nu zhen zi had no obvious influence over the number of rosette forming cells. Gastrogavage of water decoction of wine-steamed nu zhen zi could increase the humoral immunity of mice. Decoction of nu zhen zi, decoction of steamed nu zhen zi and Er Zhi Wan (made from nu zhen zi and mo han lian) could all increase the non-specific immune function and antagonize the immunosuppression function of sterane. Intraperitoneal injection of nu zhen zi polysaccharide to mice could obviously enhance the immune function. 75% ethanol extract of nu zhen zi could promote the response of lymphocyte to PHA, and promote T lymphocyte.

The experimental results show that Erzhi Pills can markedly increase the weights of immunological organs in mice and antagonize the immunosuppressive action of prednisolone. The diameter of SRID precipitating ring, the hemolytic ability of PFC and the clearance rate of i.v. charcoal particles in mice can all be increased by the pills. Erzhi Pills also protect mice from CCl4 intoxication. Steamed Ligustrum lucidum has the same action as Erzhi Pills.

Aqueous extracts of Astragalus membranaceus and Ligustrum lucidum augmented the spontaneous [3H]thymidine incorporation in the mononuclear cells (MNC) of 14 normal subjects from 273.0 to 609.3 counts per minute (cpm) and 252.9 to 656.9 cpm respectively. The stimulation indices were 2.4 and 3.1, respectively (p less than 0.001). They also augmented the proliferation of normal subjects' lymphocytes induced by suboptimal concentrations of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) from 5084.6 to 23,398.3 and 221.7 to 24,132.8 cpm, of concanavalin A (con A) from 4046.5 to 15,661.5 and 677.6 to 14,644.6 cpm, and of pokeweed mitogen (PWM) from 4377.9 to 24,405.6 and 322.7 to 11,730.0 cpm, respectively (p less than 0.00). Herb extracts augmented the PHA responses of the MNC from 14 cancer patients significantly (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.05, respectively). Extracts of L. lucidum also augmented the con A response of patients (p less than 0.05). The augmenting effect of the herbs on the PHA, con A, and PWM responses was dose dependent, and proliferation was inhibited at higher concentrations. The optimal concentration for stimulating the MNC of cancer patients was 100 micrograms/ml, compared to 10 micrograms/ml for the MNC of normal donors. MNC of seven patients depressed the mitogen responses of normal cells in a co-culture system. This was partially abrogated in five by preincubating the patients' cells in herb extracts for 45 min or by irradiation of the patients' cells. These results suggest that the herb extracts contain immunomodulatory components which may be useful in the immunotherapy of disease.

60g/kg gastrogavage of nu zhen zi infusion once daily could inhibit Hela cell and U14 tumor strain of mouse cervical carcinoma both in vitro and in vivo, the inhibitory rate was 49.2% Water extract of nu hen zi (50, 100mg) could partially reverse the macrophage function inhibitory effect induced by Renca cell, and restore the J744CL to normal level. 100mg nu zhen zi could completely or partially recover the macrophage inhibition induced by MBT-2 cell, restore the J₇₄₄CL to normal level or above. nu zhen zi had quite good anti-mutation ability, it had protective effect on the mutation effect and injury of cell chromosome induced by mutagen cyclophosphane and urethane.

nu zhen zi had inhibitory effect on the increase of capillary permeability and inflammatory exudates induced by xylene and other substances that could cause inflammation, as well as the chronic inflammatory injury caused by formaldehyde.

Oral administration of ethanol extract of nu zhen zi (Ea) and its effective ingredient oleanolic acid (Eb) at the dosages of 40g/kg and 100mg/kg respectively had treating effect on the cyclophosphane-induced aleukocytosis in mice. But Ea and Eb at the same dosage had no influence on 60Cog-ray induced aleukocytosis in mice.

Intravenous injection of nu zhen zi liquid (2.5g/kg) to rat could inhibit the platelet aggregation, the aggregation inhibitory rate was 30%~50%, of medium intensity.

Subcutaneous injection of nu zhen zi liquid to mice could obviously promote the growth of FU-E, and it had better effects on the proliferation of BFU-E than CFU-GM.

Ligustrin, an extract of nu zhen zi, had stable blood sugar lowering effect, it could lower the blood sugar in mice with alloxan-induced diabetes. Water decoction of nu zhen zi could also antagonize the increase of blood sugar caused by adrenalin or extraneous glucose.

nu zhen zi could lower the serum cholesterol and triglyceride of rabbits fed with cholesterol and lard, it had the effects of preventing and reducing atherosclerosis plaque, and decreasing the thickness of plaque. It could decrease the numbers of coronary atherosclerosis and reduce its blocking degree. Er Zhi Wan (made from nu zhen zi and mo han lian) could lower the serum triglyceride.

nu zhen zi 60mg/ml (raw drug) obviously decreased the increase of MDA and antagonized the inhibition of enzymes, and relieved photosensitized reaction of eyes.

nu zhen zi could obviously lower MDA contents in the mice brain and liver, increase SOD activity, and had value of anti aging to a certain extent. nu zhen zi polysaccharide had the effects of enhancing the immune function.

Methanol and hot-water extracts of glossy privet (Ligustrum lucidum Ait.) inhibited the mutagenic activity of benzo[a]pyrene in Salmonella typhimurium TA98 with S9 mix. The methanol extract was fractionated with ether and n-hexane. As the active components, oleanolic and ursolic acids were isolated, which were soluble in ether and insoluble in n-hexane. The hot-water extract was fractionated to water, 60% and 100% methanol fractions. Nuezhenide was isolated from the 60% methanol fraction as the active component.

The main effective ingredient oleanolic acid of nu zhen zi had obvious protecting function over CCl4 induced acute liver injury in rats, it could obviously lower serum SGPT, decrease the accumulation amount of triglyceride in the liver, relieve the denaturalization and necrosis of liver cell, and increase the accumulation of glucogen.

Shen Yan Yang Yin Ye (containing nu zhen zi, han lian cao, haung jing, sheng di, etc.) and Shen Yan Yi Qi Tang (containing huang qi, sheng shai shen, yin yang huo, etc.) were used to treat 318 cases of chronic nephritis (earlier stage), the total effective rate was 68.87%.

Jiang Tang Wan which contained nu zhen zi, mu dan pi, haung qi, di huang, etc. was used to treat 164 cases of diabetes, the total effective rate was 63.4%.

Jian Pi Yi Shen Granules (containing dang shen, nu zhen zi, gou qi zi, tu si zi, bai zhu, etc.) was used to treat 200 cases of thrombocytopenia, the total effective rate was 85%.

406 patients with hyperlipemia were treated with Jiang Zhi Granules made from nu zhen zi and gou qi zi, the therapeutic effect was obvious.

sheng zhi zi 20g, nu zhen zi, lai fu zi, 15g each, chuan lian zi 6g, fu ling, yu jin, mu gua, da huang, 10g each, mu tong 9g, ban lan gen, bai mao gen, 18g each. This formula was used to treat 200 cases of acute viral hepatitis, 197 cases were clinically cured, 2 improved, 1 markedly effective.

Except those noted, all references come from Weng Weiliang, et al., Clinical Chinese materia medica, Henan Science & Technology Press, 1998