Objective. To summarize the characteristics and analysis of relevant factors and to give references for prevention and further study of liver damage associated with Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. (HSW), we provide a systematic review of case reports and case series about liver damage associated with HSW. Methods. An extensive search of 6 medical databases was performed up to June 2014. Case reports and case series involving liver damage associated with HSW were included. Results. This review covers a total of 450 cases in 76 articles. HSW types included raw and processed HSW decoction pieces and many Chinese patent medicines that contain HSW. Symptoms of liver damage occur mostly a month or so after taking the medicine, mainly including jaundice, fatigue, anorexia, and yellow or tawny urine. Of the 450 patients, two cases who received liver transplantation and seven who died, the remaining 441 cases recovered or had liver function improvement after discontinuing HSW products and conservative care. Conclusion. HSW causes liver toxicity and may cause liver damage in different degrees and even lead to death; most of them are much related to long-term and overdose of drugs. Liver damage associated with HSW is reversible, and, after active treatment, the majority can be cured. People should be alert to liver damage when taking HSW preparations.

/pdf/liver-damage-associated-with-polygonum-multiflorum-thunb-a-3vbleknr6t.pdf

Liver Damage Associated with Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.: A Systematic Review of Case Reports and Case Series

In order to investigate the immunomodulatory effects and the mechanism of a Chinese herbal medicine, Zengmiansan (Astragalus immunomodulator), on immune function of chickens, three hundred 1-day-old chickens were assigned randomly into 5 groups, i.e., the blank control group, the Chinese herbal medicine Zengmiansan (ZMS)-treated group, the cyclophosphamide group, the cyclophosphamide plus levamisole group, the cyclophosphamide plus ZMS group and the control group. All chickens were immunized with Lasota vaccine by nosedrip or eye-drop at the age of 6 days. Newcastle Disease (ND) antibody titers, growth indexes of the spleen, thymus and bursa of Fabricius, the concentrations of CD4+ lymphocytes and CD8+ lymphocytes in spleen, thymus and peripheral blood, and the apoptosis of splenocytes, thymocytes and bursa of Fabricius cells were observed at the ages of 14, 21, 28 and 35 days, respectively. Our results indicated that the NDV antibody titers of chickens in the Chinese herbal medicine ZMS-treated group at the ages of 14 and 21 days were significantly higher than that of the other groups (P<0.01). The growth indexes of immune organs, the concentrations of CD4+ lymphocytes and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocytes of chickens in the Chinese herbal medicine ZMS- treated group at the ages of 14, 21 and 28 d were significantly higher than those of the other groups (P<0.01). The apoptotic splenocytes, thymocytes and bursa of Fabricius cells of chickens in the ZMS-treated group were significantly lower than the other groups (P<0.01) at the ages of 14, 21 and 28 days.

Effect of a Chinese herbal formula Astragalus immunomodulator on immune function of chickens

The effect of Astragalus mongholicus, Polygonum multiflorum and the combination of Astragalus mongholicus and Polygonum multiflorum on thymocytes apoptosis induced by cyclophosphamide (Cy) was studied The results were as follows: in the group C (the mice were treated with Cy, Cy mice, the control), their thymocytes revealed obvious apoptosis change, as compared with group C, in group AM, PM and AMPM (the Cy mice were treated for 14 days with Astragalus mongholicus , Polygonum multiflorum and the combination of Astragalus mongholicus and Polygonum multiflorum respectively),using flow cytometry,the sup G1 peaks, labelled ‘Ap’—the hallmark of apoptotic cells appeared, the height of Ap peaks was sequentially in group AMPM AM PM C , and Ap peak did not appear in group O The ultrastructure showed that apoptotic thymocytes density and degree of morphologic change were sequentially in group AMPM AM PM C The results suggested that Astragalus mongholicus and Polygonum multiflorum could play an antagonistic role on thymocytes apoptosis induced by cyclophosphamide, and the combination of Astragalus mongholicus and Polygonum multiflorum could give rise to the highest effect

Wei Xi

Papers

Antagonistic Effect of Astragalus mongholicus and Polygonum multiflorum on Thymocytes Apoptosis Induced by Cyclophosphamide