[Study of Chinese herbal medicine in treating ascites and their mechanism in regulating lymphatic stomata].

OBJECTIVE

To study the therapeutic effect of Chinese herbal medicines (CHM) in treating ascites to elucidate its mechanism in regulating the lymphatic stomata and promoting the absorption of ascites from the peritoneal cavity.

METHODS

Using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and computerized image processing and quantitative analysis assays, the CHM extract consisting of Atractylodes macrocephala, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Codonopsis pilosula, Alismatis orientale and Leonurus heterophyllus were studied.

RESULTS

Intraperitoneal injection of nitric oxide (NO) supplier or CHM administration could cause the average area of lymphatic stomata obviously enlarged (P < 0.05), and the open numbers significantly increased (P < 0.01) in normal healthy mice. When L-notroarginine, a NO synthetase suppressor, was injected after CHM administration, it was found that the regulating effect of CHM on lymphatic stomata was inverted obviously, i.e. the average area and the density of lymphatic stomata were markedly reduced (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

CHM might treat ascites through increasing the endogenous NO concentration to open the lymphatic stomata and in turn to conduct the peritoneal water through lymphatic path.