Danshen and gegen (D&G) have long been used in treatment of angina and other cardiac symptoms in Chinese materia medica. Recent pharmacological studies suggest their therapeutic values. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Salvia miltiorrhiza (danshen) and Pueraria lobata (gegen) in secondary prevention.
METHODS:
One hundred (100) consecutive coronary patients (mean age 58 +/- 8 years) were randomized to adjunctive treatment with D&G combination (3 g) or placebo (6 capsules) for 24 weeks in double-blind parallel fashion, followed by optional open-label D&G (1.5 g/day) for 6 more months. Brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were measured using ultrasound.
RESULTS:
Baseline characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. After 24 weeks and compared with baseline, there were no significant changes in blood pressures, blood hematological and biochemical profiles, or folate and homocysteine levels in both groups,
CONCLUSIONS:
D&G adjunctive treatment in coronary patients was well tolerated and effective in improving vascular function and structure. These two herbs may become a novel agent for secondary prevention.
"The efficacy and tolerability of adjunctive alternative herbal medicine (Salvia miltiorrhiza and Pueraria lobata) on vascular function and structure in coronary patients"
J Altern Complement Med. 2009 Apr; 15(4): 415-21Tam WY, Chook P, Qiao M, Chan LT, Chan TY, Poon YK, Fung KP, Leung PC, Woo KS
Cancer Res. 2009 Aug 25; Wang Y, Ma X, Yan S, Shen S, Zhu H, Gu Y, Wang H, Qin G, Yu QConstitutive activation of the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway occurs frequently in cancer cells and contributes to oncogenesis. Among the members of STAT family, STAT3 plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of human tumors. The STAT3-mediated signaling pathway has been recognized as a promising anticancer target. Here, we show that 17-Hydroxy-jolkinolide B (HJB), a diterpenoid from the Chinese medicinal herb Euphorbia fischeriana Steud, strongly inhibits interleukin (IL)-6-induced as well as constitutive STAT3 activation. Furthermore, we show that HJB directly targets the JAK family kinases, JAK1, JAK2, and TYK2, by inducing dimerization of the JAKs via cross-linking. Addition of DTT or glutathione prevents the JAK cross-linking and blocks the inhibitory effects of HJB on IL-6-induced STAT3 activation, suggesting that HJB may react with cystein residues of JAKs to form covalent bonds that inactivate JAKs. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis confirmed that each HJB reacted with two thiols. The effect of HJB on the JAK/STAT3 pathway is specific as HJB has no effect on platelet-derived growth factor, epidermal growth factor, or insulin-like growth factor I signaling pathways. Finally, we show that HJB inhibits growth and induces apoptosis of tumor cells, particularly those tumor cells with constitutively activated STAT3. We propose that the natural compound HJB is a promising anticancer drug candidate as a potent STAT3 signaling inhibitor. [Cancer Res 2009;69(18):OF1-9].
Mov Disord. 2009 Aug 24; Kompoliti K, Fan W, Leurgans SThe aim of this study was to describe the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in patients with Tourette syndrome (TS) and explore associations with CAM use. In recent years CAM use has increased, but rates of CAM use in TS patients are not reported. Consecutive TS patients or their parent(s), seen in an academic movement disorder center, completed a questionnaire regarding their use of CAM. One hundred TS patients or parents completed the questionnaire, mean age 21.5 +/- 13.5, 76 males, 87 Caucasians. Sixty four patients had used at least one CAM modality. CAM treatments used were prayer (28), vitamins (21), massage (19), dietary supplements (15), chiropractic manipulations (12), meditation (10), diet alterations (nine), yoga (nine), acupuncture (eight), hypnosis (seven), homeopathy (six), and EEG biofeedback (six). Fifty six percent of patients using CAM reported some improvement. Users paid out of pocket for 47% of treatments pursued, and 19% of these payers received partial reimbursement by third party payer. Users and non-users did not differ in age, gender, race, income, educational level, general health, tic severity, medication use for TS, current satisfaction from medications or experience of side effects from medications. CAM use was associated with the presence of affective disorder (P = 0.004), but not with either ADHD or OCD. Among CAM users, 80% initiated CAM without informing their doctor. CAM is commonly used in children and adults with TS, and often without the neurologist's knowledge. Physicians should inquire about CAM to understand the spectrum of interventions that patients with TS use. (c) 2009 Movement Disorder Society.
Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2009 Aug 24; Chen L, Wang WY, Wang YPAbstractAim:To understand the effects of lithospermic acid (LA), a potent antioxidant from the water-soluble extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza, on the migration and proliferation of rat thoracic aorta vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).Methods:VSMC migration, proliferation, DNA synthesis and cell cycle progression were investigated by transwell migration analysis, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay, and flow cytometric detection, respectively. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was detected using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA). The expression of cyclin D1 protein and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) protein, as well as the phosphorylation state of ERK1/2, were determined using Western blots. The activity of MMP-9 and the expression of MMP-9 mRNA were assessed by gelatin zymography analysis and RT-PCR, respectively.Results:LA (25-100 mumol/L) inhibited both lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and fetal bovine serum (FBS)-induced ROS generation and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. By down-regulating the expression of cyclin D(1) and arresting cell cycle progression at the G(1) phase, LA inhibited both VSMC proliferation and DNA synthesis as induced by 5% FBS. Furthermore, LA attenuated LPS-induced VSMC migration by inhibiting MMP-9 expression and its enzymatic activity.Conclusion:LA is able to inhibit FBS-induced VSMC proliferation and LPS-induced VSMC migration, which suggests that LA may have therapeutic effects in the prevention of atherosclerosis, restenosis and neointimal hyperplasia.Acta Pharmacologica Sinica advance online publication, 24 August 2009; doi: 10.1038/aps.2009.122.
