A new phenolic compound from endophytic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus of Euphorbia royleana / 中国中药杂志

This research was carried out to study the secondary metabolites of endophytic fungus Aspergillosis fumigatus from Euphorbia royleana. The endophytic fungus A. fumigatus was fermented by solid fermentation,and purified by various chromatographic methods after extraction. The structures of the compounds were identified by1 H-NMR,13 C-NMR and HSQC,HMBC spectra and physicchemical properties. Three compounds were isolated and their structures were identified as 3-( 3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-5-( 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-methyl-5,6-dihydro-2 H-pyran-2-one( 1),hydroxysydonic acid( 2) and 11-hydroxysydonic acid( 3). Compound 1 is a new compound.

Progress in metabolomics research of diabetes / 药学学报

Diabetes is a metabolic disease with an extremely high incidence in China. In parallel with an increased incidence yearly, the population of diabetes is showing a trend towards younger age. Therefore, it is urgent to carry out research on diabetes in order to develop strategy for prevention. In recent years, metabolomics has made significant progress in the study of biomarkers, pathogenesis, early diagnosis and prognosis, and evaluation of drug efficacy in diabetes. However, limited by metabolomics technology and the complexity of diabetes research, metabolomics in the diabetes research remains challenging. We summarize the progress and prospect the future development of metabolomics in the diabetes research.

Clinical analysis of LPFP, PFNA and BPH in treating femoral intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical results of locking proximal femur plate(LPFP), proximal femoral nail antirotation(PFNA) and bipolar hemiarthroplasty(BPH) in the treatment of femoral intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Retrospective analysis of the 86 elderly patients with femoral intertrochanteric fractures during June 2011 and August 2016 were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into 3 groups: 26 cases in LPFP group included 10 males and 16 females with an average age of (72.54±4.78) years old, 5 cases of type II of Evans, 12 cases of type III and 9 cases of type IV; 39 cases in PFNA group included 17 males and 22 females with an average age of 74.41±5.65, 11 cases of type II, 18 cases of type III and 10 cases of type IV; 21 cases in BPH group included 9 males and 12 females with an average age of 76.23±6.97, 1 case of type II, 10 cases of type III and 10 cases of type IV. The data of three groups were collected for statistical analysis on the following aspects: operation time, intraoperative blood loss, the length of hospital stay, postoperative complications and Harris score of the hip joint function.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The wound healed well and no complication occurred. Eighty-four cases were follow-up, while 2 cases were lost, the follow-up rate was 97.6%. The patients were followed up for 22 to 41 months with an average of 26.3 months. For comparison of operation time and time of the hospital stay, BPH group was shorter than the LPFP and PFNA group(=19.782, 21.981,<0.05). For comparison of the intraoperative blood loss, the BPH group was less blood loss than the LPFP and PFNA group(=12.976,<0.05), while there was no significant means between the LPFP and PFNA group(=10.879,>0.05). For comparison of the postoperative complications, LPFP group was higher than BHP and PFNA group(=30.976,<0.05), while there was no significant means between LPFP and PFNA group(=9.902,>0.05). For comparison of the Harris score of the hip joint at 1 year after operation, BPH and PFNA group were both higher than LPFP group(=19.692,<0.05), while there was no significant means between BPH and PFNA group (=4.971,>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>For elder patient with femoral intertrochanteric fracture, BPH could be the best optional for the shorter operation time and less complications. And the PFNA also could be optional choice for the patients while the LPFP was forbidden for the elder patients.</p>

Association of sleep and behavioral problems in Nanjing preschool children / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To investigate the prevalence of sleep and behavioral problems in a large sample of Nanjing preschoolers,and explore the relationship between them.Methods A total of 1327 children from 6 kindergartens of 2 districts in Nanjing,aged 3-6 years,were included in the study by using a stratified random sample survey method.Parents of these children completed a questionnaire including sleep habits and social characteristics of the children and their family.Behavioral problem scores were measured by the Achenbach children behavior checklist for children aged 1.5-5.0 years.The relationship between sleep and behavioral problems was tested using multivariate Logistic regression models to control for potentially confounding factors.Results Overall,52.68％ of the children were found to have sleep problems.The prevalence of sleep problems in boys was 56.11％,which was significantly higher than that (48.60％) in girls (P =0.006).The prevalence of total behavioral problems was 10.40％.Children with sleep problems had significantly higher prevalence and scores of total behavioral problems,internalizing syndrome and externalizing syndrome compared with those of children without sleep problems,and the differences were significant (P ＜ 0.05).In Logistic regression models,the children sleep problems were significantly contributed to total behavioral problems(OR =2.08,P ＜ 0.001).Conclusion The children sleep problems are common and as a risk factor for behavioral problems in Nanjing preschoolers.

K83 site affects PICK1 PDZ binding ability / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of 83 site in interaction of GluR2 C-terminal and PICK1 PDZ domain.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Docking structure of PICK1 PDZ domain with GluR2 C terminal PDZ binding motif was built with computer software. After K83 site was substituted by other amino acid, the structure and binding energy were recalculated; meanwhile, site specific mutants were constructed using wild type full length cDNA as template. Mutants were co-transfected with GluR2 into HEK293T cells. After staining, the distribution of PICK1 and GluR2 were observed under confocal microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Wild type PICK1 and GluR2 formed many co-clusters in HEK293T cells as reported by other research groups; but different K83 mutant had different distribution in HEK293T cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The K83 site in PDZ domain of PICK1 is important for the interaction between PICK1 and GluR2. Altering lysine will probably change the hydrophobic interactions, the hydrogen bonds or the electrostatic interactions formed between PICK1 PDZ domain and GluR2 C terminal; accordingly, that will change the binding capacity between PICK1 and GluR2 in varying degrees.</p>

A new dinorclerone diterpenoid glycoside from Tinospora sinensis.

A new dinorclerone diterpenoid glycoside, named 1-deacetyltinosposide A (1), was isolated from the stem of Tinospora sinensis together with 10 known compounds. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic techniques (MS, IR, 1D and 2D NMR experiments).

Mechanism of combined use of cyclopamine and hydroxycamptothecin in inducing the apoptosis of human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the mechanism underlying the effect of combined use of cyclonpamine and hydroxycamptothecin in inducing the apoptosis of human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line (OSCC) HSQ-89.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>CCK8 assay was used to investigate the inhibitory effect of cyclopamine on HSQ-89 cells. Flow cytometry (FCM) was employed to examine the cell apoptosis following combined treatment with cyclonpamine and hydroxycamptothecin. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was applied to detect the mRNA expressions of Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, and Bid in HSQ-89 cells after the treatments.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Combined treatment with cyclonpamine and hydroxycamptothecin significantly inhibited the cell proliferation compared with hydroxycamptothecin treatment alone, also resulting in a significantly higher apoptosis rate of the cells (P<0.05). The mRNA level of Bcl-2 was significantly decreased after the treatments, especially after the combined treatment. Cyclopamine produced no significant effect on the mRNA levels of Bcl-xl and Bid in the cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The combined use of cyclopamine and hydroxycamptothecin significantly down-regulates the expression on of bcl-2 to induce the apoptosis of human OSCC cell line HSQ-89.</p>

Cytotoxicity of cardenolides and cardenolide glycosides from Asclepias curassavica.

A new cardenolide, 12beta,14beta-dihydroxy-3beta,19-epoxy-3alpha-methoxy-5alpha-card-20(22)-enolide (6), and a new doubly linked cardenolide glycoside, 12beta-hydroxycalotropin (13), together with eleven known compounds, coroglaucigenin (1), 12beta-hydroxycoroglaucigenin (2), calotropagenin (3), desglucouzarin (4), 6'-O-feruloyl-desglucouzarin (5), calotropin (7), uscharidin (8), asclepin (9), 16alpha-hydroxyasclepin (10), 16alpha-acetoxycalotropin (11), and 16alpha-acetoxyasclepin (12), were isolated from the aerial part of ornamental milkweed, Asclepias curassavica and chemically elucidated through spectral analyses. All the isolates were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against HepG2 and Raji cell lines. The results showed that asclepin (9) had the strongest cytotoxic activity with an IC(50) value of 0.02 microM against the two cancer cell lines and the new compound 13 had significant cytotoxic activity with IC(50) values of 0.69 and 1.46 microM, respectively.

PICK1 is associated with central nervous system diseases / 浙江大学学报·医学版

PICK1 (protein interacting with C kinase 1) contains a PDZ (PSD-95/Dlg/ZO1) domain and a BAR (Bin/amphiphysin/Rvs) domain. Via the PDZ domain, PICK1 interacts directly with more than 40 proteins. Among these interacting proteins, some are important for physiological and pathophysiological processes of central nervous system. In this review, recent findings about how PICK1 is associated with central nervous system diseases are summarize.

Clinical value of PET in identifying cervical nodal metastases of tongue cancer: a comparison with CT/MRI and clinical palpation in 38 cases / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the value of PET in the identification of cervical nodal metastases of tongue cancer in comparison with CT/MRI and clinical palpation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-eight patients with tongue cancer underwent PET and CT/MRI within 2 weeks before surgery. The results of PET, CT/MRI, and clinical palpation were interpreted separately to assess the regional lymph node status, using histopathological analysis as the golden standard. The differences in the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy among the imaging modalities and clinical palpation were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The sensitivity of PET for nodal metastasis identification was 11.1% higher than that of CT/MRI (83.3% vs 72.2%, P=0.423) and 16.6% higher than that of clinical palpation (83.3% vs 66.7%, P=0.248). The specificity of PET was 5% higher than that of CT/MRI (80% vs 75%, P=0.703) and 15% higher than that of clinical palpation (80% vs 65%, P=0.288). The accuracy of PET, CT/MRI, and clinical palpation in identifying cervical nodal metastases was 81.6%, 73.7% and 65.8%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of PET for detecting cervical nodal metastases are greater than those of CT/MRI and clinical palpation. Although the results failed to show statistically significant differences, we still recommend that PET be used as a supplementary modality for identifying nodal metastases of tongue cancer.</p>

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate induces G1 phase cell cycle arrest in KB cells / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on the proliferation of human oral epithelial cancer cell line KB cells and the molecular mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>KB cells were treated with various concentrations of EGCG for 24 or 48 h. MTT assay was used to test the cell viability. The changes of cell cycle in KB cells treated with EGCG for 48 h were analyzed using flow cytometry. The expressions of cyclin A, cyclin D1 and cyclin E were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The viability of KB cells treated with various concentrations of EGCG (25, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 micromol/L) for 48 h were decreased to (85.4-/+2.4)%, (80.4-/+2.8)%, (51.5-/+4.5)%, (30.2-/+1.9)%, (25.3-/+1.5)%, (20.0-/+1.1)%, respectively, showing significant difference from that of the control group [(100.0-/+2.2)%, P<0.05). EGCG decreased the viabilities of KB cells in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometry demonstrated that treatment with EGCG significantly increased the cell percentage in sub-G1 phase, which was (73.5-/+4.4)% after a 48-h EGCG treatment, significantly different from that in the control group [(47.3-/+3.5)%, P<0.05). EGCG-induced G1 phase arrest was correlated to the down-regulation of cyclin A and cyclin E.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EGCG inhibits the proliferation of KB cells by inducing G1 phase arrest, which involves the downregulation of cyclin E.</p>

Six new C21 steroidal glycosides from Asclepias curassavica L.

Six new C(21) steroidal glycosides, named curassavosides A-F (3-8), were obtained from the aerial parts of Asclepias curassavica (Asclepiadaceae), along with two known oxypregnanes, 12-O-benzoyldeacylmetaplexigenin (1) and 12-O-benzoylsarcostin (2). By spectroscopic methods, the structures of the six new compounds were determined as 12-O-benzoyldeacylmetaplexigenin 3-O-beta-D-oleandropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-digitoxopyranoside (3), 12-O-benzoylsarcostin 3-O-beta-D-oleandropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-digitoxopyranoside (4), sarcostin 3-O-beta-D-oleandropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-canaropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-oleandropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-digitoxopyranoside (5), sarcostin 3-O-beta-D-oleandropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-canaropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-canaropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-digitoxopyranoside (6), 12-O-benzoyldeacylmetaplexigenin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-oleandropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-canaropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-oleandropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-digitoxopyranoside (7), and 12-O-benzoylsarcostin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-oleandropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-d-canaropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-oleandropyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-digitoxopyranoside (8), respectively. All compounds (1-8) were tested for in vitro cytotoxicity; only compound 3 showed weak inhibitory activity against Raji and AGZY cell lines.

Clinical application of positron-emission tomography for the identification of cervical nodal metastases of head and neck cancer compared with CT or MRI and clinical palpation / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the value of positron-emission tomography (PET) for the identification of cervical nodal metastases of head and neck cancer compared with CT/MRI and clinical palpation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty patients of head and neck cancer underwent PET and CT/MRI examination 2 weeks before surgery. PET, CT/MRI and clinical palpation were interpreted separately to assess regional lymph node status. Histopathologic analysis was used as the gold standard for assessment of the lymph node involvement. Differences in sensitivity, specificity and accuracy among the imaging modalities and clinical palpation were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The sensitivity of PET for the identification of nodal metastases was 14.3% higher than that of CT/MRI (P = 0.648) and 14.3% higher than that of clinical palpation (P = 0.648), whereas the specificity of PET was 15.4% higher than that of CT/MRI (P = 0.188) and 7.7% higher than that of clinical palpation (P = 0.482). The accuracy of 18F-FDG PET, CT/MRI, and clinical palpation for the identification of cervical nodal metastases was 85.0%, 70.0% and 75.0% respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of PET for the detection of cervical nodal metastases was higher than that of CT/MRI and clinical palpation. Although the results did not show a statistically significant difference, PET can still serve as a supplementary method for the identification of nodal metastases of head and neck cancer.</p>

HPLC fingerprint of flavonoids of Kushen Tang and its correlation to Scutellaria baicalensis and Sophora flavescens / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish the HPLC fingerprint of the flavonoids of Kushen Tang, and to study its correlation to Scutellaria baicalensis and Sophora flavescens.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The fingerprints of the flavonoids of Kushen Tang were established by HPLC under two detective wavelengths 280 nm and 365 nm. The correlation existed in the common peaks of HPLC fingerprint of Kushen Tang and the Chinese meteria medicines which composed the prescription was explored by analyzing the HPLC fingerprints of different compatibilities. The chemical constituents which the common peaks stood for were analyzed by adding controls to the samples respectively.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Under the detective wavelength 280 nm, 19 common peaks were found, which came from S. baicalensis except that two peaks came from S. flavescens, and eight peaks were baicalin/trifolirhizin, wogonoside, luteolin, baicalein, oroxylin A, 5, 8-dihydroxy-6, 7-dimethoxyflavone, wogonin and formononetin/chrysin respectively. Under the detective wavelength 365 nm, 22 common peaks were found, which thirteen peaks came from S. baicalensis and six peaks came from S. flavescens. Among them, eleven peaks were baicalin, wogonoside, baicalein, oroxylin A, 5,8-dihydroxy-6, 7-dimethoxyflavone, wogonin, chrysin/7-methoxyflavone, 2', 4-dihydroxy-4', 6'-dimethoxychalcone, 4, 4'-dimethoxychalcone, xanthohumol and kuraridin respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The common peaks of HPLC fingerprint of the flavonoids of Kushen Tang, which were obtained under the two detective wavelengths 280 nm and 365 nm, came from S. baicalensis and S. flavescens. It was more scientific and comprehensive that establishing the HPLC fingerprint of the flavonoids of Kushen Tang under the detective wavelength 365 nm.</p>

Four new compounds from the leaves of Acer truncatum.

Four new compounds, 3-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)propyl formate (1), 2,6-dimethoxy-4-[(1S)-3-methoxypropyl]phenol (2), (1R,2R)-4-[(3R)-3-hydroxybutyl]-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohex-4-ene-1,2-diol (3), and (1S,3R,3aR,6S,7S,9aR)-decahydro-1-(hydroxymethyl)-1,7-dimethyl-3a,7-methano-3aH-cyclopentacyclooctene (4) were isolated from the leaves of Acer truncatum, together with twelve known compounds. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic techniques. The absolute configuration of compound 3 was established by the modified Mosher's method. All compounds were evaluated for antibacterial activities.

A new neolignan glycoside from the leaves of Acer truncatum.

A new neolignan glycoside, (7R,8R)-7,8-dihydro-9'-hydroxyl-3'-methoxyl- 8-hydroxymethyl-7-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1'-benzofuranpropanol 9'-O-beta-D- glucopyranoside (1) was isolated from the leaves of Acer truncatum along with (7R,8R)-7,8-dihydro-9'-hydroxyl-3'-methoxyl-8-hydroxymethyl-7-(4-O-alpha-L-rhamno- pyranosyloxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1'-benzofuranpropanol (2), schizandriside (3), lyoniresinol (4), berchemol (5), (-)-pinoresinol-4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6), hecogenin (7), chlorogenic acid (8) and neochlorogenic acid (9). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of compounds 1 was established by its CD spectrum. The antibacterial activities of compounds 1-7 were evaluated.

Epidemiological investigation on congenital heart disease in several regions of Yunnan province / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the distribution of congenital heart disease (CHD) aged 3 - 18 in several regions of Yunnan province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cross-rectional studies were carried out among 48 638 children from Xishuangbanna, Dali, Baoshan Longling, Luxi Mangshi and Gejiu in Yunnan province with stratified, clustered sampling.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall morbidity of CHD was 5.08 per thousand with 5.09 per thousand in males and 5.07 per thousand in females. Morbidity rates in different regions were 2.75 per thousand in Xishuangbanna, 7.85 per thousand in Dali, 9.59 per thousand in Baoshan Long ling, 4.80 per thousand in Gejiu, 16.99 per thousand in Luxi Wuchalu. However, in the same area, rates were different among different residents:3.25 per thousand in Gejiu, and was 9.10 per thousand in Laochang stannum mine, 11.20 per thousand in Datunxuanchang; 5.74 per thousand at the city of Baoshan Longling, 11.35 per thousand at countryside; 4.90 per thousand at the city of Dali, 8.71 per thousand at countryside; 1.69 per thousand at the city of Xishuangbanna, 4.40 per thousand at country. Morbidity rates in different ethnic groups were as follows: 5.39 per thousand in Dai, 6.83 per thousand in Jinuo, 0 per thousand in Hani, 8.12 per thousand in Bai, 14.18 per thousand in Jingpo.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There were significant regional and ethnic differences seen in Yunnan on the mobidity of CHD which was different from the domestic literature reported.</p>

GM1 stabilizes expression of NMDA receptor subunit 1 in the ischemic hemisphere of MCAo/reperfusion rat / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the protective effect of monosialoganglionside (GM1) and evaluate the influence of GM1 on expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit 1 (NMDAR1) in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Left middle cerebral artery (MCA) was occluded by an intraluminal suture for 1 h and the brain was reperfused for 72 h in SD rats when infarct volume was measured, GM1 (10 mg/kg) was given ip (intraperitoneally) at 5 min (group A), 1 h (group B) and 2 h (group C) after MCA occlusion (MCAo). Expression of NMDAR1 was detected by Western blot at various time after reperfusion (4 h, 6 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h) in ischemic hemispheres of the rats with or without GM1 administered.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Adjusted relative infarct volumes of groups A and B were significantly smaller than that of group C and the control group (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). (2) Expression level of NMDAR1 was temporally high at 6 h after reperfusion, and dipped below the normal level at 72 h after reperfusion. GM1 at 5 min after MCAo significantly suppressed the expression of NMDAR1 at 6 h after reperfusion (P<0.05 vs the control). At 72 h after reperfusion, the NMDAR1 expression level of rats treated with GM1 administered (at 5 min or 2 h after MCAo) was significantly higher than that of the control (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GM1 can time-dependently reduce infarct volume in rats with focal cerebral I/R partly through stabilizing the expression of NMDAR1.</p>

Effects of pentylenetetrazol at subconvulsant and convulsant dose on NMDA receptor subunits in rats / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of N-methyl-D-asparate (NMDA) receptor subunit proteins after administration of different doses of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>After ip injection of a subconvulsant (35 mg/kg) and convulsant (50 mg/kg) dose of PTZ, the rats were decapitated at different time points. The levels of cortical NR1 NR2A and NR2B subunit proteins were detected by immunoblotting.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>35 mg/kg PTZ and 50 mg/kg PTZ elicited different behavioral changes (P<0.001). The NR2A subunit in the cortex significantly increased 1 h after PTZ injection (P<0.05). For the 50 mg/kg group, both the NR2A and NR2B subunits proteins increased at 1 h in the cortex and then decreased; the protein levels returned to normal after 48 h. However, NR1 subunit had no changes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The NR2 subunit is involved in PTZ-induced seizure.</p>

Modulation of the activities and mRNA expression of cytochrome P450 isoenzymes in rat liver by Panax gingseng and coadministration with Veratrum nigrum / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the modulatory effect of Panax gingseng and coadministration with Veratrum nigrum on the activity and mRNA expression of cytochrome P450 isoenzymes in rat liver.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Rat liver microsomal cytochrome P450, b5, aminopyrine N-demethylase(APND), p-nitrophenol-hydroxylase(pNPH)activities were quantitated by UV chromatography. The mRNA expression level of five CYP isoenzymes CYP1A1, CYP2B1/2, CYP2C11, CYP2E1 and CYP3A1 were detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).</p><p><b>RESULT</b>P. gingseng coadministrated with V. nigrum obviously decreased the P450 contents of liver microsomes, and the b5 contents. Both single and combined used inhibited the activities of aminopyrine N-demethylase. At the mRNA level, the expression of CYP2C11 markedly induced exposure to V. nigrum, but combinative groups decreased the expression of CYP2C11. The combination of P. gingseng and V. nigrum induced the expression of CYP1A1. P. gingseng has inhibitory effect on CYP2B1/2 and inductive effect used with V. nigrum. The combination of P. gingseng with V. nigrum also induced the expression of CYP3A1.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>P. gingseng used singly has some different modulation effects compared with combinative used, which may occur because of drug-drug interaction based on cytochrome P450. To elucidate the drug-drug interaction, it needs further analysis and metabolism research.</p>