The effects of the Chinese herbal medicine EMF01 on salicylate-induced tinnitus in rats.
OBJECTIVE
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been reported to successfully alleviate tinnitus, although well-controlled studies have not been conducted. In this study, we attempted to test a TCM, Er Ming Fang (EMF01) containing Rehmannia glutinosa, Cornus officinalis, Salvia mittiorrhiza, Pueraria, Schisandra chinensis, Poria cocos and Platycodon grandiflorum, on salicylate-induced tinnitus in rats, using a conditioned lick suppression paradigm.


METHODS
A pilot study examined the effect of 8.75 g/kg and 17.5 g/kg EMF01 (delivered by oral gavage for 20 days) and showed a slight decrease in the suppression ratio (SR) in the 8.75 g/kg group. In order to confirm the possible effect of EMF01 on tinnitus at 8.75 g/kg, a further study was carried out with a larger sample size.


RESULTS
While there were statistically significant differences between the treatment groups, post hoc tests revealed that EMF01 did not have any significant effect on salicylate-induced tinnitus.


CONCLUSIONS
While this study does not support the efficacy of EMF01 in the treatment of salicylate-induced tinnitus, further studies should be conducted to determine if it alleviates tinnitus associated with acoustic trauma.
Zheng
Yiwen
Y
Dept of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Vagal
Shweta
S
Zhu
Xuan-xuan
XX
de Waele
Catherine
C
Smith
Paul F
PF
Wang
Guangji
G
Zhang
Ming
M
Darlington
Cynthia L
CL
D000818:Animals; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000187:drug effects*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology; D029001:Herbal Medicine; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012459:Salicylates / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C550413:EMF01; D012459:Salicylates