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Arnebiaeuchroma (Royle) Johnst (Ruanzicao) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine (TCM). It is extensively used in China and other countries for treatment of inflammatory diseases. It is known that hyper-activated complement system involves in the fever and acute lung injury (ALI) in rats. In our preliminary studies, anti-complementary activity of crude Arnebiaeuchroma polysaccharides (CAEP) had been demonstrated in vitro. This study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of crude Arnebiaeuchroma polysaccharides (CAEP) using two animal models, which relate with inappropriate activation of complement system. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced fever model, the body temperature and leukocytes of peripheral blood in rats were significantly increased, while the complement levels of serum were remarkably decreased. CAEP administration alleviated the LPS-induced fever, reduced the number of leukocytes, and improved the levels of complement. Histological assay showed that there were severe damages and complement depositions in lung of the ALI rats. Further detection displayed that the oxidant stress was enhanced, and total hemolytic activity and C3/C4 levels in serum were decreased significantly in the ALI model group. Remarkably, CAEP not only attenuated the morphological injury, edema, and permeability in the lung but also significantly weakened the oxidant stress in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in the ALI rats. The levels of complement and complement depositions were improved by the CAEP treatment. In conclusion, the CAEP treatment ameliorated febrile response induced by LPS and acute lung injury induced by LPS plus ischemia-reperfusion. CAEP exerted beneficial effects on inflammatory disease potentially via inhibiting the inappropriate activation of complement system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viola yedoensis is a component of traditional Chinese herb medicine for inflammatory diseases. Chemical constituents of V. yedoensis have been shown to possess antibacterial, anti-HIV, and anticoagulant effects in experimental research; however, their anti-inflammatory properties remain to be demonstrated. In this study, a mouse model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury was used to investigate the effect of petroleum ether fraction of V. yedoensis (PEVY) on inflammation in vivo. After being shown to have anti-complementary activity in vitro, PEVY was orally administered to the mice at doses of 2, 4, and 8 mg/kg. Treatment with PEVY significantly decreased the wet-to-dry weight ratio of the lung, total cells, red blood cells, protein concentration, and myeloperoxidase activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. PEVY markedly attenuated lung injury with improved lung morphology and reduced complement deposition. In addition, PEVY suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Taken together, PEVY protects the lung from acute injury, potentially via inhibiting the activation of the complement system and excessive production of proinflammatory mediators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Wuweizi (Fructus Schisandrae) is classified in traditional Chinese medicine as a superior drug, and has been used for thousands of years. Modern pharmacological research has demonstrated that most of the biological actions and pharmacological effects of Wuweizi can be attributed to its lignan constituents, particularly the dibenzocyclooctadiene-type lignans, which can lower the serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) level, inhibit platelet aggregation, and show antioxidative, calcium antagonism, antitumor-promoting, and anti-HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) effects. The dried ripe fruits of both Schisandra chinensis and Schisandra sphenanthera have long been used as Wuweizi, although their chemical constituents and contents of the bioactive components are quite different. Since 2000, they have been accepted as two different crude drugs, Bei-Wuweizi and Nan-Wuweizi, respectively, by the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. In order to provide a useful reference for good quality control of Wuweizi, many studies on the chemical constituents, pharmacological effects, identification and quality control methods of the two drugs have been reported in the literature and are summarized herein. Particular attention was given to the different methodologies developed for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the major bioactive lignans. In our opinion, thin-layer chromatography (TLC) is the most simple and convenient method for identification of these two crude drugs, and high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (HPLC–UV) is the preferred method for quantitative analysis based on the bioactive lignans. Some newly developed methods, particularly hyphenated chromatographic-analytical techniques, are effective in determination of the lignans that occur in low content and those difficult to be fully separated with HPLC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • Ten new terpenoids were isolated from the pericarps of Trichosanthes kirilowii. • Seventeen terpenoids (1 – 15 , 18 , and 20) exhibited anticomplement activity. • The long aliphatic chains might enhance the monoterpenoids' anticomplement activity. • Anticomplement terpenoids 8 and 11 obviously attenuated H1N1-induced ALI in vivo. The pericarps of Trichosanthes kirilowii are often used to treat cough in traditional Chinese medicine, and its ethanol extract exhibited effective therapeutic effects on acute lung injury (ALI) in vivo caused by H1N1. An anticomplement activity-guided fractionation on the extract resulted in the isolation of ten new terpenoids, including seven monoterpenoids, trichosanates A–G (1 – 7), and three cucurbitane-type triterpenoids, cucurbitacins W–Y (8 – 10), as well as eleven known terpenoids (11 – 21). The new terpenoids' structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis, X-ray crystallographic analysis (1), electronic circular dichroism (ECD) analysis and calculations (2 – 10). Twelve monoterpenoids (1 – 7 and 11 – 15) and five cucurbitane-type triterpenoids (8 – 10 , 18 , and 20) exhibited anticomplement activity in vitro. For the monoterpenoids, the long aliphatic chain substituents might enhance their anticomplement activity. Additionally, two representative anticomplement terpenoids, 8 and 11 , obviously attenuated H1N1-induced ALI in vivo by inhibiting complement overactivation and reducing inflammatory responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of the study: Radix Bupleuri, one of the most frequently prescribed crude herbs in traditional Chinese medicine, has been used for centuries to treat inflammatory diseases. However, little is known about the therapeutic mechanisms of crude polysaccharides (BPs) isolated from the roots of Bupleurum smithii var. parvifolium. Macrophages play important roles in inflammatory diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The purpose of the present work was to investigate immunomodulative effects of Bupleurum polysaccharides on murine peritoneal macrophages. Materials and methods: BALB/c mice were administered intragastrically with Bupleurum polysaccharides 20, 40, and 80mgkg−1 day−1, or prednisone 3mgkg−1 day−1 or levamisole 25mgkg−1 day−1 from day 0 to day 6. Peritoneal macrophages were isolated 5 days after intraperitoneal injection of 1mL 5% sodium thioglycollate. Phagocytic functions of macrophages were studied; cytokines concentrations in the culture supernatants were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the secretion of nitric oxide (NO) was quantified by Griess reaction. Results: Treatment with BPs enhanced phagocytic functions of macrophages (phagocytosis of apoptotic thymocytes, IgG-opsonized sheep red blood cells and chicken red blood cells) and inhibited LPS-induced productions of NO and proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α). Conclusions: Bupleurum polysaccharides up-regulated phagocytic activities but inhibited LPS-induced productions of proinflammatory mediators. These data suggested that at least part of the traditional beneficial effects of Bupleurum on inflammatory diseases could be ascribed to the immunomodulatory effects of Bupleurum polysaccharides on macrophages. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aim of the study: Radix Bupleuri, is one of the most frequently prescribed crude herbs in the prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and auto-immune diseases. This study was to determine whether the crude polysaccharides (BPs) isolated from the roots of Bupleurum smithii var. parvifolium, had beneficial effects on autoimmune disease. Materials and methods: BALB/c mice were immunized with CJ-S131 in Freund''s complete adjuvant on day 0, and then boosted on day 14. BPs 15 or 30mgkg−1 day−1, or prednisone 5mgkg−1 day−1 was given to BALB/c mice intragastrically from day 0 to day 34. Results: Treatment with BPs 15 or 30mgkg−1 day−1 for 35 days protected kidney from glomerular injury with reduced immunoglobulin deposition and lowered proteinuria. The increased production of serum autoantibodies and total immunoglobulin G (IgG) was also inhibited. BPs 30mgkg−1 day−1 improved weight loss and spleen swelling when compared with vehicle-treated group. Conclusions: These findings suggested that Bupleurum polysaccharides had a beneficial effect on systemic lupus erythematosus-like syndroma induced by CJ-S131 in BALB/c mice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]