The American Journal of Chinese Medicine

The effects of dried Rehmanniae Radix (Di Huang) extract were investigated using a diabetic nephropathy model: rats given streptozotocin after nephrectomy. The results showed that this crude drug reduced the magnitudes of the increases in glucose, urea nitrogen, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and thiobarbituric acid (TBA)-reactive substance levels, with the effects being most marked in the high blood glucose group. The renal histopathological lesions, which were conspicuous in rats not given dried Rehmanniae Radix extract, were ameliorated considerably in the high blood glucose group given this extract. It appears that dried Rehmanniae Radix extract may be useful as a therapeutic agent for inhibiting the progression of diabetic nephropathy. On the basis of these results, the possible mechanisms of action of this crude drug are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective and anti-fibrotic actions of crude extracts of Ganoderma tsugae (GTE) on chronic liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) in rats. CCl₄ (20%, 0.5 ml/rat) was given twice a week for 8 weeks, and animals received GTE through the whole experimental period. GTE showed obvious reducing actions on the elevated levels of glutamate-oxalate-transaminase (GOT) and glutamate-pyruvate-transaminase (GPT) caused by CCl₄ at weeks 3, 6 and 8. Liver fibrosis in rats induced by CCl₄ led to the drop of serum albumin and hepatic protein concentrations, while GTE increased serum albumin and hepatic protein concentrations. The CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis may prolong the prothrombine time and increase albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio. GTE significantly decreased the prothrombine time and A/G ratio. Liver fibrosis induced by CCl₄ markedly increased the weight of the spleen, hepatic water and hydroxyproline contents in rats, while GTE decreased the rat's spleen weights, hepatic water and hydroxyproline contents. All these results clearly demonstrated that GTE has hepatoprotective and anti-fibrotic activities.

We evaluated stress during "restraint with gnawing (R⁺G⁺)" and "restraint without gnawing (R⁺G^-)" in a mouse system. R⁺G^- induced a higher serum glucocorticoid level than R⁺G⁺. Zena F-III (a nutritive-tonic drink prescribed as "Kampo", a traditional Japanese medicine with its origin in Chinese medicine) reduced the glucocorticoid elevation in R⁺G⁺, but not in R⁺G^-. These results support the hypotheses that (i) activity, such as gnawing, which potentially leading to escape from distress, reduces the severity of emotional distress and (ii) Zena F-III reduces the severity of mental or emotional fatigue, or increases motivation, in a stressful situation that the animal can manage itself.

Tumor metastasis is a major cause of mortality in cancer patients. The anti-metastatic effect of tetrandrine, an alkaloid isolated from Stephania tetrandrae S. Moore, was investigated in a pulmonary metastatic model of colorectal cancer-bearing mice. Tetrandrine decreased the viability of murine colorectal adenocarcinoma CT26 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. CT26 cells were injected into BALB/c mice via a tail vein to establish pulmonary metastases. After this, the mice were given intraperitoneal injections of tetrandrine (10 mg/kg/day), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) at the same dose, or vehicle for 5 consecutive days. Mice treated with tetrandrine had 40.3% fewer metastases than vehicle-treated mice, and those treated with 5-FU had 36.9% fewer metastases than controls. Both tetrandrine- and 5-FU-treated mice survived longer than mice in the untreated control group. There was no acute toxicity or obvious changes in body weight in any of the mice. These results suggest that tetrandrine may be a useful anti-metastatic agent.

Coptidis rhizoma has been used as traditional herb medicine in gastrointestinal disorders in the Eastern Asia. We investigated whether the anticancer effects of the C. rhizoma induced apoptosis on human colorectal cancer cells SNU-C4. The cytotoxic effect of C. rhizoma was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. To determine apoptotic cell death, 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and caspase-3 enzyme assay were performed. In this study, C. rhizoma treatment (100 μg/ml) revealed typical morphological apoptotic features. Additionally, C. rhizoma treatment (100 μg/ml) increased levels of BAX and CASPASE-3, and decreased levels of BCL-2. Caspase-3 enzyme activity by treatment of C. rhizoma (100 μg/ml) also significantly increased compared to the control (p<0.05). These data indicate that C. rhizoma caused cell death by apoptosis through caspase pathways on human colorectal cancer cells SNU-C4.

Yuk-Hap-Tang (YHT) induces cell death in human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells. Caspase-3, -6 and -9 were markedly activated in HeLa cells treated with YHT. The preferred substrate for caspase-3 cysteine protease, PARP, was cleaved to its 85-kDa cleavage product. YHT increased the amount of the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2, and the pro-apoptotic protein, Bax. Although p53 has been reported to accumulate in cancer cells in response to anticancer agents, the p53 expression level was not changed in HeLa cells treated with YHT. Manganese (Mn)-TBAP, a mitochondria-specific SOD mimetic agent and NAC/GSH (N-acetyl cysteine/reduced glutathione) reduced the YHT-induced cytotoxicity and decreased the number of the YHT-induced apoptotic cells. Furthermore, YHT reduced the expression of Mn-SOD protein and its activity in HeLa cells. The data demonstrate that YHT induces the apoptosis of human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells by intervening Mn-SOD.

Nausea and vomiting are significant adverse effects of chemotherapeutic agents like cisplatin, and cause significant patient morbidity. Cisplatin treatment results in oxidant gut injury, which is postulated to be the primary cause of nausea and vomiting. We evaluated the effects of two antioxidant herbs, Scutellaria baicalensis and American ginseng berry, on cisplatin-induced nausea and vomiting using a rat model. Rats react to emetic or nausea-producing stimuli, such as cisplatin, with altered feeding habits, manifested by increased kaolin consumption (pica). We measured pica in rats to quantify cisplatin-induced nausea. We observed that pretreatment of rats with S. baicalensis or ginseng berry extracts resulted in a significant reduction in cisplatin-induced pica. The in vitro free radical scavenging ability of the herbal extract observed in the study, further confirmed the antioxidant action of the herb. We conclude that herbal antioxidants may have a role in attenuating cisplatin-induced nausea and vomiting.

Pyrite has been the most commonly used medicinal mineral, and its toxicity was reduced by traditional processing operations including heating and quenching in vinegar. To verify the scientific effects of this process, pyrite was processed at temperatures up to 850°C and through as many as five processing cycles. A metal extraction test was carried out from the processed pyrites on the assumption that pyrite medicines with the lowest toxic metal content would be most desirable. Increasing temperature and the number of processing cycles promoted phase change of pyrite to hematite, reduction of toxic metals in pyrite and their concentrations in the extraction solutions. However, the relationships between variations in extracted elements and the number of processing cycles at the same processing temperature were not clearly defined. Heating temperature is more important than the number of processing cycles for effective processing, and pyrite should be processed at the highest possible temperature in order to diminish highly toxic metals such as As and Pb.

Much progress has been made in the pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). However, the question on how to investigate pharmacokinetics of TCM extract remains. In this study, we selected a new TCM extract YL2000 developed in our laboratory as the research object and investigated both the pharmacokinetics of baicalin and berberine in YL2000 and the pharmacodynamics of YL2000 in febrile rats. The correlation analysis between the time-concentration curves of baicalin and berberine and the time-effect curve of YL2000 was conducted in plasma by statistical methods. The results showed that the time-effect data of anti-pyretic effect of YL2000 had a negative correlation (r=-0.8312, P<0.1) with the time-concentration data of baicalin in plasma, but had no correlation (r=0.01368, P>0.5) with berberine. These data suggested that baicalin could be selected as a marker of anti-pyretic effect, and that YL2000 could be used to treat fevers according to the disposition of baicalin in vivo.

In this study, we also proposed that one or more active elements in TCM extracts could be selected to represent the pharmacokinetics of TCM extracts in vivo, combined with the pharmacodynamics of TCM extract.

The characteristic ingredients of Ganoderma lucidum, such as polysaccharides, triterpenoids, nucleic acids and small proteins, have been found and proved to have many special pharmacological properties. Mice and rats have been extensively used to investigate the effects of G. lucidum. Experiments with horses as an animal model for investigating the effects of G. lucidum have never been reported. The purpose of this investigation was to understand the influence of G. lucidum feeding on blood biochemistry and immunocompetence in horses. Complete blood count (CBC) and blood biochemistry were surveyed routinely. Cellular-mediated immunity was monitored by flow cytometry to survey the percentage changes of CD5+, CD4+, CD8+ T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). The effect of G. lucidum on humoral immunity was experimented by fast plate agglutination test to survey the change and manifestation of the titer of specific anti-egg albumin antibodies in the serum after egg albumin injection. The findings on CBC and blood biochemistry indicated that G. lucidum was quite safe to horses. Experimental result on cell-mediated immunity showed that G. lucidum could increase the percentage of CD5+, CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes in PBLs (p<0.001). Experimental result on humoral immunity showed that G. lucidum could help the horses to produce a significantly higher quantity of specific antibodies in a shorter time (p<0.001).

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been used in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), but its therapeutic effects are debatable. We evaluated the clinical and biochemical effects of a TCM capsule (PentaHerbs capsule) in children with AD. After a run-in period of 4 weeks, children old enough to manage oral medication were admitted and their disease severity was evaluated by the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index. Blood was obtained for complete blood count, total and allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE), biochemical studies and inflammatory markers of AD severity [serum cutaneous T cell-attracting chemokine (CTACK), macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC), thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP)] prior to, and after 3 months of, TCM use. Three PentaHerbs capsules twice a day were prescribed for 4 months. Patients were followed monthly to ensure compliance, and SCORAD scores were obtained at each visit. Five boys and four girls participated in the study. All patients had detectable food or inhalant-specific IgE in serum. There was significant improvement in the overall and component SCORAD scores. There were no significant differences between the pre- and post-treatment values of the serum CTACK, MDC, TARC and ECP levels but CTACK showed a decreasing trend (p=0.069). No clinical or biochemical evidence of any adverse drug reaction was observed during the study period. The PentaHerbs capsules were well tolerated by the children and apparent beneficial effects were noted clinically. A larger, randomized placebo-controlled study is required to confirm the efficacy of this formulation for AD.

The use of somato-visceral regulation has been proposed as a treatment for a wide range of diseases. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that through somato-visceral regulation, ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury to the myocardium can be avoided by electroacupuncture (EA) on PC6 (Neiguan).

Electroacupuncture on PC6 (Neiguan) was brought about by the application of metal needles over the bilateral median nerve at a point 1.5 cm proximal to the palm crease in male Spraque-Dawley rats. The animals were randomized into two groups: (1) prevention group with preconditioning by the application of EA on PC6 (n=13); and (2) treatment group with EA on PC6 during I/R injury (n=10). The protection against myocardial injury was blocked by different mechanisms: (1) severing of the bilateral median nerve (n=10), (2) bilateral vagotomy (n=10), and (3) intravenous naloxone injection (n=10). The hemodynamic parameters (mean artery pressure and heart rate), duration of arrhythmia, mortality rate and cardiac enzymes were evaluated in these groups. The results showed that there were significant reductions in cardiac enzymes, the duration of arrhythmia and mortality rate in rats that were either preconditioned or treated with EA on PC6, compared with those that did not undergo EA on PC6 (P<0.05). The cardioprotective effects were blocked by different procedures (P>0.05).

We conclude that EA on bilateral PC6 (Neiguan) prevents and attenuates I/R injury to the heart, and that this approach may provide an applicable and preventative alternative for patients with ischemic heart disease.

Sanfujiu is a method of applying herbal drug paste onto acupoints Fengmen and Feishu during the 3 hottest summer days, to treat patients with allergies using traditional Chinese medicine. The objectives of this study were to describe the immediate reactions (adverse effects and perceived efficacy) to the Sanfujiu treatment, and examine the variations in the prevalence of the reactions to and perceived efficacy of Sanfujiu among different sub-groups, based on patient age and diagnosis. The study subjects included 119 patients who completed Sanfujiu treatment at a regional hospital in Taipei. One week after treatment, trained interviewers conducted telephone interviews with the patients. More than 80% of the patients reported having reactive symptoms after using the Sanfujiu treatment. Younger subjects (≤16 years of age) were more likely to have reactive symptoms. Patients with rhinitis were more likely to have runny noses and nasal congestion after the treatment. Patients with allergic eczema were more likely to have skin itching all over the body. Overall, 44.6% of patients perceived the treatment as being effective, while 52.1% of patients did not notice any effects, either good or bad, from the treatment. The perceived efficacy of Sanfujiu treatment was not related to patient age, sex, or diagnosis. This study demonstrated that Sanfujiu treatment was moderately effective, as perceived by the patients, in treating their allergic symptoms immediately after the treatment. Symptoms reactive to the treatment were common but are usually mild. This information is essential for patient consultation, and serves as a reference for clinicians.

Meridian theory is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Although acupuncture has been accepted in many countries, the nature of the meridian theory and the principles of acupuncture are still unclear in the modern scientific view. The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in wave propagation of mechanical vibrations (optimal stimulator frequency of 40 Hz) through the pericardium meridian [EH-4 (Chieh-Men) and EH-5 (Chien-Shih)] and adjacent control regions in 20 subjects using hydrodynamic analysis. The mean transfer speed was significantly lower in the meridian (4 m/s) than in the adjacent control region (8.5 m/s, P<0.001). There were also significant differences between the meridian and control points in the attenuation rate (P<0.001) and peak amplitude (P<0.001). In conclusion, these results imply that the substance of the meridian differs from that of the adjacent control regions.

We propose that the meridian system as a whole is one grand transmission line, excited periodically at a frequency of f₅₀, the frequency of the 50-round circulation (0.578×10^-3 Hz). This grand transmission line is analyzed as a 28-leg, uniform, low pass (LP) electromagnetic (EM) birdcage coil, consisting of capacitors and inductors. The second lowest resonant frequency (mode 1) of the birdcage is f₅₀. Each leg represents one channel and is analyzed as a lossless transmission line itself. The amplitude of the Qi standing wave on each channel is periodically amplified at f₅₀. The average number of acupoints on the 28 channels involved in the 50-round circulation and the speed of Qi were used to calculate the resonant frequencies. A mechanical birdcage consisting of mass and spring may co-exist and exchange energy with the EM birdcage. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used to map the diffusion coefficient, elastic modulus and electric conductivity of tissues in vivo, as an indirect evidence of the existence of the proposed EM and mechanical standing waves.

The disease, Jiao Qi, thought by modern scholars to be beriberi, was prevalent in medieval China. This article reviews the research literature, both ancient and modern, concerning the history of Jiao Qi, and evaluates the research methods used by modern scholars writing about Jiao Qi. The article emphasizes the importance of considering not only the symptoms of the disease but also its epidemiological features, including environmental aspects, and the therapeutic measures employed to treat it. The current author concludes that there are problems with the historical materials, such as inconsistency and bias, and that limitations are inherent in the approaches used to identify an ancient disease according to modern medical criteria.