Effect of six polysaccharides in formulas derived from Yaotongning on expression of inflammatory cytokines in macrophages and proliferation of chondrocyte / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: On the basis of formulas derived from Yaotongning (YTN) Capsules to compare the different cellular pharmacological activity of six kinds of Chinese materia medica (CMM) polysaccharides, thus to supply the evidence for the screening of candidate medicines for rheumatoid bone diseases. Methods: Six samples were designed by respectively adding the polysaccharides of Glycyrrhizae Radix, Atractylodis Rhizoma, Cyathulae Radix, Ephedrae Herba, Epimedii Herba, and Taxilli Herba, at 50% into the six mixtures based on the derived formula of YTN. Murine macrophage cells and chondrocytes were exposed to the new recipes, and then the half-inhibitive concentration (IC50) and half-effective concentration (EC50) were applied to evaluating their activity for inhibiting secretion of PGE2 in Ana-1 cells induced by LPS and activities for stimulating the production of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in Ana-1 cells as well as activity for promoting IL-1β-induced proliferation of chondrocytes by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The interactions among the active fractions were evaluated by comparing the experimental EC50/IC50 values to their corresponding additive EC50/IC50 values, which were calculated by the least square method. Results: Among the six formulas derived from YTN, except for one of the two formulas mainly consisted by polysaccharides of Taxilli Herba or Epimedii Herba, whose activities for inhibiting the production of PGE2 in Ana-1 cells induced by LPS, promoting the secretion of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in Ana-1 cells, and stimulating the secretion of chondrocytes induced by IL-1β were significantly weaker than those of YTN. The activities of other four formulas which were respectively consisted by 50% one of polysaccharides from YTN material medicines were better than those of YTN or statistically equivalent to YTN. The sample mainly composed of polysaccharides of Cyathulae Radix worked well on inhibiting the production of PGE2 in Ana-1 cells induced by LPS, promoting the secretion of IL-6, IL-1β in macrophages, and stimulating the secretion of chondrocytes. Conclusion: The polysaccharides of Cyathulae Radix have the good effect on cellular anti-inflammation, immune regulation, and chondrocytes proliferation. It can be a candidate for the active fraction of polysaccharides in the prescription of rheumatoid disease.