Comparative Efficacy and Toxicity of Different Species of Sargassum in Haizao Yuhu Decoction in PTU‐Induced Goiter Rats

Abstract

Background Haizao Yuhu Decoction has been widely used to treat thyroid-related diseases especially goiter with few side effects in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), including herb pair Sargassum (HZ) and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (GC), as one of “eighteen antagonistic medicaments.” The two different species of Sargassum, Sargassum fusiforme (Sf) and Sargassum pallidum (Sp), are not clearly differentiated in clinical use, so that herb pair Sf-GC and Sp-GC could show different effect and toxicity. Methods We investigated the antigoitrous effect and toxicity and clarified the potential underlying mechanism of the two different species of Sargassum in HYD (HYDf and HYDp) in PTU-reduced goiter rats. Results The results demonstrated that both HYDf and HYDp could exhibit antigoitrous effect through alterations in hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis and inhibition of the TPO gene expression; there is no difference in the antigoitrous effects between the two different species of Sargassum application in HYD. Conclusion This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of herb pair HZ-GC applied in HYD in goiter rats at molecular, cellular, and whole level and compared the two species of Sargassum further. We provide a reliable way to clarify the possible mechanism of the antagonistic medicament herb pair HZ-GC for its application.

Sargassum hystrix as a Source of Functional Food to Improve Blood Biochemistry Profiles of Rats under Stress

“…The safety of Sargassum sp. was reported by Tapia-Martinez et al (2019), Nasmia et al (2017), and Xiu et al (2017). Sargassum sp.…”

Do Different Species of Sargassum in Haizao Yuhu Decoction Cause Different Effects in a Rat Goiter Model?

“…In our study, PTU administration for 2 weeks significantly reduced serum levels of T4, rectal temperature, and body weight, and increased serum level of TSH of model rats. In addition, based on our previous report [7, 11], we believe that the goiter model was established. At the end of the study, rats in the Mod group presented with significantly enlarged thyroid glands and hypothyroidism characterized by low metabolism, body weight, and rectal temperature as well as fatigue and unresponsiveness, which further confirmed successful model establishment.…”

“…All the animals except those in the Con group received PTU (0.01 g/kg/d, intragastric) for 14 days to induce the goitrous model according to previous reports [7, 11]. On day 15, blood sample was collected from all animals in the Con group and 20 rats in the other groups, which were chosen randomly to prove that the model was established.…”

“…However, whether the two different species of Sargassum cause different effects when coapplied with GC simultaneously in HYD has not been reported. No differences have been previously reported between the antigoiter effects of HHZ and YQC application in HYD, even at twice the high-dose limit recommended in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia [7]. However, the herb pair is clinically effective over a large dose range [8, 9].…”

Investigation of the incompatibility of Knoxiae Radix and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma in rats by 1H NMR and MS‐based untargeted metabolomic analysis

“…It is usually used in Chinese medicine prescriptions because it has the effect of reconciling other herbs and reducing toxicity (Sun et al, 2016). However, GC is still incompatible with Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix (Wang et al, 2014), Kansui Radix (Chen et al, 2019a), Genkwa Flos (Chen et al, 2019b) and Sargassum (Xiu et al, 2017). HDJ, as a herb with similar effects to Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix, has been used more frequently because of its lower toxicity.…”