Effects of xiao-qing-long-tang (XQLT) on bronchoconstriction and airway eosinophil infiltration in ovalbumin-sensitized guinea pigs: in vivo and in vitro studies

BACKGROUND

Xiao-qing-long-tang (XQLT sho-seiru-to), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been used to treat patients with bronchial asthma in Oriental countries for several centuries. However, the therapeutic mechanisms of this Chinese medicine remain a matter of considerable debate. Therefore, a series of experiments using ovalbumin-sensitized guinea pigs was performed to elucidate the possible antiasthmatic effect of XQLT.

METHODS

The effect of XQLT on ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation in a guinea pig model of allergic asthma was examined, and early and late asthmatic responses were measured in terms of airway resistance and extent of eosinophil infiltration. Furthermore, the bronchorelaxing effect of XQLT was measured in isolated guinea pig trachea.

RESULTS

XQLT significantly inhibited the antigen-induced immediate asthmatic response (IAR) and late asthmatic response (LAR) in actively sensitized guinea pigs. Cumulative administration of XQLT caused concentration-dependent relaxation of the carbachol-precontracted guinea pig trachea. The bronchorelaxing effect of XQLT was reversed by ICI-118551, a selective beta2-adrenoceptor antagonist. Furthermore, examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) revealed that XQLT significantly suppressed the increase in eosinophils (24 h after antigen challenge) in the airway. In addition, XQLT significantly attenuated the increase in eosinophils at 1, 6, 24, 48, and 72 h after antigen challenge when it was administered once daily from the day of sensitization to the day of challenge. Histopathologic examination results showed that XQLT suppressed eosinophil infiltration into lung tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that the antiasthmatic effects of XQLT appear to be partly mediated by stimulation of beta2-adrenoceptors, leading to bronchorelaxation, and that XQLT inhibits the infiltration of eosinophils into the airway. Thus, XQLT may be useful for the prevention or treatment of asthma.

The Chinese medicine Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang inhibited proliferation of hepatoma cell lines by inducing apoptosis via G0/G1 arrest

Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang (BZYQT), a Chinese herbal medicine, inhibited the proliferation of human hepatoma cell lines (Hep3B, HepG2 and HA22T) dose-dependently. The IC50s of BZYQT on the proliferation of Hep3B, HepG2 and HA22T were 432.5+/-31.8 microg/ml, 455.4+/-24.2 microg/ml, and 2284.3+/-77.2 microg/ml respectively on day 3. However, BZYQT did not significantly inhibit the proliferation of normal human hepatocytes (Chang liver, CCL-13) at the concentration under 5,000 microg/ml. Major compounds of BZYQT, including astragaloside IV, ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1, saikosaponin a and c, and glycyrrhizin, have been identified. To investigate the key inhibitors of BZYQT. Hep3B cells were treated with BZYQT, individual major compounds of BZYQT, and mixture of major compounds in the same ratio as present in BZYQT. Significant inhibition of proliferation was detected in BZYQT and its major compounds mixture in a comparable level. Not any individual major compound examined could suppress the proliferation of Hep3B cells. This data indicated that there could be synergistic or additive effects of the ingredients in BZYQT. BrdU incorporation, cell cycle analysis and DNA fragmentation assay revealed that BZYQT suppressed the proliferation of hepatoma cells via G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and inhibition of DNA synthesis followed by apoptosis.

The effects of Ma-Xing-Gan-Shi-Tang on respiratory resistance and airway leukocyte infiltration in asthmatic guinea pigs

Ma-Xing-Gan-Shi-Tang (MXGST), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been used in treatment of the bronchial asthma for several centuries. However, the therapeutic mechanisms of this Chinese medicine are still far from clear. To understand the mechanism of anti-asthmatic property of MXGST, a guinea pig model of allergic asthma was used to investigate the effects of MXGST on Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus-induced early and late asthmatic responses and airway inflammation, and examine direct beta2-adrenoceptor agonist activity in guinea-pig isolated trachea. Administration of MXGST (10 g/kg) extracts significantly inhibited the antigen induced immediate asthmatic responses (IAR) in actively sensitized guinea pig. MXGST caused concentration-dependent relaxation in strips of guinea pig trachea contracted with carbachol, and ICI-118551, a selective beta2-adrenoceptor antagonist, significantly inhibit the relaxation caused by MXGST. Furthermore, examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) revealed that MXGST significantly inhibited the increase in neutrophil in the airway at 1, 6 and 24 hr after antigen challenge. Histopathologic examination results showed that MXGST suppressed the neutrophil infiltration into lung tissue. In conclusion, we suggest that the anti-asthmatic effects of MXGST are mainly due to its stimulation of beta2-adrenoceptors on bronchial smooth muscle and its anti-inflammatory ability to inhibit the neutrophil into the airway. The precise mechanism of action of MXGST in asthma remains to be elucidated.

The effect of Chinese herbal medicine, xiao-qing-long tang (XQLT), on allergen-induced bronchial inflammation in mite-sensitized mice

BACKGROUND

There are detailed descriptions of the clinical experiences and prescriptions of asthma in traditional Chinese medicine. Xiao-qing-long tang (XQLT), or sho-seiryo-to by its Japanese name, is one of the Chinese herbal medicines used to treat bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis for centuries. However, the therapeutic mechanisms of this medication are still far from clear. In this study, a house-dust-mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus [Der p])-sensitized murine model of asthma was used to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of XQLT on the allergen-induced airway inflammation in asthma.

METHODS

Three different protocols were designed to evaluate the treatment and/ or long-term prophylactic effect of XQLT in Der p-sensitized mice. XQLT extracts (1 gm/kg) were administered to sensitized mice 1 h before allergen challenge (AC) (group A), 24 h after AC (group B), and every other day six times before AC (group C), respectively. Cellular infiltration and T-cell subsets in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of allergen-challenged mice were analyzed. Intrapulmonary lymphocytes were also isolated to evaluate their response to allergen stimulation.

RESULTS

When XQLT was administered to the sensitized mice before AC (groups A and C), it suppressed airway inflammation by decreasing the number of total cells and eosinophil infiltration in the BALF, and downregulated the allergen- or mitogen-induced intrapulmonary lymphocyte response of sensitized mice as compared to those of controls. This immunomodulatory effect of XQLT may be exerted through the regulation of T-cell subsets by elevation or activation of the CD8+ and double-negative T-cell population in the lung. However, the administration of XQLT to sensitized mice 24 h after AC (group B) did not have the same inhibitory effect on the airway inflammation as XQLT given before AC.

CONCLUSIONS

The administration of XQLT before AC has the immunomodulatory effect of reducing bronchial inflammation in the allergen-sensitized mice.

Immunomodulation of Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang on in vitro granulocyte colony-stimulating-factor and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang (BZYQT) is a Chinese medicine, and has been used for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. At present, we still do not fully understand the effects of BZYQT on the cellular physiology. Present in vitro study demonstrated that BZYQT is capable of increasing granulocyte colony-stimulating-factor (G-CSF) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in healthy volunteers and patients with HCC. The productions of G-CSF and TNF-alpha by PBMC of volunteers were significantly stimulated by more than 125 microg/ml of BZYQT. G-CSF levels stimulated by PBMC of healthy volunteers were higher than in PBMC of the HCC patients when more than 625 microg/ml of BZYQT was administrated. The reason may be due to the impaired immunologic reactivity of mononuclear cells in HCC patients. However, the production levels of TNF-alpha in HCC patients can be stimulated to levels as high as those in healthy volunteers. When adding high concentration (3.125 mg/ml) of BZYQT to the cultured PBMC, the increments of G-CSF and TNF-alpha production decreased although there were no obvious changes in the number of metabolic active PBMC changed. TNF-alpha andG-CSF are known to play important roles in the biological defensive mechanism. These findings show that BZYQT is a unique formula for the stimulation of PBMC to produce G-CSF and TNF-alpha. Administration of BZYQT may be beneficial for patients with HCC to modulate these cytokines.

Effect of San-Ao-Tang on immediate and late airway response and leukocyte infiltration in asthmatic guinea pigs

San-Ao-Tang (SAT), a traditional Chinese medicines, has been used to treat patients with the bronchial asthma for several centuries. However, the therapeutic mechanisms of this Chinese medicine are still far from clear. To understand the mechanism of antiasthmatic property of SAT, a guinea pig model of allergic asthma was used to investigate the effects of SAT on Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus-induced immediate and late asthmatic responses and airway inflammation. Our results showed that administration of SAT (10 g/kg) extracts significantly inhibited the antigen induced immediate asthmatic responses (IAR) in actively sensitized guinea pig. Examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) revealed that SAT significantly inhibited the increase in neutrophil in the airway at 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 hr after antigen challenge. Histopathologic examination showed SAT suppressed the neutrophil infiltration into lung tissue. These results suggest that the antiasthmatic effect of SAT be mainly due to its bronchodilator effect and its ability to inhibit the neutrophil into the airway. The precise mechanism of action of SAT in asthma remains to be elucidated.

Ameliorative effect of traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions on alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate and carbon-tetrachloride induced toxicity in rats

Syh-Mo-Yin (SMY), Guizhi-Fuling-Wan (GFW), Shieh-Qing-Wan (SQW) and Syh-Nih-San (SNS) are prescriptions of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for liver disease. The effects of these four prescriptions against experimental liver injury induced by alpha-Naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) were studied. Rats treated with ANIT (100 mg/kg) exhibited elevations of serum total bilirubin (TBI), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamate-oxalatetransaminase (sGOT) and glutamate-pyruvate-transminase (sGPT) as well as cholestasis and parenchymanecrosis. In rats receiving SMY, SQW and SNS treatment after ANIT challenged, the biochemical and morphological parameters of liver injury were significantly reduce. Elevated lipid peroxidation (LPO) level in liver tissue, associated with an increase in serum GOT and GPT level, was observed in CCl4-treated rats. Treatment with these four prescriptions on CCl4-induced liver injury rats showed a remarkable hepatoprotective effect. A significant decrease in peroxidative level suggested that these prescriptions have anti free radical properties.

Inhibition effect of shengma-gegen-tang on measles virus in Vero cells and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Shengma-Gegen-Tang has long been used against measles virus in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) as well as in Vero cells. One hundred micrograms/ml Shengma-Gegen-Tang in PBMC displays significant anti-measles activity, whereas the same concentration in Vero cells does not. After eight days of infection, the release of virus is significantly suppressed by Shengma-Gegen-Tang in the case of PBMC. In addition, Shengma-Gegen-Tang has a selective stimulation to the secretion of cytokine TNF-alpha in PBMC. Time kinetic analysis indicated that the stimulation of secretion was rapid and could be detected only 2 hrs following the treatment of the PBMC. It rose to an optimal level in 8-12 hrs. These findings suggest that the magnification of anti-measles virus activity of this agent is lymphocyte dependent and may well be mediated by TNF-alpha.