INFLUENCE OF “SHUGANJIEYU” (舒肝解郁) HERBS ON CHOLERETIC FUNCTION IN ANESTHETIZED RATS

Experimental results of the choleretic ef-fect and influence on bile constituents of“Shuganjieyu (舒肝解郁)” herbs are reported.The evidence was that of the nine individuallytested herbs given 10 gm/kg via the duodenum,Lignum Aquilariae Resinatum,PericarpiumCitri Reticulatae Viride,Rhizoma Cyperi andPericarpium Citri Reticulatae markedly in-creased hepatic bile flow,for 3-4 hrs or longer.Radix Bupleuri,Fructus Aurantii and RadixCurcumae were also choleretic,though thesewere not so dramatically so.Compared withthe control,Fructus Aurantii and PericarpiumCitri Reticulatae Viride markedly and correspon-dingly elevated the cholic acid content and solidscomponent of bile.Bilirubin excretion increasedafter administration of Radix Aucklandiae.Two hrs after administering Fructus MeliaeToosendan the biliary lecithin level dropped toless than the control,though the drop was notstatistically significant.It is possible that“Shuganjieyu” exerts therapeutic action partlythrough choleresis,and that the so-calledGanyu (肝郁)symptoms mentioned in ancientChinese medical literature represent thepathologic processes of biliary excretion distur-bance.The pharmacological actions of “Shugan-jieyu” herbs as discussed may make the herbsbeneficial in enhancing liver function,prevent-ing cholesterol stone formation,diminishing in-trahepatic cholestatic jaundice risk,promotingabsorption of fat-soluble substances in the gut,and preventing steatorrhea.