Research progress of Shegan Mahuang Decoction and predictive analysis on its Q-markers / 中国中药杂志

Shegan Mahuang Decoction has been used in clinical practice for thousands of years, and is a classical formula for treating asthma and other respiratory diseases, with the effects of ventilating lung, dispersing cold, and relieving cough and asthma. This paper summarized the history, clinical application and mechanism of Shegan Mahuang Decoction, and predicted its quality markers(Q-markers) based on the "five principles" of Q-markers. The results suggested that irisflorentin, tectoridin, tectorigenin, irigenin, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, asarinin, methyleugenol, shionone, epifriedelanol, tussilagone, 6-gingerol, trigonelline, cavidine, schizandrin, and schizandrin B could be used as Q-markers of Shegan Mahuang Decoction, which provided a basis for the quality control and subsequent research and development of Shegan Mahuang Decoction.

Mechanism of lung and intestine combination therapy in treatment of acute lung injury by inhibiting inflammatory response based on NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway and alveolar macrophage activation / 中国中药杂志

Lung and intestine combination therapy(LICT) is effective in the treatment of acute lung injury(ALI). In this study, the combination of Mahuang Decoction and Dachengqi Decoction(hereinafter referred to as the combination), a manifestation of LICT, was employed to explore the effect of nuclear factor kappaB(NF-κB)/nucleotide binding oligomerization domain-like receptors-3(NLRP3) pathway and alveolar macrophage activation on the lung inflammation in rats with ALI, for the purpose of elucidating the mechanism of LICT in treating ALI. After the modeling of ALI with limpolysaccharide(LPS, ip), rats were respectively given(ig) the combination at 10, 7.5, and 5 g·kg~(-1)(high-dose, medium-dose, and low-dose LICT groups, separately), once every 8 h for 3 times. Haematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe the histopathological changes of lung tissue, followed by the scoring of inflammation. Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect alveolar macrophage activation, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was applied to detect the serum content of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-18(IL-18), Western blot was applied to detect the protein expression of phosphorylated-nuclear factor kappaB p65(p-NF-κB p65), nuclear factor kappaB p65(NF-κB p65), phosphorylated-inhibitor kappaB alpha(p-IκBα), inhibitor kappaB alpha(IκBα), and NLRP3 in lung tissue, and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR(qRT-PCR) was applied to detect the mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-18, NLRP3, and NF-κB p65 in lung tissue. The results showed that LICT groups demonstrated lung injury relief, decrease in inflammation score, alleviation of alveolar macrophage activation, significant decline in serum content of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-18, and decrease of the protein expression of p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65, p-IκBα/IκBα, and NLRP3, and mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-18, NLRP3, and NF-κB p65 in lung tissue. In summary, LICT has definite therapeutic effect on ALI. The mechanism is that it inhibits alveolar macrophage activation by suppressing NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway, thereby reducing the activation and release of inflammatory factors and finally inhibiting inflammation.

Meta analysis and trial sequential analysis of Shegan Mahuang Decoction in treating acute attack of bronchial asthma / 中草药

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Shegan Mahuang Decoction in the treatment of acute attack of bronchial asthma, and provide the support of evidence-based medicine for clinical treatment of bronchial asthma. Methods: The databases such as CNKI and PubMed were searched by computer, and RCT meeting the inclusion criteria was extracted. Cochrane 5.1.0 bias risk assessment tool was used to evaluate the quality of included literatures, and Stata14.0 was used for Meta analysis. The outcome indicators included effective rate, pulmonary function (FEV1 / FVC and / or FEV1%), TCM symptoms score and adverse reactions. Finally, TSA 0.9 was used for trial sequential analysis. Results: A total of 20 articles were included in the study. The effective rate [RR = 1.18, 95% CI (1.14, 1.23), P = 0.00] in the trial group was significantly better than that in the control group. Subgroup analysis showed that the effective rate in the trial group with a course of treatment≤7 d[RR = 1.17, 95% CI (1.11, 1.24), P = 0.00] and 7-15 d[RR = 1.17, 95% CI (1.10, 1.24), P = 0.00] was significantly better than that in the control group. According to funnel chart and Begg's test, there was no published bias. The trial sequential analysis showed that the evidence of the effect was reliable. FEV1/FVC, the indexes of pulmonary function test, in the trial group were [SMD=1.17, 95%CI (0.44,1.90), P = 0.00] was significantly better than the control group, and FEV1% [SMD = 1.38, 95% CI (0.24, 2.52), P = 0.018] was also significantly better than the control group. The TCM syndrome score [WMD = -2.79, 95% CI (-3.39, -2.18), P = 0.00] in the trial group was significantly lower than the control group. The indicators of pulmonary function and TCM syndrome score were not reversed after sensitivity analysis, and the results were relatively stable. Serious adverse reactions were not reported in all studies. Conclusion Shegan Mahuang Decoction combined with conventional western medicine has more advantages in the treatment of acute attack of bronchial asthma than conventional western medicine alone. However, due to the limitations of this study, depth evaluation of its efficacy and safety needs more high quality RCTs in the future.

Study on quality evaluation method of classical prescription Mahuang Decoction primary standard substances / 中国中药杂志

This study aimed to establish the HPLC characteristic chromatogram and content determination method for index components with the primary standard substances of the classical prescription Mahuang Decoction, and to provide data basis for the establishment of its quality standard and the development and utilization of compound preparations. First, HPLC was used to establish the material reference chromatograms of Mahuang Decoction, and 15 batches of standard samples of Mahuang Decoction were determined. Their similarity was calculated by the median method. Secondly, the content of the standard substances was determined and a simplecontent determination method was established by HPLC. Relevant methodology was investigated, and the extraction ratio, index component transfer rate and moisture content of 15 batches of primary standard samples were calculated. The results showed that the two sets of HPLC methods had their own characteristics. The six chromatographic peaks identified from the 10 common peaks in the former characteristic chromatogram covered all the herbal medicines in the standard substances, which can better indicate the quality characteristics of the standard substances of Mahuang Decoction. The latter method(content determination method) was simple and practical, so it was suitable for establishing the quality standard of its compound preparation. Two sets of methods were jointly used to evaluate the quality of 15 batches of Mahuang Decoction. The results were as follows: the similarity of 15 batches of samples was greater than 0.90; the average extraction ratio was 18.1%; the average moisture content was 9.7%; the average content and transfer rate of the standard ingredients ephedrine hydrochloride and total pseudoephedrine hydrochloride were 2.3% and 26.7% respectively, and the average content and transfer rate of amygdalin were 2.2% and 48.3% respectively. None of the data showed dispersion(beyond 70%-130% of the mean value), which met the application data requirements for the substance standards of ancient classical Chinese herbal compound preparations(draft for comments). Based on the above research, the primary substance quality standard of Mahuang Decoction was established in order to provide reference for the development and research of the compound preparation of Mahuang Decoction.

Pharmacokinetics of compatible effective components of Mahuang Decoction in febrile rats / 中国中药杂志

In the present paper,after the febrile rat model was prepared by injecting yeast,orthogonally compatible effective components from prescription drugs of Mahuang Decoction( Ephedra sinica total alkaloids,Cinnamomum cassia essential oil,amygdalin,Glycyrrhiza uralensis total flavonoids+G. uralensis total saponins) with nine different dosage ratios were given by gavage administration.The plasma concentrations of main active ingredients including ephedrine hydrochloride,pseudoephedrine hydrochloride,methylephedrine hydrochloride,cinnamic acid,amygdalin,liquritin and glycyrrhizin at different time points were analyzed by liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer( LC-MS). Based on the pharmacokinetic parameters of non-compartmental model,the area under curve of total quantum( AUCt) and the mean chromatographic retention time of total quantum( MRTt) were further calculated,in order to evaluate the effect of compatibility on the total statistical moment parameters. The results showed that the pharmacokinetic characteristics of main active components in febrile rats were significantly different after treatment with orthogonally compatibility of E. sinica total alkaloids,C.cassia essential oil,amygdalin,G. uralensis total flavonoids and G. uralensis total saponins. Orthogonal analysis confirmed that different compatibility components had different effects on the total statistical moment parameters. The contribution of effective components of Mahuang Decoction to AUCtwas as follows in a descending order: E. sinica total alkaloids>C. cassia essential oil>amygdalin>G. uralensis total flavonoids+G. uralensis total saponin,while the contribution to MRTtwas: E. sinica total alkaloids >G. uralensis total flavonoids+G. uralensis total saponin>amygdalin>C. cassia essential oil. The E. sinica total alkaloid had the greatest effects on both of the above parameters,and the optimal combination was A_3B_3C_2D_1 for AUCt,and A_1B_1C_1D_1 for MRTt.

Study on Molecular Pharmacology Mechanism of TCM Mahuang Decoction / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To provide theoretical reference for clinical research and application of TCM Mahuang decoction.METHODS:TCM components of Mahuang decoction were analyzed by literature searching and data analysis,and TCM component database was established.The active compounds were selected through computer simulation prediction,and the related targets were predicted.Molecular pharmacology mechanism of TCM Mahuang decoction in the treatment of typhoid syndrome was investigated.RESULTS:Mahuang decoction contained about 723 compounds,among which E.sinica contained 236 compounds,Cinnamomum cassia contained 115 compounds,Glycyrrhiza uralensis contained 287 compounds,and Amygdalus Communis contained 85 compounds.43 active compounds were screened through computer simulation prediction,and 18 related targets were mainly related to vasodilation effect,adrenergic action and the effect of promoting smooth muscle contraction.CONCLUSIONS:By combining oral bioavailability prediction by computer,drug-like analysis and target prediction,the study determines the effect of active compounds in Mahuang decoction on typhoid syndrome by the means of vasodilation,adrenergic action and promoting smooth muscle contraction.

Effects of Mahuang decoction on hippocampal amino acid neural transmitter release in rats evaluated by microdialysis / 中国药理学通报

Aim Toinvestigatetheeffectofhigh,me-dium and low doses of Mahuang decoction on the re-lease amount of rat hippocampal neural transmitter (Glu,Gly,Asp,GABA),then compare Mahuang de-contion with ephedra alkaloids and ephedra.Methods Ratswererandomlydividedinto6groupsandgiven orally with Mahuang decoction of high dose (calculated by ephedra 4 g·kg-1 ),medium dose (calculated by ephedra 2 g·kg-1 ),low dose (calculated by ephedra 1 g · kg-1 ),ephedra (calculated by ephedra 2 g · kg-1 ),ephedra alkaloids (ephedrine 7 mg · kg-1 , pseudoephedrine 2. 4 mg · kg-1 , methylephedrine 1. 12 mg · kg-1 )and blank control group.Samples were obtained from the hippocampus of conscious rat by microdialysis sampling technique.The content of ami-no acid neurotransmitters in dialysates was detected u-sing the established HPLC-ECD with OPA pre-column derivationmethod.Results Fouraminoacidneuro-transmitters could be well separated in 28 min.High, medium and low doses of Mahuang decoction,ephedra and ephedra alkaloids significantly increased the con-tent of these four amino acid neurotransmitters,com-pared with blank control group (P<0. 05 ).Ephedra alkaloids significantly reduced the levels of inhibitoryamino acid neurotransmitters GABA and Gly in 90 min,compared with the medium dose of Mahuang de-coction.Excitatory neurotransmitters of ASP and Glu in hippocampus showed the trend of increase first and then decrease after oral administration of Mahuang de-coction and ephedra. The levels of Glu and Asp reached peaks from 90 min to 120 min after treatment with Mahuang decoction,and also increased along with dose increase of Mahuang decoction.In comparison with the medium dose of Mahuang decoction group,the level of Glu reached peak at 90 min and 150 min in ephedra alkaloids group and ephedra group respective-ly,and the content of Glu significantly increased at peaktime.Conclusions Increasedcontentofexcita-tory amino acid neurotransmitters (Asp and Glu ) shows positive correlation with the dose of Mahuang de-coction.Other components in Mahuang decoction in-hibits the up-regulation effect of ephedra and ephedra alkaloids on Glu,and promotes the up-regulation effect of ephedra alkaloids on GABA and Gly.

Determination of total alkaloids in plasma of rats after oral administration with Mahuang Decoction by acid dye colorimetry / 中草药

Objective: To propose the feasibility of the vortex method of acid dye colorimetry replacing extraction method to determine the content of total alkaloids in plasma of rats after oral administration with Mahuang Decoction. Methods: The contents of total alkaloids in plasma of rats orally administered with Mahuang Decoction extracted by traditional extraction method and vortex method were determined by acid dye colorimetry, and the results were contrasted and analyzed. Results: The extraction method and vortex method had good linear relationship in the range of 4-40 and 4-80 μg/mL with the average recovery rates of 95.63% (RSD = 1.92%) and 111.55% (RSD = 0.26%), respectively. The regression equations established were A = 0.0171 C + 0.2355, r = 0.9855 and A = 0.0068 C + 0.0102, r = 0.9964. The metabolic processes of total alkaloids in rats were both complied with the one-compartment model. The main pharmacokinetic parameters AUC, Cmax, tmax, and t1/2 were 5.30 × 105 min·μg/mL, 57.13 μg/mL, 37.20 min, 6403.78 min and 1.94 × 106 min·μg/mL, 663.20 μg/mL, 361.90 min, 1756.87 min. The Cmax and AUC of vortex method were 11.61 times and 3.66 times compared with those of extraction method. Conclusion: The vortex method is more rapid, accurate, sensitive, simple, stable, safe, and reproducible and has little harm to laboratory assistants, which can extract the total alkaloids in maximum, with the necessity, scientificity, and practicality of replacing traditional extraction method.

A clinical observation on therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine granules made by formula of ;Shegan Mahuang decoction for treatment of patients with asthma / 中国中西医结合急救杂志

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)granules made by the formula of Shegan Mahuang decoction for treatment of patients with asthma. Methods A prospective study was conducted,51 cases of light to moderate asthma(cold type)patients were randomly divided into treatment group (25 cases)and control group(26 cases). Conventional symptomatic treatments were of the same in two groups. The patients in control group were given salbutamol aerosol inhalation,100μg each time,4 times per day;based on the treatment of the control group,additionally the above mentioned TCM granules dissolved in water was administered orally 1 dose/day taken twice once in the morning and another once in the evening in treatment group. The therapeutic course was 12 weeks in both groups. Before and after treatment,the asthma control test(ACT)score,forced expiratory volume in 1 second(FEV1)and peak expiratory flow(PEF)were observed. The therapeutic effect,adverse reaction and compliance were evaluated. Results The number of patients with asthma completely controlled in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group(16 cases vs. 9 cases,χ2=4.82,P=0.028). In the patients of two groups,FEV1,PEF and ACT scores were significantly improved after treatment,and in the treatment group,they were obviously higher than those in control group〔FEV1(L):2.67±0.46 vs. 2.32±0.47,PEF(L/min):327.6±49.4 vs. 273.1±42.8,ACT score:22.8±2.0 vs. 21.1±2.6,all P<0.05〕. After treatment,FEV1%predicted value was increased in the treatment group but decreased in control group,there was significantly statistical difference〔(0.68±0.07)% vs.(0.80±0.11)%,P<0.05〕,no significant adverse reaction was found,compliance was good. Conclusion TCM granules made by formula of Shegan Mahuang decoction can improve the clinical symptoms, pulmonary function and control level in patients with asthma,so it is an effective medicine for the control of asthma.

Ideas and Methods of Mahuang Decoction Combined Prescription in Syndrome Differentiation and Treatment of Diseases / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

This article was aimed to interpret the composition of Mahuang Decoction. The analysis was made on key points of medication, herbal combination, weigh ratio, the combined prescription treatment of Taiyang cold damage syndrome (wind-cold exterior-excess pattern) and heart-heat syndrome, heart-yang deficiency, heart-blood defi-ciency, heart-yin deficiency, liver-heat syndrome, liver-cold syndrome, liver-blood deficiency, liver-yin deficiency, spleen-stomach stagnated heat syndrome, spleen-stomach cold deficiency, spleen-stomach qi and yin deficiency, lung-heat syndrome, lung-cold syndrome, lung-yin deficiency, lung qi and yin deficiency, kidney qi insecurity, kid-ney-yang deficiency, kidney-yin deficiency, kidney yin-yang deficiency syndrome. Attention should be paid to use Mahuang Decoction as the combined prescription to receive the best treatment effect in the clinical practice.

Different Effects of Mahuang Decoction and Maxing Shigan Decoction on Animal Temperature Tropism and Correlation to Differences of Cold and Hot Nature of Chinese Materia Medica / 中草药·英文版

Objective To establish an objective method for evaluating the intrinsic characteristics between cold and hot nature of Chinese materia medica(CMM)through the different effects of Mahuang decoction(MHD)and Maxing Shigan decoction(MSD)on animal temperature tropism.Methods The equipment with cold/hot pads was used to investigate the variety ofthe temperature tropism between two groups of mice treated by MHD and MSD,respectively.Meanwhile,the activities ofadenosine triphosphatase(ATPase),superoxide dismutase,succinate dehydrogenase,and malondialdehyde were measured.Results After treated by MHD,the macroscopic behavioral index of remaining rate on warm pad(40 ℃)of mice decreasedsignificantly(P < 0.05),suggesting the enhancement of cold tropism,meanwhile,the internal indices of ATPase activity and oxygen consuming volume increased significantly(P < 0.05),suggesting the enhancement of energy metabolism.On theother hand,the above-mentioned indices in MSD group changed on the inverse way.Conclusion The relative drug natureof MHD and MSD revealed in this study is consistent with the theoretical prognostication or definition.It indicates that theinternal cold and hot nature of CMM could be reflected in ethological way on the changes of animal temperature tropismwhich might be internally regulated by body energy metabolism.

Effect of Shema Zhichuan Liquid on Cyclic Nucleotide in Lung Tissue of Rat Models with Asthma / 广州中医药大学学报

Objective To explore the mechanism of Shema Zhichuan Liquid (SZL) for asthma. Methods Forty rats were allocated to normal control group (Group A), model group (Group B),western medicine group (Group C) and SZL group (Group D). Radioimmunoassay was used to observe the levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and the ratio of cAMP/cGMP.Results After treatment, cAMP level and cAMP/cGMP ratio were increased and cGMP level decereased in Group C and Group D as compared with Group B (P

Determination of glycyrrhizic acid in MAHUANG DECOCTION by HPLC when decocted separately or as a whole / 中草药

Object To determine the content of glycyrrihizic acid obtained when each individual ingredient in MAHUANG DECOCTION was decocted separately and then mixing the extracts with boiling water in comparison with that obtained by decocting the total composition together as a whole in the traditional way. Methods The contents of glycyrrhizic acid was determined by HPLC. Hypersil C 18 column was used, with acetonitrile∶0.1% acetic acid (33∶67) as the mobile phase and detected at the wavelength of 254 nm. Results The average recovery of glycyrrhizic acid when separately decocted was 102.43%, RSD=2.65%, while that of decoction in whole was 99.41%, RSD=3.11%. Conclusion The method was simple and accurate and was not interfered by other constituents in the prescription.

Pharmacokinetic study of minister, adjuvant, and guide herbs in Mahuang Decoction to ephedrine in monarch herb in vivo / 中草药

Objective To develop a GC-MS method for the determination of ephedrine in human plasma and study the pharmacokinetic parameters of the ephedrine in different compatibility of the minister, adjuvant, and guide herbs to the monarch herb in Mahuang Decoction. Methods Orthogonal design was used to determine eight compatible groups from Mahuang Decoction (MHD). The healthy male volunteers were divided into groups in random, each group concluding eight men. After taking the medicine orally, venous blood would be taken out at different times. Determining ephedrine in plasma and plotting the concentration-time curve, the pharmacokinetic parameters of each compatible group were calculated by WinNonlin 4.0.1. The statistical analysis of the pharmacokinetic parameters were proceeded by SPSS 10.0. Results All concentration-time curves were adequately modeled by one compartment, first order absorption model, and no lag time. Some parameters of ephedrine showed significant variance (P

Influence of compatibility on cinnamaldehyde in Mahuang Decoction by GC-MS / 中草药

Object To develop the quantitative method of cinnamaldehyde in Mahuang Decoction (MHD) by GC-MS and study the influence of various combinations of MHD on the contents of cinnamaldehyde in the decoctions. Methods By L_8(2~7) orthogonal design and statistic analysis (SPSS 10.0), eight decoctions with Ramulus Cinnamomi were prepared and analyzed. Contents of cinnamaldehyde were determined by GC-MS. The pH value of decoctions was determined by pH meter. Results For Herba Ephedrae and Semen Armeniacae Amarum, the influences on the contents of cinnamaldehyde were significant (P0.05). The change of pH value not obvious. Conclusion The content of cinnamaldehyde is only reduced significantly by Herba Ephedrae and Semen Armeniacae Amarum. But it is insignificant for Radix Glycyrrhizae and its combinations.

Study on influence of compatibility on amygdalin in Mahuang Decoction by HPLC / 中草药

Object To set up the quantitative method of amygdalin in decoctions prepared from various combinations of the recipe named Mahuang Decoction by HPLC and to determine the change of amygdalin contents in different decoctions and study the influence of compatibility on the contents of amygdalin in decoctions. Methods By L 8(27) orthogonal design and statistic analysis (SPSS 10.0), eight decoctions with Semen Armeniacae Amarum were prepared and analyzed, their amygdalin contents were determined by HPLC. Results The method was simple, accurate, and sensitive and was not interfered by other constituents in the prescription, it can be used to determine the contents of amygdalin in Mahuang Decoction. Influence of Herba Ephedrae, Ramulus Cinnamomin, and Radix Glycyrrhizae on the contents of amygdalin in decoctions were insignificant. Interactions between two of three separately were insignificant too. Conclusion The content of amygdalin in Mahuang Decoction is not markedly influenced by Herba Ephedrae, Ramulus Cinnamomin, and Radix Glycyrrhizae.

Antihistamine Action of Small-blue-dragon Decoction and Mahuang Decoction / 中药新药与临床药理

0.05),while loratadine group shows a highly significant treatment efficacy(P