Anti-inflammatory,anti-tussive effects and toxicity evaluation of Qingfei Dayuan granules(清肺达原颗粒)

OBJECTIVE:To study the anti-inflammatory and anti-tussive effects of Qingfei Dayuan granules(清肺达原颗粒,QFDY),and to evaluate the acute and sub-chronic toxicity of QFDY.METHODS:Anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated by murine model of xylene induced ear edema in mice.Ear swelling degree was calculated and tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin-1βand interleukin-6 were determined.Anti-tussive evaluations were carried out in the mouse cough model induced by ammonia liquor.Latent period cough and number of cough within 3 min were counted.In acute toxicity study,the rats were randomly divided into test group and solvent control group.Body weighs,food intakes and general clinical signs were monitored.In the sub-chronic toxicity study,QFDY was administered to rats at 0,4,8 and 16 g/kg per day for 28 and 30 d of post treatment was conducted.Mortalities,clinical signs,body weight changes,food intakes,ophthalmological examinations,hematological parameters,biochemical indicators,electrolyte indicators,urinalyses and histopathological examinations were monitored.RESULTS:QFDY significantly inhibited the development of ear edema in anti-inflammatory assay and decreased cough frequency caused by ammonia liquor.The results presented a dose-effect relationship.In acute toxicity study,no abnormality exhibited at dose of 24.0 g/kg per day during the 14-d observation period.In the sub-chronic toxicity study,higher reticulocyte count,lymphocyte and lower Cl-,blood urea nitrogen were analyzed compared with the solvent control group.But the differences were considered to be incidental and not clinically toxic.Obvious dose-effect relationship of urine color was observed,and the three test groups at the end of the experiments resulted in significant increase in urobilinogen,bilirubin,ketone body and urine leukocyte.However,all the positive indicators returned to normal in the recovery period.Therefore,no toxicological changes were found during the study period.CONCLUSION:QFDY showed significant anti-inflammatory and anti-tussive effects in mice.The lethal dose(LD50)of per oral QFDY in rats was estimated to be more than 24.0 g/kg per day and the no observed adverse effect level was over 16 g/kg per day,which suggested that QFDY is relatively safe for oral medication at the present dose on rats.Our experimental results provide a reference for the further development and research of QFDY.

Quality assessment of processed Eucommiae Cortex based on the color and tensile force

Eucommiae Cortex(EC),the dried stem bark of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv,has been traditionally used to strengthen the muscle and bone tissues and improve liver and kidney functions in East Asian countries,including China,Japan,and Korea.Salty-fried EC(SFEC)is made by using mixing EC and saline together based on the protocol of Chinese Materia Medica Processing(CMMP)for clinical use.However,the clinical effectiveness of SFEC is directly impacted by the frying temperature and time.But precise techniques for evaluating the caliber of SFEC have yet to be developed.Thus,this study aimed to establish a fast and accurate quality-check method for SFEC decoction pieces.According to the frying temperature and time,four different categories of SFEC had been got according to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia method as Raw(R),Under(U),Moderately(M),and Overly(O).The red(R),green(G),blue(B),and light(L)color values of the decoction pieces were quantitated using the Photoshop software to determine the standard value range of the L color(raw[104.44±15.06],under[67.28±8.20],moderately[39.94±6.40],and over[15.02±5.03]).Additionally,the tensile strengths and pinoresinol diglucoside(PDG)levels of EC gum-silks were measured using the mechanical tensile test and HPLC,respectively.We also conducted Pearson correlation analysis on the L color value,EC gum-silk tension(FbcN),and PDG level,and established the following muliple-linear regression equation:the decline in PDG level(w)=0.829-0.001×FbeN-0.009×I.In conclusion,the L color value and FbeN could be used for cluster analysis of four categories of SFEC.Additinally,based on the correlation among the L color value,gum-silk tensile test,and PDG level,a rapid and accurate quality-control method for SFEC decoction pieces with different frying temperatures and durations was estab-lished.This method facilitates the manufacturing of efficacious SFEC.