Am J Chinese Med
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
We have investigated the effect of Zingiber offifinale Rosc. (ZOR) on macrophage-inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (macNOS) mRNA expression and NO production in RAW264.7 cells, a murine macrophage cell line; 100 microg/ml ZOR can induce macNOS mRNA expression, but induction effects at a dose below 10 microg/ml were weak or negligible. Kinetic studies showed that macNOS mRNA can be detected from 4 hours to 24 hours after dosing, with a peak at 8 hours. In accordance with the induction of macNOS mRNA expression, NO concentrations increased from 3.4 microM at 2 hours to almost 150 microM at 24 hours, reflecting a longer period of macNOS mRNA expression. The activity of ZOR can be considered to contribute, at least in part, to the beneficial effects of ZOR through the macNOS-mediated activation of the biodefense mechanism.
-
Shiunko is a traditional botanic formula (ointment) which is used clinically for the treatment of wounded skin caused by cuts, abrasions, frost or burn. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Shiunko on epithelization of wounded skin. Experimental cutting wounds on the back skin of Sprague-Dawley rats were induced. ⋯ We observed that the incidences of wound infection following Pseudomonas aeruginosa inoculation were lower on both the Shiunko-treated group (0%, p < 0.01) and Povidine-iodine-treated group (5%, p < 0.05), than the saline-treated group (40%). The Shiunko-treated group reported higher percentages of complete epithelization not only on the sterilized wounds (100%) but also on the contaminated wounds (90%) when compared to the saline-treated group (60% sterilized wounds, 40% and 50% contaminated wounds) on day 7 (p < 0.01). Povidone-iodine did not promote epithelization of wounded skin, whereas Shiunko did.