The American Journal of Chinese Medicine

When stainless steel needles were inserted opposite each other in the stem near the unifoliolate buds of soybean plants and retained there for the whole experiment, leaf temperatures increased for two consecutive days. Following acupuncture, the mean temperature of the main vein in the first and second days increased 0.59°C and 0.48°C, respectively, while the temperature of mesophyll increased only 0.50°C and 0.47°C in the first and second days. These results are very consistent with studies on the human meridian system. This is our second report on experimental evidence that plants may have a meridian system as is known to exist in mammals.

SC-RNV, a new method of radionuclide venography by subcutaneous injection of Tc-99m pertechnetate at acupuncture points K-3 (Taixi), was developed in our laboratory. To further investigate whether K-3 is the best point for SC-RNV, Tc-99m pertechnetate was subcutaneously injected at K-3 on one foot and at one of the 11 other acupuncture points (APs) or 3 nonacupuncture points (NAPs) on the opposite foot, simultaneously, in 157 subjects without evidence of venous disorder. The absorption of radioisotopes from each injection site was evaluated by analyzing the time-activity curve at a region of interest set upon over the lower leg above the injection site. The results revealed that the absorption of radioisotopes via K-3 (Taixi) was better than that via NAPs, evidenced by higher peak activity and greater absorption rate. However, there was no significant difference between K-3 injection and other APs injections except Liv-2 and Liv-3. These results indicate that absorption of radioisotopes via APs is better than via NAPs. This together with the fact that K-3 is easier to detect than other APs in feet, suggests that K-3 is a good point for SC-RNV.

To study the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on intestinal motility, the distance of intra-intestinal movement of a carbon solution injected into the stomach of a mouse was evaluated. Intestinal motility was also evaluated using several drugs to accelerate or reduce intestinal motility. Our results indicate that intestinal peristalsis was accelerated significantly by acupuncture at the abdomen, but suppressed by moxibustion. The intestinal peristalsis acceleration by vagostigmin was reduced significantly by both acupuncture and moxibustion, while the reduction of intestinal peristalsis by atropin was accelerated significantly. However, no remarkable changes of intestinal peristalsis were observed with treatment by acupuncture and moxibustion after reduction by epinephrine.

Statistical methods for evaluating the effects of treatments and prognostic factors in clinical trials are discussed. Exploratory data analysis, nonparametric methods, regression modeling, and regression diagnostics of influential cases are applied to the analysis of a pilot 'randomized' controlled trial on the treatment of acute stroke with acupuncture. The utility of this analysis for modifying patient eligibility criteria, determining required sample size and utilizing stratified randomization in a future extensive stroke trial is discussed.

A low molecular weight polysaccharide has been isolated from the rhizome of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (Umbelliferaer). It has a molecular weight of approximately 3,000 and consists of protein (4.73%) and carbohydrate (85.85%) of which 5.2% is uronic acid. It shows strong anti-tumor activity on Ehrlich Ascites tumor bearing mice. It also exhibits immunostimulating activities, both in vitro and in vivo.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the traditional Chinese medicine Fu-Fang-Tai-Pian-Pian on responsiveness of mouse spleen leukocytes to the mitogens concanavalin A (con A), phytohemrnaglutinin (PHA), and bacterial endotoxin (LPS). Aqueous and chloroform/methanol extracts of the drug were prepared and added to mitogen-stimulated cultures at doses ranging from 0.625% to 20% by volume. The aqueous extract depressed responsiveness to all mitogens at all doses tested, and was significantly more potent in this regard than the organic extract. The organic extract depressed responsiveness at low dilutions; however it significantly stimulated responsiveness to PHA and LPS, but not to con A, at dilutions. of 2.5% or less. The relative ability of compounds partitioning into aqueous and organic extracts of the medicinal mixture to both stimulate and depress the ability of lymphocytes to proliferate may provide insight into the mechanism of action of this and related medicines.

The hepatoprotective effects of a Taiwanese crude herb, Hwang-hua-mih-tsay (Wedelia chinensis (Osbeck) Merr.), were investigated. Acute hepatitis was induced by three hepatotoxins: carbon tetrachloride and acetaminophen in mice, and D(+)-galactosamine in rats. After treatment with W. chinensis (300 mg/kg, p.o.) at 2,6 and 10 hours, a reduction in the elevation of serum glutamate oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and glutamate pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) levels was observed at 24 hrs after hepatotoxins were administered. These serological observations were confirmed by histopathological examinations. A microscopic examination of the liver showed a marked improvement in groups receiving W. chinensis. In order to further confirm the hepatoprotective effect of W. chinensis, all pharmacological and histopathological effects were compared with Bupleurum chinense DC. (family Umbelliferae), a well documented antihepatotoxicity herb. It was concluded that W. chinensis has a definite hepatoprotective effect against liver injuries.

Alimentary plants were screened for antibacterial activity against a penicillin G resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus. Twenty-five samples of plant material corresponding to 21 species from 13 families were used. Both aqueous and ethanol extracts were obtained from them. Antibacterial activity was determined by the agar-well diffusion method, using cephazolin as a standard antibiotic. Seventeen ethanol extracts were found active. Eugenia caryophyllata (clavo de olor*) flowers, Myristica fragans (nuez moscada*) seeds, Theobroma cacao (cacao*) seed bark, Triticum sp (trigo*) fruit, Zea mays (maíz*) fruit and Piper nigrum (pimienta*) ripe fruit produced some of the more active extracts (*= Argentine vulgar names).

The anti-nociceptive effect of processed aconiti tuber (TJ-3021), one of the traditional oriental herbal medicines (Kampo), was investigated by utilizing various methods including repeated cold stress and adjuvant articular inflammation in rats and mice. Analgesic potency was compared with that of mesaconitine, a potent component of aconitine alkaloids, and other analgesic agents. It was found that mesaconitine was more potent than morphine, and a processed aconiti tuber [(TJ-3021), Tsumura-shuchi-bushi-matsu] showed some analgesic effect, although it was weaker than those of dichlofenac, aminopyrine and indomethacine.

The effect of Sho-saiko-to on the concentration of vitamin E in serum and on the granuloma formation in Carrageenin cotton pellet-induced rats was investigated. As a result, in the granuloma rats of Sho-saiko-to group, a significantly improved inhibitory effect on granuloma formation and a higher concentration of vitamin E in serum, cholesterol and phospholipid were observed compared to the control group. Despite this lipid-increasing action by Sho-saiko-to, the concentration of serum lipid peroxide was significantly lower than in the control group. Furthermore, a significant negative correlation between the concentration of vitamin E and granuloma weight was observed. These results suggest that vitamin E plays an important role in promoting the anti-inflammatory effect of Sho-saiko-to.

Sho-seiryu-to, a traditional Japanese herbal medicine, has been used extensively in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. The effects of Sho-seiryu-to on electrical responses induced by acetylcholine in dissociated nasal gland acinar cells were investigated using patch-clamp and microfluorimetric imaging techniques. The application of Sho-seiryu-to inhibited both K⁺ and Cl^- currents augmented by acetylcholine. The elevation of intracellular Ca²⁺ and Na⁺ concentrations induced by acetylcholine was also inhibited by Sho-seiryu-to. These findings suggest that Sho-seiryu-to attenuated the secretion of water and electrolytes from the nasal glands through an anti-cholinergic effect.

Human subjects were fed with extract of three Chinese herbs, Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolium roots and Ganoderma lucidum. Pulse of the radial artery was examined. Our results indicate that each herb has a specific effect on the Fourier components of the pulse, and is in agreement with traditional Chinese medical descriptions.