ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of different doses of Yinzhihuang oral liquid and different concentrations of Lonicera japonica extract on hemolysis and hyperbilirubinemia in rats with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 10 groups (n=10 each): normal control group (untreated), negative control group (saline-treated), positive control group (primaquine-treated), low-, medium- and high-dose Yinzhihuang oral liquid groups (13.4, 26.8, and 53.6 mL/kg, respectively), and low-, medium-, high-, and very-high-concentration Lonicera japonica groups (6.7 mL/kg administered, containing 8, 40, 80, and 160 mg/mL Lonicera japonica extract, respectively). A rat model of acetylphenylhydrazine-induced G6PD deficiency was established in all groups except the normal control group, as confirmed by the morphological changes in erythrocytes observed using Wright's stain. After treatment, routine blood and biochemical tests were conducted to measure hemolytic indices, as well as changes in total and indirect bilirubin levels.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Rats with G6PD deficiency demonstrated irregular erythrocytes with a lighter-staining center. In the positive control group, the red blood cell count decreased, while the free hemoglobin count and the reticulocyte percentage increased, as compared with before treatment (P<0.05); in all the Yinzhihuang oral liquid groups and Lonicera japonica extract groups, all the above indices except reticulocyte percentage returned to the levels before treatment (P<0.05). Compared with the positive control group, all the Yinzhihuang oral liquid groups had significantly reduced total and indirect bilirubin levels (P<0.05), and all the Lonicera japonica group had significantly reduced indirect bilirubin levels (P<0.05). However, the total bilirubin level was significantly higher in the Lonicera japonica groups than in the Yinzhihuang oral liquid groups (P<0.05). The low-dose Yinzhihuang oral liquid group demonstrated a significantly greater decrease in total bilirubin level than the medium- and high-dose Yinzhihuang oral liquid group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Administration of high-dose Yinzhihuang oral liquid and different concentrations of Lonicera Japonica extract do not cause hemolysis in rats with G6PD deficiency. Yinzhihuang oral liquid is more effective in treating hyperbilirubinemia than Lonicera Japonica extract. However, the efficacy of Yinzhihuang oral liquid may not be dose-dependent.</p>