Objective To investigate whether Yiqicongming Decoction(YCD)can alleviate dry eye syndrome in rats.Methods Thirty-six male SD rats at 6 weeks of age were divided into blank group,model group,positive group,YCD high-dose group,YCD medium-dose group,and YCD low-dose group,with six rats in each group.The rats underwent iris,tear secretion volume,and corneal epithelial damage scoring assessments.Conjunctival tissue was stained with PAS,and the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD)and the content of malondialdehyde(MDA)were detected using the en-zyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The level of reactive oxygen species(ROS)was measured by flow cytometry.Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)and hymeoxyge-nase-1(HO-1)in corneal tissues.Results Compared with the blank group,the number of goblet cells in the conjuncti-va,corneal epithelial injury score,MDA content and ROS level in the model group were significantly increased at all time points(all P＜0.05).The tear secretion volume of rats decreased on days 3,7,and 14,and the number of conjunctival goblet cells and SOD activity also decreased(all P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the conjunctival score,corne-al epithelial injury score,MDA content,and ROS level in the positive control group and high-,medium-,and low-dose YCD groups were significantly reduced(all P＜0.05),while SOD activity and protein expression levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 in rats on day 14 were significantly increased(all P＜0.05).Compared with the high-dose YCD group,the conjunctival score,corneal epithelial injury score,and ROS level in the low-and medium-dose YCD groups were significantly increased(all P＜0.05),while SOD activity and protein expression levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 on day 14 were significantly decreased(all P＜0.05).On day 14,the tear secretion volume and the number of goblet cells in the conjunctiva of rats administered a low dose of Yiqi Congming Decoction both decreased(all P＜0.05).Compared with the medium-dose YCD group,the conjunc-tival score,corneal epithelial injury score and ROS level in the low-dose YCD group were significantly increased(all P＜0.05),while the tear secretion volume and protein expression levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 on day 14 were significantly de-creased(all P＜0.05).Conclusion YCD can increase tear secretion,alleviate iris and corneal epithelial damage,acti-vate Nrf2/HO-1 pathway,regulate oxidative stress,and alleviate dry eye syndrome.

Objective To investigate whether Yiqicongming Decoction(YCD)can alleviate dry eye syndrome in rats.Methods Thirty-six male SD rats at 6 weeks of age were divided into blank group,model group,positive group,YCD high-dose group,YCD medium-dose group,and YCD low-dose group,with six rats in each group.The rats underwent iris,tear secretion volume,and corneal epithelial damage scoring assessments.Conjunctival tissue was stained with PAS,and the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD)and the content of malondialdehyde(MDA)were detected using the en-zyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The level of reactive oxygen species(ROS)was measured by flow cytometry.Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)and hymeoxyge-nase-1(HO-1)in corneal tissues.Results Compared with the blank group,the number of goblet cells in the conjuncti-va,corneal epithelial injury score,MDA content and ROS level in the model group were significantly increased at all time points(all P＜0.05).The tear secretion volume of rats decreased on days 3,7,and 14,and the number of conjunctival goblet cells and SOD activity also decreased(all P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the conjunctival score,corne-al epithelial injury score,MDA content,and ROS level in the positive control group and high-,medium-,and low-dose YCD groups were significantly reduced(all P＜0.05),while SOD activity and protein expression levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 in rats on day 14 were significantly increased(all P＜0.05).Compared with the high-dose YCD group,the conjunctival score,corneal epithelial injury score,and ROS level in the low-and medium-dose YCD groups were significantly increased(all P＜0.05),while SOD activity and protein expression levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 on day 14 were significantly decreased(all P＜0.05).On day 14,the tear secretion volume and the number of goblet cells in the conjunctiva of rats administered a low dose of Yiqi Congming Decoction both decreased(all P＜0.05).Compared with the medium-dose YCD group,the conjunc-tival score,corneal epithelial injury score and ROS level in the low-dose YCD group were significantly increased(all P＜0.05),while the tear secretion volume and protein expression levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 on day 14 were significantly de-creased(all P＜0.05).Conclusion YCD can increase tear secretion,alleviate iris and corneal epithelial damage,acti-vate Nrf2/HO-1 pathway,regulate oxidative stress,and alleviate dry eye syndrome.