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Drug Discov Ther. 2010 ;4(3):179-183.

ABSTRACT:  Our previous study showed that free fructose is an important active constituent responsible for Si-Wu-Tang's (SWT) effect promoting hematopoiesis and immunity. However, the contribution from SWT's four ingredient drugs to the free fructose content in the SWT decoction was not clear. To answer this question, in this study, the fructose, glucose and sucrose content in the SWT decoction, in the decoctions of each single ingredient drug, and in the decoctions of the four formulae lacking each single ingredient drug were determined by HPLC-ELSD. The results showed that the fructose and glucose content in the decoction of single Rehmanniae Radix were almost the same as those in the SWT decoction. In the single Rehmanniae Radix decoction concentrations were: 4.25 ± 0.53 mg/mL for fructose, and 3.43 ± 0.60 mg/mL for glucose; in the SWT decoction concentrations were: 4.10 ± 0.43 mg/mL for fructose, and 3.42 ± 0.32 mg/mL for glucose, while the content of fructose and glucose in the decoctions of single Angelica Radix, single Paeoniae Radix, single Chuanxiong Rhizoma and the formula lacking Rehmanniae Radix were either very small or undetectable. On the other hand, the fructose and glucose content in the decoctions of the formulae lacking Angelica Radix, lacking Paeoniae Radix and lacking Chuanxiong Rhizoma also were approximately the same as those in the SWT decoction. This indicated that Rehmanniae Radix provides most of the free fructose and glucose in the SWT decoction, and therefore plays an important role in SWT's effect promoting hematopoiesis and immunity. As for sucrose in the SWT decoction, Angelica Radix was shown to be a major donor.

Key Words:   Si-Wu-Tang, fructose, glucose, Rehmanniae Radix

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