Herbal Medicine Research from Pubmed

Inhibition of NF-kappaB expression and allergen-induced airway inflammation in a mouse allergic asthma model by andrographolide.

Cell Mol Immunol. 2009 Oct;6(5):381-5

Authors: Li J, Luo L, Wang X, Liao B, Li G

Andrographolide from traditional Chinese herbal medicines previously showed it possesses a strong anti-inflammatory activity. In present study, we investigated whether Andrographolide could inhibit allergen-induced airway inflammation and airways hyper-responsiveness and explored the mechanism of Andrographolide on allergen-induced airway inflammation and airways hyper-responsiveness. After sensitized and challenged by ovalbumin, the BALB/c mice were administered intraperitoneally with Andrographolide. Hyper-responsiveness was recorded. The lung tissues were assessed by histological examinations. NF-kappaB in lung was determined by immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting. Treatment of mice with Androqrapholide displayed lower Penh in response to asthma group mice. After treatment with Andrographolide, the extent of inflammation and cellular infiltration in the airway were reduced. Andrographolide interrupted NF-kappaB to express in cell nucleus. The level of NF-kappaB expression was inhibited by Andrographolide. The data indicate that Andrographolide from traditional Chinese herbal medicines could inhibit extensive infiltration of inflammatory cells in lung and decrease airway hyperreactivity. Andrographolide could inhibit NF-kappaB expression in lung and suppress NF-kappaB expressed in the nucleus of airway epithelial cells.

PMID: 19887051 [PubMed - in process]

Cell apoptosis induced by delta-elemene in colorectal adenocarcinoma cells via a mitochondrial-mediated pathway.

Yakugaku Zasshi. 2009 Nov;129(11):1403-13

Authors: Xie CY, Yang W, Li M, Ying J, Tao SJ, Li K, Dong JH, Wang XS

The chemical compound delta-elemene, isolated from the Chinese herbal medicine plant Curcuma Wenyujin, has been known to exert antitumor activity. In this study we demonstrated that apoptotic cell death induced by delta-elemene in DLD-1 cells was concentration-and time-dependent, and had little inhibition of the normal human liver cell line WRL-68. Apoptosis was further confirmed and quantified by DNA fragmentation ELISA, Annexin V (AnV) binding of externalized phosphatidylserine and the mitochondrial probe JC-1 using flow cytometry. The rapid increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels was involved in the mechanism of cell death. Western blot analysis demonstrated that delta-elemene activated the caspase-signaling pathway, leading to the proteolysis conversion of pro-caspase-3 to activate caspase-3, and the subsequent cleavage of the caspase substrate PARP. In the process of the induction of apoptotic cell death, Bax translocated into mitochondria, a reduction in Deltapsim was observed and a release of cytochrome c and apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) from mitochondria into the cytosol occurred, indicating that cell death induced by delta-elemene was through a mitochondrial-mediated pathway.

PMID: 19881213 [PubMed - in process]

Chinese herbal medicine modified xiaoyao san for functional dyspepsia: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2009 Aug;24(8):1320-5

Authors: Qin F, Huang X, Ren P

BACKGROUND: To critically assess the evidence of modified xiaoyao san (MXS) for treating functional dyspepsia (FD). METHODS: Systematic literature searches were carried out on the Medline database, CNKI database, Wanfang Data, VIP Information and the Cochrane Library. Reference lists located were checked for further relevant publications. Experts in the field and manufacturers of identified products were contacted for unpublished material. Studies were selected according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. All randomized clinical trials of MXS for treating FD were included. Study selection, data extraction and validation were carried out by at least two reviewers with disagreements being settled by discussion. Weighted means and 95% confidence intervals were calculated and sensitivity analyses were carried out. RESULTS: Thirty-three potentially relevant articles were retrieved for further evaluation. Fourteen were suitable for inclusion in the meta-analysis. There was evidence that MXS compared with prokinetic drugs reduced symptoms (odds ratio 3.26, 95% CI 2.24 to 4. 47). There was evidence that MXS + prokinetic drugs compared with prokinetic drugs reduced symptoms (odds ratio 4.32, 95% CI 2.64 to 7.08). CONCLUSION: MXS appears to be more effective compared to prokinetic drugs in the treatment of FD and no serious side-effects were identified. However, the evidence remains weak due to publication bias and methodological flaws, which may amplify the therapeutic benefit of MXS.

PMID: 19702899 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Differences in thinking model of treatment based syndrome differentiation between acu-moxibustion and internal medicine of TCM]

Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2009 Oct;29(10):841-3

Authors: Cai YY, Liu BY, Liu ZS

The founding of clinical syndrome differentiation treatment system for acu-moxibustion is an important issue for the development of clinical acupuncture practices, and it has attracted extensive attention in the domestic and overseas circles in acu-moxibustion field. At present, the syndrome differentiation treatment system of internal medicine of TCM is literally carried out in clinical acu-moxibustion practices, syndrome differentiation according to zang-fu is used instead of syndrome differentiation according to meridian, hence, it is difficult to reflect the features and advantages of acupuncture and moxibustion. Although the goals of acu-moxibustion and Chinese herbal medicine treatments are consistent, but the methods and approaches of the treatment are different. Therefore, the syndrome differentiation treatment system are not in concordance. Acu-moxibustion has gradually established unique thinking model of treatment based syndrome differentiation including principle, methods, prescription, points and technique which are different from principle, methods, prescription and drugs of internal medicine of TCM.

PMID: 19873923 [PubMed - in process]

[Interaction between four herb compounds and a western drug by CYP3A4 enzyme metabolism in vitro]

Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2009 Jul;34(13):1705-11

Authors: Shen G, Liang A, Zhao Y, Cao C, Liu T, Li C, Nilsen OG

OBJECTIVE: To explore the interaction between herbal medicines and western drugs based on CYP3A4 enzyme metabolism by using testotesrone as a probe in liver microsome metabolism system in vitro. METHOD: The mixed liver microsome enzymatic system consisting of rat liver microsomes by ultra-high-speed centrifuge was established. The substrate testosterone was added into the system and enzyme CYP3A4 metabolic activity was expressed by the output of 6beta-hydroxy-testosterone which was measured by HPLC method. The proper conditions for testotesrone metabolism in liver microsome system included substrate concentration, incubation time, pH and incubation temperature. When the conditions in vitro were determined, three kinds of Chinese herbal medicinal ingredients (Tetrahydropalmatine, neferine, panax notoginseng saponins) were diluted into different concentrations and incubated with testotesrone in the liver microsomes incubation system, respectively. The results were measured through metabolite production with or without the presence of Chinese medicines. We assessed the Chinese herbal medicinal ingredients effect on the metabolism of CYP3A4 enzyme through 6beta-hydroxy metabolite of testosterone production. RESULT: Liver microsomes were incubated in the system, the testosterone metabolited into 6beta-hydroxy testosterone. The metabolism conditions were proper at the concentration of testosterone 200 micromol x L(-1) which was incubated for 3.5 hours at 37 degrees C in pH 7.0, PBS 0.1 mol x L(-1). The inhibition of tetrahydropalmatine and panax notoginseng saponins on testotesrone were weak with IC50 > 100 micromol x L(-1). The neferine had a little inhibition on testotesrone metabolism, IC50 < 100 micromol L(-1). CONCLUSION: Tetrahydropalmatine and panax notoginseng saponins had no obvious effect on testotesrone metabolism. Neferine had a little effect on testotesrone metabolism. It prompted that drug-interaction could not be apparent between two kinds of Chinese medicines and the CYP3A4 enzyme substrate, Neferine could bring about drug-interaction.

PMID: 19873787 [PubMed - in process]

Proteomic Analysis of Anti-inflammatory Effects of a Kampo (Japanese Herbal) Medicine 'Shoseiryuto (Xiao-Qing-Long-Tang)' on Airway Inflammation in a Mouse Model.

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2009 Oct 27;

Authors: Nagai T, Nakao M, Shimizu Y, Kodera Y, Oh-Ishi M, Maeda T, Yamada H

Effects of a Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicine 'shoseiryuto (SST, xiao-qing-long-tang in Chinese)', which has been used for the treatment of allergic bronchial asthma clinically, were examined on ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized allergic airway inflammation model (i.e. bronchial asthma) in a mouse. When SST was orally administered at 0.5 g kg(-1) day(-1) from day 1 to 6 after OVA inhalation, SST reduced the inflammation in lung tissue, the number of eosinophils and the OVA-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody titer in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids at 7 days after the OVA inhalation. SST also reduced the airway hyperreactivity at 6 days after the OVA inhalation. Proteomic analysis with the agarose two-dimensional electrophoresis showed that the expression of spectrin alpha2 was reduced in the lung tissue of OVA-sensitized mice and SST recovered the expression. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses of lung tissue also confirmed this result. When prednisolone was orally administered at 3 mg kg(-1) day(-1) from day 1 to 6 after OVA inhalation, the inflammation in lung tissue, the number of eosinophils in BAL fluids and airway hyperreactivity were reduced in the OVA-sensitized mice. However, prednisolone did not reduce the OVA-specific IgE antibody titer in BAL fluids and did not recover the expression of spectrin alpha2 in lung tissue. These results suggest that at least a part of action mechanism of SST against OVA-sensitized allergic airway inflammation in a mouse model is different from that of prednisolone.

PMID: 19861507 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Intracellular glutathione regulates Andrographolide-induced cytotoxicity on hepatoma Hep3B cells.

Redox Rep. 2009;14(4):176-84

Authors: Ji L, Shen K, Liu J, Chen Y, Liu T, Wang Z

Andrographolide (ANDRO), a diterpenoid lactone isolated from the traditional herbal plant Andrographis paniculata, was reported to induce apoptosis in hepatoma Hep3B cells in our previous study (Ji LL, Liu TY, Liu J, Chen Y, Wang ZT. Andrographolide inhibits human hepatoma-derived Hep3B cells growth through the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase. Planta Med 2007; 73: 1397-1401). The present investigation was carried out to observe whether cellular reduced glutathione (GSH) plays important roles in ANDRO-induced apoptosis. ANDRO initially increased intracellular GSH levels which then decreased later, while inhibition of cellular GSH synthesis by L-Buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine (BSO) augmented ANDRO-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in Hep3B cells. On the other hand, the thiol antioxidant dithiothreitol (DTT) rescued ANDRO-depleted cellular GSH, and abrogated ANDRO-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis. Furthermore, BSO pretreatment augmented ANDRO-decreased expression of antioxidant protein thioredoxin 1 (Trx1), while DTT reversed this decrease. Further results showed that ANDRO increased the activity of the GSH-related antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Taken together, this study demonstrates that the intracellular redox system plays important roles in regulating the cytotoxicity of ANDRO on hepatoma Hep3B cells.

PMID: 19695125 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

A randomized placebo-controlled trial on the effectiveness of an herbal formula to alleviate menopausal vasomotor symptoms.

Menopause. 2009 Mar-Apr;16(2):336-44

Authors: van der Sluijs CP, Bensoussan A, Chang S, Baber R

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a formula containing Chinese herbs and Cimicifuga racemosa in alleviating vasomotor symptoms and improving quality of life. METHODS: Between September 2004 and October 2005, 93 healthy women aged 45 to 65 years who reported six or more vasomotor symptoms per 24 hours were recruited into a 20-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Women were consulted in clinics conducted within the Sydney metropolitan area. After a 4-week baseline period, women were randomly allocated to receive herbal (equivalent to 3,150 mg dry herb) or identical placebo tablets for 16 weeks. Women recorded the number and severity (1 = mild to 4 = very severe) of vasomotor symptoms in a daily hot flash diary and completed the Greene Climacteric and Hot Flash Related Daily Interference scales at each monthly consultation. RESULTS: Intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses found no statistically significant differences in mean hot flash scores (product of frequency and intensity), Greene Climacteric Scale scores, and Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale scores between the placebo and herbal treatment groups after 16 weeks of intervention. CONCLUSIONS: This herbal formula containing Chinese herbs and Cimicifuga cannot be recommended to alleviate menopausal vasomotor symptoms or improve quality of life.

PMID: 19057416 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]