Antidepressant activity of aqueous extracts of Curcuma longa in mice.

Curcuma longa (turmeric) is a well-known indigenous herbal medicine. The aqueous extracts, when administered orally to the mice from 140 to 560 mg/kg for 14 days, were able to elicit dose-dependent relation of immobility reduction in the tail suspension test and the forced swimming test in mice. The effects of the extracts at the dose of 560 mg/kg were more potent than that of reference antidepressant fluoxetine. The extracts, at the dose of 140 mg/kg or above for 14 days, significantly inhibited the monoamine oxidize A (MAO) activity in mouse whole brain at a dose-dependent manner, however, oral administration of the extract only at a dose of 560 mg/kg produced observable MAO B inhibitory activity in animal brain. Fluoxetine showed only a tendency to inhibit MAO A and B activity in animal brain in the study. Neither the extracts of C. longa nor fluoxetine, at the doses tested, produced significant effects on locomotor activity. These results demonstrated that C. longa had specifically antidepressant effects in vivo. The activity of C. longa in antidepression may mediated in part through MAO A inhibition in mouse brain.

Apoptotic and antiapoptotic mechanisms in stroke.

Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death that occurs in neurons during development of the nervous system and may also be a prominent form of neuronal death in chronic neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Recent findings also implicate apoptosis in neuronal degeneration after ischemic brain injury in animal models of stroke. Activation of both apoptotic and antiapoptotic signaling cascades occurs in neurons in animal and cell culture models of stroke. Apoptotic cascades involve: increased levels of intracellular oxyradicals and calcium; induction of expression of proteins such as Par-4 (prostate apoptosis response-4), which act by promoting mitochondrial dysfunction and suppressing antiapoptotic mechanisms; mitochondrial membrane depolarization, calcium uptake, and release of factors (e.g., cytochrome c) that ultimately induce nuclear DNA condensation and fragmentation; activation of cysteine proteases of the caspase family; activation of transcription factors such as AP-1 that may induce expression of "killer genes." Antiapoptotic signaling pathways are activated by neurotrophic factors, certain cytokines, and increases in oxidative and metabolic stress. Such protective pathways include: activation of the transcription factors (e.g., nuclear factor-kappa B, NF-kappa B) that induce expression of stress proteins, antioxidant enzymes, and calcium-regulating proteins; phosphorylation-mediated modulation of ion channels and membrane transporters; cytoskeletal alterations that modulate calcium homeostasis; and modulation of proteins that stabilize mitochondrial function (e.g., Bcl-2). Intervention studies in experimental stroke models have identified a battery of approaches of potential benefit in reducing neuronal death in stroke patients, including administration of antioxidants, calcium-stabilizing agents, caspase inhibitors, and agents that activate NF-kappa B. Interestingly, recent studies suggest novel dietary approaches (e.g., food restriction and supplementation with antioxidants) that may reduce brain damage following stroke.

[32 cases of sudden deafness treated with sequential external counterpulsation in addition to combined traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine therapy].

The present study includes 32 cases of sudden deafness treated with Sequential External Counterpulsation in addition to combined TCM-WM therapy, 30 cases treated with combined TCM-WM, and 30 cases treated with WM alone. The clinical findings of these 3 groups were quite similar, hence they were comparable. The mean duration of treatment, percentage of effectiveness and percentage of recurrence within 3 years were 13 days, 75% and 16.6% respectively in the first group; 19 days, 56.6% and 29.4% in the second group; and 21 days, 53.2% and 37.5% in the third group. The first group showed shorter duration of treatment higher effective rate and lower recurrence rate; and all their differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The data revealed that, the treatment of sudden deafness with Sequential External Counterpulsation in addition to combined TCM-WM has great advantage over treatment with combined TCM-WM or WM alone.

[Studies of the spasm-relieving effect of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.--Aster tataricus L.F. pulvis mixture on the trachea in guinea pigs].

The experiment shows that high concentration of Aster tataricus plus Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. can inhibit the tracheal systoliea caused by histamine, but for tracheal systoliea caused by acetylcholine the inhibition is indistinct. The experiment also shows that Aster tataricus, glycyrrhiza uralensis and Tussilago far fara L. combined have coordinated inhibiting effect on the tracheal systoliea caused by histamine and acetylcholine.

Ultrasonic studies of the effect of artemisia decoction on the volume and dynamics of gallbladder.

This paper deals with the ultrasonic studies of the effect of artemisia decoction (AD) on the volume and motion of gallbladder in 33 cases. Ultrasonic examination shows that AD intravenous infusion has remarkable effects on the contractility of gallbladder. There are 4 patterns of phasic changes in the motion of gallbladder and an increase in frequency of its contraction and relaxation. AD has also certain contraction effects on the gallbladders which can not contract after a fatty meal. The above findings indicate that AD is a good choleretic and has a definite regulating effect on the motility of the gallbladder. The clinical use of AD is conducive to bile flow, stone expelling, inhibiting the deposition of bile solids and reducing the possibility of stone formation.