Effects of components in Angong Niuhuang Pulvis on solubility of arsenic in Reaglar

Objective To study the effects of components in Angong Niuhuang Pulvis on solubility of arsenic in Reaglar. Methods Reaglar and components in the complex prescription were pretreated with simulated gastric juice respectively, and then concentrations of solvable arsenic were determined by intermittent flow hydride generation-atomic spectrophotofluorimetry. Results Contents of solvable arsenic in simulated gastric juice-pretreated Realgar with components in Angong Niuhuang Pulvis or the complex prescription were lower than those in simulated gastric juice-pretreated Realgar. Components of Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae), Huanglian (Rhizoma Coptidis), Zhenzhu (Margarita), Zhizi (Fructus Gardeniae), Yujin (Radix Curcumae) and Niuhuang (Calculus Bovis) decreased the contents of solvable arsenic in Realgar by 55.1%, 49.2%, 29.4%, 25.2%, 25.0% and 11.4% respectively (P0.01). The content of solvable arsenic in Angong Niuhuang Pulvis is 35.3% lower than that in Reaglar (P0.01). Conclusion Components in Angong Niuang Pulvis can reduce solubility of arsenic in Realgar, which may reduce toxicity of arsenic.