[Study on irritation of calcium oxalate crystal in raw Pinellia ternata].
OBJECTIVE
Confirm the irritation of needle-like calcium oxalate crystals in raw Pinellia ternata.


METHODS
Comparing the irritations of raw P. ternate containing calcium oxalate crystals, the raw P. ternate no containing calcium oxalate crystals, the pure needle-like calcium oxalate crystals isolated from raw P. ternata, the extracts of water and various solvents from raw P. ternate. by using the model of rabbits' eyes. Studying the quantity effect relationship of different concentration suspensions of needle-like calcium oxalate crystal isolated from raw P. ternate on rabbits' eyes. Observing the shape and appearance of calcium oxalate crystals in raw P. ternate and raw India Madder Root by the electro microscope and comparing their irritation degrees with the same contents of calcium oxalate crystals.


RESULTS
Calcium oxalate crystals in raw P. ternata showed very strong irritation property. Under the same content of calcium oxalate crystals, the irritation of raw P. ternata and pure needle-like calcium oxalate crystals isolated from raw P. ternate had no significant difference. The concentrations of needle-like calcium oxalate crystals were do relative to the degree of irritation on rabbits' eyes and they showed undoubted quantity-effect relationship.


CONCLUSIONS
Calcium oxalate crystal is the irritation component in raw P. ternata.
Zhong
Ling-Yun
LY
Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China.
Wu
Hao
H
Zhang
Ke-Wei
KW
Wang
Qian-Ru
QR
D000818:Animals; D002129:Calcium Oxalate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000187:drug effects; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects; D003460:Crystallization; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D007498:Iris / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D030021:Pinellia / Q000737:chemistry; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D045470:Rubia / Q000737:chemistry
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D002129:Calcium Oxalate