Comparative Review of Effects of Pien Tze Huang and AnGong NiuHuang Pill and their Potential on Treatment of Central Nervous System Diseases.

The ancient composite formulae Angong Niuhuang pill and Pien Tze Huang, which were used a few hundred years ago to treat febrile disease and inflammation, respectively, are found to exert effects benefiting other neurological diseases and conditions. This short review introduces the main constituents of the two formulae, looking into both the cumulative synergetic and possible individual effects of each herb or animal apcoien. In essence, the main effects of Angong Niuhuang pill include anti-inflammation, antioxidation, anti-cell death, anticonvulsion, antiedema, antipyretic, antithrombotic, antimicrobial (bacteria, viruses, fungi), neuroprotective effects, and cardiovascular protection. The main effects of Pien Tze Huang include anti-inflammation, antioxidation, anti-cell death, antithrombotic, antimicrobial, neuroprotective effects, and cardiovascular protection. Comparing both composites, similarities in the effects and part of the components are found, showing some pharmacological evidence. This review casts light on research on the effects of neuroprotective and cardiovascular protective mechanisms as well as treatment mechanisms for cerebral accidents from the integrative medicine perspective.

A Review of Three Commonly Used Herbs Which Enhance Memory and New Evidences Which Show Their Combination Could Improve Memory in Young Animals.

BACKGROUND: This review looks into the herbs Gingko biloba, Polygala tenuifolia, and Lycii fructus for their widely studied neuroprotective properties. In particular, we investigated memory enhancing effect of these herbs, and their potential synergetic effect on memory with new data. Sixmonth treated mice demonstrated shorter escape latency in water maze and shorter arrival time in a consolidated memory task. Immunochemistry showed evident increase in superoxide dismutase activities in the prefrontal cortex, implying protection against free radicals during aging. Discrete increase of catecholaminergic neurons was found in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, corpus striatum, and midbrain, suggesting better memory and better control on mood and behavior. Necrotic cells in the brain decreased as indicated by immunocytochemistry of lactic dehydrogenase. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling showed no apoptotic cells in most brain areas in high dose group. Biochemistry revealed increase of dopaminergic cells in treatment groups at prefrontal cortex, and in the hippocampus and cerebellum of the high dose group. Most 6-month groups showed increase of serotonin in all three areas. For the high dose group, GABA increased in the hippocampus but not prefrontal cortex, which would help induce sleep at night. Protein kinase C increased in most groups at prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum, signifying increase of possible signal transduction pathways for memory or other nervous activations. CONCLUSION: Our results intimate that the interaction of the three herbs exerts beneficial effects on memory, associated cognitive function, and necrosis. Future investigations based on the present data shall aid development of clinically relevant medication.