Evaluation of the effects of active fractions of chinese medicine formulas on IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α release from ANA-1 murine macrophages. (17th February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ni, Li-Jun; Wang, Nan-Nan; Zhang, Li-Guo; Guo, Yan-Zi; Shi, Wan-Zhong
• Is Part Of: Journal of ethnopharmacology. Volume 179(2016)
• Page Start: 420
• Page End: 431
• Publication Date: 2016-02-17
• Subjects: A mixture of alkaloids of Strychnos nux-vomica and Ephedra sinica at equal ratio -- AC active fraction -- Ae alkaloids of Ephedra sinica -- ANA-1 mouse macrophage -- ANOVA analysis of variance -- As alkaloids of Strychnos nux-vomica at the mass ratio of their original materials in Yaotongning -- Ay the mixture of As and Ae at the mass ratio of Strychnos nux-vomica and Ephedra sinica in Yaotongning -- CCK-8 cell counting Kit-8 -- CMMs component medicinal materials -- Crw the extract of Chinese rice wine -- DMEM Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium -- EC50 half-effective concentrations -- ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay -- F mixture of flavonoids of Carthamus tinctorius, Davallia mariesii, Epimedium sagittatum, Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Taxillus chinensis at equal ratio -- Fct flavonoids of Carthamus tinctorius -- Fdm flavones of Davallia mariesii -- Fes Flavonoids of Epimedium sagittatum -- Fgu Flavonoids of Glycyrrhiza uralensis -- Ftc flavonoids of Taxillus chinensis -- Fy the mixture of flavonoids from component medicinal materials of Yaotongning -- Fi one of the flavonoids (Fct, Fdm, Fes, Fgu, and Ftc) -- GC gas chromatography -- HPLC high performance liquid chromatography -- HRE heating reflux extraction -- HRE and MRA heating reflux method and macroporous resin absorption -- IC50 half- inhibitory concentrations -- IL-1β interleukin-1β -- IL-6 interleukin-6 -- P mixture of polysaccharides of Atractylodes lancea, Cyathula officinalis, Ephedra sinica, Epimedium sagittatum, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, and Taxillus chinensis at an equal ratio -- Pal polysaccharides of Atractylodes lancea -- Pco polysaccharides of Cyathula officinalis -- Pe polysaccharides of Ephedra sinica -- Pes polysaccharides of Epimedium sagittatum -- PGE2 prostaglandin E2 -- Pgu polysaccharides of Glycyrrhiza uralensis -- Ptc polysaccharides of Taxillus chinensis -- Py mixture of Pgu, Pco, Pal, and Pe at the mass ratio of their original materials in Yaotongning -- Pi one of the polysaccharides (Pal, Pco, Pe, Pes, Pgu, and Ptc) -- RA rheumatoid arthritis -- S mixture of saponins of Carthamus tinctorius, Davallia mariesii, Epimedium sagittatum, Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Taxillus chinensis at equal ratio -- Sco saponins of Cyathula officinalis -- SD standard deviation -- Sgu saponins of Glycyrrhiza uralensis -- Spg saponins of Panax ginseng -- Spn saponins of panax notoginseng -- Sy The mixture of Sgu and Sco (saponins from Yaotongning) -- Si one of the saponins (Sco, Sgu, Spg, Spn) -- TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine -- TNF-α tumor necrosis factor-alpha -- UE ultrasound extraction -- UV ultraviolet spectrum -- V mixture of Vbc, Val, Vap, Vca, Vep, and Vbb at an equal mass ratio -- Val volatile oils of Atractylodes lancea -- Vap volatile oils of Angelica pubescens -- Vbb aqueous extracts of Buthus martensii and Bombyx mori -- Vbc volatile oils of Boswellia sacra and Commiphora myrrha -- Vca volatile oils of Cinnamomum cassia Twig -- Ves aqueous extracts of Eupolyphaga sinensis -- Vy mixture of Vbc, Val, Vep, and Vbb (volatile oils/aqueous extracts from YTN) at the mass ratio of their original materials in YTN -- Vi one of the volatile oils/aqueous extracts (Val, Vap, Vbb, Vbc, Vca, and Ves) -- WE and AP water extraction and alcohol precipitation -- WER water extraction coupling rectification -- YTN Yaotongning; Yaotongning formula -- Traditional Chinese Medicine -- Active fractions -- Immune response; Ethnopharmacology -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosy -- Periodicals; Herbs -- Periodicals; Herbs -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosy -- Periodicals; Pharmacognosie -- Périodiques; Herbes -- Périodiques; 615.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.12.052
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0378-8741

Abstract

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Yaotongning (YTN) is a traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that contains ten component medicinal materials (CMMs) and uses Chinese rice wine as a vehicle to enhance its efficacy. YTN has been used for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment in China for decades and has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, as well as to strengthen the immune system. Aim of the study: The present work quantitatively evaluated the in vitro effects of active fractions from the ten CMMs that make up YTN and eight additional herbs commonly used in TCM formulas for RA treatment, as well as different combinations of these active fractions, on cellular immune response; the findings were used to determine which active fractions are responsible for promoting an immune response, and to assess whether YTN is superior to other similar formulas and whether YTN can be improved by simplifying its formula from the point of its cellular immunomodulatory activity. Materials and methods: Using the YTN formulation principles and some concepts in combinatorial chemistry, 27 TCM samples were designed by combining some or all of the active fractions of YTN and other eight herbs used for RA treatment. Release of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) from ANA-1 murine macrophages was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The immunoregulatory effects of the TCM samples were evaluated by comparing their half-effective concentrations (EC50 ) for stimulating the release of these cytokines. Results: Among the investigated active fractions, the flavonoids from Carthamus tinctorius (Fct), Davallia mariesii (Fdm), and Cinnamomum cassia Twig volatile oils (Vca) from the eight selected herbs effectively promoted IL-1β and IL-6 release from ANA-1 cells. Saponins from the YTN CMM Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Sgu) were the most potent promoters of IL-1β and TNF-α release. The aqueous extract of YTN CMM Eupolyphaga sinensis (Ves) strongly enhanced the release of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α from ANA-1 cells. The EC50 values for stimulating the secretion of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α could be determined for only six samples. The full YTN formula and the sample containing 50% Glycyrrhiza uralensis saponins, 25% of the mixture of alkaloids, and 25% of the mixture of all flavonoids exhibited good comprehensive cellular immunomodulatory activity. The immunomodulatory activity of the complete YTN formula was better than that of the sample containing all active fractions of YTN without Chinese rice wine (the YTN vehicle). Conclusions: Sgu and Ves are the primary active fractions of YTN involved in stimulating immune responses. The YTN prescription was reasonably effective at promoting cellular immune responses. Chinese rice wine, the YTN vehicle, strengthened the immunoregulatory activity of YTN. The results of this study demonstrate that the YTN recipe could be improved by reducing the number of CMMs and altering some active fractions without reducing its activity to promote cellular immune responses. Graphical abstract: