The Anti-emetic Effect of Banhasasim-tang Intravenous Herbal Acupuncture in MTX-induced Rat-Pica Model
Article information
Abstract
Objectives
This study aimed to investigate the effect of banhasasim-tang intravenous herbal acupuncture (BST-IVHA) on emesis induced by chemotherapy in rats.
Methods
This study used methotrexate(MTX)-induced Rat-Pica model. The rats were randomly allocated into seven groups; normal group, two saline groups, four Banhasasim-tang(BST) groups (groups treated with BST-IVHA). All the experimental animals except those in the normal group were injected with MTX. Those in the pre-treatment groups were treated with saline injection (saline group) or BST-IVHA (BST group) before MTX injection. Those in the post-treatment groups were treated with saline injection or BST-IVHA after MTX injection. Two different dosages of BST-IVHA solution (low dose; BST-1 group, high dose; BST-2 group) were used. The changes in body weight, food intake, and kaolin consumption at 24h, 48h, and 60h were monitored and analyzed.
Results
1. No significant change was found in body weight. 2. The food intake at 48h was increased significantly in the BST-1 pre-treatment group(19.89±0.01g) compared to the pre-saline group(18.68±0.26g). 3. The kaolin consumption was significantly decreased in the BST-1 pre-treatment group at 24h(0.24±0.02g) and 60h(0.36±0.14g), in the BST-2 pre-treatment group at 48h(0.02±0.01g) and 60h(0.80±0.31g) compared to the pre-saline group(24h:0.81±0.37g, 48h:0.76±0.43g, 60h:1.56±0.03g). The kaolin consumption was also significantly decreased in the in the BST-1 post-treatment group at 24h(0.05±0.02g), 48h(0.64±0.06g) and 60h(0.14±0.05g), in the BST-2 post-treatment group at 48h(0.01±0.01g) and 60h(0.01±0.01g) compared to the post-saline group(24h:0.51±0.4g, 48h:3.58±0.33g, 60h:2.5±0.2g).
Conclusions
BST-IVHA showed an anti-emetic effect in MTX-induced rat-pica model. This result suggests that BST-IVHA could be an effective treatment for chemotherapy-induced emesis.

Body weight change after MTX injection in pre-treatment groups
Rats were treated with Banhasasim-tang intravenous herbal acupuncture (BST-IVHA) 24h before and right before MTX injection. Body weight change was monitored every 24 hours after MTX injection.
Normal : No treatment
Pre-Saline : treated with saline (0.4ml) 0h and 24h before MTX (20mg/kg) injection
Pre-BST-1 : treated with BST-IVHA (0.4ml, 0.028g/kg) 0h and 24h before MTX (20mg/kg) injection
Pre-BST-2 : treated with BST-IVHA (0.4ml, 0.138g/kg) 0h and 24h before MTX (20mg/kg) injection

Body weight change after MTX injection in post-treatment groups
Rats were treated with Banhasasim-tang intravenous herbal acupuncture (BST-IVHA) right after and 24h after MTX injection. Body weight change was monitored every 24 hours after MTX injection.
Normal : No treatment
Post-Saline : treated with saline (0.4ml) 0h and 24h after MTX (20mg/kg) injection
Post-BST-1 : treated with BST-IVHA (0.4ml, 0.028g/kg) 0h and 24h after MTX (20mg/kg) injection
Post-BST-2 : treated with BST-IVHA (0.4ml, 0.138g/kg) 0h and 24h after MTX (20mg/kg) injection

Food intake after MTX injection in pre-treatment groups
Rats were treated with Banhasasim-tang intravenous herbal acupuncture (BST-IVHA) 24h before and right before MTX injection. Food intake was monitored 24h, 48h, and 60h after MTX injection. Each value and vertical bar represent mean±S.D. (n=5)
Normal : No treatment
Pre-Saline : treated with saline (0.4ml) 0h and 24h before MTX (20mg/kg) injection
Pre-BST-1 : treated with BST-IVHA (0.4ml, 0.028g/kg) 0h and 24h before MTX (20mg/kg) injection
Pre-BST-2 : treated with BST-IVHA (0.4ml, 0.138g/kg) 0h and 24h before MTX (20mg/kg) injection
** : P<0.01, vs normal group by Mann-Whitney U Test
† : P<0.05 vs saline group by Mann-Whitney U Test

Food intake after MTX injection in post-treatment groups
Rats were treated with Banhasasim-tang intravenous herbal acupuncture (BST-IVHA) right after and 24h after MTX injection. Food intake was monitored 24h, 48h, and 60h after MTX injection. Each value and vertical bar represent mean±S.D. (n=5)
Normal : No treatment
Post-Saline : treated with saline (0.4ml) 0h and 24h after MTX (20mg/kg) injection
Post-BST-1 : treated with BST-IVHA (0.4ml, 0.028g/kg) 0h and 24h after MTX (20mg/kg) injection
Post-BST-2 : treated with BST-IVHA (0.4ml, 0.138g/kg) 0h and 24h after MTX (20mg/kg) injection
** : P<0.01, * : P<0.05 vs normal group by Mann-Whitney U Test

Kaolin consumption after MTX injection in pre-treatment groups
Rats were treated with Banhasasim-tang intravenous herbal acupuncture (BST-IVHA) 24h before and right before MTX injection. Kaolin intake was monitored 24h, 48h, and 60h after MTX injection. Each value and vertical bar represent mean±S.D. (n=5)
Normal : No treatment
Pre-Saline : treated with saline (0.4ml) 0h and 24h before MTX (20mg/kg) injection
Pre-BST-1 : treated with BST-IVHA (0.4ml, 0.028g/kg) 0h and 24h before MTX (20mg/kg) injection
Pre-BST-2 : treated with BST-IVHA (0.4ml, 0.138g/kg) 0h and 24h before MTX (20mg/kg) injection
*** : P<0.001, * : P<0.05 vs normal group by Mann-Whitney U Test
† : P<0.05 vs saline group by Mann-Whitney U Test

Kaolin consumption after MTX injection in post-treatment groups
Rats were treated with Banhasasim-tang intravenous herbal acupuncture (BST-IVHA) right after and 24h after MTX injection. Kaolin intake was monitored 24h, 48h, and 60h after MTX injection. Each value and vertical bar represent mean±S.D. (n=5)
Normal : No treatment
Post-Saline : treated with saline (0.4ml) 0h and 24h after MTX (20mg/kg) injection
Post-BST-1 : treated with BST-IVHA (0.4ml, 0.028g/kg) 0h and 24h after MTX (20mg/kg) injection
Post-BST-2 : treated with BST-IVHA (0.4ml, 0.138g/kg) 0h and 24h after MTX (20mg/kg) injection
*** : P<0.001 vs normal group by Mann-Whitney U Test
† : P<0.05 vs saline group by Mann-Whitney U Test