[Effects of Mijiandao suppository on intestinal laxation in rats and its mechanisms].

Objective: To investigate the effects of Mijian Daotong Bowel Suppository (MJDs) on the compound diphenoxylate induced constipation model of male rats and its mechanisms. Methods: Sixty SD male rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, positive group and MJDs group. The constipation model was established by using compound diphenoxylate gavage. The rats in blank group and model group were treated with saline by enema, the rats in positive group and MJDs group were given Kaisailu and honey decoction laxative suppository by enema, respectively, once a day for 10 days. The body weight, fecal water content, gastric emptying rate (GER) and carbon ink propulsion rate (CIPR) of rats were observed during modeling and administration. The effects of MJDs on the pathological changes of colon tissue in constipation rats were investigated by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The effect of MJDs on 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the colon of constipation rats was investigated by ELISA kit. The effects of MJDs on the expressions of aquaporins 3 (AQP3) and aquaporins 4 (AQP4) in the colon of constipation rats were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: After 10 days of administration, compared with the blank group, the body weight, fecal water content, carbon ink propulsion rate and colon 5-HT content in the model group were decreased significantly, while the expression levels of AQP3 and AQP4 in the colon were increased significantly (P＜0.05, P＜0.01). Compared with the model group, the fecal water content and colon 5-HT content in the positive group were increased significantly, and the expressions of AQP3 and AQP4 in the colon were decreased significantly. The body weight, fecal water content and colon 5-HT content in the MJDs group were increased significantly, and the expressions of AQP3 and AQP4 was decreased significantly (P＜0.05, P＜0.01). Compared with the positive group, the fecal water content of the MJDs group was decreased significantly, and the expressions of AQP3 and AQP4 in the colon of the MJDs group was decreased significantly (P＜0.05, P＜0.01). Gastric emptying rate was not statistically significant difference between the groups. Conclusion: MJDs has good therapeutic effects on constipation, and its mechanisms may be related to up-regulating the content of 5-HT in the colon and down-regulating the expressions of AQP3 and AQP4 in the colon.

Crocetin: A Systematic Review.

Crocetin is an aglycone of crocin naturally occurring in saffron and produced in biological systems by hydrolysis of crocin as a bioactive metabolite. It is known to exist in several medicinal plants, the desiccative ripe fruit of the cape jasmine belonging to the Rubiaceae family, and stigmas of the saffron plant of the Iridaceae family. According to modern pharmacological investigations, crocetin possesses cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, antidepressant, antiviral, anticancer, atherosclerotic, antidiabetic, and memory-enhancing properties. Although poor bioavailability hinders therapeutic applications, derivatization and formulation preparation technologies have broadened the application prospects for crocetin. To promote the research and development of crocetin, we summarized the distribution, preparation and production, total synthesis and derivatization technology, pharmacological activity, pharmacokinetics, drug safety, drug formulations, and preparation of crocetin.

[Qilin pills combined with levofloxacin for asthenospermia accompanied with accessory sex gland infection: a clinical observation].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy of the combination of Qilin Pills and levofloxacin in the treatment of asthenospermia accompanied with accessory sex gland infection. METHODS: We randomly assigned 80 asthenospermia patients with accessory sex gland infection to groups 1 and 2 of equal number, the former treated with Qilin Pills + levofloxacin, and the latter with levofloxacin only. Qilin Pills were administered at the dose of 6 g tid for 30 days, and levofloxacin at the dose of 0.5 g qd for 20 days. We obtained semen parameters, including the percentage of progressively motile sperm and peroxidase-positive white blood cell (WBC) count, before and after medication, and compared the clinical effects between the two groups. RESULTS: All the patients accomplished the clinical trial. The therapeutic effectiveness rates in improving progressive sperm motility were 60% in group 1 and 17.5% in group 2, with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05). As for the peroxidase-positive WBC count in semen, the effectiveness rates were 87.5% and 82.5%, respectively, with no significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: For the treatment of asthenospermia accompanied with accessory sex gland infection, Qilin Pills combined with levofloxacin is evidently better than levofloxacin alone in improving sperm motility, and it has no obvious adverse effects.