The current work is supported by grants from the (1) National Nature Science Foundation (81973877 and 82174408), (2) National Key R&#38;D Program of China (2020YFE0201600), (3) Shanghai Top Priority Research Center construction project (2022ZZ01009), (4) Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center of Industrial Transformation of Hospital TCM Preparation, and (5) Research Projects within Budget of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2021LK047).

This protocol describes the detailed gavage technique in osteosarcoma model mice by using the Yiqi Jiedu decoction as a sample. Four-week-old, male athymic mice (BALB/c nude) were used in this experiment and kept in the SPF-grade breeding room of Laboratory Animal Center in Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. All animal experiments were approved by the Animal Management and Committee of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, complied with the Code of Ethics for Laboratory Animals (Animal Et...

Herb Decoction Formulation and Gavage Standardization in Osteosarcoma Mice

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The clinical efficacy of the prescribed herbs in traditional Chinese medicine is largely associated with the administered dose and dosage form; therefore, the establishment of a standardized decoction strategy and a skilled administration process are necessary in clinical practice, as well as in improving the reliability of experimental results.
In this study, we first provided a detailed strategy for the standardized decoction of Chinese herbs used in clinical practice of traditional Chinese ...

Decoction formula is the most commonly used dosage form of the traditional Chinese medicine and the liquid medicinal drugs1,2. The decoction formula of traditional Chinese medicine is processed by decocting the herbs in water after being soaked, followed by filtering to discard the dregs.
Because the decoction formula can be individualized based on clinical necessities, especially in line with the characteristics of evidence-based treatment in traditional Chinese medicine, this dosage form via trans-oral administration has been applied in clinical practice for thousands of years with specific and irreplaceable advantages3,4. The quality of the decoction formula is directly related to the clinical efficacy.&#160;Therefore, the decoction formula must be prepared based on the principles for the standardized decoction methods to ensure the active ingredients are maximally extracted and protected3. Meanwhile, decoction-ready medicines are the main form of raw Chinese herbs used in clinical practice; the quality standards and production methods of prescribed decoction-ready medicines must comply with the provisions of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia2. Moreover, the prescribed decoction-ready medicines must be soaked in cold drinking water for at least 30 min before being decocted in a special pharmaceutical pot by heating5. Studies have shown that most of the active ingredients can be extracted by decocting for two times, and the&#160;Code of Practice for the Administration of Decoction Rooms of Traditional Chinese Medicines in Medical Institutions also prescribes decoction to be done twice4,6,7. If special Chinese herbs, such as one with hard texture or tonics, are prescribed, the decoction time is recommended to be extended. The decoction utensils and storage containers that directly come in contact with the decoction formula, starting from the container in which the prescribed decoction-ready medicines are soaked, should be chemically stable and have lids, such as casseroles, ceramics, glass and stainless steel. However, aluminum and ordinary plastic products should not be used, while iron and other corrosive utensils should be prohibited to avoid possible chemical reactions, which will reduce therapeutic efficacy and even produce harmful effects4,6,7.
Due to the limitations of performing clinical experiments, small animals bearing the human diseases, such as mice, are often used in medical research to explore the therapeutic efficacy and comprehensive mechanisms of different interventions including the decoction formula of traditional Chinese medicine8,9; however, unlike humans, the decoction formulas should be prepared every day, mixed together, and freshly administered 2x a day in clinical practice. Animals are unable to voluntarily take their medications on time with the required dosage, and most of the animal experiments related to traditional Chinese medicine are gavage-based oral administration of the decoction formulas at present. The decoction formulas used for in vivo animal experiments should be prepared in advance, aliquoted, stored at -20 &#176;C and thawed just before use3,4,10. Moreover, substandard animal immobilization and gavage needle manipulation increase the risk of unnecessary injuries and negative emotions. Therefore, as an important method of trans-oral drug delivery, the skilled gavage technique is particularly important to avoid possible esophageal injury and drug spillage, thus ensuring that each model animal receives an equal amount of prescribed herbal medicine to achieve accurate experimental results. Here, we provide a gavage protocol for the decoction formula of traditional Chinese medicine.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>143B cell line</td>
			<td>ATCC</td>
			<td>CRL-8303</td>
			<td>osteosarcoma cell line</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anesthesia machine</td>
			<td>Shenzhen RWD Life Technology Co.,Ltd</td>
			<td>R500IP</td>
			<td>The Equipment of Anesthesia mice</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Automatic cell counter</td>
			<td>Shanghai Simo Biological Technology Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>IC1000</td>
			<td>Counting cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BALB/c athymic mice</td>
			<td>Shanghai SLAC Laboratory Animal Co, Ltd.</td>
			<td>Male</td>
			<td>Animal</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Barbed skullcap herb</td>
			<td>Shanghai Yanghetang Traditional Chinese Medicine Tablet Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>20230606</td>
			<td>Decoction-ready medicines&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Basement Membrane Matrix</td>
			<td>Shanghai Uning BioscienceTechnology Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>356234, BD, Matrigel</td>
			<td>re-suspende cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Centrifuge tube (15 mL)</td>
			<td>Shanghai YueNian Biotechnology Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>430790, Corning</td>
			<td>Centrifuge the cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Elbow gavage needle (12-gauge/ 55 mm)</td>
			<td>RWD Life Science Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>C21014-12</td>
			<td>Component of gastric perfusion device</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Gauze</td>
			<td>Haishi Hainuo Group Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>LC45</td>
			<td>Decoction filter</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ginseng</td>
			<td>Shanghai Wanshicheng Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>20220704-2</td>
			<td>Decoction-ready medicines&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hedyotis diffusa</td>
			<td>Shanghai Yanghetang Traditional Chinese Medicine Tablet Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>2023071107</td>
			<td>Decoction-ready medicines&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>isoflurane</td>
			<td>Shenzhen RWD Life Technology Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>VETEASY</td>
			<td>Anesthesia mice</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Micro-volume syringe</td>
			<td>Shanghai high pigeon industry and trade Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>0-50 &#956;L</td>
			<td>Inject precise cells into the tibia</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphate-buffered saline</td>
			<td>Beyotime Biotechnology</td>
			<td>ST447</td>
			<td>wash the human osteosarcoma cells</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rubber bands</td>
			<td>Shanghai Hengfei Biotechnology Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>XPJ</td>
			<td>Fixing gauze on the measuring cup</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Syringe (1 mL )</td>
			<td>Shanghai Mishawa Medical Industry Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>SBM0040</td>
			<td>Component of gastric perfusion device</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trypsin (0.25%)</td>
			<td>Shanghai YueNian Biotechnology Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>25200056, Gibco</td>
			<td>trypsin treatment of cells</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

gavage strategy for decoction formula of traditional chinese medicine in osteosarcoma model mice

Decoction formula is the most commonly used dosage form in traditional Chinese medicine and applied in clinical practice for thousands of years by trans-oral administration, which is characterized by quick effect, easy absorption, and individualized treatment based on the specific syndromes of patients. The quality of the decoction formula is directly responsible for the clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine; therefore, the standardization process of the decoction formula is important to avoid differences in decoction quality caused by subjective factors. Meanwhile, due to the limitations of performing clinical experiments, small animals bearing human diseases, such as mice, are often used in medical research to explore the therapeutic efficacy and comprehensive mechanisms of different interventions, including the decoction formula for traditional Chinese medicine.&#160;Consequently, as an important trans-oral administration method, the skilled gavage technique is particularly important to avoid potential esophagus damage and drug spillage, which will ensure an equal amount of medicine being administered to each model animal, leading to accurate experimental results. Furthermore, the standardized method of decoction formula preparation and skilled gavage strategy are necessary to protect animal welfare and minimize the number of animals used. Here, we reported a detailed standardization process of the decoction formula and gavage technique with Yiqi Jiedu decoction in osteosarcoma mouse model as an example. The efficacy was evaluated by the tumor volume. This protocol will maximize animal protection and improve the reliability of research data, therefore providing effective strategies for future investigating therapeutic efficacy and molecular mechanisms of decoction formula for traditional Chinese medicine in vivo.

Author Spotlight: Standardized Herbal Decoction Protocol for Enhanced Animal Studies

Gavage Strategy for Decoction Formula of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Osteosarcoma Model Mice

This study provides a detailed and standardized protocol for about precaution preparation under gradual operation that's providing a reference for those in need. Our research ensures that each animal is dosed equally to produce accurate results. Our study aims to maximize the animal protection and improve the reliability of results from studies of about Decoction formulations.

The inhibitory effect of Yiqi Jiedu decoction on the growth of osteosarcoma in vivo was determined in an intra-tibial xenograft osteosarcoma mouse model, which was prepared by injecting the 143B osteosarcoma cells into the tibia of athymic mice. The Yiqi Jiedu decoction was administered to the mice of the Yiqi Jiedu decoction group by gavage for 28 days starting from the second day of the 143B injection. Physiological saline was given to the mice in the control group. All mice were euthanized after 28 days. The ...

The protocol provides a detailed standardization process of decoction formula and gavage technique with Yiqi Jiedu decoction in the osteosarcoma mouse model as an example. It describes animal protection and improves reliability of research data, providing effective strategies for investigating therapeutic efficacy and molecular mechanisms of decoction formulas in vivo.

Decoction formula is the most commonly used dosage form in traditional Chinese medicine and applied in clinical practice for thousands of years by ...

gavage-strategy-for-decoction-formula-traditional-chinese-medicine