Evaluation and screening of anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of active fraction prescriptions in Chinese materia medica based on Yaotongning Capsule / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: According to the results of preliminary cellular pharmacological experiments, 13 active fractions, including Yaotongning Capsule (YTNC) whole formula, were designed to evaluate their in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities to look for candidate prescriptions for rheumatism treatment. Methods: The in vitro anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of the prescriptions were estimated by detecting their ability to inhibit 3H-bradykinin binding to its receptor and ability to inhibit 3H-naloxone binding to opioid receptors, respectively. And the tests were conducted by a liquid scintillation counter to check the content of the isotope 3H as evaluating indicator. Ear edema model in mice induced by dimethylbenzene test, hot plate test, and acetic acid writhing test in mice were conducted to evaluate the in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the prescriptions. Results: YTNC whole formula had good in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. However, the prescription containing equal amount of Ephedra sinica alkaloids, Glycyrrhiza uralensis aponins, and Carthamus tinctorius flavones (Sample VI) as well as the optimized and decomposed formula of YTNC (Sample VIII), which was designed by reducing 90% of Strychnos nux-vomica alkaloids from YTNC's decomposed formula composed by alkaloids, flavonoids, and saponins in YTNC, performed more excellent in vitro anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects than whole formula of YTNC. However, Sample VI did not exhibit obvious in vivo analgesic effect, but the in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the optimized and decomposed formula of YTNC (Sample VIII) were more significantly better than those of YTNC whole formula. It also had significantly better analgesic effect than aspirin (the positive control drug) in acetic acid writhing test. Conclusion: The optimized and decomposed formula of YTNC could be a candidate drug for rheumatism treatment. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, safety, and quality control ability of YTNC could be improved by reducing the varieties of material medicines and active fractions and the content of S. nux-vomica alkaloids in YTNC.