Effectiveness of Fuling (Poria) and its extracts against spleen deficiency in rats via tonifying spleen

doi:10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2023.03.002

Abstract

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To observe and explore the effect of Fuling (Poria) in alleviating the spleen deficiency symptom pattern (SDSP).

METHODS: We established an animal model of SDS in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats by treating them with deficiency-inducing factors, including irregular feeding and tail clamping. Mice were administered Fuling (Poria) and its extracts (raw/cooked powder, aqueous/alcohol extract) by gavage once a day for 21 d. The body weight, rectal temperature, and spleen and thymus organ coefficients were calculated. The levels of motilin (MTL), gastrin (GAS), aquaporin 2 (AQP2), interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-4, and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the serum and the level of AQP2 in the kidneys were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS: Fuling (Poria) and its extracts did not change the body weight, rectal temperature, and organ coefficients of the spleen and thymus. However, it reduced the levels of MTL and GAS and increased the levels of IL-2 and AQP2. In addition, the levels of IL-4 and 5-HT showed no significant alteration.

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested the crucial function of Fuling (Poria) in SDSP, especially promoting digestive function and water metabolism.

Key words: Fuling (Poria), extracts, spleen deficiency symptom pattern, motilin, gastrins, interleukins, aquaporin 2, serotonin

FENG Min, JIA Ziming, WAN Ming, FAN Bolin, TANG Xiaoqiao, CHENG Wenhua, SUN Fanzhong. Effectiveness of Fuling (Poria) and its extracts against spleen deficiency in rats via tonifying spleen[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2023, 43(3): 501-506.

Figures/Tables 3

Figure 1 Body weight, rectal temperature, spleen, and thymus coefficients of different groups of SDSP rats A: body weight; B: rectal temperature; C: thymus coefficient; D: spleen coefficient. Fuling (Poria), LR 0.7: low dose of raw powder; HR 2.0: high dose of raw powder; LC 0.7: low dose of cooked powder; HC 2.0: high dose of cooked powder; LS 0.7: low dose of substitute cultivation; HS 2.0: high dose of substitute cultivation; LA 0.04: low dose of aqueous extract; MA 0.12: moderate dose of aqueous extract; HA 0.36: high dose of aqueous extract group; LAL 0.02: low dose of alcohol extract group; MAL 0.06: moderate dose of alcohol extract; HAL 0.18: high dose of alcohol extract. SDSP: spleen-deficiency symptom pattern. The data presented are the mean?±?standard error of mean (n = 14).

Figure 2 MTL, GAS, IL-2 and IL-4 levels in serum and kidney in all groups of SDSP rats A: MTL; B:GAS; C: IL-2; D: IL-4. Fuling (Poria), LR 0.7: low dose of raw powder; HR 2.0: high dose of raw powder; LC 0.7: low dose of cooked powder; HC 2.0: high dose of cooked powder; LS 0.7: low dose of substitute cultivation; HS 2.0: high dose of substitute cultivation; LA 0.04: low dose of aqueous extract; MA 0.12: moderate dose of aqueous extract; HA 0.36: high dose of aqueous extract group; LAL 0.02: low dose of alcohol extract group; MAL 0.06: moderate dose of alcohol extract; HAL 0.18: high dose of alcohol extract. MTL: cytokines motilin; GAS: gastrin; IL-2: interleukin 2. The data presented are the mean?±?standard error of mean (n = 14). aP<0.05, compared with the control group; bP<0.05 and cP<0.01, compared with the model group.

Figure 3 5-HT and AQP2 levels in serum and kidney in all groups of SDSP rats A: 5-HT in serum; B: AQP2 in serum; C: AQP2 in kidney. Fuling (Poria), LR 0.7:low dose of raw powder; HR 2.0: high dose of raw powder; LC 0.7: low dose of cooked powder; HC 2.0: high dose of cooked powder; LS 0.7: low dose of substitute cultivation; HS 2.0: high dose of substitute cultivation; LA 0.04: low dose of aqueous extract; MA 0.12: moderate dose of aqueous extract; HA 0.36: high dose of aqueous extract group; LAL 0.02: low dose of alcohol extract group; MAL 0.06: moderate dose of alcohol extract; HAL 0.18: high dose of alcohol extract. 5-HT: 5-hydroxytryptamine; AQP2: aquaporin 2. The data presented are the mean?±?standard error of mean (n = 14). aP<0.05, compared with the control group; bP<0.05 and cP<0.01, compared with the model group. bP<0.05 and cP<0.01, compared with the model group.

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