[Progress in the clinical application of centipede in andrology].

Centipede is an important traditional Chinese medicine with a long history of clinical application and a wide range of effects, and its use in the field of andrology is also expanding.In this study, the drug experience and clinical research progress of centipede in erectile dysfunction, chronic prostatitis, prostate cancer, varicocele, chronic epididymitis, epididymal nodules, functional non-ejaculation, scrotal eczema and other diseases were reviewed.

Phenylethanoid glycosides from the Schnabelia nepetifolia (Benth.) P.D.Cantino promote the proliferation of osteoblasts.

An investigation of the n-BuOH fraction of Schnabelia nepetifolia (Benth.) P.D.Cantino led to the isolation and identification of 12 undescribed phenylethanoid glycosides (nepetifosides A-L) and one undescribed phenylmethanoid glycoside (nepetifoside M), together with 23 known compounds. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic analyses including two-dimensional nuclear-magnetic-resonance (2D-NMR) spectroscopy and chemical-hydrolysis methods. Nepetifoside F exhibited strong activity that significantly increased osteoblast proliferation at three concentrations of 0.1, 1, and 10 µM. Moreover, nepetifoside C and nepetifoside D exhibited moderate activities in promoting the proliferation of osteoblasts at medium and high concentrations of 1 µM and 10 µM, respectively.

[Protection of Grateloupia filicina polysaccharide against hepatotoxicity induced by Dioscorea bulbifera L].

The present study was designed to observe the protection of Grateloupia filicina polysaccharide (GFP) against hepatotoxicity induced by Dioscorea bulbifera L in mice and its underlying mechanism. GFP was intragastrically (ig) given to mice at various doses. After 6 days, the mice were treated with ethyl acetate extract of Dioscorea bulbifera L (EF, ig). Serum levels of alanine/aspartate aminotransferase (ALT/AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB) were measured, and liver histological evaluation was conducted. Furthermore, reductions of liver glutathione (GSH) amount and glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL) activity were tested. The expressions of GCL-c, GCL-m, and HO-1 (heme oxygenase-1) in liver were observed by Western-blot. The results showed that GFP (600 mg x kg(-1)) decreased EF-induced the increase of serum ALT, AST and TB, and GFP (400, 600 mg x kg(-1)) inhibited EF-induced the increase of serum ALP. Liver histological evaluation showed that the liver injury induced by EF was relieved after treated with GFP. GFP further increased liver GSH amount and reversed EF-induced the decrease of GCL activity. The Western-blot result showed that GFP augmented EF-induced the increase of HO-1, and reversed EF-induced the decrease of GCL-c. In conclusion, GFP can act against the oxidative stress liver injury induced by Dioscorea bulbifera L in mice.

Antiproliferative effects of essential oil of a compound Chinese herbal medicine Weiqi Decoction on AGS cells.

OBJECTIVE: The main ingredients and the inhibitory effects of essential oil of a compound Chinese herbal medicine Weiqi Decoction (WQD) on AGS cell proliferation were to be investigated. METHODS: Chemical compounds of WQD essential oil were detected by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis. Cell viability was measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium method. Cell cycle distribution was detected by flow cytometry. Apoptosis and necrosis of AGS cells were determined by Hoechst 33342/propidium iodine staining. RESULTS: Chemical analysis showed that the main ingredients of WQD essential oil were bornylene and 3-n-butylphthalide. Ligustilide, which is the effective compound of Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), was not detected in WQD essential oil. The essential oil inhibited cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and blocked cell cycle progression at G(2)/M stage. At the concentrations that resulted in significant inhibition of cell proliferation and cell cycle arrest, essential oil induced both apoptosis and necrosis. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that WQD essential oil contains some effective ingredients for treating chronic atrophic gastritis and functional dyspepsia, and also has an antiproliferative effect on AGS cells through cell cycle arrest and apoptosis promotion in vitro. Therefore, essential oil should be retained as much as possible during stewing this decoction.

[Structural characterization of a glucan isolated from Gastrodia elata].

OBJECTIVE: To study a glucan (GB II) isolated from Gastrodia elata. METHODS: The glucan was obtained with water extraction, alcohol precipitate, DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow column and Sepharose CL-6B column chromatography; sugar composition analysis, IR and NMR were used to determine the structural feature. RESULTS: The molecular weight of the glucan was 4 300 dalton estimated by HPGPC; it contained 27 glucose residues, which mainly composed of alpha-D-(1-->4)-glucose with little glucuronic acid and branch O-6 points. CONCLUSION: The glucan was a new glucan for the first report from Gastrodia elata.

Sulfated beta-glucan derived from oat bran with potent anti-HIV activity.

China is a major producer of oats; the annual harvested area of 350,000 ha yields approximately 465,000 tons, giving an average yield of 1.33 tons/ha. The bran is not used for animal feed as it is of poor digestibility and low nutritive content and is considered a waste byproduct. Therefore, it is advantageous to produce a value-added product from the bran. We extracted the native polysaccharide, a linear (1-3)-, (1-4)-linked beta-glucan (OBG) from the oat bran and synthesized a sulfated derivative OBGS containing 36.5% sulfate. OBGS had potent activity against a primary isolate of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells at a concentration (EC(50)=5.98 x 10(-4) microM) approximately 15,000 times below its cytotoxic concentration. OBGS was also active postinfection (EC(50)=5.3 x 10(-4) microM) and protected pretreated peripheral mononuclear cells (EC(50)=5.2 x 10(-2) microM) washed free of the compounds prior to infection. Thus, OBGS has potential as a vaginal microbicide and is the first such report for oat bran derived sulfated beta-glucan.

Structural characterization of a glucan isolated from Hedyotis diffusa Willd.

OBJECTIVE: To isolate a homogeneous polysaccharide RP from RDP (a crude polysaccharide from Dioscorea opposita Thunb.), and study its preliminary com-position and structure. METHODS: RP was obtained with water extraction, alcohol sedimentation, CTAB deprotein, cellulose column and SephadexG-100 column. The purities of RP were identified by SephadexG-200. PC analysis on its acidic hydrolysates was used to determine the sugar components. Sephadex chromatography was used to mensurate its molecular weight. IR was used to analysis RP. RESULTS: RP was homogeneous. IR indicated that RP had P configurations. The compositon was identified by paper chromatography as glucose, D-mannose, D-galactose. CONCLUSION: The research could provide a theoretical foundation for further development and utilization.

[Advances in research of chemical constituents and pharmacological activites of Ephedra].

The collected information is an attempt to cover the more recent developments in the phytochemistry and pharmacology of this genus. During the past years, alkaloids, flavonoids, volatile oils, organic acids, polysaccharides, tannins and phenolic constituents have been isolated from Ephedra. Pharmacological studies are described according to hypoglycemic effects, anticoagulated blood properties, depressurization, immunosuppressive activity, antioxidation and antivirus activity and so on. The information summarized here is intended to provid a rational foundation for the futher development and utilization of Ephedra which is rich in China.