High dilutions of homeopathic remedies induce relaxation of rat aorta precontracted with noradrenalin

BACKGROUND Homeopathic potencies have been reported to produce alteration of contraction in isolated rat ileum in an organ bath. Potentized homeopathic drugs like Lycopus V and Aurum met are used for the treatment of hypertension. AIM The purpose of this study is to see whether Lycopus V 30 CH and Aurum met 30 CH could produce relaxation of isolated rat aorta in the organ bath. METHODS The aorta of rats were dissected out, placed in Krebs-Henseleit solution, cleared of connective tissue and endothelium and cut into 2-2.5 mm long rings. The rings were fixed in organ baths with the upper end connected by a string to an isometric transducer which was finally attached through a data acquisitation equipment to a computer. Aurum met 30 CH Lycopus V 30 CH, and their medium 90% ethanol were added separately to the bathing fluid containing the aorta rings which were precontracted with noradrenalin (NA). RESULTS Both the drugs produced significant relaxation of the aorta (p<0.001) precontracted with NA (10-7 M). The control did not show any marked effect on the NA induced contraction of aorta. CONCLUSION A potentised drug is thought to be specifically structured water which can transform the water structure in the bathing fluid and the isolated tissue immersed in the fluid into its own form. This in turn produces the observed relaxation. Both Lycopus V 30 CH and Aurum met 30 CH are effective in reducing NA induced contraction of rat aorta. Drugs can directly act on the isolated rat aorta without any system of influence. KEY WORDS High dilution drug, isolated aorta, hypertension, noradrenalin.

Introdução e objetivo: Segundo alguns estudos, diluições homeopáticas alteram a contratilidade de íleo isolado de rato, em banho de órgãos. Os medicamentos homeopáticos como Aurum metallicum Lycopus virginicus são usados no tratamento da hipertensão. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar se Lycps 30 cH e Aur 30 cH podem induzir o relaxamento da aorta isolada de ratos, em banho de órgãos. Métodos: A aorta foi dissecada e, livre de tecido conjuntivo e endotelio, foi colocada em solução de Krebs-Henseleit, sendo seccionada em anéis de 2 a 2,5 cm de comprimento. Os anéis foram fixados em banho de órgãos, a extremidade superior ligada por um cabo a um transdutor isométrico, por sua vez ligado a dispositivos de registro de dados em um computador. Aur 30 cH, Lycps 30 cH e etanol 90%, foram adicionados separadamente ao líquido do banho contendo os anéis de aorta previamente contraídas pela noradrenalina (NA) ou norpinefrina (NE). Resultados: Os dois medicamentos testados induziram relaxamento significativo (p <0,001), do preparada de aorta contraída por NA (10-7 M), enquanto que a solução de controle não produziu efeitos significativos. Conclusão: Ambas as drogas foram usadas em diluições homeopáticas demasiado elevadas para admitir a presença de moléculas da substância original. Assim, o mecanismo farmacológico tradicional envolvendo as moléculas da droga e receptores no músculo liso da aorta deve ser descartado. Embora reconhecidamente diferente, o mecanismo envolvido permanece desconhecido. Lycps 30 e Aur 30 CH mostraram-se eficazes na redução da contratilidade da aorta de ratos, induzida por NA. As drogas podem agir diretamente na aorta isolada de ratos sem influência sistêmica.

Study on antioxidant effect of Herba Lycopi and screening of active fractions / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To Study the antioxidant activity of Herba Lycopi, and screen the main active fractions.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The different polar fractions were isolated from the ethanol extract of Herba Lycopi. The scavenging activity to DPPH and superoxide anions, reducing effect on Fe3+, and inhibiting activity of lipid peroxidation of the fractions were studied in vitro by high-throughput screening technique.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The ethanol extract, ethyl acetate fraction (LLE-A. E, MCCM2921) and n-buthanol fraction (LLE-A. B, MCCM2922) of Herba Lycopi showed the scavenging activity to DPPH and superoxide anions, reducing effect on Fe3+, and inhibiting activity of lipid peroxidation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The ethanol extract and different polar fractions showed antioxidant capacity in vitro. That may be explain that the effect of activating blood and dissolving stasis and anti-fibrosis of Herba Lycopi in traditional application. The results may be helpful for further development of Herba Lycopi as a low-toxic antioxidant drug.</p>

HPLC determination of caffeic acid in herba Lycopi / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To provide experimental data for the quality control of processed Paeonia lactiflora, a Chinese herbal medicine.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Traditional processing of P. lactiflora was simulated, content of paeoniflorin and water extracts among different preparations were assayed by HPLC; The quantitative correlations among different processing conditions were analyzed, the effects of processing parameters on the contents of paeoniflorin and water extracts were assayed and analysed.</p><p><b>RESULT AND CONCLUSION</b>The controlled processing parameters were correlated with covariables which showed that processing procedures was controllable, and the heating temperature was a factor impacting the content of paeoniflorin.</p>

Effects of L.F04, the active fraction of Lycopus lucidus, on erythrocytes rheological property / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of L.F04, the active fraction of Lycopus lucidus, on erythrocytes rheological property so as to investigate its mechanism in promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The effects of L.F04 (used for treatment for 10 days in different dosages) on deformability, aggregation and membrane liquidity of erythrocytes (MLE) as well as whole blood apparent viscosity (eta(b)) were examined on the basis of rat model of blood-stasis syndrome induced by venous injection of high molecular weight dextran.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>As compared with the normal control group, the model group's RBC deformability and MLE were lower, and the aggregation of erythrocytes and eta(b) were higher. Compared with the model group, both L.F04 0.612 g/kg and 0.306 g/kg showed significant effect in improving deformability and inhibiting aggregation of red blood cells (RBC) and reducing blood viscosity. The trend of improving MLE was also shown.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>L.F04 could significantly improve the abnormal rheological property of erythrocytes.</p>