Optimization of Vinegar Processing Technology of Curcumae Longae Rhizoma and Its Pharmacodynamic Effect on Dysmenorrhea Rats with Cold Coagulation and Blood Stasis Type

OBJECTIVE  To explore the pharmacodynamic effect of vinegar-processed Curcumae Longae Rhizoma on dysmenorrhea rats with cold coagulation and blood stasis through optimization of its vinegar processing technology.

METHODS Taking frying temperature, frying time, adding vinegar amount and moistening time as factors, the properties of curcumin, demethoxy curcumin, double demethoxy curcumin, polysaccharide, and the characteristics of processed herbal slices were used as comprehensive evaluation indexes, and the multi-index comprehensive evaluation combined with entropy weight method-hierarchy method and other mathematics were used to evaluate the optimization of processing technology by Box-Behnken response surface methodology. 56 SD rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, positive drug group (0.018 g·kg⁻¹), raw product high-low dose group (0.54, 1.08 g·kg⁻¹) and vinegar product high-low dose group (0.54, 1.08 g·kg⁻¹). The rat model of dysmenorrhea of cold coagulation and blood stasis type was established by ice water bath combined with benzoic acid and oxytocin. Detection of hemorheological indexes of writhing reaction and observation of pathological changes of uterine tissue stained by HE. Determination of PGE₂, IL-6, AVP, OT, β-EP content in serum of rats by ELISA method.

RESULTS  The conditions of vinegar preparation are as follows: stir-frying temperature 100 ℃, stir-frying time 15 min, adding vinegar amount 40% and stuffing time 2 h. The difference between the average score of 90.49 and the predicted value of 90.1421 was<1%, which accorded with the predicted value. Curcumae Longae Rhizoma vinegar could significantly prolong the latency of writhing (P<0.01) and increased the inhibition rate of writhing. The whole blood viscosity was significantly low shear, middle shear and high shear (P<0.01) and plasma viscosity (P<0.01). Uterine histopathologic observation of HE staining showed that the high-dose group was better than the low-dose group in improving the degree of uterine lesions. The results of ELISA showed that the content of PGE₂, IL-6, AVP, OT was significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01) and the content of β-EP was significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

CONCLUSION  The process of making Curcumae Longae Rhizoma with vinegar is stable, simple and feasible. Compared with raw products, the drug effect on dysmenorrhea rats with cold coagulation and blood stasis type is stronger.