ABSTRACT
Jia-Yuan-Qing pill (JYQP) composed of Porcellio laevis Latreille, Corydalis Rhizoma and Radix Cynanchi Paniculati at a ratio of 9:7:7 has been found to be an effective analgesic agent. The present study aimed to evaluate the safety, addictive potential and anti-cancer pain activity of JYQP in a rat model. During the 6-month chronic toxicity test, no significant changes in general behavior, defecation, postural abnormalities, dietary or water intake or blood biochemical parameters were observed in male and female rats. Although a high dose of JYQP (5 g/kg) caused swelling of the liver, spleen and kidney in male and female rats, no pathological changes were observed in all organs examined via hematoxylin and eosin staining. The analgesic effect of JYQP on bone cancer pain was successfully confirmed in a rat model of Walker 256 cell-induced bone cancer. In contrast to morphine, in a physical dependence test, JYQP produced no withdrawal symptoms following chronic administration. The data from this study provide experimental evidence supporting the clinical use of JYQP as an effective, safe and non-addictive agent for the treatment of bone cancer pain.
ABSTRACT
Salvianolic acid A has been demonstrated to have efficient antioxidative and free radical scavenging effects. In the present experiments, the preventive effects of salvianolic acid A on galactose-induced cataract in rats were investigated. Dropping 0.05% salvianolic acid A in the eyes (two times a day) was found to delay the development of cataract. The contents of MDA and H2O2 in the cataract lens were decreased in salvianolic acid A treated rats. The protein and non-protein thiols in the cataract lens of the salvianolic acid A treated rats were higher than those of control rats. In in vitro experiments salvianolic acid A was shown to inhibit aldose reductase activity. These results indicate that salvianolic acid A can prevent galactose-induced cataract by antioxidation and inhibition of aldose reductase.