OBJECTIVE

2

To investigate the equivalence of different decoction processes based on rat model of hypertension with liver-yang hyperactivity.

METHODS

2

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry （ICP-MS） was used to compare the dissolution differences of inorganic elements in the powder-directly-decocted decoction versus the pieces-decocted-first decoction of

Ostreae

Concha-

Haliotidis

Concha-

Margaritifera

Concha drug pair. Six

SD rats were included in the normal group. The spontaneously hypertensive rats were given Aconite decoction for six weeks to induce the hypertension model with liver-yang hyperactivity. After successful modeling， 48 rats were randomly divided into the model group， the captopril group [positive control， 8 mL/（kg·d）

]

， as well as low-， medium-， and high-dose groups of pieces decocted first or directly powder decocted [2.02， 4.05， 8.10 mL/（kg·d）

]

， with 6 rats in each group. Each group received the corresponding drug or equal volume of pure water intragastrically， once a day， for two consecutive weeks. After the last administration， the degree of irritability， facial temperature， pressure pain threshold， blood pressure， and pathological changes of the thoracic aorta were observed in each group. Serum nitric oxide （NO） and plasma angiotensin Ⅱ （Ang Ⅱ）， renin， and aldosterone （ALD） levels were also measured.

RESULTS

2

ICP-MS analysis results showed statistically significant differences in the contents of macroelements Li， Na， Mg， Ca， Mn， Ga， Sr， Mo， Cd， Sn， and Sb， between the powder-directly-decocted decoction and the pieces-decocted-first decoction （

P

＜0.05） ，the elements P， Cr， Fe， Ni， Zn， Hg， Tl， and Pb were not detected in either decoction. Animal experiments showed that after two weeks of administration， compared with the model group， the facial temperature， and blood pressure decreased in all treatment groups， while the pressure pain threshold increased； plasma levels of Ang Ⅱ， renin and ALD， as well as the serum level of NO were all decreased， and thoracic aortic media thickness was significantly reduced， most of the differences in the above indicators were statistically significant （

P

＜0.05 or

P

＜0.01 or

P

＜0.001）. Pathological observation showed improvement in thoracic aortic pathological injury.

CONCLUSIONS

2

The powder-directly-decocted process for the

Ostreae

Concha-

Haliotidis

Concha-

Margaritifera

Concha drug pair significantly promotes the dissolution of key elements such as Ca， Mg， and Sr without increasing the dissolution of harmful elements. It is equivalent to the traditional pieces-decocted-first in alleviating liver-yang hyperactivity syndrome， lowering blood pressure， and protecting the vascular endothelium， and even shows better performance in some indicators.