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Zhong T, Feng M, Su M, Wang D, Li Q, Jia S, Luo F, Wang H, Hu E, Yang X, Fan Y. Qihuzha granule attenuated LPS-induced acute spleen injury in mice via Src/MAPK/Stat3 signal pathway. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 281:114458. [PMID: 34352329 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Qihuzha granule (QHZG), is one of traditional Chinese patent medicines composed of eleven edible medicinal plant, which has been used in the clinic for the treatment of indigestion and anorexia in children caused by deficiency of the spleen and stomach. Yet it is noteworthy that QHZG has therapeutic effect on recurrent respiratory tract infection (RRTI) in children. However, its potential molecular mechanisms remained unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism of QHZG on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced acute spleen injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS The acute spleen injury model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of LPS (10 mg/kg) and safe doses of QHZG was administered by gavage once a day for 23 days before LPS treatment. Serum inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-1β, IFN-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were tested by ELISA. Related protein levels were detected by Western blotting. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was employed to observe the histological alterations. The distribution of macrophages and neutrophils in the mouse spleen was examined by immunofluorescence analysis. RESULTS QHZG pretreatment significantly abolished the increased secretion of cytokines such as interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-1β, IFN-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), which were attributable to LPS treatment. Immunofluorescence staining and Histological analysis of spleen tissue revealed the protective effect of QHZG against LPS-induced acute spleen injury in mice. Further study indicated that pretreatment with QHZG significantly inhibited LPS-induced phosphorylation of Src. Accordingly, the increased phosphorylation of Src downstream components (JNK, ERK, P38 and STAT3) induced by LPS was remarkably diminished by QHZG, suggesting the involvement of Src/MAPK/STAT3 pathway in the inhibitory effects of QHZG on spleen injury in mice. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrated that QHZG protected mice from LPS-induced acute spleen injury via inhibition of Src/MAPK/Stat3 signal pathway. These results suggested that QHZG might serve as a new drug for the treatment of LPS-stimulated spleen injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Zhong
- State Key Laboratory for Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550014, PR China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550014, PR China
| | - Min Feng
- Sunflower Pharmaceutical Group (Guizhou) Hongqi Co., Ltd, Liupanshui, 553400, PR China
| | - Minzhi Su
- State Key Laboratory for Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550014, PR China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550014, PR China
| | - Daoping Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550014, PR China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550014, PR China
| | - Qing Li
- State Key Laboratory for Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550014, PR China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550014, PR China
| | - Shuqin Jia
- Guiyang First People's Hospital, Guiyang, 550014, PR China
| | - Fang Luo
- State Key Laboratory for Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550014, PR China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550014, PR China
| | - Haibo Wang
- Sunflower Pharmaceutical Group (Guizhou) Hongqi Co., Ltd, Liupanshui, 553400, PR China
| | - Enming Hu
- State Key Laboratory for Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550014, PR China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550014, PR China
| | - Xiaosheng Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550014, PR China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550014, PR China.
| | - Yanhua Fan
- State Key Laboratory for Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550014, PR China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550014, PR China.
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A Pharmacokinetic Study of Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine after Oral Administration of Ojeok-San by Validated LC-MS/MS Method in Human Plasma. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26226991. [PMID: 34834083 PMCID: PMC8622238 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26226991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
A sensitive and reproducible liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) system was developed and fully validated for the simultaneous determination of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine in human plasma after oral administration of the herbal prescription Ojeok-san (OJS); 2-phenylethylamine was used as the internal standard (IS). Both compounds presented a linear calibration curve (r2 ≥ 0.99) over a concentration range of 0.2–50 ng/mL. The developed method was fully validated in terms of selectivity, lower limit of quantitation, precision, accuracy, recovery, matrix effect, and stability, according to the regulatory guidelines from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. This validated method was successfully applied for the pharmacokinetic assessment of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine in 20 healthy Korean volunteers administered OJS.
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