Effects of electroacupuncture on cognitive function in rats with Parkinson's disease.

This study was designed to illustrate the effects of electroacupuncture on cognitive function in rats with Parkinson's disease (PD). The PD model was established by injecting 6-OHDA into the rat brain. Rats with PD were then subjected to electroacupuncture and levodopa treatment for 2 weeks.

[Research progress in relations between renin angiotensin system and diabetic cardiomyopathy].

Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is activated in diabetes. The rise of angiotension II (Ang II) stimulates the cardiac fibroblast proliferation and the alteration of collagen metabolism through AT1 receptor on cell surface, causing the myocardium interstitial and perivascular fibrosis, and the ventricular myocardium rigidity and diastolic function disturbance, leading to the clinical symptoms of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). The main members of RAS including Ang II, Ang-(1-7), Ac-SDKP and ATR play the important role in the development of DCM.

Cardioprotective effect of 'methylamine irisolidone', a new compound, in hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in cultured rat cardiac myocytes.

'Methylamine irisolidone' (=5,7-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-8-[(methylamino)methyl]-4H-[1]benzopyran-4-one), a new compound, is a structurally modified kakkalide with good water solubility. In this study, we investigated its effect on hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury in cultured rat cardiac myocytes. The results showed that methylamine irisolidone could significantly inhibit lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, enhance the mitochondrial membrane potential, decrease intracellular calcium (Ca(2+)) associated with the attenuation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, reduce contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), and increase the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) after H/R in a dose-dependent manner.

Protective effects of Salvia plebeia compound homoplantaginin on hepatocyte injury.

Salvia plebeia R. Br is a traditional Chinese herb which has been considered as an inflammatory mediator used for treatment of many infectious diseases including hepatitis. Previously, the compound homoplantaginin was isolated in our group.

The toxicity study on marine low-temperature lysozyme.

Marine low-temperature lysozyme is purified from a marine bacterium. The lysozyme can keep high activity at low-temperature and has broad-spectrum antibiotic reaction. This study was undertaken to investigate the major characteristics, acute and subchronic toxicity of marine low-temperature lysozyme.

A major triterpenoid saponin from Gypsophila oldhamiana.

A new saponin, gypoldoside A (1), was isolated from the roots of Gypsophila oldhamiana. On the basis of in-depth NMR-spectroscopic and mass-spectrometric analysis, in combination with chemical evidence, its structure was established as 3-O-{beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl}quillaic acid 28-[alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-fucopyranosyl] ester. Compound 1 was found to be highly active against three different human cancer cell lines, with IC50 values in the low micromolar range.

Curcumin inhibits telomerase activity in human cancer cell lines.

Curcumin, one of the major components of tumeric, the dried rhizome of Curcuma longa L, has been shown to have anti-proliferating and anti-carcinogenic properties. In this study, we examined the effects of curcumin on cell growth and telomerase activity in human cancer cell lines Bel7402, HL60 and SGC7901. Curcumin (1-32 microM) showed anti-proliferating effects on these cell lines in a dose-dependent manner in vitro, and anti-tumor effects when curcumin (50-200 mg/kg) was orally administered to nude mice transplanted with the cancer cells.

[Protective effect of puerarin on stress-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats].

Objective: To study the protective effect of puerarin on stress-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats.

Method: The model of gastric ulcer was established by restraint plus water-immersion stress in rats. Gastric motility was monitored by the method of "Gas Balloon".