ABSTRACT
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease involving eosinophils, mast cells, lymphocytes, neutrophils and other inflammatory cells and immune components. Chinese medicine has unique advantages in the treatment of asthma. In this study an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma model in rats was used to verify the effect of the total sesquiterpenoids of Flos Farfarae (F.F.S) on asthma. The results show that the F.F.S has anti-asthmatic effects. Metabolomic analysis showed that 25 metabolites were changed in asthmatic rats, and 18 of them could be attributed to F.F.S. F.F.S. can block the over-activation of p65 NF-κB, preventing the transmission of pro-inflammatory factor signals to cells. F.F.S. thus could reduce the over-activation of inflammatory cells, inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory factors and further alleviating asthma inflammation. This study lays a foundation for further new drug research. The mechanism of F.F.S. on asthma needs further investigation.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To compare the toxicity of the flower buds and leaves from Tussilago farfara, and provide scientific basis for the utilization of the leaves of T. farfara. Methods: The 3 dpf (day post fertilization) healthy AB and transgene zebrafish were selected. The flowers, the leaves, the flowers coupled with Aster tataricus, and the leaves coupled with A. tataricus were prepared at the concentration of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/mL. The fluorescent area of the liver and ALT and AST levels were measured after 72 h of drug treatment. For the renal toxicity assay, the morphology of zebrafish and the nutrient solution protein were also determined. Results: Compared with the control group, there were no significant differences in liver biochemical indexes in the four drug treatment groups. However, the fluorescence area of liver decreased in the flowers and flowers coupled with A. tataricus group at the concentration of 1.5 mg/mL. No significant difference was observed in the four groups of the nephrotoxicity assay. Conclusion: The flower and the flower coupled with A. tataricus showed minor hepatotoxicity at higher doses, and the leaves showed no stronger toxicity than the flower buds in comparison with the flower buds. It can provide refercences for the resource utilization of the leaves of T. farfara.
ABSTRACT
Asthma is a chronic airway inflammation caused by a variety of factors, involving a variety of cells and cellular components, which is often accompanied by airway hyperresponsiveness and airway remodeling. At present, asthma has become a common chronic respiratory disease. There exists close relationship between the asthma and signaling pathways. MAPK, PI3K/Akt, NF-κB, TGF-β, Notch and Wnt pathways related to the asthma were extensively studied currently. Traditional Chinese medicine shows advantages in the treatment of chronic diseases such as asthma. In order to explain the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of asthma and develop new asthma drugs originated from traditional Chinese medicine, the role of traditional Chinese medicine in the intervention of related signaling pathways of asthma was reviewed. In addition, the relationship between signaling pathway and pathogenesis (airway inflammation, airway hyperresponsive, and airway remodeling) were also discussed.
ABSTRACT
Traditional Chinese medicinal materials (TCMMs) are the material basis of the traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) in the treatment of disease, and the inherent quality of the TCMMs are of crucial importance for the efficacy and safety of TCM. Most of the TCMMs are originated from the plants with complex chemical compositions, and the chemical diversity is inevitable. How to clarify the relationship between the chemical identity and the biological activity is the key point for quality control of TCMMs in the establishment of the quality standards. The components with great impact on the biological activities should be used as index compounds in the quality evaluation. In this study, based on the results in our previous studies, a research idea on the evaluation of quality difference of TCMMs is proposed. Its application and existing problems are also discussed.