A Case Report of Poisoning Caused by Incorrect Use of Salvia.

BACKGROUND Previous reports suggest that homoplantaginin, one of the compounds isolated from Salvia plebeia, has a protective and therapeutic effect on hepatocyte injury. We present a case of serious liver and kidney damage due to incorrect use of Salvia plebeia in a patient with a history of thyroid tumorectomy, who was successfully treated for poisoning with blood purification and systemic, comprehensive critical care. CASE REPORT A 54-year-old female patient with salvia intoxication combined with multiple organ dysfunction was transported to our emergency center by ambulance after presenting with nausea, vomiting, and skin yellowing. On arrival, she exhibited fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, yellowish discoloration of her skin, breathing difficulties, and low back pain, all of which was suggestive of salvia intoxication combined with multiple organ dysfunction. The treatment strategy was to immediately speed up the excretion of toxins and administered blood purification therapy. She also displayed disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), which was successfully treated with plasma infusion of blood coagulation factor combined with LMWH acupuncture therapy. CONCLUSIONS Salvia plebeia should only be considered for use in patients who have infectious disease or oxidative stress related disease and only at an appropriate dose. In addition, for patients with salvia poisoning, prompt administration of blood purification therapy and systemic comprehensive measures involving multiple supportive therapies can save such patients.

[Dachengqi decoction reduces the serum levels of mast cell tryptase and inflammatory cytokines in rabbits with post-cardiac arrest syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Dachengqi decoction on serum levels of mast cell tryptase, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in rabbits with post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS). METHODS: Thirty healthy male Japanese rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operation group, PCAS model group and Dachengqi decoction treatment group. The model of PCAS was established by asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest. Fifteen minutes after return of spontaneous circulation, Dachengqi decoction [15 g/(kg.d), bid] was given by intra-gastric administration in Dachengqi decoction treatment group. The indicators of organ function were evaluated 24, 48 and 72 hours after cardiac arrest. The serum levels of mast cell tryptase, MCP-1 and IL-8 were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: Dachengqi decoction alleviated the dysfunction significantly in heart, brain, liver and kidney. Compared with the sham group, the serum levels of mast cell tryptase, MCP-1 and IL-8 increased significantly in PCAS group (P<0.01). Compared with the PCAS group, the serum levels of mast cell tryptase (at 6 hours), MCP-1 (at 6, 24 and 48 hours) and IL-8 (at 6 and 24 hours) decreased significantly in Dachengqi decoction treatment group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Dachengqi decoction can reduce the serum levels of mast cell tryptase, MCP-1 and IL-8 in rabbits with post-cardiac arrest syndrome.

Identification of benzofuro[2,3-b]quinoline derivatives as a new class of antituberculosis agents.

A series of 11-alkoxylated and 11-aminated benzofuro[2,3-b]quinoline derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their anti-TB and cytotoxic activities. The known 11-chlorobenzofuro[2,3-b]quinoline (3) was synthesized in a single step from anthranilic acid and 2-coumaranone in phosphorus oxychloride in 51% yield for the first time. Treatment of 3 with alcohols and amines gave 11-alkoxylated and 11-aminated benzofuro[2,3-b]quinoline derivatives respectively, which were evaluated for their anti-TB and cytotoxic activities. Our results indicated that 11-arylaminated derivatives were more active than their respective 11-aryloxylated isosteric isomers against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Among the tested compounds, 11-methoxybenzofuro[2,3-b]quinoline (4), 11-methylamino- benzofuro[2,3-b]quinoline (9), and 11-dimethylaminobenzofuro[2,3-b]quinoline (14) exhibited significant activities against the growth of M. tuberculosis (MIC values of <0.20 microg/mL) and low cytotoxicities against VERO cell with IC(50) values of 11.77, 5.55, and >30.00 microg/mL respectively. The selectivity index (SI=IC(50)/MIC) for 4, 9, and 14 was greater than 58.85, 27.75, and 150 respectively.