Decrease in uraemic toxins, a newly found beneficial effect of Ephedrae Herba

Abstract

Abstract The levels of urea nitrogen, creatinine, methylguanidine and guanidinosuccinic acid, which accumulate in the blood in parallel with the progress of renal failure after adenine administration, were decreased markedly and significantly in rats given Ephedrae Herba extract. Administration of the fraction III of Ephedrae Herba extract was found to be more effective than any of the other fractions in decreasing uraemic toxin parameters. Analysis of the fractions by means of thin layer chromatography revealed that the fraction III contains condensed tannin.