Am J Chinese Med
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Oxidative stress can be implicated as a cause of liver fibrosis. In this sense, Ginkgo Biloba Extract (EGB), an antioxidant, may be beneficial in restraining liver fibrosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of EGB on experimental liver fibrosis. ⋯ Furthermore, EGB reduced expressions of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and collagen I mRNA. In conclusion, EGB is able to ameliorate liver injury and prevent rats from CCl4-induced liver fibrosis by suppressing oxidative stress. This process may be related to inhibiting the induction of NF-kappaB on HSC activation and the expression of TGF-beta1.
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The inhibitory effect of Zingiber officinale Rosc (ZOR), an Oriental traditional herbal medicine, on the growth of influenza A/Aichi/2/68 (Aichi) virus was investigated in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Direct addition of ZOR (0.1 approximately 100 microg/ml) to the infected cells did not have any inhibitory effect. ⋯ Conversely, the inhibitory effect of ZOR-CM was reduced significantly by the removal of TNF-alpha after the formation of an immune complex with anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody. These data suggested that ZOR itself has no inhibitory effect on the growth of influenza virus, but could exert its effect via macrophage activation leading to production of TNF-alpha.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Synergistic effect of ginger and nifedipine on human platelet aggregation: a study in hypertensive patients and normal volunteers.
In this study, we evaluated the synergistic effect of ginger and nifedipine on anti-platelet aggregation in normal human volunteers and hypertensive patients. The results showed that the percentage of platelet aggregation induced by collagen, ADP and epinephrine in hypertensive patients was larger than that in normal volunteers. ⋯ These results suggested that ginger and nifedipine possessed synergistic effect on anti-platelet aggregation. A combination of 1 g ginger with 10 mg nifedipine per day could be valuable for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complication due to platelet aggregation.