In vitro Antibacterial Activity of Herbal Medicines and Combinations of Herbal Medicines and Antibiotics against Edwardsiella tarda

The antibacterial activity of five medicinal herbs, alone and together with other herbs or one of six antibiotics, against Edwardsiella tarda was determined by World Health Organization-International Collaborative Study (WHO-ICS) agar dilution protocol. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the herbs were significantly lower (≤4 mg/ml) in treatments using the combinations Rhizoma coptidis+Radix scutellariae, Galla chinensis+Radix et Rhizoma rhei, Galla chinensis+Radix scutellariae, and Radix et Rhizoma rhei+Radix scutellariae than in treatments using Rhizoma coptidis, Radix et Rhizoma rhei, or Flos lonicerae (≥32 mg/ml). Almost all the combination treatments were more effective than treatment by a single herb. Combinations containing herbal medicines and regular antibiotics resulted in varying results: antibacterial effects increased with some combinations and decreased with others. Galla chinensis is suitable for use with most antibiotics, while streptomycin sulfate is suitable for use with many herbal medicines

The Environmental Consequences of Altered Nitrogen Cycling Resulting from Industrial Activity, Agricultural Production, and Population Growth in China

Human activities exerted very little effect on nitrogen (N) cycling in China before 1949. Between 1949 and 1999, however, rapid economic development and population growth led to dramatic changes in anthropogenic reactive N, inputted recycling N, N flux on land, N2O emission, and NH3 volatilization. Consequently, these changes have had a tremendous impact on the environment in China. In the current study, we estimated the amount of atmospheric wet N deposition and N transportation into water bodies from the watersheds and major valleys in China. Additionally, we addressed issues on leaching and accumulation of NO3� in the farmland under different climate zones, land use, and cropping systems as well as the potential influence of NO3� on underground water in China