OBJECTIVETo explore new toxicity-reducing methods of Pinellia Rhizoma prepared by ethanol and the latest technical parameters.

METHODPinellia Rhizoma is prepared with ethanol. The orthogonal experimental design was adopted for investigating amount of ethanol, preparing time, ethanol concentration and preparing temperature. The optimal technology was determined by the comprehensive score of toxicological indicators of PGE2 content of rat celiac percolate, with the rabbit conjunctival irritation test as the intuitive validation on toxicology reduction. The pharmacodynamics validation was used to determine the reasonability of the preparation process.

RESULTThe optimal technology was that Pinellia Rhizoma was prepared by 75% ethanol at the temperature of 60 degrees C by 4 days, and then dried. The effect of relieving cough, reducing sputum and anti-inflammatory of Pinellia Rhizoma is not reduced after prepared by ethanol.

CONCLUSIONThe optimal technology of Pinellia Rhizoma prepared by ethanol is simple and reasonable that it can be used as the new method to reduce toxicity and keep efficacy of Pinellia Rhizoma.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cough ; drug therapy ; Desiccation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Female ; Hot Temperature ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Pinellia ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Sputum ; drug effects ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Time Factors ; Toxicity Tests