Objective: To study the pharmacological changes of Atractylodes lancea before and after processing and the processing mechanism on the basis of the pharmacological changes.
Method: The model of dampness retention in the middle-jiao rats was established to determine small intestine peristalsis rate, GAS level, urine volume and AQP2 content from urine in different groups.
Result: All treatment groups showed increase in small intestinal peristalsis rate and GAS level. The bran-processed group showed significant difference from the negative group. The high dose A. lancea group showed increase in urine volume and decrease in urine AQP2 content in model rats, which were different from the negative group.
Conclusion: Water extracts from bran-processed A. lancea can obviously increase small intestinal peristalsis and GAS level, indicating that A. lancea has the effect for strengthening spleen and stomach after stir-baking with bran. Its impact on urine and urine AQP2 content in model rats demonstrates that its dryness of A. lancea is alleviated after stir-baking with bran.