Effectiveness of Fuling () and its extracts against spleen deficiency in rats tonifying spleen.

OBJECTIVE: To observe and explore the effect of Fuling () in alleviating the spleen deficiency symptom pattern (SDSP). METHODS: We established an animal model of SDS in Sprague-Dawley () rats by treating them with deficiency-inducing factors, including irregular feeding and tail clamping. Mice were administered Fuling () and its extracts (raw/cooked powder, aqueous/alcohol extract) by gavage once a day for 21 d. The body weight, rectal temperature, and spleen and thymus organ coefficients were calculated. The levels of motilin (MTL), gastrin (GAS), aquaporin 2 (AQP2), interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-4, and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the serum and the level of AQP2 in the kidneys were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Fuling () and its extracts did not change the body weight, rectal temperature, and organ coefficients of the spleen and thymus. However, it reduced the levels of MTL and GAS and increased the levels of IL-2 and AQP2. In addition, the levels of IL-4 and 5-HT showed no significant alteration. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested the crucial function of () in SDSP, especially promoting digestive function and water metabolism.

Effect of poria cocos on gastrointestinal motility in mice / 公共卫生与预防医学

Objective To investigate the regulatory effect of poria cocos on gastrointestinal motility in mice. Methods A total of 130 Kunming mice were randomly divided into negative control group, low-dose and high-dose groups of raw poria cocos powder, low-dose and high-dose groups of cooked poria cocos powder, low-dose and high-dose groups of poria cocos surrogate culture powder, low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose groups of poria cocos water extract, and low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose groups of poria cocos alcohol extract, with 10 mice in each group. The animals were administered by gavage for 7 days, once a day. After the last administration, the intestinal propulsion function test and gastric solid emptying test were conducted to observe the regulating effect of poria cocos on gastrointestinal motility of mice. Results Compared with the negative control group, the small intestine propulsion rate in the low-dose group of poria cocos surrogate culture powder was significantly increased (P<0.01). Except the high-dose group of raw poria cocos powder, the other poria cocos groups had higher gastric residual rate (P<0.05). Conclusion Poria cocos does not promote intestinal propulsion of mice under normal physiological condition, but it can inhibit gastric empting and exert a moderating effect on gastrointestinal function in normal mice.

Chronic toxicity test of fangyouling by transdermal administration in rabbits / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To observe the toxicity of fangyouling after one month’s transdermal administration in rabbits and evaluate its security. Methods Forty rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups including a control group and low,middle and high dose groups of fangyouling. The rabbits in the control group were administered with sunflower oil,and the other rabbits were administrated dermally with fangyouling of 50,300 and 2 000 mg/kg respectively once a day for 4 weeks. The general con?dition,the skin irritation reaction,body weight,food consumption,hematology,blood biochemistry,organ coefficients and his?topathological changes of all the rabbits were observed. Results There was no obvious effect on the general condition in all the rabbits. However,the mild skin irritation was observed in 2 rabbits of the middle dose group and 4 rabbits of the high?dose group. The decreases of body weight and food consumption were noted in the high dose group. No changes were detected of hema?tology,blood biochemistry or viscera pathological at all dose levels. Conclusion The dose of non?toxic response of fangyouling is 50 mg/kg at this study condition.