Study on the Medicinal Properties of Ascending and Descending,Floating and Sinking on Split Fractions of Ephedrae Herba Based on Wind Edema Rat Model
Objective To explore the medicinal properties of ascending and descending,floating and sinking on split fractions of Ephedrae Herba(alkaloids,non-alkaloids and polysaccharides)based on the rat model of wind edema.Method Seventy SD rats were randomly divided into normal group,model group,alkaloid group(51.48 mg·kg-1),non-alkaloid group(215.28 mg·kg-1),polysaccharide group(276.12 mg·kg-1),Ephedrae Herba group(Ephedrae Herba decoction 4670 mg·kg-1),and Tongxuan Lifei Pills group(positive drug group,4326 mg·kg-1).The rat model of wind edema was established by tail vein injection of Adriamycin combined with wind-blowing stimulation,and the modelling was considered successful by the appearance of symptoms such as oedema of the limbs,aversion to wind,arched back,loose hair,sneezing,runny nose,and reduced urination in the rats.The drug was administered by gavage(10 mL·kg-1)once a day for 21 consecutive days.The coughing condition of the rats was observed by ammonia-induced cough test;the secretion function of sweat glands,the number of voluntary activities,and the sleeping time of the rats were measured;the voluntary activities of the rats were evaluated by open field test;and the cardiac function indexes of the rats were examined by echocardiography for heart rate(HR),cardiac output(CO),left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),and left ventricular fraction shortening(LVFS);gastric residual rate and small intestinal propulsion rate of rats were detected;the coefficients of heart,liver,spleen,lungs and kidneys were measured;biochemical indexes were detected:urinary protein(UP)and microalbuminuria(MAU)levels in urine,interleukin 4(IL-4),interferon γ(IFN-γ)and immunoglobulin E(IgE)levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF),creatinine(CER),urea nitrogen(BUN)and nitric oxide(NO)levels in serum;gastric motility factor(MTL),gastrin(GT)and growth inhibitor(SST)levels in plasma were detected;flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis of lung tissue cells and their reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels;HE staining was used to observe the relevant histopathological changes.Results(1)Results of respiratory system experiments:compared with the model group,the cough latency of rats in each administration group was significantly prolonged(P<0.01),and the times of coughs was significantly reduced(P<0.05,P<0.01),of which the alkaloid and polysaccharide fractions were close to the effect of Ephedrae Herba;the swelling of alveolar walls was reduced,the phenomenon of infiltration of inflammatory cells and epithelial cell detachment in alveoli was alleviated,and the pathological scores were significantly reduced(P<0.05,P<0.01),of which the alkaloid fraction had the most significant improvement effect;the levels of IL-4 and IgE in BALF were significantly reduced(P<0.05,P<0.01),and the level of IFN-γ was significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),of which the alkaloid fraction had the closest improvement effect to that of Ephedrae Herba;and the apoptosis rate of the cells of the lung tissues and the level of ROS were significantly reduced(P<0.01),and the effect was alkaloid fraction>polysaccharide fraction>non-alkaloid fraction.(2)Results of urinary system experiments:compared with the model group,the number of colouring points of the toe sweat glands of rats in the Ephedrae Herba group,alkaloid group,polysaccharide group and Tongxuan Lifei Pills group were significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),and the urinary output of rats in the Ephedrae Herba,alkaloid and Tongxuan Lifei Pills group were significantly increased(P<0.01);there was no significant change in the level of serum CRE in rats of each administration group(P>0.05),and the UP level in urine was significantly reduced(P<0.05,P<0.01),and serum BUN level and MAU level in urine were significantly reduced in rats of the Ephedrae Herba group,alkaloid group,polysaccharide group and Tongxuan Lifei Pills group(P<0.05,P<0.01).(3)Results of central system experiments:compared with the model group,the number of voluntary activities of rats in each administration group was significantly increased(P<0.01),and the sleep time of rats in the Ephedrae Herba group,alkaloid group and Tongxuan Lifei Pills group was significantly shortened(P<0.05,P<0.01);and the total distance of the activities of rats in the Ephedrae Herba,alkaloid,polysaccharide and Tongxuan Lifei Pills groups were significantly lengthened(P<0.05,P<0.01).The improvement effect of alkaloid component was the most obvious and close to that of Ephedrae Herba,suggesting that the medicinal properties of the component of Ephedrae Herba alkaloid were on the ascending and floating side.(4)Results of digestive system experiments:compared with the model group,the gastric residual rate of rats in the Ephedrae Herba polysaccharide group was significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the propulsion rate of the small intestine and the plasma GT level were significantly increased(P<0.01);and the plasma SST level of rats in the non-alkaloid group was significantly increased(P<0.05).The results suggested that the medicinal properties of Ephedrae Herba polysaccharide fractions were tend to be descending and sinking.(5)Results of circulatory system experiments:compared with the model group,the serum NO level of rats in the administered groups was significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),and the cardiac LVFS of rats in the alkaloid group was significantly increased(P<0.05).Conclusion The alkaloid fraction of Ephedrae Herba shows a tendency to rise and float upward,with a tendency to ascending and floating,and the polysaccharide fraction shows a tendency to descending,with a tendency to sink downward,which may be the material basis for the efficacy of Ephedrae Herba in promoting lung qi,inducing sweating to release the exterior,and inducing diuresis to relieve edema.
medicinal propertiesascending and descending,floating and sinkingwind edemaEphedrae Herbaalkaloidpolysaccharideinducing sweating to release the exteriorinducing diuresis to relieve edemarats