title: Taoren-Honghua herb pair and its main components promoting blood circulation through influencing on hemorheology, plasma coagulation and platelet aggregation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Persicae Semen (Taoren) and Carthami Flos (Honghua) used in pair which is named as Taoren-Honghua (TH) herb pair has been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for promoting blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis for many years in China.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper investigated the effects of TH and its main components amygdalin and hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) on hemorheological disorders of blood stasis in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were randomly divided into seven groups (control group, model group, TH group, amygdalin group, HSYA group, amygdalin+HSYA group, and aspirin group) with eight animals in each, whose gender was equally distributed throughout groups. All treatments were performed by gavage and administered seven times with an interval of 12h. After the fifth administration, the model rats except those in control group with blood stasis were established by being placed in ice-cold water during the interval between two injections of adrenaline hydrochloride (Adr); and blood samples were collected 30min after the last administration on the following day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TH could significantly decrease whole blood viscosity (WBV), plasma viscosity (PV) and packed cell volume (PCV). It also significantly prolonged thrombin time (TT) and thromboplastin time (APTT), increased prothrombin time (PT) and lowered fibrinogen content (FIB). HSYA which significantly decreased WBV and PV had no effect on plasma coagulation parameters. Amygdalin could significantly decrease PV, prolong APTT and decrease FIB, showing few effects on WBV. TH and its main components amygdalin and HSYA could significantly reduce platelet aggregation and protect vascular endothelial cells. Based on the above results, amygdalin and HSYA were responsible for the main curative effects of TH and usually had synergetic effects, such as decreasing PV and platelet aggregation percentage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study may provide scientific information to further understanding of the mechanism(s) of TH and its main components in activating blood circulation to dissipate blood. It may also create valuable insight into the possible effects and utilization of TH and its components as a feasible alternative therapeutic agent for patients with hemorheological disorders.
authors: Jiangsu Key Laboratory for TCM Formulae Research, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Liu
authors: Jin-ao
authors: JA
authors: Duan
authors: Yuping
authors: Y
authors: Tang
authors: Jianming
authors: J
authors: Guo
authors: Nianyun
authors: N
authors: Yang
authors: Hongyue
authors: H
authors: Ma
authors: Xuqin
authors: X
authors: Shi
mesh_terms: D000678:Amygdalin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000187:drug effects; D002599:Chalcone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D018056:Hemorheology / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011809:Quinones / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D011809:Quinones; C571873:taoren-honghua; C085278:hydroxysafflor yellow A; D000678:Amygdalin; D002599:Chalcone