Topical application of glycyrrhizin preparation ameliorates experimentally induced colitis in rats

Network pharmacology and experimental validation to explore the mechanism of Changji'an formula against irritable bowel syndrome with predominant diarrhea

Changji'an Formula (CJAF) is a Chinese herbal compound, which is effective against irritable bowel syndrome with predominant diarrhea (IBS-D) in clinic. However, the molecular mechanism has not been well defined. In the current study, the potential targets and signaling pathways of CJAF against IBS-D were predicted using network pharmacology analysis. The pharmacological mechanisms of CJAF against IBS-D and the potential mechanism were validated by using an IBS-D mouse model induced by enema with trinitrobenzene-sulfonic acid (TNBS) plus with restraint stress and further intervened with CJAF. A total of 232 active compounds of CJAF were obtained, a total of 397 potential targets for the active ingredients were retrieved and a total of 219 common targets were obtained as the potential targets of CJAF against IBS-D. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that multiple targets were enriched and could be experimentally validated in a mouse model of IBS-D. The mechanisms were mainly converged on the immune and inflammatory pathways, especially the NF-κB, TNF and IL-17 signaling pathway, which were closely involved in the treatment of CJAF against IBS-D. Animal experiment showed that CJAF alleviated visceral hypersensitivity and diarrhea symptom of IBS-D. CJAF also restored the histological and ultrastructure damage of IBS-D. The result of Western blot showed that CJAF upregulated colonic tight junction proteins of ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-1. Further results demonstrated that CJAF inhibited the protein expression of NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome pathway targets and downregulated proinflammatory mediators of IL-1β, IL-18, TNF-α. In conclusion, CJAF could effectively reduce inflammatory response and alleviate visceral hypersensitivity as well as diarrhea symptom of IBS-D by inhibiting the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway. This study not only reveals the mechanism of CJAF against IBS-D, but also provides a novel therapeutic strategy for IBS-D.

Complementary medicines used in ulcerative colitis and unintended interactions with cytochrome P450-dependent drug-metabolizing enzymes

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an idiopathic, chronic inflammatory disease with multiple genetic and a variety of environmental risk factors. Although current drugs significantly aid in controlling the disease, many people have led to the application of complementary therapies due to the common belief that they are natural and safe, as well as due to the consideration of the side effect of current drugs. Curcumin, cannabinoids, wheatgrass, Boswellia, wormwood and Aloe vera are among the most commonly used complementary medicines in UC. However, these treatments may have adverse and toxic effects due to unintended interactions with drugs or drug-metabolizing enzymes such as cytochrome P450s; thus, being ignorant of these interactions might cause deleterious effects with severe consequences. In addition, the lack of complete and controlled long-term studies with the use of these complementary medicines regarding drug metabolism pose additional risk and unsafety. Thus, this review aims to give an overview of the potential interactions of drug-metabolizing enzymes with the complementary botanical medicines used in UC, drawing attention to possible adverse effects.

Animal Models and Pathogenesis of Ulcerative Colitis

Background

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a kind of inflammatory bowel disease which is needed to be predicted.

Objective

To analyze various animal models of UC conditions and summarizes the animal selection, model progression, and pathogenic mechanisms of UC animal models.

Methods

We surveyed the research papers published in PubMed, Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, CNKI, SciFinder, and Web of Science in the past 5 years and discussed the experimental animals, modeling methods, and pathogenic mechanisms.

Results

In the selection of experimental animals, rats are considered the best experimental animals. The mainstream modeling methods can be categorized into the chemical stimulation method, immune stimulation method, and compound method, among which the compound method is the most successful. In the study of the pathogenesis of UC, the pathogenesis of UC is due to various pathogenic factors, such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandins (PG), proinflammatory factors (IL, TNF-α), and intestinal flora.

Conclusion

The method of building an animal model of UC is well-established, providing a more targeted selection of animal models for future related experiments.

The Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)-Derived Compounds in Intestinal Disorders

Intestinal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) and colorectal cancer (CRC), are a significant source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Epidemiological data have shown that IBD patients are at an increased risk for the development of CRC. IBD-associated cancer develops against a background of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, and their products contribute to cancer development and progression. Therefore, the discovery of novel drugs for the treatment of intestinal diseases is urgently needed. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) has been largely used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine. Licorice and its derived compounds possess antiallergic, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor effects. These pharmacological properties aid in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. In this review, we discuss the pharmacological potential of bioactive compounds derived from Licorice and addresses their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. We also discuss how the mechanisms of action in these compounds can influence their effectiveness and lead to therapeutic effects on intestinal disorders.

Natural Anti-Inflammatory Compounds as Drug Candidates for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) represents chronic recurrent intestinal inflammation resulting from various factors. Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) have been identified as the two major types of IBD. Currently, most of the drugs for IBD used commonly in the clinic have adverse reactions, and only a few drugs present long-lasting treatment effects. Moreover, issues of drug resistance and disease recurrence are frequent and difficult to resolve. Together, these issues cause difficulties in treating patients with IBD. Therefore, the development of novel therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of IBD is of significance. In this context, research on natural compounds exhibiting anti-inflammatory activity could be a novel approach to developing effective therapeutic strategies for IBD. Phytochemicals such as astragalus polysaccharide (APS), quercetin, limonin, ginsenoside Rd, luteolin, kaempferol, and icariin are reported to be effective in IBD treatment. In brief, natural compounds with anti-inflammatory activities are considered important candidate drugs for IBD treatment. The present review discusses the potential of certain natural compounds and their synthetic derivatives in the prevention and treatment of IBD.

Role of Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) in Acetic Acid-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Rats: Ameliorated by Otostegia fruticosa

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes irritation, inflammation, and ulceration in the linings of the colon and rectum. Otostegia fruticosa is traditionally used to treat various disorders in different parts of the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. In the present study, we evaluated the ameliorative effects of crude leaves extract of O. fruticosa (OF.Cr) on acetic acid (AA)-induced UC model in Wistar albino rats. Wistar rats were administered orally with either vehicle (10 mL/kg), OF.Cr (200 and 400 mg/kg), or prednisolone (2 mg/kg) once a day for 6 days. On day 6, UC was induced in rats by intrarectal administration of a single dose of 5% AA (1.0 mL). Disease activity index (DAI) was recorded after one day of colitis induction by assessing the symptoms of colitis and then the rats were euthanized by cervical dislocation, and colon tissues were isolated for the histopathological examination and biochemical analysis of oxidative stress parameters and cytokines (Interleukin-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α). OF.Cr pretreatment exhibits significant prevention against UC, as confirmed by a significant decrease of DAI, colonic ulceration, and reduced inflammatory score as compared to the AA-induced colitis rats. Depletion of total glutathione (GSH) levels and catalase (CAT) activities in the colitis group was significantly restored in the OF.Cr treated groups, while increased lipid peroxidation in the colon tissues was significantly reduced. OF.Cr prevented the activation of the IL-6 and TNF-α pathways in the colonic tissues, which were clearly observed by the decreased levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in the OF.Cr treated animals. Hence, OF.Cr could be developed in the future for the treatment of UC.

Advances in Pharmacological Activities and Mechanisms of Glycyrrhizic Acid

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) is widely regarded as an important medicinal plant and has been used for centuries in traditional medicine because of its therapeutic properties. Studies have shown that metabolites isolated from licorice have many pharmacological activities, such as antiinflammatory, anti-viral, participation in immune regulation, anti-tumor and other activities. This article gives an overview of the pharmacological activities and mechanisms of licorice metabolites and the adverse reactions that need attention. This review helps to further investigate the possibility of licorice as a potential drug for various diseases. It is hoped that this review can provide a relevant theoretical basis for relevant scholars' research and their own learning.

A phytopharmacological overview of medicinal plants used for prophylactic and treatment of colitis

Inflammatory bowel diseases are chronic diseases that develop on the genetic background. They are characterized by an idiopathic, chronic course and periods of activation and remission. However, genetic and environmental factors are thought to play a role in its pathogenesis. Significant improvements in treatment strategies have been witnessed. Depending on the severity of the disease, mesalamine, immunosuppressants, anti-TNF, anti-integrin, Janus kinase inhibitors, and thiopurines can be used for treatment. However, these treatments have side effects such as headache, dizziness, nausea, loss of appetite, hair loss, gas, vomiting, rash, fever, and decreased white blood cell count. The search for treatment that may be a safer alternative, immunomodulatory, and immunosuppressive therapy has gained importance nowadays. Herbal medicine is preferred to treat a wide range of acute and chronic gastrointestinal diseases, including ulcerative colitis. Preclinical and clinical studies show that plants are promising in terms of their use in treating pathological conditions. The effectiveness of plants in treating ulcerative colitis has been determined. However, more studies are needed to explore the long-term effects of these herbal medicines. The present review presents information on medicinal plants and phytochemicals reported for use or potential of application in ulcerative colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel diseases.

Beneficial effects of Ajuga chamaepitys (L.) Schreber subsp. chia (Schreber) and its iridoids on the colitis model: Histopathological and biochemical evidence

In Turkish folk medicine, aerial parts of Ajuga chamaepitys (L.) Schreber subsp. chia (Schreber) are used for the treatment of diarrhea. The crude methanolic extract of aerial parts of A. chamaepitys subsp. chia was sequentially fractionated into five subextracts; n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous extracts. Effects of the methanol extract, subextracts and fractions were investigated in acetic acid-induced rat colitis model. The MeOH extract and n-BuOH subextract have regulated the caspase-3, myeloperoxidase, TNF-α, IL-6 levels and antioxidant parameters. After confirmation of the activity against ulcerative colitis, n-BuOH subextract was subjected to more chromatographic separation for the isolation of compounds ajugoside (1), asperulosidic acid (2) and deacetyl-asperulosidic acid (3). As a conclusion, A. chamaepitys subsp. chia can be used in cell, tissue, or individual-specific treatments that will be developed in the future treatment of IBD, or as a complementary therapeutic agent that contributes to these treatments.

Phytochemical drug candidates for the modulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ in inflammatory bowel diseases

Plant-based compounds or phytochemicals such as alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, volatile oils, tannins, resins, and polyphenols have been used extensively in traditional medicine for centuries and more recently in Western alternative medicine. Extensive evidence suggests that consumption of dietary polyphenolic compounds lowers the risk of inflammatory diseases. The anti-inflammatory properties of several phytochemicals are mediated through ligand-inducible peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), particularly the PPARγ transcription factor. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is represented by ulcerative colitis, which occurs in the mucosa of the colon and rectum, and Crohn's disease (CD) that can involve any segment of gastrointestinal tract. Because of the lack of cost-effective pharmaceutical treatment options, many IBD patients seek and use alternative and unconventional therapies to alleviate their symptoms. PPARγ plays a role in the inhibition of inflammatory cytokine expression and activation of anti-inflammatory immune cells. The phytochemicals reported here are ligands that activate PPARγ, which in turn modulates inflammatory responses. PPARγ is highly expressed in the gut making it a potential therapeutic target for IBDs. This review summarizes the effects of the currently published phytochemicals that modulate the PPARγ pathway and reduce or eliminate colonic inflammation.

Korean Traditional Medicine (Jakyakgamcho-tang) Ameliorates Colitis by Regulating Gut Microbiota

The objective of this study was to examine the anti-colitis activity of Jakyakgamcho-tang (JGT) in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis and explore changes of the gut microbial community using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and metabolomics approaches. It was found that treatment with JGT or 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) alleviated the severity of colitis symptoms by suppressing inflammatory cytokine levels of IL-6, IL-12, and IFN-γ. The non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis of gut microbiome revealed that JGT groups were clearly separated from the DSS group, suggesting that JGT administration altered gut microbiota. The operational taxonomic units (OTUs) that were decreased by DSS but increased by JGT include Akkermansia and Allobaculum. On the other hand, OTUs that were increased by DSS but decreased by 5-ASA or JGT treatments include Bacteroidales S24-7, Ruminococcaceae, and Rikenellaceae, and the genera Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, Oscillospira, and Coprobacillus. After JGT administration, the metabolites, including most amino acids and lactic acid that were altered by colitis induction, became similar to those of the control group. This study demonstrates that JGT might have potential to effectively treat colitis by restoring dysbiosis of gut microbiota and host metabolites.

The effects of methanolic extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra on the prevention and treatment of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rat: experimental study

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic lung disease characterized by dyspnea and progressive loss of lung function. In this study, the preventive and therapeutic effects of methanolic extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra on pulmonary fibrosis were investigated. Pulmonary fibrosis was induced by administration of bleomycin (BLM) into the left lung of rats. Methyl-prednisolone (M-pred, 4 mg/kg) and methanolic extract of G. glabra (500 mg/kg) were injected intraperitoneally from the 1st to 14th days in the preventive group and from the 14th to 28th days in the therapeutic group once every day. Pulmonary inflammatory and fibrotic indices were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson's trichrome, respectively. The level of hydroxyproline as an index of pulmonary fibrosis and malondialdehyde (MDA) as an oxidative stress biomarker and catalase were measured by the related ELISA Kits. Pulmonary inflammatory and fibrotic indices in the G. glabra and M-pred groups significantly reduced compared with BLM group. G. glabra decreased the level of hydroxyproline in pulmonary tissue similar to M-pred. MDA reduced in G. glabra and M-pred groups compared with BLM group. The activity of catalase increased in the G. glabra preventive group. According to the results, G. glabra prevented and treated pulmonary fibrosis and inflammation in rats. Therefore, G. glabra may be suggested for the prevention and treatment of pulmonary fibrosis and inflammation.

Huangqin-Tang and Ingredients in Modulating the Pathogenesis of Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is the most common inflammatory bowel disease worldwide. Current therapies in UC cause limitations, and herb medicine provides an important choice for UC treatment. Huangqin-Tang (HQT) is a well-known classical traditional Chinese herbal formula and has been used in China for thousands of years. A large number of pharmacological studies demonstrated HQT and its ingredients to be effective in treating UC. Though the therapeutic effect has been evaluated, comprehensive up-to-date reviews in this field are not yet available. Here we aim to review our current understanding of HQT and its ingredients in treating UC and how the agents modulate the main pathogenesis of the disease, including the intestinal environment, immune imbalance, inflammatory pathways, and oxidative stress. The summary on this issue may provide better understanding of HQT and its ingredients in treating UC and possibly help in promoting its clinical application.

Protective effect of the methanolic extract of malva parviflora l. leaves on acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in rats

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a general term describing chronic, idiopathic relapsing, inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract of unknown etiology. Previous studies have indicated that Malva parviflora leaf extract possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiulcerogenic activity. activity. This work aimed to investigatee the anti-inflammatory effect of the methanolic (MEMP) and aqueous (AEMP) extracts of M. parviflora leaves on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

42 male Wistar albino rats were divided into seven groups (n = 6). Group I: Normal saline control group with no colitis; Group II: Acetic acid colitis group; Group III: 100 mg/kg/5 d MEMP; Group IV: 200 mg/kg/5 d.MEMP; Group V: 100 mg/kg/5 d AEMP; Group VI: 200 mg/kg/5 d AEMP; Group VII: Prednisolone group (2 mg/kg/5 d). Treatments were followed by induction of colitis using intrarectal instillation of 2 mL of 4% acetic acid. Colon damage was evaluated macroscopically (spleen weight/body weight, colon weight/length ratio) and the histological changes were also recorded.

RESULTS

The results of this study showed that acetic acid caused severe inflammation of the colon and a significant increase in spleen weight/body weight, and an increase in colon weight/length ratio compared with normal control group. Pretreatment with MEMP and AEMP for 5 days followed by induction of colitis resulted in a significant attenuation of spleen weight and colon weight/length ratio compared with acetic acid control group. Methanolic extract provided better anticolitic effect than aqueous extract; the effect was prominent at the dose of 200 mg/kg. Histopathological findings confirmed the protective effect of the MEMP.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, MEMP could ameliorate mucosal damage in experimentally induced colitis when given orally.

Active components alignment of Gegenqinlian decoction protects ulcerative colitis by attenuating inflammatory and oxidative stress

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Gegenqinlian Decoction (GQD) has been used as a folk remedy for gastrointestinal diseases in China over thousands of years. It has significant treatment efficacy for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We analyzed and showed that the active components alignment of Gegenqinlian Decoction (ACAG) possesses broad pharmacological effects including analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral and antidiarrhea, as well as the effect of adjusting gastrointestinal function in our preliminary experiments. However, the exact molecular mechanisms on how ACAG exerts these pharmacological effects still remain elusive. In the present study, the plausible pharmacological effects of ACAG on 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis were investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with TNBS/ethanol-induced colitis were used. The colonic wet weight, macroscopic and histological colon injury, superoxide dismutase (SOD), malonyldialdehyde (MDA), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity were observed. Pro-inflammation cytokines were determined by ELISA methods, semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Immuno-histochemistry.

RESULTS

We showed administration of ACAG was able to improve colitis. This was manifested by a decreased in the score of macroscopic and histological colonic injury, by lowered colonic wet weight, accompanied by significant increased of SOD activity, and decreased of MDA and iNOS activities. The treatment also significantly reduced tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels in colon and serum as well as the colonic mRNA levels for several inflammatory cytokines such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and toll-like receptor 2, 4 (TLR2, TLR4). In addition, we also showed that ACAG was able to inhibit the activation and translocation of transcription factors, nuclear factor kappaBp65 (NF-κBp65) in colon.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that ACAG exhibits protective effect in TNBS-induced ulcerative colitis. We postulate that this might be due to its modulation of oxidant/anti-oxidant balance, downregulation of productions, expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inhibition of NF-κBp65 signal transduction pathways.

Natural product-derived drugs for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases

Natural products have been used as drugs for millennia, and the therapeutic potential of natural products has been studied for more than a century. Since the mid-1880s, approximately 60% of drugs have originated from natural products. Recently, the importance of using natural products has increased, as has interest in discovering efficient new drugs. Natural drugs are desirable for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. This review discusses the discovery and development of drugs derived from natural products for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases.

Glycyrrhizin alleviates neuroinflammation and memory deficit induced by systemic lipopolysaccharide treatment in mice

The present study investigated the effects of glycyrrhizin (GRZ) on neuroinflammation and memory deficit in systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated C57BL/6 mice. Varying doses of GRZ was orally administered (10, 30, or 50 mg/kg) once a day for 3 days before the LPS (3 mg/kg) injection. At 24 h after the LPS injection, GRZ significantly reduced TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA at doses of 30 and 50 mg/kg. COX-2 and iNOS protein expressions were significantly reduced by GRZ at doses of 30 and 50 mg/kg. In the Morris water maze test, GRZ (30 mg/kg) significantly prolonged the swimming time spent in the target and peri-target zones. GRZ also significantly increased the target heading and memory score numbers. In the hippocampal tissue, GRZ significantly reduced the up-regulated Iba1 protein expression and the average cell size of Iba1-expressing microglia induced by LPS. The results indicate that GRZ ameliorated the memory deficit induced by systemic LPS treatment and the effect of GRZ was found to be mediated through the inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators and microglial activation in the brain tissue. This study supports that GRZ may be a putative therapeutic drug on neurodegenerative diseases associated with cognitive deficits and neuroinflammation such as Alzheimer's disease.

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Inhibits HMGB1-Dependent Inflammation and Ameliorates Colitis in Mice

Background

High mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) is a DNA-binding protein that is released from injured cells during inflammation. Advances in targeting HMGB1 represent a major challenge to improve the treatment of acute/chronic inflammation.

Aim

This study is aimed at verifying whether the inhibition of HMGB1 through dipotassium glycyrrhizate (DPG) is a good strategy to reduce intestinal inflammation.

Methods

Human colon adenocarcinoma cell line, HT29, human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma, Caco2, and murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7, were cultured to investigate the effect of DPG on the secretion of HMGB1. Acute colitis was induced in C57BL/6 mice through administration of 3% dextran sodium sulphate (DSS); a combined treatment with DSS and 3 or 8 mg/kg/day DPG was used to investigate the effects of DPG on intestinal inflammation. Animals were euthanized at seventh day and colonic samples underwent molecular and histological analyses.

Results

DPG significantly reduces in vitro the release of HMGB1 in the extracellular matrix as well as expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6, by inhibiting HMGB1. Moreover, DPG significantly decreases the severity of DSS-induced colitis in mice. Murine colonic samples show decreased mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6, as well as HMGB1 receptors, RAGE and TLR4. Finally, HMGB1, abundantly present in the feces of mice with DSS-induced colitis, is strongly reduced by DPG.

Conclusions

HMGB1 is an early pro-inflammatory cytokine and an active protagonist of mucosal gut inflammation. DPG exerts inhibitory effects against HMGB1 activity, significantly reducing intestinal inflammation. Thus, we reason that DPG could represent an innovative tool for the management of human intestinal inflammation.

Effect of glycyrrhizin on mRNA expression of cytokines in PBMCs from non-responders to hepatitis B vaccine

AIM: To investigate the effect of glycyrrhizin (GL) on the mRNA expression of cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from non-responders to hepatitis B vaccine and to explore the mechanism by which GL regulates immune function.

METHODS: PBMCs were isolated from non-responders to hepatitis B vaccine and incubated with GL and (or) HBsAg. The abilities of GL and (or) HBsAg to stimulate the proliferation of PBMCs were evaluated by CCK-8 assay. The mRNA expression levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-10 were determined by real-time PCR.

RESULTS: GL enhanced the proliferation of PBMCs from non-responders to hepatitis B vaccine and made it comparable to that of PBMCs from responders (F = 3.104, P = 0.138). The mRNA expression levels of IFN-γ and IL-10 in PBMCs from non-responders that were incubated with HBsAg and GL were significantly higher than those incubated with HBsAg alone (q = 34.93, 26.18, both P < 0.05), and tend to reach the levels in PBMCs from responders. The mRNA expression levels of IFN-γ and IL-10 in PBMCs from non-responders that were incubated with GL were higher than those incubated with HBsAg (q = 10.18, 9.19, both P < 0.05), but lower than those incubated with HBsAg and GL (q = 24.75, 16.98, both P < 0.05). The mRNA expression levels of IL-4 had no obvious difference among the three groups (P = 0.304).

CONCLUSION: GL can regulate the immune status of non-responders to hepatitis B vaccine and create an environment conducive to the generation of protective antibodies.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the genotoxicity of Gumiganghwal-tang, a traditional herbal prescription

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Gumiganghwal-tang (GGT, known as Kumi-Kyokatsu-to in Japanese) is a traditional herbal prescription made from nine different herbs that is used for the treatment of the common cold, pain, and inflammatory diseases.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study evaluated the potential genotoxicity of an aqueous GGT extract using three standard battery of tests as part of a safety evaluation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We prepared GGT using a water extraction method and subsequently extracted six compounds from GGT by high performance liquid chromatography. GGT extract genotoxicity was assayed using three standard tests including the in vitro bacterial reverse mutation test, the in vitro chromosomal aberration test with Chinese hamster lung cells, and the in vivo micronucleus test using ICR mouse bone marrow recommended by the Korean Food and Drug Administration.

RESULTS

The bacterial reverse mutation assay showed that GGT extract doses ranging from 333.3 up to 5000mg/plate induced a greater than 2-fold increase in the number of revertant TA1537 strain colonies exhibiting metabolic activation (with S-9 mix), when compared with the vehicle control. The chromosomal aberration test showed that GGT extract induced an increase in the number of chromosomal aberrations after treatment for 6h with the S-9 mix and 22h without the S-9 mix, when compared with vehicle control. In contrast, the micronucleus test showed that GGT extract did not significantly increase the number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs) in ICR mouse bone marrow.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on these results, it was concluded that GGT extract acted as a genotoxic material in our experimental conditions. We did not identify the compounds responsible for the induction of genotoxic effects, but it was significant that we provided a basic genotoxicity profile for GGT.

Herbal medicine in the treatment of ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a refractory, chronic, and nonspecific disease occurred usually in the rectum and the entire colon. The etiopathology is probably related to dysregulation of the mucosal immune response toward the resident bacterial flora together with genetic and environmental factors. Several types of medications are used to control the inflammation or reduce symptoms. Herbal medicine includes a wide range of practices and therapies outside the realms of conventional Western medicine. However, there are limited controlled evidences indicating the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicines, such as aloe vera gel, wheat grass juice, Boswellia serrata, and bovine colostrum enemas in the treatment of UC. Although herbal medicines are not devoid of risk, they could still be safer than synthetic drugs. The potential benefits of herbal medicine could lie in their high acceptance by patients, efficacy, relative safety, and relatively low cost. Patients worldwide seem to have adopted herbal medicine in a major way, and the efficacy of herbal medicine has been tested in hundreds of clinical trials in the management of UC. The evidences on herbal medicine are incomplete, complex, and confusing, and certainly associated with both risks and benefits. There is a need for further controlled clinical trials of the potential efficacy of herbal medicine approaches in the treatment of UC, together with enhanced legislation to maximize their quality and safety.