The mixture of Radix isatidis, Forsythiae, and Gypsum alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced fever in broilers by inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway

The antipyretic effect of the famous classical formula Qingwanzi Pills on a rabbit model and its serum metabolomic study

Qingwanzi Pills (QP) were first mentioned in the "Puji Fang" of the Ming Dynasty, with a history of approximately 600 years. The formula consisted of Gypsum Fibrosum and Indigo Naturalis. It is a famous classical formula with antipyretic effects frequently utilized in ancient China, although our knowledge about the overall antipyretic mechanism of QP remains limited. Therefore, we replicated the fever model in New Zealand rabbits induced by lipopolysaccharide, performed the pharmacodynamic evaluation of QP, identified the differential metabolites among QP groups, and performed pathway enrichment analysis to comparatively analyze the effects of QP on fever-related metabolic pathways by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that the antipyretic effect of QP was superior to that of each disassembled prescription, with Gypsum Fibrosum primarily contributing to the efficacy, followed by Indigo Naturalis and Junci Medulla. QP had an effective antipyretic effect, which was related to lowering the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and calcium in rabbit serum, lowering the levels of PGE2 and cAMP in rabbit cerebrospinal fluid, and increasing the level of calcium in rabbit cerebrospinal fluid. A total of 27 endogenous biomarkers were screened by serum metabolomics for the treatment of fever with QP. It is hypothesized that the antipyretic mechanism of QP may be related to regulating α-linolenic acid, sphingolipid, tryptophan, and bile acid metabolism. In summary, QP exhibited a significant antipyretic effect in rabbits with lipopolysaccharide-induced fever.

Effects of Ban Lian Zi Jin San on intestinal inflammation and barrier function of heat-stressed broilers

Heat stress (HS) in broilers can be an environmental stressor that leads to intestinal inflammation and intestinal barrier damage. In order to examine the effect of Ban Lian Zi Jin San (BLZJS) on intestinal inflammation and barrier function in heat-stressed broilers, a model of chronic cyclic HS in broilers was established. A total of 300 twenty-one-day-old broilers were divided into 5 treatments at random. Broilers in 3 BLZJS dosage groups were kept in an ecologically controlled room at 37℃ ± 2℃ for 6 wk, and fed basal diets supplemented with 0.5, 1, and 2% BLZJS. Broilers in HS group were housed in the same room, but fed the basal diets. The findings indicated that supplementation of BLZJS significantly declined serum HS indexes levels (HSP70, HSP90), and increased serum antioxidant capacity (SOD and T-AOC) in broilers (P < 0.05). Besides, supplementation of BLZJS significantly inhibited the expression of HS indexes (HSP70 and HSP90), genes related to TLR4 inflammatory signal pathway (TLR4, MyD88, TRIF, IRAK-4, and NF-κB), inflammatory factors (IL-6 and TNF-α), and upregulated anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) and intestinal tight junction-related genes (Occludin, Claudin-1, and ZO-1) in broiler jejunum (P < 0.05). On the other hand, supplementation of BLZJS could significantly reduce the protein expression of NF-κB and HSP70 in chick jejunum (P < 0.05). In conclusion, BLZJS inhibited the activation of TLR4 signal pathway and reduced the production of inflammatory factors, restoring the level of intestinal tight junction protein and protecting jejunal intestinal barrier function in heat-stressed broilers.