Ancient Chinese Formula Qiong-Yu-Gao Protects Against Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity Without Reducing Anti-tumor Activity.

Cisplatin is a highly effective anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agent; however, its clinical use is severely limited by serious side effects, of which nephrotoxicity is the most important. In this study, we investigated whether Qiong-Yu-Gao (QYG), a popular traditional Chinese medicinal formula described 840 years ago, exhibits protective effects against cisplatin-induced renal toxicity. Using a mouse model of cisplatin-induced renal dysfunction, we observed that pretreatment with QYG attenuated cisplatin-induced elevations in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels, ameliorated renal tubular lesions, reduced apoptosis, and accelerated tubular cell regeneration. Cisplatin-mediated elevations in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) mRNA, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) mRNA, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein in the kidney were also significantly suppressed by QYG treatment. Furthermore, QYG reduced platinum accumulation in the kidney by decreasing the expression of copper transporter 1 and organic cation transporter 2. An in vivo study using implanted Lewis lung cancer cells revealed that concurrent administration of QYG and cisplatin did not alter the anti-tumor activity of cisplatin. Our findings suggest that the traditional Chinese medicinal formula QYG inhibits cisplatin toxicity by several mechanisms that act simultaneously, without compromising its therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, QYG may be useful in the clinic as a protective agent to prevent cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.

[Recent researches of synthetic mercury sulfide in traditional medicine system].

OBJECTIVE: Herein, the synthesis, component, microstructure and pharmacological and toxicology researches of the Synthetic Mercury Sulfide (S-HgS) a kind of common drug in Chinese, Mongolia, Tibetan medicine, and Indian medicine system were summarized. The similar cognition about mercury toxicity & pharmacological action from some Asian regions was analyzed, and it can supply some useful direction for the traditional Asian medicine system. METHOD: Recent literatures both domestic and abroad were summarized and analyzed. RESULT: S-HgS is the basis of Vermilion, Mongolia-Vermilion, Zuotai, and Ras-sindoor. Athough the processes of synthesis are very different, but the microstructure and pharmacological & toxicology of S-HgS is similar. CONCLUSION: S-HgS has a far-ranging application,and unique curative effect. New technology such as nanotechnology can be used for improving the advancement of traditional Asian medicine.

Effects of zao huang mixture (see text) on the expressions of TGF-beta1 and Col IV in human glomerular mesangial cells cultured in high glucose environment.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Zao Huang Mixture (see text) on expressions of growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and collagen IV (Col IV) in human glomerular mesangial cells (GMC) cultured in high-glucose environment. METHODS: After primary culture of GMC, in vitro culture was carried out in normal group, high glucose group and high glucose medium with ZHM of different concentrations, and the expressions of TGF-beta1 and Col IV in the GMC group and in ZHM group were detected at 24 and 48 h respectively. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, expressions of TGF-beta1 and Col IV significantly increased at 24 h, 48 h in the high glucose group (all P < 0.01); Compared with the high glucose group, the expressions of TGF-beta1 and Col IV in all the ZHM groups significantly decreased at 24 h, 48 h (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: ZHM may modulate the process of diabetic nephropathy by changing the expression of TGF-beta1 and Col IV in glomerular mesangial cells.