This project focuses on investigating the differences in toxicity and antioxidant activity between traditional decoction pieces and granule preparations of Aconiti Radix (Chuanwu) and Pinelliae Rhizoma (Banxia), aiming to elucidate the toxicological and efficacy relationship of their incompatible combination according to the "Eighteen Incompatible Medicaments" (Shiba Fan).We employed the MTT (thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide) assay to evaluate the effects of Aconiti Radix and Pinelliae Rhizoma on the proliferation of HL-7702 hepatocytes in vitro. Additionally, we measured protein content using the Bradford method and assessed oxidative stress indices, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH).The results demonstrated that compared to the untreated control group, both Aconiti Radix and Pinelliae Rhizoma decoction pieces significantly enhanced cell viability relative to their granule counterparts at equivalent concentrations. Furthermore, granule preparations of Aconiti Radix and Pinelliae Rhizoma markedly increased MDA levels while reducing T-AOC, SOD, and GSH levels compared to their respective decoction pieces.In contrast, the combination groups—Aconiti Radix and Pinelliae Rhizoma granule mixture, co-decocted liquid of their traditional pieces, and mixed liquid of individually decocted pieces—showed decreased intracellular MDA levels and elevated T-AOC, SOD, and GSH levels.Thus, within a certain concentration range, Aconiti Radix granules exhibited higher toxicity than their decoction piece counterparts, whereas Pinelliae Rhizoma decoction pieces promoted greater cell proliferation than equivalent granule preparations. Notably, the combination of Aconiti Radix and Pinelliae Rhizoma enhanced cell proliferation and reversed the oxidative stress induced by their individual administration.

Liqin Zhou, Huanjie Ma. Research of Decoctions and Granules of Aconite in Combination with Pinellia's Toxic and Effect Transformation Mechanism Based on Differences in Antioxidant Capacity. International Journal of Frontiers in Medicine (2025), Vol. 7, Issue 4: 1-8. https://doi.org/10.25236/IJFM.2025.070401.

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