title: Activity of wen-pi-tang, and purified constituents of rhei rhizoma and glycyrrhizae radix against glucose-mediated protein damage.
abstract: Wen-Pi-Tang, an Oriental medical prescription composed of Rhei Rhizoma, Ginseng Radix, Aconiti Tuber, Zingiberis Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix, is used clinically as a medicine to treat renal failure. This study was conducted to examine the inhibitory activity of the five crude drug components of Wen-Pi-Tang and several pure compounds isolated from Rhei Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix against the protein glycation reaction. Rhei Rhizoma exerted the most potent activity, Zingiberis Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix showed relatively moderate activity, whereas Aconiti Tuber and Ginseng Radix showed weak activity. On the other hand, of 20 compounds obtained from Rhei Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix, tannins, especially rhatannin, RG-tannin and procyanidin B-2 3,3'-di-O-gallate, showed significantly strong activities that were more effective than the positive control, aminoguanidine. Some flavones such as licochalcone A and licochalcone B, and anthraquinones such as emodin and aloe-emodin, also showed inhibitory activity. These findings may help to explain, at least in part, certain pharmacological activities of Wen-Pi-Tang, whose clinical efficacy against renal failure is already recognized.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Natural Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Toyama, Japan.
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yokozawa
authors.forename: Young Ae
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ki Sung
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D003864:Depression, Chemical; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005950:Glucose Solution, Hypertonic; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced / Q000032:analysis*; D006031:Glycosylation / Q000187:drug effects; D006035:Glycyrrhiza; D012250:Rheum; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005950:Glucose Solution, Hypertonic; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; C081628:advanced glycation end products-bovine serum albumin; C474692:wen-pi-tang; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine