Antibacterial, antidiarrheal, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of compound Shikuqin powder.

The MIC and MBC values of Shikuqin (SKQ) against 5 bacteria that readily cause diarrhea were measured by the broth micro dilution method. The castor oil-induced diarrhea method was used to evaluate the antidiarrheal activity. Intestinal transit and gastric emptying were also evaluated with normal and neostigmine-induced intestinal transit in rodents. In addition, the antidiarrheal activity of SKQ was assessed in vivo with isolated rabbit ileum. Xylene-induced ear edema was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activities in mice, while hot plate and writhing tests were performed to assess the analgesic effects. Senna decoction (0.3g/mL) was administered intragastrically to induce a rat model of diarrhea. Semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect AQP4 mRNA, and Western blot was performed to quantify the protein level of AQP4 in the colon. SKQ exhibits remarkable antidiarrheal, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in the gastrointestinal tract disorders, and can therefore be developed as a promising antidiarrheal agent.

Acute and subchronic toxicity and the evaluation of safety pharmacology of Chinese herbal compound preparation "Shikuqin".

"Shikuqin" (SKQ) powder consists of three Chinese herbs: Punica granatum L, Sophora flavescens Ait, and Fraxinus rhynchophylla Hance. SKQ has been used for the treatment of diarrhea. In order to provide a comprehensive understanding of toxicity, the acute and sub-chronic toxicity and safety pharmacology of SKQ were evaluated in the present study. The result of the acute toxicity revealed that the LD50 of the valve was 28,379mg/kg.b.w, which was more than 5,000 mg/kg b.w. The 30-day sub-chronic toxicity test results revealed that compared with the control group, the clinical signs, hematology parameters and body weight of rats in each group had no significant differences. The viscera coefficient and histopathological examination results revealed that the SKQ powder could cause kidney and liver damage. In the safety pharmacology test, SKQ did not exhibit any toxicity to the central nervous system, cardiovascular system and respiratory system. In conclusion, SKQ powder could be considered safe for veterinary use.

In Vivo Evaluation of Galla chinensis Solution in the Topical Treatment of Dermatophytosis.

AIM: Dermatophytosis is one of the main fungal diseases in humans and animals all over the world. Galla chinensis, a traditional medicine, has various pharmacological effects. The goal of this study was to evaluate the treatment effect of Galla chinensis solution (GCS) on dermatophytosis-infected dogs (Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes, resp.). METHODS: The treatment effects of GCS were evaluated by mycological cure rates and clinical score comprised of three indices, including inflammation, hair loss, and lesion scale. RESULTS: The results showed that, in the three models of dermatophytosis, GCS significantly (P < 0.05) improved skin lesions and fungal eradication. GCS (10% and 5%) had higher efficacy compared to the positive control (Tujingpi Tincture). The fungal eradication efficacy exceeds 85% after treatment with GCS (10%, 5%, and 2.5%) on day 14. CONCLUSION: The GCS has antidermatophytosis effect in dogs, which may be a candidate drug for the treatment of dermatophytosis.

Effect of Modified Pulsatilla Powder on Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli O101-Induced Diarrhea in Mice.

MPP can be effective in the treatment of E. coli O101-induced diarrhea in mice. MPP can improve the weight loss caused by diarrhea, increase spleen and thymus indices, and reduce the diarrhea index. MPP can reduce the number of WBC, regulate the level of cytokines, and regulate the intestinal microbial flora. These data suggest that MPP is a promising candidate for treatment of E. coli-induced diarrhea in humans and animals.