Displaying 1 - 3 of 3
Lycium ruthenicum Murr. is commonly used in traditional Tibetan medicine, and the fruits of Lycium ruthenicum Murr. contain an immunologically active pectin which improves immune function against chronic diseases. The present study was performed to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of Lycium ruthenicum Murr. polysaccharide 3 (LRGP3) in cyclophosphamide (Cy)-induced immunosuppressed mice. Mice were injected intraperitoneally once daily with low-dose (25 mg/kg), intermediate-dose (50 mg/kg), high-dose (100 mg/kg) of LRGP3 for 10 consecutive days, respectively. Compared with Cy group, LRGP3 accelerated recovery of spleen and thymus indices, enhanced T cell and B cell proliferation responses, as well as peritoneal macrophage phagocytosis. In addition, LRGP3 treatment restored the levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the serum of Cy-treated mice. These results indicate that LRGP3 plays an important role in the protection against immunosuppression in Cy-treated mice and could be a potential immunomodulatory agent.
Background. Despite increasing attention toward forest therapy as an alternative medicine, very little evidence continues to be available on its therapeutic effects. Therefore, this study was focused on elucidating the health benefits of forest walking on cardiovascular reactivity. Methods. Within-group comparisons were used to examine the cardiovascular responses to walking in forest and urban environments. Forty-eight young adult males participated in the two-day field research. Changes in heart rate variability, heart rate, and blood pressure were measured to understand cardiovascular reactivity. Four different questionnaires were used to investigate the changes in psychological states after walking activities. Results. Forest walking significantly increased the values of ln(HF) and significantly decreased the values of ln(LF/HF) compared with the urban walking. Heart rate during forest walking was significantly lower than that in the control. Questionnaire results showed that negative mood states and anxiety levels decreased significantly by forest walking compared with urban walking. Conclusion. Walking in the forest environment may promote cardiovascular relaxation by facilitating the parasympathetic nervous system and by suppressing the sympathetic nervous system. In addition, forest therapy may be effective for reducing negative psychological symptoms.
Oxytropis falcata is a perennial acaulescent herb of Oxytropis leguminosae. It is an impointan traditional tibetan medicinal material of high pharmaceutical value, which grows widely in Tibet. In recent years, there has been an extensive study of this plant. This article is to summarize the knowledge of Oxytropis flacanta; its chemical composition, pharmacological and clinical application, and recommendation for furthur research.