Study of the Pharmacology of Antipyretic, Analgesic and Sedative effects of Chinese Medicine in Animals

• Main Authors: Chen Kuan-Yung, 陳關勇
• Other Authors: Shih Hung-Che
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 1999
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/44954556718030739433

碩士 === 中山醫學院 === 醫學研究所 === 87 === The holistic approach and generally mind nature of Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) may make them ideal as "alternatives" to or "supplements" for Western medicines. The majority of TCMs is prescribed as formulations of multiple principles in combinations to yield best therapeutic effects. However, although clinically tested, many of these formulations lack rigid scientific scrutiny, making the appreciation of the underlying mechanisms of action difficult and impeding their acceptance. Using standard laboratory techniques, the present project sought to evaluate, in experimental animals, the antipyretic, analgesic, anti-anxiety and behavioral effects of 4 representative formulations. In addition, as a means of examining the possible underlying mechanisms, brain monoamines were measured. The 4 representative formulations were Gui Zhi Tang (G.Z.T.), Ge Gan Huang Lian Huang Qin Tang(G.G.H.L.H.Q.T.), Chung Xiong Cha Tino San(C.X.C.T.S.), and Yin Qiao San(Y.Q.S.). Following mixing in prescribed proportions, the herbs were extracted according to standard extraction procedures. The resulting water extracts were condensed, stored refrigerated, and administered to test animals orally at doses of 250, 500 and 1000mg/kg. Control animals were given distilled water. Antipyretic effects were assessed according to the test drugs' abilities to lower body temperature in New Zealand White rabbits following fever induction with standard pyrogens. Acetylsalicylate (Aspirin) served as the positive control. Analgesic potencies were compared with that of morphine in reduction of writhing episodes following abdominal injection of acetic acid in Wistar rats. Hypnotic effects were used to reflect anti-anxiety effectiveness by measuring sleep onset and duration in ICR mice following pentobarbital induction. Effects on behavior were examined by monitoring ambulatory and stereotypic (rearing) behaviors in mice. Brain monoamines in Wistar rats were assayed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection. Results indicated that (1) C.X.C.T.S. at doses of 500 and 1000mg/kg showed good antipyretic effects, (2) G.G.H.L.H.Q.T. at doses of 250 and 1000mg/kg and C.X.C.T.S. at 250mg/kg had significant analgesic effects(p＜0.01,0.05 and 0001 respectively), (3) G.Z.T., and C.X.C.T.S.,Y.Q.S. at doses of 500 and 1000mg/kg significantly shortened onset time of pentobarbital induced sleep (p＜0.01, 0.01, 0.001 and 0.001 respectively ) while C.X.C.T.S. at doses of 500 and 1000mg/kg and Y.Q.S. at the dose of 1000mg/kg significantly prolonged the sleeping time, (4) G.G.H.L.H.Q.T. at 500mg/kg and G.Z.T. and 1000mg/kg significantly inhibited the levels of ambulation and rearing and (5) G.Z.T. at 500mg/kg lowered all 3 monoamines (nor-epinephrine﹝NA﹞,dopamine﹝DA﹞and serotonin﹝5-HT﹞) (p＜0.05, 0.01 and 0.001 respectively). At 1000mg/kg the results were similar (p＜0.05, 0.05 and 0.05). C.X.C.T.S. at 500mg/kg lowered NA(p＜0.05) while at 1000mg/kg both NA and 5-HT were lowered in hippocampus.(p＜0.01, 0.05 respectively). These results suggested good antipyretic, analgesic and anti-anxiety properties for some of these formulations. Behavioral effects were not pronounced. The consistent reduction hippocampal 5-HT contents observed alongside antipyrexia suggested an association, possibly through reduction in activities in these serotonergic neurons projected to the hypothalamus, the temperature regulating center in the central nervous system.