Effects of Different Processed Methods on Anti-gouty Arthritis and Cardiotoxicity of Aconiti Radix / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To study the effects of different processing methods on the anti-gouty arthritis and cardiotoxicity of Aconiti Radix， and to explore the possible attenuation and synergism mechanism of these different processing methods. Method:The swelling degree of knee joint， levels of inflammatory factors ［interleukin （IL） -1<italic>β</italic>， IL-18， tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-<italic>α</italic>］ and the activities of liver energy metabolism-related enzymes ［Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-adenosine triphosphatase （ATPase）， Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase， succinate dehydrogenase （SDH）］ in rats with gouty arthritis were used as indicators to evaluate the effects of pharmacopoeia steaming Aconiti Radix， pharmacopoeia boiling Aconiti Radix， Jianchang faction processed Aconiti Radix， Zhang faction processed Aconiti Radix and raw Aconiti Radix. The activity of creatine kinase （CK）， lactate dehydrogenase （LDH） and the content of B-type natriuretic peptide （BNP） were used as indexes to evaluate the cardiotoxicity of Aconiti Radix and its different processed products. Result:In the anti-gouty arthritis test， compared with the blank group， the knee joint of the model group was significantly swollen （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， the levels of IL-1<italic>β</italic>， IL-18， and TNF-<italic>α</italic> in serum were significantly increased （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， and the Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-ATPase activity was significantly decreased （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Compared with the model group， raw Aconiti Radix and the four processed products could reduce knee joint swelling and decrease IL-1<italic>β</italic>， IL-18， and TNF-<italic>α</italic> levels in serum of rats. The activity of Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-ATPase in the liver of rats from the pharmacopoeia steaming Aconiti Radix group was significantly higher than that in the model group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， and there was no statistical difference in other groups. In the cardiotoxicity test， compared with the blank group， the activities of CK and LDH were significantly increased and the level of BNP was significantly increased in the raw Aconiti Radix group and the pharmacopoeia steaming/boiling Aconiti Radix groups （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. In terms of LDH activity and BNP content， the Zhang faction and Jianchang faction processed Aconiti Radix groups were significantly lower than those in the raw Aconiti Radix group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. In the CK activity， the Zhang faction processed Aconiti Radix group was significantly lower than that in the raw Aconiti Radix group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:Raw Aconiti Radix and the four processed products have certain anti-inflammatory effects， but there are some differences among different indicators. There are significant differences in cardiotoxicity between the raw products and processed products of Aconiti Radix， and the cardiotoxicity of Jianchang faction and Zhang faction processed products was the weakest.

Experimental Studies on Attenuating and Synergic effects of Modified Yigong Powder / 中药新药与临床药理

Objective To observe the effects of modified Yigong Powder (MYP) combined with chemotherapy on transplanted hepatocarcinoma of mice and to study its mechanisms. Methods Hepatocarcinoma 22 mouse model was established and then was used to observe the attenuating and synergic effects of MYP when applied together with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). After 8 days of treatment,the tumor-inhibiting rate,activity of natural killer (NK)cells and interleukin-2 (IL-2) and small intestinal malondialdehyde (MDA) content were examined. Results MYP combined with 5-FU could increased the tumor-inhibiting rate to some extent and improve the immune function by increasing immune organ weight and increasing the activity of NK cells and IL-2. MYP combined with 5-FU could also reduce the 5-FU-induced intestinal injuries by relieving the damage of free radicals and inhibiting the lipid peroxidation and a good prognosis was expected in tumor-bearing animals treated with chemotherapy. Conclusion MYP exerts an attenuating and synergic effect when used together with 5-FU in treating tumor-bearing mice and its mechamism may be related to the improvement of immune function and reduction of intestinal injuries.