Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Modified Buyang Huanwu Decoction

Abstract EN

Background/Aims.

Buyang Huanwu decoction (BHD) is a traditional Chinese and Korean herbal medicine prescription that has been widely used to treat various diseases including cerebral ischemia, gynecological disease, and neurological disorders.

BHD is commonly used as a variable modified combination for synergistic therapeutic effects.

However, the mechanism by which modified BHD (mBHD) produces anti-inflammatory effects has not been elucidated yet.

The purpose of this study was to develop mBHD with diminished potential side effects and verify its anti-inflammatory effects.

Methods.

A cytotoxicity assay for BHD was performed using the MTT assay.

Following treatment with BHD, mBHD-1, and mBHD-2 in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), nitric oxide (NO) secretion was detected in cell supernatants using a NO detection kit.

The expression of proinflammatory mediators was detected using RT-PCR and western blotting.

To verify the mechanism of mBHD, specific inhibitors of JNK (SP600125) or p38 (SB203580) were used for co-treatment with mBHD, and then the changes in NO and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were measured.

Results.

Both mBHD-1 and mBHD-2 showed greater anti-inflammatory effects than BHD.

Both mBHD-1 and mBHD-2 inhibited NO secretion and decreased the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and iNOS.

Treatment with a p38 inhibitor and a JNK inhibitor in mBHD-1- and mBHD-2-treated cells resulted in inhibition of NO and iNOS.

Conclusion.

We provided the first experimental evidence that mBHD may be a more useful anti-inflammatory than BHD.

High concentrations or long-term use of BHD may be harmful to inflammatory status.

Therefore, the length of treatment and concentration should be considered depending on the targeted disease.