title: [Comparative study on effect of three preparations of xiaoyao formula on soothing liver and strengthening spleen].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effect of three preparations of xiaoyao formula (xiaoyao capsule, xiaoyao pill and Xiaoyao decoction) on soothing liver and strengthening spleen.
  
  
  METHODS
  The liver depression and spleen deficiency rat model were established by forcing swimming, confining movement test and feeding on alternate days. The rats were randomly divided into eight groups, namely the blank group, the model group, the Cisapride group (2.7 mg x kg(-1)), the xiaoyao decoction group (1.62 g x kg(-1)), the xiaoyao pill group (1.62 g x kg(-1)) and the Xiaoyao capsule groups of high dose (3.24 g x kg(-1)), medium dose (1.62 g x kg(-1)) and low dose (0.81 g x kg(-1)), with intragastric administration for 3 weeks. The contents of NE, DA, 5-HT in serum were measured by HPLC-electrochemical detection method. The contents of motilin (MTL) and somatostation (SS) in plasma was determined by radioimmunassay. The expressions of MTL and SS in tissue were determined by immunohistochemical method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The contents of NE and MTL in the xiaoyao decoction group was significantly higher than that in the model group, while the content of 5-HT and SS was significantly lower than that in the model group (P < 0.01). The expression of MTL in the xiaoyao capsule group (1.62 g x kg(-1)) was significantly higher than that in the model group and the contents of 5-HT and SS was significantly lower than that in the model group (P < 0.05). The mean optical density of MTL in gastrointestinal tissue of rats in the xiaoyao decoction group and the xiaoyao capsule group (1.62 g x kg(-1)) was remarkably higher than that in the model group, while the expression of SS was notably lower than that in the model group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All of the three preparations of Xiaoyao formula have the effect on soothing liver and strengthening spleen. Xiaoyao decoction shows better effect than xiaoyao capsule with same dosage, while xiaoyao capsule shows better effect than xiaoyao pill with same dosage.
authors.affiliation: Hunan Key Laboratory of Powder and Innovative Drugs State Key Laboratory of Ministry Training Bases, Changsha 410208, China. wyh107@126.com
authors.forename: Yu-hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Guang-xian
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009037:Motilin / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C516449:xiaoyao; D013004:Somatostatin; D009037:Motilin