Efficacy and safety investigation of Kuntai capsule for the add-back therapy of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist administration to endometriosis patients: a randomized, double-blind, blank- and tibolone-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: As a Chinese Traditional Medicine product, Kuntai capsule could improve the peri-menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women. But it is still not clear whether Kuntai capsule has a good effect on alleviating peri-menopausal symptoms induced by gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical effectiveness and safety of Kuntai capsule, on peri-menopausal symptoms in endometriosis (EMS) patients, with postoperative GnRH-a treatment. METHODS: Ninety EMS ovarian cyst women with postoperative GnRH-a administration were enrolled in the study, and were randomly divided into Kuntai group, Tibolone group, or blank Control group. The therapeutic strategy in Kuntai group was 4 Kuntai capsules tid,po for 12 weeks after the first GnRH-a injection, while Tibolone 2.5 mg qd, po for 12 weeks in Tibolone group. There was no drug addition in Control group. Climacteric complaints were evaluated by Kupperman menopausal index (KMI) and hot flash/sweating score. Liver and renal functions, lipid profile, serum sex hormone levels and endometrial thickness were measured, and the frequency of adverse events in Kuntai and Tibolone groups was recorded. RESULTS: (1) Before GnRH-a therapy, the baseline parameter results were comparable in the three groups (P > 0.05). (2) After GnRH-a therapy, KMI and hot flash/sweating scores in all the three groups increased significantly (P < 0.05). At the 4 th week after GnRH-a therapy, KMI and hot flash/sweating score results were as follows: Control group > Kuntai group > Tibolone group (P < 0.05); at the 8 th and 12 th week after GnRH-a therapy, KMI and hot flash/sweating score in Control group were significantly higher than the other two groups (P < 0.05), and no significant difference was identified between Kuntai and Tibolone group (P > 0.05). (3) No statistical change took place in the liver and renal functions and lipid profile in all the three groups after the treatment (P > 0.05). (4) The posttherapeutic serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E2) level and endometrial thickness decreased significantly in all the three groups (P < 0.05). After therapy, serum E2 level in Tibolone group was obviously higher than the other two groups (P < 0.05), while FSH and LH levels were obviously lower (P < 0.05). (5) The incidence of vaginal bleeding, breast distending pain in Tibolne group was obviously higher than Kuntai group (P < 0. 05). CONCLUSIONS: Kuntai capsule is effective on the peri-menopausal symptoms induced by postoperative GnRH-a administration to EMS patients, although its clinical effect might be a few weeks later than Tibolone. Kuntai capsule might be a little safer than Tibolone tablet.

Antifeedants from Chinese medicinal herb, Erythrina variegata var. orientalis, against maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais.

The screening for insecticidal principles from several Chinese medicinal herbs showed that the stem bark of Erythrina variegata var. orientalis possessed significant feeding deterrence against maize weevils, Sitophilus zeamais. Bioassay-directed fractionation of the stem bark extract of E. variegata var. orientalis resulted in the isolation of two alkaloids, identified as erysopine and erysovine from their spectroscopic data. Erysopine and erysovine possessed antifeedant activity against S. zeamais adults with EC50 values of 108.5 and 89.7 ppm, respectively.

Chemical composition and insecticidal activity of the essential oil of Artemisia eriopoda against maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais.

In our screening program for new agrochemicals from local wild plants, Artemisia eriopoda was found to possess insecticidal activities against the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais. The essential oil of the aerial parts of A. eriopoda was obtained by hydrodistillation and investigated by GC and GC-MS. The main components of the essential oil are germacrene D (21.6%) and eucalyptol (14.2%). The essential oil possesses fumigant toxicity against S. zeamais adults with a LC50 value of 11.5 mg/L air and also shows contact toxicity against S. zeamais adults with a LD50 value of 24.8 microg/adult, respectively.

GC-MS analysis of insecticidal essential oil of flowering aerial parts of Saussurea nivea Turcz.

BACKGROUND: Several species from Saussurea have been used in the traditional medicine, such as S. lappa, S. involucrate, and S. obvallata. There is no report on medicinal use of S. nivea. The aim of this research was to determine chemical composition and insecticidal activity of the essential oil of S. nivea Turcz (Asteraceae) aerial parts against maize weevils (Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky) for the first time. RESULTS: Essential oil of S. nivea flowering aerial parts was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 43 components of the essential oil of S. nivea were identified. The principal compounds in the essential oil were (+)-limonene (15.46%), caryophyllene oxide (7.62%), linalool (7.20%), α-pinene (6.43%), ß-pinene (5.66%) and spathulenol (5.02%) followed by ß-eudesmoll (4.64%) and eudesma-4,11-dien-2-ol (3.76%). The essential oil of S. nivea exhibited strong contact toxicity against S. zeamais with an LD50 value of 10.56 µg/adult. The essential oil also possessed fumigant toxicity against S. zeamais with an LC50 value of 8.89 mg/L. CONCLUSION: The study indicates that the essential oil of S. nivea flowering aerial parts has a potential for development into a natural insecticide/fumigant for control of insects in stored grains.

Insecticidal activity of the root bark essential oil of Periploca sepium Bunge and its main component.

During our screening programme for agrochemicals from Chinese medicinal herbs, the root bark essential oil of Periploca sepium was found to possess strong contact toxicity against the fruit flies, Drosophila melanogaster with a LD(50) value of 1.22 µg/adult. The main component of the essential oil was identified to be 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-benzaldehyde (78.8%), followed by linalool (2.8%) and (-)-α-terpineol (2.7%). The 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-benzaldehyde was further isolated and identified by bioassay-directed fractionation. The compound showed strong contact toxicity against D. melanogaster and the maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais) with LD(50) values of 1.47 and 6.99 µg/adult, respectively.

Insecticidal compounds from the essential oil of Chinese medicinal herb Atractylodes chinensis.

BACKGROUND: In a screening programme for new agrochemicals from Chinese medicinal herbs, the essential oil of Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz was found to possess strong insecticidal activity against the common vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster L. The essential oil was extracted via hydrodistillation, and its constituents were determined by GC-MS analysis. RESULTS: The main components of A. chinensis essential oil were ß-eudesmol (21.05%), ß-selinene (11.75%), γ-elemene (7.16%) and isopetasam (5.36%). Bioactivity-directed chromatographic separation on repeated silica gel columns led to the isolation of five compounds, namely atractylon, α-elemol, ß-eudesmol, hinesol and ß-selinene. ß-Selinene, α-elemol and hinesol showed pronounced contact toxicity against D. melanogaster adults, with LD(50) values of 0.55, 0.65 and 0.71 µg adult(-1) respectively. Atractylon and ß-eudesmol were also toxic to the fruit flies (LD(50) = 1.63 and 2.65 µg adult(-1) respectively), while the crude oil had an LD(50) value of 2.44 µg adult(-1) . CONCLUSION: The findings suggested that the essential oil of Atractylodes chinensis and its active constituents may be explored as natural potential insecticides.

Insecticidal activity and chemical composition of the essential oils of Artemisia lavandulaefolia and Artemisia sieversiana from China.

In our screening program for new agrochemicals from local wild plants, Artemisia lavandulaefolia and A. sieversiana were found to possess insecticidal activity against the maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais. The essential oils of the aerial parts of the two plants were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The main components of A. lavandulaefolia oil were caryophyllene (15.5%), beta-thujone (13.8%), eucalyptol (13.1%), and beta-farnesene (12.3%), and the principal compounds identified in A. sieversiana oil were eucalyptol (9.2%), geranyl butyrate (9.2%), borneol (7.9%), and camphor (7.9%). The essential oils of A. lavandulaefolia and A. sieversiana possessed fumigant toxicity against S. zeamais adults with LC(50) values of 11.2 and 15.0 mg/l air, respectively. Both essential oils also showed contact toxicity against S. zeamais adults with LD(50) values of 55.2 and 112.7 microg/adult, respectively.

[Effects of Prostate Water Pellets on the number of colonies, NO concentration and NOS activity in the prostate tissue of CBP rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Prostate Water Pellets (PWP) on the number of colonies, NO concentration and NOS activity in the prostate tissues of rats with chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP). METHODS: A total of 120 healthy adult male Wistar rats weighing 250-300 g were equally randomized into 6 groups: blank control, model control, positive control, high-dose PWP, medium-dose PWP and low-dose PWP. The CBP rat models were established by injecting colibacilli (10(7)/ml) into the prostate. A month later, the high- , medium- and low-dose PWP groups were treated intragastrically with PWP at 4.4 g/kg, 2.2 g/kg and 1.1 g/kg per day respectively, the positive controls with levofloxacin at 0.018 g/kg per day, and the blank and model controls with normal saline, all for 35 days. Then the numbers of colonies in the prostate tissues were measured, and the changes in NO concentration and NOS activity detected by the nitrite reductase method. RESULTS: Compared with the model controls, the number of colonies, NO concentration and NOS activity were significantly reduced in the prostate tissues of the rats of the high- , medium- and low-dose PWP groups (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: PWP was proved to be efficacious for CBP in rats, whose mechanism might be related with its inhibitory effect on bacterial growth and decreasing effect on NO concentration and NOS activity in the prostate tissues.

[Effects of electroacupuncture on expression of Abeta positive cells of the hippocampus and SOD activity in rats with streptozocin-Alzheimer's disease].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible mechanism of the electroacupuncture for improvement of learning and memory in rats of Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS: Sixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a normal saline group, a model group, a western medication group and an electroacupuncture group, 12 rats in each group. The AD rat model was established by injecting Streptozocin (STZ) into lateral cerebral ventricle, except the rats in the normal saline group injecting Normal Saline with the same dose and in normal group with no injection. The western medication group was treated with intragastric administration of Memantine, and in the electroacupuncture group, the electroacupuncture was given at "Baihui" (GV 20), "Dazhui" (CV 14), "Taixi" (KI 3), "Shenshu" (BL 23), "Zusanli" (ST 36), once each day, 7 days for a course, and lasted for 4 courses. The other three groups were fed in routine way and without any treatment. The learning and memory ability was assessed by Morris water maze and the expression of Abeta positive cells of the hippocampus and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were determined by immunohistochemistry and visible spectrophotometer colorimetry. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group and the normal saline group, the Abeta protein expression was significantly increased in the model group (both P < 0.01), and the SOD activity was obviously decreased (both P < 0.01). After treatment, as compared with the model group, the Abeta protein expression was significantly decreased (both P < 0.01), and the SOD activity was obviously increased (both P < 0.01) in the electroacupuncture group and western medication group. CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture treatment can reduce the Abeta protein expression and increase the SOD activity of the hippocampus so as to improve learning and memory ability in the AD rats.

Feeding deterrents from Zanthoxylum schinifolium against two stored-product insects.

Screening for insecticidal principles from several Chinese medicinal herbs showed that the fruit pericarp of Zanthoxylum schinifolium possessed significant feeding deterrence against two stored-product insects (Tribolium castaneum and Sitophilus zeamais). From the methanol extract, two feeding deterrents were isolated by bioassay-guided fractionation. The compounds were identified as schinifoline and skimmianine from their spectroscopic data. Schinifoline has feeding deterrent activity against T. castaneum and S. zeamais adults with EC(50) values of 47.8 and 85.6 ppm respectively. Skimmianine possess feeding deterrent activity against T. castaneum and S. zeamais adults with EC(50) values of 75.7 and 129.7 ppm respectively.

[Study on needling depth of Fengfu (GV 16) with CT].

OBJECTIVE: To study on needling safe depth of Fengfu (GV 16) with CT, so as to provide reference for safe needling depth of Fengfu (GV 16) in clinical acupuncture treatment. METHODS: Forty-one adult volunteers were divided into 3 groups, a thin person group, a moderate person group and a fat person group according to Luo's indexes, and computer-aided tomography (CT) was used to measure the needling depth of Fengfu (GV 16). RESULTS: The safe depths of perpendicular needling of Fengfu (GV 16) were different for persons of different somatotypes. The safe needling depth was (27.73 +/- 3.45) mm for the thin person group, (30.78 +/- 2.90) mm for the moderate person group, and (33.39 +/- 4.27) mm for the fat person group. CONCLUSION: The safe needling depth < or = the dangerous depth x 75% can be used for reference for the safe needling depth of Fengfu (GV 16) for different somatotypes persons.