broaden ideas. So Chinese medicine has a promising furure on anti-scar in the clinic.

In the view of the idea that the utilization of wild plants and animals in traditional Chinese medicine is destroying the biodiversity, this article discusses the relationship between traditional Chinese medicine and the biodiversity from a new point of view. The authors consider that reasonable utilization of the wildlife in traditional Chinese herbal medicine is beneficial to the protection of wildlife under proper management and guidance. However, there is still a long way to go to balance the relationship between the wildlife protection and exploration. In view of this, some propositions are put forward, including enforcing the relative laws and rules for herbal resources protection, carrying out the research work of the background data, formulating the standard for the classification of the rare and endangered species, accelerating the investigation of the substitute resources of extinctive wildlife for medical use, enforcing the citizens' consciousness of wildlife protection and developing the industrial and artificial cultivation of traditional Chinese herbal medicinal plants and animals.

Lithospermum has been widely used in clinic for a long time. It can lower the levels of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone in blood serum and inhibit ovulation, thus causing infertility. Due to its effect of lowering chorionic gonadotropin, restraining the development of corpus luteum graviditatis and interfering the growth of uterus and the supply of embryotrophy, Lithospermum has been confirmed to be effective in termination of pregnancy and herb abortion. Therefore Lithospermum can not be used in those who intend to conceive or do not need to terminate pregnancy. The authors suggest that the influence of Lithospermum on pregnancy should be studied objectively and should be emphasized in clinical teaching of traditional Chinese medicine to ensure the correct and reasonable application of Lithospermum.

Radix Glycyrrhizae is a commonly used herbal drug for traditional Chinese medicine in China, and it is also an important material for drug, food, chemical industry, and dye industry. Furthermore, in Northwest China, Radix Glycyrrhizae acts as a key plant for preventing desertification, which currently is the most serious environmental problem in China. This report concentrated on discussing the great potential value of Glycyrrhiza on ecosystem, introducing the principles of protection and sustainable utilization of Glycyrrhiza resource, offering the suitable methods of utilization, and suggesting how to carry out the research on the substitute drugs. To protect the ecosystem and herbal resource of Radix Glycyrrhizae, we should use this herb in a more reasonable way.

On the basis of outpatients' medical records concerning primary liver cancer (PLC), data of 552 patients (with 2020 effective prescriptions) from the Outpatient Department of Changhai Hospital treated by Professor Ling Changquan were collected. The nature, flavor and meridian distribution of the herbs used in the prescriptions were summarized by frequency method, and the features of the herbs used according to syndrome differentiation were analyzed by logistic regression. The couple herbs used were analyzed by cluster analysis. All the data were analyzed in combination with the experience of the specialist. It showed that most of the frequently used herbs were herbs for invigorating the spleen to promote appetite, removing toxic materials to inhibit tumor growth, and activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis. These herbs are mostly of plain or cool nature, and mainly of sweet, bitter, or acrid taste. It also showed that the most frequently used herbs for qi deficiency were Astragalus membranaceus, Atractylodes macrocephala, and Pseudostellariae; Caulis Spatholobi and Chinese jujube for blood asthenia; Fructus Corni and Ophiopogon japonicus for yin deficiency; Agastache rugosa, Semen Plantaginis and Poria for water-dampness; cape jasmine fruit and baikal skullcap root for heat excess; peach seed and Radix Paeoniae Rubra for blood stasis; Curcuma wenyujin, Akebia trifoliata and Bupleurum chinese for qi stagnation. A total of 19 pairs of couple herbs were summarized by the cluster analysis.

Objective To investigate the changes in the expression of phosphor-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38MAPK) in the distal cerebrospinal fluid contacting neurons (CSF-CNs) in rats with neuropathic pain.Methods Forty-eight male adult SD rats aged 2-3 months weighing 230-270 g were randomly divided into 2 groups (n =24 each): sham operation group (group S) and chronic constrictive injury group (group CCI).Neuropathic pain was induced by CCI.Sciatic nerve was exposed and 4 loose ligatures were placed on the sciatic nerve at 1 mm intervals with 4-0 silk thread.Thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) was measured with radiation heat stimulus before (baseline) and 1,3,5,7,14 d after CCI in 4 animals at eachtime point in each group.The animals were then sacrificed.30％ cholera toxin subunit B with horse radish peroxidase 3 μl was injected into the lateral ventricle at 48 h before the animals were sacrificed at each time point.The brain tissue in the region of the midbrain aqueduct was taken.The number of distal CSF-CN expressing p-p38MAPK was calculated.p-p38MAPK was detected by histochemical staining.Results The TWL was significantly shortened at 1-14 d after CCI in group CCI as compared with group S.The number of distal CSF-CNs expressing p-p38MAPK was significantly increased at 5-14 d after CCI in group CCI as compared with group S.Conclusion The distal CSF-CNs may be involved in the neuropathic pain induced by CCI through p38MAPK signaling pathway.p38MAPK may contribute only to the maintenance but not development of neuropathic pain.

Objective To evaluate the role of ERK1/2 signal transduction pathway in sevoflurane postconditioning-induced reduction of oxygen-glucose deprivation(OGD)injury in rat hippocampal slices.Methods Male adult SD rats weighing 80-100 g were anesthetized with ether and decapitated.The hippocampi were removed and sagittally sliced(400μm thick)and placed in artificial cerebrospinal fluid(aCSF)aerated with 95％ O2-5％CO2.Fifty hippoeampal slices were randomly divided into 5 groups(t =10 each):OGD group; 4％ sevoflurane postconditioning group(group Sevo); PD98059(specific inhibitor of ERK)group(group PD); dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)group; 4％ sevoflurane postconditioning + PD98059 group(group SPD).OGD was induced by incubating the slices in glucose-free aCSF aerated with 95％ N2-5％ CO2 for 15 min in group OGD.The hippocampal slices were perfused with aCSF saturated with 4％ sevoflurane for 30 min after OGD was induced in group Sevo.The hippocampal slices were perfused with aCSF containing PD98059 50 μmol/L for 10 min after OGD was induced in group PD.The hippocampal slices were perfused with aCSF containing DMSO 1 mol/L for 10 min after OGD was induced in group DMSO.The hippocampal slices were perfused with aCSF containing PD98059 50 μmol/L and aerated with 4％ sevoflurane for 30 min after OGD was induced in group SPD.The hippocampal slices were then perfused with plain aCSF for 1 h again in all the groups.The electrophysiological technique was used 1o record the amplitude of orthodromic population spike(OPS)in the stralum pyramidale of the CAI region.TTC staining was used to determine the degree of tissue injury.Results Compared with group OGD,the recovery amplitude and rate of OPS were significantly increased,and the degree of tissue injury was significantly decreased in group Sevo(P ＜0.01),while no significant change was found in each parameter in the other three groups(P ＞ 0.05).Compared with group Sevo,the recovery amplitude and tale of OPS were significandy decreased,and the degree of tissue injury was significantly increased in groups PD,DMSO and SPD(P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion ERK1/2 signal transduction pathway is involved in sevoflurane postcondilioning-induced reduction of OGD injury in tat hippocampal slices.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anti-tumor effect of bufalin and its regulation on Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in orthotopically transplanted tumor of human hepatocellular carcinoma in nude mice. METHODS: Orthotopically transplanted tumor of human hepatocellular carcinoma was established in nude mice. The mice were randomly divided into five groups: high-dose bufalin-treated group (1.5 mg/kg), medium-dose bufalin-treated group (1 mg/kg), low-dose bufalin-treated group (0.5 mg/kg), adriamycin-treated group (8.0 mg/kg), and normal saline-treated group. After 25 days, mice were sacrificed. The tumor volume was measured, and the pathological changes of tumor tissues were detected by HE staining to observe the tumor necrosis degree. Cell morphological changes were also observed by an electron microscopy. Label index of tumor cell apoptosis was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), and the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were determined by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: The tumor volume in the bufalin-treated groups was shrunk significantly compared with that in the normal saline-treated group (P<0.01). The survival time of the bufalin-treated groups was prolonged compared with that of the adriamycin-treated group and the normal saline-treated group P<0.05. Apoptotic characteristics could be seen in tumor tissues of the bufalin-treated groups. The label index of tumor cell apoptosis in the bufalin-treated groups (5.87+/-2.13, 8.86+/-2.96 and 10.60+/-3.42 in low-, medium- and high-dose groups respectively) was higher than that in the adriamycin-treated group (3.28+/-0.98) (P<0.05, P<0.01). The expression of Bax was up-regulated, while no changes were detected as to Bcl-2 protein in tumors of the bufalin-treated groups. CONCLUSION: Bufalin has significant anti-tumor effect on the orthotopically transplanted tumor of human hepatocellular carcinoma in nude mice. Its effect might be related to up-regulation of Bax protein and inducement of the tumor cell apoptosis.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of melittin on the expressions of mitochondria membrane protein 7A6, cell apoptosis-related gene products Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) in hepatocarcinoma cells in vitro and to study the mechanisms of melittin in inducing apoptosis of hepatocarcinoma cells. METHODS: BEL-7402 cell line was treated with melittin in vitro. The expressions of mitochondria membrane protein 7A6, cell apoptosis-related gene products Fas and FasL were detected by flow cytometry. Fas and FasL mRNAs were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. RESULTS: The expression rates of mitochondria membrane protein 7A6 of BEL-7402 hepatocarcinoma cells in 8, 16, 32 microg/ml melittin-treated and control groups were 4.89%, 17.74%, 11.45% and 1.02%, respectively. The expression of Fas protein was up-regulated by melittin, while FasL expression did not change. RT-PCR results showed that Fas mRNA expression was up-regulated by 32 microg/ml melittin and FasL mRNA expression was not observed. CONCLUSION: The effects of melittin in inducing hepatocarcinoma cell apoptosis may be related with up-regulating the expressions of mitochondria membrane protein 7A6 and Fas protein.