Abstract

Objectives : Mahuang (Ephedra sinica), well known as an herbal medicine in the East and West, contains a relatively high percentage of ephedrine known as sympathomimetic alkaloid. We investigated the effects of Mahuang on sympathetic nervous system with heart rate variety (HRV). Time and frequency domain analysis of HRV is a noninvasive technique capable of providing information on autonomic modulation of the sinus node. Methods : We investigated 57 healthy volunteers consisting of 37 subjects in the Mahuang group and 20 subjects in the placebo group. Study form was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. The 37 subjects in the Mahuang group took 3 Mahuang capsules (1 capsule equivalent to 2g herb Mahuang) twice a day at 10 a.m. and 2 p.,., while the 20 subjects in the placebo group took 3 placebo-capsules filled with glutinous rice powder at the same times. Mahuang medicine and placebo medicine were made into opaque capsules. We measured HRV at 3 p.m. 1 or 2 days before medication and at 3 p.m. after medication. Results : Mean-RR and SDNN of the Mahuang group significantly decreased compared with that of the placebo group, but the heart rate of the Mahuang group significantly increased compared with the placebo. HRV-Index, RMSSD and SDSD of the Mahuang group significantly decreased compared with that of the placebo group, but PNN50 of the Mahuang group significantly increased compared with placebo. Ln(TP), Ln(VLF), Ln(LF) and Ln(HF) of the Mahuang group significantly decreased compared with those of the placebo group. There were no significant differences in normalized LF, normalized HF and LF/HF ratio between the Mahuang and placebo groups. Conclusion : The results suggest that Mahuang in healthy adults tends to reduce the autonomic nervous system within the normal range.

Keywords

• Ephedra;
• Mahuang;
• heart rate variability(HRV);
• clinical trial;
• herbal medicine