Narrow Results

In order to examine the effects of Kami-kihi-to (KKT or Jia-Wei-Gui-Pi-Tang) on osteopenia, we measured bone mineral density using computed X-ray absorptometry and monitored metabolism and bone tissue in an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model.

Bone mineral density was significantly lower in the OVX group than in normal group 3 months after ovariectomy. However, the bone mineral density of the OVX group administered KKT was clearly higher than that of the untreated OVX group.

Locomotor activity was regular in the normal group and in the OVX groups before administration of KKT. After 6-month administration of KKT, in OVX groups, the pattern of locomotor activity became diphasic with clear active and resting phases, as was also observed in the normal group. The locomotor activity did not decrease in the OVX groups after administration of KKT. At 6 months, the continuity of the trabecular bone was higher in the OVX group administered KKT than in the untreated OVX group. These results indicate that KKT improved the menopausal symptoms and increased the locomotor activity of the OVX group, thereby increasing bone mineral density.

BNG-1, a novel mixture of traditional Chinese medicines with a long history in the treatment of stroke, exhibited acute neuroprotection effect on rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Anti-ischemic effects were seen in both animals receiving BNG-1 before the ischemic insult as well as in animals receiving the drug formulation after surgical occlusion of the artery. Anti-thrombic activity was seen in vitro to inhibit arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation and in vivo to prolong bleeding time in mice. BNG-1 was also found to inhibit several phosphodiesterase (PDE) isoforms with potency order of the following rank: PDE 1>PDE 3>PDE 6>PDE 2>PDE 4>PDE 5. Other pre-clinical results and emerging clinical data coupled with the present findings suggest that BNG-1 may be a safe and effective therapy for both the prevention and treatment of cerebral stroke. Moreover, the fundamental cellular mechanism underlying its therapeutic effects may result from phosphodiesterase inhibition.

This study was performed to compare the effects of Chai-hu-gui-zhi-gan-jiang-tang (Saiko-keishi-kankyo-to), an herbal medicine, in improving depressed mood and on plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) and soluble interleukin-6 receptor (sIL-6R) concentrations with those of anti-depressants in peri- and post-menopausal women. Ninety patients complaining of menopausal symptoms including insomnia who were diagnosed with mood disorder based on DSM-IV were recruited and separated into two groups (Chai-hu-gui-zhi-gan-jiang-tang group was selected on the basis of SHO for 42 cases, while anti-depressants were used for 48 cases), and plasma IL-6 and sIL-6R concentrations were determined before and after three months of the treatment. There were no significant differences in the decrease in both climacteric and Hamilton depression score after treatment between the two groups. Plasma IL-6 and sIL-6R concentrations were significantly lower in the Chai-hu-gui-zhi-gan-jiang-tang group (-34.8 ± 15.5% and -22.4 ± 14.6%, respectively) than in the anti-depressant group (7.5 ± 4.8% and 2.4 ± 3.8%, respectively) after 3 months of treatment. Correlations between rate of decrease in climacteric score and plasma IL-6 (R = 0.498, P = 0.0056) and sIL-6R (R = 0.512, P = 0.0045) concentrations were observed.

Chai-hu-gui-zhi-gan-jiang-tang reduced plasma IL-6 and sIL-6R concentrations in relation to improvement of depressed mood during treatment. The findings of this study suggest that Chai-hu-gui-zhi-gan-jiang-tang has the potential to decrease morbidity by alleviation of stress reactions in peri- and post-menopausal women.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of the Chinese herbal medicines Bupleuri radix, Ginseng radix and Zingiberis rhizoma on spontaneous lymphatic vessel activity. The effect of each herbal medicine on in vivo lymphatic flow was examined by injection of dye into the femoral regions of rats after feeding with the herbal medicines. In an in vitro study, spontaneous changes in diameter of the rat thoracic duct were monitored, and each segment was exposed to each herbal medicine. In the in vivo study, 100% of the right iliac lymphatic node were positively stained in the herbal medicine group, whereas only 40% of the node were positively stained in the control group. In the in vitro study, Bupleuri radix and Ginseng radix increased the amplitude of spontaneous activity of lymphatic vessels in a concentration-dependent manner with or without L-NAME, an NO synthase inhibitor. The results indicated that the herbal medicines Bupleuri radix and Ginseng radix activated spontaneous lymphatic vasomotion and lymph flow, and the mechanisms of this effect seem to be independent of endothelial cells.

Background: Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is often used in China to treat patients with mammary nodules (MMND), and treating them by CHM can not only achieve good efficacy, but also reduce adverse reactions in clinic. However, the efficacy of CHM in the treatment of MMND has not been systematically assessed right now.

Methods: From the establishment of 11 electronic databases to February 1, 2022, a comprehensive literature search was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CHM in the treatment of MMND. Relevant trials were screened in NoteExpress, and the risks of bias were assessed with Cochrane Collaboration’s tool.

Results: This study included 22 randomized controlled trials involving 3839 participants. Meta-analysis revealed that CHM had a significant clinical effect in treating MMND. Compared with chemical drugs, CHM had certain advantages in alleviating the size, range, hardness and pain of the lump, decreasing the TCM syndrome score and reducing the packed cell volume and whole blood viscosity. And it could obviously reduce the occurrence of adverse reactions. In combination with chemical drugs, CHM could significantly improve the level of sex hormone secretion and ultrasound indicators. Ru-pi-xiao was the most commonly used formula for the treatment of MMND, and Bupleuri Radix was the most frequently used single Chinese herb.

Conclusion: CHM had certain advantages in treating MMND without obvious adverse reactions. However, due to the poor methodological quality of the included trials, well-designed, long-term follow-up randomized controlled trials will be required in future to provide strong clinical evidence for the CHM treatment of MMND. (PROSPERO No. CRD42020170939.)