Antitussive, anti-pyretic and toxicological evaluation of Ma-Xing-Gan-Shi-Tang in rodents.
BACKGROUND
Ma-Xing-Gan-Shi-Tang (abbreviated as MXGST), an important Chinese herbal prescribed for cough, bronchial inflammation and fever from pneumonia, consists of four medicinal herbs, including Ephedrae herb, Semen Pruni Armeniacae, licorice and Gypsum. These components, especially Ephedrae and Semen Pruni Armeniacae, possess antitussive activities, but they have severe adverse effects.


METHODS
The pharmacological activities of MXGST extract in clinical use were investigated with citric acid-induced cough, acetylcholine/histamine-induced bronchial contraction and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced fever in rodents. The subacute toxicology of MXGST extract was evaluated after a 28-day repeated oral administration in rats.


RESULTS
Each gram of MXGST extract contained 60 ± 8 μg of ephedrine, 480 ± 40 μg of glycyrrhizic acid and 440 ± 8 μg of amygdalin according to high performance liquid chromatography and a photodiode array detector. MXGST extract produced pronounced, dose-dependent antitussive effects in guinea pigs and reduced hyperthermic syndrome induced by LPS in rats. MXGST extract blocked the bronchial contraction induced by acetylcholine/histamine. Oral administration of MXGST extract for 28 days did not cause any hematological, biochemical or histological changes in rats.


CONCLUSIONS
MXGST extract is a safer, more effective Chinese prescription with antitussive and anti-pyretic effects. The antitussive mechanism of MXGST is related to partially relaxing the bronchial smooth muscle by blocking acetylcholinergic and histaminergic receptors.
Department of Medicinal Botanicals and Health Applications, DaYeh University, No.168, University Road, Dacun, Changhua, 51591, Taiwan, ROC.
Yu-Chin
YC
Lin
Department of Cosmetic Applications and Management, Mackay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, No. 92, Shengjing Road, Beitou District, Taipei, 11260, Taiwan, ROC.|Department of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine Resources, China Medical University, No. 91, Hsieh Shih Road, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan, ROC.
Ching-Wen
CW
Chang
Department of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine Resources, China Medical University, No. 91, Hsieh Shih Road, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan, ROC. crw@mail.cmu.edu.tw.
Chi-Rei
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7036-5035
CR
Wu
D000818:Animals; D058633:Antipyretics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000996:Antitussive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003371:Cough / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D051381:Rats
D058633:Antipyretics; D000996:Antitussive Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal
Anti-pyretic effects; Antitussive; Ma-Xing-Gan-Shi-Tang; Subacute toxicology test