RESUMO
There are some shortcomings of animal experiments applied in chemical toxicity testing, such as long period, large cost, species differences and dose differences, which limit the use of animal experiments' results in predicting human toxicity.Accordingly, we established a toxicity testing alternative screening system in line with the toxicity endpoints which required in chemical safety evaluation and risk assessment (genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, acute toxicity and general toxicity) based on 3R principles (replacement, reduction, refinement) for animal experiments.This system covers most of the endpoints of toxicity assessment, and molecular biology technology was also applied to integrate the toxicity test, as well as some operation was optimized in order to shorten the experimental period, reduce experimental costs, improve animal welfare.Furthermore, the results from the screening system have higher clinical relevance because it is based on the toxicity mechanisms.
RESUMO
Triptolide, an epoxidated diterpene lactone compound separated from a traditional Chinese medicine, Tripterygium wilfordiiHook. f (TWHF), is responsible for the anti-tumor activity of TWHF with broad spectrum and high performance. The antitumor mechanism of triptolide locates in many fields, such as inducing apoptosis of tumor cell, interfering in the cell cycle, and suppressing angiogeneis. The advance in the anti-tumor mechanism of triptolide is described in the following review.