OBJECTIVETo explore the pharmacologic mechanism of cinnabar (CA) and realgar (RG) in Angong Niuhuang powder (ANP) by way of studying the characteristics of their effects on organism under physiologic and pathologic states.

METHODSSD rats were randomly divided into six groups, 8-10 rats in each group. Group A: untreated normal rats; Group B: normal rats administered by ANP (drug I) 278 mg/kg; Group C: normal rats administered by ANP subtracted CA and RG (drug II) 222.7 mg/kg; Group D: brain edema model rats established by unilateral common carotid artery injection of Bacillus pertussis 250 million/kg; Group E: model rats administered by ANP 278 mg/kg 1 hr before modeling; Group F: model rats administered by drug II 222.7 mg 1 hr before modeling. Blood sample and brain tissue in Group D were obtained 4 hrs after modeling and those in other groups obtained 5 hrs after drug administration. The total activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum and brain tissue was determined by colorimetry and that of serum LDH isoenzymes (LDH(1-5)) were determined by gel electrophoresis.

RESULTSAs compared with Group A, LDH, LDH1 and LDH2 activities increased in Group D (P < 0.01), and increased also in Group B and C (P < 0.05), while LDH4 and LDH5 decreased obviously in Group B and C. But except that of LDH5, no significant difference of LDH(1-4) in brain tissue and serum was shown in comparison of Group B and C. As compared with Group D, LDH was lower (P < 0.01) and LDH5 was higher (P < 0.01) in Group E and F without significant difference, LDH2, LDH3 were lower in Group E (P < 0.01) but unchanged in Group F, LDH1 and LDH4 were not changed in Group E but significantly lowered in Group F (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAdministration of ANP in normal physiologic condition would cause damage on myocardium and kidney to certain extent, administration of ANP and drug II in pathologic (infectious brain edema) would suppress the hyper-activated LDH, with no significant difference between the effects of drug II and ANP. However, CA and RA in ANP are proven to have influence on the serum LDH isoenzymes, indicating that the two ingredients may have some potential pharmacological effects.