http://www.cmjournal.org The most accessed research articles published by Chinese Medicine 2012-01-21T00:00:00Z The health benefits of green tea for a wide variety of ailments, including different types of cancer, heart disease, and liver disease, were reported. Many of these beneficial effects of green tea are related to its catechin, particularly (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, content. There is evidence from in vitro and animal studies on the underlying mechanisms of green tea catechins and their biological actions. There are also human studies on using green tea catechins to treat metabolic syndrome, such as obesity, type II diabetes, and cardiovascular risk factors.Long-term consumption of tea catechins could be beneficial against high-fat diet-induced obesity and type II diabetes and could reduce the risk of coronary disease. Further research that conforms to international standards should be performed to monitor the pharmacological and clinical effects of green tea and to elucidate its mechanisms of action. http://www.cmjournal.org/content/5/1/13 Sabu M Chacko Priya Thambi Ramadasan Kuttan Ikuo Nishigaki Chinese Medicine 2010, null:13 2010-04-06T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/1749-8546-5-13 /content/figures/1749-8546-5-13-toc.gif Chinese Medicine 1749-8546 ${item.volume} 13 2010-04-06T00:00:00Z XML Curcumin has attracted great attention in the therapeutic arsenal in clinical oncology due to its chemopreventive, antitumoral, radiosensibilizing and chemosensibilizing activities against various types of aggressive and recurrent cancers. These malignancies include leukemias, lymphomas, multiple myeloma, brain cancer, melanoma and skin, lung, prostate, breast, ovarian, liver, gastrointestinal, pancreatic and colorectal epithelial cancers. Curcumin mediates its anti-proliferative, anti-invasive and apoptotic effects on cancer cells, including cancer stem/progenitor cells and their progenies, through multiple molecular mechanisms. The oncogenic pathways inhibited by curcumin encompass the members of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR and erbB2), sonic hedgehog (SHH)/GLIs and Wnt/β-catenin and downstream signaling elements such as Akt, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs). In counterbalance, the high metabolic instability and poor systemic bioavailability of curcumin limit its therapeutic efficacy in human. Of great therapeutic interest, the selective delivery of synthetic analogs or nanotechnology-based formulations of curcumin to tumors, alone or in combination with other anticancer drugs, may improve their chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic efficacies against cancer progression and relapse. Novel curcumin formulations may also be used to reverse drug resistance, eradicate the total cancer cell mass and improve the anticarcinogenic efficacy of the current anti-hormonal and chemotherapeutic treatments for patients with various aggressive and lethal cancers. http://www.cmjournal.org/content/6/1/31 Murielle Mimeault Surinder Batra Chinese Medicine 2011, null:31 2011-08-23T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/1749-8546-6-31 /content/figures/1749-8546-6-31-toc.gif Chinese Medicine 1749-8546 ${item.volume} 31 2011-08-23T00:00:00Z XML In recent years, a number of natural products isolated from Chinese herbs have been found to inhibit proliferation, induce apoptosis, suppress angiogenesis, retard metastasis and enhance chemotherapy, exhibiting anti-cancer potential both in vitro and in vivo. This article summarizes recent advances in in vitro and in vivo research on the anti-cancer effects and related mechanisms of some promising natural products. These natural products are also reviewed for their therapeutic potentials, including flavonoids (gambogic acid, curcumin, wogonin and silibinin), alkaloids (berberine), terpenes (artemisinin, β-elemene, oridonin, triptolide, and ursolic acid), quinones (shikonin and emodin) and saponins (ginsenoside Rg3), which are isolated from Chinese medicinal herbs. In particular, the discovery of the new use of artemisinin derivatives as excellent anti-cancer drugs is also reviewed. http://www.cmjournal.org/content/6/1/27 Wen Tan Jinjian Lu Mingqing Huang Yingbo Li Meiwan Chen Guosheng Wu Jian Gong Zhangfeng Zhong Zengtao Xu Yuanye Dang Jiajie Guo Xiuping Chen Yitao Wang Chinese Medicine 2011, null:27 2011-07-22T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/1749-8546-6-27 /content/figures/1749-8546-6-27-toc.gif Chinese Medicine 1749-8546 ${item.volume} 27 2011-07-22T00:00:00Z XML Background: Two active compounds, baicalein and its glycoside baicalin were found in the dried root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, and reported to be neuroprotective in vitro and in vivo. This study aims to evaluate the protective effects of baicalein on the rotenone-induced apoptosis in dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells related to parkinsonism. Methods: Cell viability and cytotoxicity were determined by MTT assay. The degree of nuclear apoptosis was evaluated with a fluorescent DNA-binding probe Hoechst 33258. The production of reactive oxidative species (ROS) and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Deltapsim) were determined by fluorescent staining with DCFH-DA and Rhodanmine 123, respectively. The expression of Bax, Bcl-2, cleaved caspase-3 and phosphorylated ERK1/2 was determined by the Western blots. Results: Baicalein significantly increased viability and decreased rotenone-induced death of SH-SY5Y cells in a dose-dependent manner. Pre- and subsequent co-treatment with baicalein preserved the cell morphology and attenuated the nuclear apoptotic characteristics triggered by rotenone. Baicalein antagonized rotenone-induced overproduction of ROS, loss of Deltapsim, the increased expression of Bax, cleaved caspase-3 and phosphorylated ERK1/2 and the decreased expression of Bcl-2. Conclusion: The antioxidative effect, mitochondrial protection and modulation of anti-and pro-apoptotic proteins are related to the neuroprotective effects of baicalein against rotenone induced cell death in SH-SY5Y cells. http://www.cmjournal.org/content/7/1/1 Ju-Xian Song Mandy Yuen-Man Choi Kavin Chun-Kit Wong Winkie Wing-Yan Chung Stephen Cho-Wing Sze Tzi-Bun Ng Kalin Yan-Bo Zhang Chinese Medicine 2012, null:1 2012-01-21T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/1749-8546-7-1 /content/figures/1749-8546-7-1-toc.gif Chinese Medicine 1749-8546 ${item.volume} 1 2012-01-21T00:00:00Z PDF Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees (Acanthaceae) is a medicinal plant used in many countries. Its major constituents are diterpenoids, flavonoids and polyphenols. Among the single compounds extracted from A. paniculata, andrographolide is the major one in terms of bioactive properties and abundance. Among the andrographolide analogues, 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide is immunostimulatory, anti-infective and anti-atherosclerotic; neoandrographolide is anti-inflammatory, anti-infective and anti-hepatotoxic; 14-deoxyandrographolide is immunomodulatory and anti-atherosclerotic. Among the less abundant compounds from A. paniculata, andrograpanin is both anti-inflammatory and anti-infective; 14-deoxy-14,15-dehydroandrographolide is anti-inflammatory; isoandrographolide, 3,19-isopropylideneandrographolide and 14-acetylandrographolide are tumor suppressive; arabinogalactan proteins are anti-hepatotoxic. The four flavonoids from A. paniculata, namely 7-O-methylwogonin, apigenin, onysilin and 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid are anti-atherosclerotic. http://www.cmjournal.org/content/5/1/17 Wen-Wan Chao Bi-Fong Lin Chinese Medicine 2010, null:17 2010-05-13T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/1749-8546-5-17 /content/figures/1749-8546-5-17-toc.gif Chinese Medicine 1749-8546 ${item.volume} 17 2010-05-13T00:00:00Z XML Selection of chemical markers is crucial for the quality control of herbal medicines, including authentication of genuine species, harvesting the best quality raw materials, evaluation of post-harvesting handling, assessment of intermediates and finished products, and detection of harmful or toxic ingredients. Ideal chemical markers should be the therapeutic components of herbal medicines. However, for most herbal medicines, the therapeutic components have not been fully elucidated or easily monitored. Bioactive, characteristic, main, synergistic, correlative, toxic and general components may be selected. This article reviews the effective use of chemical markers in the quality control of herbal medicines including the selection criteria considering the roles and physicochemical factors which may affect the effective use of chemical markers. http://www.cmjournal.org/content/3/1/7 Songlin Li Quanbin Han Chunfeng Qiao Jingzheng Song Chuen Lung Cheng Hongxi Xu Chinese Medicine 2008, null:7 2008-06-28T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/1749-8546-3-7 /content/figures/1749-8546-3-7-toc.gif Chinese Medicine 1749-8546 ${item.volume} 7 2008-06-28T00:00:00Z XML The therapeutic potential of ginseng has been studied extensively, and ginsenosides, the active components of ginseng, are shown to be involved in modulating multiple physiological activities. This article will review the structure, systemic transformation and bioavailability of ginsenosides before illustration on how these molecules exert their functions via interactions with steroidal receptors. The multiple biological actions make ginsenosides as important resources for developing new modalities. Yet, low bioavailability of ginsenoside is one of the major hurdles needs to be overcome to advance its use in clinical settings. http://www.cmjournal.org/content/5/1/20 Kar Wah Leung Alice Sze-Tsai Wong Chinese Medicine 2010, null:20 2010-06-11T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/1749-8546-5-20 /content/figures/1749-8546-5-20-toc.gif Chinese Medicine 1749-8546 ${item.volume} 20 2010-06-11T00:00:00Z XML Danshen, the dried root of Salvia miltiorrhiza, is a Chinese medicine used to promote blood flow and treat vascular disease. The present article reviews the pharmacological effects of Danshen on cerebral infarction and possible interactions between Danshen and Western drugs. Danshen may reduce or prolong the development of atherosclerosis and may have anti-hypertensive and anti-platelet aggregation effects, which prevent cerebral infarction. Danshen may enhance endogenous anti-oxidative enzyme activities such as the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and may scavenge oxygen free radicals. Prevention and treatment of cerebral infarction by Danshen involves multiple pathways, including anti-atherosclerosis, anti-hypertension, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects. http://www.cmjournal.org/content/5/1/22 Tsai-Hui Lin Ching-Liang Hsieh Chinese Medicine 2010, null:22 2010-06-21T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/1749-8546-5-22 /content/figures/1749-8546-5-22-toc.gif Chinese Medicine 1749-8546 ${item.volume} 22 2010-06-21T00:00:00Z XML In Chinese medicine, ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) has long been used as a general tonic or an adaptogen to promote longevity and enhance bodily functions. It has also been claimed to be effective in combating stress, fatigue, oxidants, cancer and diabetes mellitus. Most of the pharmacological actions of ginseng are attributed to one type of its constituents, namely the ginsenosides. In this review, we focus on the recent advances in the study of ginsenosides on angiogenesis which is related to many pathological conditions including tumor progression and cardiovascular dysfunctions.Angiogenesis in the human body is regulated by two sets of counteracting factors, angiogenic stimulators and inhibitors. The 'Yin and Yang' action of ginseng on angiomodulation was paralleled by the experimental data showing angiogenesis was indeed related to the compositional ratio between ginsenosides Rg1 and Rb1. Rg1 was later found to stimulate angiogenesis through augmenting the production of nitric oxide (NO) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Mechanistic studies revealed that such responses were mediated through the PI3K→Akt pathway. By means of DNA microarray, a group of genes related to cell adhesion, migration and cytoskeleton were found to be up-regulated in endothelial cells. These gene products may interact in a hierarchical cascade pattern to modulate cell architectural dynamics which is concomitant to the observed phenomena in angiogenesis. By contrast, the anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic effects of ginsenosides (e.g. Rg3 and Rh2) have been demonstrated in various models of tumor and endothelial cells, indicating that ginsenosides with opposing activities are present in ginseng. Ginsenosides and Panax ginseng extracts have been shown to exert protective effects on vascular dysfunctions, such as hypertension, atherosclerotic disorders and ischemic injury. Recent work has demonstrates the target molecules of ginsenosides to be a group of nuclear steroid hormone receptors. These lines of evidence support that the interaction between ginsenosides and various nuclear steroid hormone receptors may explain the diverse pharmacological activities of ginseng. These findings may also lead to development of more efficacious ginseng-derived therapeutics for angiogenesis-related diseases. http://www.cmjournal.org/content/2/1/6 Patrick Ying Kit Yue Nai Ki Mak Yuen Kit Cheng Kar Wah Leung Tzi Bun Ng David Tai Ping Fan Hin Wing Yeung Ricky Ngok Shun Wong Chinese Medicine 2007, null:6 2007-05-15T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/1749-8546-2-6 /content/figures/1749-8546-2-6-toc.gif Chinese Medicine 1749-8546 ${item.volume} 6 2007-05-15T00:00:00Z XML Conventional drugs treat diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity, increasing insulin production and/or decreasing the amount of glucose in blood. Several herbal preparations are used to treat diabetes, but their reported hypoglycemic effects are complex or even paradoxical in some cases. This article reviews recent findings about some of the most popular hypoglycemic herbs, such as ginseng, bitter melon and Coptis chinensis. Several popular commercially available herbal preparations are also discussed, including ADHF (anti-diabetes herbal formulation), Jiangtangkeli, YGD (Yerbe Mate-Guarana-Damiana) and BN (Byakko-ka-ninjin-to). The efficacy of hypoglycemic herbs is achieved by increasing insulin secretion, enhancing glucose uptake by adipose and muscle tissues, inhibiting glucose absorption from intestine and inhibiting glucose production from heptocytes. http://www.cmjournal.org/content/4/1/11 Hongxiang Hui George Tang Vay Liang Go Chinese Medicine 2009, null:11 2009-06-12T00:00:00Z doi:10.1186/1749-8546-4-11 /content/figures/1749-8546-4-11-toc.gif Chinese Medicine 1749-8546 ${item.volume} 11 2009-06-12T00:00:00Z XML