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Objective To study the protecting effect of Total Saponins of Panax Notoginseng (PNS) on arterial wall in Hyperlipidemic rabbit model. Methods New Zealand rabbits were randomized into four groups: normal control group (NC) fed with common diet for 12 weeks; Hypercholesterolemia group (HC), medium-dose PNS group (MD, PNS 50 mg/(kg.d) and high-dose PNS group (HD, PNS 100 mg/(kg.d), fed with 1.5% cholesterol for 12 weeks. In MD and HD groups, PNS was injected from 3th to 4th weeks for 2 weeks, 7th to 8th weeks for 2 weeks, and 11th to 12th weeks for 2 weeks. The plasma levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol. (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured at the end of 12th week of experiment. Light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were adopted to assess the degree of pathologic damage of arterial wall. Result PNS could reduce the levels of serum TC and LDL-C, as compared with the HC group, P<0.05. Conclusion PNS has effect of inhibiting development of experimental atherosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Ginsenoside Rh2, an active component of ginseng, exhibits immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Rh2-B1, a sulfated derivative, was prepared to enhance its water solubility. We studied the effect of Rh2-B1 on CTLL-2, a CD8+ cytotoxic T cell line that was known for protecting against viral infection. Objective: We aimed to investigate the effect of Rh2-B1 on interferon (IFN)-γ production and cell proliferation and its possible mechanism. Materials and methods: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to analyze the IFN-γ concentration of the whole blood and the supernatant of CTLL-2 cell culture. Cell proliferation assay was conducted using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Western blots were used to evaluate changes in signal transduction pathways in CTLL-2 cells. Results: Rh2-B1 was able to enhance IFN-γ production from whole blood culture of Balb/c mice. We then evaluated the effect of Rh2-B1 on a cytotoxic T cell line, CTLL-2 for cell proliferation, IFN-γ production and its molecular mechanism. Rh2-B1 promoted cell proliferation and IFN-γ production of CTLL-2 cells. It also induced activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and extracellular-signal-regulated kinases (ERK), but inhibited p56 Lck and transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) expression. The effect was blocked by the specific p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 and ERK inhibitor U0126. Conclusion: Rh2-B1 could stimulate cell proliferation and IFN-γ production by activating the p38 MAPK- and ERK-dependent signaling pathways in cytotoxic T cells. This may be a novel medicine for treatment of viral infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study of screening of Chinese medical formula for treatment of chicken colibacillosis. Results of two repeated tests demonstrated that no. 4, 5, 24, and 26 had better effect on reducing the infected chicken mortality, showing stable effects on chicken infected by avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC).

The article presents a study which investigates the impact of radix dichroa extractive and febrifugine on the spleen lymphocyte proliferation of a mouse. The study uses the MTT assay for the determination of the immunological activity of radix dichroa extractive and febrifugine in the animal model. Results show the inhibition of the proliferation of mouse spleen lymphocytes by radix dichroa extractive.

Xiang-Qi-Tang (XQT) is a Chinese herbal formula containing Cyperus rotundus, Astragalus membranaceus and Andrographis paniculata. Alpha-Cyperone (CYP), astragaloside IV (AS-IV) and andrographolide (AND) are the three major active components in this formula. XQT may modulate the inflammatory or coagulant responses. We therefore assessed the effects of XQT on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory model of rat cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (RCMECs). XQT, CYP, AS-IV and AND inhibited the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and up-regulated the mRNA expression of Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2). XQT and CYP inhibited the secretion of tissue factor (TF). To further explore the mechanism, we found that XQT, or its active components CYP, AS-IV and AND significantly inhibited extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 phosphorylation protein expression as well as decreased the phosphorylation levels of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) p65 proteins in LPS-stimulated RCMECs. These results suggested that XQT and its active components inhibited the expression of inflammatory and coagulant mediators via mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs) and NF-κB signaling pathways. These findings may contribute to future research on the action mechanisms of this formula, as well as therapy for inflammation- or coagulation-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which determines the different concentrations effects of ginsenoside Rh2-B2 on murine 1 RAW264.7 macrophages by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and NF-κB signaling pathway induced by LPS in vitro.

The article offers information on the effects of sulfated derivatives of ginsenoside Rh2, IIa, and IIb on macrophage competence using phagocytosis of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in mice.

The article presents a study which identifies the antiviral mechanism of the ginsenoside and the derivatives against Marek's disease virus (MDV) in chicken. From the MDV RNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection, it shows that ginsenoside did not prevent HIV infection of the organization. Thus, the effect of the said drug and its derivatives against MDV is better as compared to moroxydine hydrochloride.

The article presents a study of the antiviral effects of ginsenoside to Marek's disease virus. Oral ginsenoside was administered to chicks infected with Marek's disease virus. Pathological progress was mild in ginsenoside than in the viral control group as observed in gross inspection and electron microscope.

The article presents a study which examines the effect of LHQY on splenic lymphocyte secreting IL-2, IFN-y and INF-a with double antibody ELISA. The study reveals that LHQY could significantly promote the secretion of IL-2 and IFN-y with our without Co-nA by the T lymphocyte. It finds out the ability of the LHQY to promote the secretion of INF-a, too, and its inhibition by lymphocyte.

The article presents a study that evaluates the preventive effects of Ginkgolide A on patients with acute lung injury caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice wherein the results show that Ginkgolide A attenuates LPS-induced pulmonary inflammation.

The article presents information on a study related to the effect of radix dichroa extractive (RDE) on coccidiosis in chickens that is artificially caused by Eimeria tenella. It informs that the certain percentage of drugs was added to chicken diet after artificially infected with the bacterium. It further informs that the results suggested that RDE is expected to become new anticoccidial drugs because of good anticoccidial effects.

The article offers information on curative effect of radix dichroa extractive on coccidiosis in chicken which is artificially infected by microorganism Eimeria tenella.

An abstract of the article "Adjuvant effect of sustained-release injection of Venenum bufonis," by Wu Shuai-Cheng and colleagues is presented.

The article presents a research which investigates the potency and effectiveness of Guogensu, a Chinese herbal medicine, in treating chickens with Mycoplasma gallisepticum.