Anti-microbial Effects In Vitro and In Vivo of Alstonia scholaris.

Alstonia scholaris could be used as a traditional medicinal plant in China for the treatment of acute respiratory, which might be caused by respiratory tract infections. The investigation tested the anti-infective effects of total alkaloids extract (TA) from leaves of A. scholaris, and as a result, TA inhibited herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza A virus (H1N1) in vitro respectively. In addition, the survival days of mice were prolonged, and the lung weights and mortality of mice were decreased significantly, after oral administrated TA in H1N1 and beta-hemolytic streptococcus infectious models in vivo respectively. The finding supported partly the traditional usage of A. scholaris in the treatment of respiratory infections.

[Preliminary processing, processing and usage of Dendrobii Caulis in history].

On account of the dense cuticles of the fresh stem and the light, hard and pliable texture of the dried stem, Dendrobii Caulis is difficult to dry or pulverize. So, it is very important to the ancient doctors that Dendrobii Caulis should be properly treated and applied to keep or evoke its medicinal effects. The current textual research results about the preliminary processing, processing and usage methods of Dendrobii Caulis showed that: (1) In history the clinical use of fresh or processed Dendrobii Caulis as teas and tinctures were very common. (2) Its roots and rhizomes would be removed before using. (3) Some ancillary approaches were applied to shorten drying times, such as rinsing with boiling mulberry-ash soup, washing or soaking with liquor, mixing with rice pulp and then basking, etc. (4) According to the ancients knowledge, the sufficient pulverization, by means of slicing, rasping, hitting or pestling techniques, was necessary for Dendrobii Caulis to take its effects. (5) The heat processing methods for Dendrobii Caulis included stir-baking, stir-frying, steaming, decocting and stewing techniques, usually with liquor as an auxiliary material. Among above mentioned, steaming by pretreating with liquor was most commonly used, and this scheme was colorfully drawn in Bu Yi Lei Gong Pao Zhi Bian Lan (Ming Dynasty, 1591 CE) ; moreover, decocting in advance or long-time simmering so as to prepare paste products were recommended in the Qing Dynasty. (6) Some different processing programs involving stir-baking with grit, air-tightly baking with ondol (Kangs), fumigating with sulfur, which appeared in modern times and brought attractive outward appearance of the drug, went against ancients original intentions of ensuring drug efficacy.

[Investigation of HCV multi-epitope gene vaccine loaded by CTS-Fe3O4].

OBJECTIVE: In order to develop a promising HCV gene vaccine candidate to induce effective immune response and explore the application of magnetic nanoparticles as gene delivery system. METHODS: The DNA fragment containing multi-epitope antigen gene of HCV with five conserved mimotopes was synthesized and cloned into plasmid pcDNA3.1 (+). The Fe3O4 modified with chitoson was prepared and the cytotoxicity of the magnetic material was detected in vitro. Analysis of recombinant plasmid in vitro expression, and its immunogenicity loaded by CTS-Fe3O4 in mice were evaluated in detail. RESULTS: The HCV multi-epitope gene vaccine pcDNA3.1 (+)-MA was successfully constructed and recognized by 81% HCV positive sera. There was no cytotoxicity of CTS-Fe3O4 when its concentration was equal or less than 1 mmol/L. Both the antibody production and T-cell activity were induced. CONCLUSION: It was believed that DNA encoding MA was an attractive approach for the therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines against HCV and the Fe3O4 modified with chitoson showed excellent target, safety and adjuvant effect as gene carrier.

[Study on the activity against influenza A virus with traditional Chinese medicine Kanggan granules].

OBJECTIVE: To study the anti-influenza A virus effects of traditional Chinese medicine Kanggan granules in chicken embryo and BALB/c mice. METHODS: The influenza A virus (H(1)N(1), FM1) was used in the experiments. FM1 was cultured in chicken embryo and the anti-FM1 activity of Kanggan granules was evaluated through the post-medication hemagglutination titer of FM1. In animal test, 120 healthy BALB/c mice were randomly divided into six groups, normal control, virus control, ribavirin, high-dosage, middle-dosage and low-dosage. The FM1 infection model was established by dripping FM1 into nasal cavity and then the appropriate treatments were prescribed. The effective anti- FM1 indices of Kanggan granules included survival status, protective percentage of death and life elongation percentage of mice infected with FM1. RESULTS: The high and middle doses of Kanggan granules could inhibit the replication of FM1 remarkably in chicken embryo, and could reduced hemagglutination titer to 5 and 3 times. In animal experiments, all mice treated with Kanggan granules could improve the general status of infected mice, the protective percentages of death were 35.0% to 55.0%, the life elongation percentages were 73.0% to 88.9% and the minimal effective dose was 3.00 g/kg. CONCLUSION: Kanggan granules can inhibit the replication of influenza A virus and protect the mice infected with FM1.

[Induction of apoptosis of cultured hepatocarcinoma cell by essential oil of Artemisia Annul L].

OBJECTIVE: To know whether the essential oil of Artemisia annul L. can induce apoptosis of cultured hepatocarcinoma cell SMMC-7721. METHODS: Hepatocarcinoma cells were treated by the essential oil of Artemisia annul L. while positive control was treated by hydroxycamptothecine (HPT) and negative or mock control was treated by normal saline (NS). Induction of the apoptosis was analyzed by using flow cytometry (FCM), light microscope and electronic microscope, Giemsa's stain and DNA pattern after drug treatment. RESULTS: After the treatment of the cells with 100 micrograms/ml essential oil of Artemisia annul L. for 24 hours, the morphological changes of classic apoptosis such as condensation of cytoplasm, fragmentation of nuclear chromatin, and apoptosis body were seen. The sub-G1 peak was exhibited by FCM, and the DNA ladder pattern was observed. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrated that the essential oil of Artemisia annul L. could induce apoptosis of cultured SMMC-7721.