Anti-influenza Virus Activity of Coix-seed Reactive Derivatives / 日本補完代替医療学会誌

Objective: We examined anti-influenza virus (anti-IFV) activity of Coix-seed Reactive Derivatives (CRD) extract.Methods: H1N1 A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (PR8) strain was infected to Malin Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells. The infected cells were cultured by medium supplemented CRD extract for 24 h, and the supernatants were harvested to analyze virus titer by focus-forming reduction assay. Polyphenols were removed by PVPP treatment, and anti-influenza virus activity was compared with normal CRD extract. Results: CRD extract showed anti-IFV activity. In addition, CRD extract inhibited viral adsorption and replication. The study of CRD extract by PVPP treatment suggested that polyphenols are the main active component. Conclusion: This study revealed that CRD extract has anti-IFV activity against PR8 strain. The mechanism of action was inhibited viral adsorption and replication. It was also suggested that anti-IFV activity of CRD extract is due to polyphenols.

An important role for type Ⅲ interferon(IFN-lambda) in anti-HIV activity / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Objective To examine whether IFN-λ has the ability to inhibit HIV-1 infection of blood monocyte-derived macrophages and its mechanism(s). Methods Macrophages were pretreated with IFN-λ/ IFN-λ2 for 24 h before infected by HIV-1 R5 strains (Bal, Jago, and JRFL). And then the culture supernatants were detected HIV-1 reverse transcription (RT) activity and p24 protein expression by HIV-1 BT assay and ELISA. The expressions of IFN-λ receptor, CD4, CCRS, CXCR4 were evaluated by real-time PCR. Results Both IFN-λ1 and IFN-λ2, when added to macrophage cultures, inhibited HIV-1 infection and replication. This IFN-λ-mediated anti-HIV-I activity is broad, as IFN-λ could inhibit infection by both laboratory-adapted and clinical strains of HIV-1. Investigations of mechanism(s) responsible for the IFN-λ action showed that although IFN-λ had little effect on HIV-1 entry receptor CD4 and co-receptor CCR5 and CXCR4 expression, IFN-λ inhibited HIV-I infection of macrophages through connecting with IFN-λ recep-tor. Conclusion IFN-λ could inhibit HIV-I replication in macrophages. These findings indicate that IFN-λ may have a therapeutic value in the treatment of HIV-1 infection.

Medical Aromatherapy / 日本補完代替医療学会誌

Medical aromatherapy, a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to cure diseases or to diminish symptoms by using essential oils, is widely applied to the areas of nursing or medical care. Since the varied pharmacological effects of essential oils are anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, sedative and analgesic, medical aromatherapy is used for the treatment of gynecological and obstetrical disorders, skin troubles, upper respiratory infections and psychosomatic diseases, and for pain control and stress management. The methods of aromatherapy include inhalation, oral administration, aromatic bathing and massage. Massage is most effective in inducing relaxation. Because aromatherapy is only complementary to mainstream medicine, the combination of aromatherapy with western medicine and other CAM therapies can realize an ideal integrative medicine.<br>