OBJECTIVE: To provide a reference for the standardization of Tibetan medicine.METHOD: Investigating the hospital preparations , Tibetan formulated products, and the literature recorded preparations in the Tibetan, Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces. Moreover, the varieties, original bases and standard conditions of these preparations were analyzed. According to Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Tibetan medicine part of ministerial standard, Tibetan medicine standards and related monographs and literatures of Tibetan medicine.
RESULT: About 502 various of herbs were used in 711 hospital preparations from 40 medical institutions, Tibetan formulated products from Tibetan pharmaceutical factories, and 439 literature recorded preparations. About 154 herbs were used in more than 10 preparations, while most of them were Tibetan endemic species. About 416 medicinal varieties have the original documented basis, including 287 botanicals, 78 animal medicines, 51 mineral medicines, involving a total of 94 families, 261 genus and 643 species of botanical origin (including species of the next grade), 35 families, 52 genera and 61 species of the animal origin (including species of the next grade). About 122 varieties of herbs were cross-used in the traditional Chinese medicine and Tibetan medicine, about 80% of Tibetan medicinal varieties are produced in the Tibetan Areas of Tibet Plateau. About 293 medicinal varieties were contained in the above standards. Most of the herb's standards only contains character, indentification, and examination, except for 8 varieties which were recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2010) as Tibetan medicine.
CONCLUSION: This study of quality standard of Tibetan medicine should have an emphasis on the general varieties, especially the study on the arrangement research and the efficacious material basis of the varieties and the original, as well as term standardization of the National Medicine.
Siwei Jianghuang Decoction Powder (SWJH) documented originally in the Four Medical Tantras-Blue Glaze exhibited beneficial effects on diabetic nephropathy (DN) via combined synergistically action of multiple formula components including Curcumae longae Rhizoma, Berberidis dictyophyllae Cortex, Phyllanthi Fructus and Tribuli Fructus. This study investigated the effects of SWJH on DN in db/db mice and possible underlying mechanisms. The ten weeks old db/db mice treated with SWJH by intra-gastric administration once a day for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks, body weight, water and food intake of mice were recorded. The level of fasting blood glucose (FBG) was measured. Serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), urine microalbumin (UMAlb), serum uric acid (UA) and urinary albumin excretion (UAE) were detected. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to test serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Real-time PCR and Western blot analysis were used to test mRNA and protein expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), VEGF and TGF-β1 in kidney tissue. SWJH treatment significantly reduced the levels of FBG, Scr, BUN, UMAlb, UA and UAE and retarded renal fibrosis. SWJH treatment further significantly reduced serum TGF-β1 level and downregulated the expression of HIF-1α, VEGF and TGF-β1 at both mRNA and protein levels. Principal component analysis and partial least squares regression and hierarchical cluster analysis demonstrated that SWJH treatment significantly ameliorated renal damage in DN mice. These consequences suggested that SWJH formulations were effective in the treatment of DN through regulating the HIF-1α, VEGF and TGF-β1 overexpression.
Jikan Mingmu Drops (JMD), a traditional Tibetan medicine containing six herbs, has been used to treat dry eye syndrome (DES) in individuals with diabetes mellitus. However, the activity of JMD ameliorates DES with diabetes mellitus has not been previously examined. The aim of the study is to investigate the molecular mechanism of JMD on db/db mice. The main chemical constituents of JMD were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. DES was then induced in db/db mice by applying 0.2% benzalkonium chloride to the ocular surface for 7 days. Eye drops containing JMD (0.25, 0.5, or 1 g/mL) or vehicle subsequently were administered three times daily for another 7 days, and the therapeutic effects were evaluated by phenol red thread tear and sodium fluorescein tests. Conjunctival specimens were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin staining and periodic acid-Schiff staining to examine pathological changes and number of goblet cells. ELISA was performed to assess the levels of various inflammatory cytokines. JMD contains hydroxysafflor yellow A, magnoflorine, jatrorrhizine hydrochloride, palmatine hydrochloride, berberine hydrochloride, gallic acid, ellagic acid, tauroursodeoxycholic acid, camphor, isoborneol, borneol, trans-cinnamic acid, and muscone. JMD treatment significantly increased the tear volume, decreased the corneal fluorescein staining score, restored the morphology and structure of conjunctival epithelial cells, and markedly downregulated the levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17α, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and vascular endothelial growth factor in the conjunctiva. Further data showed that these protective effects were accompanied by inhibition of inflammation in a dose-dependent manner. Amelioration of DES in db/db mice with diabetes mellitus by treatment with Tibetan medicine formula JMD maybe related to its anti-inflammatory effects.
Thirteen kinds of anti-anoxic Tibetan traditional medicine including Hongjingtianjiaonang, Anshensan, Wuweishiliusan, Zhangsongbaweichenxiangsan, Shiliuweidujuansan, Ershiwuweiyuganziwan, Ershiwuweizhuhuangjiaonang, Shiwuweilongdanwan, Mijueqingliangsan, Qishiweizhenzhuwan, Bawei-chenxiangsan, Liuweidingxiangsan and Qiweiputansan were digested with HNO3-HClO4 mixed acid. Fourteen trace elements and macro elements in the 13 kinds of anti-anoxic Tibetan traditional medicine, such as silver, aluminium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, ferrum, hydrargyrum, magnesium, manganese, nickel, lead, stannum and zinc were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS). The results showed that there were comparatively rich trace elements and macro elements in kinds of anti-anoxic Tibetan traditional Medicine. The 13 Anti-anoxic Tibetan traditional medicine contains higher amount of ferrum, magnesium, copper, chromium, zinc and manganese than other elements. This provided useful data for discussing the relationship between trace elements and macro elements and anti-anoxic activities in Tibetan traditional medicine.
<br>Display Omitted<br> Two new phenolic acids (<b>1</b>⿿<b>2</b>) were isolated from the aerial parts of <b>Asterothamnus centrali-asiaticus</b>. Five knownphenolic acids (<b>3</b>⿿<b>7</b>) were also obtained from the title plant. <b>1</b>⿿<b>7</b> were evaluated for their anti-oxidant activity. <b>1</b>⿿<b>7</b> showed anti-oxidant activity with IC50 values ranging from 7.65 to 22.44 μg/mL.<br>Two new phenolic acids 2-hydroxy-5-[(6⿲-<b>O</b>-(<b>E</b>)-caffeoyl)-β-d-glucopyranosyl]-oxybenzoic acid (<b>1</b>) and 2-hydroxy-5-[(3⿲-<b>O</b>-(<b>E</b>)-caffeoyl)-β-d-glucopyranosyl]-oxybenzoic acid (<b>2</b>) were isolated from the aerial parts of <b>Asterothamnus centrali-asiaticus</b>, together with five known ones (<b>3</b>-<b>7</b>). Their structures were elucidated by extensive 1D and 2D NMR studies and HRESIMS investigations. The anti-oxidant activity of the isolates was evaluated through ABTS radical cation decolorization assay. The results showed that all of them exhibited anti-oxidant activity, and compound <b>7</b> was the most active compound with an IC50 value of 7.65 μg/mL.
The young leaves and shoots of Sibiraea laevigata, known as "Liucha", are used as tea by Tibetans to improve digestion after meals. Long-term consumption of "Liucha" will cause weight loss. In present work, we reported on the isolation and NMR and chemical analysis-based elucidation of seven new sorbitol O-caffeic acid ester derivatives named sorbitol esters A-G (1-7) and eighteen known phenolic compounds from S. laevigata. All of the isolates were evaluated for their antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Among them sorbitol ester A (1), sorbitol ester D (4), sorbitol ester F (6), sorbitol ester G (7), isoferulic acid (15), methyl caffeate (18), trans-p-hydroxycinnamic acid (19), and kaempferol 3-O-β-d-(6″-E-p-coumaroyl)-glucopyranoside (25) showed more potent α-glucosidase inhibitory activity than the clinical drug acarbose.
UNLABELLED: Context The root of Potentilla anserina L. (Rosaceae) is an herbal medicine that has been used as an antitussive and expectorant drug for thousands of years in Chinese folk medicine. OBJECTIVE: This study estimated the antitussive and expectorant effects of P. anserina extract to validate its traditional use. Materials and methods The antitussive and expectorant activities of the ethanol extract, aqueous extract, and polysaccharides from P. anserina were evaluated using classical animal models. Results The results showed that in three antitussive tests, the aqueous extract and polysaccharides at high and low doses significantly inhibited the frequency of cough induced by ammonia and sulfur dioxide in mice and by citric acid in guinea pigs, and increased the latent period of cough in guinea pigs. Similarly, the aqueous extract and polysaccharides also showed significant expectorant activity compared with the control in phenol red secretion experiments. Polysaccharides at dose of 600 mg/kg enhanced tracheal phenol red output by 121.1%, the ammonium chloride (positive control) at dose of 1000 mg/kg by 117.4%. However, the ethanol extract at a high dose (600 mg/kg) has antitussive activity only in the sulfur dioxide induced coughing test. Moreover, the polysaccharides at the same dose showed better bioactivity than the aqueous extract in all tests. Discussion and conclusion The results of the present study provide evidence that P. anserina can be used as an antitussive and expectorant herbal medicine and that polysaccharides may be the main active ingredients of P. anserina responsible for its bioactivities.
In plants with infrequent pollinator services, the benefits of reproductive assurance could be eroded by severe ovule discounting and inbreeding depression (ID). However, it remains unclear how selfing evolves under complete pollinator failure and strong ID. We examined the mating system and ID under netting and robbing conditions in <i>Comastoma pulmonarium</i> (Turcz.) Toyok. (Gentianaceae), an alpine annual experiencing a high ratio of nectar robbery on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. <i>Comastoma pulmonarium</i> produced seeds via selfing at the study site. No pollinator was observed and thus the nectar was consumed exclusively by robbers. Inbreeding depression occurred in the life stages of seed mass and germination, and the cumulative ID was much higher than 0.5 under netting and robbing conditions. Overall, in comparison with netting, the magnitude of ID under robbing conditions tended to decrease. Our results suggested that selfing could assure reproduction for plants under complete pollinator failure and strong ID, supporting the “better than nothing” role of selfing and providing one of the few cases of the evolution of selfing under strong ID.
Addicted drugs like nicotine affect autonomic nervous system that results in arrhythmia and other cardiovascular diseases. Notable effects of Zen meditation on autonomic nervous system have been reported during the past decade. Holistic Detox Association (HDA) in Taiwan offered Zen-meditation program to drug addicts as the core scheme among a variety of drug addiction treatments. This paper reports the results of quantifying the cardiorespiratory interactions and autonomic nervous system function to evaluate the on-site effect of Zen meditation on drug rehab. Methods and schemes for quantifying time-domain heart rate variability were employed to electrocardiograph and respiratory signals. Peak-valley method was developed to quantify the respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) behavior. Poincaré Plot Analysis was adopted to evaluate the cardiorespiratory functioning. Among 18 voluntary drug addicts during the 10-minute Zen meditation session, about two-third subjects have significant improvement in autonomic nervous system function characterized by heart rate variability (SDNN, RMSSD and pNN50). Group average of RSA increases from 33.43 ms(Rest) to 69.14 ms(AR Zen meditation). Poincaré-plot analysis reveals the improvement of SD1, SD2 and SD2/SD1 by respectively 14.7%, 19.8% and 8.8%. The group averages of all the parameters exhibit significantly positive changes in the 10-minute session of abdominal-respiration Zen meditation. Even the subject with heart transplant showed the improvement of all the quantitative indicators during the AR Zen meditation.
To study the chemical constituents of the aerial parts of <ce:italic>Codonopsis nervosa</ce:italic> (Chipp.) Nannf. (Campanulaceae), a commonly used Tibetan herb. The constituents were isolated by D-101 porous polymer resin, silica gel, ODS and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. 15 compounds were isolated and identified as chrysoeriol (<ce:bold>1</ce:bold>), tricin (<ce:bold>2</ce:bold>), apigenin (<ce:bold>3</ce:bold>), succinic acid <ce:bold>(4)</ce:bold>,<ce:italic>β</ce:italic>-sitosterol-3<ce:italic>-O-β</ce:italic>-D-glucopyranoside (<ce:bold>5</ce:bold>), luteolin (<ce:bold>6</ce:bold>), luteolin-7<ce:italic>-O-β-</ce:italic>D-glucopyranoside (<ce:bold>7</ce:bold>), ethylsyringin (<ce:bold>8</ce:bold>), apigenin-7<ce:italic>-O-β</ce:italic>-D-glucopyranoside (<ce:bold>9</ce:bold>), luteolin-7<ce:italic>-O-β-</ce:italic>D-glucopyranosyl<ce:italic>-</ce:italic>(1→6)-[6′′′-<ce:italic>O</ce:italic>-caffeoyl]-<ce:italic>β</ce:italic>-D-glucopyranoside (<ce:bold>10</ce:bold>), luteolin<ce:italic>-</ce:italic>7<ce:italic>-O-β-</ce:italic>D-gentiobioside (<ce:bold>11</ce:bold>), syringin (<ce:bold>12</ce:bold>), 3<ce:italic>-O-</ce:italic>caffeoylquinic acid (<ce:bold>13</ce:bold>), 5<ce:italic>-O-</ce:italic>caffeoylquinic acid <ce:bold>(14)</ce:bold>, and 4-<ce:italic>O</ce:italic>-(<ce:italic>β-</ce:italic>D-glucopyranosyl)-benzoic acid <ce:bold>(15)</ce:bold>, respectively. Compounds <ce:bold>1-5, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15</ce:bold> were reported from <ce:italic>C. nervosa</ce:italic> for the first time.
The first phytochemical investigation on the roots of <b>Ligularia purdomii</b> led to the isolation and identification of 18 compounds, including two eremophilane sesquiterpenoids (<b>1</b> and <b>2</b>), three benzofuran derivatives (<b>3</b>-<b>5</b>), a triterpenoid (<b>6</b>), two steroids (<b>7</b> and <b>8</b>), nine phenolic components (<b>9</b>-<b>17</b>), and a monofatty glyceride (<b>18</b>). The structural elucidation of the isolated compounds was performed by spectroscopic data and comparison with the literature. Compounds (−)-syringaresinol (<b>11</b>), scopoletin (<b>13</b>), 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy-benzaldehyde (<b>14</b>), and glycerol monolinoleate (<b>18</b>) have not been recorded in <b>Ligularia</b> genus previously. The chemotaxonomic significance of these isolated compounds has been summarized.<br>• First phytochemical investigation on <b>L. purdomii.</b> • 18 compounds were identified from the acetone extract of <b>L. purdomii.</b> • Four compounds were reported from the genus <b>Ligularia</b> for the first time. • The results had important significance for chemotaxonomy of <b>L. purdomii.</b>
The chemical investigation of ethanolic extract from Swertia mussotii Franch. has resulted in the isolation of 11 compounds which were identified as Orcinol-β-D-glucoside (1), Shamimin (2), Mangiferin (3), Decussatin (4), Bellidifolin (5), Desmethylbellidifolin (6), Protocatechuic acid (7), 1,7-Dihydroxy-3,8-dimethoxyxanthone (8), 1,8-Dihydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyxanthone (9), 1-Hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyxanthone (10), Telephioidin (11). The chemical structures of these compounds were identified by a combination of spectroscopic analysis and a comparison with those reported in literature. Among them, compounds 1, 2, 7 and 11 were isolated from the genus Swertia for the first time. Moreover, the chemotaxonomic significance of these compounds was summarised. The chemotaxonomic study suggests that there is a close chemotaxonomic relationship between S. mussotii and other species of Swertia, such as S. punicea, S. macrosperma, S. japonica, S. phragmitiphylla, S. chirayita, S. cordata and S. binchuanensis, with presence of compounds 3~6, 8~10. The xanthones and their glycosides may sever as important chemotaxonomic markers of Swertia genus.
The chemical constituents of the traditional Tibetan medicine of Saussurea medusa Maxim. (Compositae) were investigated and a new flavonoid glucoside, together with 14 known compounds, was isolated. The structure of the new compound was established as 6''-O-crotonoylhomoplantaginin by using one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry analyses.
The flower buds of five <i>Lonicera</i> species, <i>Lonicera japonica</i> Thunb., <i>L. macranthoides</i> Hand.-Mazz., <i>L. hypoglauca</i> Miq., <i>L. confusa</i> DC. and <i>L. fulvotomentosa</i> Hsu et S.C. Cheng are confusable and usually utilized under the same name “Jinyinhua” in different areas for morphological similarity. Studies found that these five species possess extreme differences in chemical compounds, correspondingly showing different pharmacological activities and clinical applications. To ensure efficacy and safety of these herbal medicines and prevent unknown adverse effect, in this work, a simple, rapid and effective method combining normal light and fluorescence microscopy was developed for authentication. Surface slides and transverse sections of these buds were investigated to reveal their differences. As a routine technique, normal light microscopy which gives detailed microscopic features such as glandular hairs and nonglandular hairs, can easily distinguish four species except <i>L. confusa</i>. Fluorescence technique, which could present different distribution of fluorescence materials, is further employed to identify three species including <i>L. confusa</i> successfully. It is the first report to identify these five <i>Lonicera</i> species by combining normal light and fluorescence microscopy. This work indicated combining normal light and fluorescence microscopy could be a powerful method in authentication of confused species. Microsc. Res. Tech.74:133-141, 2011. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
This study is aimed to establish a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for simultaneous determination of skimmin, scopolin and umbelliferone in Saussurea hieracioides. Samples were analyzed on a Wondasil C18-WR column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) with methanol (A) and water containing 0.1% phosphate (B) as mobile phases for gradient elution at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). The detection wavelength and column temperature were set at 325 nm and 35 degrees C, respectively, and the sample size was 10 microL. The results showed that skimmin, scopolin and umbelliferone were simultaneously achieved within 40 min under the above conditions. A good linearity was observed in the range of 0.18-5.6 microg (r = 1.000 0), 0.060-1.8 microg (r = 0.999 9), 0.032-0.97 microg (r = 0.999 8) for skimmin, scopolin and umbelliferone, respectively, with the average recoveries of 99.16% (RSD = 0.41%), 100.3% (RSD = 0.79%), 102.2% (RSD = 0.87%). The method is simple, accurate and reproducible and can be used for the quality control of S. hieracioides.
Total ash clearance rates and saponins' loss rates of <i>Panax notoginseng</i> rhizome, root tuber, and rootlet all increased with a prolonged washing time and the rising of water temperature. Under the same conditions, the total ash clearance rates of fresh <i>P. notoginseng</i> were significantly higher than those dried. Meanwhile, the saponins' loss rates were opposite. The highest daily intake of bioavailability heavy metals was rootlet. However, all of that was significantly lower than the recommended daily intake, and both the target hazard quotients and hazard index values were lower than 1. Conclusion, it is effective to decrease washing time and water temperature in order to reduce the loss of saponins of <i>P. notoginseng</i> on the premise that ash content of Notoginseng conforms to standard of Chinese Pharmacopeias. Safety risk assessments of heavy metals based on bioavailability can further reduce the health risk of the heavy metal exposure of Notoginseng.<br>Practical applications: Notoginseng possesses the functions of hemostatic and promoting blood circulation. Clay on the surface of Notoginseng contains high content of heavy metal and induces the exceeding of standard. Washing is the most effective way to clean heavy metal attached on Notoginseng. However, research about the washing technology of <i>Panax notoginseng</i> is still blank. Heavy metals in Notoginseng that are taken orally are much higher than the amount actually absorbed by humans. In such a condition, the risk of heavy metals in Notoginseng will be overestimated, which may bring unnecessary loss to the development of Notoginseng industry. Therefore, this experiment researches the remaining of heavy metal under different washing water temperature and washing time. Also, we evaluate the bioavailability and risk of heavy metals in Notoginseng that are washed in an optimum condition. In this way, we provide technological parameters for the washing operation in processing <i>P. notoginseng</i> and referential data to set the quantity standard of heavy metal in Notoginseng.
A successful clinical trial is dependent on recruitment. Between December 2003 and February 2006, our team successfully enrolled 289 participants in a large, single-center, randomized placebo-controlled trial (RCT) studying the impact of the patient-doctor relationship and acupuncture on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients. This paper reports on the effectiveness of standard recruitment methods such as physician referral, newspaper advertisements, fliers, audio and video media (radio and television commercials) as well as relatively new methods not previously extensively reported on such as internet ads, ads in mass-transit vehicles and movie theater previews. We also report the fraction of cost each method consumed and fraction of recruitment each method generated. Our cost per call from potential participants varied from $3–$103 and cost per enrollment participant varied from $12–$584. Using a novel metric, the efficacy index, we found that physician referrals and flyers were the most effective recruitment method in our trial. Despite some methods being more efficient than others, all methods contributed to the successful recruitment. The iterative use of the efficacy index during a recruitment campaign may be helpful to calibrate and focus on the most effective recruitment methods.
A successful clinical trial is dependent on recruitment. Between December 2003 and February 2006, our team successfully enrolled 289 participants in a large, single-center, randomized placebo-controlled trial (RCT) studying the impact of the patient-doctor relationship and acupuncture on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients. This paper reports on the effectiveness of standard recruitment methods such as physician referral, newspaper advertisements, fliers, audio and video media (radio and television commercials) as well as relatively new methods not previously extensively reported on such as internet ads, ads in mass-transit vehicles and movie theater previews. We also report the fraction of cost each method consumed and fraction of recruitment each method generated. Our cost per call from potential participants varied from $3–$103 and cost per enrollment participant varied from $12–$584. Using a novel metric, the efficacy index, we found that physician referrals and flyers were the most effective recruitment method in our trial. Despite some methods being more efficient than others, all methods contributed to the successful recruitment. The iterative use of the efficacy index during a recruitment campaign may be helpful to calibrate and focus on the most effective recruitment methods.
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Objective: Prehypertension is a new category designated by the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure ( JNC7) in 2003. Managing prehypertension with nonpharmacological intervention is possibly beneficial to the prevention of hypertension. In this study, we observed the effect of slow abdominal breathing combined with electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback training on blood pressure (BP) in prehypertensives and assessed the changes of heart rate variability (HRV) in order to find an optional intervention to prevent hypertension and acquire some experimental data to clarify the underlying neural mechanism.Methods: Twenty-two (22) postmenopausal women with prehypertension were randomly assigned to either the experiment group or the control group. The experiment group performed 10 sessions of slow abdominal breathing (six cycles/min) combined with frontal electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback training and daily home practice, while the control group only performed slow abdominal breathing and daily home practice. BP and HRV (including R–R interval and standard deviation of the normal–normal intervals [SDNN]) were measured.
Results: Participants with prehypertension could lower their systolic blood pressure (SBP) 8.4 mm Hg ( p < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 3.9 mm Hg ( p < 0.05) using slow abdominal breathing combined with EMG biofeedback. The slow abdominal breathing also significantly decreased the SBP 4.3 mm Hg ( p < 0.05), while it had no effect on the DBP ( p > 0.05). Repeated-measures analyses showed that the biofeedback group þ abdominal respiratory group (ABþBF) training was more effective in lowering the BP than the slow breathing ( p < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the R–R interval increased significantly during the training in the ABþBF group ( p < 0.05). The SDNN increased remarkably in both groups during the training ( p < 0.05).
Conclusions: Slow abdominal breathing combined with EMG biofeedback is an effective intervention to manage prehypertension. The possible mechanism is that slow abdominal breathing combined with EMG biofeedback could reduce sympathetic activity and meanwhile could enhance vagal activity.
To study the effect of Tibetan medicine Zuotai on the activity, protein and mRNA expression of CYP1A2 and NAT2, three different doses (1.2, 3.8 and 12 mg x kg(-1)) of Zuotai were administrated orally to rats once a day or once daily for twelve days, separately. Rats were administrated orally caffeine (CF) on the second day after Zuotai administration, and the urine concentration of CF metabolite 5-acetylamino-6-formylamino-3-methyl-uracil (AFMU), 1-methyluric acid (1U), 1-methylxanthine (1X), 1, 7-dimethylxanthine (17U) at 5 h after study drug administration was determined by RP-HPLC. The activity of CYP1A2 and NAT2 was evaluated by the ratio of metabolites (AFMU+1X+1U)/17U and the ratio of AFMU/(AFMU+1X+1U), respectively. The protein and mRNA expression of CYP1A2 and NAT2 were determined by ELISA and RT-PCR method, respectively. After single administration of Zuotai 3.8 mg x kg(-1) and repeated administration of Zuotai 3.8 and 12 mg x kg(-1), the activity of CYP1A2 and NAT2 decreased significantly compared with control group and there was no significant difference between other dose group and control group. The protein expression of CYP1A2 was significant lower than that in control group after repeated administration of Zuotai 12 mg x kg(-1), and the mRNA expression of CYP1A2 decreased significantly compared with that of control group after single administration of Zuotai 3.8 mg x kg(-1) and repeated admistration of Zuotai 12 mg x kg(-1), separately. The protein expression of NAT2 decreased significantly compared with that of control group after single and repeated administration of Zuotai 3.8 mg x kg(-1), respectively, and the mRNA expression of CYP1A2 decreased significantly compared with control group after single administration of Zuotai 3.8 mg x kg(-1). This study found that Tibetan medicine Zuotai had significant effect on the activity, protein and mRNA expression of CYP1A2 and NAT2.
Context: Tsothel, a traditional Tibetan medicine, is regarded as 'the king of essences'. Nevertheless, tsothel has aroused serious concern regarding its biosafety because its main component is HgS. Unfortunately, toxicological studies on tsothel are scarce. Objective: As inorganic mercury has high affinity for the kidney, the present investigation was designed to determine the potential nephrotoxicity and mechanism of tsothel. Materials and methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered different doses of tsothel (0, 66.70, 33.35 and 16.68 mg/kg) daily for 180 days, followed by the withdrawal of tsothel for 120 days. Then, the related nephrotoxicity was examined by the ICP-MS, ELISA, colorimetric, RT-PCR, HE staining, immunohistochemical staining and flow cytometry methods. Results: Although tsothel administration led to a large accumulation of Hg (794.25 ± 464.30 ng/g in the 66.70 mg/kg group, 775.75 ± 307.89 ng/g in the 33.35 mg/kg group and 532.60 ± 356.77 ng/g in the 16.68 mg/kg group) in the kidney after 120 days of tsothel withdrawal, the blood CREA and BUN, urinary Kim-1, NAG, RBP and β2-MG, renal SOD, MDA, pathology, proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle had no significant changes compared with the control group. Additionally, the high GSH content (318.87 ± 44.19 nmol/mL in the 33.35 mg/kg group) and the relative expression levels of Kim-1 (1.08 ± 0.11 in the 33.35 mg/kg group), MT-1 (1.46 ± 0.10 in the 66.70 mg/kg group, 1.61 ± 0.19 in the 33.35 mg/kg group and 1.57 ± 0.14 in the 16.68 mg/kg group) and GST-Pi (1.76 ± 0.89 in the 33.35 mg/kg group) mRNA recovered to normal after tsothel withdrawal. Interestingly, the change trend of GST-Pi gene expression was consistent with the change trend of GSH activity. Conclusions: Overall, our study shows that tsothel administration did not induce overt nephrotoxicity but did have reversible stress-related effects. These results suggest that tsothel affects stress response mechanisms with the involvement of detoxifying enzyme systems. The formulation method and chemotype could play a role in the reduced toxicity potential of tsothel compared to common mercurials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
The characteristic fingerprint of conventional dairy Nanhanshuishi was established by X-ray diffraction (XRD), based on similarity of caculation on public peaks by MATLAB software, and the feasibility of new dairy technology of microwave method was explored between XRD and the dissolution rate in artificial simulation gastric juices. The result showed that similarity of shared peak in XRD of conventional dairy Nanhanshuishi was > 95%, This XRD characteristic fingerprint of conventional dairy Nanhanshuishi had strong specificity, could be used to provide a reference for identification and quality evaluation. This study also showed that the similarity of microware dairy products and conventional dairy products was good, and the sample of microwave 15 min was the best, and new dairy method by the microwave could replace the traditional method.
The traditional Tibetan medicine Oxytropis falcata Bunge, in the Leguminosae family, is widely used in the west area owing to its significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. O. falcata is rich in flavonoids, which are the main secondary metabolites and key bioactive components of this plant. Up to now, 91 flavonoids have been isolated from O. falcata, including isoflavone, flavone, flavonone, flavonol, homoisoflavonoid, chalcone, dihydrochalcone, chalcone dimers, and pterocarpans. The flavonoids in O. falcata have good anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities, which are comparable to those of a positive drug control (indomethacin). Furthermore, these flavonoids exhibit antibacterial, antioxidant, antitumour, anti-cardiovascular disease, and haemostatic activities. However, to date, O. falcata has not been reviewed comprehensively. Herein, the main secondary metabolites, biosynthetic pathways, and bioactivities of O. falcata are discussed.;
[This study used a matrix game to explore adolescents' and young adults' flexibility of theory of mind (ToM) and to examine whether prediction could promote a person's ToM reasoning when the opponent's level of ToM changed during the course of the game. A total of 202 participants of different ages (13, 16, 19, and 24 years) were presented with the task. Results showed that the ToM flexibility in prediction and decision making was not significantly different across the age groups. A person's flexibility of ToM was better when the opponent's level was stable than when the level changed. It was even more difficult for a person to adapt when the opponent changed from a higher-order to lower-order level. The results showed prediction to be a kind of information clue that would prompt people to think further. It is both feasible and discriminative to explore even higher levels of ToM with matrix games.]
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