Discussion on safety evaluation and risk control measures of Epimedii Folium / 中国中药杂志

Epimedii Folium,a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine,has the effect of tonifying kidney Yang,strengthening bones and treating rheumatism. However,in recent years,the number of reports on adverse reactions of Epimedii Folium and its Chinese patent medicines such as Xianling Gubao Capsules and Zhuanggu Guanjie Pills has been gradually increased,and the toxicity of Epimedii Folium has attracted more and more attention. In this article,the ancient and modern literature on Epimedii Folium was traced through a comprehensive and systematic literature analysis method. According to the 2015 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia,Epimedii Folium refers to the dried leaves of Epimedii Folium brevicomu,E. sugittutum,E. pubescens or E. koreuuum. The Chinese Pharmacopoeia also includes E. wushanense of Wushan Epimedium,which is the same plant variety as Epimedium. The study showed that there were differences in the geographical distribution,composition and toxicity among five species of Epimedium. This paper also explained the toxicity mechanism as well as efficacy enhancing and toxicity reducing effects of Epimedii Folium,and reported its related adverse reaction cases. Through a retrospective comparative study on the toxicity of the modern Chinese patent medicines Xianling Gubao Capsules and Zhuanggu Guanjie Pills containing Epimedii Folium,it was believed that Epimedii Folium had cardiovascular system toxicity,neurotoxicity,hepatotoxicity,long-term toxicity,acute toxicity,genotoxicity and special toxicity; its safe medication factors included patient syndrome,doctor factors,drug factors,processing and compatibility factors. Meanwhile,strategies were proposed to improve patient safety medication awareness,standardize Epimedii Folium varieties and quality supervision,and the toxicity of Epimedii Folium was studied,hoping to draw attention from scholars to the safety of Epimedii Folium,improve the safe use of Epimedii Folium,and prevent adverse reactions.

Understanding Qi Running in the Meridians as Interstitial Fluid Flowing via Interstitial Space of Low Hydraulic Resistance / 中国结合医学杂志

Qi, blood and the meridians are fundamental concepts in Chinese medicine (CM), which are components of the human body and maintain physiological function. Pathological changes of qi, blood and meridians may lead to discomfort and disease. Treatment with acupuncture or herbal medicine aims to regulate qi and blood so as to recover normal function of the meridians. This paper explores the nature of qi as well as compares and correlates them with the structures of the human body. We propose a conceptualization of qi as being similar to the interstitial fluid, and the meridians as being similar to interstitial space of low hydraulic resistance in the body. Hence, qi running in the meridians can be understood as interstitial fluid flowing via interstitial space of low hydraulic resistance.

Effect of Wenmaitong on adhesion of monocytes to vascular endothelial cell induced by hyperlipidemic serum / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of Wenmaitong (WMT) and its disassembled formulas on the adhesion of monocytes to endothelial cells induced by hyperlipidemic serum to explore the mechanism of WMT on early arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Serums containing whole WMT and its disassembled formulas, including the formula consisted of warming Jing and boosting qi part (Wenjin Yiqi, WY) and that of promoting blood circulation part (Huoxue Tongmai, HT), as well as the serum contained high concentration of lipids were prepared conventionally, respectively. The adhesion of monocytes cell strain THP-1 to human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) was determined by rose bengal stain method, and ELISA was used to detect expressions of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1), vascular cellular adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) and P-selectin on HUVEC surface.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>WMT could inhibit THP-1 to HUVEC adhesion induced by hyperlipidemic serum, and down-regulate the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, P-selectin on HUVEC surface, the two disassembled formulas could down-regulate different adhesion molecules.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>One mechanism of WMT on ASO may be its inhibition on arteriosclerosis by way of down-regulating the expression of vascular endothelial cells adhesion molecules to decrease the adhesion of monocyte to VEC, therefore to inhibit the monocytes migrating into vascular intima to develop foam cells.</p>