A standardized aqueous extract of Anoectochilus formosanus modulated airway hyperresponsiveness in an OVA-inhaled murine model

Drug Development from Natural Products Based on the Pathogenic Mechanism of Asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pulmonary system associated with many wheeze-to-sleep apnea complications that may lead to death. In 2019, approximately 262 million patients suffered from asthma, and 455 thousand died from the disease worldwide. It is a more severe health problem in children and older adults, and as the aging of society intensifies, the problem will continue to worsen. Asthma inducers can be classified as indoor and outdoor allergens and can cause asthma due to their repeated invasion. There are several theories about asthma occurrence, such as the imbalance between Th1 and Th2, inflammation in the pulmonary system, and the abnormal apoptosis/cell proliferation of cells related to asthma. Although there are many medications for asthma, as it is an incurable disease, the purpose of the drugs is only to suppress the symptoms. The current drugs can be divided into relievers and controllers; however, as they have many adverse effects, such as immune suppression, growth retardation, promotion of cataracts, hyperactivity, and convulsions, developing new asthma drugs is necessary. Although natural products can have adverse effects, the development of asthma drugs from natural products may be beneficial, as some have anti-asthmatic effects such as immune modulation, anti-inflammation, and/or apoptosis modulation.

Exploring potential pharmacological mechanisms of Yiqi Tuomin Decoction in the treatment of allergic rhinitis utilizing network pharmacology prediction and molecular docking-based strategies: experimental research

Yiqi Tuomin Decoction (YTD), which originated from the theory of lung deficiency and cold in Chinese medicine, is a common Chinese herbal formula used against allergic rhinitis (AR). In our otolaryngology department, this prescription has been used to treat so many AR patients with lung-deficiency-related colds for nearly 30 years. However, the mechanism of its ingredient-target is still unclear. Based on our early experiments and clinical case studies, in this paper, we explore the mechanism of YTD systematically against AR using bioinformatic methods of network pharmacology and molecular docking.

Methods

The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database was used to screen the active ingredients and targets of YTD. The AR-related targets were retrieved from OMIM, GeneCards, TTD, DisGeNET, DrugBank databases, and PharmGKB. The Venn database was used to screen the potential core targets. After that, the STRING database was used to construct the protein-protein interaction (PPI) of the core targets and then visualize it by Cytoscape. The Gene Ontology (GO)-enriched processes and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways of the core targets were analyzed by the KOBAS-I database and Sangerbox. Molecular docking was used to assess interactions between potential targets and active ingredients.

Results

A total of 169 active ingredients and 238 targets of YTD were predicted. YTD shared 115 common targets with AR from the Venn database. The GO-enriched processes and KEGG pathways indicate that genes involved in inflammation and oxidative stress, accompanying the MAPK signaling pathway, Th17 cell differentiation, IL-17 signaling pathway, and Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation, may play a mediated effect in YTD. The docking results showed good binding ability between the active ingredients and the selected targets.

Conclusions

Our study systematically indicated the underlying mechanism of YTD against AR from the perspective of bioinformatics. By studying the active ingredients of YTD, we obtained molecular mechanisms and established a reliable method and molecular theoretical basis for the sensible development of Chinese medicine in the treatment of AR.

Use of Natural Products in Asthma Treatment

Asthma, a disease classified as a chronic inflammatory disorder induced by airway inflammation, is triggered by a genetic predisposition or antigen sensitization. Drugs currently used as therapies present disadvantages such as high cost and side effects, which compromise the treatment compliance. Alternatively, traditional medicine has reported the use of natural products as alternative or complementary treatment. The aim of this review was to summarize the knowledge reported in the literature about the use of natural products for asthma treatment. The search strategy included scientific studies published between January 2006 and December 2017, using the keywords "asthma," "treatment," and "natural products." The inclusion criteria were as follows: (i) studies that aimed at elucidating the antiasthmatic activity of natural-based compounds or extracts using laboratory experiments (in vitro and/or in vivo); and (ii) studies that suggested the use of natural products in asthma treatment by elucidation of its chemical composition. Studies that (i) did not report experimental data and (ii) manuscripts in languages other than English were excluded. Based on the findings from the literature search, aspects related to asthma physiopathology, epidemiology, and conventional treatment were discussed. Then, several studies reporting the effectiveness of natural products in the asthma treatment were presented, highlighting plants as the main source. Moreover, natural products from animals and microorganisms were also discussed and their high potential in the antiasthmatic therapy was emphasized. This review highlighted the importance of natural products as an alternative and/or complementary treatment source for asthma treatment, since they present reduced side effects and comparable effectiveness as the drugs currently used on treatment protocols.

Advanced Molecular Knowledge of Therapeutic Drugs and Natural Products Focusing on Inflammatory Cytokines in Asthma

Asthma is a common respiratory disease worldwide. Cytokines play a crucial role in the immune system and the inflammatory response to asthma. Abnormal cytokine expression may lead to the development of asthma, which may contribute to pathologies of this disease. As cytokines exhibit pleiotropy and redundancy characteristics, we summarized them according to their biologic activity in asthma development. We classified cytokines in three stages as follows: Group 1 cytokines for the epithelial environment stage, Group 2 cytokines for the Th2 polarization stage, and Group 3 cytokines for the tissue damage stage. The recent cytokine-targeting therapy for clinical use (anti-cytokine antibody/anti-cytokine receptor antibody) and traditional medicinal herbs (pure compounds, single herb, or natural formula) have been discussed in this review. Studies of the Group 2 anti-cytokine/anti-cytokine receptor therapies are more prominent than the studies of the other two groups. Anti-cytokine antibodies/anti-cytokine receptor antibodies for clinical use can be applied for patients who did not respond to standard treatments. For traditional medicinal herbs, anti-asthmatic bioactive compounds derived from medicinal herbs can be divided into five classes: alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, polyphenols, and terpenoids. However, the exact pathways targeted by these natural compounds need to be clarified. Using relevant knowledge to develop more comprehensive strategies may provide appropriate treatment for patients with asthma in the future.

Ethanol extract of Dryopteris crassirhizoma alleviates allergic inflammation via inhibition of Th2 response and mast cell activation in a murine model of allergic rhinitis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Dryopteris crassirhizoma (DC) is used as a traditional herbal remedy to treat various diseases, the tapeworm infection, common cold, and cancer in Korea, Japan, and China. DC also has the antioxidant anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities. However, the anti-allergic inflammatory effect of DC and some of its mechanisms in allergic rhinitis model are unknown well.

AIM OF THIS STUDY

The purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-allergic inflammatory effect of DC on the allergic rhinitis model, mast cell activation and histamine release.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Allergic rhinitis was induced in BALB/c mice by sensitization and challenge with ovalbumin (OVA). Different concentration of DC and dexamethasone was administrated by oral gavage on 1 h before the OVA challenge. Mice of the control group were treated with saline only. Then mice were evaluated for the presence of nasal mucosa inflammation, the production of allergen-specific cytokine response and the histology of nasal mucosa.

RESULTS

DC significantly ameliorated the nasal symptoms and the inflammation of nasal mucosa. DC also reduced the infiltration of eosinophils and mast cells in these tissues and the release of histamine in blood. Meanwhile, DC evidently inhibited the overproduction of Th2 cytokines and increased the Th1 and Treg cytokines in nasal lavage fluid by OVA. DC also reduced the levels of OVA-specific IgE, IgG1 and IgG2a in blood.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that DC has a significant anti-allergic inflammatory effect in the nasal cavity. DC may have the therapeutic effect of allergic rhinitis.

Enhanced pause correlates with airway neutrophils and airway-epithelial injury in asthmatic mice treated with dexamethasone

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the correlations among airway inflammation, airway epithelial injury and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in asthmatic mice treated with dexamethasone.

METHODS

Female BALB/c mice were sensitized with intraperitoneal and hypodermic injections of ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminum on days 0, 7 and 14, challenged with OVA starting on day 21 for 10 days, and treated with dexamethasone via intraperitoneal injection starting on day 28 for 3 days. Female C57BL/6 mice were treated intranasally with house dust mite (HDM) on days 1 and 14, challenged intranasally with HDM on days 21, 23, 25, 27 and 29, and treated with sivelestat (a selective neutrophil elastase inhibitor) via intraperitoneal injection after each challenge. Following the final challenge, enhanced pause (Penh) and differential cell counts in the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid were measured and the correlations were analyzed.

RESULTS

Compared with OVA-challenged BALB/c mice, the counterpart mice treated with dexamethasone showed reduced Penh and shedding of airway epithelial cells. In addition, we found that Penh 50 (an indicator of AHR) had positive correlations with airway neutrophils and shedding of airway epithelial cells, but no correlation with eosinophils, lymphocytes or macrophages. Moreover, shedding of airway epithelial cells had positive correlations with airway neutrophils, but no correlation with eosinophils, lymphocytes or macrophages. Further, sivelestat decreased Penh 50 and shed airway-epithelial cells in HDM-challenged C57BL/6 mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, our findings suggest that airway neutrophils and excessive shedding of airway epithelial cells, but not eosinophils, lymphocytes or macrophages, may be involved in AHR in asthmatic mice treated with dexamethasone.

Multispecies probiotics combination prevents ovalbumin-induced airway hyperreactivity in mice

BACKGROUND

Probiotics could be beneficial to health and some of them have shown to modulate immune responses.

AIM

The aim of this study is to investigate if the probiotic strains including Lactobacillus and Pediococcus strains are able to alleviate allergic reactions in an ovalbumin-induced airway allergy model.

METHODS

Lactobacillus multi-species preparation (LMP) was gavaged to BALB/c for total six weeks and BALB/c was challenged with ovalbumin in the last two weeks. A barometric whole-body plethysmography was used to assess enhanced pause (Penh) of airway hyperreactivity (AHR). Immunoglobulins (Ig) such as IgE, IgG1, IgG2a and cytokines such as IL-12, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-5, TNF-α and IL-13 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were assayed using ELISA kits.

RESULTS

The results showed this LMP significantly reduced Th2 cytokines and enhanced Th1 cytokines production. OVA-specific IgE and IgG1 was lower in the probiotics-treated mice whereas IgG2a was increased. Most importantly, this murine model showed LMP supplementation significantly reduced AHR.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, this Lactobacillus multi-species preparation seemed to suppress OVA-sensitized airway hyperreactivity, thus serving as a possible candidate for therapeutic uses for allergic airway symptoms.

Immune Homeostasis: Effects of Chinese Herbal Formulae and Herb-Derived Compounds on Allergic Asthma in Different Experimental Models

Allergic asthma is thought to arise from an imbalance of immune regulation, which is characterized by the production of large quantities of IgE antibodies by B cells and a decrease of the interferon-γ/interleukin-4 (Th1/Th2) ratio. Certain immunomodulatory components and Chinese herbal formulae have been used in traditional herbal medicine for thousands of years. However, there are few studies performing evidence-based Chinese medicine (CM) research on the mechanisms and effificacy of these drugs in allergic asthma. This review aims to explore the roles of Chinese herbal formulae and herb-derived compounds in experimental research models of allergic asthma. We screened published modern CM research results on the experimental effects of Chinese herbal formulae and herb-derived bioactive compounds for allergic asthma and their possible underlying mechanisms in English language articles from the PubMed and the Google Scholar databases with the keywords allergic asthma, experimental model and Chinese herbal medicine. We found 22 Chinese herb species and 31 herb-derived anti-asthmatic compounds as well as 12 Chinese herbal formulae which showed a reduction of airway hyperresponsiveness, allergen-specifific immunoglobulin E, inflflammatory cell infifiltration and a regulation of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in vivo, in vitro and ex vivo, respectively. Chinese herbal formulae and herbderived bioactive compounds exhibit immunomodulatory, anti-inflflammatory and anti-asthma activities in different experimental models and their various mechanisms of action are being investigated in modern CM research with genomics, proteomics and metabolomics technologies, which will lead to a new era in the development of new drug discovery for allergic asthma in CM.

Trigonella foenum-graecum alleviates airway inflammation of allergic asthma in ovalbumin-induced mouse model

Trigonella foenum-graecum, a member oldest medicinal plant in the fabaceae (legumes) family, is used as a herb, spice, and vegetable, and known for its olfactory, laxative, and galactogogue effects. However, the inhibitory effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum on allergic inflammatory response remains unclear, therefore, we investigated the precise role of Trigonella foenum-graecum in the allergic asthma and revealed the effects of Trigonella foenum-graecum in regulating airway inflammation and its possible mechanism. Allergic asthma was initiated in BALB/c mice by sensitized with OVA emulsified in aluminum on days 1 and 14, then aerosol challenged with OVA on days 27, 28 and 29. Some mice were administered Trigonella foenum-graecum by oral gavage before challenge. Then mice were evaluated for the presence of airway inflammation, production of allergen-specific cytokine response and lung pathology. Trigonella foenum-graecum significantly ameliorated the number of inflammatory cells in BALF and alleviated lung inflammation. It also reduced the collagen deposition and goblet cells. Meanwhile, Trigonella foenum-graecum treatment evidently decreased the high expression of Th2 cytokines and increased the Th1 cytokines in BALF and lung homogenates. Trigonella foenum-graecum showed a significant inhibition of serum IgE and anti-OVA IgG_1. In this study, our data suggest that Trigonella foenum-graecum has a significant anti-inflammatory effect and it may prove to be an efficacious therapeutic regent on allergic asthma.

Anti-inflammatory and anti-insulin resistance activities of aqueous extract from Anoectochilus burmannicus

This study investigated biological activities including antioxidative stress, anti‐inflammation, and anti‐insulin resistance of Anoectochilus burmannicus aqueous extract (ABE). The results showed abilities of ABE to scavenging DPPH and ABTS free radicals in a dose‐dependent manner. Besides, ABE significantly reduced nitric oxide (NO) production in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐treated RAW 264.7 via inhibition of mRNA and protein expressions of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The LPS‐induced mRNA expressions of cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) and interleukin 1β (IL‐1β) were suppressed by ABE. Moreover, ABE exerted anti‐insulin resistance activity as it significantly improved the glucose uptake in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α treated 3T3‐L1 adipocytes. In addition, ABE at the concentration of up to 200 μg/mL was not toxic to human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and did not induce mutations. Finally, the results of our study suggest the potential use of A. burmannicus as anti‐inflammatory, anti‐insulin resistance agents, or food supplement for prevention of chronic diseases.

Herbal Medicines for Asthmatic Inflammation: From Basic Researches to Clinical Applications

Asthma is one of the most common chronic inflammatory disorders, associated with reversible airflow obstruction, airway hyperresponsiveness, and airway remodeling. This disease has a significant impact on individuals, their families, and society. Standardized therapeutics such as inhaled corticosteroid in combination with long acting β2 agonist have been applied for asthma control; however, complementary and alternative medicines, especially herbal medicines, are still widely used all over the world. A growing body of literature suggests that various herbals or related products might be effective in inhibiting asthmatic inflammation. In this review, we summarize recent advances about the mechanistic studies of herbal medicines on allergic airway inflammation in animal models and their potential application into clinic for asthma control.

Kinsenoside inhibits the inflammatory mediator release in a type-II collagen induced arthritis mouse model by regulating the T cells responses

Background

Anoectochilus formosanus has been used as a Chinese folk medicine and is known as the “King of medicine” in Chinese society due to its versatile pharmacological effects such as anti-hypertension, anti-diabetes, anti-heart disease, anti-lung and liver diseases, anti-nephritis and anti-Rheumatoid arthritis. Kinsenoside is an essential and active compound of A. formosanus (Orchidaceae). However, the anti-arthritic activity of kinsenoside has still not been demonstrated. In the present study, we confirmed that the kinsenoside treatment rheumatoid arthritis induced by collagen-induced arthritis in mice.

Methods

Male DBA/1 J mice were immunized by intradermal injection of 100 μg of type II collagen in CFA. Kinsenoside was administered orally at a dose of 100 and 300 mg/kg once a day after 2nd booster injection. Paw swelling, arthritic score and histological change were measured. ELISA was used to measure cytokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-17 (IL-17) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in the splenocyte according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Results

Compared with model group, kinsenoside significantly inhibited paw edema and decreased the arthritis score and disease incidence. Histopathological examination demonstrated that kinsenoside effectively protected bone and cartilage of knee joint from erosion, lesion and deformation versus those from the CIA group. Kinsenoside also decreased IL-1β, TNF-α, and MMP-9 expression, and increased the expression of IL-10 in inflamed joints. The administration of kinsenoside significantly suppressed levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-17, but increased concentrations of IL-10 in the supernatants of each of the splenocytes in CIA mice compared with that in the H₂O-treated mice with CIA. Using flow cytometric analysis, we demonstrated that kinsenoside increases the population of CD4⁺CD25⁺ regulatory T cells, thereby inhibiting the Th1 cell and B cell populations. Anticollagen IgG1 and IgG2a levels decreased in the serum of kinsenoside-treated mice.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the administration of kinsenoside effectively suppressed inflammatory mediators’ production and bone erosion in mice with collagen-induced arthritis showing the potential as an anti-arthritis agent.

The Immunoregulatory Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Treatment of Asthma or Asthmatic Inflammation

Asthma is a chronic respiratory symptoms with variable airflow limitation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), and causes high economic burden. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long-lasting history of using herbal medicine in the treatment of various respiratory diseases including asthma. In the last several decades, an increasing number of herbs have been shown to be effective in the treatment of asthma in clinical trials or asthmatic inflammation in animal models. Literature about the effects of TCM on the immune system were searched in electronic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus from 2000 to 2014. 'TCM' and 'asthma' were used as keywords for the searches. Over 400 literatures were searched and the literatures about the immune system were selected and reviewed. We only reviewed literatures published in English. Accumulating evidence suggests that TCM can directly inhibit the activation and migration of inflammatory cells, regulate the balance of Th1/Th2 responses, and suppress allergic hyperreactivity through inducing regulatory T cells or attenuating the function of dendritic cells (DCs). These studies provided useful information to facilitate the use of TCM to treat asthma. This review was conducted to classify the findings based on their possible mechanisms of action reported.

Immunomodulatory effects of EGCG fraction of green tea extract in innate and adaptive immunity via T regulatory cells in murine model

Green tea is a widely consumed beverage known for its beneficial anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-mutagenic, anti-carcinogenic, and cardioprotective properties. Here, we administered epigallocatechin gallate fraction of green tea extract (EGTE) to mice for 6 weeks and examined the effects on the innate and adaptive immune responses by measuring phagocytic and natural killer (NK) cell activity, as well as antigen-specific proliferation, cytolysis, cytokine secretion, and antibody production. Our data show that EGTE administration increased NK cell cytolysis and peritoneal cell phagocytosis, as well as splenocyte proliferation and secretion of IL-2 and IFN-γ. Of note, EGTE treatment decreased the production antigen-specific IgE via increased the proportion of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T lymphocytes in the spleen, suggesting that EGTE may play a role in regulating the allergic response.

A Type II Arabinogalactan from Anoectochilus formosanus for G-CSF Production in Macrophages and Leukopenia Improvement in CT26-Bearing Mice Treated with 5-Fluorouracil

Anoectochilus formosanus is an herb well known in Asian countries. The polysaccharide isolated from A. formosanus consists of type II arabinogalactan (AGAF), with branched 3,6-Gal as the major moiety. In this study, AGAF was examined for the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) production and related protein expression in RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. The signaling pathway of G-CSF production involves AGAF and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) inhibitors and pattern-recognition receptor antibodies. AGAF was evaluated to ease the leukopenia in CT26-colon-cancer-bearing mice treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The results of this study showed that AGAF was a stimulant for Toll-like receptor 2 and Dectin-1 and that it induced G-CSF production, through p38 and ERK MAPK, and NF- κ B pathways. In vivo examination showed that the oral administration of AGAF mitigated the side effects of leukopenia caused by 5-FU in colon-cancer-bearing mice. In conclusion, the botanic type II AGAF in this study was a potent G-CSF inducer in vivo and in vitro.

Naturally derived anti-inflammatory compounds from Chinese medicinal plants

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Though inflammatory response is beneficial to body damage repair, if it is out of control, it can produce adverse effects on the body. Although purely western anti-inflammatory drugs, orthodox medicines, can control inflammation occurrence and development, it is not enough. The clinical efficacy of anti-inflammation therapies is unsatisfactory, thus the search for new anti-inflammation continues. Chinese Material Medica (CMM) remains a promising source of new therapeutic agents. CMM and herbal formulae from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), unorthodox medicines, play an improtant anti-inflammatory role in multi-targets, multi-levels, and multi-ways in treating inflammation diseases in a long history in China, based on their multi-active ingredient characteristics. Due to these reasons, recently, CMM has been commercialized as an anti-inflammation agent which has become increasingly popular in the world health drug markets. Major research contributions in ethnopharmacology have generated vast amount of data associated with CMM in anti-inflammtion aspect. Therefore, a systematic introduction of CMM anti-inflammatory research progress is of great importance and necessity.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This paper strives to describe the progress of CMM in the treatment of inflammatory diseases from different aspects, and provide the essential theoretical support and scientific evidence for the further development and utilization of CMM resources as a potential anti-inflammation drug through a variety of databases.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Literature survey was performed via electronic search (SciFinder®, Pubmed®, Google Scholar and Web of Science) on papers and patents and by systematic research in ethnopharmacological literature at various university libraries.

RESULTS

This review mainly introduced the current research on the anti-inflammatory active ingredient, anti-inflammatory effects of CMM, their mechanism, anti-inflammatory drug development of CMM, and toxicological information.

CONCLUSION

CMM is used clinically to treat inflammation symptoms in TCM, and its effect is mediated by multiple targets through multiple active ingredients. Although scholars around the world have made studies on the anti-inflammatory studies of CMM from different pathways and aspects and have made substantial progress, further studies are warranted to delineate the inflammation actions in more cogency models, establish the toxicological profiles and quality standards, assess the potentials of CMM in clinical applications, and make more convenient preparations easy to administrate for patients. Development of the clinically anti-inflammatory drugs are also warranted.

Molecular cloning of a new immunomodulatory protein from Anoectochilus formosanus which induces B cell IgM secretion through a T-independent mechanism

An immunomodulatory protein (IPAF) was purified and cloned from Anoectochilus formosanus, an Orchidaceae herbal plant in Asia. The major targeting immune cells of IPAF and its modulating effects toward B lymphocytes were investigated. Rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) was conducted to clone the IPAF gene, and the obtained sequence was BLAST compared on the NCBI database. MACS-purified mouse T and B lymphocytes were stimulated with IPAF and the cell proliferation, activation, and Igs production were examined. IPAF comprised a 25 amino acids signal peptide and a 138 amino acids protein which was homologous to the lectins from Orchidaceae plant. IPAF selectively induced the cell proliferation in mouse splenic B lymphocytes but not T lymphocytes. The IPAF-induced B cells exhibited increased CD69 and MHC class II expression, and a dose- and time-dependent enhancement in IgM production. These results suggested potential benefits of IPAF to strengthen the humoral immunity.