Objective: To compare the effects and possible mechanism of Siwu Tong(SWT)

Sijunzi Tang(SJZT)

and Bazhen Tang(BZT) in anemia (blood deficiency syndrome) rats induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and preliminarily explore the effect difference and action mechanism of blood replenishing prescription

qi tonifying prescription as well as blood and Qi double replenishing prescription. Method: SD rats were randomly divided into normal group

model group

Bazhen Tang group

Siwu Tang group and Sijunzi Tang group (2.3

3.0

1.2 g·mL-1)

8 rats for each group. Rats in other 4 groups except normal group were modeled by intravenous injection at tail at 150 mg·kg-1 5-FU. Effect of the three prescriptions on appearance of anemia rats

spleen index and thymus index

red blood cells (RBC)

hemoglobin (HGB)

platelet (PLT)

white blood cells (WBC) count

reticulocyte and myelogram was observed

and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was applied for determining the expression of EPO mRNA in kidney and liver. Result: Compared with normal group

spleen index and thymus index were significantly reduced in model group

RBC

HGB

PLT

and WBC counts were significantly reduced (P<0.01)

bone marrow proliferation ability was reduced

and EPO mRNA expression was reduced. Compared with the model group

BZT group and SWT group could significantly improve the appearance of anemia rats

increase spleen index and thymus index

increase RBC

HGB

PLT and WBC counts (P<0.05

P<0.01)

improve the ability of bone marrow proliferation

and up-regulate EPO mRNA expressions. Conclusion: Blood and Qi double replenishing prescription (Bazhen Tang) among these three prescriptions has the best curative effect. Blood replenishing prescription (Siwu Tang) has better effect than Qi tonifying group (Sijunzi Tang). The experimental results provide experimental basis for the treatment of blood deficiency diseases by Qi tonifying therapy

blood replenishing therapy as well as blood and Qi double replenishing therapy

illustrating the rationality of dialectical theory in clinical treatment of anemia (blood deficiency syndrome) to some extent.