Anti-inflammatory, anti-tussive effects and toxicity evaluation of Qingfei Dayuan granules.

OBJECTIVE: To study the anti-inflammatory and anti-tussive effects of Qingfei Dayuan granules (, QFDY), and to evaluate the acute and sub-chronic toxicity of QFDY. METHODS: Anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated by murine model of xylene induced ear edema in mice. Ear swelling degree was calculated and tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß and interleukin-6 were determined. Anti-tussive evaluations were carried out in the mouse cough model induced by ammonia liquor. Latent period cough and number of cough within 3 min were counted. In acute toxicity study, the rats were randomly divided into test group and solvent control group. Body weighs, food intakes and general clinical signs were monitored. In the sub-chronic toxicity study, QFDY was administered to rats at 0, 4, 8 and 16 g/kg per day for 28 and 30 d of post treatment was conducted. Mortalities, clinical signs, body weight changes, food intakes, ophthalmological examinations, hematological parameters, biochemical indicators, electrolyte indicators, urinalyses and histopathological examinations were monitored. RESULTS: QFDY significantly inhibited the development of ear edema in anti-inflammatory assay and decreased cough frequency caused by ammonia liquor. The results presented a dose-effect relationship. In acute toxicity study, no abnormality exhibited at dose of 24.0 g/kg per day during the 14-d observation period. In the sub-chronic toxicity study, higher reticulocyte count, lymphocyte and lower Cl-, blood urea nitrogen were analyzed compared with the solvent control group. But the differences were considered to be incidental and not clinically toxic. Obvious dose-effect relationship of urine color was observed, and the three test groups at the end of the experiments resulted in significant increase in urobilinogen, bilirubin, ketone body and urine leukocyte. However, all the positive indicators returned to normal in the recovery period. Therefore, no toxicological changes were found during the study period. CONCLUSION: QFDY showed significant anti-inflammatory and anti-tussive effects in mice. The lethal dose (LD50) of per oral QFDY in rats was estimated to be more than 24.0 g/kg per day and the no observed adverse effect level was over 16 g/kg per day, which suggested that QFDY is relatively safe for oral medication at the present dose on rats. Our experimental results provide a reference for the further development and research of QFDY.

Effects of Atractylodes Oil on Inflammatory Response and Serum Metabolites in Adjuvant Arthritis Rats.

Atractylodes Rhizoma is one of two principal components in Ermiaosan, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Atractylodes oil (AO) represents a potential alternative treatment for RA. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of AO in rats with Adjuvant Arthritis (AA) by exploration of changes in serum metabolites using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Foot thickness and arthritis score, ankle joint pathological structure, the concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-17 and the expression of MMPs in ankle joint tissue were measured as indicators of efficacy of treatment using AO. In addition, multivariate statistical analysis was used to identify differential production of metabolites and biomarkers, and to analyze metabolic pathways. The results demonstrate that administration of AO resulted in a good therapeutic effect in the AA rat model, with significantly improved joint swelling, reduced joint score, and inhibition of inflammation, synovial pannus hyperplasia, and bone and cartilage destruction. Furthermore, AO was found to exert its effect against rheumatoid arthritis principally by differentially affecting 11 metabolites and six metabolic pathways, predominantly related to abnormal amino acid metabolism, in addition to energy-related metabolic pathways. This study evaluated the capability of AO to effectively treat AA rats, providing a novel strategy for the treatment of RA.