Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine

Publications in this journal

• Article: Introduction of the World Health Organization project of the International Classification of Traditional Medicine.

  Peng-fei Gao, Kenji Watanabe
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  ABSTRACT: The World Health Organization plans to incorporate "traditional medicine" into the next revision of its International Classification of Diseases-Version 11 (ICD-11). If traditional medicine is included in ICD-11, it is definitely an epoch-making issue. The expected result is the International Classification of Traditional Medicine, China, Japan and Korea Version (ICTM-CJK). The intention of the ICTM project is not only beneficial for traditional medical components, but also might be beneficial for Western biomedicine. For this shared purpose, China, Japan and Korea must understand the meaning of this project and collaborate to develop it.
  Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine ; 9(11):1161-4.
• Article: Homeopathic mother tincture of Phytolacca decandra induces apoptosis in skin melanoma cells by activating caspase-mediated signaling via reactive oxygen species elevation.

  Samrat Ghosh,, Kausik Bishayee,, Avijit Paul,, Avinaba Mukherjee,, Sourav Sikdar,, Debrup Chakraborty,, Naual Boujedaini,, Anisur Rahman Khuda-Bukhsh
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  ABSTRACT: Abstract OBJECTIVE: Preventive measures against skin melanoma like chemotherapy are useful but suffer from chronic side effects and drug resistance. Ethanolic extract of Phytolacca decandra (PD), used in homeopathy for the treatment of various ailments like chronic rheumatism, regular conjunctivitis, psoriasis, and in some skin diseases was tested for its possible anticancer potential. METHODS: Cytotoxicity of the drug was tested by conducting 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay on both normal (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) and A375 cells. Fluorescence microscopic study of 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride-stained cells was conducted for DNA fragmentation assay, and changes in cellular morphology, if any, were also recorded. Lactate dehydrogenase activity assay was done to evaluate the percentages of apoptosis and necrosis. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, if any, and expression study of apoptotic genes also were evaluated to pin-point the actual events of apoptosis. RESULTS: Results showed that PD administration caused a remarkable reduction in proliferation of A375 cells, without showing much cytotoxicity on peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Generation of ROS and DNA damage, which made the cancer cells prone to apoptosis, were found to be enhanced in PD-treated cells. These results were duly supported by the analytical data on expression of different cellular and nuclear proteins, as for example, by down-regulation of Akt and Bcl-2, up-regulation of p53, Bax and caspase 3, and an increase in number of cell deaths by apoptosis in A375 cells. CONCLUSION: Overall results demonstrate anticancer potentials of PD on A375 cells through activation of caspase-mediated signaling and ROS generation.
  Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine 03/2013; 11(2):116-124.
• Article: [Chinese herbal medicine for side effects of transarterial chemoembolization in liver cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis].

  Xiao-Qian Li, Chang-Quan Ling
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  ABSTRACT: Primary liver cancer is one of the most commonly seen tumors in clinical practice. Due to the stealthiness and fast progress of liver cancer, only 20% of the patients may have chance to receive operation for radical therapy. Patients seldom get benefit from systematic chemotherapy and as a result, local chemotherapy methods such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) have become the mainstay in the treatment of liver cancer. Compared with systematic chemotherapy, TACE produces fewer side effects and most of such side effects are caused by postembolization syndrome manifested as nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, loss of appetite, etc. In this systematic review, effects of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in relieving side effects caused by TACE in patients with liver cancer were evaluated and meta-analysis was conducted when possible. Literature search was conducted on August 23rd, 2011. The Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE (Ovid SP), EMBASE (Ovid SP), and Science Citation Index Expanded, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Chongqing VIP Database and Wanfang Data were searched with no time limits. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of CHM for TACE-induced side effects in patients with primary liver cancer were eligible for this review, regardless of blinding, language, or publication status. Search results were screened to select the trials included in this review according to the inclusion criteria, and data were extracted from all the included RCTs by using a self-developed data extraction form. Assessment of risk of bias in included studies was conducted according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Intervention (Version 5.0.2): Criteria for judging risk of bias in the "risk of bias" assessment tool. Dichotomous data were expressed as risk ratio with its 95% confidence interval (CI). Continuous outcomes were expressed as mean differences with 95% CI. If there was no significant heterogeneity, the results from the fixed-effect model were presented. If the heterogeneity was not substantial, the results from the random-effect model were presented. If the heterogeneity was substantial, a meta-analysis was not performed and a narrative, qualitative summary was performed instead. In the event of substantial clinical, methodological, or statistical heterogeneity, the trial components such as patients, diseases, interventions, comparisons, and outcomes in the included trials were reviewed to decide the reason for heterogeneity. A total of 47 RCTs were included in this review after screening the search results. Among them, 46 were in Chinese and 1 was in English; 43 were journal articles and 4 were academic dissertations; all the authors were from mainland China and all the trials were conducted in mainland China. The results of assessment of risk of bias showed that there was unclear or high risk of bias in most of the included RCTs and thus they were all with low quality. The results of systematic evaluation and meta-analysis showed that CHM was beneficial to patients with liver cancer in prolonging life expectancy, improving quality of life, reducing side effects of TACE such as nausea and vomiting, fever, liver pain, and bone marrow suppression, improving liver function indexes and immunological indexes, and enhancing objective curative effect on the tumor size. However, due to the substantial heterogeneity presented in most of the indexes, only descriptive analysis was conducted for these indexes. The results of the heterogeneity analysis showed that the causes of substantial heterogeneity may be due to the obvious difference in treatment protocol, components and dosage form of CHM, time for delivering drugs and course of treatment. CHM is effective in prolonging life expectancy, improving quality of life, and reducing side effects of TACE in the treatment of liver cancer. However, due to the undesirable quality of the included RCTs and the substantial heterogeneity, most of the outcome measure indexes were failed to be meta-analyzed, and thus the significance of this review for clinical practice was limited.
  Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine 12/2012; 10(12):1341-62.
• Article: [Research progress in biological basis of cold and heat essence of Chinese medicine].

  Yu-Ting Yin, Xiao-Wan Li, Yang Dong, Jian-Rong Shi
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  ABSTRACT: Cold-heat problem is one core of traditional Chinese medicine theory. This paper summarizes the experimental research related to the biological basis of cold-heat essence in cold-heat syndrome, cold-heat body constitution and cold-heat property of Chinese herbs. In view of the classical physiological and biochemical indices, gene expression, protein expression and metabolic differences, differences in cold-heat syndrome or cold-heat constitution are mainly based on neurotransmitter, thyroid function, sex hormone, cyclic nucleotide system, and energy metabolism relating to the corresponding gene and protein expression. Furthermore, this paper analyses the change of correlation indices that accompany with a dynamic development process of "constitution-syndrome-herbal intervention", implying that the research of biological basis of cold-heat essence has turned from single index to multiple indices, and from dispersion research to system research.
  Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine 12/2012; 10(12):1328-35.
• Article: [Effects of Chinese herbal medicine Qianggu Capsule on patients with rheumatoid arthritis-induced osteoporosis: a report of 82 cases].

  Gui-Lin Ouyang, Xiao-Hui Feng, Lian-Bo Xiao, Zheng Huang, Qing Xia, Fei Zhu
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  ABSTRACT: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a kind of chronic autoimmune disease and osteoporosis is one of its complications. To explore the effects of Qianggu Capsule, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporosis in patients with RA. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTION: Eighty-two patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis, who were treated in Shanghai Guanghua Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine from January 2010 to December 2011, were divided into treatment group (42 cases) and control group (40 cases). The patients in the treatment group were administered with Qianggu Capsule and two disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. The patients in the control group were administered with two common-used antirheumatic drugs. The course of treatment was 6 months. Blood levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), calcium, phosphorus, C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were determined before and after the treatment. BMD in the lumbar spine, femur and the left distal radius were also examined before and after the treatment. The ALP level, a bone metabolic parameter, was significantly increased in patients of the treatment group after treatment compared with before treatment. BMD values in the lumbar spine, femur and the radius were higher after treatment than before treatment (P<0.05). There were no changes in ALP level and BMD in the patients of the control group after the treatment when compared with before treatment. Treatment with Qianggu Capsule can increase BMD of RA patients, and then ameliorate their osteoporosis.
  Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine 12/2012; 10(12):1394-9.
• Article: A review of chemical and biological profile of genus Michelia.

  Dinesh Kumar, Sunil Kumar, Seema Taprial, Deepak Kashyap, Ajay Kumar, Om Prakash
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  ABSTRACT: The genus Michelia, belonging to family Magnoliaceae, consists of about 80 plant species mainly distributed in South Asian countries. The plants of this genus have been traditionally used in curing various diseases like fever, colic, leprosy, eye disorders, inflammation, antidote for scorpion, etc. Ninety-four compounds isolated from nine species of the genus Michelia like sesquiterpenes, steroids, flavonoids, aporphines, phenols, esters, benzenoids and alkaloids have antibacterial, anticancer and antiplasmodial activities. This review presents first time detailed information on chemical and biological properties of constituents isolated from the genus Michelia.
  Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine 12/2012; 10(12):1336-40.
• Article: Leaf extract of Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K. Schum screened for its phytochemical constituents and antibacterial and anticancer activities.

  Chinthamony Arul Raj, Dominic Sophia, Paramasivam Ragavendran, Thangarajan Starlin, Muthian Ahalliya Rathi, Velliyur Kanniappan Gopalakrishnan
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  ABSTRACT: The study was formulated with the objective to assess phytochemical constituents, antibacterial activity and anticancer activity of Alpinia purpurata. The leaves of A. purpurata were washed thoroughly by tap water, shade dried and powdered. The plant powder was extracted with successive solvent system. Phytochemical constituents were evaluated, antibacterial activity was carried out by disc diffusion method and anticancer activity of the ethyl acetate leaf extract was evaluated by using 3-(4,5 dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The ethyl acetate extract of A. purpurata showed most of the phytochemicals. The extract exhibited antibacterial activity with a zone of inhibition from 5 to 14 mm at various concentrations and the extract showed potential anticancer activity against PA1 ovarian cancer cell line at the 48 h with half maximal inhibitory concentration value of 110.25 μg/mL and exhibited a dose-dependent decrease in cell count for all the concentrations tested. The present study scientifically proved that ethyl acetate leaf extract of A. purpurata is a good source of phytocontituents, showing antibacterial and anticancer activities.
  Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine 12/2012; 10(12):1460-4.
• Article: Effects of electroacupuncture on expression of c-fos protein in the spinal dorsal horn of rats with chronic visceral hyperalgesia.

  De-Bo Qi, Wei-Min Li
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  ABSTRACT: Acupuncture is widely used in clinics to suppress chronic visceral pain in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); however, the exact neurobiological mechanisms for its therapeutic effects need further exploration. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible involvement of spinal neurons in the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) in relieving chronic visceral hyperalgesia in a rat model of IBS. Colon mechanical irritation was applied to male neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats to establish the IBS model. Behavioral test of the abdominal withdraw reflex (AWR) response to colorectal distention stimuli was conducted to judge the degree of colorectal sensitivity. EA at acupoints Zusanli (ST36) and Shangjuxu (ST37) was applied bilaterally in a total of four times every other day, while sham-EA at similar acupoints was done by inserting needles without electrical stimulation. Immunohistochemical methods were used to display the expression of proto-oncogene protein c-fos in the spinal dorsal horn. It was found that AWR scores were significantly increased in the IBS model rats (P<0.01), accompanied with significant increase in the expression of c-fos protein in the superficial laminae (SDH, laminae I and II) and nucleus proprius (NP, laminae III and IV), the neck of the dorsal horn (NECK, laminae V and VI) at lumbosacral (L6-S2) spinal level, and in NECK at thoracolumbar (T13-L2) spinal level, when compared with normal rats (P<0.05). After EA treatment, AWR scores and the expression of c-fos protein in SDH, NP and NECK at similar spinal levels were significantly decreased in the IBS model rats (P<0.05). No such effects on either AWR scores or the expression of c-fos protein were observed in IBS model rats after sham-EA treatment. The abnormally high neuronal excitability in the spinal dorsal horn may be an important reason underlying the visceral hyperalgesia in IBS model rats. EA treatment can relieve the chronic visceral hyperalgesia in IBS rats by suppressing the abnormal neuronal excitability in the spinal dorsal horn.
  Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine 12/2012; 10(12):1490-6.
• Article: [Analysis of the English translation of meridians' path in Miraculous Pivot].

  Ke Cheng, Fan Wu, Meng-Hu Guo, Ling Zhao, Hai-Ping Deng, Hai-Meng Zhang, Li-Zhen Wang, Yao Xu, Mactavish James, Xue-Yong Shen
  Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine 12/2012; 10(12):1502-6.
• Article: [A complexity analysis of Chinese herbal property theory: the multiple expressions of herbal property].

  Rui Jin, Bing Zhang
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  ABSTRACT: Chinese herbal property is the highly summarized concept of herbal nature and pharmaceutical effect, which reflect the characteristics of herbal actions on human body. These herbal actions, also interpreted as presenting the information about pharmaceutical effect contained in herbal property on the biological carrier, are defined as herbal property expressions. However, the biological expression of herbal property is believed to possess complex features for the involved complexity of Chinese medicine and organism. Firstly, there are multiple factors which could influence the expression results of herbal property such as the growth environment, harvest season and preparing methods of medicinal herbs, and physique and syndrome of body. Secondly, there are multiple biological approaches and biochemical indicators for the expression of the same property. This paper elaborated these complexities for further understanding of herbal property. The individuality of herbs and expression factors should be well analyzed in the related studies.
  Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine 12/2012; 10(12):1321-7.
• Article: Multifactor designs able to examine the interactions.

  Xiao-Lei Bao, Liang-Ping Hu
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  ABSTRACT: Multifactor designs that are able to examine the interactions include factorial design, factorial design with a block factor, repeated measurement design; orthogonal design, split-block design, etc. Among all the above design types that are able to examine the interactions, the factorial design is the most commonly used. It is also called the full-factor experimental design, which means that the levels of all the experimental factors involved in the research are completely combined, and k independent repeated experiments are conducted under each experimental condition. The factorial design with a block factor can also examine the influence of a block factor formed by one or more important nonexperimental factors based on the factorial design. This article introduces the factorial design and the factorial design with a block factor by examples.
  Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine 12/2012; 10(12):1371-4.
• Article: Effects of echinacoside on MPP(+)-induced mitochondrial fragmentation, mitophagy and cell apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells.

  Min Zhu, Mi Zhou, Ying Shi, Wen-Wei Li
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  ABSTRACT: To observe the protective effect of echinacoside on mitochondrial fragmentation, mitophagy and cell apoptosis in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line exposed to 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)). The MPP(+) -treated SH-SY5Y cells were divided into control and drug groups. The cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry analysis. The alterations in mitochondrial morphology were observed, and the changes in mitochondrial membrane potential and mitophagy were measured. MPP(+) induced severe mitochondrial fragmentation in SH-SY5Y cells. Mitochondrial membrane potential was significantly reduced (P<0.05), which further led to mitophagy and cell apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells treated with MPP(+) (P<0.05); mitochondrial depolarization, mitophagy and cell apoptosis in echinacoside-treated groups were significantly suppressed (P<0.05), but mitochondrial fragmentation was not affected (P>0.05). MPP(+) can cause severe damage to mitochondrial morphology and the function in SH-SY5Y cells, and echinacoside selectively reverse mitochondrial function and cell apoptosis, yet there is no effect on mitochondrial morphology.
  Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine 12/2012; 10(12):1427-32.
• Article: Antiosteoporotic effects of benzylbenzoate glucosides from Curculigo orchioides in ovariectomized rats.

  Lei Liu, Yuan-Hui Guo, Hai-Liang Xin, Yan Nie, Ting Han, Lu-Ping Qin, Qiao-Yan Zhang
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  ABSTRACT: To evaluate the antiosteoporotic effects of benzylbenzoate glucosides from Curculigo orchioides (COBG) in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. A total of 70 female Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to sham-operated and OVX model groups. The OVX rats were further divided into six subgroups treated by gavage with vehicle, 1 mg/kg of nylestriol, 6, 18 and 54 mg/kg of COBG and 3.0 g/kg of ethanol extract of Curculigo orchioides respectively for 12 weeks. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The sections of tibia were prepared for histomorphometric analysis. The biomarkers in serum and urine were determined using reagent kits. Ovariectomy induced the bone loss and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue with the activities of increased serum alkaline phosphatase and loss of calcium through the excretion in urine, and decreased levels of antioxidant in serum (P<0.05, P<0.01). Administration of 6, 18 and 54 mg/kg of COBG significantly increased the BMD, improved the microarchitecture of bone tissue, prevented the depletion of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, inhibited the increase of malondialdehyde in serum and reduced the excretion of urine calcium in OVX rats (P<0.05, P<0.01). COBG could prevent the bone loss through improving the antioxidant status, which offers a potential new therapeutic drug for postmenopausal osteoporosis.
  Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine 12/2012; 10(12):1419-26.
• Article: Estrogen-dependent effect of soy extract on pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in rats.

  Toktam Mohammadpour, Mahmoud Hosseini, Reza Karami, Hamid Reza Sadeghnia, Ali Reza Ebrahimzadeh Bideskan, Lili Enayatfard
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  ABSTRACT: To study the different effects of soy extract on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures in the presence and absence of ovarian hormones in rats, and the gender-dependent differences in the effects of phytoestrogens on behavior. Male and female Wistar rats were randomly divided into nine groups with eight in each, namely, male-saline (M-saline), male-low-dose soy (M-LDS), male-high-dose soy (M-HDS), sham-saline (Sh-saline), sham-low-dose soy (Sh-LDS), sham-high-dose soy (Sh-HDS), ovariectomized-saline (OVX-saline), ovariectomized-low-dose soy (OVX-LDS) and ovariectomized-high-dose soy (OVX-HDS). The rats of groups 7 to 9 were ovariectomized under ketamine anesthesia. The rats of groups 2, 5 and 8 were treated by 20 mg/kg of soy extract while the animals of groups 3, 6 and 9 received 60 mg/kg of soy extract for two weeks. In groups 1, 4 and 7, saline was injected instead of soy extract. The animals were then injected by a single dose of PTZ (90 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally) and placed in a plexiglas cage and the latency to minimal clonic seizure (MCS) and generalized tonic-clonic seizure (GTCS) was recorded. Both MCS and GTCS latency in M-LDS and M-HDS groups was significantly lower than that in M-saline group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Treatment for female sham rats by soy extract did not affect MCS and GTCS latency. The animals of OVX-LDS and OVX-HDS groups had lower MCS and GTCS latency in comparison with OVX-saline group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). It is concluded that the phytoestrogens of soy affect seizure severity induced by PTZ, but their effects are different in the presence or absence of ovarian hormones. However, further studies are necessary to be done.
  Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine 12/2012; 10(12):1470-6.
• Article: [Discussion on six errors of formulas corresponding to syndromes in using the classic formulas].

  Yan-Ju Bao, Bao-Jin Hua
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  ABSTRACT: The theory of formulas corresponding to syndromes is one of the characteristics of Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases (Shanghan Zabing Lun) and one of the main principles in applying classic prescriptions. It is important to take effect by following the principle of formulas corresponding to syndromes. However, some medical practitioners always feel that the actual clinical effect is far less than expected. Six errors in the use of classic prescriptions as well as the theory of formulas corresponding to syndromes are the most important causes to be considered, i.e. paying attention only to the local syndromes while neglecting the whole, paying attention only to formulas corresponding to syndromes while neglecting the pathogenesis, paying attention only to syndromes while neglecting the pulse diagnosis, paying attention only to unilateral prescription but neglecting the combined prescriptions, paying attention only to classic prescriptions while neglecting the modern formulas, and paying attention only to the formulas but neglecting the drug dosage. Therefore, not only the patients' clinical syndromes, but also the combination of main syndrome and pathogenesis simultaneously is necessary in the clinical applications of classic prescriptions and the theory of prescription corresponding to syndrome. In addition, comprehensive syndrome differentiation, modern formulas, current prescriptions, combined prescriptions, and drug dosage all contribute to avoid clinical errors and improve clinical effects.
  Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine 12/2012; 10(12):1363-70.
• Article: Effects of propolis on lingual mucosa response of hamsters submitted to experimental carcinogenesis.

  Lopes-Rocha Ricardo, Barroso Poliana Ribeiro, Santos Alexandre Soares, Lima Nádia Lages, Ferreira Fernanda Oliveira, Verli Flaviana Dornela
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  ABSTRACT: To assess the tissue reaction of the lingual mucosa in hamsters submitted to daily, alternating, topical applications of 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene (DMBA) and a commercial brand of an ethanol propolis extract (EPE). A total of 60 hamsters were divided into three groups with two experimental periods (13 and 20 weeks). The lateral edge of the tongue was submitted to daily, alternating, topical applications of 0.5% DMBA and 30% EPE (EPE group, n=20), 0.5% of DMBA and aqueous propolis extract (APE group, n=20) and 0.5% of DMBA and saline solution (DMBA group, n=20). The occurrence of clinical and histological alterations was analyzed, along with the measurement of the area and volume of the clinical alterations, the determination of structural and cytological alterations of the squamous epithelial tissue with atypias and the measurement of the histological area of squamous cell carcinomas. There were no significant differences among groups regarding any of the variables analyzed in the two evaluation periods. At week 13, a single squamous cell carcinoma occurred in the EPE group. At week 20, the greatest occurrence of squamous cell carcinoma was also in the EPE group. The mechanism of EPE (30% alcohol content) affecting the onset of tissue reaction and the promotion of carcinogenesis has not been clarified yet.
  Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine 12/2012; 10(12):1443-50.
• Article: Effects of different extracts of Eugenia caryophyllata on pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in mice.

  Mahmoud Hosseini, Taha Jafarianheris, Navid Seddighi, Mohammad Parvaneh, Ahmad Ghorbani, Hamid Reza Sadeghnia, Hassan Rakhshandeh
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  ABSTRACT: To investigate the possible anticonvulsant effect of different extracts of Eugenia caryophyllata (clove) on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures in mice. The animals were divided into saline, 50, 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg of aqueous extract, 50, 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg of ethanolic extract, and 50, 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg of chloroformic extract of clove groups. The extracts or saline were injected 60 min before each PTZ injection. Latency to the first minimal clonic seizure (MCS) and generalized tonic-clonic seizure (GTCS) and the percent of mortality were recorded. Aqueous extract of clove at doses of 50, 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg significantly extended the MCS and GTCS latency (P<0.05). The MCS latency in mice treated with 50, 100 and 250 mg/kg of the ethanolic extract was significantly increased (P<0.05). The GTCS latency in mice treated with 50, 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg of ethanolic extract was significantly higher than that of the saline-treated group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in MCS and GTCS latency between mice treated with different chloroformic extract of clove or saline. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts of clove could inhibit the PTZ-induced convulsion, and this plant has the potential to be used as a new therapeutic agent for control of seizures. The exact mechanisms and the active compounds that are responsible for the anticonvulsive effect need to be clarified in future studies.
  Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine 12/2012; 10(12):1476-81.
• Article: Effects of Sisheng Decoction on the immunity and anti-stress function in mice with spleen deficiency syndrome.

  Su-Fang Zhang, Chang-Quan Ling, Bai Li, Hong-Yun Chen, Zhe Chen
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  ABSTRACT: To study the possible mechanism of Sisheng Decoction on spleen deficiency syndrome via the observation of general conditions, immunity and anti-stress function in Dahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei Palmati)-induced mice model. Mice were randomized and grouped based on the body weight. The establishment of model and the treatment were done simultaneously. Except the mice in normal group, the decoction and the Dahuang powder were separately given in the morning and the afternoon for 14 d. The general condition of the mice, the rectal temperature, the time of burden swimming, the indexes of thymus and spleen and the interleukin-2 (IL-2) concentration in the serum were observed. The group treated with Sisheng Decoction showed better performance than that of the model group, including less stool, strong appetite and fast growth; the medium- and high-dose Sisheng Decoction increased the rectal temperature of mice. There was no statistical difference in the thymus and spleen indexes between the groups treated by Sisheng Decoction and the normal group (P>0.05). The thymus index in groups treated by sisheng Decoction was significantly elevated as compared with the model group (P<0.05). The medium- and high-dose Sisheng Decoction significantly improved the concentration of IL-2 and prolonged the time of burden swimming, as compared to the model group (P<0.05). The medium- and high-dose Sisheng Decoction is good at invigorating spleen and replenishing qi. One of the possible mechanisms may be related with the improvement of the immunity and anti-stress function of the body.
  Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine 12/2012; 10(12):1465-9.