Gastrogavage of water decoction of zao jiao ci at the dosage of 3.9g/kg for consecutive 7 days could obviously prolong the coagulation time in mice, siginificantly reduce the weight of thrombus in arteries or veins in rats. Gastrogavage of 15g/kg crude drug could obviously prolong the recalcification time and prothrombin time in rabbits. It could inhibit the platelet aggregation and antagonize in vitro thrombus.

1. Effect of Gleditsia sinensis stings on growth inhibition and expression of PCNA and p53 in mice bearing uterine cervical carcinoma (U14).

OBJECTIVE: To study the antitumor effect of the stings of Gleditsia sinensis on mice bearing uterine cervical carcinoma (U14) and the expression of PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) and p53. METHOD: The effect of the ethanolic extract of G. sinensis stings on the inhibition rate of solid tumor and the life span of ascites tumor were calculated by the animal tumor model experiment in vivo. The positive cell numbers of PCNA and mutant p53 protein were measured by immunohistochemical SP method. RESULT: As compared with the control group, the ethanolic extract of G. sinensis stings (250, 500 and 1 000 mg x kg(-1) body onload="highlight();" weight, p.o.) and CTX (25 mg kg(-1) body onload="highlight();" weight, i.p.) administration significantly reduced the tumor weight of solid tumor and increased the life span of ascites tumor harboring mice (P < 0.01). The inhibition rate of solid tumor and the rate in life span were up to 47.44%, 59.49%, 63.92%, 73.42% and 52.21%, 67.26%, 78.76%, 95.58% respectively. Meanwhile,the expression of PCNA and mutant p53 protein also suppressed by ethanolic extract (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The stings of G. sinensis showed antitumor activity and its possible mechanism might be related with the expression inhibition of PCNA and mutant p53 protein.

--Long L, Geng GX, Li QW. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2006 Jan;31(2):150-3.

2. Antimutagenic constituents from the thorns of Gleditsia sinensis.

Antimutagenic activity-guided fractionation of an extract prepared from the thorns of Gleditsia sinensis LAM. led to the isolation of one triterpenoid and four steroids, which were identified as D:C-friedours-7-en-3-one (1), stigmast-4-ene-3,6-dione (2), stigmastane-3,6-dione (3), stigmasterol (4), and beta-sitosterol (5). Triterpenoid 1 was found for the first time in a natural source and the steroids 2-5 were first isolated from this plant. Stigmasterol was the most active antimutagen, showing 51.2% and 64.2% reduction of the induction factor against the mutagens MNNG and NQO, respectively, in the SOS chromotest. Some NMR data of the steroids 2 and 3 obtained have to be revised.

--Lim JC, Park JH, Budesinsky M, Kasal A, Han YH, Koo BS, Lee SI, Lee DU. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2005 May;53(5):561-4.

Zao Ci Tang: zao jiao ci 50g; dang gui, hong hua, shan yu rou, 10g each; chuan xiong 15g; ji xue teng 30g; wei ling xian 12g. Modify the formula according to accompanied symptoms. 41 cases of hyperosteogeny were treated, 26 were markedly effective, 12 effective and 3 ineffective.

zao jiao cai 20g, sheng gan cao 10g. Modify the formula according to accompanied symptoms. 1 dose daily, 10 doses as a course of treatment. 132 cases of lumps due to unknow reason were treated, 36 were markedly effective, 83 effective and 4 ineffective.

Decoction of sheng huang qi and zao jiao ci 30g each was cooked with sticky rice to make congee. 1 dose daily, 2 weeks as a course of treatment. 125 cases of postoperational intestinal adhesion were treated, 80 were markedly effective, 29 effective and 16 ineffective.

zhi nan xing 6~12g, zao jiao ci 3~6g, ze lan ye 15~20g, jin yin hua 12~18g, dang shen, 10~15g, ju hua 10~15g, lian qiao 15~24g, pu gong ying 24~30g, di ding 6~10g. Modify the formula according to TCM differentiation. 1 dose daily, all treated 20 cases of verrucous gastritis were effective.

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