Inhibition of Experimental Lung Inflammation and Bronchitis by Phytoformula Containing Broussonetia papyrifera and Lonicera japonica

Abstract

Many patients suffer from lung infl ammatory disorders including asthma, bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders (COPD). Several classes of drugs including bronchodilators, antitussives, steroids and leukotriene (LT) receptor antagonists have been used to treat these disorders. However, these drugs sometimes do not provide fundamental care, even though the major symptoms are alleviated (Jeffery, 2001). Thus, new effective drugs with novel action mechanism(s) are needed to treat lung infl ammatory disorders. In this regard, natural products may be applied safely for treating human lung infl ammation and bronchitis.The root barks of Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) Vent. (Moraceae) distributed in China, Japan and Korea have been used as anti-infl ammatory and antitussive agents in traditional Chinese medicine, especially for the treatment of older people having bronchitis (Editorial Committee, 1999). Recently, the 95% ethanol extracts of the radix, stems, leaves and fruits of B. papyrifera showed antinociceptive and anti-infl ammatory activity in vivo, with radix having the strongest activity (Lin et al., 2008). Lonicera japonica (Thunb.) (Caprifoliaceae) is a Broussonetia papyrifera and Lonicera japonica have long been used in the treatment of infl ammatory disorders, especially respiratory infl ammation, in Chinese medicine. Previously, phytoformula (BL) containing B. papyrifera and L. japonica was found to exert strong anti-infl ammatory activity in vitro and in vivo. In this study, the effects of BL on lung infl ammation including bronchitis were examined in vitro and in vivo. BL (10-100 μg/ml) inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated alveolar macrophages, MH-S cells, primarily by down-regulating inducible NO synthase. BL also inhibited production of the proinfl ammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IL-6. Against an animal model of pleural cavity infl ammation, BL (200-400 mg/kg) signifi cantly inhibited 5 h and 24 h carrageenan-induced pleurisy in rats when administered orally. Additionally, BL inhibited experimental bronchitis induced by intratracheal instillation of LPS to rats. Taken together, these results indicate that BL may be effective for the treatment of human lung infl ammation as well as bronchitis.

Inhibition of Experimental Systemic Inflammation (Septic Inflammation) and Chronic Bronchitis by New Phytoformula BL Containing Broussonetia papyrifera and Lonicera japonica

“…The ethanol extract was then dried and was used to prepare BL. In this extract, the contents of the major constituents, loganin and sweroside, were found to be 4.19% and 3.30% (Ko et al ., 2011). BL is the mixture of above plant preparations (1:1, w/w) which was used throughout this study.…”

“…The ethylacetate fraction was then dried and was used to prepare BL as below. By HPLC analysis, the ethylacetate fraction was revealed to contain 1.35% (w/w) papyriflavonol A and 2.58% broussochalcone A as major constituents (Ko et al ., 2011). The dried whole plant of L. japonica was extracted with 70% aqueous ethanol.…”

“…Previously, it was also found that BL inhibited animal models of lung inflammation and acute bronchitis (Ko et al ., 2011). In carrageenan-induced pleurisy, orally administered BL (200-400 mg/kg) significantly reduced pleurisy volume and inflammatory cell recruitment.…”

p38/AP-1 Pathway in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammatory Responses Is Negatively Modulated by Electrical Stimulation

“…Thus, many types of soluble factors, including cytokines (e.g., tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- α ), chemokines, and inflammatory mediators (including nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 )), control autocrine and paracrine types of immune cell activation, cell-to-cell interactions, and the migration of various immune cells, including macrophages, neutrophils, and T and B lymphocytes. Despite the positive role of inflammation, hyperactive and long-lasting inflammatory states are critically linked to the onset of various serious diseases, including cancer, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and arthritis [3–6]. Therefore, returning upregulated chronic inflammatory responses to baseline levels could be an important strategy to prevent multiple diseases.…”

Inhibition of Proinflammatory Cytokine Generation in Lung Inflammation by the Leaves of Perilla frutescens and Its Constituents

“…Some other plant extracts from Morus alba (Lim et al ., 2013) and Broussonetia papyrifera (Ko et al ., 2011) have also been shown to possess similar activity by our laboratory. The present study was carried out to find the active principle constituents which had the potential to be used as new and alternative medicines.…”