Mei Fen, Xing Xue-Feng, Tang Qing-Fa, Chen Fei-Long, Guo Yang, Song Shuai, Tan Xiao-Mei, Luo Jia-Bo
School of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
Chin J Integr Med. 2016 Jun;22(6):445-50. doi: 10.1007/s11655-014-1952-x. Epub 2014 Nov 16.
Mahuang-Shigao herb-pair is a famous formula composed of Ephedra and Gypsum. The herb-pair is frequently used for treating cold symptoms and bronchial asthma in the clinical practice of Chinese medicine (CM). In the present study, we evaluated evidence for the benefit of combined use of Ephedra and Gypsum by analyzing the antipyretic and anti-asthmatic activities of Ephedra-Gypsum.
The antipyretic effects of Ephedra-Gypsum were evaluated in yeast-induced hyperthermia test. Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, including control group, standard aspirin group, and 3 Ephedra- Gypsum groups of different doses (6, 12, 24 g/kg). Ephedra-Gypsum extract and asprin were administered orally 6 h after the injection of yeast solution and body temperature was measured every 1 h for 8 h. The antiasthmatic effects of Ephedra-Gypsum were evaluated using an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic rat model. Thirty-six male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups. Rats were alternately sensitized and OVA+Al(OH) challenged by exposure to mists of ovalbumin. Ephedra-Gypsum extracts (6, 12, 24 g/kg) or dexamethasone were administered 45 min prior to the allergen challenge for 8 days. Latent period and the weight of wet to dry ratio of lung were determined. In addition, the eosinophils in blood and white blood cell (WBC) were counted by an YZ-Hemavet Analyzer.
The Ephedra-Gypsum extracts at test dose (6, 12, 24 g/kg) significantly and dose-dependently attenuated yeast-induced fever in rats. The Ephedra-Gypsum extracts also prolonged the latent period, reduced OVA-induced increases in eosinophils and WBC, and decreased the wet and dry weight ratio of the lungs in the anti-asthmatic test.
These findings indicate that the Ephedra-Gypsum extract has antipyretic and anti-asthmatic properties. Hence, the results support additional scientific evidence in prescriptions.
麻黄 - 石膏药对是由麻黄和石膏组成的著名方剂。该药对在中医临床实践中常用于治疗感冒症状和支气管哮喘。在本研究中，我们通过分析麻黄 - 石膏的解热和抗哮喘活性来评估麻黄与石膏联用的益处。
在酵母诱导的发热试验中评估麻黄 - 石膏的解热作用。将30只雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为5组，包括对照组、标准阿司匹林组和3个不同剂量（6、12、24 g/kg）的麻黄 - 石膏组。在注射酵母溶液6小时后口服麻黄 - 石膏提取物和阿司匹林，每1小时测量体温，共测量8小时。使用卵清蛋白（OVA）诱导的哮喘大鼠模型评估麻黄 - 石膏的抗哮喘作用。将36只雄性SD大鼠随机分为6组。大鼠通过暴露于卵清蛋白雾中进行交替致敏和OVA + Al(OH)激发。在变应原激发前45分钟给予麻黄 - 石膏提取物（6、12、24 g/kg）或地塞米松，持续8天。测定潜伏期和肺组织湿干重比。此外，使用YZ - Hemavet分析仪计数血液中的嗜酸性粒细胞和白细胞（WBC）。
受试剂量（6、12、24 g/kg）的麻黄 - 石膏提取物能显著且剂量依赖性地减轻大鼠酵母诱导的发热。在抗哮喘试验中，麻黄 - 石膏提取物还延长了潜伏期，降低了OVA诱导的嗜酸性粒细胞和WBC增加，并降低了肺组织的湿干重比。
这些发现表明麻黄 - 石膏提取物具有解热和抗哮喘特性。因此，这些结果为方剂提供了更多的科学依据。
