By using an HBV-producing cell line (MS-G2) in vitro culture system, we found that wogonin isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis can suppress HBV surface antigen production (P < 0.001) without evidence of cytotoxicity. By assaying the endogenous HBV DNA polymerase activity, we found that both the relaxed circular and the linear forms of HBV DNA are significantly reduced in the wogonin-treated group. Wogonin deserves to be further evaluated for the treatment of human HBV infection.

Die-Huang-Wan is a herbal mixture widely used in Chinese traditional medicine to treat diabetic disorders. We have investigated the effect of Die-Huang-Wan on plasma glucose concentration in-vivo. Die-Huang-Wan was administered orally (5.0, 15.0 or 26.0 mg kg(-1)) to three rat models. Wistar rats were used as the normal animal model, rats with insulin-resistance (induced by the repeated thrice daily injection of human long-acting insulin) were used as the non-insulin-dependent diabetic model, and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were used as the insulin-dependent diabetic model. In normal rats, approximately 1 h after oral administration of Die-Huang-Wan the plasma glucose concentration decreased significantly in a dose-dependent manner, from 5 to 26.0 mg kg(-1). A similar effect was observed in rats with insulin-resistance. However, this effect was not observed in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, even at an oral dose of 26.0 mg kg(-1). These results suggested an insulin-dependent action, a view supported by the increase of plasma insulin-like immunoreactivity in normal rats receiving Die-Huang-Wan. The results indicated that Die-Huang-Wan had an ability to stimulate the secretion of insulin and this preparation seemed helpful in improving the diabetic condition, especially hyperglycaemia in type-II diabetes.

Chieh-pu-warn (CPW), or Swift-footed pill, is a traditional Chinese herbal preparation for the treatment of weakness, paralysis, or arthritis. Toxicity studies in mice showed that CPW at the maximal tested dosage (25 glkg, p.0.) exhibited no acute toxicity. Subacute treatment of CPW with recommended daily dose (2.5 g/kg, p.0. daily for 15 days) showed that the body weight and the water content of lung, heart, kidney, and liver in mice were not changed significantly. The antiinflammatory effect of CPW was evaluated with carrageenin-and Freund's complete adjuvant-induced edematous responses in the hind paws of rats. It was found that a single dose (2.5 g/kg, p.0.) of CPW had no significant antiinflammatory effect, but consecutive pretreatment with the same dose for three days significantly inhibited the carrageenin-induced acute inflammation and Freund's complete adjuvant-induced subacute inflammation in rats. The present results suggest that CPW has antiinflammatory activities with low toxicities.