Objective

2

To Explore the potential targets of the ascending and floating nature of Mahuang （

Herba Ephedrae

） as well as the descending and sinking nature of Tinglizi （

Semen Descurainiae seu Lepidii

）.

Methods

2

Totally 340 rats were randomly divided into wind-cold exterior pattern model group （n=80）， wind-water edema model group （n=90）， phlegm-rheum retention model group （n=90）， and pulmonary edema model group （n=80）. Further grouping was performed according to the principle of weight balance and modeling needs. The model of wind-cold exterior pattern was constructed by blowing wind and cold stimulation， and the rats were further divided into normal control group， wind-cold exterior pattern group， Mahuang group， alkaloid group， polysaccharide group， non-alkaloid group and

Tongxuan Lifei Pill

（通宣理肺丸） group. All groups were given continous gavage for four days. The wind-water edema rat model was established by tail vein injection of adriamycin plus blowing wind， and the rats were divided into normal control， wind-water edema， Mahuang， alkaloid， polysaccharide， non-alkaloid and

Tongxuan Lifei Pill

groups， which were all administered with continuous gavage for 21 days. The phlegm-rheum retention rat model was established through intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin and with atomization， and the modeled rats were divided into normal control， phlegm-rheum retention， Tinglizi， flavonoid glycoside， flavonoid aglycones， oligosaccharide， polysaccharide and fatty oil groups， which were all given intragastric administration continuously for 7 days. The pulmonary edema model was established by pleural injection of carrageenan， and the rats were divided into normal control， pulmonary edema， Tinglizi， flavonoid glycoside， flavonoid aglycones， oligosaccharide polysaccharide and fatty oil groups， all for 7 days of intragastric administration continuously. The mRNA levels of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M3 （CHRM3）， muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M1 （CHRM1） and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ （PPAR-γ） were detected. The protein expression of CHRM3 in wind-cold exterior pattern and wind-water edema model， and the protein expression of PPAR-γ in phlegm-rheum retention and pulmonary edema model were detected.

Results

2

Compared to those in the wind-cold exterior pattern group， the protein and mRNA level of CHRM3 in the Mahuang，

Tongxuan Lifei Pill

and alkaloid groups， as well as the mRNA level of CHRM1 in the Mahuang group significantly increased， while the level of CHRM3 in the non-alkaloid group， the CHRM1 level in the

Tongxuan Lifei Pill

and non-alkaloid groups， and the mRNA level of PPAR-γ in the Mahuang，

Tongxuan Lifei Pill

， alkaloid and polysaccharide groups significantly decreased （

P

＜0.01 or

P

＜0.05）. Compared to those in the wind-water edema group， the protein and mRNA level of CHRM3 in the Mahuang，

Tongxuan Lifei Pill

and

alkaloid groups， the mRNA level of CHRM1 in the Mahuang and

Tongxuan Lifei Pill

groups， as well as the mRNA level of PPAR-γ in the

Tongxuan Lifei Pill，

alkaloid， non-alkaloid and polysaccharide groups significantly increased， while the mRNA level of PPAR-γ in the Mahuang group significantly decreased （

P

＜0.01 or

P

＜0.05）. Compared to those in the phlegm-rheum retention group， the mRNA level of CHRM3 in the oligosaccharide group， and the protein and mRNA level of PPAR-γ in the Tinglizi， oligosaccharide group， flavonoid glycoside group and fatty oil group significantly increased， while the mRNA level of CHRM1 in the fatty oil group and flavonoid aglycon group were reduced （

P

＜0.01）. Compared to those in the pulmonary edema group， the mRNA level of CHRM3 in the Tinglizi group， and the mRNA level of PPAR-γ in the polysaccharide group were significantly reduced， while the mRNA level of CHRM3 in the oligosaccharide group， fatty oil group and polysaccharide group， the mRNA level of PPAR-γ in the Tinglizi group， flavonoid glycoside group， oligosaccharide group and fatty oil group， and the mRNA level of CHRM1 in the polysaccharide group and flavonoid aglycon group increased （

P

＜0.01 or

P

＜0.05）.

Conclusion

2

Mahuang of ascending and floating nature， alkaloid and

Tongxuan Lifei Pill

could increase the expression of CHRM3 in the rats model of wind-cold exterior pattern and wind-water edema where the disease is located at the exterior； CHRM3 may be one of the potential targets of the ascending and floating nature of Mahuang. Tinglizi of descending and sinking nature， oligosaccharide， flavonoid glycoside and fatty oil could increase the level of PPAR-γ in the model of phlegm-rheum retention and pulmonary edema where the disease is located at the interior； PPAR-γ may be one of the potential targets of descending and sinking nature of Tinglizi.