ABSTRACT
<b>Objective::To investigate the effect of Houpu Mahuangtang on airway inflammation and expressions of gene and proteins of Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1, vanilloid 1 (TRPA1, TRPV1) in asthmatic mice. <b>Method::Sixty female Balb/c mice were randomly divided into six groups: control group, model group, low, medium and high-dose Houpu Mahuangtang groups (7, 14, 28 g·kg<sup>-1</sup>) and dexamethasone group (0.002 4 g·kg<sup>-1</sup>), with 10 mice in each group. A mouse model of asthma was replicated by sensitizing and challenging with ovalbumin. The changes of enhanced pause (Penh) following acetylcholine chloride (ACh) inhalation were detected. The pathological changes of the lung tissues were observed. The number of eosinophils (EOS) in peripheral blood and the percentage of EOS in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected. Interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, prostaglandin D<sub>2</sub> (PGD<sub>2</sub>) and substance P (SP) were detected by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA). The expressions of TRPA1 and TRPV1 gene and protein in lung tissues were detected by Quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Western blot. <b>Result::Compared with control group, mice of model group showed significantly increased in Penh following ACh inhalation (<italic>P</italic><0.05, <italic>P</italic><0.01), EOS in blood and the percentage of EOS in BALF (<italic>P</italic><0.01). Histopathological changes in lungs showed inflammatory cell infiltration and bronchial mucosa damage. The levels of IL-4, IL-13, PGD<sub>2</sub> and SP in BALF and the expressions of TRPA1, TRPV1 mRNA and protein in lung tissues significantly increased (<italic>P</italic><0.05, <italic>P</italic><0.01). Compared with model group, treatment groups had significant effects in decreasing Penh, relieving lung injury, reducing EOS count in blood and the percentage of EOS in BALF (<italic>P</italic><0.05, <italic>P</italic><0.01), reducing IL-4, IL-13, PGD<sub>2</sub> and SP levels in BALF (<italic>P</italic><0.05, <italic>P</italic><0.01), as well as down-regulating TRPA1 and TRPV1 mRNA and protein expressions in lung tissues (<italic>P</italic><0.05, <italic>P</italic><0.01). <b>Conclusion::Houpu Mahuangtang could reduce airway inflammation, airway responsiveness. In addition to the reduction of levels of Th2 related cytokines, the mechanism of Houpu Mahuangtang might be related to the regulation of TRPA1, TRPV1 mRNA and protein expressions, and the decrease of associated neurofactor levels.
ABSTRACT
In order to explore the compatible principles of Xiebai decoction family, formulae from ancient and modern Xiebai decoction family were collected and sorted in this study. The compatible characteristics, core herbs, as well as the relativity of herbs nature in Xiebai decoction family were analyzed based on scale free network and other data-mining methods such as association rules, clustering analysis and correspondence analysis. The scale free network results showed that in Xiebai decoction family, Mori Cortex-Lycii Cortex-Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma was used as the core compatible group and formed the complicated compatible network with other additional herbs; association rules results showed that the core herbs in such formulae included Mori Cortex, Lycii Cortex, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, scutellaria root, Platycodon root, Anemarrhena, and almond, which formed corresponding herbal pairs and compatibility; clustering analysis showed that Mori Cortex was the core herb in Xiebai decoction family, and Mori Cortex-Lycii Cortex-Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma was its main combination unit, which was always compatible with herbs of clearing heat, reducing phlegm, supplementing Qi and nourishing Yin to form the series prescriptions. The results indicated that the core compatibility features of Xiebai decoction family were clearing heat in lung and relieving cough and asthma, providing a basis for the clinical application of Xiebai decoction family.
ABSTRACT
Chinese herbal decoction pieces are the basic approaches for clinical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), reflecting the features and advantages of TCM. In order to investigate the clinical application status and features of Chinese herbal decoction pieces, the questionnaire on application of commonly used Chinese herbal decoction pieces was designed in this study for analysis of the application situations of Chinese herbal decoction pieces from 56 medical institutions in 10 provinces. The results showed 549 varieties of Chinese herbs and 801 varieties of decoction pieces were used on clinic. They can be classified into 19 categories according to their effects. The varieties of Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Huangqi (Astragali Radix), Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), Chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephale Rhizima), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Danggui (Angelicae Sinenses Radix), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) and Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix) were most common ones; the application of Chinese herbal decoction pieces from different medical institutions was differentiated from areas to areas. The survey results reflected the general situation about application of decoction pieces, providing the basic data for recording and completing Chinese herbal decoction pieces in essential drug system, with certain reference significance for the production of Chinese medicinal materials and the allocation of the varieties of Chinese herbal decoction pieces.