Search JIM Advanced Search

Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine ›› 2006, Vol. 4 ›› Issue (4): 358-362.doi: 10.3736/jcim20060408

• Original Experimental Research • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of Chinese herbal medicines on spontaneous chronic pancreatitis in rats and the pathological relationships between formulas and syndromes

Shi-bing Su1, Yi-qun Li2, Hong-yi Shen1, Yoshiharu Motoo3   

  1. 1. Research Center for Complex System of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
    2. Biochemical Laboratory, CTK Biotechnology Corporation, San Diego 92122, USA; et al.
  • Online:2006-07-31 Published:2006-07-15

Objective

To investigate the effects of Guizhi Decoction, Chaihu Guizhi Decoction, Xiaochaihu Decoction and camostat on rat spontaneous chronic pancreatitis and the pathological relationships between formulas and syndromes.

Methods

Fifty-seven male WBN/Kob rats at age of 4 weeks were divided into five groups: untreated group (n=18), Guizhi Decoction-treated group (n=9), Chaihu Guizhi Decoction-treated group (n=9), Xiaochaihu Decoction-treated group (n=9) and camostat-treated group (n=12). The rats in each group were fed with corresponding drugs for 12 weeks. The pancreatic wet weight and histopathological changes of pancreatic tissue were observed every four weeks. Meanwhile, the expression level of pancreatitis-associated protein (PAP) in pancreas was detected by RT-PCR techique and immunohistochemical method.

Results

In the untreated group, the histopathological changes in pancreas were observed in rats at 12-week age, while such changes were absent in the Guizhi Decoction-treated group. The histopathological changes in pancreas were quite remarkable in rats at 16-week age in both the Xiaochaihu Decoction-treated and the camostat-treated groups. The expression level of PAP mRNA was lower in the Guizhi Decoction-treated group than those in the other groups. The PAP expressions were absent in rats at 12-week age in the Guizhi Decoction-treated and the Chaihu Guizhi Decocion-treated groups.

Conclusion

Guizhi Decoction, Chaihu Guizhi Decoction, Xiaochaihu Decoction and camostat are all beneficial to prevention and cure of chronic pancreatitis, and Guizhi Decoction is the most effective one. It is speculated that Taiyang exterior syndrome may be the pathogenesis of basic syndrome of spontaneous chronic pancreatitis, and the expression of PAP may be its pathological basis.

Key words: Drugs, Chinese herbal, Pancreatitis, Pancreatitis-associated protein, WBN/Kob rat, Formula-syndrome

CLC Number: 

  • R576.2

Table 1

Histopathological changes and pancreatic wet weight in WBN/Kob rats with spontaneous chronic pancreatitis in different groups (ヌ±S)"

Group n Score of histopathological changes in pancreatic tissue Pancreatic wet weight
(mg/100 g body weight)
Inflammation Acinar degeneration Fibrosis
Untreated
At 8-week age 6 0 0 0 133.38±9.10
At 12-week age 6 2.50±0.22 1.67±0.33 0.83±0.48 108.23±8.23
At 16-week age 6 2.17±0.31 2.50±0.22 2.50±0.22 95.52±2.85
Guizhi Decoction-treated
At 8-week age 3 0 0 0 146.81±11.45
At 12-week age 3 0** 0** 0** 142.02±8.41*
At 16-week age 3 0** 0** 0** 114.45±3.19*
Chaihu Guizhi Decoction-treated
At 8-week age 3 0 0 0 147.16±5.06
At 12-week age 3 0** 0** 0** 141.26±7.48*
At 16-week age 3 0.67±0.33* 0** 0** 116.05±10.79
Xiaochaihu Decoction-treated
At 8-week age 3 0 0 0 134.59±14.58
At 12-week age 3 0** 0** 0** 111.13±9.03
At 16-week age 3 1.33±0.44* 1.17±0.58* 0.83±0.17** 106.44±9.74
Camostat-treated
At 8-week age 4 0 0 0 268.33±33.46**
At 12-week age 4 0** 0** 0** 240.85±39.18**
At 16-week age 4 1.75±0.25* 1.58±0.52** 1.58±0.52** 174.55±11.62**

Figure 1

Histopathological changes in pancreatic tissues of WBN/Kob rats at 16-week ageA: Untreated group (HE staining, ×100); B: Guizhi Decoction-treated group (HE staining, ×100); C: Chaihu Guizhi Decoction-treated group (HE staining, ×100); D: Xiaochaihu Decoction-treated group (HE staining, ×100); E: Untreated group (SLAB method, ×200); F: Guizhi Decoction-treated group (SLAB method, ×200)."

Figure 2

Expressions of PAP mRNA in pancreatic tissues of WBN/Kob rats at 12- and 16-week age*P<0.05, **P<0.01, vs untreated group at the same age; △△P<0.01, vs untreated group at 12-week age; ▲▲P<0.01, vs camostat-treated group at the same age."

[1] Kloppel G, Maillet B . Pathology of acute and chronic pancreatitis[J]. Pancreas, 1993,8(6):659-670
doi: 10.1097/00006676-199311000-00001 pmid: 8255882
[2] Otsuki M, Tani S, Okabayashi Y , et al. Beneficial effects of the synthetic trypsin inhibitor camostate in cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in rats[J]. Dig Dis Sci, 1990,35(2):242-250
[3] Sugiyama M, Kobori O, Atomi Y , et al. Effect of oral administration of protease inhibitor on pancreatic exocrine function in WBN/Kob rats with chronic pancreatitis[J]. Pancreas, 1996,13(1):71-79
[4] Su SB, Motoo Y, Iovanna JL , et al. Effect of camostat mesilate on the expression of pancreatitis-associated protein(PAP), p8, and cytokines in rat spontaneous chronic pancreatitis[J]. Pancreas, 2001,23(2):134-140
[5] Su SB, Motoo Y, Xie MJ , et al. Expression of pancreatitis-associated protein(PAP) in rat spontaneous chronic pancreatitis: effect of herbal medicine Saiko-keishi-to(TJ-10)[J]. Pancreas, 1999,19(3):239-247
[6] Su SB, Motoo Y, Xie MJ , et al. Antifibrotic effect of the herbal medicine Saiko-keishi-to(TJ-10) on chronic pancreatitis in the WBN/Kob rat[J]. Pancreas, 2001,22(1):8-17
[7] Motoo Y, Su SB, Xie MJ , et al. Effect of herbal medicine keishi-to(TJ-45) and its components on rat pancreatic acinar cell injuries in vivo and in vitro[J]. Pancreatology, 2001,1(2):102-109
[8] Orelle B, Keim V, Masciotra L , et al. Human pancreatitis-associated protein. Messenger RNA cloning and expression in pancreatic diseases[J]. J Clin Invest, 1992,90(6):2284-2291
[9] Motoo Y, Watanabe H, Yamaguchi Y , et al. Pancreatitis-associated protein levels in pancreatic juice from patients with pancreatic diseases[J]. Pancreatology, 2001,1(1):43-47
[10] McCord JM, Fridovich I . Superoxide dismutase. An enzymic function for erythrocuprein(hemocuprein)[J]. J Biol Chem, 1969,244(22):6049-6055
[11] Manna SK, Zhang HJ, Yan T , et al. Overexpression of manganese superoxide dismutase suppresses tumor necrosis factor-induced apoptosis and activation of nuclear transcription factor-kappaB and activated protein-1[J]. J Biol Chem, 1998,273(21):13245-13254
[12] Su SB, Motoo Y, Xie MJ , et al. Superoxide dismutase is induced during rat pancreatic acinar cell injury[J]. Pancreas, 2002,24(2):146-152
doi: 10.1097/00006676-200203000-00005 pmid: 11854619
[13] Su SB, Motoo Y, Xie MJ , et al. Apoptosis in rat spontaneous chronic pancreatis: role of the Fas and Fas ligand system[J]. Dig Dis Sci, 2001,46(1):166-175
doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-4644(19991201)75:33.0.CO;2-Z pmid: 11270781
[1] Shu-yi Chen, Qun-wei Chen, Liu-mei Shou, Hong Pan, Shan-ming Ruan, Zhe-hao Liang, Qi-jin Shu. Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis successfully treated with Chinese herbal medicine Pi-Yan-Ning: A case report. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2021, 19(6): 555-560.
[2] Xin Yin, Shu-bin Cai, Lan-ting Tao, Lu-ming Chen, Zhong-de Zhang, Su-hong Xiao, Arthur Yin Fan, Xu Zou. Recovery of a patient with severe COVID-19 by acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine adjuvant to standard care. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2021, 19(5): 460-466.
[3] Qing-lan Wang, Yan-yan Tao, Hong-dong Xie, Cheng-hai Liu, Ping Liu. Fuzheng Huayu recipe, a traditional Chinese compound herbal medicine, attenuates renal interstitial fibrosis via targeting the miR-21/PTEN/AKT axis. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2020, 18(6): 505-513.
[4] Ming-sheng Lyu, De-ying Li, Shao-zhong Zhou, Cheng-jun Ban, Jun Yan. Adult-onset Still's disease successfully treated with Chinese herbal medicine: A case report with 15-month follow-up. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2020, 18(6): 530-534.
[5] Arthur Yin Fan, Sherman Gu, Sarah Faggert Alemi, Research Group for Evidence-based Chinese Medicine. Chinese herbal medicine for COVID-19: Current evidence with systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2020, 18(5): 385-394.
[6] Bin Lan, Jin-wen Ge, Shao-wu Cheng, Xi-long Zheng, Jun Liao, Chao He, Zheng-qing Rao, Guo-zuo Wang. Extract of Naotaifang, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, protects neuron ferroptosis induced by acute cerebral ischemia in rats. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2020, 18(4): 344-350.
[7] Deng-hai Zhang, Kun-lun Wu, Xue Zhang, Sheng-qiong Deng, Bin Peng. In silico screening of Chinese herbal medicines with the potential to directly inhibit 2019 novel coronavirus. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2020, 18(2): 152-158.
[8] Carola Analía Torres, Cristina Marisel Pérez Zamora, María Beatriz Nuñez, Ana María Gonzalez. In vitro antioxidant, antilipoxygenase and antimicrobial activities of extracts from seven climbing plants belonging to the Bignoniaceae. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2018, 16(4): 255-262.
[9] Shui-jie Shen, Yong-hong Zhang, Xiao-xia Gu, Shui-ju Jiang, Ling-jun Xu. Yangfei Kongliu Formula, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, combined with cisplatin, inhibits growth of lung cancer cells through transforming growth factor-β1 signaling pathway. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2017, 15(3): 242-251.
[10] Liliana Zazueta-Beltrán, Lorena Medina-Aymerich, Nadia Estela Díaz-Triste, Aracely Evangelina Chávez-Piña, Gilberto Castañeda-Hernández, Leticia Cruz-Antonio. Evidence against the participation of a pharmacokinetic interaction in the protective effect of single-dose curcumin against gastrointestinal damage induced by indomethacin in rats. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2017, 15(2): 151-157.
[11] Tom Fleischer, Tung-Ti Chang, Hung-Rong Yen. Post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with hematologic disorders: Chinese herbal medicine for an unmet need. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2016, 14(5): 322-335.
[12] JiaXia, Li-qunHe, XiaoSu. Interventional mechanisms of herbs or herbal extracts on renal interstitial fibrosis. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2016, 14(3): 165-173.
[13] Mojtaba Heydari, Mohammad Hashem Hashempur, Mohammad Hosein Ayati, Detlev Quintern, Majid Nimrouzi, Seyed Hamdollah Mosavat. The use of Chinese herbal drugs in Islamic medicine. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2015, 13(6): 363-367.
[14] Wei Chiang Chan Eric, Kuin Wong Siu. Phytochemistry and pharmacology of ornamental gingers, Hedychium coronarium and Alpinia purpurata: A review. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2015, 13(6): 368-379.
[15] Xiao-ping Huang, Huang Ding, Jin-dong Lu, Ying-hong Tang, Bing-xiang Deng, Chang-qing Deng . Autophagy in cerebral ischemia and the effects of traditional Chinese medicine. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2015, 13(5): 289-296.
Viewed
Full text


Abstract

Cited

  Shared   
  Discussed   
[1] Dong Yang, Yong-ping Du, Qing Shen, Wei Chen, Yan Yu, Guang-lei Chen. Expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin in renal tubulointerstitium in patients with kidney collateral stasis. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 41-44
[2] Hai-feng Wei, Bai-liu Ya, Ling Zhao, Cui-fei Ye, Li Zhang, Lin Li. Evaluation of tongue manifestation of blood stasis syndrome and its relationship with blood rheological disorder in a rat model of transient brain ischemia. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 73-76
[3] Xi Lin, Jian-ping Liu. Herbal medicines for viral myocarditis. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 76
[4] Xi Lin, Jian-ping Liu. Tai chi for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 82
[5] Liang-ping Hu, Hui Gao. Discrimination of errors in statistical analysis of medical papers published in the first issue of 2006 in Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2008, 6(1): 98-106
[6] Yan-bo Zhu , Qi Wang, Cheng-yu Wu, Guo-ming Pang, Jian-xiong Zhao, Shi-lin Shen, Zhong-yuan Xia , Xue Yan . Logistic regression analysis on relationships between traditional Chinese medicine constitutional types and overweight or obesity. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2010, 8(11): 1023-1035
[7] Wei Xu, Meng Shi, Jian-gang Liu, Cheng-long Wang . Collagen protein expressions in ischemic myocardium of rats with acute myocardial infarction and effects of qi-tonifying, yin-tonifying and blood-activating herbs and detoxifying and blood-activating herbs. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2010, 8(11): 1041-1047
[8] Tao Wang , Feng Qin. Effects of Chinese herbal medicine Xiaoyao Powder on monoamine neurotransmitters in hippocampus of rats with postpartum depression. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2010, 8(11): 1075-1079
[9] Ying Xu , Chang-chun Zeng , Xiu-yu Cai , Rong-ping Guo , Guang Nie , Ying Jin. Chromaticity and optical spectrum colorimetry of the tongue color in different syndromes of primary hepatic carcinoma. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2012, 10(11): 1263-1271
[10] Xiang-ying Mao , Qin Bian , Zi-yin Shen. Analysis of the osteogenetic effects exerted on mesenchymal stem cell strain C3H10T1/2 by icariin via MAPK signaling pathway in vitro. Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2012, 10(11): 1272-1278