OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Jinhuang Yidan Granule (JYD) on the bile compositions of primary bile duct pigment calculus patients.

METHODSSixty-six patients with primary bile duct pigment calculus were randomly assigned to the control group (who took no Chinese medicine) and the JYD group (who took JYD). The bile from T-tube during the operation, 3, 10, and 40 days after medication were examined. The contents of bile acids, bilirubin (conjugated bilirubin, mono-conjugated bilirubin), glucoprotein, calcium ion, beta-glucuronidase, superoxide radical anion, and other components were detected and compared.

RESULTSThree days after taking JYD, the total bile acids increased, the total bilirubin and beta-glucuronidase decreased, showing statistical significance when compared with the control group (P < 0.05). In the JYD group, the total bile acid increased, the total bilirubin, the conjugated bilirubin, the mono-conjugated bilirubin, glucoprotein, calcium ion, beta-glucuronidase, superoxide radical anions decreased 10 and 40 days after medication, showing statistical significance when compared with the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The level of the total bile acid increased, the levels of the total bilirubin, the conjugated bilirubin, the mono-conjugated bilirubin, glucoprotein, calcium ion, beta-glucuronidase, superoxide radical anions decreased after 40-day medication in the two groups, showing statistical significance when compared with the peri-operative indices of the same group (P < 0 05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSJYD could significantly improve the pathologic bile compositions of the bile duct calculus, improve the environment of the biliary tract, showing certain preventive and therapeutic effects on bile pigment calculus of the primary bile duct calculus. Better effects may be obtained by long-term taking.