Research Note: Effect of dietary cottonseed meal and soybean oil concentration on digesta passage time and amino acids digestibility in roosters.

Two experiments were conducted to study the effect of dietary cottonseed meal (CM) and soybean oil (SO) on passage time of digesta and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA). The experimental design was a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement evaluating the levels of CM (20 or 40 %) and SO (0 or 10 %). Experiment 1 estimated the effect of CM and SO on the passage time of digesta. Twenty-five Chinese yellow-feathered roosters (BW = 2.61 ± 0.08 kg; 26-wk-old) were individually weighed and allocated to 5 diets in 5 randomized complete blocks by initial BW. Experimental diet 1 contained 20% CM and 0 SO, diet 2 contained 20% CM and 10% SO, diet 3 contained 40% CM and 0% SO, diet 4 contained 40% CM and 10% SO, and a nitrogen-free diet was also fed. Passage time through the total digestive tract was determined by time-relative cumulation of dry excreta. Experiment 2 estimated the effect of CM and SO on SID of AA in CM. Thirty Chinese yellow-feathered roosters (BW = 2.91 ± 0.05 kg; 26-wk-old) were allocated to the 5 experimental diets in 6 randomized complete blocks by initial BW to determine the SID of AA. Increasing CM concentration significantly reduced the time for 50% relative cumulation of dry excreta (P < 0.05). Adding 10% SO tended to increase the time for 50% relative cumulation of dry excreta (0.05 < P < 0.10) relative to diets without SO. Dietary CM and SO did not affect the SID of indispensable AA or dispensable AA of CM significantly, but increasing dietary CM tended to reduce the SID of Lys (0.05 < P < 0.10). Increasing SO tended to reduce the SID of Met (0.05 < P < 0.10). There were no significant interactive effects of SO and CM (P > 0.10). These results suggest passage time is increased with dietary SO, and reduced with dietary CM, but digestibility of AA in CM was not significantly affected by dietary CM and SO.

Effect of hydroxyselenomethionine on lactation performance, blood profiles, and transfer efficiency in early-lactating dairy cows.

The current study investigated the effects of hydroxyselenomethionine (HMBSe), a novel organic selenium (Se) additive, on lactation performance, blood profiles, antioxidative status, and transfer efficiency of Se in early-lactation dairy cows. Sixty multiparous early-lactating dairy cows with similar days in milk (57 d; standard deviation = 9.9) and milk yield (36.5 kg/d; standard deviation = 1.42) were fed a basal diet containing 0.04 mg of Se/kg (dry matter basis). These cows were assigned to 1 of 4 groups following a randomized complete block design as follows: control (basal diet) or HMBSe addition (0.1, 0.3, or 0.5 mg of Se/kg of dry matter). The experiment lasted for 13 wk, with the first week as adaptation. The results showed that milk yields (raw, protein, and lactose) and feed efficiency were improved in a quadratic manner following increased dietary HMBSe addition, whereas energy-corrected milk, 4% fat-corrected milk, and total solid yields tended to be enhanced quadratically. In terms of whole-blood variables, red blood cell and white blood cell levels were increased quadratically, whereas hemoglobin concentration increased linearly with increased HMBSe addition. Plasma nonesterified fatty acid concentrations tended to increase linearly along with HMBSe addition. Plasma superoxide dismutase activity increased quadratically with increased HMBSe addition. The total antioxidant capacity in plasma tended to improve quadratically when cows were fed more HMBSe. Moreover, plasma malondialdehyde concentrations of dairy cows tended to decrease in a quadratic manner when dietary HMBSe increased. The Se concentrations in milk, plasma, and milk/plasma ratio increased linearly following increased HMBSe addition. In conclusion, HMBSe improved lactation performance, health status, and milk Se concentrations in early-lactating dairy cows.

Therapeutic effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on mastitis experimentally induced by lipopolysaccharide in lactating goats.

Escherichia coli is a cause of subclinical and clinical mastitis in dairy cattle and goats, and sometimes causes severe clinical disease that may result in death of the animal. Previous investigation showed that ginsenoside Rg1 extracted from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (Araliaceae) has an anti-inflammatory effect on the sepsis induced by E. coli lipopolysaccharide via competitive binding to toll-like receptor 4. We hypothesized that intravenous injection of Rg1 had therapeutic effect on mastitis experimentally induced by intramammary infusion of lipopolysaccharide in lactating goats. In this study, 9 lactating goats were randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 groups: (1) lipopolysaccharide intramammary infusion + saline intravenous injection, (2) lipopolysaccharide intramammary infusion + Rg1 intravenous injection, and (3) saline intramammary administration + saline intravenous injection. Because no adverse clinical signs were observed after intramammary infusion of saline and intravenous injection of Rg1 in a preliminary experiment, and available qualified goats were limited in this study, this treatment was not included in this study. One udder half of each goat received intramammary infusion of lipopolysaccharide (50 µg/kg of body weight; groups 1 and 2) or saline solution (group 3), and the other half was infused with 2 mL of saline solution at h 0. Afterward, intravenous injections of saline solution (groups 1 and 3) or Rg1 (2.5 mg/kg of body weight; group 2) were administered at h 2 and 4 post-lipopolysaccharide challenge. Blood and milk samples were collected 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 48, and 72 h post-lipopolysaccharide challenge, and clinical signs were monitored hourly after lipopolysaccharide challenge within the first 10 h and at the same time points as blood samples. The results showed that Rg1 treatment downregulated rectal temperature, udder skin temperature, udder girth, milk somatic cell count, and N-acetyl-ß-d-glucosaminidase and upregulated milk production, lactose, and recovered blood components, such as white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, total proteins, albumin, and globulin. Considering the positive therapeutic effect on lipopolysaccharide-induced mastitis in goats presented in this study as well as the anti-inflammatory activity found previously, the botanical Rg1 deserves further study as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of E. coli mastitis in dairy animals.

Dietary supplemented antimicrobial peptide microcin J25 improves the growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility, fecal microbiota, and intestinal barrier function of weaned pigs.

Microcin J25 (MccJ25) is an antimicrobial peptide produced by a fecal strain of Escherichia coli containing 21 AA. This study was performed primarily to evaluate the effects of MccJ25 as a potential substitute for antibiotics (AB) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbiota, and intestinal barrier function in weaned pigs. In the present study, 180 weaned pigs (7.98 ± 0.29 kg initial BW) were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 treatments, including a basal diet (CON) and CON supplemented with AB (20 mg/kg colistin sulfate; ABD) or 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg MccJ25. On d 0 to 14, dietary supplementation with MccJ25 and ABD had positive effects on ADG, ADFI, diarrhea incidence, and G:F ( < 0.05). Pigs fed the 2.0 mg/kg MccJ25 diet had greater ADG ( < 0.05) and marginally greater G:F ( < 0.10) compared with pigs fed the ABD diet. Compared with the CON diet, the 2.0 mg/kg MccJ25 diet sharply improved ( < 0.05) ADG and G:F and decreased ( < 0.05) diarrhea incidence (d 15 to 28 and d 0 to 28). Apparent digestibility of nutrients in pigs fed 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg MccJ25 was improved ( < 0.05) compared with that of pigs fed CON and ABD. The serum cytokines IL-6 and IL-1ß and tumor necrosis factor-α levels in pigs fed MccJ25 were greater than in pigs fed CON ( < 0.05). Additionally, the IL-10 concentration in pigs fed MccJ25 was sharply increased ( < 0.05) compared with that of pigs fed CON. Pigs fed 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg MccJ25 diets had remarkably decreased lactate, diamine oxidase, and endotoxin concentrations and fecal numbers ( < 0.05) and improved fecal and numbers ( < 0.05). Compared with the ABD diet, the diet containing 2.0 mg/kg MccJ25 did not increase lactate, diamine oxidase, and endotoxin (d 14) concentrations ( < 0.05) or decrease the and (d 28) numbers ( < 0.05). The diets containing 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg MccJ25 and ABD (d 28) improved lactate concentration and short-chain fatty acid concentrations, including acetate, propionate, and butyrate, in feces ( < 0.05). Moreover, the pigs fed 2.0 mg/kg MccJ25 had greater lactate, butyrate (d 14), and propionate concentrations than the pigs fed the ABD diet ( < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplemented MccJ25 effectively improved performance, attenuated diarrhea and systematic inflammation, enhanced intestinal barrier function, and improved fecal microbiota composition of weaned pigs. Therefore, MccJ25 could be a potential effective alternative to AB for weaned pigs.

Effects of methionine hydroxy copper supplementation on lactation performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood biochemical parameters in lactating cows.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of methionine hydroxy Cu [(HMTBA)(2)-Cu] supplementation on lactation performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood biochemical parameters in lactating cows. Thirty lactating Holstein cows were assigned to 1 of 3 treatments in a randomized block design: (1) Cu sulfate only (S): 12 mg of Cu provided by CuSO(4) per kilogram of concentrate; (2) Cu sulfate and (HMTBA)(2)-Cu (SM): 6 mg of Cu provided by CuSO(4) and 6 mg of Cu provided by (HMTBA)(2)-Cu per kilogram of concentrate; or (3) (HMTBA)(2)-Cu only (M): 12 mg of Cu provided by (HMTBA)(2)-Cu per kilogram of concentrate. The level of dietary Cu was determined according to the NRC (2001) requirement. This experiment lasted for 120 d, with the first 20 d for adaptation and with sample and data collection beginning on d 21. The milk yield and 4% fat-corrected milk yield of cows in the SM treatment tended to increase compared with those in the S and M treatments. Cows fed SM also tended to have higher NDF and ADF apparent digestibility values than did cows fed S or M. Plasma Cu concentration significantly increased for the SM treatment compared with the S and M treatments. Cows fed S had higher plasma K concentration than did cows in the other 2 treatments. In conclusion, replacing one-half of the dietary Cu sulfate with (HMTBA)(2)-Cu increased plasma Cu concentration and tended to improve the neutral and acid detergent fiber apparent digestibility values and the lactation performance of lactating dairy cattle.

Effect of biotin on milk performance of dairy cattle: a meta-analysis.

A meta-analysis of the effect of biotin on production outcomes of dairy cattle was conducted following a literature review. A total of 11 studies from 9 papers, with information on the milk production and composition data from a total number of 238 cows were extracted and analyzed using meta-analysis software in Stata. Estimated size of effect of biotin was calculated for dry matter intake (DMI), milk production, and composition. Heterogeneity was not significant for all of the parameters (the highest I(2)=12%). Therefore, fixed effects models were used for analysis. With the addition of biotin to lactating dairy cattle, DMI and milk production increased by 0.87 and 1.66 kg/d. No significant effect on percentage of milk fat and milk protein was observed. Additionally, Begg's test indicated no evidence of substantial publication bias for all variables. The influence analysis shows that the removal of any study did not change the direction or significance of the point estimates. It can be concluded that the use of biotin supplements increases DMI and milk yield in lactating dairy cows.

A common promoter variant of TBX21 is associated with allele specific binding to Yin-Yang 1 and reduced gene expression.

T-bet is a key regulator for the lineage commitment in CD4 T helper (Th) 1 cells by activating the hallmark production of interferon-γ, and its expression level is linked to autoimmune, infectious, and allergic diseases. A T to C base substitution has been identified at position -1993 in the TBX21 (encoding T-bet) promoter and has been associated with asthma and systemic lupus erythematosus. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms responsible for the influence of the T-1993C polymorphism on transcription and its functional effect by luciferase reporter, EMSAs, Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, and flow cytometric analysis of intracellular T-bet, IFN-γ and IL-4 expression in activated CD4(+) T cells. The presence of a -1993T allele obviously increases promoter activity compared with that of a promoter with a -1993C allele. TBX21 promoter carrying -1993C allele possesses significantly stronger binding affinity to the Yin Yang 1 (YY1) transcription factor than that carrying -1993T allele. YY1 overexpression decreased TBX21 promoter function in a T cell line, demonstrating that this element functions as a repressor. The C to T base exchange relieves the repression mediated by YY1. The individuals carrying -1993C allele were determined to have significantly diminished expression of TBX21 and IFN-γ and increased IL-4 production in cells compared with the individuals carrying -1993T allele (P < 0.05). These findings demonstrate that the TBX21 T-1993C polymorphism represses TBX21 expression and Th1 cytokine production through control of YY1, which might result in the imbalance between Th1 and Th2 immune responses in autoimmune or allergic diseases.

Effects of dietary supplementation of methionine and lysine on milk production and nitrogen utilization in dairy cows.

The effect of the content of lysine and methionine in metabolizable protein (MP) on lactation performance and N utilization in Chinese Holstein cows was determined. A control diet (C) was formulated to be adequate in energy but slightly limiting in MP. The concentration of Met and Lys in MP was 1.87 and 5.93%, respectively. The treatments were as follows (% of Met or Lys in MP): L=diet C supplemented with L-lysine-HCl at 0.49% on a dry matter (DM) basis (Met, 1.87; Lys, 7.00); M=diet C supplemented with 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)-butanoic acid (HMB) at 0.15% (Met, 2.35; Lys, 5.93); ML=diet C supplemented with 0.49% L-lysine HCl and 0.15% HMB (Met, 2.39; Lys, 7.10). The diets were fed to 60 Chinese Holsteins in mid-lactation (average days in milk=120, and milk yield=32.0 kg/d) for 8 wk. Milk yield was increased by supplementation of either Lys (1.5 kg/d) or Met (2.0 kg/d), and supplementation of both Lys and Met further increased milk yield (3.8 kg/d). There was no significant difference in dry matter intake across treatment groups. Cows on treatments M (3.95%) and ML (3.90%) had higher milk fat content than those on C (3.60%) and L (3.67%), but there were no significant differences in milk protein and lactose contents or somatic cell count among treatments. Supplementation of Met or Lys significantly increased Met or Lys concentration in arterial plasma. Treatment ML had a higher conversion of intake N to milk N and lower urea N concentrations in serum, urine, and milk than did treatment C. Supplementing HMB and L-lysine-HCl to provide approximately 2.3% Met and 7.0% Lys of the MP in diets slightly limiting in MP increased milk production, milk protein yield, and N utilization efficiency.

Effect of different rumen-inert fatty acids supplemented with a dietary antioxidant on performance and antioxidative status of early-lactation cows.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of diets supplemented with fatty acids of different degrees of saturation, in the absence or presence of an antioxidant (AOX; Agrado Plus, Novus International Inc., St. Charles, MO), on dairy cow lactation performance. Calcium salts of long-chain fatty acids were supplemented as a source of lower saturation fatty acid, and a palm acid product was supplemented as the higher saturation fatty acid source. Sixty early-lactation Chinese Holstein cows (100+/-23 d in milk) were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatments in a 2 x 2 factorial design: (1) lower saturation fatty acid (LS), (2) LS and AOX, (3) higher saturation fatty acid (HS), and (4) HS and AOX. The Ca salts of long-chain fatty acids and palm acid product were supplied at 1.8 and 1.5% on a dry matter basis, respectively, to form isoenergetic diets. The AOX was added at 0.025% in the ration. The experiment lasted 9 wk, including 1 wk for adaptation. Lactation performance was recorded and milk was sampled and analyzed weekly. Blood samples were taken from the coccygeal vein to determine metabolism parameters on d 16, 36, and 56 during the experiment. Neither fatty acid type nor AOX supplementation showed a significant effect on dry matter intake during the study. Milk yield was lower in the LS-fed cows compared with the cows fed HS. Milk fat and milk protein concentrations were not affected by fatty acid type or AOX supplementation. Adding AOX increased the yield of milk in the LS-fed cows, but did not affect those fed HS. Activity of plasma superoxide dismutase was significantly lower, plasma glucose tended to be lower, and plasma malondialdehyde was higher in the LS-fed animals compared with those fed HS. Addition of AOX decreased both plasma nonesterified fatty acids and hydrogen peroxide contents and increased total antioxidant capacity across the fatty acid types. Plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate was not affected by fatty acid type or AOX treatment. Cows fed LS had higher cis-9C(18:1) and trans-10, cis-12C(18:2) in milk at the expense of C(18:0), whereas AOX addition increased milk cis-9C(18:1) at the expense of milk C(12:0), C(16:0), and trans-10, cis-12C(18:2). It is inferred that feeding LS resulted in inferior lactation performance, whereas addition of antioxidant partially alleviated these negative effects.

Isolation of a choline monooxygenase cDNA clone from Amaranthus tricolor and its expressions under stress conditions.

Plants synthesize the osmoprotectant glycine betaine (GB) via choline-->betaine aldehyde-->glycine betaine[1]. Two enzymes are involved in the pathway, choline monooxygenase (CMO) and betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH). A full length CMO cDNA (1,643bp) was cloned from Amaranthus tricolor. The open reading frame encoded a 442-amino acid polypeptide, which showed 69% identity with CMOs in Spinacia oleracea L. and Beta vulgaris L. DNA gel blot analysis indicated the presence of one copy of CMO gene in the A. tricolor genome. The expressions of CMO and BADH proteins in A.tricolor leaves significantly increased under salinization, drought and heat stress (42 degrees C), as determined by immunoblot analysis, but did not respond to cold stress (4 degrees C), or exogenous ABA application. The increase of GB content in leaves was parallel to CMO and BADH contents.

Rapidly progressive interstitial renal fibrosis associated with Chinese herbal medications.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Nephropathy after ingestion of Chinese herbs is known as a rapidly progressive form of interstitial renal fibrosis after a slimming regimen containing aristolochic acid that was identified first in Belgium. Intake of traditional Chinese herbal medicines is very popular in Taiwan. So we looked for similar cases in our hospital. METHODS: From 1994 to 1998, we observed 20 Taiwanese patients who underwent renal biopsy for rapidly progressive renal failure of unknown origin. The medical history of these patients gave no clue to the origin of renal impairment, except for the administration of Chinese herbs before the development of renal failure in all cases. RESULTS: Although these patients took herbal medications from various sources for different purposes, their renal biopsy specimens showed strikingly similar histological patterns: extensive paucicellular interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy, but the glomeruli were apparently intact. They also had similar clinical features, such as a nearly normal blood pressure, obvious anemia, insignificant edema, low-grade proteinuria, and glucosuria. The renal function declined rapidly in most cases; 15 patients underwent dialysis within 3 months of renal biopsy, and 7 patients received emergency dialysis when they first came to our hospital. On clinical and morphological grounds, the nephropathy in our patients appears similar to Chinese herb nephropathy. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the diversity of the herbal regimens used, in addition to aristolochic acid, other unidentified phytotoxins may also play a role in this particular disease entity. There is a strong relation between rapidly progressive interstitial renal fibrosis and the consumption of Chinese herbs.

Phospholipases A2 from Callosellasma rhodostoma venom gland cloning and sequencing of 10 of the cDNAs, three-dimensional modelling and chemical modification of the major isozyme.

Callosellasma rhodostoma (Malayan pitviper) is a monotypic Asian pitviper of medical importance. Three acidic phospholipases A2 (PLA2s) and one basic PLA2-homolog were purified from its venom while 10 cDNAs encoding distinct PLA2s were cloned from venom glands of a Thailand specimen of this species. Complete amino-acid sequences of the purified PLA2s were successfully deduced from their cDNA sequences. Among the six un-translated PLA2 cDNAs, two apparently result from recombination of its Lys49-PLA2 gene with its Asp49-PLA2 genes. The acidic PLA2s inhibit platelet-aggregation, while the noncatalytic PLA2-homolog induces local edema. This basic PLA2-homolog contains both Asp49 and other, unusual substitutions unique for the venom Lys49-PLA2 subtype (e.g. Leu5, Trp6, Asn28 and Arg34). Three-dimensional modelling of the basic protein revealed a heparin-binding region, and an abnormal calcium-binding pocket, which may explain its low catalytic activity. Oxidation of up to six of its Met residues or coinjection with heparin reduced its edema-inducing activity but methylation of its active site His48 did not. The distinct Arg/Lys-rich and Met-rich region at positions 10-36 of the PLA2 homolog presumably are involved in its heparin-binding and the cell membrane-interference leading to edema and myotoxicity.

[Analysis of phenylethanoid glycosides in the extract of herba Cistanchis by LC/ESI-MS/MS].

AIM: To analyze the phenylethanoid glycosides in Cistanche deserticola Y. D. Ma and its alternatives. METHODS: An HPLC/MS/MS method has been developed for the analysis of seven kinds of phenylethanoid glycosides in Cistanche deserticola Y. D. Ma, C. salsa (C. A. Mey) G. Beck and C. tubulosa (Schenk) R. Wight. The [M - H]- ions were observed for five standards and Cistanche extracts. The glycosidic linkages, the core, and the attached sugar (s) of the phenylethanoid glycosides can be determined from the collision-induced dissociation spectra of the molecular. RESULTS: Seven kinds of phenylethanoid glycosides (echinacoside, acteoside, cisacteoside, isoacteoside, 2'-acetylacteoside, cistanoside A, osmanthuside B) in Cistanche deserticola Y. D. Ma, six kinds (echinacoside, acteoside, cisacteoside, isoacteoside, 2'-acetylacteoside and cistanoside A) in C. salsa (C. A. Mey) G. Beck and five kinds (echinacoside, acteoside, cisacteoside, isoacteoside and 2'-acetylacteoside) in C. tubulosa (Schenk) R. Wight were detected. CONCLUSION: The difference of the relative distribution of these phenylethanoid glycosides in each extract was found out. Phenylethanoid glycosides are the specific constituents in Cistanchis, which can be used to distinguish different species in Genus Cistanchis.

The dopamine D2, but not D3 or D4, receptor subtype is essential for the disruption of prepulse inhibition produced by amphetamine in mice.

Brain dopamine (DA) systems are involved in the modulation of the sensorimotor gating phenomenon known as prepulse inhibition (PPI). The class of D2-like receptors, including the D2, D3, and D4 receptor subtypes, have all been implicated in the control of PPI via studies of DA agonists and antagonists in rats. Nevertheless, the functional relevance of each receptor subtype remains unclear because these ligands are not specific. To determine the relevance of each receptor subtype, we used genetically altered strains of "knock-out" mice lacking the DA D2, D3, or D4 receptors. We tested the effects of each knock-out on both the phenotypic expression of PPI and the disruption of PPI produced by the indirect DA agonist d-amphetamine (AMPH). No phenotypic differences in PPI were observed at baseline. AMPH significantly disrupted PPI in the D2 (+/+) mice but had no effect in the D2 (-/-) mice. After AMPH treatment, both DA D3 and D4 receptor (+/+) and (-/-) mice had significant disruptions in PPI. These findings indicate that the AMPH-induced disruption of PPI is mediated via the DA D2 receptor and not the D3 or D4 receptor subtypes. Uncovering the neural mechanisms involved in PPI will further our understanding of the substrates of sensorimotor gating and could lead to better therapeutics to treat gating disorders, such as schizophrenia.

LYS-49 phospholipase A2 homologs from venoms of Deinagkistrodon acutus and Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus have identical protein sequence.

The complete amino acid sequences of the Lys-49 PLA2s from the venom of Deinagkistrodon acutus (from Taiwan and China) and Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus (Taiwan habu) were solved by a facile cDNA cloning and sequencing method. The deduced amino acid sequences of the Lys-49 PLA2s of both venoms are identical, suggesting close phylogenic relationship between this two snake species of different genera. In addition, by cloning and cDNA sequencing, the mRNA coding for a Arg-49 PLA2 homolog of low expression level was also found in the venom gland of T. mucrosquamatus.

[Isolation and amplification of DNA from tortoise and turtle shells].

DNA was extracted from tortoise and turtle shells, two Chiense crude drugs which have been preserved for at least nine years. The cytochrome b sequence was amplified from the extracts using the polymerase chain reaction. Treatments with detergent and ultraviolet light were employed to destroy possible extraneous contamination. A control extract was set in parallel with the extracts of the specimens in order to detect contamination in solutions and reagents. The results show that significant amounts of genetic information can survive in the shells and may have important implications for their identification.

[Effects of rhizoma zedoariae on nickel sulfide induced unscheduled DNA synthesis of human lymphocytes].

The study was designed to investigate the toxic effects of Rhizoma Zedoariae (RZ) and nickel sulfide, and the effect of RZ on nickel sulfide induced unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) of human lymphocytes using an UDS assay of human lymphocytes. The results showed that TZ did not induce UDS, it could inhibit 3H-TdR incorporation with intracellular DNA when its' dose was 1 g/ml, that nickel sulfide and ultraviolet could largely induce UDS, that might be inhibited by RZ with a dose dependent relationship. These suggested that nickel sulfide induced damage of DNA might be inhibited by RZ, RZ was not mutagenic and DNA synthesis might be inhibited when the RZ dose amounted to 1 g/ml.

[Effects of compatible using of fructurs Evodiae on the main chemical components of rhizoma Coptidis].

The results of experimental studies on the compatible using of Fructus Evodiae with Rhizoma Coptidis show that in the decoction of the two drugs there is an additive property for the chemical constituents and no new chemical substances were found. But the decocting rate of berberine, the main constituent of Rhizoma Coptidis, decreases by 37.0% after decocting with Fructus Evodiae.