The efficacy of using enzymes in treating toxic-allergic reactions after cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation

In experimental study of antiulcerative activity of dibunol on various models of gastric ulcers in rats the drug caused a marked antiulcerative effect in all of them, reduced the incidence of ulcer formation, and shortened the time of ulcer healing. In a model of "acetic" ulcer dibunol oil solution led to quick normalization of lipid peroxidation in the gastric mucosa, which was evidence of high antioxidant activity in cases of ulcer lesions.     

An experimental study of the anti-ulcer properties of an extract of poplar bark

Marked antiulcerative properties of a Populus tremula bark extract were demonstrated in experiments on mice and rats with stress-, reserpine-induced, and acetylsalicylic ulcers. The gastroprotective activity of the extract was expressed in decrease in the number of animals with mucosal ulcers and in marked decrease in the number of ulcers. It exceeded similar parameters of alanton, plantaglucide, and Hippopheae oil.     

Baicalein, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor from Scutellaria baicalensis

Methanol extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis, Rheum officinale, and Paeonia suffruticosa showed potent inhibitory activity against rat intestinal sucrase. The active principles were identified as baicalein from the first and methyl gallate from the last two plants. In addition to its activity against the rat enzyme, baicalein also inhibited human intestinal sucrase expressed in Caco-2 cells.     

The potential use of an extract of aspen bark for enhancing the efficacy of specific treatment methods in experimental malignant neoplasms

The effect of liquid aspen bark extract on the effectiveness of cytostatic and surgical methods of treatment of experimental tumors in mice was studied. The extract was found to raise the antitumorous and antimetastatic effects of the above indicated methods of treatment on the tumor process.     

Antimicrobial potentials of some plant species of the Bignoniaceae family

The methanol extracts of the leaves and stem bark of four Bignoniaceae plants Jacaranda mimosifolia D. Dol., Tecoma stans Linn., Tabebuia rosea (Bertol) D.C., and Crescentia cujete Linn. were studied for their antimicrobial activity using a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. Extracts of both the leaves and stem bark of majority of plant species studied showed variable but remarkable broad spectrum antimicrobial activity. However, methanol extracts of Tecoma stans leaves was found to be effective against only Candida albicans at the concentrations employed. It was observed that the extracts of stem bark generally showed better antimicrobial activity than those of the leaves and some organisms were selectively more sensitive to the extracts than others. Preliminary phytochemical screening of these plants revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, quinones and traces of saponins. The antimicrobial activity observed are discussed in relation to the chemical constituents reportedly isolated from these plants and their traditional uses.     

Novel hydrogen peroxide metabolism in suspension cells of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi

We identified a rapid and novel system to effectively metabolize a large amount of H2O2 in the suspension cells of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. In response to an elicitor, the cells immediately initiate the hydrolysis of baicalein 7-O-beta-D-glucuronide by beta-glucuronidase, and the released baicalein is then quickly oxidized to 6,7-dehydrobaicalein by peroxidases. Hydrogen peroxide is effectively consumed during the peroxidase reaction. The beta-glucuronidase inhibitor, saccharic acid 1,4-lactone, significantly reduced the H2O2-metabolizing ability of the Scutellaria cells, indicating that beta-glucuronidase, which does not catalyze the H2O2 degradation, plays an important role in the H2O2 metabolism. As H2O2-metabolizing enzymes, we purified two peroxidases using ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by sequential chromatography on CM-cellulose and hydroxylapatite. Both peroxidases show high H2O2-metabolizing activity using baicalein, whereas other endogenous flavones are not substrates of the peroxidase reaction. Therefore, baicalein predominantly contributed to H2O2 metabolism. Because beta-glucuronidase, cell wall peroxidases, and baicalein pre-exist in Scutellaria cells, their constitutive presence enables the cells to rapidly induce the H2O2-metabolizing system.     

Antiviral activity of plant flavonoid, 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone, from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis against influenza A (H3N2) and B viruses

We investigated effects of isoscutellarein-8-methylether (5,7,4'-trihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone, F36) from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis on the single-cycle replication of mouse-adapted influenza viruses A/Guizhou/54/89 (H3N2 subtype) and B/Ibaraki/2/85 in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. The agent suppressed replication of these viruses from 6 to 12 h after incubation in a dose-dependent manner by 50% at 20 microM and 90% at 40 microM, respectively. F36 (50 microM) reduced the release of B/Ibaraki virus in the medium by 90-93% when it was added to the MDCK cells at 0 to 4 h after incubation. The cell-associated virus determined by sialidase activity was also reduced by the treatment at 0 to 4 h. F36 (120 microM) inhibited the low pH-dependent membrane fusion of both the viruses with the liposome containing mixed gangliosides from bovine brain. However, the agent little affected the hemagglutination and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activities of these viruses in vitro. These results suggest that F36 inhibits the replication of A/Guizhou and B/Ibaraki viruses at least partly by inhibiting the fusion of viral envelopes with the endosome/lysosome membrane which occurs at the early stage of the virus infection cycle. F36 (0.5 mg/kg) showed no antiviral activity against A/Guizhou and B/Ibaraki viruses in mice when administered intranasally 5 min prior to virus inoculation, whereas it significantly inhibited their proliferation in the mouse lung when administered intranasally 7 times (total 3.5 mg/kg) from 18 h before to 54 h after virus infection.     

Isolation and characterization of Helicobacter pylori strains from peptic ulcer patients in Dhaka, Bangladesh

To study the association of Helicobacter pylori with peptic ulcer and the associated histopathological changes, to characterize the isolated strains in terms of their protein profile, 83 peptic ulcer cases were studied. A high association of H pylori with peptic ulcer (duodenal ulcer 77%, gastric ulcer 75%) and gastritis (74%) was observed. Age and smoking did not have any relationship with H pylori infection. The infection was predominantly associated with the 'quiescent' form of chronic gastritis. Comparative sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of whole cell extracts of the local isolates and a reference strain from Australia showed a general homogeneity between the strains with obvious interstrain differences. However, the difference between the local isolates and the reference strain was more marked. Significant association of H. pylori with peptic ulcer along with strain variations were observed.     

Ultrastructural aspects of lesions caused by Mycobacterium spp in AIDS]

Anchusa strigosa Banks et Sol (Boraginaceae) root extracts (ASRE) were prepared by soaking the dry material in boiling water. The clear soluble extract was dried and found to be 0.238 g/g dry roots. A gastric ulcer was induced in fastened animals by oral ingestion of ethanol. Administration of 0.080 g of ASRE prior to ethanol ingestion protected the stomach of the rat from ulcer formation. The ulcer index values, expressed as a percentage of total stomach surface area affected by the ulcer, were lowered from 34.0+/-4.0 to 6.0+/-0.7 and 32.5+/-9.4 to 2.2+/-1.4 by the morphometric and the planimetric methods, respectively. Treatment of the induced ulcer in guinea pigs was achieved by oral administration of ASRE at the therapeutic dose of extract of 0.286 g/kg body weight/day for 24 days. The intraperitoneal LD50 of ASRE in mice was 0.080 g extract/kg body weight. Replacing water intake by ASRE at 75 ml of variable extract concentrations of 2.865, 3.57 and 4.284 g/l per animal per day for 90 days showed no histopathological changes in all organs of the rat. However, a clear depression effect on the central nervous system and anemia were observed particularly with extract of 3.57 g/l or more.     

Biological properties of a venom extract from the sea anemone, Bunodosoma cavernata

Crude extract was prepared from the sea anemone, Bunodosoma cavernata. The protein content of the extract was estimated to be 0.52 mg protein/ml. The extract was standardized based on the percentage inhibition of histamine-induced contraction of the guinea pig ileum, to determine the biological unit of activity (AU) of the extract. As extracts prepared on different occasions lost potency on storage, the stability of the extract was also investigated. Extracts prepared from fresh animals were about 15% more potent than those prepared from freeze-dried animals. However, freeze-dried animal extracts maintained their potency for about 6 months under storage at -20 degrees C. Lethality studies gave an LD50 of 40 microg protein/kg mice i.p. Also, the crude extract dose-dependently hemolyzed human erythrocytes at room temperature. This activity was favoured by higher temperatures, which peaked at about 60degrees C, and by pH in the alkaline range. We conclude that the crude extract from B. cavernata, though highly toxic, may also contain some biologically active agents which include a haemolytic factor and antihistamine(s), as indicated by its histamine-blocking action.     

Effect of vitamin D3 and 20-hydroxyecdysone on the content of ATP, creatine phosphate, carnosine and Ca2+ in skeletal muscles

The effect of vitamin D3, 20-hydroxyecdysone and extract from Serratula coronata containing 20-hydroxyecdysone on the level of basic metabolites in the skeletal muscles of rats has been studied. It was shown that development of D-hypovitaminosis is accompanied by the decrease in content of ATP, creatine phosphate, carnosine, and by the increase of Ca2+ content. Against the background of D-hypovitaminosis the 20-hydroxyecdysone and the extract from Serratula coronata which contains 20-hydroxyecdysone promote the increase of the amount of these metabolites up to the control of one and normalize Ca2+ content in them.     

Effects of Sho-saiko-to, San''o-shashin-to and Scutellariae Radix on intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in C6 rat glioma cells

Glial cells have a role in maintaining the function of neural cells. This study was undertaken to clarify the effects of baicalin and baicalein, flavonoids isolated from an important medicinal plant Scutellariae Radix (the root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi), on glial cell function using C6 rat glioma cells. Baicalin and baicalein caused concentration-dependent inhibition of a histamine-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i). The potency of baicalein was significantly greater than that of baicalin. The noradrenaline- and carbachol-induced increase in [Ca2+]i was also inhibited by baicalein and both drugs inhibited histamine-induced accumulation of total [3H]inositol phosphates, consistent with their inhibition of the increase in [Ca2+]i. These results suggest that baicalin and baicalein inhibit [Ca2+]i elevation by reducing phospholipase C activity. The inhibitory effects of baicalin and baicalein on [Ca2+]i elevation might be important in the interpretation of their pharmacological action on glial cells, such as inhibition of Ca2(+)-required enzyme phospholipase A2.     

Quality standards for qingwei huanglian pills

In the paper systematic studies on quality standards for Qingwei Huanglian Pills are reported, along with the TLC identification of Gardenia jasminoides, Scutellaria baicalensis and Anemarrhena asphodeloides and the quantitative determination of berberine in Coptis chinensis and Phellodendron chinese by TLC densitometric method. To simplify the operation, the same solvent was used for both the identification and determination. The quantitative method is simple, sensitive, reproducible and accurate. The recovery of berberine is 99.48%. The coefficient of variation is 1.42%.     

Comparison of Roth appliance and standard edgewise appliance treatment results

The effect of the betamethasone sodium phosphate (BSP) enema on the colonic mucosal lesions in the carrageenan induced colitis (rabbit) was examined laboratory and histologically. The effect of drugs were evaluated by the changes of body weight, fecal occult blood, blood analysis, and histological examinations. Fecal occult blood were highly positive in the physiological saline treated but less positive in the BSP groups. In the blood analysis, anemia was not detected in both groups. Histological findings such as the defect of superficial epithelium, crypt abscess, inflammatory cell infiltration, atrophic changes, defect of muscularis mucosae, goblet cell depletion, goblet cell depletion, ulcer formation, and edematous change were scored to evaluate the colonic mucosal lesions. These scores (Mean +/- S.D.) were 4.4 +/- 1.96, 7.7 +/- 3.67 for BSP, physiological saline groups respectively. From these results, BSP enema showed an antiulcerative effect on the entire colonic lesions in the carrageenan induced colitis in the rabbit.     

Effects of flavonoids isolated from scutellariae radix on fibrinolytic system induced by trypsin in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Studies on the effects of flavonoids isolated from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis on the fibrinolytic system induced by trypsin in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) showed that baicalein (1) strongly inhibited the reduction of t-PA production and the elevation of PAI-1 production induced by trypsin. The IC50 for PAI-1 production was 3.7 microM. In addition, wogonin (3), oroxylin A (5), skullcapflavone II (6), and 2',5,5',7-tetrahydroxy-6',8-dimethoxyflavone (7) inhibited the elevation of PAI-1 induced by trypsin, though less strongly; their IC50 were 105, 61, 110, and 88 microM, respectively. These findings suggest that baicalein prevents the thrombotic tendency induced by trypsin.     

Studies on human dental plaque. 3. Variation of protein constituents among individuals

Separate plaque samples (collected from 13 patients who had experienced caries and various degrees of periodontal disease) were each dispersed in 1 ml of distilled water, homogenized and lyophilized. Each lyophilisate was extracted in 1 ml of buffered saline, concentrated and analyzed. Enzyme activity studies revealed amylase in all plaque samples. Lysozyme was present occasionally. By radial immunodiffusion, IgG and IgA were shown to be in plaque extracts of some patients. Immunofluorescence examination of the sediments of individual plaque samples revealed that IgG and IgA occurred frequently. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis patterns of the extracts of plaque from different individuals exhibited marked variability despite some zones of similarity. Peptide maps of the dialysable material of the individual plaque extracts were remarkably similar.     

Taxonomy of the musk deer (Artiodactyla, Mammalia)

The autosomal recessive disorder xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) results from defects in the nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway for DNA repair. NER normally repairs bulky DNA lesions, such as pyrimidine dimers resulting from UV radiation. XP patients have high rates of skin cancer, and some also develop progressive neurological degeneration. To better understand the mechanism of this neurodegeneration, I used a specific assay for the multicomponent excision nuclease of the NER pathway in cell-free extracts from the adult rat brain. Excision nuclease activity was detectable in whole-cell extracts prepared from the cerebellum, whereas extracts prepared from the forebrain, which has a lower density of cell nuclei, had much less activity. Nuclear extracts from both areas were equally capable of restoring activity to extracts from two different NER-deficient cell lines, despite large differences in the ratio of neurons to nonneuronal cells in the cerebellum and forebrain. These results indicate that the NER pathway is functional in neuronal cells in the adult brain. The implications of this finding for XP and other neurodegenerative diseases is discussed.     

A case of systemic lupus erythematosus in a 13-year-old girl]

The test with running on a treadbane showed a 56% increase of working capacity in the control group of male albino mice on the 20th day of training. Oral administration of elton, leveton, phytoton, and adapton, as well as Leuzea and Rhodiola extracts and Schisandra chinensis tincture caused a statistically significant increase in the time of running on the treadbane of animals by the 10th day of medication. The increase in the working capacity of the animals was more marked by the 20th day. In the test of swimming "to the limit" adapton, phytoton, leveton, and elton increased to a greater extent the working capacity of male albino rats in diminishing succession (from 213 to 168%). Schisandra tincture and Rhodiola and Leuzea extracts also increased the swimming time of the animals by 135-159%.     

Evidence for an inhibition by endogenous galanin of neurogenic cutaneous vasodilatation in the pigeon

The effect of high affinity galanin antagonist M35 on neurogenic cutaneous vasodilatation has been studied in the pigeon using a Laser Doppler Imager. Cutaneous application of mustard oil or antidromic electrical stimulation of a cutaneous nerve produced a small increase in skin blood flow. Close arterial injection of M35 prior to chemical or electrical stimulation resulted in a marked augmentation of the vasodilatory response. This effect was abolished by chronic denervation. The results suggest a nerve-mediated inhibitory effect of endogenous galanin on neurogenic cutaneous vasodilatation in the pigeon skin and provide the first experimental evidence for an inhibitory local regulatory function of cutaneous sensory nerves at least in the avian skin.