title: Effect of Agkistroden blomhoffi (mamushi) on the proliferation of human fibroblasts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Agkistroden blomhoffi (mamushi) aqueous extract on human patellar tendon cells in vitro, to pharmacologically explain the natural medicine's healing effect on tendon, bone and muscle injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human patellar tendon fibroblasts (HPTF) were incubated in media containing different concentrations of mamushi aqueous extract. Cell proliferation was studied by microscopic observations and total protein, actin, collagen I, and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox 2) expressions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mamushi aqueous extract enhanced HPTF proliferation when its concentration was lower than 333 microg/ml. Cells cultured in manushi-containing medium showed developed intercellular structure and increased protein production. However, mamushi extract higher than 500 microg/ml oppressed cell growth. At 667 microg/ml, mamushi induced Cox 2 production, a sign of cytotoxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A. blomhoffi aqueous extract was found to directly stimulate the proliferation and protein production, particularly collagen I synthesis, of HPTF in a dose-dependent manner.
authors.affiliation: Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Guoguang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jianying
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Noriyoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Masuoka
authors.forename: Yun Z
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Riffle
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ebinuma
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kodama
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017836:Agkistrodon; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D045424:Complex Mixtures / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D045424:Complex Mixtures; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D003094:Collagen; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases