Protective immune mechanisms of Yifei Tongluo, a Chinese herb formulation, in the treatment of mycobacterial infection.

Yifei Tongluo (YFTL) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulation which has been shown clinical efficacy in treatment of patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in China. However, the underlying mechanisms of the effects of YFTL are lacking. This study investigated the effects of YFTL on immune regulation with a mouse lung infection model with Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG). We found that compared with untreated mice, the lung mycobacterial load in YFTL-treated mice was significantly reduced, accompanied by alleviated pulmonary inflammation with reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increase of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Flow cytometry analyses showed that Th1 cells were significantly higher in the lungs of YFTL-treated mice at early infection time. The results suggest that YFTL-treatment down-regulates pulmonary inflammation, which facilitates a rapid infiltration of Th1 cells into the lungs. Moreover, the Th1 cells in the lungs were resolved faster at later time concomitant with increased the regulatory T cells (Tregs). The reduction of mycobacterial burden associated with improved tissue pathology, faster Th1 cell trafficking, and accelerated resolution of Th1 cells in the lungs of YFTL-treated mice indicates that YFTL improves mycobacterial clearance by maintaining lung homeostasis and dynamically regulating T cells in the lung parenchyma, and suggests that YFTL can be used as host-directed therapies that target immune responses to mycobacterial infection.

[Separation, purification and spectrum analysis of total flavonoids from Cercis chinensis].

OBJECTIVE: To separate, purify total flavonoids from Cercis chinensis Bge and analyze their flavonoid aglycones and content by spectrum method. METHODS: The total flavonoids from Cercis chinensis Bge were extracted by 15 volume of 55% ethyl alcohol and hot water refluence at 100 degrees C and separated, purified by polyamide resin chromatography. Based on reference substances of rutin, quercetin, kaempferol, it was analyzed and detected by UV-Vis spectroscope at 200-600 nm and by KBr infrared spectroscope at 400-4000 cm(-1). RESULTS: Average extraction rate of crude total flavonoids was 7.32% , and extraction rate of purified total flavonoids was 2.20%. The results of UV-Vis and IR scanning spectrum showed that purified total flavonoids from Cercis chinensis Bge contained of 3 kinds of flavonoid aglycones of rutin, quercetin, kaempferol, and their content was 0.8271, 0.2169, 0.3007 mg/ml respectively. CONCLUSION: Content of total flavonoid aglycones in purified flavonoids of Cercis chinensis Bge was 24.30%, and content of total flavonoid was 0.5346%.

[Extraction and analysis of sargassum hemiphyllum polysaccharides].

Sargassum hemiphyllum polysaccharides (SHP) was extracted by thermal water method and the physical and chemical characters, the extraction rate, contents, compositions of SHP was studied. The result showed that SHP was ashen powder, water-soluble, insoluble in organic solvents. The reaction of iodide-potassium iodide was negative to evaluate that SHP was nonstarch polysaccharides. Extraction rate was 7.04% and the content of polysaccharides was 82.9%. Ultraviolet spectrum showed that there were little DNA and protein. Infrared spectroscopy showed that SHP was main pyrano polysaccharides and had beta-linked glycopolysaccharides in molecule structure of SHP. Thin layer chromatography traced that SHP could be xylan. The results indicated that the extract was not only polysaccharides but also higher purity and the method was high efficiency.