Antibacterial and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Traditional Chinese Herb Pairs, Angelica sinensis and Sophora flavescens

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity of Angelica sinensis extract (AE), Sophora flavescens extract (SE), and herb pair A. sinensis and S. flavescens extract (HPE). Endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) was induced in rats by a footpad injection of lipopolysaccharide. The anti-inflammatory potential of AE, SE, and HPE in the regulation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B), maleic dialdehyde (MDA), polymorphonuclear cells (PMN), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), adhesion molecule (ICAM-1), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was determined by ELISA and immunohistochemistry. HPE showed strong antibacterial activity at all tested concentrations (1.25, 2.5, and 5 mu g/ml) to Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Shigella Castellani and Chalmers. HPE significantly inhibited EIU-induced upregulation of NF-kappa B activation and the production of IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, iNOS, ICAM-1, and COX-2. Moreover, HPE suppressed MDA and infiltration of PMN. The study supports the hypothesis that the anti-pimple and anti-eczema activities of Dangguikushen compound recipe are attributed to herb pairs, A. sinensis and S. flavescens, used in combination

Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of cordymin, a peptide purified from the medicinal mushroom Cordyceps sinensis

The anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of cordymin, a peptide purified from the medicinal mushroom Cordyceps sinensis, were studied. The effects of cordymin on cytokine levels and total antioxidant activity were analysed. The antinociceptive effects of cordymin in vivo and in vitro were also determined. Cordymin treatment decreased the levels of tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1 beta and total antioxidant status. Cordymin inhibited the acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions in mice in a dose-dependent manner. In the hot-plate test, results showed that cordymin significantly inhibited the reaction time to thermal stimuli at 30, 60 and 90 min. In neurolysin inhibition assay, cordymin showed strong activities against neurolysin (IC50 = 0.1 mu M). Our results show that cordymin is a potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic medicine

Anti-inflammation Effects of Cordyceps sinensis Mycelium in Focal Cerebral Ischemic Injury Rats

Brain ischemia-reperfusion (IR) triggers a complex series of biochemical events including inflammation. To test the neuroprotective efficacy of Cordyceps sinensis mycelium (CSM) in a rat model of focal cerebral IR, ischemic animals were treated with CSM. They were evaluated at 24 h after reperfusion for neurological deficit score. Furthermore, the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory potential of CSM in the regulation of nuclear factor kappaB, polymorphonuclear cells (PMN), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), adhesion molecule (ICAM-1), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was determined by ELISA and immunohistochemistry. CSM significantly inhibited IR-induced up-regulation of NF-kappaB activation and the brain production of IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, iNOS, ICAM-1, and COX-2. Moreover, CSM suppressed infiltration of PMN. The study demonstrates the neuroprotective potential of CSM inhibition through anti-inflammation in a rat model of ischemia-reperfusion

Protection by Vanadium, a Contemporary Treatment Approach to Both Diabetes and Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Rats

There is now substantial epidemiological evidence that diabetes is a risk factor for cerebrovascular disease. The protection by vanadium from focal cerebral ischemia in diabetic rats was studied in this paper. Rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by 4 weeks of administration of 0.6 mg/ml sodium orthovanadate in drinking water. Vanadium significantly improved the outcome in diabetic rats after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in terms of neurobehavioral function. Vanadium reduces brain damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats by imitating action of insulin

Topical application of aloperine improves 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice

Aloperine has been shown to inhibit 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) induced allergic contact dermatitis in BALB/c mice. In the present study, we further investigated the effect of aloperine on DNFB-induced atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice. NC/Nga mice elicited atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions after the topical application of DNFB. Aloperine treatment significantly inhibited dermatitis index and ear thickness in DNFB-treated NC/Nga mice in a dose-dependent manner. Eosinophils, mast cells infiltration into the ears and plasma level of immunoglobulin (Ig) E were also suppressed by aloperine treatment. Finally, cytokine (interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (IFN)-gamma) productions in ear biopsies homogenates were significantly elevated after DNFB challenge. Topical application of aloperine increased the immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10 level, while it reduced other cytokines production in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these data suggest that aloperine may be one of the effective therapeutic agents for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Moxibustion Attenuates Inflammatory Response to Chronic Exhaustive Exercise in Rats

Exercise is recognized as an activator to elicit an inflammatory response whilst moxibustion in traditional Chinese medicine has been previously found to modulate immune functioning. However, whether moxibustion can alleviate the inflammatory cytokines response to chronic exhaustive exercise remains unknown. In the present study, rats were randomly assigned to a sedentary control group (Sed), a sedentary moxibustion group (Sed + Moxa), and 2 trained groups- one submitted to a 3-week exhaustive swimming (Trained), and the other a trained moxibustion group (Trained + Moxa). We found that chronic exhaustive exercise significantly increased the serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma) and the IFN-gamma/IL-4 ratio, and decreased the anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10). Moxibustion treatment markedly reduced the serum levels of IL-1 beta, IFN-gamma and the IFN-gamma/IL-4 ratio, while elevated the IL-4 and IL-10 productions in trained rats. However, TNF-alpha level was not significantly affected. Our results suggested that an excessive inflammatory response and a potential inflammatory damage may be involved during chronic exhaustive exercise. Moxibustion could attenuate the inflammatory impairment and have an anti-inflammatory effect. The beneficial effects of moxibustion might be mediated by reducing the pro-inflammatory cytokines, increasing the anti-inflammatory cytokines, and modulating the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines