Antipyretic and anti-asthmatic activities of traditional Chinese herb-pairs, Ephedra and Gypsum.
OBJECTIVE
Mahuang-Shigao herb-pair is a famous formula composed of Ephedra and Gypsum. The herb-pair is frequently used for treating cold symptoms and bronchial asthma in the clinical practice of Chinese medicine (CM). In the present study, we evaluated evidence for the benefit of combined use of Ephedra and Gypsum by analyzing the antipyretic and anti-asthmatic activities of Ephedra-Gypsum.


METHODS
The antipyretic effects of Ephedra-Gypsum were evaluated in yeast-induced hyperthermia test. Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, including control group, standard aspirin group, and 3 Ephedra- Gypsum groups of different doses (6, 12, 24 g/kg). Ephedra-Gypsum extract and asprin were administered orally 6 h after the injection of yeast solution and body temperature was measured every 1 h for 8 h. The antiasthmatic effects of Ephedra-Gypsum were evaluated using an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic rat model. Thirty-six male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups. Rats were alternately sensitized and OVA+Al(OH) challenged by exposure to mists of ovalbumin. Ephedra-Gypsum extracts (6, 12, 24 g/kg) or dexamethasone were administered 45 min prior to the allergen challenge for 8 days. Latent period and the weight of wet to dry ratio of lung were determined. In addition, the eosinophils in blood and white blood cell (WBC) were counted by an YZ-Hemavet Analyzer.


RESULTS
The Ephedra-Gypsum extracts at test dose (6, 12, 24 g/kg) significantly and dose-dependently attenuated yeast-induced fever in rats. The Ephedra-Gypsum extracts also prolonged the latent period, reduced OVA-induced increases in eosinophils and WBC, and decreased the wet and dry weight ratio of the lungs in the anti-asthmatic test.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that the Ephedra-Gypsum extract has antipyretic and anti-asthmatic properties. Hence, the results support additional scientific evidence in prescriptions.
School of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
Fen
F
Mei
School of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
Xue-Feng
XF
Xing
School of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
Qing-Fa
QF
Tang
School of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
Fei-Long
FL
Chen
School of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
Yang
Y
Guo
School of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
Shuai
S
Song
School of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
Xiao-Mei
XM
Tan
School of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutics, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China. ljb@fimmu.com.
Jia-Bo
JB
Luo
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058633:Antipyretics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy; D002133:Calcium Sulfate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D029789:Ephedra / Q000737:chemistry*; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010047:Ovalbumin; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000470:Alkaloids; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D058633:Antipyretics; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010047:Ovalbumin; D002133:Calcium Sulfate
Chinese medicine; Ephedra-Gypsum; anti-asthmatic activity; antipyretic effect; herb-pair