Improvement influenza vaccine immune responses with traditional Chinese medicine and its active ingredients.

The current influenza vaccines are unable to provide effective protection in many cases, like influenza viruses strain antigenic drift or shift, and the influenza continues to cause significant annual morbidity and mortality. Improving the immune response to influenza vaccination is an unmet need. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and its active ingredients are commonly known to have immunomodulatory properties. We therefore compared influenza vaccination alone or formulated with Astragali Radix (Huangqi in Chinese), and several representative ingredients of TCM, including lentinan (polysaccharide), panax notoginseng saponins (saponin), breviscapine (flavone), andrographolide (terpenoid), and a Chinese herbal compound (kangai) for their potential to enhance immune responses to influenza vaccine in mice. We found that all these TCM-adjuvants were able to increase hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) antibody titers, splenocyte proliferation, splenic T cell differentiation, bone marrow dendritic cell maturity, and both Th1 and Th2 cytokine secretion of influenza vaccine to varying degrees, and that had the characteristics of no excessive inflammatory responses and bidirectional regulation simultaneously. Taken together, our findings show that Astragali Radix exerts a more comprehensive effect on vaccine immunity, on both innate and adaptive immunity. The effects of lentinan and andrographolide on adaptive immunity were more significant, while the effects of breviscapine on innate immunity were stronger, and the other two TCM adjuvants were weaker. As the first report of a comprehensive evaluation of TCM adjuvants in influenza vaccines, the results suggest that TCM and their active ingredients are good candidates for enhancing the immune response of influenza vaccines, and that suitable TCMs can be selected based on the adjuvant requirements of different vaccines.

Immunomodulatory Effects of Lepidium meyenii Walp. Polysaccharides on an Immunosuppression Model Induced by Cyclophosphamide.

Background: Lepidium meyenii Walp. (Maca) has emerged as a functional plant food and traditional herb owing to its biological activities; Maca polysaccharides as an important active component of Maca have good immunomodulatory effect; however, studies on the immunomodulatory effect of Maca polysaccharides are mainly focused on macrophages; little attention has been devoted to the mechanisms and other immune cells. This study is aimed at investigating the immunomodulatory effects and mechanisms of Maca polysaccharides. Methods: Sixty mice were divided into five groups, and the mice were injected with cyclophosphamide to establish an immunosuppression model except for those in the common group. The body weights were measured, as well as immune-related indices, such as organ indices, haematological parameters, lymphocyte cycle, and proliferation, cytokine, and protein expression levels. Results: The weight loss and immune organ index decline caused by cyclophosphamide could be reversed by MP. Furthermore, MP increased WBC and HGB counts and reduced the ratio of G0/G1 phase obviously, increased the proportion of S phase and G2/M phase in peripheral blood lymphocytes, increased the counts of CD4+ T cells and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+, and reduced the inhibition rate of splenic lymphocytes. MP affected the production of cytokines by increasing IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 levels and by decreasing IL-4 levels. MP increased the mRNA expression of T-bet and the protein expression of Bcl-2 in the spleen and decreased the protein expression of caspase-3 and Bax. Conclusions: Maca polysaccharides might be the basic material for Maca's immunomodulatory effect. The mechanism was perhaps related to inhibiting lymphocyte apoptosis and promoting the balance of Th1/Th2 cell subsets.

[Analysis on formulation regularity and characteristics of acne-relieving Chinese medicinal health products and Chinese patent medicines].

This study summarized and analyzed the current acne-relieving Chinese medicinal health products and Chinese patent medicines,aiming at providing references for the formulation and development of acne-relieving health products. The information on acne-relieving health products published by the Department of Special Food Safety Supervision and Management,the State Administration for Market Regulation( SAMR) was retrieved,and the Chinese patent medicines on DRUGDATAEXPY were searched. Microsoft Excel and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Support System V2. 5( TCMISS) were employed to statistically analyze the characteristics of formulations. Forty-three acne-relieving health products were obtained,including 40 ones containing Chinese herbal medicines. Six Chinese herbal medicines showed a usage frequency ≥8,with 61 times in use totally,including Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma( 13),Lonicerae Japonicae Flos( 12),Taraxaci Herba( 11),ALOE( 9),Carthami Flos( 8),and Rhei Radix et Rhizoma( 8). A total of 29 Chinese patent medicines with similar efficacy were collected in DRUGDATAEXPY. Nine Chinese herbal medicines showed a usage frequency ≥6,with 63 times in use,including Rhei Radix et Rhizoma( 10),Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma( 8),Scutellariae Radix( 8),Lonicerae Japonicae Flos( 7),Angelicae Sinensis Radix( 6),Paeoniae Radix Rubra( 6),Astragali Radix( 6),Paeoniae Radix Alba( 6),and Gardeniae Fructus( 6). Through unsupervised hierarchical entropy-based clustering of the above-mentioned Chinese medicinal health products and Chinese patent medicines,five and three new formulas were obtained,respectively. The selection of Chinese herbal medicines was consistent with the principles of traditional Chinese medicine( TCM) theories in relieving acne,i. e.,dispelling exterior wind,ventilating lungs,clearing heat,dissipating mass,promoting diuresis,relaxing bowels,removing toxin,activating blood,resolving stasis,eliminating phlegm,and regulating Qi. According to the " lung governing skin and body hair" and " interior-exterior relationship between lung and large intestine" in TCM theories,the idea that acne could be treated by relieving constipation was proposed,which provided new methods and references for the research and development of Chinese medicinal health products.

Antidepressant-like effects of albiflorin involved the NO signaling pathway in rats model of chronic restraint stress.

The depressant-like effects of albiflorin (AF) were studied on stressed chronic restraint stress (CRS) rats. Experimental rats were subjected to immobilization stress for a daily 6 h-restraining in a plastic restrainer for continuous 21 d and were treated with 30 or 15 mg·kg-1 of AF for 21 d. Control rats were maintained in completely non stressed conditions. Behavioral tests and biochemical analysis were applied to investigating a regulatory mechanism of anti-stress of AF. Treatment with AF significantly restored the depressant-like behaviors. Besides, AF increased the levels of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), noradrenaline (NE) and dopamine (DA) in the hippocampus and increased the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in serum and protein expression in hippocampus. In addition, AF decreased the levels of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) cascade, reduced the level of NO and cGMP in serum and inhibited the overexpression of 5-HT2AR mRNA and protein expression. Taken together, AF can modulate the NO-mediated network pathway in the hippocampus against stress-induced depressive-like behaviors. These physiological and behavioral changes allow rats to avoid potential deleterious effects of stress that may result from chronically elevated levels of glucocorticosteroids over days.

[Construction and application of modern research paradigm of new foreign introducing traditional Chinese medicine].

With the development of society, more and more foreign natural medicines have entered China, but they are faced with the problem that they are not given with the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) properties when they are used with other TCM. When we carried out the research on introducing foreign natural plant resources to TCM, gradually, a new research model and field with original characteristics of TCM--the study of new foreign introducing TCM had been formed. In the process of it, we explored and summarized research rules to form the research paradigm, which will be conducive to the standardization and scientization of new foreign introducing TCM research. For the research of foreign introducing TCM, we analyzed the research background, reviewed the application history, sorted out the research status, elaborated the concept and summarized the research achievements. On this basis, we put forward the concept and system of the modern research paradigm of new foreign introducing TCM, studied and clarified the core elements, properties and research principles of this paradigm, and summarized the research contents and methods of new foreign introducing TCM. We interpreted the foundation of paradigm construction from multiple perspectives. The paradigm was the practical application of theoretical innovation of TCM. Under the guidance of it, more and more varieties of new foreign introducing TCM will be studied, the study will be more standardized, the conclusions will be more scientific and reliable, which will inspire and guide more researchers to focus on the research of new foreign introducing TCM, and the paradigm itself will be constantly improved. The construction and application of the paradigm will certainly accelerate the innovative research of foreign introducing TCM and play a historic role in promoting the enrichment of traditional Chinese medicine varieties.

The Effect of Pudilan Anti-Inflammatory Oral Liquid on the Treatment of Mild Recurrent Aphthous Ulcers.

Recurrent aphthous ulcers are the most common recurrent oral mucosal lesions characterized by recurrence and pain. The aim of this research is to evaluate the short-term curative effect of the traditional Chinese medicine "Pudilan anti-inflammatory oral liquid" on mild recurrent aphthous ulcers. A total of 234 patients were divided into a treatment group and a control group. Both groups used vitamin B2 as the basis of treatment. The treatment group took a Pudilan anti-inflammatory oral solution for 8 days while the control group was given a liquid placebo. The ulcer size, pseudomembrane, peripheral congestion, and pain scores of the treatment group were lower than before treatment. The curative effect on the Pudilan group was statistically significant compared with the control group. The final therapeutic effect on the treatment group was better than that on the control group. The healing time of mild recurrent aphthous ulcers can be shortened by Pudilan anti-inflammatory oral liquid, and pain is relieved without adverse reactions. Pudilan provides a new reference drug for the treatment of mild recurrent oral ulcers.

Protective effects of paeoniflorin and albiflorin on chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in mice.

Paeonia lactiflora root (baishao in Chinese) is a commonly used herb in traditional Chinese medicines (TCM). Two isomers, paeoniflorin (PF) and albiflorin (AF), are isolated from P. lactiflora. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of PF and AF on myelosuppression induced by chemotherapy in mice and to explore the underlying mechanisms. The mouse myelosuppression model was established by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of cyclophosphamide (CP, 200 mg·kg(-1)). The blood cell counts were performed. The thymus index and spleen index were also determined and bone morrow histological examination was performed. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in serum and colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in plasma were measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA) and the serum levels of interleukin-3 (IL-3), granulocyte-macrophagecolony-stimulatingfactor (GM-CSF), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The levels of mRNA expression protein of IL-3, GM-CSF and G-CSF in spleen and bone marrow cells were determined respectively. PF and AF significantly increased the white blood cell (WBC) counts and reversed the atrophy of thymus. They also increased the serum levels of GM-CSF and IL-3 and the plasma level of G-CSF and reduced the level of TNF-α in serum. PF enhanced the mRNA level of IL-3 and AF enhanced the mRNA levels of GM-CSF and G-CSF in the spleen. PF and AF both increased the protein levels of GM-CSF and G-CSF in bone marrow cells. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that PF and AF promoted the recovery of bone marrow hemopoietic function in the mouse myelosuppression model.

[Investigation of effects of albiflorin and paeoniflorin on hippocampal BDNF and NO in chronic restraint stress rats].

This paper aimed to investigate the antidepressant-like effects and the mechanism of the albiflorin, paeoniflorin on rats with chronic restraint stress model. Fluoxetine and Xiaoyao group served as the positive control, body weight, sucrose preference test and the open field behavioral experiment were measured, the levels of nitric oxide (NO) in hippocampus were detected by Greg colorimetric method. Furthermore, the levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in hippocampus were detected by ELISA. Finally, the expressions of nNOS mRNA in hippocampus detected by RT-qPCR, the protein levels of nNOS and BDNF in hippocampus were detected by Western blot. Compared with the model group,the pass counts of paeoniflorin group(30 mg•kg⁻¹) and albiflorin group(30 mg•kg⁻¹) were obviously increased(P<0.05,P<0.01). Furthermore, compared with the model group,the levels of NO in paeoniflorin groups(30 mg•kg⁻¹ and 15 mg•kg⁻¹) and albiflorin groups(30 mg•kg⁻¹ and 15 mg•kg⁻¹) were all significantly decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01; P<0.05, P<0.05). BDNF levels of paeoniflorin group(30 mg•kg⁻¹) and albiflorin group(30 mg•kg⁻¹) were obviously increased(P<0.05). Finally, compared with the model group, the expressions of nNOS mRNA of paeoniflorin groups(30 mg•kg⁻¹ and 15 mg•kg⁻¹) (P<0.01, P<0.01) and albiflorin groups(30 mg•kg⁻¹) were significantly decreased(P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the protein exprsssions of BDNF of paeoniflorin group(30 mg•kg⁻¹) and albiflorin group(30 mg•kg⁻¹) were obviously increased(P<0.05). Albiflorin and paeoniflorin have the effects of smooth the liver and dispel stagnation, the mechanism has the relevant with adjusting and controlling the expression of NO and BDNF in hippocampus.