ABSTRACT
Linggui Zhugan Tang(LGZG), a representative of warming spleen to resolve fluid retention, is widely used in various diseases caused by spleen deficiency and fluid retention (SDFR). Ancient doctors mostly focused on the theme of SDFR to analysis the composition of LGZG. Modern research has now found that most of the components of LGZG contain anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and immune-modulating effects. At present, the pharmacological research of LGZG mainly involves clearance of β-amyloid (Aβ) and anti-neuroinflammation, regulation of lipid metabolism and insulin resistance, protection of myocardial cells and regulation of liquid metabolism as follow. LGZG can promote the clearance of Aβ by regulating the expression of Aβ transporters, including low-density lipoprotein receptor-associated protein-1 and terminal glycosylation product receptors, as well as reduce the inflammation of nerve cells by inhibiting the secretion of pro-inflammatory factors such as interleukin(IL) -1β,IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) by microglia. The prescription can also affect the lipid metabolism and insulin resistance by regulating the levels of adiponectin, insulin and leptin, thus producing therapeutic effects on metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The protective mechanism of LGZG on myocardial cells mainly contains inhibition of the over-activation of nuclear transcription factor-κB(NF-κB) signaling pathway,up-regulation of Smad7 expression and down-regulation of Smad3 expression, regulation of inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase (IKK)/NF-κB inhibitor (IκB)/NF-κB signaling pathway, inhibition of inflammatory factor production, and down-regulation of Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 expression. In addition,LGZG can also regulate aquaporins to affect water metabolism. And it also has significant antioxidant effects. As is known to all,the functional mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound is closely related to the network regulation of TCM disease syndromes. Considered from this angle, it is helpful to carry out the "disease-syndrome-formula" research by means of network pharmacology characterized by "disease-target-drug", thus organically exploring the relationship between LGZG and SDFR from the microscopic perspective,and helping to explain the scientific connotation of SDFR and the biological mechanism of warming spleen to resolve fluid retention.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To observe the clinical efficacy of umbilical needling therapy of I-Ching at 1 PM to 3 PM for cirrhosis ascites with syndrome of spleen-deficiency and fluid-retention.@*METHODS@#Forty-eight patients of cirrhosis ascites with syndrome of spleen-deficiency and fluid-retention were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 24 cases in each one. Both groups were treated with routine treatment of western medicine combined with TCM decoction. In addition, the patients in the observation group were treated with umbilical needling therapy of I-Ching at locations of , , and . The treatment was given at 1 PM to 3 PM, once a day; 10-d treatment was a course of treatment, and a total of 20-d treatment was given. The abdominal circumference, urine volume, body mass, liver function and prothrombin time were observed before and after treatment in the two groups, and the clinical efficacy of the two groups was compared.@*RESULTS@#The total effective rate was 91.7% (22/24) in the observation group, which was higher than 87.5% (21/24) in the control group (<0.05). After treatment, the improvement of abdominal circumference, urine volume, body mass, liver function and prothrombin time between the two groups was significantly different (<0.05), the observation group was better.@*CONCLUSION@#Based on the western medicine treatment, the combination of TCM decoction and umbilical needling therapy of I-Ching shows significant efficacy for cirrhosis ascites with syndrome of spleen-deficiency and fluid-retention.