title: Oryeongsan (Wulingsan), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, induces natriuresis and diuresis along with an inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oryeongsan (ORS, Wulingsan), a formula composed of five herbal medicines, has long been used for the treatment of impairments of the regulation of body fluid homeostasis in China, Japan and Korea.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to test the effects of ORS on the renal function and the mechanisms involved in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experiments were performed in rats caged individually. Renal function and plasma levels of renin activity and aldosterone concentration were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment of ORS resulted in increases in urinary volume, excretion of Na(+), K(+), and Cl(-), and glomerular filtration rate, and decreases in urinary osmolality and Na(+) balance. Further, ORS decreased plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentration. An increase in urinay excretion of Na(+) was a function of glomerular filtration rate, while the increase in the day-time period was related with the increase in the ratio of urinary Na(+)/K(+).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therefore, the present results suggest that ORS induces diuresis and natriuresis via inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in rats.
authors.affiliation: Professional Graduate School of Oriental Medicine & College of Oriental Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk 570-749, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: You Mee
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Kyung Woo
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Dae Gill
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Ho Sub
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D004231:Diuresis / Q000187:drug effects; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D009318:Natriuresis / Q000187:drug effects; D045283:Natriuretic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects; D012964:Sodium / Q000652:urine; D014556:Urine
chemical_list: D045283:Natriuretic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; C443861:wulingsan; D000450:Aldosterone; D012964:Sodium; D012083:Renin