Objective:To study the pharmacodynamics of Shaoteng Decoction obtained by three different extraction methods; To explore the immunosuppressive effect of Shaoteng Decoction; To optimize the extraction process.Methods:The extract of Shaoteng Decoction was prepared by water extraction, 70% ethanol extraction and water extraction and alcohol precipitation respectively. Totally 30 NOD mice were randomly divided into Shaoteng Decoction water extraction group (processⅠ), Shaoteng Decoction 70% ethanol extraction group (processⅡ), Shaoteng Decoction water extraction and alcohol precipitation group (processⅢ), model group and hydroxychloroquine group according to their body weight, with 6 mice in each group. Another 6 Balb/C mice were set as normal control group. In the processⅠ, process Ⅱ, and process Ⅲ groups, 16 g/kg of Shaoteng Decoction extract was given by gavage, while in the hydroxychloroquine group, 60 mg/kg of hydroxychloroquine sulfate was given by gavage. The normal control group and the model group were given the same volume of deionized water once a day for 4 weeks. After the last administration, the spleen index and submandibular gland index were calculated, the pathological morphology of submandibular gland was observed by HE staining, and the serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), estradiol (E 2) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) were determined by ELISA. Results:Compared with the model group, the spleen index of each drug group decreased ( P<0.01 or P<0.05), and the submandibular gland index of the process Ⅲ group and hydroxychloroquine group increased ( P < 0.01). The pathological score of submandibular gland in each administration group decreased ( P<0.01 or P<0.05), the serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and IgG decreased ( P<0.01 or P<0.05), and the DHEA level increased ( P<0.01 or P < 0.05). The level of serum E 2 in process group Ⅰ, process group Ⅲ and hydroxychloroquine group increased ( P<0.01 or P<0.05). Conclusion:Shaoteng Decoction can effectively reduce inflammation and inhibit immunity of NOD mice. In addition, the extract under the process of water extraction and alcohol precipitation has better efficacy, which is the optimal technology.

Objective:To screen the active components, target genes and signaling pathways of Shaoteng Decoction in the treatment of Sjogren's syndrome by network pharmacology; To conduct relevant experimental verification to explore the mechanism of action of Shaoteng Decoction in the treatment of Sjogren's syndrome.Methods:The active components and targets of Shaoteng Decoction were collected by retrieving TCMSP. The target genes of Sjogren's syndrome were collected through the GeneCards database. The intersection targets of drugs and diseases were obtained by using Venn. The intersection targets were imported into the STRING database to obtain PPI networks, and the "drug-active component -therapeutic target-disease" network was constructed by Cytospace 3.7.2 software. The DAVID database was used for GO function enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis. The 18 NOD mice were divided into model group, TCM group, hydroxychloroquine group, with 6 mice in each group, and 6 Balb/C mice were set as normal control group. TCM group was gavaged with 2.3 g/kg of Shaoteng Decoction, hydroxychloroquine group was gavaged with 60 mg/kg of hydroxychloroquine, and model group and normal control group were gavaged with equal volume of deionized water once a day for 4 consecutive weeks. The daily water intake of mice during the administration period was recorded, the pathological changes of submandibular gland tissue were observed by HE staining, and the levels of serum inflammatory factors IL-17 and TNF-α were determined by ELISA method.Results:39 main active components of Shaoteng Decoction, 1 062 targets of Sjogren's syndrome, and 64 targets of drug and disease intersection were obtained, including TNF, IL6, NCOA1, AKT1, TP53, etc. The treatment targets of Sjogren's syndrome mainly affected biological processes such as response to bacterium and cellular response to lipid, and regulated TNF-α pathway and IL-17 signaling pathway. The experimental results showed that the levels of TNF-α and IL-17 in the TCM group were lower than those in the model group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Shaoteng Decoction can regulate IL-17 and TNF-α signaling pathways, inhibit inflammation, delay submandibular gland disruption, and alleviate the symptoms of Sjogren's syndrome.

The pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome （SS） was considered to involve external dryness， internal injured essence and blood， yin-deficiency endowment， and abnormal emotion and spirit， and it was believed that SS has the characteristics of dryness and impassability， and the pathogenesis of deficiency-excess in complexity. According to the theory “upper dryness treats qi， and lower dryness treats blood” in YE Gui's monograph “Medical Records for Clinical Guidance”， the dryness was divided into upper dryness and lower dryness syndromes to be differentiated and treated. When treating dryness syndrome， the patient should follow the characteristics of the five zang organs， using soft and cool medicines， avoiding warm and dry medicines， and valuing the animal products. The upper dryness could be treated with Sangxiang Decoction （桑杏汤） to clear the qi and moisten the dryness， Qiaohe Decoction （翘荷汤） to clear the upper with pungent-cool， and Shashen Maidong Decoction （沙参麦冬汤） to nourish yin and promote the production of body fluid. The lower dryness could be treated with Fumai Decoction （复脉汤） to enrich and nourish the five kinds of fluid. Liuwei Dihuang Pill （六味地黄丸） to nourish the kidneys and supplement essence， and Wuren Pill （五仁丸） to moisten the dryness and nourish the blood， which provided a new way of thinking for differentiation of the dryness syndrome.