Wide range of molecular weight distribution of mitogenic substance(s) in the hot water extract of a Chinese herbal medicine, Bupleurum chinense

In vitro anti-influenza A H1N1 effect of extract of Bupleuri Radix

This study investigated the effect of the extract of Bupleuri Radix (BRE) on the infection of Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells by anti-H1N1 virus. The effect of BRE on RANTES (the chemokine regulated on activation, normal T cells expressed and secreted) secretion in H1N1-infected A549 cells (human bronchial epithelial cells) was evaluated via quantative measurement of the changes in the cytopathic effects and by the ultraviolet (UV) absorbance at 600 nm. It was found that BRE was toxic to MDCK cells at a higher concentration while had a marked inhibitory effect on cell pathological changes at a lower concentration. Results also showed that BRE possessed more than 50% suppressing effect on RANTES secretion in H1N1-infected A549 cells at a concentration of 100 and 200 μg/ml. Our findings show that BRE has a significant protective effect on MDCK cells infected in a dose-dependent manner with an excellent suppressing effect on RANTES secretion, suggesting that BRE can be developed as an antivirus agent.

Discrepancy between clinical course and drug-induced lymphocyte stimulation tests in a case of saireito-induced liver injury accompanied by Sjögren syndrome

BACKGROUND

Saireito consists of components of shosaikoto and goreisan. There are several reports of liver injury caused by shosaikoto and saireito, whereas cases caused by goreisan are rarely seen.

PATIENT

A 70-year-old woman suffered from sicca of the eyes and oral cavity that arose in 2003. In June 2004, we diagnosed her as having Sjögren syndrome on the basis of Schirmer's test, salivary scintigraphy, presence of anti-SS-A/Ro antibody, and subjective symptoms. Although a muscarinic agonist was commenced, her sicca symptoms did not improve.

INTERVENTIONS

In February 2008, 7.5 g/day of shosaikoto extract granules (for ethical use, Tsumura & Co., Tokyo, Japan) was introduced. Her symptoms and laboratory data did not change. The next month, the treatment was replaced by 9.0 g/day of saireito extract granules (for ethical use, Tsumura & Co., Tokyo, Japan).

RESULTS

After 10 weeks, elevation of liver enzymes was observed. On suspicion of drug-induced liver injury (DILI), saireito was withdrawn, and the patient's liver enzymes returned to normal the next month. Drug-induced lymphocyte stimulation tests (DLSTs) for saireito, shosaikoto, and goreisan were all positive.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical course suggested allergy to the goreisan component of saireito. It is important to be aware of the limitation of DLST as a diagnostic tool for DILI, especially for herbal medicines.

Immunomodulating Activity of Agaricus brasiliensis KA21 in Mice and in Human Volunteers

We performed studies on murine models and human volunteers to examine the immunoenhancing effects of the naturally outdoor-cultivated fruit body of Agaricus brasiliensis KA21 (i.e. Agaricus blazei). Antitumor, leukocyte-enhancing, hepatopathy-alleviating and endotoxin shock-alleviating effects were found in mice. In the human study, percentage body fat, percentage visceral fat, blood cholesterol level and blood glucose level were decreased, and natural killer cell activity was increased. Taken together, the results strongly suggest that the A. brasiliensis fruit body is useful as a health-promoting food.

Bupleurum kaoi inhibits Coxsackie B virus type 1 infection of CCFS-1 cells by induction of type I interferons expression

Coxsackie B virus type 1 (CVB1) infection is known to cause high morbidity and mortality in children, however, there is no effective drug for treating this disease. The present study aimed to examine the antiviral activity of Bupleurum kaoi (BK), a popular herbal drug for treating viral and bacterial infections, against CVB1 infection and its mechanisms of action. Our data showed that BK neutralized the CVB1-induced cytopathic effect in human neonatal foreskin fibroblast cell line (CCFS-1/KMC), with IC50 and EC50 values around 12.38 microg/ml and 50.93 microg/ml, respectively. Its CC50 and SI values were 883.56 microg/ml and 17.34, respectively. These results suggest that BK possessed anti-CVB1 activity, and showed no effect on CCFS-1 cell viability and growth at concentration 250 microg/ml. The time-of-addition studies showed that BK (50, 100 and 200 microg/ml) added at various time of preinfection (-1 to -3 h), coinfection (0 h) and postinfection (1-3 h) could inhibit CVB1 infection. Interestingly, BK also showed an inhibition on viral replication through the induction of IFN-alpha/beta expression. In conclusion, BK possessed antiviral activity against CVB1 infection. It interfered the early stage of viral replication and viral replication after infection through the induction of type I interferon expression.

The antiproliferative activity of saponin-enriched fraction from Bupleurum Kaoi is through Fas-dependent apoptotic pathway in human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells

Bupleuri Radix (Chai-hu in Chinese and Saiko in Japanese) is one of the most important traditional Chinese crude drugs for treating hepatitis malaria and intermittent fever. B. kaoi is one of the Bupleurum spp. families locally found in Taiwan. The effects of saponin-enriched fraction (SEF) from Bupleurum Kaoi in human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells were investigated in this study. An enhancement in Fas and its two forms of ligands, membrane-bound Fas ligand (mFasL) and soluble Fas ligand (sFasL), was responsible for the apoptotic effect induced by SEF. Taken together, our study suggests that the activity of the Fas/Fas ligand apoptotic system may participate in the antiproliferative activity of SEF in A549 cells.

Acetone extract of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium inhibits proliferation of A549 human lung cancer cells via inducing apoptosis and suppressing telomerase activity

Bupleuri radix, a traditional Chinese herb, has been widely used to treat liver diseases such as hepatitis and cirrhosis. The acetone extract of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium (AE-BS) showed a dose-dependently antiproliferative effect on the proliferation of A549 human lung cancer cells. The IC(50) of AE-BS, i.e., the concentration required to inhibit proliferation of A549 cells, was 59 +/- 4.5 microg/ml on day 1. The IC(50) of AE-BS for WI38 human normal lung fibroblast cells, however, was significant higher than that for A549 cells (150 +/- 16 microg/ml, p< 0.01). After 72 hours of exposure, AE-BS (60 microg/ml) significantly reduced A549 cell proliferation to 33 +/- 3.2% of control. In TUNEL assay, A549 cells treated with AE-BS showed typical morphologic features of apoptosis, and the percentage of apoptotic cells was approximately 38 % on day 1. In the TRAP assay, AE-BS-treated cells demonstrated significantly lower telomerase activity on day 3. This result indicates that the AE-BS could suppress the proliferation of lung cancer cells via inhibition of telomerase activity and activation of apoptosis.