Protective effects of Yinhuapinggan granule on mice with influenza viral pneumonia

Abstract

Yinhuapinggan granule (YHPG), a Chinese medicine granule on the basis of Ma-Huang-Tang (Ephedra Decoction) and the clinical experience of Professor Wan Haitong, has been shown to inhibit the growth of influenza virus in vitro. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of YHPG on mice with influenza viral pneumonia and its effects on regulating related inflammatory cytokines in influenza virus A-infected mice. ICR mice were inoculated intranasally with 15 LD50 viral dose of influenza virus A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) and treatments with YHPG (7.5, 15 and 30g/kg) were orally administrated daily for 5 consecutive days after challenge, respectively. The results showed that mortality rate, lung index, lung histopathological changes, IL-6 and TNF-α in serum were significantly attenuated in the treatment of YHPG (15 and 30g/kg) than those in the IFV control group, while the levels of IL-2 was significantly enhanced. Moreover, the RT-PCR results revealed that YHPG (15 and 30g/kg) significantly depressed the expressions of IL-1β, IFN-γ and TNF-α mRNA in lung tissues. Furthermore, the immunohistochemical staining results also revealed that the expression of NF-κB p65 proteins was downregulated when treated with YHPG (15 and 30g/kg). These results showed YHPG has protective effects on IFV-infected mice, due to its ability of alleviation of lung damage, regulation of the cytokine production via inhibiting the NF-κB p65 activation, attenuation of systemic and pulmonary inflammatory responses.

Preliminary study of Yinhuapinggan granule against H1N1 influenza virus infection in mice through inhibition of apoptosis

“…Previous researches have shown that YHPG has distinct antitussive, antiinflammatory and antibacterial effects (He et al 2014;Wan et al 2016). Further, antiviral studies has demonstrated that YHPG has significant effects on ameliorating influenza virus-induced inflammation, inhibiting TLRs/MyD88 mediated NF-jB signalling pathway, and inhibiting influenza virus replication (Peng et al 2016a(Peng et al , 2016b. However, the antiviral effects and its possible mechanism of YHPG in the apoptosis signalling pathway are still obscure.…”

“…According to the traditional dose ratio of 4 (Radix Puerariae Lobatae): 4 (Flos Lonicerae Japonicae): 4 (Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma): 2 (Ephedrae Herba): 2 (Armeniacae Semen Amarum): 1 (Glycyrrhizae Radix) ( Supplementary Table 1), YHPG granules were prepared by water-extraction and ethanol-precipitation, and the quality control of YHPG was also performed by HPLC, as reported in our previous research. HPLC analysis was carried out at 210 nm for the determination of eight active components in YHPG, containing L-ephedrine (0.73 mg/g), D-pseudoephedrine (0.407 mg/g), chlorogenic acid (1.92 mg/g), amygdalin (6.37 mg/g), puerarin (4.35 mg/g), polydatin (1.79 mg/g), glycyrrhizic acid (0.692 mg/g) and emodin (0.329 mg/g), respectively (Supplementary Figure 1) (Peng et al 2016a(Peng et al , 2016b.…”

“…In previous research, YHPG has been shown to inhibit the reproduction of H1N1 influenza virus in embryonic eggs as a mixture of six herbs in different proportions (Peng et al 2005). In addition, YHPG has obvious protective effects on IFV-infected mice associated with alleviation of lung injury, regulation of cytokine production via NF-jB p65 activation and inhibition of TLR4-MyD88-TRAF signalling pathway in vivo (Peng et al 2016a(Peng et al , 2016b. In vitro, YHPG also has certain antiviral effects in IFV-infected RAW264.7 cells, which might be associated with regulation of inflammatory cytokines production, inhibition of TLR7-MyD88-IRF7 signalling pathway, activation of NF-jB p65, and modulation of the protein expressions of key effectors in the Type I IFN and PRRs signalling pathways (Du et al 2017(Du et al , 2018.…”

Advances in treatment of COVID-19

“…The Jinhuaqinggan granules are made from Lonicera japonica, herba ephedra (fried honey), gypsum, bitter almond kernel, Scutellaria baicalensis, fructus forsythia, Thunberg Fritillary Bulb, rhizoma anemarrhenae, burdock, Artemisia apiacea, peppermint, and glycyrrhiza [45]. Previous studies regarding the clinical application of Jinhuaqinggan granules were mainly concentrated on the treatment of influenza [46]. It was found that Jinhuaqinggan granules alone, or its combination with oseltamivir both could shorten the time for fever recession in H1N1 patients [47].…”

In vitro evaluation of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of Asparagus aphyllus L., Crataegus azarolus L., and Ephedra alata Decne.in monocultures and co-cultures of HepG2 and THP-1-derived macrophages

“…24,25 Ephedra decreased NF-κB p65 activity leading to alleviation of lung damage and regulation of the cytokine production (IL-2 elevation and IL-1β, IFN-γ and TNF-α mRNA inhibition in lung tissues). 26,27 Crataegus azarolus L. (Azarolein English, Za'roor in Arabic), is used in the Greco-Arab traditional medicine to treat cardiovascular diseases, sexual weakness, cancer and diabetes.…”