Genistein is known as the major component of isoflavone, which is present in high-soy diets. Genistein has received much attention because of its chemopreventive and therapeutic effects on various types of cancers. Numerous studies have shown that genistein has antineoplastic effects against ovarian cancer. Several epidemiological studies have shown that women who have high consumption of isoflavones have a relatively low incidence of ovarian cancer. Genistein inhibits ovarian carcinogenesis by pleiotropic mechanisms. A higher affinity to estrogen receptor ß is one probable explanation for its ability to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. Genistein also targets multiple cellular signal transduction pathways associated with cell cycle regulation and apoptosis. In addition, genistein has been suggested to have antiangiogenic and antioxidant activities. Herein, we summarize recent results from epidemiological and experimental studies to identify the role of genistein in ovarian cancer. Further studies are needed to achieve conclusive results and determine the clinical applications of genistein.

Background: Qi (? qì) refers to the vital energy of the body in Traditional Chinese medicines (TCM). Qi deficiency (?? qì xu) is the most common symptom in cancer patients according to the concept of TCM. We hypothesized that cancer patients with Qi deficiency suffer from poor quality of life (QOL) and fatigue. Method: Among the 256 registered cancer patients screened at our outpatient clinic, a total of 198 were enrolled. The inclusion criteria were (1) age between 18 and 70 years, (2) cancer diagnosis confirmed by the professional physician, (3) being Chinese, and (4) Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status rating (PSR) = 3. The major outcome is the difference in QOL score in cancer patients with and without Qi deficiency. Results: The initial results showed statistically significant differences in WHO-QOL scores in physical, psychological, and social domains between the groups with and without Qi deficiency as well as the groups with and without cancerrelated fatigue (CRF). All patients with CRF present were also diagnosed as Qi deficient. In addition, among the patients with no CRF, 39.9% (69/173) were diagnosed as suffering from Qi deficiency, which led to poor QOL. Conclusions: The present study showed statistically significant difference in WHO-QOL scores in physical, psychological, and social domains between the groups with and without Qi deficiency as well as the groups with and without CRF. Cancer patients diagnosed with Qi deficiency or CRF have poor QOL. The concept of Qi deficiency in TCM might be applied to cancer health care.

This article will review selected herbal products used in traditional Chinese medicine, including medicinal mushrooms (???? ba xi mó gu; Agaricus blazei , ?? yún zhi; Coriolus versicolor , ?? líng zhi; Ganoderma lucidum , ?? xiang xùn; shiitake, Lentinus edodes , ??? niú zhang zhi; Taiwanofungus camphoratus ), Cordyceps (???? dong chóng xià cao), pomegranate (?? shí liú; Granati Fructus), green tea (?? lu chá Theae Folium Non Fermentatum), garlic (?? dà suàn; Allii Sativi Bulbus), turmeric (?? jiang huáng; Curcumae Longae Rhizoma), and Artemisiae Annuae Herba (?? qing hao; sweet wormwood). Many of the discussed herbal products have gained popularity in their uses as dietary supplements for health benefits. The review will focus on the active constituents of the herbs and their bioactivities, with emphasis on the most recent progress in research for the period of 2003 to 2011.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a complex chronic disease and is associated with a spectrum of liver injury ranging from steatosis and steatohepatitis to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Since effective therapies for ALD are still limited, Chinese herbal medicine is thought to be an important and alternative approach. This review focuses on the current scientific evidence of ALD by ten Chinese Materia Medica (?? zhong yào), including Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix (?? dan shen), Notoginseng Radix (?? san qi), Lycii Fructus (??? gou qi zi), Cnidii Fructus (??? shé chuáng zi), Gentianae Radix (?? lóng dan), Puerariae Radix (?? gé gen), Puerariae Flos (?? gé hua), Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex (?? hòu pò), Platycodonis Radix (?? jié geng), and Trigonellae Semen (??? hú lú ba). Potential mechanisms of these herbal medicines in ALD are involved in amelioration of enhanced inflammation, reduction of hepatic oxidative stress and lipogenesis, and enhancement of intestinal permeability in alcohol-induced liver injury models in vitro and in vivo. Accordingly, the evidenced therapeutic potential suggests that these herbs are promising candidates for prevention and development of new drugs for ALD in the future.

Oxidative stress and inflammatory condition has been broadly accepted being associated with the progression of diabetes. On the other hand, garlic (?? dà suàn, bulb of Allium sativum) has been shown to possess both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action in several clinical conditions. Our previous study demonstrated that treatment with garlic oil improves oral glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance and improves the insulin-stimulated utilization of glucose to synthesize glycogen in skeletal muscle in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes, in vivo and ex vivo, respectively. The aim of the present study is to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of garlic oil (GO) in the skeletal muscle of diabetic rats. Rats with STZ-induced diabetes received GO (10, 50, or 100 mg/kg body weight) or corn oil by gavage every other day for 3 weeks. Control rats received corn oil only. GO dose-dependently improved insulin sensitivity, as assessed by the insulin tolerance test, and oral glucose tolerance. GO significantly elevated total glutathione and glutathione peroxidase activity and lowered the nitrate/nitrite content in skeletal muscle at 50 and 100 mg/kg and significantly elevated glutathione reductase activity and lowered lipid peroxidation at 100 mg/kg. By contrast, GO did not reverse diabetes-induced elevation of IL-1ß and TNF-a in skeletal muscle at any tested dose. On the other hand, GO elevated the expression of GLUT4 in skeletal muscle along with glycogen content as observed with PAS staining. In conclusion, the antidiabetic effect of garlic oil is associated with ameliorated oxidative stress in skeletal muscle.

A stroke often results in post-stroke dementia, a rapid decline in memory and intelligence causing dysfunctions in daily life. The Chinese medicine doctor uses 4 examinations of inspection, listening, smelling, and feeling to determine the Chinese medicine pattern (CMP). Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the CMP in patients with post-stroke dementia. A total of 101 stroke patients were examined, consistent with the DSM IV diagnostic criteria of the American Psychiatric Association, as well as the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke-Association International pour Ia Recherche et I'Enseignement en Neurosciences vascular dementia diagnostic criteria of post-stroke dementia. Results: 100 patients (99.0%) were KEDP (kidney essence deficiency pattern, shèn jing kui xu zhèng, ?????), 83 patients were AHLYP (ascendant hyperactivity of liver yang pattern, gan yàng shàng kàng zhèng, ?????), 83 patients were QBDP (qi-blood deficiency pattern, qì xuè kui xu zhèng, ?????), 81 patients were SBOCP (static blood obstructing the collaterals pattern, yu xuè zu luò zhèng, ?????), 72 patients were BSTRP (bowels stagnation turbidity retention pattern, fu zhì zhuó liú zhèng, ?????), 50 patients were FHIEP (fire heat interior excess pattern, huo rè nèi sheng zhèng, ?????), and 39 participants (38.6%) were PTOOP (phlegm turbidity obstructing the orifices pattern, tàn zhuó zu qiào zhèng, ?????); one to 31 patients have at least 2 CMPs simultaneously. In conclusion, the most CMP is KEDP CMP in the post-stroke dementia patients, and one patient may have one or at least 2 CMPs simultaneously.

In vitro anti-allergic screening of medicinal herbal extracts revealed that the 80% acetone extract of the rhizome of Kadsura coccinea inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and recombinant mouse interferon-? (IFN-?) activated murine macrophage like cell line, RAW264.7. Further fractionation of the EtOAc extract led to the isolation of one new 3,4-seco-lanostane type triterpene named kadsuracoccin acid A (1) together with two known triterpenes anwuweizonic acid (2) and eokadsuranic acid B (3). Compounds 1-3 did not exhibit any inhibitory activities for NO production and IFN-? activation.

Food contains a variety of substances than can modulate transport,barrier, detoxification, and immune functions of the intestines. Functional foods with those substances will be beneficial in promoting gut health, and eventually prevent lifestyle-related diseases.