Effects of Herbal Formulas Bojungikgi-tang and Palmijihwang-hwan on Inflammation in RAW 264.7 Cells and the Activities of Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes in Human Hepatic Microsomes.

In the present study, Bojungikgi-tang (BJIKT: Buzhongyiqi-tang, Hochuekki-to) and Palmijihwang-hwan (PMJHH: Baweidìhuang-wan, Hachimijio-gan), traditional herbal formulas, investigated anti-inflammatory efficacies in murine macrophage cell line and the influence on the activities of drug-metabolizing enzymes (DMEs). The anti-inflammatory potentials of the herbal formulas were evaluated to inhibit the production of the inflammatory mediators and cytokines and the protein expression of inducible nitric oxide and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 cells. The activities of the major human DMEs, cytochrome P450 isozymes (CYP450s) and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase isozymes (UGTs), were measured by in vitro enzyme assay systems. BJIKT and PMJHH significantly suppressed the prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production (IC50 = 317.3 and 282.2 µg/mL, respectively) and the protein expression of COX-2 in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. On the human microsomal DMEs, BJIKT inhibited the activities of CYP1A2 (IC50 = 535.05 µg/mL), CYP2B6 (IC50 > 1000 µg/mL), CYP2C9 (IC50 = 800.78 µg/mL), CYP2C19 (IC50 = 563.11 µg/mL), CYP2D6 (IC50 > 1000 µg/mL), CYP2E1 (IC50 > 1000 µg/mL), CYP3A4 (IC50 = 879.60 µg/mL), UGT1A1 (IC50 > 1000 µg/mL), and UGT1A4 (IC50 > 1000 µg/mL), but it showed no inhibition of the UGT2B7 activity at doses less than 1000 µg/mL. PMJHH inhibited the CYP2D6 activity (IC50 = 280.89 µg/mL), but IC50 values of PMJHH exceeded 1000 µg/mL on the activities of CYP1A2, CYP2C19, CYP2E1, and CYP3A4. At concentrations less than 1000 µg/mL, PMJHH did not affect the activities of CYP2B6, CYP2C9, UGT1A1, UGT1A4, and UGT2B7. The results indicate that both BJIKT and PMJHH may be potential candidates to prevent and treat PGE2- and COX-2-mediated inflammatory diseases. In addition, this study will expand current knowledge about herb-drug interactions by BJIKT and PMJHH.

[Use of vitamins for correction of the functional state of cytochrome P450 systems in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis].

It is known that inflammatory cytokines, which level is significantly increased in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), as well as interferon-beta, which is used to treat autoimmune diseases, can inhibit cytochrome P450-dependent processes of detoxification and biotransformation. The uncontrolled decrease of the activity of these processes may have a negative affect on the state of patients, so it is urgent to study the functional state of the cytochrome P450 system and to develop effective means for its regulation in these conditions. The effect of vitamin D3 and efficiency of its composition with vitamins B1, B2, B6, PP, E, alpha-lipoic, alpha-linolenoic acid and mineral substances (Mg, Zn, Se) in prevention of a functional state changes of cytochrome P450- and b5-dependent systems of the rat brain and liver endoplasmic reticulum at EAE are investigated. It has been shown that the essential decrease of the level of these cytochromes is observed both in the brain and liver. In addition the level of activity of NADH- and NADPH-oxidoreductases, which are part of microsomal electron transport chain components and coupled with monooxigenases, was reduced. These changes confirm the disturbances of a redox state and functional activity of detoxication and biotransformation systems in the studied animal tissues. Supplement of vitamin D3 as well as the composition of biologically active substances, which we developed earlier, effectively eliminated the decrease of the level of cytochromes and activities of NADH-oxidoreductase in immunised rat tissues. Normalization of these disturbances can be explained by antioxidant and membrane-stabilizing properties of applied substances, and also by the ability to reduce the activity of inflammatory reactions by regulation of the level of inflammatory cytokines in rat organism at EAE. Thus the studied vitamin-mineral composition appeared to be more effective to normalize the found disturbances and it can be useful for prevention of exacerbations and for improvement of a status of patients with multiple sclerosis and other diseases, which are accompanied with hyperactivation of immune system.