AIM: To study the theraputic mechanism of Jianpiyiwei capsula (JPYW) on chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) in rats.

METHODS: The model of CAG was established in male wistar rats by synthetical method: a metallic spring was inserted into gastric pylorus sphincter. I week after operation, 50-60 °C hot paste which contains 15% NaCl were given twice a week orally for 15 wk, then 10 normal and 11 CAG model rats were killed and sampled to study: (1) The volume of gastric juice, (2) Gastric acidity and total output of gastric acid, (3) Activity of pepsin and its total out put, (4) Mucosal hexosamines and malonic dialdehyde (MDA) concentrations. The other CAG rats were treated with JPYW 1.5 g/kg/d or 4.5 g/kg/d, weimeisu (WMS) 0.6 g/kg/d, or distilled water (DW) respectively (n = 10 each group). After 12 wk, all the rats were killed and detected as above.

RESULTS: The volume and acidity of gastric juice, activity of pepsin, total output of acid and pepsin, mucosal hexosamines and MDA concentrations were 1.17 ± 0.29 mL/2h, 48.54 ± 16.95 mEq/L, 0.519 ± 0.115 unit/mL, 27.63 ± 8.07 μEq/h, 0.291 ± 0.058 unit/h, 4.82 ± 0 .74 μg/mg, tissue and 37.41 ± 4.91 μmol/100mg, tissue in model group whereas 2.08 ± 0.19, 96.80 ± 18.20, 0.843 ± 0.143, 100.11 ± 17.63, 0.873 ± 0.139, 6.85 ± 1.14 and 24.90 ± 2.48 in normal group , which were significantly different (P < 0.01). After 12 wk treatment, JPYW increased the volume and acidity of gastric juice, activity of pepsin, total output of acid and pepsin significantly (2.12 ± 0.86, 96.10 ± 30.91, 0.780 ± 0.168, 95.84 ± 31.05, and 0.779 ± 0.169 respectively in 4.5 g/kg group) as compared with DW group (1.37 ± 0.51, 50.20 ± 16.47, 0.515 ± 0.142, 32. 89 ± 11.73 and 0.327 ± 0.082 respectively) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Furthermore, it decreased mucosal MDA concentration obviously (27.09 ± 3.98 in 4.5 g/kg group and 41.87 ± 4.27 in DW group) (P < 0.01). Although the hexosamines concentration was increased mildly (5.62 ± 0.93 in 4.5 g/kg group), it made no statistical difference to DW group (4.90 ± 0.84) (P > 0.05). WMS also had influence on above-mentioned indices, but was not as marked as JPYW 4.5 g/kg/d group, espically in total output of acid (56.54 ± 12.25) and pepsin (0.585 ± 0.100) and mucosal MDA concentration (31.43 ± 5.02) (comparing to 4.5 g/kg group, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Improving the secretory function of gastric juice and preventing gastric mucosa from the injury of free radical may be one of the theraputic mechanism of JPYW on chronic atrophic gastritis.