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Updated: May 14, 2026
Preparation of Herbal Medicine: Er-Xian Decoction and Er-Xian-containing Serum for In Vivo and In Vitro Experiments
Published on: May 31, 2017
Bioactivities and serum pharmacochemistry of Qi-Wei-Xiao-Yan-Tang
Xiao-Yan He1, Qing-Chun Liu, Wei Peng
1Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Chengdu , PR China.
Context:
Qi-Wei-Xiao-Yan-Tang (XYT), composed of Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, Radix Astragali, Radix Wikstroemiae Indicae, Fructus Ligustri Lucidi, Poria and Radix Glycyrrhizae, has been widely used as an anti-inflammatory drug.
Objective:
The present study investigated the anti-inflammatory, antibacterial effects and serum pharmacochemistry of XYT.
Methods:
The dimethylbenzene-induced inflammation test, the acetic acid-induced vascular permeability test and the carrageenan-induced paw edema test were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of XYT (200, 100 and 50 mg/kg); minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). Minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) tests were used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of XYT. Additionally, serum pharmacochemistry was performed to study the biologically active substances.
Results:
All the tests for anti-inflammatory effects were shown active with these test systems; the anti-inflammatory effects at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg were significant (p < 0.05); MIC and MBC tests indicated that XYT showed a broader antimicrobial spectrum and stronger toxicity to the tested microbes. Additionally, calycosin-7-glucoside, sennoside A, aloeemodin and rhein were detected as the predominant components in rat serum which may play the key role in the anti-inflammatory activities of XYT.
Conclusions:
This is the first report of the pharmacological activities and serum pharmacochemistry of XYT, and the first evidence of anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of the extracts of XYT. The results of our work demonstrated that XYT has significant anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, and calycosin-7-glucoside, sennoside A aloeemodin and rhein may be the biologically active substances of XYT. XYT can be utilized as an effective and safe disease preventive or therapeutic agent.
