Holistic quality evaluation of Qingwen Baidu Decoction and its anti-inflammatory effects

Ethyl Lithospermate Reduces Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation through Inhibiting NF-κB and STAT3 Pathways in RAW 264.7 Cells and Zebrafish

OBJECTIVE

To explore the anti-inflammatory effects of ethyl lithospermate in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine-derived macrophages and zebrafish, and its underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide (MTT) assays were performed to investigate the toxicity of ethyl lithospermate at different concentrations (12.5-100 µ mol/L) in RAW 264.7 cells. The cells were stimulated with LPS (100 ng/mL) for 12 h to establish an inflammation model in vitro, the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were assessed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blot was used to ascertain the protein expressions of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65, phospho-STAT3 (p-STAT3, Tyr705), inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB) α, and phospho-I κB α (p-IκB α, Ser32), and confocal imaging was used to identify the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 and p-STAT3 (Tyr705). Additionally, the yolk sacs of zebrafish (3 days post fertilization) were injected with 2 nL LPS (0.5 mg/mL) to induce an inflammation model in vivo. Survival analysis, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, observation of neutrophil migration, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were used to further study the anti-inflammatory effects of ethyl lithospermate and its probable mechanisms in vivo.

RESULTS

The non-toxic concentrations of ethyl lithospermate have been found to range from 12.5 to 100 µ mol/L. Ethyl lithospermate inhibited the release of IL-6 and TNF-α(P<0.05 or P<0.01), decreased IκBα degradation and phosphorylation (P<0.05) as well as the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 and p-STAT3 (Tyr705) in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells (P<0.01). Ethyl lithospermate also decreased inflammatory cells infiltration and neutrophil migration while increasing the survival rate of LPS-stimulated zebrafish (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In addition, ethyl lithospermate also inhibited the mRNA expression levels of of IL-6, TNF-α, IκBα, STAT3, and NF-κB in LPS-stimulated zebrafish (P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Ethyl lithospermate exerts anti-Inflammatory effected by inhibiting the NF-κB and STAT3 signal pathways in RAW 264.7 macrophages and zebrafish.

Data-mining-based of ancient traditional Chinese medicine records from 475 BC to 1949 to potentially treat COVID-19

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) plays a role in preventing and treating COVID-19 in China. Based on the manifestations and symptoms of COVID-19, our study used the data mining method to summarize related therapeutic experience left by predecessors who used TCM to treat epidemics in their eras. Initially, we collected abundant medical records with similar manifestations of COVID-19 in Chinese ancient times. The key words including wen (), yi (), li (), and zhang () were searched in ZhongyiZhiku (https://www.zk120.com/) from Warring States Period (475 BC-221 BC) to the Republic of China era (1912-1949) to locate ancient medical records according to inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria. Moreover, COVID-19-related manifestations and corresponding medications in those records were categorized. Eventually, Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Support System version 2.5 was used to build a medical record database of TCM treating COVID-19. Our study collected 263 epidemic medical records comprising COVID-19 related manifestations and found that Chinese Materia Medica (CMM) combinations excavated from ancient medical records included Ren Shen Bai Du San, Wu Ling San, Xiao Chai Hu Tang, Da Cheng Qi Tang, Da Chai Hu Tang, Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang, and Qing Wen Bai Du Yin. The recurrent CMMs with a high frequency for treating COVID-19 manifestations were Scutellariae Radix (Huang Qin), Paeoniae Alba Radix (Bai Shao), Poria (Fu Ling), and Bupleuri Radix (Chai Hu). Our study suggests that TCM might offer new therapeutic strategies for COVID-19.

Withdrawn: A data-mining based analysis of traditional Chinese medicine in diagnosing and treating COVID-19

Yongshen Fan, Ting Zhao, Yaxue Han, Zi Yang, Shan Fang, Mengqing Zhang, Zhijun Xie, A data-mining based analysis of traditional Chinese medicine in diagnosing and treating COVID-19, The Anatomical Record: Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology 2021, (https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.24677). The above article, published online on 24 June 2021 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been withdrawn by agreement between the journal Editor-in-Chief, Heather F. Smith, Ph.D., the American Association for Anatomy, and Wiley Periodicals LLC. The authors have been notified of the decision to withdraw the article. The decision is based on concerns raised by a third party. The Editor-in-Chief considers the conclusions of the paper compromised and has initiated an investigation.

Traditional Chinese Medicine: A promising strategy to regulate inflammation, intestinal disorders and impaired immune function due to sepsis

Sepsis is described as a dysregulation of the immune response to infection, which leads to life-threatening organ dysfunction. The interaction between intestinal microbiota and sepsis can’t be ignored. Furthermore, the intestinal microbiota may regulate the progress of sepsis and attenuate organ damage. Thus, maintaining or restoring microbiota may be a new way to treat sepsis. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) assumes a significant part in the treatment of sepsis through multi-component, multi-pathway, and multi-targeting abilities. Moreover, TCM can prevent the progress of sepsis and improve the prognosis of patients with sepsis by improving the imbalance of intestinal microbiota, improving immunity and reducing the damage to the intestinal barrier. This paper expounds the interaction between intestinal microbiota and sepsis, then reviews the current research on the treatment of sepsis with TCM, to provide a theoretical basis for its clinical application.

Research Progress in Chinese Herbal Medicines for Treatment of Sepsis: Pharmacological Action, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacokinetics

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection; the pathophysiology of sepsis is complex. The incidence of sepsis is steadily increasing, with worldwide mortality ranging between 30% and 50%. Current treatment approaches mainly rely on the timely and appropriate administration of antimicrobials and supportive therapies, but the search for pharmacotherapies modulating the host response has been unsuccessful. Chinese herbal medicines, i.e., Chinese patent medicines, Chinese herbal prescriptions, and single Chinese herbs, play an important role in the treatment of sepsis through multicomponent, multipathway, and multitargeting abilities and have been officially recommended for the management of COVID-19. Chinese herbal medicines have therapeutic actions promising for the treatment of sepsis; basic scientific research on these medicines is increasing. However, the material bases of most Chinese herbal medicines and their underlying mechanisms of action have not yet been fully elucidated. This review summarizes the current studies of Chinese herbal medicines used for the treatment of sepsis in terms of clinical efficacy and safety, pharmacological activity, phytochemistry, bioactive constituents, mechanisms of action, and pharmacokinetics, to provide an important foundation for clarifying the pathogenesis of sepsis and developing novel antisepsis drugs based on Chinese herbal medicines.

Anti-inflammatory activities of amber extract in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages

Amber is a type of fossil tree resin with several bioactive properties and has been traced in traditional medicines used in Russia and China. However, its anti-inflammatory activities are poorly characterized. Here, the anti-inflammatory effects of the extract of amber mined from Kaliningrad, Russia was investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. The effect of the amber extract on cell viability was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. Further, its effects on the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), NO, and inflammatory cytokines were assessed by 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate staining, Griess test, and cytokine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. Western blotting and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis were performed to assess the mRNA and protein expression levels of the inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) interleukin-6 (IL-6), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The translocation of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 subunit was observed by immunofluorescent staining. Amber extract negatively regulated the LPS-induced differentiation of RAW 264.7 cells to dendritic-like cells and reduced the LPS-induced increase in ROS and NO levels. It also reduced the level of mRNA and protein expressions of TNF-α, IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages, in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, amber extract suppressed the nuclear translocation of the NF-κB p65 subunit. These findings suggest that the potent anti-inflammatory effect of the amber extract is mediated by the inhibition of the NF-κB p65 signaling pathway. Collectively, this study renders amber extract as a potential pharmacological alternative to treat inflammation-related diseases.

Optimal combination of anti-inflammatory components from Chinese medicinal formula Liang-Ge-San

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Liang-Ge-San (LGS), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, is usually used in acute inflammatory diseases in China.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to detect the optimal combination of anti-inflammatory components from LGS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four mainly representative components (phillyrin, emodin, baicalin, and liquiritin) from LGS were chosen. The optimal combination was investigated by orthogonal design study. Zebrafish inflammation model was established by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-yolk microinjection, and then the anti-inflammatory activities of different combinations were determined by survival analysis, changes on inflammatory cells infiltration, the MyD88/NF-κB and MAPK pathways and inflammatory cytokines production.

RESULTS

The different combinations of bioactive ingredients from LGS significantly protected zebrafish from LPS-induced inflammation, as evidenced by decreased recruitment of macrophages and neutrophils, inhibition of the MyD88/NF-κB and MAPK pathways and down-regulation of TNF-α and IL-6. Among them, the combination group 8 most significantly protected against LPS. The combination of group 8 is: 0.1 μM of emodin, 2 μM of baicalin, 20 μM of phillyrin and 12.5 μM of liquiritin.

CONCLUSION

The optimized combination group 8 exerts the most significant anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the recruitment of inflammatory cells, activation of the MyD88/NF-κB and MAPK pathways and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This present study provides pharmacological evidences for the further development of new modern Chinese drug from LGS to treat acute inflammatory diseases, but indicated the use of zebrafish in the screening of components from formulas.

Sheng-Mai Yin exerts anti-inflammatory effects on RAW 264.7 cells and zebrafish

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Sheng-Mai Yin (SMY), a famous traditional Chinese medicine formula, has been commonly used in China for centuries to treat various diseases, such as inflammation-related diseases. However, the anti-inflammatory activity of SMY and its potential mechanisms still have not yet been clearly understood.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this study, we aimed to determine the anti-inflammatory effect of SMY and explore its underlying mechanisms both on RAW 264.7 cells and zebrafish.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α secreted by RAW 264.7 cells were measured by ELISA. The protein expressions of IκBα, p-IκBα (Ser32), STAT3 and p-STAT3 (Tyr705) were determined by Western blotting. And the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells was detected by confocal microscopy. Moreover, the in vivo anti-inflammatory effect of SMY and its potential mechanisms were further investigated by survival analysis, hematoxylin-eosin staining (H&E), observation of neutrophil migration and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis in zebrafish inflammatory models.

RESULTS

SMY reduced the release of IL-6 and TNF-α, inhibited the phosphorylation of IκBα and STAT3 as well as the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, the increased survival, decreased infiltration of inflammatory cells and the attenuated migration of neutrophils together suggested the in vivo anti-inflammatory effects of SMY. More importantly, SMY reduced the gene expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and suppressed LPS-induced up-regulation of NF-κB, IκBα and STAT3 in zebrafish inflammatory models.

CONCLUSION

SMY exerts significant anti-inflammatory effects with a potential mechanism of inhibiting the NF-κB and STAT3 signal pathways. Our findings suggest a scientific rationale of SMY to treat inflammatory diseases in clinic.