Effects of Haizao Yuhu Decoction on Hepatic and Renal Functions in Rats in Physiological and Pathological States

doi:10.19803/j.1672-8629.20250709

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To study the effects of Haizao Yuhu decoction on hepatic and renal functions of normal rats and of hypothyroidism-based goiter model rats at the corresponding doses. Methods A total of 60 Wistar rats (half male and half female) were randomly divided into 5 groups: normal group, model group, positive drug group (20 μg·kg^-¹), Haizao Yuhu decoction+propylthiouracil (PTU) group (HYD-M, 10 mL·kg^-1), and Haizao Yuhu decoction group (HYD-N, 10 mL·kg^-1). The normal group and HYD-N group were given deionized water by gavage while the other groups were gavaged with PTU to establish a hypothyroidism-based goiter model. Euthyrox was used as the positive drug. The HYD-M group and HYD-N group were administered with Haizao Yuhu decoction by gavage. Samples were collected 12 hours after the last administration. Hepatic and renal functions of rats in each group were detected. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to observe hepatic pathological changes, and the NAS score was calculated. Results Compared with the normal group, the levels of ALT, UREA, CREA, and UREA/CREA were significantly increased in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.01, P<0.05), while the levels of AST/ALT and UA were significantly decreased (P<0.001, P<0.01). In the HYD-N group, the liver coefficient was significantly increased (P<0.01) while the levels of UREA and UREA/CREA were significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the AST/ALT level in the HYD-M group was increased (P<0.05) while those of UREA and UREA/CREA were significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.001). Conclusion At corresponding doses, Haizao Yuhu decoction has no obvious hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity when used to treat hypothyroidism-based goiter model rats, and can reverse abnormal indicators caused by modeling. However, at the same dose, Haizao Yuhu decoction can increase the liver coefficient and impair the urea-producing function of the liver in normal rats.

Key words: Haizao Yuhu Decoction, Goiter, Propylthiouracil, Euthyrox, Wistar Rats, Toxicity Study

CLC Number:

R285.5
R977

FAN Jie, LYU Yanmin, LIAO Wenyong, ZHANG Jiwen, WANG Li, XIU Linlin. Effects of Haizao Yuhu Decoction on Hepatic and Renal Functions in Rats in Physiological and Pathological States[J]. Chinese Journal of Pharmacovigilance, 2026, 23(1): 70-76.

Add to citation manager EndNote|Ris|BibTeX

URL: https://zgywjj.magtechjournal.com/EN/10.19803/j.1672-8629.20250709

https://zgywjj.magtechjournal.com/EN/Y2026/V23/I1/70

References

[1] SONG XH, ZAN RZ, WANG F.Influence of Sargassum, Radix Glycyrrhizae of Different Proportion in Modifided Haizao Yuhu Decoction on the Function of Liver, Renal and Pathomorphology in Hashimotos Thyroiditis Rats[J]. Chinese Archives of Traditional Chinese Medicine(中华中医药学刊), 2008(4): 801-803.
[2] LIU HY, XIU LL, CHEN ZH, et al.Exploring Suitable and Contraindicated Conditions of the Application of loring Suitable and Contraindicatethomorphology in Hashimotos Thyroiditis Rats[J]. Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine(北京中医药大学学报), 2023, 46(6): 752-757.
[3] LYU YM.Effect and Mechanism of Modified Haizao Yuhu Decoction with Antagonistic Herb Combinations under Specific Dosage Conditions in Anti-Goiter[D]. Beijing: Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 2020.
[4] LI M, XIU L, LIAO W, et al.Exploring the Effect and Mechanism of Haizao Yuhu Decoction Containing Three Variants of Glycyrrhiza on Goiter Using an Integrated Strategy of Network Pharmacology and RNA Sequencing[J]. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2023, 316: 116750.
[5] CHEN YR, XUE ZY, HUANG TC, et al.Toxicity/Efficacy Relationship of Sargassum and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma: a Visual Analysis[J]. Chinese Journal of Pharmacovigilance(中国药物警戒), 2025, 22(1): 93-98.
[6] LI N.Exploration on the Toxicity Characterization and Mechanism of Modified Haizao Yuhu Decoction with High-Dose Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Different Varieties of Sargassum[D]. Beijing: Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 2019.
[7] QIAO SJ, WEI ZC, CAI ZR, et al.Application Strategy of the Lycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Different Varieties of Sarga-ssum[D]. Beijing: Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 2019, 3(5): 1788-1793.
[8] CHEN F, LI N, XIU LL, et al.Effects of Different Varieties of Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix Et Rhizoma) Applied with Haizao (Sargassum) in Haizao Yuhu Decoction on the Liver and Kidney Functions of Goiter Rats under Different Dosage Conditions[J]. Journal of Liaoning University of TCM(辽宁中医药大学学报), 2023, 25(7): 17-22.
[9] YANG HY.Effect of Thyroxine on SNARE Complex and Synapto-tagmin-1 Expression in the Prefrontal Cortex of Rats with Adult-Onset Hypothyroidism[D]. Anhui: Anhui Medical University, 2011.
[10] TIAN X, DONG X, LIU XQ, et al.Effect of Haizao Yuhu Decoction Combined with Modified Sargassum and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma on Expression of p53/p21/Caspase-3 Pathway in Rats with Goiter[J]. Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae(中国实验方剂学杂志), 2024, 30(16): 68-75.
[11] WANG X, GE CR, ZHONG GS, et al.Effects of Modified Haizao-Gancao Anti-Drug Combination of Haizao Yuhu Decoction on PI3K/Akt Pathway-Related Genes Expression in Goiter Rats[J]. China Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy(中华中医药杂志), 2023, 38(2): 800-804.
[12] REN YN, LIU XQ, CAO CAN, et al.Effect of Sargassum-Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Containing Serum on Proliferation of M22-Induced Nthy-Ori-3-1 Cells[J]. Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs(中草药), 2024, 55(2): 527-533.
[13] WANG X, GE CR, HUO M, et al.Effect of Antagonistic Sargassum-Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Combination in Haizao Yuhu Decoction on Goiter Induced by Propylthiouracil[J]. Modern Chinese Medicine(现代中医药), 2021, 23(8): 1391-1398.
[14] NASCIMBENI F, BEDOSSA P, FEDCHUK L, et al.Clinical Validation of the FLIP Algorithm and the SAF Score in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease[J]. Journal of Hepatology, 2020, 72(5): 828-838.
[15] CHEN MY.Study of Diagnosis Models of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Based on Different Pathological Scoring Systems[D]. Nanjing: Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 2024.
[16] XV XN, WU MJ, DONG X, et al.Toxicological Characterization of the Seaweed-Glycyrrhiza Reverse Drug Combination on the Thyroid Goiter Model Rats and Its Effect on Hepatic Protein Synthesis Func-tion[J]. Acta Chinese Medicine and Pharmacology(中医药学报), 2025, 53(5): 9-17.
[17] XV ZH, WANG EL, ZHU SG, et al.Investigation on the Connotation and Denotation of“You Gu Wu Yun”Theory[J]. Shanghai Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine(上海中医药杂志), 2017, 51(4): 44-47.
[18] HUYILIGEQI, BAO WS, BAI MR, et al.Study on Liver and Kidney Toxicity of Jingdaji Based on the Theory of e Drug Combin[J]. Journal of Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine(山西中医药大学学报), 2024, 25(6): 614-618.
[19] WEI BW, WANG HY, CAO D, et al.Discussion on Ideological Connotation of 4 You-Gu-Wu-Yun”of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F. in Treatment of Immune Liver Injury Based on Network Pharmacology[J]. Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine(中国中医药信息杂志), 2022, 29(6): 29-35.
[20] SONG K, QIU RL, YAN J, et al. Exploring the Side Effects of Aucklandiae Radix Based on the Theory of“Yougu Wuyun”and the Influence of Coptidis Rhizomaon Aucklandiae Radix[J/OL]. Liaoning Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine(辽宁中医杂志), (2025-08-06)[2025-10-18]. https://link.cnki.net/urlid/21.1128.R.20250806.1634.078.
[21] CAI JY, CHANG WJ, CAI H.Meanings and Clinical Significance of“Mother Safe with Proper Treatment Hence Fetus Also Safe”in Huang Di Nei Jing( Huangdi’s Canon of Mediucine)[J]. Acta Chinese Medicine(中医学报), 2017, 32(1): 60-63.
[22] LIU CX, KONG J.Constitution-Based Toxicology: a New Perspective of Study for Assessing the Safety of Traditional Chinese Medicine[J]. Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Materia Medica-World Science and Technology(世界科学技术-中医药现代化), 2023, 25(12): 3776-3784.
[23] SONG J, SHAN Z, MAO J, et al.Serum Polyamine Metabolic Profile in Autoimmune Thyroid Disease Patients[J]. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf), 2019, 90(5): 727-736.
[24] SHANG N, HUANG XX, YE YB, et al.Correlation of Liver Stiffness Measurements and AST/ALT with the Stage of Primary Biliary Cholangitis[J]. Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine on Liver Diseases(中西医结合肝病杂志), 2023, 33(5): 418-420.
[25] CHEN X, WU LX, LI TAO, et al.Prognostic Evaluation Value of Serum ALT/AST Ratio Combined with Albumin Score in Gastric Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy[J]. Chinese Journal of Surgical Oncology(中国肿瘤外科杂志), 2025, 17(2): 135-140.
[26] HUANG ZY, LU LL, ZHU QF.MMT Exposure on Body Weight, Organ Coefficient and Manganese Concentration in Rats and Correlation Analysis[J]. Journal of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine(广西中医药大学学报), 2023, 26(6): 41-45, 77.
[27] LI P, CHENG S, LI JQ.Application of ALB, TC, AST and ALT in the Diagnosis of Liver Cirrhosis[J]. Systems Medicine(系统医学), 2025, 10(6): 51-53.
[28] YV JT.Establishment of Continuous Reference Interval for Laboratory Test Indexes Related to Renal Function in People Aged 0-18 Based on GAMLSS Model[D]. Liaoning: China Medical University, 2022.
[29] CHEN CC.Changes and Clinical Significance of NT-proBNP and CREA Levels in Patients with Chronic Renal Insufficiency[J]. Chinese and Foreign Medical Research(中外医学杂志), 2024, 22(7): 62-65.
[30] GE JB, WANG C, WANG JA. Internal Medicine(内科学)[M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 2024.
[31] HUANG WB.Study on the Mechanism and Efficacy Material Basis of HaiZao YuHu Decoction in the Treatment of Graves’s Disease Based on Network Pharmacology and Metabolomics[D]. Nanjing: Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 2024.
[32] CHEN TM, LIU YH, WEN JX, et al.Effect of β-Sitosterol on Inflammation in Mice with Helicobacter Pylori Infectious Gastritis[J]. The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology(中国临床药理学杂志), 2022, 38(23): 2811-2815.