Abstract
Previous reports suggest that Yanbian Toki (Angelica species of northeast China) may become an alternative resource of Angelicae Radix (Toki) when compared with the Japanese indigenous plants of A. acutiloba Kitagawa (Yamato Toki) and A. acutiloba var. sugiyamae Hikino (Hokkai Toki) in their similar chemical and genetic characteristics. In the present study, the pharmacological effects of Yanbian Toki on oketsu and hie-sho were assessed by using animal models in comparison with Yamato Toki and Hokkai Toki.
Oketsu state (stagnation of blood) was induced in mice by a consecutive injection of betamethasone (1.6 mg/kg/day, i.m.). Changes in peripheral blood flow of oketsu mice treated with each Toki extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg were examined both in single and repeated administrations. Yanbian Toki improved the peripheral blood flows of oketsu mice as well as Yamato Toki and Hokkai Toki, and showed no significant statistically differences.
In hie-sho (chilliness) model, accomplished by submerging the rats in cold water, the restoration of body surface temperature was accelerated by a single administration of each Toki extract (200 mg/kg). Especially at the initial 5 min, it was significant. Furthermore, the time versus recovery effect was statistically significant in the treatment of Yamato Toki. However, there were no significant differences among them in their recovery effects.
In both experiments, among Yanbian Toki, Yamato Toki and Hokkai Toki, there were no significant differences in their effects on oketsu and hie-sho. These results suggested that Yanbian Toki is pharmacologically comparable to Yamato Toki and Hokkai Toki.
