Seaweeds from Vietnam used for functional food, medicine and biofertilizer

Several Vietnamese seaweed species have economic importance as food for humans, as industrial materials, as ingredients in traditional medicine, and as biofertilizers. The nutritional values of nine representative Vietnamese seaweed species were analyzed. In this report, all of the species studied are rich in proteins, lipids (especially polyunsaturated fatty acids), vitamins, pigments, and macro- and micro-elements. The effect of the physiological activities of the green alga, Ulva reticulata, on hepatic fatty acid metabolism were examined in mice. The results indicate that Vietnamese seaweeds are abundant and have high quality materials for industrial and agricultural purposes. Presented at the 6th Meeting of the Asian Pacific Society of Applied Phycology, Manila, Philippines.     

Interaction between Shaoyao–Gancao–Tang and a laxative with respect to alteration of paeoniflorin metabolism by intestinal bacteria in rats

Shaoyao-Gancao-Tang (SGT), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine (Kampo formulation) containing Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix) and Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix), is co-administered with laxative sodium picosulfate as a premedication for relieving the pain accompanying colonoscopy. Paeoniflorin (PF), an active glycoside of SGT, is metabolized into the antispasmodic agent paeonimetabolin-I (PM-I) by intestinal bacteria after oral administration. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether the co-administered laxative (sodium picosulfate) influences the metabolism of PF to PM-I by intestinal bacteria. We found that the PF-metabolizing activity of intestinal bacteria in rat feces was significantly reduced to approximately 34% of initial levels by a single sodium picosulfate pretreatment and took approximately 6 days to recover. Repeated administration of SGT after the sodium picosulfate pretreatment significantly shortened the recovery period to around 2 days. Similar results were also observed for plasma PM-I concentration. Since PM-I has muscle relaxant activity, the present results suggest that repetitive administration of SGT after sodium picosulfate pretreatment might be useful to relieve the pain associated with colonoscopy.     

Screening of ethnic medicinal plants of South India against influenza (H1N1) and their antioxidant activity

Antiviral activity against H1N1 influenza was studied using ethnic medicinal plants of South India. Results revealed that Wrightia tinctoria (2.25 μg/ml) was one of the best antidotes against H1N1 virus in terms of inhibitory concentration of 50% (IC₅₀) whereas the control drug Oseltamivir showed 6.44 μg/ml. Strychnos minor, Diotacanthus albiflorus and Cayratia pedata showed low cytotoxicity (>100) to the MDCK (Malin darby canine kidney) cells by cytotoxicity concentration of 50% (CC₅₀) and possessed antiviral activity suggesting that these plants can be used as herbal capsules for H1N1 virus. W. tinctoria and S. minor showed high therapeutic indexes (TI) such as 12.67 and 21.97 suggesting that those plants can be used for anti-viral drug development. The CC₅₀ values of Eugenia singampattiana (0.3 μg/ml), Vitex altissima (42 μg/ml), Salacia oblonga (7.32 μg/ml) and Salacia reticulata (7.36 μg/ml) resulted in cytotoxicity of the MDCK cells, due to their high phenolic content. Findings from this study state that the plant W. tinctoria can be a potent source for third generation anti-viral drug development against H1N1.     

传统中草药对肠道益生微生物的作用研究进展

探讨传统中草药对肠道益生微生物的调整作用,重点概述了不同种类与剂量中草药对益生微生物生长的影响及相应的研究方法。在上述基础上对中草药与肠道益生微生物的作用机制、研究前景和发展趋势进行了展望。     

兽医中药在宠物临床上的应用

本文系统综述了我国兽医中药在宠物临床上的应用历史及概况。从兽医中药起源,到中药在宠物临床上的古今应用。重点针对宠物临床中常见病、多发病如犬猫皮肤寄生虫病、皮肤真菌病、胃肠道疾病、传染病、肝胆疾病、心肺疾病、腰病以及虚弱性疾病等等进行了归纳总结。同时指出,随着宠物饲养社会功能的变化,宠物中药将会伴随着宠物市场的扩大迎来更大的发展空间。     

A characteristic pharmacological action of ‘Yang-invigorating’ Chinese tonifying herbs: Enhancement of myocardial ATP-generation capacity

In order to investigate the pharmacological basis of ‘Yang-invigorating’ action, the effect of oral treatment with the methanolic extract of ‘Yang-invigorating’ herbs on ATP-generation capacity was examined, using heart homogenates prepared from herb-pretreated mice. Tonifying (i.e., health-promoting) herbs of other functional categories were also included for comparison. The results indicated that ‘Yang-invigorating’ Chinese tonifying herbs could invariably enhance myocardial ATP-generation capacity, with the extent of stimulation varying among the herbs. In contrast, ‘Yin-nourishing’ herbs either did not stimulate or even decreased myocardial ATP-generation capacity. While ‘Qi-invigorating’ herbs produced variable effects on myocardial ATP-generation capacity, most of the ‘blood-enriching’ herbs did not cause any significant changes. The results obtained from studies using myocardial mitochondrial fractions isolated from herb-pretreated mice suggest that ‘Yang-invigorating’ herbs might speed up ATP generation by increasing mitochondrial electron transport. The ensemble of results has provided evidence for the first time to support the pharmacological basis of ‘Yang invigoration’ in Chinese medicine.     

Coming to Understanding: Developing Conservation through Incremental Learning in the Pacific Northwest

Lessons in conservation are often seen as resulting from cycles of overexploitation and subsequent depletion of resources, followed by catastrophic consequences of shortage and starvation, and finally, development of various strategies, including privatization of the commons, to conserve remaining resource stocks. While such scenarios have undoubtedly occurred on many occasions, we suggest that they are not the only means by which people develop conservation practices and concepts. There are other pathways leading to ecological understanding and conservation, which act at a range of scales and levels of complexity. These include: lessons from the past and from other places, perpetuated and strengthened through oral history and discourse; lessons from animals, learned through observation of migration and population cycles, predator effects, and social dynamics; monitoring resources and human effects on resources (positive and negative), building on experiences and expectations; observing changes in ecosystem cycles and natural disturbance events; trial and error experimentation and incremental modification of habitats and populations. Humans, we believe, are capable of building a sophisticated conservation ethic that transcends individual species and resources. A combination of conservation knowledge, practices, and beliefs can lead to increasingly greater sophistication of ecological understanding and the continued encoding of such knowledge in social institutions and worldview.     

广西恭城瑶族集市药用植物的民族植物学调查

采用民族植物学的研究方法和手段,对恭城瑶族境内周期性集市药用植物及相关的传统知识进行了调查。主要研究结果如下：恭城瑶族民众与野生药用植物的关系极为密切,研究地区集市中常见药用植物71种,均为野生植物,常用于治疗肠胃、呼吸道、感染、风湿和外伤等疾病。在调查地区的野生药用植物资源及相关的传统知识面临着新的威胁,亟待采取必要的措施予以保护。     

不同手术方式对腰椎间盘突出症治疗的效果比较分析

目的:探讨应用微创技术治疗腰椎间盘突出症的疗效.方法:对我院脊柱骨科自2005年l1月～2010年10月收治的128例腰椎间盘突出症患者应用不同手术方式进行治疗,其中应用APLD( automated percutaneous lumbar discectomy)治疗单纯腰椎间盘突出症48例;应用MED(microendoscopic discectomy)治疗复杂型腰椎间盘突出症42例;应用传统后路椎板开窗技术治疗单纯腰椎间盘突出症38例;比较各组手术时间、术中出血、术后住院时间、疗效及并发症.术后均随访8个月～3年,观察复发情况.结果:三组不同手术方式手术时间及优良率比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),APLD及MED组术中出血量及术后住院时间与传统手术组比较,差异有显著性(P＜0.05);术后随访疼痛全部缓解,无复发.结论:在严格掌握适应症的基础上,采用微创技术和采用传统手术治疗腰椎间盘突出症疗效相当,但微创技术创伤小、术中出血量少,术后住院日短,恢复快,优于传统手术.     

自拟健脾化湿汤治疗非酒精性脂肪肝53 例疗效观察

目的:观察自拟健脾化湿汤治疗脾虚湿蕴证非酒精性脂肪肝的疗效.方法:对106例脾虚湿蕴证非酒精性脂肪肝患者按就诊顺序1∶1等分为自拟健脾化湿汤方治疗组、对照组两组,每组病例53例.两组患者在强调戒酒,控制饮食,加强运动的基础上,治疗组采用自拟中药健脾化湿汤治疗,对照组选用多烯磷脂酰胆碱胶囊治疗.用药疗程为3个月,疗程结束后统计疗效.结果:两组患者症状疗效比较,治疗组明显优于对照组(P＜0.01);两组患者治疗前后肝功能变化比较,治疗组优于对照组(P＜0.05);两组患者治疗前后血脂变化比较,治疗组优于对照组(P＜0.05);两组治疗前后CT检查结果比较,治疗组优于对照组(P＜0.05).结论:自拟健脾化湿汤治疗脾虚湿蕴证非酒精性脂肪肝疗效显著.