Analysis of the restorative effect of Bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang in the spleen-qi deficiency rat model using (1)H-NMR-based metabonomics.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang (BT) is a classical formula for the treatment of spleen-qi descending, visceroptosis with hyposplenic qi, uterine prolapse, and rectal prolapse due to chronic diarrhea in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and has been identified as an effective drug for the treatment of TCM spleen-qi deficiency in clinical practice. The present study aimed to investigate the restorative effect and the potential mechanisms of Bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang in a rat spleen-qi deficiency model using (1)H-NMR-based metabonomics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The rat spleen-qi deficiency model was established as follows: oral administration of Radix Rhei extract (equivalent to 10g/kg body weight of the crude drug), loaded swimming, and starvation for 24h. Each of these treatments was administered consecutively every three days. Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, and three of the groups received a different oral dose of the aqueous extract of Bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang during the last seven days of the three-week experimental period. The body weight and motor behavior of the rats were measured and recorded once a week. The endogenous metabolites in the plasma were analyzed using NMR in conjunction with multivariate and statistical techniques. In addition, the liver and spleen were removed and weighed.

RESULTS

All of the rats in the spleen-qi deficiency group presented pasty loose stools, inactiveness, grouping, a decrease in swimming endurance, and lackluster, loose, and disorderly behavior in addition to a significant decrease in body weight, spleen weight, and liver weight. In contrast, the abovementioned demonstrations were reversed to a certain extent in the rats treated with Bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang compared with the model group (p<0.05, p<0.01). A significant separation was determined between the control and model groups in the PCA score plot, which indicates that the spleen-qi deficiency model was successfully duplicated. The changes in the levels of endogenous metabolites in the plasma included lower levels of valine, leucine, and O-acetyl-glycoprotein and a higher concentration of lactate in the spleen-qi deficiency group compared with the control group. Treatment with Bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang at least partially returned the levels of these metabolites to the normal levels.

CONCLUSIONS

The restorative effects of Bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang in rats with spleen-qi deficiency were confirmed, and four endogenous metabolites were identified as potential biomarkers of the symptoms of spleen-qi deficiency and most likely play roles in the changes observed in certain metabolic pathways, such as the energy, protein, and glycolytic metabolisms.