Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1989 Jul; 9(7): 412-5, 389-90.

[Experimental studies on the antagonistic effect of re du qing on endotoxin-induced damage of lysosomes and mitochondria]

Li MZ, Ye WY, Huangpu YM.

A rabbit endotoxic DIC model was preliminarily performed. The structures of lysosomes and mitochondria in liver cells were evidently destroyed as observed under electronic microscope, whereas those rabbits pretreated with Re Du Qing (RDQ, formerly named anti-inflammatory No. 6)--a mixture of Chinese traditional herbs providing antipyretic and detoxifying action, showed principally normal ultrastructure in liver cells. In lysosomal functional studies, the activity of the lysosomal marker enzyme--acid phosphate (ACP) was 79.0 +/- 4.7% (M +/- SD) in model group, higher than pretreated group (54.01 +/- 4.0%, P less than 0.01). Studies on the mitochondrial function showed that the significant criteria of the respiratory activity of mitochondria--respiratory control ratios (RCR) was 2.83 +/- 1.08 in model group and markedly lower than pretreated group (5.46 +/- 1.25, P less than 0.01). Mitochondrial ATPase activity (mu mol pi/min/mg pr.) was lower in model group (0.280 +/- 0.015) than in pretreated group (0.341 +/- 0.018, P less than 0.05). Lipid peroxide (LPO) in liver homogenates and serum were 1.86 +/- 0.43 n mol MDA/mg pr. and 12.26 +/- 0.84 n mol MDA/ml respectively in model group, whereas in pretreated group they gave a much lower value (1.19 +/- 0.12 and 6.55 +/- 2.97) respectively. Those data showed very significant difference between two groups (P less than 0.01). All of the above indices of pretreated group yielded values close to those of normal control group. The results of experimental study in vitro were identical to those of experimental study in vivo. These experimental studies suggested that RDQ provide antagonistic effect on endotoxin induced damage of lysosomes and mitochondria.