Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lactation ; Mastitis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Young Adult

There are 250 species of Zanthoxylum (Rutaceae) in the world. This genus distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. Alkaloids are the major and representative ingredients in these plants including quinolines, isoquinolines, and amide alkaloids, with such biological activities as anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-virus, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-bacteria and anti- oxidant. These species have been used for a long time to treat toothache, urinary and venereal diseases, lumbago and rheumatism. This review summarizes the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities from the Z. sppplants, in an effort to the systematic research and application of the alkaloids of this genus.
Alkaloids ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Zanthoxylum ; chemistry

To prepare ginseng saponin Compound K with ultrasound-assisted total zymolytic ginseng saponins. The conversion rate was taken as the index to detect the pre-treatment factors such as ultrasonic power and ultrasonic time, as well as the impact of enzymatic factors, such as pH value, temperature, concentration of substrate, dosage of enzyme and reaction time, on the conversion rate. The response surface method was used to optimize the preparation conditions. The enzymolytic products were identified with MS, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR. The results showed that the optimum conditions of the ultrasound-assisted enzymolysis were 250 W for ultrasonic power, 15 min for ultrasonic time, 5.5 for enzymolytic pH, 50 degrees C for enzymolytic temperature, 36 h for enzymolytic time, 4:5 for enzymolytic dosage: substrate and 1.0 g x L(-1) for concentration of substrate. The relative molecular mass of reaction products was 622.4. Therefore, the nuclear magnetic map verified that the reaction product was rare ginseng saponin Compound K. Under the above conditions, based on the total zymolytic ginseng saponins, the conversion rate of rare ginseng saponin Compound K was 6.91% in proportion to the total of ginsenosides. The process features gentle reaction conditions, high conversion rate and simple and reliable process, which is suitable for industrial production.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Enzymes ; chemistry ; Panax ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Ultrasonics ; methods

With low molecular weight chitosan and poloxamer 188 as the joint carriers, ginsenoside Rg3 solid dispersions were prepared by using the solvent evaporation method for an in vitro dissolution test. Subsequently, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (X-RD) were adopted for a phase analysis. The results showed that the 60 min in vitro cumulative dissolution rate of ginsenoside Rg3 solid dispersions prepared with low molecular weight chitosan and poloxamer 188 at the ratio of 2:1 exceeded 90%, and the drug was dispersed in carriers in an amorphous state. Therefore, ginsenoside Rg3 solid dispersions prepared with low molecular weight chitosan and poloxamer 188 could help significantly improve the drug dissolution, with a practical application value.
Chitosan ; chemistry ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Ginsenosides ; chemistry ; Molecular Weight ; Poloxamer ; chemistry ; Solvents ; chemistry

In this study, the flow injection (FI) technology combined with the unique step wise multiple ions monitoring scanning (step-wise MIM) mode of Qtrap-MS was first established for the identification and discrimination of eight Murraya species. It only takes 5 min for each sample to detect approximate 600 compounds. The characteristic MS chromatograms of eight Murraya plants were analyzed by Analyst and SIMCA-P. The results of PCA showed that sect. Murraya and sect. Bergera were clearly divided into two categories, suggesting that there is difference in the chemical compositions between these two groups. Further detail analysis of the MS data could realize the preliminary structure elucidation of the component types contained in different plants. The main components in M. exotica and M. alata are coumarins, and polymethoxyflavones are rich in M. paniculata, while carbazole alkaloids are the major ones in sect. Bergera plants. The results are consistent with our previous comprehensive analysis of the chemical components of Murraya species. In conclusion, our research confirmed that FI-Qtrap-MS technology can be used for rapid identification and differentiation of similar plant species, providing reference for chemical taxonomy and a new method for the quality evaluation of medicinal materials.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes on lipopolysaccharide(LPS) induced hepatocyte inflammation of rats and TLR4/p38MAPK signal pathway.

METHODThe hepatocytes of SD rats were cultured and identified in vitro. The medicated serum of soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes was prepared. The hepatocytes were treated with soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes. Then Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression in cultural supernatants were assayed by ELISA. The expressions of Toll-Like 4 (TLR4), p38 mitogen activated protein kinases (p38MAPK) and p-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38MAPK) were detected by Western blot.

RESULTThe rat medicated serum of soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes was extracted for 2-3 mL. The purified rat hepatocytes were 1.5 x 10(8)-2.0 x 10(8). The cell viability was above 95% detected by Typan blue staining. The hepatocytes were identified by immumofluorescence assay. The detection of hepatocyte cultural supernatants: compared with that of the control group, IL-6 and TNF-α expression were increased in the LPS group (P < 0.01). While compared with that of the LPS group, the expressions of IL-6 and TNF-α were decreased after soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes intervention (P < 0.01). The detection of hepatocyte proteins: compared with that of the control group, the protein expressions of p38MAPK, p-p38MAPK and TLR4 were all increased significantly in the LPS group (P < 0.01). Compared with that of the LPS group, the protein expressions of p38MAPK was decreased significantly in SB239063 group and it was also decreased in the soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes group, but with no significant difference. Compared with that of the LPS group, p38MAPK expression was reduced significantly in the soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes group and the SB239063 (p38MAPK pathway inhibitor) group (P < 0.01). TLR4 protein expression was decreased markedly in the soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes group (P < 0.01) but had no difference between the SB239063 group and the LPS group.

CONCLUSIONThe soothing liver and invigorating spleen recipes may regulate hepatocyte inflammatory injury of rats through TLR4/p38MAPK signaling pathway.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; injuries ; metabolism ; Male ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Spleen ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism

Bispecific antibodies have been exploited as both cancer immunodiagnostics and cancer therapeutics, which have shown promises in clinical trials in cancer imaging and therapy. To improve the anti-tumor effect, an scDb (bispecific single-chain diabody) was constructed from the variable domain genes of two scFvs (single-chain variable fragment antibodies) directed against human EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) and VEGFR2 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2) extracellular domains. The anti-EGFR/ anti-KDR scDb was constructed into pHEN2 plasmid and expressed in Escherichia coli HB2151 host. After purification by one-step affinity chromatography of IMAC, scDb protein was characterized by Western blotting. The yield of scDb protein was 570 microg per liter medium. scDb bound to EGFR as efficiently as the parental antibody scFv-E10, while a little bit weaker than the parental antibody scFv-AK404R when bound to KDR. In conclusion, the scDb protein could bind both EGFR and KDR specifically and could be applied for further anti-tumor research.
Antibodies, Bispecific ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; metabolism ; Humans ; Plasmids ; Protein Binding ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; immunology ; Single-Chain Antibodies ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; immunology

Objective To analyze the endemic features of plague in Qinghai province between 2000 and 2009, discover the law of occurrence and progression, in order to provide a scientific basis for further prevention and treatment of the disease. Methods Descriptive epidemiology was employed to analyze the data from on the spot investigation, monitoring reports and papers published between 2000 and 2009. The indicators included the area, host and media distribution of animal plague and area, time, and population distribution of human plague.Results In Qinghai province between 2000 and 2009, 189 strains of Yersinia pestis were isolated from a variety of animals and insect vectors, including 77 from the marmot, accounting for 40.74%, 40 from Callopaylla dolabris,accounting for 21.16%. Positive serum antibodies against F1 plague were detected in 238 samples, including 90 samples from husbandry dogs, 63 from woodchucks. The areas with Yersinia pestis were consistent with the areas with positive serum antibodies against F1 plague, which distributed mainly along the Qinghai-Tibet railway Wulan county, Delhi and Golmud Multi-county;confirmed that there was natural foci of plague in Qinghai vole. Between 2000 and 2009, 13 events of human plague occurred, with 37 cases and 16 patients died, mortality was 43.24%.Cases were distributed in 11 townships of Tongde, Xinghai, Qilian, Wulan, Tianjun, Nangqian, Qumalai,Chengduo and Zhiduo counties. May to October was the disease season, with September the peak. Pneumonic plague disease type was the main mode of transmission of the plague and patients often contacted with airborne droplets through the air and peeling fresh Marmota. Conclusions Plague in Qinghai province is still grim,strengthening animal plague surveillance, and timely disposal of animal plague, improving the province's agricultural and pastoral areas, especially increase the disease prevention consciousness of the masses are future tasks. Work should be focused on strengthening the prevention and control of plague along Qinghai-Tibet railway,and prevent the occurrence and long-distance transmission of human plague.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Ginkgo Leaves Tablet (GLT) on memory quotient (MQ) of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients.

METHODSOne hundred and thirteen patients were randomly assigned to the control group (55 cases) and the treatment group (58 cases). Patients in the control group received dietetic therapy and physical exercises, while those in the treatment group additionally took GLT, 19.2 mg each time, three times daily. The treatment course was 12 months for all. The MQ of all the patients was assessed by WMS-RC before treatment,at 6-month of treatment, and 12-month of treatment.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the improvement of MQ increased in the treatment group 0.5 and 1 year after treatment (P < 0.05). The clinical efficiency of MQ obviously increased in the treatment group (48.28% and 50.00%), showing statistical difference when compared with the control group (30.91% and 27.27%, P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was statistical difference in added scores of recognition, regeneration, understanding, and recitation test at 6-month of treatment and 12-month of treatment between the treatment group and the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONGLT was effective in improving MQ of MCI patients, especially in improving recognition, regeneration, understanding, and recitation test.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cognitive Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Humans ; Male ; Memory ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy

Objective To investigate the clinical significance in MRP1/CD_9 expression in cervical squamous cancer tissues and normal cervical tissues.Methods The expression of MRP1/CD_9 were assayed by SABC immunohistochemical methods in 53 cases of cervical cancer tissues and 13 cases of normal cervical tissues.Results Positive expression of MRP1/CD_9 was detected in 13 normal cervical tissue.MRP1/D_9 ex- pression is down-regulated in cervical carcinoma(P