[Medicinal evolution and modern research progress on Mume Fructus].

Prunus mume is an edible and medicinal material, and Mume Fructus is its processed product, which was first recorded in Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica(Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing). It is an effective drug for stopping diarrhea with astringents and promoting fluid production to quiet ascaris. By consulting the ancient herbal works of the past dynasties, modern codes, and other rela-ted literature, this paper sorted out the medicinal evolution of Mume Fructus, examined the ancient efficacy of Mume Fructus and the main indications, and summarized the inclusion of Mume Fructus in national and provincial standards. It is recorded in the ancient herbal works of the past dynasties that Mume Fructus can be processed by various methods such as roasting, stir-frying or micro-frying, stir-frying with charcoal, single steaming, steaming with wine, and steaming after soaking in wine or vinegar, and prepared into pills, powders, and ointments, which are used in the treatment of fatigue, diabetes, malaria, dysentery, ascariasis, and other diseases. Mume Fructus has been included in nine editions of Chinese Pharmacopoeia and 19 provincial and municipal preparation specifications. The processing method of Mume Fructus is determined, namely, clean P. mume should be softened by moistening in water or steaming and pitted. By reviewing the effects of processing on its chemical composition, pharmacological effects, and its modern clinical application, this paper identified the following issues. The ancient application methods of Mume Fructus are diverse but less commonly used in modern times, there is a lack of standardized research on the processing, and the research on the changes caused by the difference in Mume Fructus before and after processing is not deep. Therefore, it is necessary to further investigate the change pattern of its chemical composition before and after processing and its correlation between its medicinal activity to standardize the processing technology and provide a solid basis for the use of Mume Fructus in parts and its quality control.

[Studies on factors influencing on ephedrine contents in Maxing Shigan decoction].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the factors influencing on the ephedrine contents in different compositions of Maxingshigan decoction. METHOD: Adopt mixed uniform design to dismantle recipes, employ the stepping regression analysis to deal with experimental statistics, use the partial correlational analysis to analyze the correlation coefficients and the results were validated. RESULT: The regressive equation was of significance, that is Y = 4.36719347 + 7.752707437X1 + 1.2557197041X3 (r = 0.85564, P = 0.0189). The main influencing factors on ephedrine content in Maxingshigan decoction were gypsum and amygdalin. The influent factor of amygdalin on ephedrine content had great significance, and gypsum had significance. CONCLUSION: The collective effects of amygdalin and gypsum affect the content of ephedrine in Maxing Shigan decoction which the content-effect relationship was in direct correlation.

[Comparison of properties of Mahuang decoction and Maxing Shigan decoction based on biothermodynamics].

OBJECTIVE: To probe into the objectivity and authenticity of four properties beteen Mahuang decoction and Maxing Shigan decoction from biothermodynamics. METHOD: The power-time curves of growth of Staphylococcus aureus at different concentrations between Mahuang decoction and Maxing Shigan decoction were determined by TAM Air Isothermal Calorimeter. The growth rate constants of promotive and inhibitory actions were calculated. Moreover, the difference of properties beteen Mahuang decoction and Maxing Shigan decoction was analyzed from the point of view of TCM theory. RESULT: Both the Mahuang decoction and Maxing Shigan decoction could inhibit the growth and metabolism of Staphylococcus aureus. The k and Pm were decreased with the mass increase of the decoction. However, inhibitory activity of Mahuang decoction with warm property was weaker than that of Maxing Shigan decoction with cool property. Moreover, Mahuang decoction decreased heat output in growth metabolism more weakly than Maxing Shigan decoction. There was a stable difference between them. CONCLUSION: Studying on biothermodynamics can show the difference of four properties of Traditional Chinese Medicine. So, it provides a new and useful means for the study of the properties of traditional Chinese medicine.

Usos y costumbres sobre hierbas medicinales en barrios periurbanos del sudeste de la ciudad de Salta, Argentina / Uses and customs on medicinal herbs in periurban neighborhoods ofsoutheastern Salta City, Argentina

Desde la medicina oficial se desconoce y subestima el uso de otras formas de atención, por lo que este trabajo tiene como objetivos caracterizar el conocimiento sobre uso de hierbas medicinales en la zona sudeste de la ciudad de Salta; identificar cuáles se utilizan para tratar problemas de salud; y valorar su frecuencia de uso. Se realizó una investigación cuali-cuantitativa, entrevistando a informantes claves y grupos focales. Se confeccionaron listas de hierbas medicinales, y sus usos se categorizaron por problemas de salud. Se realizó una encuesta sobre frecuencia de usos medicinales. Se mencionaron 59 hierbas medicinales con una media de 2,3 usos por planta. Con un "Nivel de importancia Significativo" se encuentran quimpe, tusca, paico, coca, molle, ruda y hediondilla. El "coqueo" se encontró en 54% de las familias. El 52% utiliza alguna hierba para afecciones gastrointestinales, el 45% para problemas de la piel, el 40 % para afecciones respiratorias, el 33% para "empacho" y 17% para problemas renales, sin diferencias significativas en los usos por grupo etáreo. La población tiene amplio conocimiento sobre hierbas medicinales. La medicina formal debe legitimar estos conocimientos e incluirlos en su práctica.

Traditional health professionals underestimate and fail to recognize the use of other forms of health care, therefore this research has the objective of characterizing knowledge about the use of medicinal herbs in the southeastern area of Salta city; to identify which herbs are used to treat health problems; and to assess its frequency of use. Qualitative and quantitative research was conducted by interviewing key informants and focus groups. Lists of medicinal herbs and uses were created and categorized by health problems. Finally, a closed survey on frequency of use was carried out. Fifty-nine herbs were mentioned with an average of 2.3 uses per plant. quimpe, tusca , paico, coca, molle, ruda and hediondillawere herbs marked as “with a Significant Level of Impotanse”. The use of coca was found in 54% of the families interviewed. Fifty-two percent used some herb for gastrointestinal disorders, 45% for skin problems, 40% for respiratory conditions, 33% for indigestion and 17% for kidney problems, with no significant differences in uses according toage groups. Population has a good knowledge of medicinal herbs. Formal medicine should legitimize this knowledge and include it in its practice.