[Effect of electroacupuncture on expression of hippocampal Caspase-3 in rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the expression level of Caspase-3, so as to explore its mechanism in inhibiting apoptosis after cerebral ischemia reperfusion. METHODS: SD male rats were randomly divided into sham-operation, model, EA and Caspase-3 inhibitor groups (n=20 rats in each group). The focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury rat model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. Rats of the EA group received EA at "Hegu" (LI4), "Chize" (LU5), "Zusanli" (ST36) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP6) on the affected side for 20 min. Rats of the inhibitor group were given intracerebroventricular injection of inhibitor Z-DEVD-FMK 5 µg before modeling. The neurological deficit scores (NDS) were assessed by using Longa's method, the infarct size of the brain assessed after staining with 2% triphenyltetrazolium chloride. The apoptosis index of nerve cells were observed by TUNEL staining, PCR and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of Caspase-3 in the hippocampus, separately. RESULTS: After modeling, the NDS, infarct volume, the apoptosis index of hippocampus CA1 area, and Caspase-3 mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly increased in the model group compared with the sham-operation group (P<0.01). After intervention, the NDS, infarct volume, the apoptosis index, Caspase-3 mRNA and protein expression levels were all significantly decreased in the EA and Caspase-3 inhibitor groups re-levant to the model group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EA can improve the neurological function in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion rats, which may be related to its effect in inhibiting of Caspase-3 expression.

[Advances in the studies of Oroxylum indicum].

According to documents of recent fifty years the article summarized the herbalogical study, processing, chemical constituent, quality standard, pharmacologic action and clinical study of Oroxylum indicum. The chemical constituents mainly are flavonoids, glycoside and volatile oil. It also contains pterocarpan and rhodioside with p-hydroxyphenylethanols and cyclohexanols. Quantitative index was added in the quality standard of china pharmacopeia since 1995, but the quantitative standard is blank at the present, and the baicalin was mostly used for quantitative standard in the documents which lack of mark. Baicalein -7-O-diglucoside didn't existed in the other plants. It's mark will do good to the enhancement of quality standard. Pharmacologic action and clinical study were mainly anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenesis, antibiosis, anticancera,and coughing.

[Studies on effect of microemulsion in enhancing solubility of baicalin and puerarin].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of O/W Microemulsion in enhancing solubility of baicalin and puerarin. METHOD: The Pseudo-ternary phase diagram was employed to selected the formulations of O/W microemulsion. The partical size of microemulsion, and solubility of baicalin and puerarin in water, oil phase, surfactant, microemulsion and alcohol were determined, respectively. RESULT: 11 types of microemulsion formulations have the effect in enhancing the solubility of baicalin and puerarin; the solubility of Baicalin in microemulsion is higher as 5-15 times than it in water, the solubility of Puerarin in microemulsion is higher as 3 - 4 times than it in water. CONCLUSION: Microemulsion is good in enhancing solubility of effective compounds extracted from Chinese medical herbs.

[Changes in level of organic acids in fructus crataegi after processing].

OBJECTIVE: To compare and analyze the organic acids level in fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida var. major before and after processing. METHOD: The amount of total organic acids and individual citric acid, malate acid, ursolic acid and oleanolic acid in fruit of C. pinnatifida var. major before and after processing were determined by pH titration and HPLC analysis. RESULT: Good linear relationship between peakarea and amount was noted for 0.28-9.02 microg of malate acid, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9998. Regression equation was Y = 2344.7 + 49309.6 X. Good linear relationships between the logarithm of peak area and amount were noted for 0.348-1.74 microg of usolic acid and 0.498-2.48 microg of oleanolic acid, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9998 in each case. Regression equations were Y = 1.3628 X + 5.9508 and Y = 1.4447 X + 5.8236, respectively. CONCLUSION: The lipid-soluble organic acids mostly remain whereas only about 70% of the water-soluble acids remain after processing in fruit of C. pinnatifida var. major.

[Application of evaporative light-scattering detector in analysis of the active constituents in Chinese herbal medicine].

OBJECTIVE: To review the application of Evaporative Light-Scattering Detector in analysis of the active constituents in Chinese herbal medicine. METHOD: Papers on the assay of the active compounds of Chinese herbal medicine by HPLC-ELSD method were collected. RESULT: Evaporative Light-Scattering Detector has been widely used in assaying the compounds which have no UV absorption or when wavelengths for maximal UV absorption are under 200 nm in natural products. CONCLUSION: Evaporative Light-Scattering Detector will have a more widely application in analysis of constituents in Chinese herbal medicine.

[Application of pattern recognition to quality assessment of the traditional Chinese medicine].

OBJECTIVE: To review the application of the pattern recognition to quality assessment of the Chinese Traditional Medicine. METHOD: Papers of application of chemical pattern recognition, pattern recognition of stereoscopic features and artificial neural networks to quality assessment of the Chinese Traditional Medicine were collected and the application of different method was reviewed. RESULT: IR, UV, GC, GC-Mass and the sum mass spectra were used to evaluate the chemical character of different samples, and the microscopic features of the epidermis were scored quantitatively by stereology and image analysis on the basis of classical taxonomy,. BP networks were also widely used. CONCLUSION: Chemical pattern recognition, pattern recognition of stereoscopic features and artificial neural networks are of important use in quality assessment of material medica.