Herbal Therapeutics that Block the Oncogenic Kinase PAK1: A Practical Approach towards PAK1‐dependent Diseases and Longevity

Over 35 years research on PAKs, RAC/CDC42(p21)‐activated kinases, comes of age, and in particular PAK1 has been well known to be responsible for a variety of diseases such as cancer (mainly solid tumors), Alzheimer's disease, acquired immune deficiency syndrome and other viral/bacterial infections, inflammatory diseases (asthma and arthritis), diabetes (type 2), neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, epilepsy, depression, schizophrenia, learning disability, autism, etc. Although several distinct synthetic PAK1‐blockers have been recently developed, no FDA‐approved PAK1 blockers are available on the market as yet. Thus, patients suffering from these PAK1‐dependent diseases have to rely on solely a variety of herbal therapeutics such as propolis and curcumin that block PAK1 without affecting normal cell growth. Furthermore, several recent studies revealed that some of these herbal therapeutics significantly extend the lifespan of nematodes (C. elegans) and fruit flies (Drosophila), and PAK1‐deficient worm lives longer than the wild type. Here, I outline mainly pathological phenotypes of hyper‐activated PAK1 and a list of herbal therapeutics that block PAK1, but cause no side (harmful) effect on healthy people or animals. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Biological Activity of Bee Propolis in Health and Diseas

Propolis is a natural product derived from plant resins collected by honeybees. It is used by bees as glue, a ‍general-purpose sealer, and as draught-extruder for beehives. Propolis has been used in folk medicine for centuries. ‍It is known that propolis possesses anti- microbial, antioxidative, anti-ulcer and anti-tumor activities. Therefore, ‍propolis has attracted much attention in recent years as a useful or potential substance used in medicine and cosmetics ‍products. Furthermore, it is now extensively used in foods and beverages with the claim that it can maintain or ‍improve human health. The chemical composition of propolis is quite complicated. More than 300 compounds ‍such as polyphenols, phenolic aldehydes, sequiterpene quinines, coumarins, amino acids, steroids and inorganic ‍compounds have been identified in propolis samples. The contents depend on the collecting location, time and plant ‍source. Consequently, biological activities of propolis gathered from different phytogeographical areas and time ‍periods vary greatly. In this review, the activity of bee propolis will be presented with special emphasis on the ‍antitumor activity.     

加味补阳还五汤对血脂和免疫功能的影响

目的：研究加味补阳还五汤对实验鼠的血脂和免疫功能的影响。方法：采用正常及食饵性高脂血症大鼠模型、免疫抑制小鼠模型,观察方剂对血脂水平、非特异性免疫、体液免疫和细胞免疫功能的影响。结果：加味补阳还五汤既能保持原方剂显著降低大鼠TC、TG、LDL－C的功能（P＜0．05,P＜0．01）;同时又能显著增强小鼠巨噬细胞吞噬功能（P＜0．05,0．001）、胸腺指数（P＜0．001）、HC50（P＜0．01）和DTH（P＜0．05）的作用。结论：加味补阳还五汤对高脂血症和免疫功能低下的实验鼠均有显著改善以上指标的作用,具有补气养血、活血祛瘀、补肾壮阳之功效。     

中西结合治疗急性冠周炎50例疗效观察

目的：观察中西医结合方法与西医常规疗法治疗急性周炎的临床疗效。方法：对50例急性冠周炎患者用中西医结合的方法进行治疗（中西医结合组）,48例用西医常规方法治疗（西医对照组）,观察中西医结合组、西医对照组的效果和中西医结合组治疗前后牙龈指数的变化。结果：中西医结合组显效率达72.00％,与西医对照组疗效比较有显著性差异（P＜0.05);中西医结合组治疗后牙龈指数下降,与治疗前及西医对照组治疗后比较均有显著性差异（P均＜0.01）。结论：蜂胶可减轻炎症、疼痛,促进组织愈合,有利于急性冠周炎的治疗和康复。     

基于UHPLC-MS-MS大通量分析的蜂胶影响PXR/CYP3A4调控血脂质量标志物筛选和评价

目的采用精准、可量化的方法筛选蜂胶影响PXR/CYP3A4通路调控血脂的质量标志物。方法采用人结肠癌LS174T细胞给予一定浓度的咪达唑仑注射液,同时给予不同浓度的蜂胶已知成分对照品溶液,孵育后提取样品,采用UHPLC-MS法测定生成的1′-羟基咪达唑仑含量,根据测定结果筛选出对PXR/CYP3A4通路有显著调控作用的成分,以这些成分为指标,建立同时定量方法,根据结果初步确定蜂胶中影响PXR/CYP3A4通路调控血脂代谢的质量标志物。结果所评价的蜂胶成分中,白杨素、高良姜素、异绿原酸A、槲皮素、咖啡酸苯乙酯均能够显著提高或降低1′-羟基咪达唑仑的量(与对照组和阳性对照组比较),提示上述成分能够显著影响PXR/CYP3A4表达;UHPLC-MS-MS含量测定结果显示,蜂胶中上述成分除异绿原酸A和乔松素外,均具有适宜的含量以达到显效。结论白杨素、高良姜素、咖啡酸苯乙酯和槲皮素可能是蜂胶影响PXR/CYP3A4通路调控血脂的质量标志物,且均具有抑制相关靶标表达,进而调节血脂水平的活性;同时,本研究所用质量标志物筛选、评价方法快速、高效、可量化,能够适应基于PXR/CYP3A4的大通量活性成分筛选研究。     

蜂胶治疗口腔疾病的药理作用和临床应用现状

本对近年来蜂胶用于治疗口腔疾病的有关报道作一总结，概括论述了蜂胶的抗病原微生物、抗炎镇痛、抗溃疡、镇静麻醉以及其它药理作用和毒性评价，并对其治疗龋齿病、牙体病、牙髓病、牙周组织病、口腔粘膜病等类口腔疾病的临床疗效进行了整理归纳，同时对蜂胶作为一种高效天然药材应用于口腔疾病的独特优势和应用前景作出了展望。