title: Effect of modified Zhuye Shigao Decoction and its components on preventing radiation esophagitis of rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of Modified Zhuye Shigao Decoction (MZSD) and its components on preventing radiation esophagitis of rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, including the control group, radiation model group, MZSD group, Zhuye Shigao Decoction (ZSD) group, and added ingredients group, 20 rats in each group. The model of radiation esophagitis of rat was established by once local radiation of 40 Gy (330 Mu/min) with a high energy linear accelerator. The administration of Chinese medicine was continued for 14 days from 7 days before radiation application in the three treatment groups. On the 7th and 14th day, the serum was isolated and the levels of inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and IL-8 were tested. The pathological slices of esophagus were obtained, and the pathological changes were observed. During the whole process, weight and food intake were recorded each day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On the 7th day after radiation, the esophagus of rats in the MZSD group was almost intact, and the pathological injury score was significantly lower than that of the radiation model group, ZSD group and added ingredients group (P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the body weight and food intake of rats in the radiation model group were significantly decreased, and the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-8 were significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while the MZSD group showed a significant increase in body weight and food intake, and a significant decrease in the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-8 compared with the radiation model group, ZSD group and added ingredients group (P <0.05 or P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MZSD prevents the development of radiation esophagitis probably by inhibiting the generation and release of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-8.
authors: Department of Chinese Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China, lujunzhang@sina.com.
authors: Jun-zhang
authors: JZ
authors: Lu
authors: Chen
authors: C
authors: Wang
authors: Ming-hui
authors: MH
authors: Yang
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Zhao
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: Xiu-tang
authors: XT
authors: Cao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration / Q000187:drug effects; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D018836:Inflammation Mediators