Comparative Study on the Effect of Mongolian Medicine Euphorbia pekinensis and Pharbitidis Semen (Black)

Zhuna，Sudenamu, Jingli MA, Yujie YE

Medical College of Xilingol Vocational College, Xilinhot 026000, China

Abstract [Objectives] To explore the difference of purgative effect of Mongolian medicine Euphorbia pekinensis and Pharbitidis Semen (black) by animal experiment, taking Euphorbia pekinensis and Pharbitidis Semen (black) as the research object. [Methods] Sixty Kunming mice were randomly divided into blank group (n=20), Euphorbia pekinensis group (n=20) and Pharbitidis Semen (black) group (n=20). After fasted but provided with free acess to drinking water for 3 d, the mice were intragastrically administered with drinking water, Euphorbia pekinensis test solution and Pharbitidis Semen (black) test solution, respectively. The mice were then placed separately in a mouse cage covered with filter paper for purgation test and intestinal propulsion test. [Results] The time of the first purgation in the Euphorbia pekinensis group and the Pharbitidis Semen (black) group was longer than that in the blank group (P<0.05). The total times of purgation and defecation within 5 h in the Euphorbia pekinensis group and the Pharbitidis Semen (black) group were higher than those in the blank group (P<0.05); the purgation index and intestinal propulsion rate in the Euphorbia pekinensis group and the Pharbitidis Semen (black) group were higher than those in the blank group (P<0.05). [Conclusions] The Mongolian medicine Euphorbia pekinensis was similar to Pharbitidis Semen (black) in purgation test and intestinal propulsion test, and could play a substitute role.

Key words Euphorbia pekinensis, Pharbitidis Semen (black), Mice, Purgation test, Intestinal propulsion test

1 Introduction

Mongolian medicineEuphorbiapekinensisis the dry root of Family Euphorbiaceae plant, growing on roadsides, hillsides and damp places in the fields. It is distributed all over the country (except Xinjiang, Tibet and other places), Japan and Korea. It is dug, washed and dried in spring and autumn. And then it is cooked in milk. The medicine is bitter, cold and poisonous, with the effect of purging[1]. It is a drastically purging water drug commonly used in Mongolian medicine. Because of its bitter, cool and poisonous effect, processing has always been emphasized to ensure the safety of drug use[2]. In recent years, the pharmaceutical circles at home and abroad have carried out extensive studies on the chemical constituents and biological activities ofE.pekinensis.

PharbitidisSemenis the dry mature seed ofPharbitisnil (L.) Choisy orPharbitispurpurea(L.) Voigt. The grayish black seed isP.Semen(white), and the yellowish white seed isP.Semen(black). It tastes bitter, and is cold in nature and poisonous. It has the effect of purging and defecating. All previous dynasties of Mongolian doctors in Inner Mongolia usedP.Semen(white) instead of bluebells, andP.Semen(black) to replaceE.pekinensisas medicine[1].

Referring to the literature at home and abroad in recent years, the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects ofP.Semenwere reviewed.P.Semen(black) is mainly used for defecation and urination, and it can be used for the treatment of edema, fecal and urinary stoppage and other diseases. AfterP.Semen(white) is ground into powder and mixed with wine, it can be applied to the face to remove acne. After taking it with honey, it can also eliminate mites and remove facial black spots, so it is often regarded as a good skin care product. The difference betweenP.Semen(white) andP.Semen(black) is rarely reported at present[3]. The studies onE.pekinensisandP.Semenare mostly related to the chemical composition and pharmacological action of single medicine, there are very few animal experiments, and there is no comparative study on the purgative effect of Mongolian medicineE.pekinensisandP.Semen(black). In this experiment, takingE.pekinensisandP.Semen(black) as the research object, animal experiments were carried out, and the experimental method of oral administration of medicine and carbon powder propulsion in small intestine was used to explore the difference of purgative effect between Mongolian medicineE.pekinensisandP.Semen(black), in order to promote the development of Mongolian medicine.

2 Materials and methods

2.1 MaterialsKunming mice were provided by the Animal Test Center of Inner Mongolia University[(Animal license No. SCXK (Mongolia) 2019-0001)]. Experimental medicinal materials:E.pekinensisandP.Semen(black) medicinal materials were purchased from Anguo Dongxing Traditional Chinese Medicine Co., Ltd., identified as authentic by the pharmacist Kang Shuanglong, Mongolian Medicine Director of Inner Mongolia Drug Inspection Institute. The solution was prepared according to 1.5-3.0 g/kg crude drug ofE.pekinensisand 4.0 g/kgP.Semen(black), respectively[4-5].

2.2 MethodsA total of 60 Kunming mice, weighing 18-22 g, half male and half female, were fed adaptively for one week and then used in the experiment. All mice were randomly divided into three groups: blank group (n=20),E.pekinensisgroup (n=20) andP.Semen(black) group (n=20). 12 h after prohibiting food but allowing drinking water, the mice in each group were given normal saline,E.pekinensistest solution andP.Semen(black) test drug solution, respectively, according to 0.2 mL/10 g. The mice were then placed separately in a mouse cage covered with filter paper for purgation test and intestinal propulsion test. After one week of restorative feeding, the drug was given repeatedly. After 30 min administration, 2% carbon powder (0.2 mL) was given as an indicator. After 30 min, the rats were killed and the abdominal cavity was opened. The small intestine from pylorus to ileocecum was taken out and laid flat on the glass plate. The total length and the distance between carbon powder front and pylorus were measured, and the propulsion rate was calculated[6-9].

2.3 Index observationThe purgation test and intestinal propulsion test recorded the time of first purgation, the number of times of purgation, the number of mice having defecation, the total number of times of defecation (normal stool, soft stool, semiliquid stool, watery stool) and the number of mice with purgation within 5 h. The purgation index was calculated. At the end of the carbon powder propulsion test, the intestinal propulsion rate was calculated, and the carbon powder propulsion rate=the propulsion distance of carbon powder in the intestine/the total length of the small intestine×100%.

2.4 Application of statistical methodsSPSS 22.0 software was used for statistical analysis, analysis of variance was used for comparison between groups, chi-square test was used for counting data, andP<0.05 means that the difference was statistically significant.

3 Results and analysis

3.1 Basic situation of mice in each groupThere was no significant difference in birth days and body weight among the three groups (P>0.05).The results are shown in Table 1.

Group Days of birth∥dBody weight∥gBlank group43.21±2.1518.62±1.23Euphorbia pekinensis group 42.93±1.86 18.19±1.18Pharbitidis Semen (black) group41.05±1.9018.27±1.34

3.2 Purgation results of mice in each groupThe number of mice with purgation inE.pekinensisgroup andP.Semen(black) group was greater than that in the blank group (P<0.05), and the difference was statistically significant. There was no purgation in the blank group. The first purgation time in theP.Semen(black) group was shorter than that in theE.pekinensisgroup (P<0.05), and the difference was statistically significant. The total times of purgation and defecation within 5 h in theE.pekinensisgroup were more than those in theP.Semen(black) group, the total times of defecation in theE.pekinensisgroup were more than those in the blank group (P<0.05), and the difference was statistically significant. The results are shown in Table 2.

GroupNumber of mice withpurgationFirst purgationtime∥minTotal number of times ofpurgation within 5 hTotal number of timesof defecationPurgation indexBlank group 0--1.56±0.84-Euphorbia pekinensis group10b86.30±5.806.41±1.047.05±0.932.81±0.30Pharbitidis Semen (black) group 10b 87.25±6.236.33±1.156.98±1.022.74±0.29

3.3 Results of intestinal propulsion in mice in each group

The intestinal propulsion rate in theE.pekinensisgroup and theP.Semen(black) group was significantly higher than that in the blank group (P<0.05).There was no significant difference in intestinal propulsion rate between theE.pekinensisgroup and theP.Semen(black) group (P>0.05).The results are shown in Table 3.

GroupnIntestinal propulsion rateBlank group1029.85±4.92Euphorbia pekinensis group2056.93±6.10Pharbitidis Semen (black) group2056.47±5.73

4 Discussion

Mongolian medicine is one of the excellent traditional cultures of the Mongolians. It is an herbal medicine discovered and recognized by the Mongolian people in their long-term harmonious coexistence with nature. The CPC Central Committee, the State Council and the party committee and government of the autonomous region have always attached great importance to the development of ethnic medicine and attached great importance to giving full play to the position and role of Mongolian medicine in deepening the reform of the medical and health system[10-11]. In order to play the due role of Mongolian medicine in the new historical situation, it is necessary to innovate Mongolian medicine, provide a strong development environment and conditions for the development of Mongolian medicine, and promote the development of Mongolian medicine[12].

In this experiment, the carbon powder propulsion ofE.pekinensisandP.Semen(black) in intestines was measured, and the effects ofE.pekinensisandP.Semen(black) on defecation in mice with constipation were discussed. The same dose ofE.pekinensisandP.Semen(black) had the same effect on intestinal movement in mice with constipation. Compared with the control group, the carbon powder propulsion rates of mice with constipation byE.pekinensisandP.Semen(black) were calculated, respectively. The results showed that the rate of intestinal propulsion in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05), and the two drugs had the same effect on enhancing intestinal movement in mice with constipation. This experiment made a preliminary comparison of purgative effect betweenE.pekinensisandP.Semen(black), and it was found thatP.Semen(black) could replaceE.pekinensisin the clinical practice of Mongolian medicine and had the same purgative effect asE.pekinensis.