Yu Ping Feng San, an ancient Chinese herbal decoction, regulates the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 and the activity of intestinal alkaline phosphatase in cultures.

Abstract

Yu Ping Feng San (YPFS), a Chinese herbal decoction comprising Astragali Radix (AR; Huangqi), Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (AMR; Baizhu), and Saposhnikoviae Radix (SR; Fangfeng), has been used clinically to treat inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Previously, we demonstrated a dual role of YPFS in regulating cytokine release in cultured macrophages. In this study, we elucidated the anti-inflammatory effect of YPFS that is mediated through modulating the expression of three key enzymes involved in IBD: inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IALP). In a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced chronic-inflammation model of cultured murine macrophages, YPFS treatment suppressed the activation of iNOS and COX-2 expression in a dose-dependent manner. Conversely, application of YPFS in cultured small intestinal enterocytes markedly induced the expression of IALP in a time-dependent manner, which might strengthen the intestinal detoxification system. A duality of YPFS in modulating the expression of iNOS and COX-2 was determined here. The expression of iNOS and COX-2 in macrophages was induced by YPFS, and this activation was partially blocked by the NF-κB-specific inhibitor BAY 11-7082, indicating a role of NF-κB signaling. These YPFS-induced changes in gene regulation strongly suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of YPFS are mediated through the regulation of inflammatory enzymes.

• Authors: Crystal Y Q Du, Roy C Y Choi, Tina T X Dong, David T W Lau, Karl W K Tsim
• Journal: PloS one (PLoS One) Vol. 9 Issue 6 Pg. e100382 ( 2014) ISSN: 1932-6203 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24967898 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• yu ping feng san
• NOS2 protein, human
• Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
• Cyclooxygenase 2
• PTGS2 protein, human
• Alkaline Phosphatase

Topics

• Alkaline Phosphatase (metabolism)
• Animals
• Caco-2 Cells
• Cyclooxygenase 2 (genetics, metabolism)
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Enterocytes (cytology, drug effects, metabolism)
• Enzyme Activation (drug effects)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic (drug effects)
• Humans
• Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (drug therapy)
• Intestines (drug effects, enzymology)
• Macrophages (cytology, drug effects, metabolism)
• Mice
• Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II (genetics, metabolism)