LM Jiang, KL Wei, XF Wang, W Li

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of a traditional medicine Xiaochaihu Decoction on viral myocarditis. Methods: Newborn rat myocardial cell cultures were infected with Coxsackievirus B₃ (CVB₃) and divided into two groups. One group was treated with Xiaochaihu Decoction while the others acted as controls. Cytopathic changes of the myocardial cells in the two groups were compared at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours after infection. The two groups were also compared for the Cytochrome C Oxidase (CCO) activities at these time points, using enzyme-histochemical method and computerized microphotography. Results: In the controls, progressive cytopathic changes were observed since 24h after infection, which was associated with a progressive decline in CCO activities. In the Xiaochaihu Decoction-treated group, the cells exhibited cytopathic changes and decrease in CCO activities which were also first noticed at 24h but to a much lesser extent than those in the controls. The cells however recovered quickly to regain normal morphology and near normal CCO activities. Conclusion: The findings suggested that Xiaochaihu Decoction has beneficial effects on myocardial cells infected by Coxsackievirus in vitro.

目的：評估傳統醫學的小柴胡湯劑在對病毒性心肌類的療效。方法：新生老鼠心肌培養被柯薩奇病毒 B₃(CVB₃)感染並分為兩組。一組以小柴胡湯劑治療，而另一組為對照。在感染後的 24, 48, 72 和 96 小時比較兩組心臟細胞的細胞病變的變化。同時也運用了酶─組織化學的方法和計算機顯微攝影術來比較在上述時間點兩組的細胞色素 C 氧化酶(CCO)的活性。結果：在對照組，在感染後的 24 小時被觀察到有進行性的細胞病變的變化，並伴隨有 CCO 活性的進行性下降。在小柴胡湯劑治療組，同時也發現細胞有病變的改變和 CCO 活性下降，但程度遠比對照組輕微。細胞也很快地恢復正常的形態和近乎正常的 CCO 活性。結論：此發現說明小柴胡湯劑在體外對受柯薩奇病毒感染的心臟在體外具顯著療效。