Evaluation of antitumor, immunomodulatory and free radical scavenging effects of a new herbal prescription seaweed complex preparation

Seaweed Complex Preparation (SCP) is a clinical traditional Chinese medicine preparation which is composed of seven traditional Chinese herbs, and it has been used for treatment of lung cancer, liver cancer and digestive cancer. However, little information is available about the pharmacodynamic basis. The antitumor, immunomodulatory and free radical scavenging effects of SCP were evaluated in this study. Transplanted tumor in vivo method was used to determine the antitumor effect. The effects on splenocyte proliferation and phagocytosis of macrophages in tumor-bearing mice were measured by the MTT method and the phagocytizing cock red blood cell (CRBC) method respectively. The scavenging activities of SCP on DPPH and hydroxyl radicals in vitro were investigated. It was found that the medium-dose and high-dose of SCP could significantly inhibit the growth of transplanted hepatic tumor of murine hepatocarcinoma cell line H22, and promote proliferation of splenocytes and phagocytosis of macrophages. SCP possessed noticeable scavenging activities on DPPH and hydroxyl radicals. The antitumor effects of SCP might be achieved by improving immune system and scavenging free radicals, which is in accordance with the viewpoint of traditional Chinese medicine in promoting the body resistance and eliminating pathogenic factors for cancer treatment.     

The Scavenging of Free Radical and Oxygen Species Activities and Hydration Capacity of Collagen Hydrolysates from Walleye Pollock(Theragra chalcogramma) Skin

Fish skin collagen hydrolysates (FSCH) were prepared from walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) using a mixture of enzymes, namely trypsin and flavourzyme. The degree of hydrolysis of the skin collagen was 27.3%. FSCH was mainly composed of low-molecular-weight peptides and the relative proportion of <1000Da fraction was 70.6%. Free radical and oxygen species scavenging activities of FSCH were investigated in four model systems, including diphenylpicrylhy-drazyl radical (DPPH), superox-ide anion radical, hydroxyl radical and hydrogen peroxide model, and compared with that of a native antioxidant, reduced glutathione (GSH). FSCH was also evaluated by water-absorbing and water-holding capacity. The results showed that FSCH was able to scav-enge free radical and oxygen species significantly and to enhance water-absorbing and water-holding capacity remarkably. Therefore, FSCH may have potential applications in the medicine and food industries.     

30种中药及其复方对温和气单胞菌的抗菌作用

为评价中药对温和气单胞菌的体外抑菌效果,取鱼腥草、五倍子、黄芩等30种中药,采用水提法制备药液,通过试管二倍稀释法测定各药液对温和气单胞菌的最小抑菌浓度(MIC)及最小杀菌浓度(MBC),筛选出抗菌作用较强的中药作为主药,与牡丹皮、龙胆草、蒲公英等18种中药组成复方,测定中药复方对温和气单胞菌的体外抑制效果。结果表明:五倍子、山茱萸、白芍对温和气单胞菌有较强抑菌活性(MIC≤12.5mg/mL),选取8种主药与清热凉血、清热燥湿、清热解毒药分别组成复方,其中五倍子、诃子、五味子、乌梅与其他多种中药组成的复方抗菌作用增强。