Anti-inflammatory effects of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. male flower extract on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. is a medicinal plant native to China, with its bark (Eucommiae Cortex) traditionally being used for medicinal purposes. Previous research has shown that Eucommia male flowers can exert anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, and other pharmacological effects, including immune regulation. This study explored the anti-inflammatory effects of the 70% ethanol extract of male flowers (EF) of E. ulmoides in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and LPS-administered mice.@*METHODS@#Cytotoxicity of EF for RAW 264.7 cells was investigated using Cell Counting Kit-8. The production of proinflammatory mediators, nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. IL-17, IL-23, and IL-10 mRNA levels were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Activation of the nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway in RAW 264.7 cells was investigated via Western blotting. In vivo anti-inflammatory effects of EF were studied in an LPS-induced acute inflammation mouse model by analyzing lung tissue histopathology, serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in lung tissue.@*RESULTS@#EF showed no significant cytotoxicity at concentrations from 10 to 60 μg/mL (cell viability > 80%) in the CCK-8 cell viability assay. EF inhibited the RAW 264.7 cell proliferation (EF 60 μg/mL, 120 μg/mL, and 250 μg/mL vs. negative control: 87.31 ± 2.39% vs. 100.00 ± 2.50%, P = 0.001; 79.01 ± 2.56 vs. 100.00 ± 2.50%, P < 0.001; and 64.83 ± 2.50 vs. 100.00 ± 2.50%, P < 0.001), suppressed NO (EF 20 μg/mL and 30 μg/mL vs. LPS only, 288.81 ± 38.01 vs. 447.68 ± 19.07 μmol/L, P = 0.004; and 158.80 ± 45.14 vs. 447.68 ± 19.07 μmol/L, P < 0.001), TNF-α (LPS+EF vs. LPS only, 210.20 ± 13.85 vs. 577.70 ± 5.35 pg/mL, P < 0.001), IL-1β (LPS+EF vs. LPS only, 193.30 ± 10.80 vs. 411.03 ± 42.28 pg/mL, P < 0.001), and IL-6 (LPS+EF vs. LPS only, 149.67 ± 11.60 vs. 524.80 ± 6.24 pg/mL, P < 0.001) secretion, and downregulated the mRNA expression of IL-17 (LPS+EF vs. LPS only, 0.23 ± 0.02 vs. 0.43 ± 0.12, P < 0.001), IL-23 (LPS+EF vs. LPS only, 0.29 ± 0.01 vs. 0.42 ± 0.06, P=0.002), and IL-10 (LPS+EF vs. LPS only, 0.30 ± 0.01 vs. 0.47 ± 0.01, P=0.008) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. EF inhibited the LPS-induced NF-κB p65 (LPS+EF 20 μg/mL and 30 μg/mL vs. LPS only: 0.78 ± 0.06 vs. 1.17 ± 0.08, P < 0.001; and 0.90 ± 0.06 vs. 1.17 ± 0.08, P =0.002) and inhibitor of kappa B (IκBα) phosphorylation (LPS+EF 20 μg/mL and 30 μg/mL vs. LPS only: 0.25 ± 0.01 vs. 0.63 ± 0.03, P < 0.001; and 0.31 ± 0.01 vs. 0.63 ± 0.03, P < 0.001), LPS+EF 30 μg/mL inhibited IκB kinase (IKKα/β) phosphorylation (LPS+EF 30 μg/mL vs. LPS only, 1.12 ± 0.14 vs. 1.71 ± 0.25, P = 0.002) in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, EF 10 mg/kg and EF 20 mg/kg inhibited lung tissue inflammation in vivo and suppressed the serum TNF-α (LPS+EF 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg vs. LPS only, 199.99 ± 186.49 vs. 527.90 ± 263.93 pg/mL, P=0.001; and 260.56 ± 175.83 vs. 527.90 ± 263.93 pg/mL, P = 0.005), and IL-6 (LPS+EF 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg vs. LPS only, 41.26 ± 30.42 vs. 79.45 ± 14.16 pg/ ml, P = 0.011; and 42.01 ± 26.26 vs. 79.45 ± 14.16 pg/mL, P = 0.012) levels and MPO (LPS+EF 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg vs. LPS only, 3.19 ± 1.78 vs. 5.39 ± 1.51 U/g, P = 0.004; and 3.32 ± 1.57 vs. 5.39 ± 1.51 U/g, P = 0.006) activity in lung tissue.@*CONCLUSIONS@#EF could effectively inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors and overactivation of neutrophils. Further investigation is needed to evaluate its potential for anti-inflammation therapy.

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of ethanol extract of Toddalia asiatica / 中成药

AIM To study the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of ethanol extract of Toddalia asiatica Lamn.and the mechanism.METHODS Both inflammatory rat model induced by carrageenan and pain model induced by formalin were applied to investigating the analgesic effect of extract of Toddalia asiatica Lam.ELISA kit was used to detect the contents of β-EP,5-HT and PGE2 in serum of carrageenan-treated rats,contents of TNF-αand IL-1β in skin tissue of inflammatory rats,and content of LTB4 in serum of formalin-treated rats;immunohistochemical method was used to observe the SP and FOS protein expressions in rat spinal cord.RESULTS The ethanol extract of Toddalia asiatica Lam.could significantly reduce the rate of toe swelling.In the formalin test,the ethanol extract of Toddalia asiatica Lam.reduced not only the total licking time,but also the content of PGE2,especially in the high dose group.And lowered serum 5-HT contents were observed in all the three dose groups,but a much better performance was found in both the high and low dose groups,and the high dose group's capability in increasing serum β-EP content was also noticed.TNF-α and IL-1β contents in skin tissue were reduced in various dose groups.Middle and high dose groups inhibited FOS protein expression.And the content of LTB4 in serum was obviously decreased in the high dose group.CONCLUSION The anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of ethanol extract of Toddalia asiatica Lam.may associate with its power in increasing β-EP in serum,decreasing PGE2,5-HT,LTB4 contents,reducing TNF-α,IL-1β contents in skin tissue,and lowering SP and FOS protein expressions in spinal cord.

Effects of Alcohol Extracts of Bark and Male Flower of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. on Airway Allergic Inflammation of Model Mice / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To investigate the effects of alcohol extract of bark and male flower of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. on airway allergic inflammation induced by chicken ovalbumin (OVA) in mice; To explore its mechanism of action. Methods On day 0, day 7, mice were intraperitoneally injected OVA for sensitization, followed by nasal stimulation for 21 days to establish airway allergic inflammation mice models. The mice were divided into normal group, model group, alcohol extract of bark of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. group, alcohol extract of male flower of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.group,and Dexamethasone group.Each medication group was given relevant medicine for gavage. The lung tissue was embedded in HE and PAS dyeing, to observe the pathological changes of bronchus and surrounding lung. The levels of serum OVA-IgE, IL-4, IFN-γ and IL-13 were measured by ELISA. The expression of ICAM-1, VEGF, MMP9 and TIMP1 were detected by immunohistochemistry. Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of Th17 cells in peripheral blood. The expressions of TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA in lung tissue were detected by RT-PCR. Results The model group showed changes of airway allergic inflammatory such as eosinophils and other inflammatory cell infiltration, bronchial spasm, and mucus secretion. Lung histopathology in alcohol extract of bark and male flower of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.groups was improved significantly(P<0.05).Compared with the normal group, the levels of serum OVA-IgE, IL-4 and IL-13 increased in model group, while the level of IFN-γ decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). The expressions of ICAM-1, VEGF and MMP9 increased, while the expression of TIMP1 decreased (P<0.01); peripheral blood IL-17+cells increased (P<0.01); the expressions of TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA increased. Compared with the model group, the levels of serum OVA-IgE, IL-4 and IL-13 decreased in alcohol extract of bark and male flower of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. groups (P<0.05, P<0.01); the expressions of ICAM-1 and VEGF decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01); the expression of TIMP1 increased. Alcohol extract of bark and male flower of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.could down-regulate IL-17+cells,reduce the expression of IL-6 mRNA(P<0.05,P<0.01). Alcohol extract of bark of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. group could induce the secretion of IFN-γ (P<0.01), and down-regulate the expression of TNF-α mRNA(P<0.05).Alcohol extract of male flower of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. group could significantly down-regulate the expression of MMP9 (P<0.05). Conclusion Alcohol extract of bark and male flower of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.can induce the production of OVA-IgE,inhibit secretion of Th2 cytokines, inhibit the expression of adhesion molecules, depress Th17 cells, so as to inhibit the airway allergic inflammation.

Antipyretic Effects of Liposoluble Fractions of Viola yedoensis / 中草药·英文版

Objective: To clarify the antipyretic effect of the Chinese materia medica, Violae Herba (Viola yedoensis), and its active fractions by examining the effects of V. yedoensis extracts with differing polarities on body temperature, total white blood cell (WBC) count, WBC differential count, and total serum complement of rabbits with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced fever. Methods: The rabbits were treated with water and ethanolic extracts of V. yedoensis, as well as petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol fractions of the ethanolic extract at low-, mid- and high- doses. The LPS was injected via the ear vein of rabbits in model and treatment groups 30 min post-gavage. Their body temperature was measured at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 h after the LPS challenge to calculate the temperature changes and thermal response index. After the last temperature measurement, blood samples were collected to determine the blood cell counts and total serum complement (CH50) level. Results: Compared with the model group, body temperature was significantly lower in the low-dose ethanolic extract group, low- and mid-dose petroleum ether fraction groups, and all three ethyl acetate fraction groups. Serum CH50 levels were lower in all treatment groups, except the ethanolic extract groups, than that in the model group, with no significant difference. V. yedoensis had no significant effect on the blood cells of febrile rabbits challenged with LPS for 6 h. Conclusions: The antipyretic effects of V. yedoensis are strong, and its active fractions are the petroleum ether and ethyl acetate fractions of ethanolic extract.