OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutical effects of KANGFUXINYE on the upper gastrointestinal injury induced by paraquat in rats, and to explore the proper mechanism.

METHODSA total of 120 adult Wistar male rats were randomly divided into three groups, control group (CG), model group (MG) and treatment group (TG), 40 rats each group. The MG and TG were given 20% paraquat 50 mg/kg by oral administration, after 2 h the TG was given KANGFUXINYE solution 1.5 ml by oral administration, 3 times a day. The CG was given normal saline. On the 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th and 15th days after exposure, 8 rats of each group were killed respectively, and the tissues from esophagus and stomach were collected and examined by HE staining for observing the mucosa injury. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) of serum were detected.

RESULTSOn the 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th and 15th days after exposure, the results of pathological examination showed that the mucosa injury in TG was significantly relieved as compared with MG, the activity of serum SOD reduced obviously and the MDA levels increased significantly in MG, as compared with CG (P<0.05). The activity of serum SOD increased obviously and the MDA levels decreased significantly in TG, as compared with MG (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe results of present indicate that KANGFUXINYE has the therapeutical effects on the upper gastrointestinal injury caused by paraquat in rats. The mechanism of therapeutical effects may be due to the increasing SOD activity, eliminating free radicles and inhibiting the lipid peroxidation.