Studies on the combination of Glycyrrhizae Radix in Shakuyakukanzo-To.

The pharmacological properties of the five samples of glycyrrhizic acid, paeoniflorin, the extracts of Glycyrrhizae Radix, the extracts of Paeoniae Radix and a preparation of Chinese drug Shakuyakukanzo-To were compared by investigating their actions in the carrageenan-induced paw edema, the cotton pellet granuloma formation and acetic acid-induced writhing syndrome tests, using ddY-strain mice. The concentrations of glycyrrhizic acid and paeniflorin, the main components of Glycyrrhizae Radix and Paeoniae Radix respectively, were determined in the preparations by high performance liquid chromatography. Anti-inflammatory activity was observed with the doses of glycyrrhizic acid, 3.0 and 30.0 mg/kg p.o., which are almost equivalent to the quantities contained in the extracts of Glycyrrhizae Radix, 18.0 (normal human dose per day) and 180.0 mg/kg, or in Shakuyakukanzo-To, 32.0 (normal human dose per day) and 320.0 mg/kg, respectively and with the doses of the extracts of Glycyrrhizae Radix, 18.0 and 180.0 mg/kg p.o., but not with the doses of Shakuyakukanzo-To, 32.0 and 320.0 mg/kg p.o., in carrageenan-induced edema and cotton pellet method. Doses of paeoniflorin (2.0, 20.0 and 200.0 mg/kg p.o.) and the extracts of Paeoniae Radix, 21.0 (normal human dose per day) and 210.0 mg/kg p.o., which contain almost equivalent quantities of paeoniflorin, 2.0 and 20.0 mg/kg, respectively, showed significant inhibitory effects in the writhing syndrome test. Furthermore, Shakuyakukanzo-To, 32.0 and 320.0 mg/kg p.o., which contain almost equivalent quantities of paeoniflorin, 2.0 and 20.0 mg/kg, showed strong effects in this test.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)