[Clinical study on compound prescription with Valerianae Jatamansi Rhizoma et Radix in treatment of generalized anxiety disorder].

This study was aimed to observe the clinical efficacy of anxiolytic compound prescription with Valerianae Jatamansi Rhizoma et Radix (ACPV) in treating liver Qi stagnation and feel ill at ease type generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Sixty-seven patients diagnosed as GAD with stagnation of liver Qi and feel ill at ease were randomly divided into treatment group and control group. Patients in treatment group (n=34) was treated with ACPV decoction, and patients in control group (n=33) were treated with deanxit. Both groups were treated with respective drugs for 4 weeks. HAMA scale, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom scale (liver Qi stagnation and feel ill at ease type) and salivary cortisol levels were measured before and 2 weeks and 4 weeks after drug treatment. The life events scale (LES) and drug safety evaluation were performed before and after 4 weeks treatment. Two patients were excluded according to LES, and 5 patients were discontinued. Sixty patients were enrolled in the study finally (30 cases in each group). As compared with baseline, HAMA scores in both groups were significantly decreased at 2 weeks and 4 weeks (P<0.05, P<0.01). After 2 weeks and 4 weeks treatment, the TCM syndrome score in both group was also significantly improved (P<0.01). Moreover, the salivary cortisol levels in both groups were also decreased at 2 weeks and 4 weeks (P<0.05, P<0.01). The total efficiency between two groups had no statistically significant difference after 2 weeks treatment and 4 weeks treatment; moreover, no statistically significant differences were observed between two groups in HAMA scores, TCM syndrome scale scores and salivary cortisol levels between two groups. The incidence of adverse reactions in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.01), and there were no obvious side effects in general physical examination during the period of treatment. Thus, anxiolytic compound prescription with Valerianae Jatamansi Rhizoma et Radix is effective for GAD (stagnation of liver Qi and feel ill at ease type).

[Food matching based on herbal properties of formulas in "Treatise on Febrile Diseases"].

Based on databases for herbal properties of formulas and foods recorded in "Treatise on Febrile Diseases", a case study was conducted for the food matching method according to herbal properties of formulas in "Treatise on Febrile Diseases". The result show that the method was technically feasible once the herbal properties of foods were determined. Moreover, according to herbal properties of target formulas, the compositions of foods were effectively defined. In this study, researchers determined the similarity between the food matching scheme and the target formulas in function and efficacy, provided a quantitative method for food formulation and promote the development of application technology of the herbal property theory and the compatibility theory.

Evaluation of anxiolytic activity of compound Valeriana jatamansi Jones in mice.

BACKGROUND: Compound Valeriana jatamansi Jones is a formula for treating anxiety-related diseases in the clinic, which is composed of Valeriana jatamansi Rhizoma et Radix, Ziziphi Spinosae Semen, Albiziae Cortex and Junci Medulla. The purpose of this study was to explore the anxiolytic properties of this compound in mice. METHODS: Male ICR mice were treated with compound Valerianae Jatamansi Jones (1.2 g/kg, 2.4 g/kg, 4.8 g/kg), saline, diazepam (2 mg/kg) orally for 10 days and then exposed to elevated maze-plus (EPM) and light-dark box (LDB). The effects of the compound on spontaneous activity were evaluated by locomotor activity test. We further investigated the mechanism of action underlying the anxiolytic-like effect of compound by pre-treating animals with antagonists of benzodiazepine (flumazenil, 3mg/kg) prior to evaluation using EPM and LDB. RESULTS: Compound Valerianae Jatamansi Jones (2.4, 4.8 g/kg, p.o.) significantly increased entries (P<0.05) into and time spent (P<0.05) on the open arms of the EPM, and number of transitions (P<0.05) and time spent (P<0.05) in the light compartment of the LDB. However, the anxiolytic-like effects of compound were significantly reduced by pre-treatment with flumazenil (P>0.05). In addition, compound Valerianae Jatamansi Jones treatment didn't affect the spontaneous activity in mice (P> 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study supports the hypothesis that compound Valeriana jatamansi Jones exert anxiolytic action but no sedative effects in mice and that this effect might be mediated by benzodiazepine receptors.

Inhibition of hypoxia and serum deprivation-induced apoptosis by salvianolic acid in rat mesenchymal stem cells.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence and mechanism of salvianolic acid B (SalB) on apoptosis inhibition in rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) induced by hypoxia and serum deprivation (hypoxia/SD). METHODS: SalB concentration of 0.1, 1, 10 or 100 mg/L (drug groups) were investigated for their ability to inhibit apoptosis in rat BMSCs. BMSCs in both the apoptosis model and drug groups were cultured under hypoxic conditions for 6 h, after which cell apoptosis and change in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were detected using flow cytometry. Activation of caspase-3 was detected using western blot analysis. RESULTS: Hypoxia/SD induced apoptosis in rat BMSCs. The early apoptosis rate was lower in the drug groups compared to the apoptosis model group (P < 0.05). SalB was found to inhibit the reduction in MMP and decrease the activation of caspase-3. CONCLUSION: 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/L of SalB inhibits activation of caspase-3 and early apoptosis of rat BMSCs induced by hypoxia/SD and could therefore enhance the survival rate of grafted stem cells.

Current progress of research on pharmacologic actions of salvianolic acid B.

As one of the main water-soluble composites of Radix Salviae, salvianolic acid B is a phenolic acid ingredient of the Chinese drug, which is rich content in the herb and has strong pharmaceutical activity. It is used to treat cardiocerebral vascular diseases, antagonize hepatic/renal fibrosis, prevent cancer, and promote stem cell proliferation and differentiation. In the researches of its acting mechanisms, rather deepened studies have been carried out for its application on cardiocerebral vascular diseases, but that for others are rather fewer.

Neuroprotection by methanol extract of Uncaria rhynchophylla against global cerebral ischemia in rats.

In traditional Oriental medicine, Uncaria rhynchophylla has been used to lower blood pressure and to relieve various neurological symptoms. However, scientific evidence related to its effectiveness or precise modes of action has not been available. Thus, in the current study, we evaluated neuroprotective effects of U. rhynchophylla after transient global ischemia using 4-vessel occlusion model in rats. Methanol extract of U. rhynchophylla administered intraperitoneally (100-1000 mg/kg at 0 and 90 min after reperfusion) significantly protected hippocampal CA1 neurons against 10 min transient forebrain ischemia. Measurement of neuronal cell density in CA1 region at 7 days after ischemia by Nissl staining revealed more than 70% protection in U. rhynchophylla-treated rats compared to saline-treated animals. In U. rhynchophylla-treated animals, induction of cyclooxygenase-2 in hippocampus at 24 hr after ischemia was significantly inhibited at both mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, U. rhynchophylla extract inhibited TNF-alpha and nitric oxide production in BV-2 mouse microglial cells in vitro. These anti-inflammatory actions of U. rhynchophylla extract may contribute to its neuroprotective effects.