beta-escin and Burns

To explore the inhibitory effect and its mechanism of salviae miltiorrhizae and beta-aescinom natrium on the postburn acute lung injury in rats.. Forty-five rats were randomly divided into sham control (C, n = 9), sodium chloride group (S, n = 9), salviae miltiorrhizae group (M, n = 9), beta-aescinom natrium group (A, n = 9), and combination group (MA, n = 9). The rats in M, A and MA groups were subjected to 30% TBSA III degree scald on the back, and all the rats were sacrificed at 24 PBH. The blood and pulmonary tissue samples were harvested from the rats at 24 PBH for the determination of leukocyte adhesiveness/aggregation (LAA) in peripheral blood, myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) contents, and the ratio of wet to dry weights (W/D) of lung tissue.. Compared with those in S group, the LAA in blood and the pulmonary tissue contents of MPO, MDA and W/D rate in M and A groups, and especially in MA group, were decreased significantly, but the SOD content in pulmonary tissue increased obviously in M and A groups, especially in MA group. Furthermore, blood LAA was positively correlated with pulmonary tissue MDA content.. Postburn intra-pulmonary agglutination and aggregation of PMNs and pulmonary injury by oxygen free radicals (OFRs) and their products could be inhibited by either Salviae Miltiorrhizae or beta-aescinom natrium. In addition, these agents could also increase the tissue content of antioxidant capacity and decrease pulmonary microvascular permeability and lung water content. The results indicated that all the agents used might be effective in prevention and treatment of postburn pulmonary injury, especially when used together.

Topics: Acute Lung Injury; Animals; Burns; Escin; Female; Free Radicals; Lung; Male; Nitric Oxide; Peroxidase; Phytotherapy; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Salvia miltiorrhiza; Superoxide Dismutase

Generally, the benzopyrones enhanced acid protease activity levels in the oedema fluid and the extracellular compartment of the skin. This is the region where thermal injury has its greatest impact. The proteolysis induced by the drugs in this region represents a means of rapidly reducing some of the derangements which the thermal injury has caused. Levamisole also enhanced acid protease activity levels in the serum and extracellular compartment of the skin 6 hours after thermal injury, while Reparil had the same effect at 24 hours. Generally the benzopyrones had little or no effect on neutral protease levels, while levamisole and Reparil caused their depression. The later effects could possibly be attributed to serum deactivation or to inhibition of their release. The enzyme enhancing activity of these drugs has been shown to correlate remarkably well with their oedema reducing ability. Generally, those which increased enzyme activity levels the most were the most effective in reducing the oedema. The cells upon which the drugs exert their effects in thermal oedema mainly seem to be the macrophages; the fibroblasts seem to be of secondary importance. This is to be contrasted with their action in the initial stages of lymphoedema where they are believed to stimulate the neutrophils. The net result of the proteolysis is many small fragments which can rapidly leave the injured tissue thus releasing the oedema fluid.

Topics: Animals; Benzopyrans; Burns; Coumarins; Edema; Escin; Extracellular Space; Hindlimb; Levamisole; Muscles; Peptide Hydrolases; Rutin; Skin; Time Factors

The efficacy of a group of anti-inflammatory drugs with similar modes of action was tested on thermal oedema. Of these, coumarin and sodiumrutin-sulphate were most effective. A combination of these, marketed as Venolot, although still beneficial, was not as effective as either given singly. The other drugs tested--levamisole, Reparil and Venoruton--although also of some benefit in treatment of this oedema, did not approach the overall effectiveness of coumarin of sodium-rutin-sulphate. Both drugs are characterized by a very wide safety margin between the therapeutic and the toxic dose. In addition, they are cheap, easy to obtain and can be taken orally. They work by stimulating phagocytosis, enzyme production and thus proteolysis and a subsequent removal of protein and oedema fluid from the injured tissues.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Burns; Coumarins; Edema; Escin; Female; Levamisole; Rats; Rutin; Time Factors