Using the chick embryo method, medicines were put on the membranous blood vessels of chick embryo that had been incubated for 3-4 days. The medicine's inhibitory effects (or lack thereof) on the formation of blood vessels were determined by whether or not the medicine produced non-blood vessel districts. The results showed that Yu Jin does have the inhibitory effect.( 2) The effects of Yu Jin on blood lipid levels were observed in quails of high lipid diet-modeled hyperlipidemia. The results showed that the levels of serum cholesterol and triglyceride in the treatment group were lower than those in the high lipid control group (P<0.01-0.05). Serum LDL level was also lower than that of the high lipid control group (P<0.05).( 3) The essential oils of Pian Jiang Huang (Curcuma Rhizoma), Yu Jin (Curcuma Radix), and E Zhu (Zedoaria) all have an inhibitory effect on 10 common pathogenic fungi. Among which, the volatile oil of Pian Jiang Huang has the strongest antibacterial effects.( 4) Yu Jin decoction is shown to inhibit the activity of HMGR in isolated mouse hepatocytes (with a mean inhibition rate of 30%). The intensity of the effect is similar to that of NaF (50mmol/L).( 5) Administered to mice of CCl 4-induced hepatitis, Yu Jin volatile oil can lower the level of hemolysin and decrease the count of spleen PFCs (P<0.05-P<0.01). Yu Jin can also inhibit the activity of NK cells.( 6),( 7) Methanol-based extract of Yu Jin can inhibit the auto-oxidation of edible oil with a 70% inhibition rate.( 8) When injected by gastrofiberscope into the upper duodenum, the decoction of the herb can stimulate the secretion of secretin in patients with surperficial gastritis, increasing the level of secretin and the concentration of the HCO 3 in duodenal juice.( 9) Administered orally to patients with chronic surperficial gastritis, Yu Jin decoction is shown to increase the secretion of gastric acid (P<0.01).( 10) Curdione can significantly prolong the duration of sleep (including SWS I, SWS II, and REM) in cats. In particular, Yu Jin's effect on SWS and REM sleep is rather pronounced (stronger than that of the traditional sedative medicine, Zhu Sha An Shen Pills), indicating that Yu Jin has an inhibitory effect on the central nervous system.( 11) Administered to patients with slight chronic superficial gastritis, Yu Jin is shown to increase the serum level of growth inhibitory factor (P<0.01), suggesting that Yu Jin can promote the release of growth inhibitory factors.( 12) Even at the small dose of 0.81/kg, Yu Jin can increase the activity of SOD in rats of CCl 4-induced mild liver damages, raising the serum level of albumin and decreasing serum MDA and ALT.( 13) Under electron microscope, severe ultrastructure damages are observed in rats of vitamin D 4-induced cardiac injury. If the subjects are pretreated with Yu Jin volatile oil, however, the damage is considerably less severe (the activities of SOD and GSH-Px are higher, and the ultrastructure is close to normal), indicating that Yu Jin can actively prevent free radicals from inflicting damages to cardiac muscles.( 14) Administered to mice and rabbits by intraperitoneal injection or subcutaneous injection, Yu Jin can abort pregnancy of various stages in mice and early pregnancy in rabbits. Experiments show that Yu Jin has a dose-dependent excitatory effect on the mouse's pregnant or non-pregnant uterus of mice and on isolated rabbit uterus.( 15) Administered to mice, Yu Jin is shown to increase the levels of cAMP in the heart, liver, and spleen, suggesting that Yu Jin has a potential for treating heart, liver and spleen diseases.( 16) |