Evaluation of the safety and adverse effects of goreisan/wulingsan, a traditional Japanese-chinese herbal formulation (kampo), in a rat model: a toxicological evaluation

Acute and 90-day toxicological safety assessment of Shang-Ke-Huang-Shui lotion in New Zealand White rabbits

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Shang-Ke-Huang-Shui lotion (SKHS), an experiential formula based on the theory of traditional Chinese medicine as a hospital preparation, combines Coptidis Rhizoma, Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex, Gardeniae Fructus, Arnebiae Radix, Menthae Haplocalycis Herba and Alumen. While it has acquired positive effects on the treatment of soft tissue injuries, there is no systematic safety assessment in recent studies.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The study aimed to investigate the acute and long-term toxicity in New Zealand White rabbits using topical administration of SKHS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the acute toxicity study, rabbits were given topical administration of SKHS extract (2.775 g crude drug/mL) 3 times daily in normal and broken skin. In the long-term toxicity study, rabbits underwent topical administration of SKHS extract (1.390, 0.694, 0.139 g crude drug/mL) 1 time per day in normal and broken skin for 90 days. Their general behavior, body weight, food intake, biochemical and hematologic parameters, organ coefficients, and pathological morphology were analyzed.

RESULTS

Mild skin irritation was observed in rabbits with normal or broken skin following acute exposure to the high dose of SKHS. Evidence of toxicity was not observed in the rabbits exposed to SKHS for an extended period. Although some parameters have been significant changes, they cannot be considered treatment-related because they have remained within normal limits.

CONCLUSION

Topical administration of SKHS could be considered relatively safe and did not reveal any severe toxicity or side effects in this study.

Impact of Goreisan components on rat mesenteric collecting lymphatic vessel pumping

BACKGROUND

Goreisan is a traditional herbal formulation with diuretic properties tested as a clinical therapeutic to alleviate lymphedema in Japan. The present study aimed to determine how Goreisan and its five different components affect lymphatic pump function.

METHODS

Mesenteric collecting lymphatics were isolated from anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats and mounted on resistance-matched glass micropipettes in a 37°C physiological salt solution bath for studies. Diameter was continuously measured to obtain the following lymphatic pump parameters: contraction frequency (CF), end diastolic diameter (EDD), and end systolic diameter (ESD), contraction amplitude (AMP), ejection fraction (EF), and fractional pump flow (FPF). Goreisan and each of its components (Cinnamomi Cortex, Atractylodis Rhizoma, Alismatis Rhizoma, Polyporus, and Poria) were applied to the bath at concentrations of 1-30 μg/mL.

RESULTS

The results show that while Goreisan causes no significant changes to lymphatic pumping, Alismatis Rhizoma and Polyporus each significantly reduce CF and FPF. In addition, rats that received oral administration of Goreisan and Alismatis Rhizoma for 1 week had elevated expression of VEGFR-3 in their mesenteric collecting lymphatics.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, the results suggest that some components of Goreisan have a direct, rapid impact on lymphatic pumping. These findings provide new insights but also raise new questions about the therapeutic potential of Goreisan in patients with secondary lymphedema.

Oryeongsan (Wulingsan) ameliorates impaired ANP secretion of atria from spontaneously hypertensive rats

Oryeongsan (ORS), a herbal medicine formula, has long been used for the treatment of impaired body water balance in Asian countries. Recently, it was shown that ORS administration modulates the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Purpose of the present study was to determine characteristics of atrial ANP secretion and effects of ORS on the secretion in the atria from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Normotensive WKY groups (WKY-V, WKY-ORS, WKY-LOS) and hypertensive SHR groups (SHR-V, SHR-ORS, SHR-LOS) treated with vehicle, ORS, and losartan as a positive control group, respectively, were used. Experiments were performed in perfused beating atria (1.3 Hz) allowing atrial distension, acetylcholine (ACh) stimulation, and serial collection of atrial perfusates. The secreted ANP concentration was measured using radioimmunoassay. Interstitial fluid (ISF) translocation was measured using [³H]inulin clearance. Stepwise increase in atrial distension by 1.1, 2.0, and 2.7 cmH₂O above basal distension further increased ANP secretion proportionally in the atria from WKY-V, but the response was significantly suppressed in the atria from SHR-V. Cardiomyocyte ANP release, the first step of atrial ANP secretion, was suppressed in the atria from SHR-V compared to those from WKY-V (-8.02 ± 2.86, -15.86 ± 2.27, and -20.09 ± 3.62%; n = 8, for SHR-V vs. 8.59 ± 2.81, 15.65 ± 7.14, and 38.12 ± 8.28%; n = 8, for WKY-V; p < 0.001 for all stepwise distension, respectively). Chronic treatment with ORS reversed the suppressed ANP release in atria from SHR-ORS group (6.76 ± 3.92, 9.12 ± 2.85, and 28.79 ± 1.79% for SHR-ORS; n = 5 vs. SHR-V; n = 8; p = 0.01, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). The effects of ORS were comparable to those of losartan. Trans-endocardial translocation of ISF, the second step of atrial ANP secretion was similar in the atria from the hypertensive SHR-V and normotensive WKY-V. ACh-induced ANP secretion and cardiomyocyte ANP release were also suppressed in the atria from SHR-V compared to WKY-V and ORS reversed the suppression. These findings were accompanied with accentuation of the AT₁ receptor expression and suppression of the AT₂/Mas receptor, M₂ mACh receptor and GIRK4, a molecular component of K_ACh channel, expression in the atria from SHR-V. Further, treatment with ORS or losartan reversed the expressions in the groups of SHR-ORS and SHR-LOS. These results show that ANP secretion is suppressed in the atria from SHR in association with accentuation of AT₁ receptor and suppression of AT₂/Mas receptor and K_ACh channel expression. Treatment with ORS ameliorates impaired ANP secretion through improving cardiomyocyte ANP release with modulation of the cardiac RAS and muscarinic signaling. These findings provide experimental evidence which supports the effect of ORS on the regulation of atrial ANP secretion in the atria from SHR.

Wulingsan (Oryeongsan/Goreisan) ameliorate lipid metabolism of obesity rats via regulation of the plasma metabolic profiling

OBJECTIVES

Wulingsan has been used to cure disease about disorders related to fluid balance for thousands of years. The clinical practice of modern Chinese medicine has found that Wulingsan has the effect on reducing weight and fat, but its mechanism is not clear. This study investigated its effects on obesity rats and explored the underlying mechanisms by analyzing the plasma metabolic profiling.

METHODS

The effects of Wulingsan on obesity were evaluated with obesity rats induced by high-fat diet. Ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) was performed to discover potential biomarkers and evaluate whether Wulingsan could regulate these biomarkers. The levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) in serum were assessed by ELISA kits.

RESULTS

Remarkably, TG, TC, HDL-C and LDL-C in obesity rats were ameliorated after oral administration of Wulingsan. Further investigation indicated that the plasma metabolic profiles were clearly improved. Twelve potential biomarkers were identified. After intervention, these biomarkers turned back to normal level at some extent.

CONCLUSION

The results showed that Wulingsan extract groups were normalized. Additionally, this study also showed that the metabonomics method was a promising tool to unravel how traditional Chinese medicines worked and these data can provide scientific basis for clinical application of Wulingsan.