ABSTRACT
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Mahuang-Tang (MHT) has traditionally been used in Asia to treat a variety of diseases, such as fever without sweating, joint pain, lower back pain, asthma, and gynecological conditions. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a kind of gynecological disease that causes amenorrhea, infertility, and menopausal and urogenital disorders that could benefit from MHT treatment. AIM OF THE STUDY: In this study, we examined the effects of MHT on ovarian hormones and steroidogenic enzymes in female PCOS rats. METHODS AND RESULTS: The PCOS rat model was induced by Letrozole, and an in vivo evaluation of whether the dietary consumption of MHT improved the PCOS-like symptoms was conducted. The luteinizing hormone (LH) level and luteinizing hormone/follicular-stimulating hormone (LH/FSH) ratio increased in PCOS rats but decreased following MHT treatment. In the PCOS rats, the reduced estrogen level was restored to that of normal controls with MHT treatment in serum. The transcription level(s) of gonadotropin receptors (Fshr and Lhr), steroid receptors (Pgr, and Esr1) and steroidogenic enzymes (Cyp19a1, Hsd3b1, Hsd17a1, and Cyp11a1) changed under the PCOS condition, and were regulated by MHT treatment in the ovaries of PCOS rats. The reproductive tissues of Letrozole-induced PCOS rats were restored into estrogenic condition from androgen environments. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that MHT ameliorates the symptoms of PCOS by improving the dysregulation of ovarian steroids and steroidogenic enzymes in PCOS rats.
Subject(s)
Medicine, Korean Traditional , Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/drug therapy , Animals , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Female , Hormones/blood , Letrozole , Medicine, Traditional , Ovary/drug effects , Ovary/metabolism , Ovary/pathology , Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/chemically induced , Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/genetics , Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/pathology , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Receptors, Gonadotropin/genetics , Receptors, Steroid/genetics , Steroid Hydroxylases/geneticsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoke (CS) is a major contributor to the high incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) featured as chronic inflammation and airway obstruction. Mahuang-Tang is a traditional polyherbal mixture composed of four different herbs. It is widely used in Asia as a remedy for allergic reaction and inflammation. PURPOSE: We investigated the effects of a modificated Mahuang-Tang water extract (MTWE) against airway inflammation caused by CS and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice and cigarette smoke condensate (CSC)-stimulated NCI-H292 cells. METHODS: CS exposed to animals for 1â¯h per day from day 1 to day 7 and treated with LPS intranasally on day 4. One hour before CS exposure, animals were received MTWE (50 or 100â¯mg/kg) by oral gavage. Inflammatory cell count and cytokines levels were measured in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Expression levels of matrix metalloprotease-9 (MMP-9) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) were analyzed by western blotting. RESULTS: MTWE markedly decreased the neutrophil and other inflammatory cell counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and reduced proinflammatory mediators as evidenced by the decreases in inflammatory cell recruitment in lung tissue. Furthermore, MTWE meaningfully declined MMP-9 expression and reduced the Erk phosphorylation, caused by the CS and LPS exposure. In in vitro experiments, MTWE suppressed the elevated expression of proinflammatory cytokines induced by CSC treatment. MTWE reduced Erk phosphorylation and MMP-9 expression in CSC-stimulated H292 cells. CONCLUSION: Overall, MTWE effectively inhibited the pulmonary inflammation and MMP-9 expression caused by the CS and LPS exposure, which was closely involved in suppression of Erk phosphorylation. These results suggest that MTWE possesses a potential for the treatment of COPD.
Subject(s)
Cigarette Smoking/adverse effects , Cytokines/metabolism , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology , Lung/drug effects , Animals , Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid , Cytokines/genetics , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry , Epithelial Cells/drug effects , Epithelial Cells/metabolism , Epithelial Cells/pathology , Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases/metabolism , Humans , Lipopolysaccharides/toxicity , Lung/pathology , Male , Matrix Metalloproteinase 9/metabolism , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Neutrophils/drug effects , Neutrophils/pathology , Phosphorylation/drug effects , Pneumonia/chemically induced , Pneumonia/drug therapy , Pneumonia/pathologyABSTRACT
To study the effect and underlying mechanism of Mahuang Tang against influenza A virus in vitroï¼ the influenza virus-infected Madin-Darby canine kidney(MDCK) cells were used as the carrier in this study to detect the median tissue culture-infective dose(TCID50) of influenza A virus strains(A/PR8/34) on MDCK cells with cytopathic effect(CPE) assay. Blocking influenza virus invading host cells and anti-influenza virus biosynthesis were used as two different administration methodsï¼ and then the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) assay was utilized to determine the antiviral effective rate(ER)ï¼ median efficacious concentration(EC50) and therapeutic index(TI) of Mahuang Tang. The quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) was used to measure virus load and the mRNA expression levels of TLR4ï¼ TLR7ï¼ MyD88 and TRAF6 in MDCK cells at 24ï¼ 48 h after the treatment. The experiment results indicated that TCID50 of A/PR8/34 for MDCK cells was 1×10-4.32/mL. The EC50 values of two different treatment methods were 4.92ï¼1.59 g·L⻹ respectivelyï¼ the TI values were 12.53ï¼ 38.78 respectivelyï¼ and when the concentration of Mahuang Tang was 5.00 g·Lâ»¹ï¼ ER values were 50.21%ï¼ 98.41% respectivelyï¼ showing that Mahuang Tang can block influenza virus into the host cells and significantly inhibit their biosynthesis. Meanwhileï¼ as compared with the virus groupï¼ the virus load was significantly inhibited in Mahuang Tang groupsï¼ and Mahuang Tang high and middle doses had the significant effect on decreasing the mRNA expression of TLR4ï¼ TLR7ï¼MyD88 and TRAF6 at 24ï¼ 48 h after the treatment. It can be demonstrated that the mechanisms of Mahuang Tang against influenza A virus are related to the inhibition of influenza virus replication and the mRNA expression of correlative genes in TLR4 and TLR7 signaling pathways.
Subject(s)
Antiviral Agents/pharmacology , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology , Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/drug effects , Orthomyxoviridae Infections , Animals , Dogs , Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/physiology , Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells , Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism , Toll-Like Receptor 7/metabolism , Virus Replication/drug effectsABSTRACT
To study the effect and underlying mechanism of Mahuang Tang against influenza A virus , the influenza virus-infected Madin-Darby canine kidney(MDCK) cells were used as the carrier in this study to detect the median tissue culture-infective dose(TCID₅₀) of influenza A virus strains(A/PR8/34) on MDCK cells with cytopathic effect(CPE) assay. Blocking influenza virus invading host cells and anti-influenza virus biosynthesis were used as two different administration methods, and then the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) assay was utilized to determine the antiviral effective rate(ER), median efficacious concentration(EC₅₀) and therapeutic index(TI) of Mahuang Tang. The quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) was used to measure virus load and the mRNA expression levels of TLR4, TLR7, MyD88 and TRAF6 in MDCK cells at 24, 48 h after the treatment. The experiment results indicated that TCID₅₀ of A/PR8/34 for MDCK cells was 1×10-4.32/mL. The EC₅₀ values of two different treatment methods were 4.92,1.59 g·L⁻¹ respectively, the TI values were 12.53, 38.78 respectively, and when the concentration of Mahuang Tang was 5.00 g·L⁻¹, ER values were 50.21%, 98.41% respectively, showing that Mahuang Tang can block influenza virus into the host cells and significantly inhibit their biosynthesis. Meanwhile, as compared with the virus group, the virus load was significantly inhibited in Mahuang Tang groups, and Mahuang Tang high and middle doses had the significant effect on decreasing the mRNA expression of TLR4, TLR7,MyD88 and TRAF6 at 24, 48 h after the treatment. It can be demonstrated that the mechanisms of Mahuang Tang against influenza A virus are related to the inhibition of influenza virus replication and the mRNA expression of correlative genes in TLR4 and TLR7 signaling pathways.
Subject(s)
Animals , Dogs , Antiviral Agents , Pharmacology , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Pharmacology , Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype , Physiology , Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells , Orthomyxoviridae Infections , Toll-Like Receptor 4 , Metabolism , Toll-Like Receptor 7 , Metabolism , Virus ReplicationABSTRACT
Object To establish a quantitative method for ephedrine and pseudoephedrine in the aqueous decoctions of MAHUANG TANG (ADMHT) by GC MS, and to determine the content of the two components in decoctions of the different recipes consisted of Herba Ephedrae, and other herbs by using the quantitative method will be established, so as to study the effect of compatible medicinal herbs on the release of the two components in Herba Ephedrae to decoctions Methods The quantitative method by the help of characteristic ion was used in GC MS Results The content of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine in decoction prepared from Herba Ephedrae and Semen Armeniacae Amarum evidently decreases, the content of two components in decoction prepared from Herba Ephedrae and Ramulus Cinnamomin evidently increases, the content of two components in decoction prepared from Herba Ephedrae and Radix Glycyrrhizae has no obvious change, as compared with that of two components in decoction from Herba Ephedrae alone Conclusion The method is good in the aspect of separable effect, sensitivity and reproducibility The method not only can quantify the two components, but also provide the bases of quality control for the pharmacokinetic study and therapeutic detection of Herba Ephedra recipes