ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the drug-guiding mechanism of Achyranthes bidentata from Sanmiao pill in arthritic rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The rats were treated by Ferud's complet adjuvant and hot water -bath to establish rat adjuvant arthritis model, then the model rats were divided into three groups, model group, Sanmiao pill groups with A. bidentata. (18 g x kg(-1)) and without A. bidentata. (10 g x kg(-1)), respectively. The heart and foot joints were washed and homogenated to determine the berberine concentration by HPCL in different time after ig and the foot edema was tested by volume method. The pathological changes were observed and hemorheologic parameters were also tested.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The berberine concentration of foot joint was significantly higher in 2, 4, 6 hour and 14 day in the rats with A. bidentata. The berberine concentration ratio of foot joint and heart was significantly higher in rats with A. bidentata. pharmacodynamic researches showed that A. bidentata could enhance the edema inhibition effect of Sanmiao pill. Hemorheologic researches showed that A. bidentata. could significantly improve the blood viscosity of model rats, the blood high shear viscosity, the blood low shear viscosity and the plasma viscosity were (6.47 +/- 0.57), (9.28 +/- 1.2), (1.94 +/- 0.19) mPa x s respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A. bidentata. could facilitate the targeted tissue distribution of berberine. The effect was correlative with its blood viscosity improvement.</p>