Mechanism of neuroprotective effect induced by QingKaiLing as an adjuvant drug in rabbits with E. coli bacterial meningitis

Qingkailing Injection () for Treatment of Children Pneumonia Induced by Respiratory Syncytial Virus: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Qingkailing Injection (, QKL) for treatment of children pneumonia caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

METHODS

Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing QKL with ribavirin injection in the treatment of children pneumonia induced by RSV were searched in PubMed, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, Chinese VIP database, CNKI and Wanfang databases from their inception to March 2014. Meta-analyses were performed using RevMan 5.2 software. The methodological quality of the selected RCTs was evaluated by the Modified Jadad Score. The primary outcome measures were effective rate and the secondary outcomes were relief time of fever and cough.

RESULTS

Seven RCTs with 992 cases published from 2008 to 2013 were identified. The meta-analysis results indicated that QKL was more effective in cure rate [risk ratios (RR)=1.32, 95% CI (1.17, 1.50), P<0.01], total effective rate [RR=1.07, 95% CI (1.02, 1.13), P=0.009] and less fever clearance time [mean difference=-0.73, 95% CI (-1.22,-0.23), P=0.004], compared with ribavirin injection in the treatment of RSV-induced children pneumonia. No dead case was reported in all trials. There were 3 trials mentioned adverse events, 2 reported no obvious adverse event occurred while 1 reported adverse events described as skin hypersensitivity, elevation of ALT, a mild abnormal of hepatic and renal function in both QKL and ribavirin group.

CONCLUSIONS

QKL was an effective and relatively safe option for the treatment of RSV-induced children pneumonia. These therapeutic effects were promising but need to be interpreted with caution due to variations in the treatment and methodological weakness in the studies.

Refined Qingkailing Protects MCAO Mice from Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Apoptosis with a Broad Time Window

In the current study, we are investigating effect of refined QKL on ischemia-reperfusion-induced brain injury in mice. Methods. Mice were employed to induce ischemia-reperfusion injury of brain by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). RQKL solution was administered with different doses (0, 1.5, 3, and 6 mL/kg body weight) at the same time of onset of ischemia, and with the dose of 1.5 mL/kg at different time points (0, 1.5, 3, 6, and 9 h after MCAO). Neurological function and brain infarction were examined and cell apoptosis and ROS at prefrontal cortex were evaluated 24 h after MCAO, and western blot and intracellular calcium were also researched, respectively. Results. RQKL of all doses can improve neurological function and decrease brain infarction, and it performed significant effect in 0, 1.5, 3, and 6 h groups. Moreover, RQKL was able to reduce apoptotic process by reduction of caspase-3 expression, or restraint of eIF2a phosphorylation and caspase-12 activation. It was also able to reduce ROS and modulate intracellular calcium in the brain. Conclusion. RQKL can prevent ischemic-induced brain injury with a time window of 6 h, and its mechanism might be related to suppress ER stress-mediated apoptotic signaling.

Multiple therapeutic effects of adjunctive baicalin therapy in experimental bacterial meningitis

This study aimed to examine effects of adjunctive baicalin therapy to ampicillin for experimental bacterial meningitis in rabbits. After Escherichia Coli inoculation, mean leukocyte counts, concentrations of protein, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 (IL-1) and lactate in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), brain water content and mean arterial and intracranial pressures substantially increased in the meningitis group. Ampicillin alone for 5 h markedly exacerbated the enhanced leukocyte counts and protein concentration, and showed no significant effect on the elevated CSF TNF-alpha, IL-1 and lactate concentration, mean arterial and intracranial pressures, and brain water content. Baicalin (7-D-glucuronic acid-5,6-dihydroxyflavone, C(21)H(18)O(11)) completely counteracted ampicillin-induced exacerbation, and further alleviated the enhanced mean leukocyte counts and protein concentration when combined with ampicillin. Adjunctive baicalin also significantly ameliorated the elevated CSF TNF-alpha, IL-1 and lactate concentration, mean arterial and intracranial pressures, and brain water content. Baicillin, as an adjunctive treatment exerted multiple therapeutic effects in experimental bacterial meningitis.

Qingkailing injection attenuates apoptosis and neurologic deficits in a rat model of intracerebral hemorrhage

AIM OF THE STUDY

Traditional Chinese herb Angong Niuhuang Pill (AGNHP) is a famous preparation for neurological diseases; Qingkailing injection (QKL), an extract of AGNHP has similar clinical applications. This investigation was designed to further elucidate the neuroprotective effect of QKL on intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

ICH was produced in adult Sprague-Dawley rats by injection of collagenase IV. Three incremental doses of QKL injection including low-(0.5 ml/kg), moderate-(1 ml/kg) and high-dosage (2 ml/kg) were administered twice, 3 and 12h following ICH. TUNEL and caspase-3 activity were measured at 1d after ICH, and apomorphine-induced rotation was evaluated at 1d, 7d, 14 d and 28 d.

RESULTS

Administration of high-dose QKL inhibited TUNEL positive cells (p<0.05) and caspase-3 activity (p<0.05) at 1d following ICH, and reduced apomorphine-induced rotation at 1d (p<0.01), 7d, 14 d and 28 d (p<0.05), compared with the controls. However, QKL in a low or moderate dose had no such effect.

CONCLUSION

QKL reduced brain damage of intracerebral hemorrhage through inhibiting apoptosis, which suggested a potential intervention for ICH patients.