[Effects of processing on toxicity and pharmacological action of Phytolacca americana L].

The experimental results have shown that the toxicity of variously processed Phytolacca americana is lower than that of the original rude drug, i.e. the local irritability tends to decrease by 16.7-83.3%; LD50 to elevate by 1.66-10.47 times; expectoration to increase by 1.10-1.57 times; but diuresis mostly to decrease by 16.0-45.0%. This reveals that the main object of processing Phytolacca americana is to lower toxicity, increase expectoration and relieve diuresis to reduce fluid retention.