Effect ofGlycyrrhizaon the Diuretic Function ofEuphorbia kansui: An Ascites Mouse Model

Ya Lin,Wenfang Lai,Haiyu Zhao,Yanqiong Zhang,Hongwei Zhu,Yuhua Fang,Erxin Shang,Qingxia Qin,Na Lin

doi:10.1155/2016/7620817

Abstract

We investigated the therapeutic role of the herbal combination Euphorbia kansui (GS) and Glycyrrhiza (GC) in ascites during hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The AVPR2 and AQP2 expression in kidney tissues of ascites mice in different groups was determined by immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and real-time PCR analyses. When the dose of GS was less than 0.70 g/kg at a ratio of GC : GS not exceeding 0.4 : 1, the combination of GS and GC exhibited synergistic effects on HCC ascites and significantly elevated the expression levels of AVPR2 and AQP2 (all P < 0.05). On the contrary, when GS ≥ 0.93 g/kg and GC ≥ 1.03 g/kg with the GC-to-GS ratio exceeding 1.11 : 1, the combination of GS and GC displayed antagonistic effects on HCC ascites and dramatically reduced the expression levels of AVPR2 and AQP2 (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, the administration of herbal pair GS and GC at different ratios did not exacerbate the pathological changes in liver and kidney tissues of HCC ascites mice. The different combinations of GS and GC exerted synergistic or antagonistic effects on HCC ascites, partially by regulating the expression of AVPR2 and AQP2.

Highlights

GS and GC combination was prescribed in a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula Gansui-Banxia-Tang, which has been used for the treatment of cancerous ascites [5, 6], implying that the two herbs exhibit synergistic or antagonistic effects under different combination designs
Various alternative therapies, including diuretic medicine, have been employed, the evidence regarding their effects on malignant ascites has yet to be fully elucidated [22, 23]
This model has been proved to be suitable model to study ascites treatment, which possesses more similar physiological features compared with other models established from genetic defects or chemicalinduced disease [23, 25]

Summary

Introduction

P. Wang (Gansui, GS), recorded in Shennong-Bencao, is a powerful diuretic and has been used for the treatment of ascites, edema, peritoneal effusion, and pericardial effusion [1,2,3]. Wang (Gansui, GS), recorded in Shennong-Bencao, is a powerful diuretic and has been used for the treatment of ascites, edema, peritoneal effusion, and pericardial effusion [1,2,3] Another Chinese herb, Glycyrrhiza (Licorice, Gancao, GC), as a unique “guide drug,” enhances the effectiveness of other herbs and has been used in almost half of all Chinese herbal formulas [4]. GS and GC combination was prescribed in a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula Gansui-Banxia-Tang, which has been used for the treatment of cancerous ascites [5, 6], implying that the two herbs exhibit synergistic or antagonistic effects under different combination designs

Methods

Results

Conclusion