AQP4 and brain edema: Tao et al., 2015 suggested that phenylethanoid glycosides from Cistanche can reduce the water content of brain tissue and the expression of AQP4 mRNA in the brain tissue of rats presenting high-altitude cerebral edema. These findings indicated that phenylethanoid glycosides from Cistanche can prevent the occurrence of high-altitude cerebral edema, and this effect may be related to the inhibition of AQP4 expression. Cistanches Herba can simultaneously regulate AQP1 in the lungs and kidneys and enhance the regulatory effect on water metabolism (Zhang et al., 2012).