Objective: To study the effect of Ephedrae Herba and its splitting fractions on the rat models of kidney-Yang deficiency and edema

explore the relationship between efficacy and drug properties

and discuss its mechanism. Method: The rat models of kidney-Yang deficiency were established with hydrocortisone combined with doxorubicin hydrochloride. Doxorubicin hydrochloride(4

3.5 mg·kg-1) was injected into the tail vein at day 1 and day 8

at the same time

hydrocortisone (3.75 mg·kg-1·d-1) was injected intraperitoneally for 15 days. After modeling

the rats were divided into model group

Guifu Dihuang pill group (1.4 g·kg-1)

Ephedrae Herba decoction low (1.17 g·kg-1)

medium (2.34 g·kg-1) and high (4.68 g·kg-1) dose groups

ephedra alkaloid (0.020 g·kg-1)

non-alkaloid (0.105 g·kg-1)

alcoholic acid (0.132 g·kg-1)

and volatile oil (0.933 3×10-3 mL·kg-1) groups

and a normal control group was set up additionally. Rats in each treatment group were given with the corresponding drugs

and those in the normal and model groups were given with the same volume of normal saline

with ig administration for continuous 28 days. At the end of the administration

24 h urine was measured by rat metabolic cage method. 24 h urinary protein was detected by Coomassie brilliant blue G-250 dye combination method (CBB method). The levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)

cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)

triiodothyronine (T3)

thyroxine (T4)

estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Western blot was used to detect the contents of aquaporin 1 (AQP1) and aquaporin 2 (AQP2). Result: Ephedrae Herba decoction and its splitting fractions could significantly increase the levels of 24 h urine output

cAMP

T3

T4 and E2 in serum (P<0.05

P<0.01); Ephedrae Herba decoction and alkaloid components could significantly reduce rat 24 h urinary protein

cGMP

T

AQP1 and AQP2 expression levels (P<0.05

P<0.01). Conclusion: Ephedrae Herba has significant diuresis promoting and detumescence effects

and alkaloids are the best effective components. Its mechanism may be related to the reduction of renal AQP1 and AQP2 expression.