Effects of pingyu capsule on signal transduction of rats with chronic stress-induced depression / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of Pingyu capsule on such important regulatory factors as cAMP, PKA and PKC of the signal transduction in rats with chronic stress-induced depression.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Wistar male rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, paroxetine group, and Pingyu capsule low, middle and high doses groups; rats in all groups but the control group were fed in single cage for 21 days and were given such irritations as lightening stroke on pelma, ice water swimming, pyretic fumigation and tail clipping during this period; lobe cortex and hippocampus of all rats were taken out for detection of the cAMP content by means of radioactive immunization, PKA and PKC content by Elisa, and the PKA and PKC activity by radioactive isotope.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Content of cAMP in lobe cortex and hippocampus, content and activity of PKA in hippocampus, and content of PKC in lobe cortex of rats in the model group were lower than those in the normal group. Pingyu capsule and paroxetine can increase them.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The anti-depression effect of Pingyu capsule maybe related to its function of adjusting the signal transduction of cAMP-PKA.</p>

Influence of Hovenia dulcis on alcohol concentration in blood and activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) of animals after drinking / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of H. dulcis on relieving alcohol toxicity by animal experiments.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Male kunming mice were ovraiectomized and randomly divided into 5 groups: control group, model group, and aqueous extracts of H. dulcis group at 0.5, 0.25, 0.125 g x mL(-1). The acute alcohlism animals induced by gastral administration with "Er Guo Tou" and the alchol concentrations in serum were detected after treated with the extracts within 0.5-3 h by biochemical enzymes.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The alcohol concentration in blood was up to the maximum in 0.5-1.5 h. However, the alcohol concentrations in blood of aqueous extract from H. dulcis group were decreased in 0.5-3 h. The activity of ADH in the liver in aqueous extract of H. dulcis group was increased in 2-3 h, while it was significantly increased in 1-1.5 h (P <0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The aqueous extract of H. dulcis could reduce the alchol concentration in blood of animals and inrease the activity of ADH after given alcohol. It means the extract has the effect of relieving alcohol toxicity and preventing drunkenness through restraining the absorption of alcohol in the gastrointestinal tract and promoting the metabolism of alcohol in the liver.</p>