Plant materials and preparation of extracts
The CHSGS prescription and dosage: According to The People's Republic of China Pharmacopeia 1st volume conventional dosage: Radix Bupleuri 9 g, Aurantii nobilis pericarpium 9 g, Szechwan Lovage rhizome 9 g, Nutgrass Galingale rhizome 9 g, Fructus aurantii 9 g, Paeonia 15 g, Glycyrrhiza uralensis 5 g. The composition and the amount of each component in percentage of whole medicine are shown in Table 1. Component herbs of CHSGS were purchased from Hunan Herbal Materials Company (Changsha, China) and authenticated by Professor P. Lei, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University based on their microscopic and macroscopic characteristics. The quality of these crude drugs is controlled by the Pharmacopeia and a voucher specimen of each plant was prepared and deposited in the herbarium of the Department of Pharmacognosy of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University. After being decocted, concentrated and finally dried in vacuo, the CHSGS formula was made into a dried powder; the yield of the CHSGS aqueous extract was ca. 12.5% (w/w). The dried extract was stored at −20°C until its use and re-suspended in distilled water for its administration to experimental animals.
Table 1  Composition of Chaihu-Shugan-San

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