Immunomodulatory effects of a traditional Chinese medicine, Chi-Shie-Shuang-Bu-An-Shen-Tang, on BALB/c mice

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of the hot water-soluble polysaccharides from Anacyclus pyrethrum (L.) Lag. roots

ETHNOPHAMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: the roots of Anacyclus pyrethrum (L.) Lag. (Family: Asteraceae) are used in Algeria to treat respiratory infections, to cure chronic head and nostrils catarrh, and to clear the brain by stimulating the free flow of nasal mucous. They contain a high quantity of hot water-soluble polysaccharides.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

The study aims to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of polysaccharides extracted from Anacyclus pyrethrum roots (APPS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The APPS were extracted using boiling water, separated from proteins by the Sevag method then precipitated with 90% ethanol. The antioxidant effect of crude APPS was evaluated using FRAP assay. To investigate the anti-inflammatory potential, mice were treated with crude polysaccharides (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, i.p.) for 3 days (14th, 15th, and 16th day of the experimentation). Respiratory inflammation was induced by HDM (House Dust Mite), mice were sensitized intranasally with 25 μg HDM suspended in 10 μl NaCl (5 μl/nostril) on days 0 and 7 then challenged with 5 μg HDM on days 14, 15, and 16. Mice were sacrificed 24 h after the last challenge. The number of immune cells in the blood in NL (Nasal Liquid) and in BAL (Broncho Alveolar Liquid) was enumerated, the spleen was removed to calculate the relative spleen weight and to count splénocytes, lungs histopathological examination was carried out to confirm the protective effect of APPS. Structural characterization of APPS was identified using FTIR (Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) and SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy).

RESULTS

The crude APPS possessed reducing power. In vivo assay, treatment with APPS causes a decrease in the number of blood leucocytes at all doses on the one hand, and in the relative spleen weight and splénocytes number on the other hand except at the dose of 50 mg/kg in which an enhancement of the number of splénocytes and immune cells in NL and BAL was significant. The histopathological examination showed clear protection of lung tissue damaged by HDM, after treatment with APPS mainly, at the dose of 50 mg/kg.

CONCLUSION

Our data clearly showed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of APPS on HDM-challenged mice induced lungs inflammation by equilibrating the inflammatory reaction mostly, with an optimal dose of 50 mg/kg.

Calcio-herbal formulation, Divya-Swasari-Ras, alleviates chronic inflammation and suppresses airway remodelling in mouse model of allergic asthma by modulating pro-inflammatory cytokine response

Asthma is a chronic allergic respiratory disease with limited therapeutic options. Here we validated the potential anti-inflammatory, anti-asthmatic and immunomodulatory therapeutic properties of calcio-herbal ayurvedic formulation, Divya-Swasari-Ras (DSR) in-vivo, using mouse model of ovalbumin (OVA) induced allergic asthma. HPLC analysis identified the presence of various bioactive indicating molecules and ICP-OES recognized the presence of Ca mineral in the DSR formulation. Here we show that DSR treatment significantly reduced cardinal features of allergic asthma including inflammatory cell accumulation, specifically lymphocytes and eosinophils in the Broncho-Alveolar Lavage (BAL) fluids, airway inflammation, airway remodelling, and pro-inflammatory molecules expression. Conversely, number of macrophages recoverable by BAL were increased upon DSR treatment. Histology analysis of mice lungs revealed that DSR attenuates inflammatory cell infiltration in lungs and thickening of bronchial epithelium. PAS staining confirmed the decrease in OVA-induced mucus secretion at the mucosal epithelium; and trichrome staining confirmed the decrease in peribronchial collagen deposition upon DSR treatment. DSR reduced the OVA-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α) levels in BALF and whole lung steady state mRNA levels (IL-4, -5, -33, IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-1β). Biochemical assays for markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant defence mechanism confirmed that DSR increases the activity of SOD, Catalase, GPx, GSH, GSH/GSSG ratio and decreases the levels of MDA activity, GSSG, EPO and Nitrite levels in whole lungs. Collectively, present study suggests that, DSR effectively protects against allergic airway inflammation and possess potential therapeutic option for allergic asthma management.

Anti-inflammatory, Antinociceptive, and Antioxidant Activities of Methanol and Aqueous Extracts of Anacyclus pyrethrum Roots

Anacyclus pyrethrum (L.) is a plant widely used in Moroccan traditional medicine to treat inflammatory and painful diseases. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of aqueous and methanol extracts of Anacyclus pyrethrum roots (AEAPR and MEAPR). The anti-inflammatory effect of AEAPR and MEAPR was determined in xylene–induced ear edema and Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA)-induced paw edema. The antinociceptive activity of AEAPR and MEAPR (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg) administered by gavage was examined in mice by using acetic acid-induced writhing, hot plate, and formalin tests, and the mechanical allodynia were assessed in CFA-induced paw edema. In addition, the in vitro antioxidant activities of the extracts were determined by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method, ferric reducing power and β-carotene-linoleic acid assay systems. AEAPR and MEAPR produced significant reductions in CFA-induced paw edema and xylene-induced ear edema. A single oral administration of these extracts at 250 and 500 mg/kg significantly reduced mechanical hypersensitivity induced by CFA, which had begun 1 h 30 after the treatment, and was maintained till 7 h. Chronic treatment with both extracts significantly reduced mechanical hypersensitivity in persistent pain conditions induced by CFA. Acute pretreatment with AEAPR or MEAPR at high dose caused a significant decrease in the number of abdominal writhes induced by acetic acid injection (52.2 and 56.7%, respectively), a marked increase of the paw withdrawal latency in the hot plate test, and also a significant inhibition of both phases of the formalin test. This antinociceptive effect was partially reversed by naloxone pretreatment in the hot plate and formalin tests. Additionally, a significant scavenging activity in DPPH, reducing power and protection capacity of β-carotene was observed in testing antioxidant assays. The present study suggests that AEAPR and MEAPR possess potent anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antioxidant effects which could be related to the presence of alkaloids and phenols in the plant. In addition, the antinociceptive effect of APR extracts seems to partly involve the opioid system. Taken together, these results suggest that Anacylcus pyrethrum may indeed be useful in the treatment of pain and inflammatory disorders in humans.

Effects of active bufadienolide compounds on human cancer cells and CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in mitogen-activated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

The growth inhibitory effects of bufadienolide compounds were investigated in two intractable cancer cells, a human glioblastoma cell line U-87 and a pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990. Among four bufadienolide compounds, a dose-dependent cytotoxicity was observed in these cancer cells after treatment with gamabufotalin and arenobufagin. The IC50 values of the two compounds were 3-5 times higher in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) than these values for both cancer cell lines. However, similar phenomena were not observed for two other bufadienolide compounds, telocinobufagin and bufalin. These results thus suggest that gamabufotalin and arenobufagin possess selective cytotoxic activity against tumor cells rather than normal cells. Moreover, a clear dose-dependent lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, a well-known hallmark of necrosis, was observed in both cancer cells treated with gamabufotalin, suggesting that gamabufotalin-mediated cell death is predominantly associated with a necrosis-like phenotype. Of most importance, treatment with as little as 8 ng/ml of gamabufotalin, even an almost non-toxic concentration to PBMCs, efficiently downregulated the percentages of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulator T (Treg) cells in mitogen-activated PBMCs. Given that Treg cells play a critical role in tumor immunotolerance by suppressing antitumor immunity, these results suggest that gamabufotalin may serve as a promising candidate, as an adjuvant therapeutic agent by manipulating Treg cells to enhance the efficacy of conventional anticancer drugs and lessen their side-effects. These findings provide insights into the clinical application of gamabufotalin for cancer patients with glioblastoma/pancreatic cancer based on its cytocidal effect against tumor cells as well as its depletion of Treg cells.

Boron Induces Lymphocyte Proliferation and Modulates the Priming Effects of Lipopolysaccharide on Macrophages

Chemical mediators of inflammation (CMI) are important in host defense against infection. The reduced capacity of host to induce the secretion of these mediators following infection is one of the factors in host susceptibility to infection. Boron, which has been suggested for its role in infection, is reported in this study to increase lymphocyte proliferation and the secretion of CMI by the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated peritoneal macrophages in BALB/c mice. Boron was administered to mice orally as borax at different doses for 10 consecutive days, followed by the stimulation of animals with ovalbumin and isolation of splenocytes for proliferation assay. The lymphocyte subsets were determined by flow cytometry in spleen cell suspension. The mediators of inflammation, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and nitric oxide (NO), were measured in culture supernatant of LPS-primed macrophages isolated from borax treated mice. TNF and ILs were measured by ELISA. NO was determined by Griess test. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in macrophages was studied by confocal microscopy. Results showed a significant increase in T and B cell populations, as indicated by an increase in CD4 and CD19, but not CD8, cells. Boron further stimulated the secretion of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, NO and the expression of iNOS by the LPS-primed macrophages. The effect was dose dependent and most significant at a dose level of 4.6 mg/kg b. wt. Taken together, the study concludes that boron at physiological concentration induces lymphocyte proliferation and increases the synthesis and secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators by the LPS-primed macrophages, more specifically the M1 macrophages, possibly acting through Toll-like receptor. The study implicates boron as a regulator of the immune and inflammatory reactions and macrophage polarization, thus playing an important role in augmenting host defense against infection, with possible role in cancer and other diseases.

Antitumor activity of extracts and compounds from the skin of the toad Bufo bufo gargarizans Cantor

The skin of the toad Bufo bufo gargarizans Cantor is known to be rich in bufadienolides, peptides and alkaloids. It has been found to be a source of some extracts and biologically active compounds with antitumor activity. Cinobufacini (Huachansu), a Chinese medicine prepared from the dried toad skin, has been widely used in clinical therapy for various cancers in China. Bufadienolides, such as bufalin, cinobufagin, resibufogenin, and telocinobufagin, are the major active compounds derived from the toad skin. They are the maker biologically active compounds of cinobufagin while the antitumor activity of cinobufagin may be due to this kind of components. Experimental research has suggested that cinobufacini and its active compounds (e.g. bufalin and cinobufagin) exhibit significant antitumor activity, including inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of cell differentiation, induction of apoptosis, disruption of the cell cycle, inhibition of cancer angiogenesis, reversal of multi-drug resistance, and regulation of the immune response. Clinical data have indicated that cinobufacini may have effective anticancer activity with low toxicity and few side effects. Data to date suggest it may also enhance quality of life for patients with cancer. Thus, this review briefly summarizes recent studies on the anticancer activity of cinobufacini and some of its active compounds from the skin of the toad Bufo bufo gargarizans Cantor. This might provide additional evidence for further study of the extracts and active compounds from the toad skin in cancer treatment.

The effects of telocinobufagin isolated from Chan Su on the activation and cytokine secretion of immunocytes in vitro

Many traditional Chinese medicines have been used as immunomodulators that act as either immunosuppressants or immunostimulators. Recently, our lab successfully isolated a monomer telocinobufagin (TCB) from the chloroform extract of Chan Su (Venenum Bufonis). In the present paper, we evaluated the immunomodulatory effects of this compound in vitro. We found that TCB significantly stimulates splenocyte proliferation when administered alone or in combination with polyclonal T-cell mitogens concanavalin A (Con A) and lipopolysaccharide. Telocinobufagin markedly enhances natural killer cell and peritoneal macrophage activation. Telocinobufagin increases the percentage of CD4, CD8 positive cells within a population of splenocytes. Moreover, we found that the level of several Th1 cytokines, including interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-12 (IL-12), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), are significantly increased after TCB treatment, while the level of the Th2 cytokine interleukin-4 (IL-4) is significantly decreased. As a result, the ratio of Th1/Th2 is significantly increased. Taken together, these results indicate that TCB has potential immune system regulatory effects and suggest that this compound could be developed as a novel immunotherapeutic agent to treat cancer and other immune-mediated diseases, and it may become a new immunomodulatory agent in many regions.