OBJECTIVETo investigate the preventive and therapeutic effects of Xiaobanxia Fuling Decoction (XBFD) on cisplatin-induced pica rats and to study its mechanism.

METHODSForty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the following 7 groups, i.e., the blank control group, the model group, the high-, middle-, and low-dose XBFD groups (at the daily dose of 30, 15, and 7. 5 g/kg, respectively), the aprepitant (at the daily dose of 13 mg/kg), and pure Chinese medicine group (at the daily dose of XBFD 15 g/kg), 6 in each group. On the 3rd day of this study, 3 mg/kg cisplatin was intraperitoneally injected to rats except the blank control group and the model group to establish the pica rat model. The consumptions of kaolin, food, and the general situation of rats were observed. The protein and mRNA expressions of neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) in both the medulla oblongata and the gastric antrum were measured by immunohistochemical assay and Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR respectively on the sixth day of this study.

RESULTSOn the third, fourth, and fifth day of this study, the consumption of kaolin of rats significantly increased when compared with the blank control group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the consumption of kaolin significantly decreased in the high-, middle-, and low-dose XBFD groups on the third, fourth, and fifth day of this study (P<0.05). The food intake of rats in the high-dose XBFD groups significantly increased when compared with the model group on the third day of this study (P<0.05). The protein and mRNA expressions of NK, R in the medulla oblongata and the gastric antrum significantly decreased in the high- and middle-dose XBFD groups when compared with the model group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSXBFD could prevent and treat cisplatin-induced pica in rats. Its effect might be correlated with decreasing expressions of NK, R in the medulla oblongata and the gastric antrum.