Recuperative herbal formula Jing Si maintains vasculature permeability balance, regulates inflammation and assuages concomitants of "Long-Covid"

Efficacy of jing Si herbal tea in functional dyspepsia: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study

BACKGROUND

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is prevalent worldwide and is associated with gastrointestinal inflammation, mucosal anomalies, and shifts in microbiota metabolites like short chain fatty acids. This study assesses the efficacy of Jing Si herbal tea (JSHT) in alleviating FD symptoms, psychological distress, and influencing metabolites.

METHODS

Adults with FD based on Rome IV criteria were included. Participants underwent physical and psychological evaluations, pre-treatment blood sampling, and were randomly assigned to JSHT or placebo groups for four weeks. Post-treatment, evaluations and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry for gut metabolites were done. Successful response was defined by a 50% symptom reduction. Symptom intensity, sleep, depression, anxiety, and stress were measured using questionnaires.

RESULTS

26 patients (median age 55.5 years, range 22-77 years, 60.6% female) were studied. Both JSHT and placebo groups were similar at baseline. JSHT showed a higher response rate (69.2%) than placebo (23.1%, P = 0.018). JSHT recipients experienced notable reduction in upper gastrointestinal symptoms and anxiety (P = 0.005; P = 0.037). Increased serum butyrate was observed in improved patients (P = 0.01), whereas no major changes were detected in the placebo group.

CONCLUSION

Four weeks of JSHT treatment ameliorated FD symptoms and anxiety, potentially linked to increased serum butyrate. This study suggests that JSHT has potential therapeutic role in patients with FD.

Jing-Si Herbal Tea Suppresses H2O2-Instigated Inflammation and Apoptosis by Inhibiting Bax and Mitochondrial Cytochrome C Release in HIG-82 Synoviocytes

Inflammation is an intrinsic protective mechanism against various forms of cellular injuries in humans; however, its undesired activation results in tissue damage and cell death. The onset of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress are the key characteristics of autoimmune inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), for which an effective treatment is yet to be developed. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the protective effects and molecular mechanisms of a novel herbal preparation, Jing-Si herbal tea (JS), against H2O2-induced inflammation and cellular damage in HIG-82 synoviocytes. We found that JS did not show any significant alterations in cell viability at <188 μg/mL; however, a cytotoxic effect was observed at 188-1883 μg/mL concentrations tested. We found that expressions of inflammation associated extracellular matrix (ECM)-degrading proteases MMP-13, ADAMTS-2, -8, and -17 were abnormally enhanced under H2O2-induced pathological oxidative stress (ROS) in HIG-82 cells. Interestingly, JS treatment not only reduced the ROS levels but also significantly repressed the protein expressions of collagen degrading proteases in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with JS showed enhanced cell viability against H2O2-induced toxic ROS levels. The expressions of cell protective aggrecan, Collagen II, and Bcl-2 were increased, whereas MMP-13, ADAMTS-2, Cytochrome C, and cleaved Caspase 3 were decreased by JS under inflammatory agents H2O2, MIA, LPS, and TNF-α treatment, respectively, in HIG-82 cells. Interestingly, the cytoprotective effect of JS treatment was attributed to a decreased mitochondrial localization of Bax and a reduction of Cytochrome C release into the cytoplasm of H2O2-treated HIG-82 cells. Collectively, our results suggest a novel protective mechanism of JS for RA treatment, which could be potentially applied as a complementary treatment or as an alternative therapeutic approach to mitigate inflammatory diseases.

Targeting Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Gouty Arthritis: Insights into Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Potential

Gouty arthritis (GA) is an immune-mediated disorder characterized by severe inflammation due to the deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in the joints. The pathophysiological mechanisms of GA are not yet fully understood, and therefore, the identification of effective therapeutic targets is of paramount importance. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), an intricate structure of DNA scaffold, encompassing myeloperoxidase, histones, and elastases - have gained significant attention as a prospective therapeutic target for gouty arthritis, due to their innate antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties. Hence, exploring the therapeutic potential of NETs in gouty arthritis remains an enticing avenue for further investigation. During the process of gouty arthritis, the formation of NETs triggers the release of inflammatory cytokines, thereby contributing to the inflammatory response, while MSU crystals and cytokines are sequestered and degraded by the aggregation of NETs. Here, we provide a concise summary of the inflammatory processes underlying the initiation and resolution of gouty arthritis mediated by NETs. Furthermore, this review presents an overview of the current pharmacological approaches for treating gouty arthritis and summarizes the potential of natural and synthetic product-based inhibitors that target NET formation as novel therapeutic options, alongside elucidating the intrinsic challenges of these inhibitors in NETs research. Lastly, the limitations of HL-60 cell as a suitable substitute of neutrophils in NETs research are summarized and discussed. Series of recommendations are provided, strategically oriented towards guiding future investigations to effectively address these concerns. These findings will contribute to an enhanced comprehension of the interplay between NETs and GA, facilitating the proposition of innovative therapeutic strategies and novel approaches for the management of GA.

A prospective review of the health-promoting potential of Jing Si Herbal Tea

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has gained considerable attention over the past few years for its multicomponent, multitarget, and multi-pathway approach to treating different diseases. Studies have shown that TCMs as adjuvant therapy along with conventional treatment may benefit in safely treating various disorders. However, investigations on finding effective herbal combinations are ongoing. A novel TCM formula, "Jing Si Herbal Tea (JSHT)," has been reported recently for their health-promoting effects in improving overall body and mental health. JSHT is a combination of eight herbs recognized in Chinese herbal pharmacopoeia for their anti-viral, anti-aging, and anti-cancer properties as well as protective effects against cardiovascular, metabolic, neural, digestive, and genitourinary diseases. Thus, to better understand the beneficial effects of the ingredients of JSHT on health, this review intends to summarize the preclinical and clinical studies of the ingredients of JSHT on human health and diseases, and possible therapeutic effects with the related mode of actions and future prospects for their application in complementary therapies.