Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is one of the common complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), its incidence can be as high as over 90%. The lesion can involve the sensory, motor and vegetative nerves. As a whole, the lesion can be divided into symmetric multiple neuropathy and asymmetric single neuropathy. Because the pathogenesis of the disease is not clear, no specific therapy is available so far. Besides control of blood sugar level, vitamin B, vasodilators and analgesics are often used in Western medicine for expectant treatment. Basic studies on chronic complications of DM show that aldose reductase and non-enzymatic glycosylation of protein are factors initiating the pathological changes, inhibitors against them have been tested in experimental studies and proved effective. Unfortunately, they are not used clinically due to severe side effects. Screening for herbal drugs to treat DN is still a popular trend in the TCM circle.

OBJECTIVE: Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad.&Wendl. (Solanaceae) is present in many Ayurveda compound formulations including Chavanaprasha and Dasamoolarishta. The whole plant is used in conditions such as inflammation, constipation and promoting conception in females. In the present study, we carried out different tests to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of Solanum xanthocarpum (SXE) in postmenopausal syndrome.
METHODS: The study was carried out in bilaterally ovariectomized one-month-old Wistar rats (40-50 g). Bilaterally ovariectomized (OVX) Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n=6) receiving different treatments, consisting of a vehicle (distilled water), aqueous extract of Solanum xanthocarpum at two different doses (200 and 400 mg/kg) administered orally daily for 90 d and standard drugβestradiol at a dose of 1 mg/kg administered subcutaneously biweekly for 90 d. Estrogenic activity was assessed by vaginal corniifcation, sexual behavior, serum estradiol and uterine weight to body weight ratio. Antiosteoporotic activity was assessed on the basis of biomechanical and biochemical parameters followed by histopathological studies, and antidepressant activity was assessed by forced swim test.
RESULTS:SXE showed presence of steroids. At the dose of 200 mg/kg, it signiifcantly improved all the parameters of sexual behavior (P<0.01), caused vaginal corniifcation, and increased serum estradiol and uterine weight (P<0.01). It also significantly improved all the parameters of bone strength as well as depression (P<0.01). Histopathology of bones conifrmed the above ifndings. CONCLUSION:The study indicated that SXE may provide an effective treatment in the prevention of postmenopausal symptoms.

中药治疗鼻鼽病体会

鼻鼽病,西医学称为变应性鼻炎,或称过敏性鼻炎.可分为季节性与常年性,且易反复发作,其疗效多为近期有效率,彻底治愈较困难,近年临床观察其发病率有逐渐升高趋向.鼻鼽病与肺、脾、肾等脏阳气虚有着密切关系.肺气有赖于脾气精气的输布,脾又有赖于肾气的温煦.肺主气,主宣降,将清气下纳于肾,若某脏因之不足,就可表现出其脏之病理变化,如<证治要诀>说:"清涕者,脑冷肺寒所致”<李问>中说:"五气所病……肾为欠、为嚏.”鼻鼽病起病快,消失快,易反复发作为特点.常以突然鼻腔内酸痒,喷嚏频作,流大量水涕,鼻塞,嗅觉失灵,检查鼻腔粘膜苍白水肿为其主要临床表现.