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Dzobo K. The Role of Natural Products as Sources of Therapeutic Agents for Innovative Drug Discovery. COMPREHENSIVE PHARMACOLOGY 2022. [PMCID: PMC8016209 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-820472-6.00041-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Emerging threats to human health require a concerted effort in search of both preventive and treatment strategies, placing natural products at the center of efforts to obtain new therapies and reduce disease spread and associated mortality. The therapeutic value of compounds found in plants has been known for ages, resulting in their utilization in homes and in clinics for the treatment of many ailments ranging from common headache to serious conditions such as wounds. Despite the advancement observed in the world, plant based medicines are still being used to treat many pathological conditions or are used as alternatives to modern medicines. In most cases, these natural products or plant-based medicines are used in an un-purified state as extracts. A lot of research is underway to identify and purify the active compounds responsible for the healing process. Some of the current drugs used in clinics have their origins as natural products or came from plant extracts. In addition, several synthetic analogues are natural product-based or plant-based. With the emergence of novel infectious agents such as the SARS-CoV-2 in addition to already burdensome diseases such as diabetes, cancer, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, there is need to come up with new drugs that can cure these conditions. Natural products offer an opportunity to discover new compounds that can be converted into drugs given their chemical structure diversity. Advances in analytical processes make drug discovery a multi-dimensional process involving computational designing and testing and eventual laboratory screening of potential drug candidates. Lead compounds will then be evaluated for safety, pharmacokinetics and efficacy. New technologies including Artificial Intelligence, better organ and tissue models such as organoids allow virtual screening, automation and high-throughput screening to be part of drug discovery. The use of bioinformatics and computation means that drug discovery can be a fast and efficient process and enable the use of natural products structures to obtain novel drugs. The removal of potential bottlenecks resulting in minimal false positive leads in drug development has enabled an efficient system of drug discovery. This review describes the biosynthesis and screening of natural products during drug discovery as well as methods used in studying natural products.
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PGE2 deficiency predisposes to anaphylaxis by causing mast cell hyperresponsiveness. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2020; 146:1387-1396.e13. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2020.03.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 03/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Stockert K. Synopsis. ALLERGIEPRÄVENTION 2020. [PMCID: PMC7121829 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-662-58140-7_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Akute entzündliche Reaktionen bzw. der akute Infekt mit Restitutio ad integrum laufen in einer perfekt modulierten Kaskade ab, bei dem eine akute inflammatorische Einleitungsphase von einer antiinflammatorischen Phase und einer Entzündungsauflösungsphase abgelöst werden.
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Clyne A, Yang AWH, Li M, Fei Y, May BH. Traditional medicines for asthma in children and adults: A systematic review of placebo-controlled studies. Int J Clin Pract 2019; 73:e13433. [PMID: 31610072 DOI: 10.1111/ijcp.13433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traditional medicines (TMs) adjunctive to conventional medications are widely used for asthma in east-Asia and have gained popularity in western countries. OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy and safety of TMs for asthma in children and adults based on placebo-controlled trials in order to inform physicians and assist them in discussions with patients. METHODS Seventeen electronic databases were searched. Participants had acute or chronic asthma. Interventions included orally administered traditional medicines used in east-Asia. Outcomes included lung function, symptoms, quality of life, exacerbations, medication use and safety. RevMan 5.3 (random effect model) was used for meta-analysis. Baseline values were assessed for balance and asthma severity. Within-group changes were calculated to assess minimal clinically important difference (MCID). RESULTS Eighteen studies (2080 participants) were included. All combined TMs with conventional medicines. The single study of acute asthma (n = 300) showed an improvement. For chronic asthma, severity at baseline ranged from very mild to severe. When asthma was mild, significant differences in lung function (FEV1%, PEF/R) were not detectable. When participants had moderate and/or severe asthma at baseline improvements were more evident. For measures of lung function, improvements within the TM groups tended to be greater when the asthma was more severe. Some studies showed MCIDs. No serious adverse events or interactions were reported but safety data were incomplete. CONCLUSIONS The application of certain traditional herbal medicines used in east-Asia as adjuncts to conventional medications improved outcomes in acute and chronic asthma, but most evidence was based on single trials. Therefore, no single TM could be recommended. Effect sizes varied according to asthma severity at baseline. Future studies should consider baseline severity when enrolling participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Clyne
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
| | - Angela Wei Hong Yang
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
| | - Mingdi Li
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
| | - Yutong Fei
- Centre for Evidence-based Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Chaoyang, China
| | - Brian H May
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
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Thomford NE, Senthebane DA, Rowe A, Munro D, Seele P, Maroyi A, Dzobo K. Natural Products for Drug Discovery in the 21st Century: Innovations for Novel Drug Discovery. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E1578. [PMID: 29799486 PMCID: PMC6032166 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19061578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 558] [Impact Index Per Article: 93.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The therapeutic properties of plants have been recognised since time immemorial. Many pathological conditions have been treated using plant-derived medicines. These medicines are used as concoctions or concentrated plant extracts without isolation of active compounds. Modern medicine however, requires the isolation and purification of one or two active compounds. There are however a lot of global health challenges with diseases such as cancer, degenerative diseases, HIV/AIDS and diabetes, of which modern medicine is struggling to provide cures. Many times the isolation of "active compound" has made the compound ineffective. Drug discovery is a multidimensional problem requiring several parameters of both natural and synthetic compounds such as safety, pharmacokinetics and efficacy to be evaluated during drug candidate selection. The advent of latest technologies that enhance drug design hypotheses such as Artificial Intelligence, the use of 'organ-on chip' and microfluidics technologies, means that automation has become part of drug discovery. This has resulted in increased speed in drug discovery and evaluation of the safety, pharmacokinetics and efficacy of candidate compounds whilst allowing novel ways of drug design and synthesis based on natural compounds. Recent advances in analytical and computational techniques have opened new avenues to process complex natural products and to use their structures to derive new and innovative drugs. Indeed, we are in the era of computational molecular design, as applied to natural products. Predictive computational softwares have contributed to the discovery of molecular targets of natural products and their derivatives. In future the use of quantum computing, computational softwares and databases in modelling molecular interactions and predicting features and parameters needed for drug development, such as pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics, will result in few false positive leads in drug development. This review discusses plant-based natural product drug discovery and how innovative technologies play a role in next-generation drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Ekow Thomford
- Pharmacogenomics and Drug Metabolism Group, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, PMB, Cape Coast, Ghana.
| | - Dimakatso Alice Senthebane
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town Component, Wernher and Beit Building (South), University of Cape Town Medical Campus, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.
- Division of Medical Biochemistry and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.
| | - Arielle Rowe
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town Component, Wernher and Beit Building (South), University of Cape Town Medical Campus, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.
| | - Daniella Munro
- Pharmacogenomics and Drug Metabolism Group, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.
| | - Palesa Seele
- Division of Chemical and Systems Biology, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.
| | - Alfred Maroyi
- Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag, Alice X1314, South Africa.
| | - Kevin Dzobo
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town Component, Wernher and Beit Building (South), University of Cape Town Medical Campus, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.
- Division of Medical Biochemistry and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.
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Zhang HP, Wang L, Wang Z, Xu XR, Zhou XM, Liu G, He LY, Wang J, Hsu A, Li WM, Wang G. Chinese herbal medicine formula for acute asthma: A multi-center, randomized, double-blind, proof-of-concept trial. Respir Med 2018; 140:42-49. [PMID: 29957279 DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2018.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2017] [Revised: 05/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite advances in asthma management, exacerbations constitute a significant health economic burden. OBJECTIVE To observe the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine formula entitled PingchuanYiqi (PCYQ) granule, on acute asthma and to explore its possible mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS This proof-of-concept study consisted of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients with acute asthma (n = 300). Participants with acute mild-to-moderate asthma recruited from seven centers in China were randomly assigned to receive PCYQ or placebo. The primary outcomes were PEF (L/min) and total asthma symptom scores. Furthermore, a panel of cytokines including serum IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, IL-17A, IFN-α, IFN-β, IFN-γ, CRP, CCL-5, IP-10, and PGD2 levels was detected using ELISA. RESULTS The PCYQ (n = 139) significantly improved the morning PEF on day 4 (349.73 ± 93.92 vs. 313.56 ± 92.91 L/min, P = 0.004) and day 7 (360.42 ± 94.39 vs. 329.52 ± 95.97 L/min, P = 0.023), and the evening PEF on day 4 (352.65 ± 95.47 vs. 320.58 ± 95.30 L/min, P = 0.012) and day 7 (360.42 ± 94.39 vs. 336.86 ± 95.59 L/min, P = 0.029) in comparison with the placebo (n = 143). The PCYQ also improved the clinical symptoms scores and reduced the puffs of short-acting β2-agonist (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, the PCYQ statistically reduced IL-5, IL-8, IL-1β and PGD2 in serum. CONCLUSION The PCYQ as the Chinese herbal medicine formula significantly improves lung function and symptoms of acute asthma, and reduces SABA dosage possibly via decrease of inflammatory biomarkers such as IL-5, IL-8, IL-1β and PGD2. TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN61674768 (http://www.isrctn.com/).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Ping Zhang
- Pneumology Group, Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Collaborative Innovation Centre for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Pneumology Group, Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Collaborative Innovation Centre for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Xian Rong Xu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310012, China
| | - Xian Mei Zhou
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Gang Liu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Wenzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Lv Yuan He
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Jinhua Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinhua 321001, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250001, China
| | - Alan Hsu
- Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, 2305 NSW, Australia
| | - Wei Min Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Pneumology Group, Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Collaborative Innovation Centre for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China; Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
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Liu L, Wang LP, He S, Ma Y. Immune Homeostasis: Effects of Chinese Herbal Formulae and Herb-Derived Compounds on Allergic Asthma in Different Experimental Models. Chin J Integr Med 2018; 24:390-398. [PMID: 29752613 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-018-2836-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Liu
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100010, China.,University Course of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lin-Peng Wang
- Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100010, China
| | - Shan He
- Molecular Research in Traditional Chinese Medicine Group, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Vienna General Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Yan Ma
- University Course of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090, Vienna, Austria. .,Molecular Research in Traditional Chinese Medicine Group, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Vienna General Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090, Vienna, Austria.
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8
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Li FS, Weng JK. Demystifying traditional herbal medicine with modern approach. NATURE PLANTS 2017; 3:17109. [PMID: 28758992 DOI: 10.1038/nplants.2017.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 213] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2017] [Accepted: 06/08/2017] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Plants have long been recognized for their therapeutic properties. For centuries, indigenous cultures around the world have used traditional herbal medicine to treat a myriad of maladies. By contrast, the rise of the modern pharmaceutical industry in the past century has been based on exploiting individual active compounds with precise modes of action. This surge has yielded highly effective drugs that are widely used in the clinic, including many plant natural products and analogues derived from these products, but has fallen short of delivering effective cures for complex human diseases with complicated causes, such as cancer, diabetes, autoimmune disorders and degenerative diseases. While the plant kingdom continues to serve as an important source for chemical entities supporting drug discovery, the rich traditions of herbal medicine developed by trial and error on human subjects over thousands of years contain invaluable biomedical information just waiting to be uncovered using modern scientific approaches. Here we provide an evolutionary and historical perspective on why plants are of particular significance as medicines for humans. We highlight several plant natural products that are either in the clinic or currently under active research and clinical development, with particular emphasis on their mechanisms of action. Recent efforts in developing modern multi-herb prescriptions through rigorous molecular-level investigations and standardized clinical trials are also discussed. Emerging technologies, such as genomics and synthetic biology, are enabling new ways for discovering and utilizing the medicinal properties of plants. We are entering an exciting era where the ancient wisdom distilled into the world's traditional herbal medicines can be reinterpreted and exploited through the lens of modern science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu-Shuang Li
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 455 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Jing-Ke Weng
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 455 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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A snake venom group IIA PLA 2 with immunomodulatory activity induces formation of lipid droplets containing 15-d-PGJ 2 in macrophages. Sci Rep 2017. [PMID: 28642580 PMCID: PMC5481388 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-04498-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Crotoxin B (CB) is a catalytically active group IIA sPLA2 from Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom. In contrast to most GIIA sPLA2s, CB exhibits anti-inflammatory effects, including the ability to inhibit leukocyte functions. Lipid droplets (LDs) are lipid-rich organelles associated with inflammation and recognized as a site for the synthesis of inflammatory lipid mediators. Here, the ability of CB to induce formation of LDs and the mechanisms involved in this effect were investigated in isolated macrophages. The profile of CB-induced 15-d-PGJ2 (15-Deoxy-Delta-12,14-prostaglandin J2) production and involvement of LDs in 15-d-PGJ2 biosynthesis were also investigated. Stimulation of murine macrophages with CB induced increased number of LDs and release of 15-d-PGJ2. LDs induced by CB were associated to PLIN2 recruitment and expression and required activation of PKC, PI3K, MEK1/2, JNK, iPLA2 and PLD. Both 15-d-PGJ2 and COX-1 were found in CB-induced LDs indicating that LDs contribute to the inhibitory effects of CB by acting as platform for synthesis of 15-d-PGJ2, a pro-resolving lipid mediator. Together, our data indicate that an immunomodulatory GIIA sPLA2 can directly induce LD formation and production of a pro-resolving mediator in an inflammatory cell and afford new insights into the roles of LDs in resolution of inflammatory processes.
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Prakash YS. Emerging concepts in smooth muscle contributions to airway structure and function: implications for health and disease. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2016; 311:L1113-L1140. [PMID: 27742732 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00370.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Airway structure and function are key aspects of normal lung development, growth, and aging, as well as of lung responses to the environment and the pathophysiology of important diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and fibrosis. In this regard, the contributions of airway smooth muscle (ASM) are both functional, in the context of airway contractility and relaxation, as well as synthetic, involving production and modulation of extracellular components, modulation of the local immune environment, cellular contribution to airway structure, and, finally, interactions with other airway cell types such as epithelium, fibroblasts, and nerves. These ASM contributions are now found to be critical in airway hyperresponsiveness and remodeling that occur in lung diseases. This review emphasizes established and recent discoveries that underline the central role of ASM and sets the stage for future research toward understanding how ASM plays a central role by being both upstream and downstream in the many interactive processes that determine airway structure and function in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y S Prakash
- Departments of Anesthesiology, and Physiology & Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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Li J, Zhang F, Li J. The Immunoregulatory Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Treatment of Asthma or Asthmatic Inflammation. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE 2015; 43:1059-81. [PMID: 26364661 DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x15500615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyu Li
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, China
| | - Fuchun Zhang
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, China
| | - Jinyao Li
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, China
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EP2 and EP4 receptors mediate PGE2 induced relaxation in murine colonic circular muscle: Pharmacological characterization. Pharmacol Res 2014; 90:76-86. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2014.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2014] [Revised: 10/07/2014] [Accepted: 10/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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Zhao CQ, Zhou Y, Ping J, Xu LM. Traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of liver diseases: progress, challenges and opportunities. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE 2014; 12:401-8. [PMID: 25292339 PMCID: PMC7128864 DOI: 10.1016/s2095-4964(14)60039-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2014] [Accepted: 05/15/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is commonly used in treating liver diseases worldwide, especially in China. The advantages of using TCM for treatment of liver diseases include: protecting hepatocytes, inhibiting hepatic inflammation and antifibrosis in the liver. In this article, we introduce TCM herbal preparations from the Chinese materia medica (such as Fuzheng Huayu) that are typically used for the treatment of liver diseases. Literature surrounding the mechanisms of TCM therapy for treatment of liver diseases is presented and discussed. We propose that side effects of herbal compounds are often under-appreciated, and that more care should be taken in the prescription of potentially hepatotoxic medicines. Further, to deepen the understanding of TCM mechanisms, new techniques and methodologies must be developed. Future studies will lead to the enhancement of clinical outcomes of TCM. As complementary and alternative therapies, TCMs will play an expanding role in the future of liver disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-qing Zhao
- Department of Liver Cirrhosis, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Department of Liver Cirrhosis, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jian Ping
- Institute of Liver Diseases, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Lie-ming Xu
- Institute of Liver Diseases, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China; E-mail:
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