Study of chinese herbal medicine in treating ascites and its mechanism in regulating lymphatic stomata

To study the therapeutic effect of Chinese herbal medicines (CHM) in treating ascites and 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), computerized image processing and quantitative analytic assay, the effect of CHM extract, consisting of Atractylodes macrocephala, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Codonopsis pilosula, Alismatis orientale and Leonurus heterophyllus, was studied. Results: Intraperitoneal injection of nitric oxide (NO) supplier (Sodium nitroprussiate) or CHM administration could cause the average area of lymphatic stomata obviously enlarged (P＜0.05), and the numbers of opening stomata significantly increased (P＜0.01) in normal healthy mice. When L-notroarginine, a NO synthetase suppressor, was injected after CHM administration, 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). Conclusion: 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.