[Inhibitory effect of artemin on endotoxin-induced nitric oxide synthesis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Artemin on LPS-induced nitric oxide synthesis in macrophages. METHOD: 1. Nitrite oxide (NO) production of RAW 264.7 cells was induced by LPS or LPS in combination with interferon-gamma (IFN gamma) in the presence or absence of Artemin. The amount of NO in the supernatant of RAW 264.7 cells was detected with Griess reagent. 2. Balb/c mice were injected with Artemin (i.m.) 50 mg.kg-1.d-1 x 3 d, and intraperitoneal macrophages were collected to detect the LPS-induced NO production. RESULT: LPS 1.0, 0.2 microgram.ml-1 or IFN-gamma 100u + LPS 1.0, 0.2, 0.04 microgram.ml-1 could induced a large amount of NO synthesis of RAW 264.7 cells. Artemin showed a significant inhibitory effect on LPS or IFN-gamma + LPS-induced NO production in a dose dependent manner. After treatment with Artemin, the response of Balb/c mice to LPS was reduced, which was showed by a decrease in NO production of intraperitoneal macrophages induced by LPS. CONCLUSION: Artemin could reduce LPS-induced production of inflammatory factors resulting in the inhibition of inflammatory effects.

[Poteintation of vincristine-induced apoptosis by tetrandrine, neferine and dauricine in the human mammary MCF-7 multidrug-resistant cells].

AIM: To investigate the poteintation of vincristine-induecd apoptosis by tetrandrine, neferine and dauricine isolated from Chinese medicinal plants in the human mammary MCF-7 multidrug resistant cells. METHODS: The apoptotic cells were detected by fluorescent staining of a combination of Hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide (PI), flow cytometry and agarose electrophoresis. RESULTS: The apoptotic cells induced by vincristine alone accounted for about 10% of all the cancer cells, while the percentage of apoptotic cells induced by a combination of vincristine with tetrandrine, neferine, or dauricine was found to be significantly higher than that by vincristine alone, and their reversal effects were positively correlated with the drug concentration and the exposure time. In addition, tetrandrine was shown to be the most potent in the reversal efficacy among the three compounds to be tested for apoptosis in vitro. CONCLUSION: Tetrandrine, neferine and dauricine showed obvious potenitiation of vincristine-induced apoptosis in the human mammary MCF-7 multidrug-resistant cells.

[A comparative study on anti-ulcer action of unprepared and calcined oyster shell].

On experimental gastric ulcer models induced by 0.6mol/L HCl, ethyl alcohol or ligation of the pylorus, the preventive effects of unprepared oyster shell, calcined oyster shell 1(900 degrees C, 1h), calcined oyster shell 2(350 degrees C, 8h) were compared in Wistar rats. Results showed that antagonistic effects of calcined oyster shell 1 to the drug pathogenesis of peptic ulcer and the incidence of peptic ulcer after ligation of the pylorus were markedly greater.

[Pharmacological studies of nin jion pei pa koa].

The results showed that King To Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa had significant cough relieving and sputum removing effects. It also had an evident effect on relieving asthma in vivo and in vitro. In four acute or sub-acute inflammatory models, the anti-inflammatory effect was marked.

[Effects of processing on special toxicity and pharmacodynamics in semen Armeniacae amarum].

The ethereal extract and decoction from raw Semen Armeniacae Amarum were found to induce EBV-EA activation in Raji cells cultured in vitro. Experiments show that both the extract and decoction have tumor-promoting activities, but the EBV-EA activation can be decreased by three kinds of processing-parching, scalding or parching after scalding, of which parching and parching after scalding are better. Moreover, parching after scalding is the best to enhance the relaxing of bowels, inactivate the amygdalase and increase the decoction rate of amygdalin.