The Chinese prescription lianhuaqingwen capsule exerts anti-influenza activity through the inhibition of viral propagation and impacts immune function.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Lianhuaqingwen Capsule (LH-C) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula used to treat respiratory tract infectious diseases in Chinese. The aim of this study was to determine the antiviral activity of LH-C and its immunomodulatory effects on viral infection.

METHOD:

The in vitro cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of LH-C was determined by MTT and Plaque reduction assays. Time course study under single-cycle virus growth conditions were used to determine which stage of viral replication was blocked. The effect of LH-C on the nuclear export of the viral nucleoprotein was examined using an indirect immunofluorescence assay. The regulation to different signaling transduction events and cytokine/chemokine expression of LH-C was evaluated using Western blotting and real-time RT-PCR. After virus inoculation, BALB/c mice were administered with LH-C of different concentrations for 5 days. Body-weight, viral titers and lung pathology of the mice were measured, the level of inflammatory cytokines were also examined using real-time RT-PCR.

RESULTS:

LH-C inhibited the proliferation of influenza viruses of various strain in vitro, with the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) ranging from 0.35 to 2 mg/mL. LH-C blocked the early stages (0-2 h) of virus infection, it also suppressed virus-induced NF-kB activation and alleviated virus-induced gene expression of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-a, IP-10, and MCP-1 in a dose-dependent manner. LH-C treatment efficiently impaired the nuclear export of the viral RNP. A decrease of the viral titers in the lungs of mice were observed in groups administered with LH-C. The level of inflammatory cytokines were also decreased in the early stages of infection.

CONCLUSIONS:

LH-C, as a TCM prescription, exerts broad-spectrum effects on a series of influenza viruses, including the newly emerged H7N9, and particularly regulates the immune response of virus infection. Thus, LH-C might be a promising option for treating influenza virus infection.

• Authors: Yuewen Ding, Lijuan Zeng, Runfeng Li, Qiaoyan Chen, Beixian Zhou, Qiaolian Chen, Pui Leng Cheng, Wang Yutao, Jingping Zheng, Zifeng Yang, Fengxue Zhang
• Journal: BMC complementary and alternative medicine (BMC Complement Altern Med) Vol. 17 Issue 1 Pg. 130 (Feb 24 2017) ISSN: 1472-6882 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 28235408 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Cytokines
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• NF-kappa B
• Nucleocapsid Proteins
• lianhuaqingwen

Topics

• A549 Cells
• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Cytokines (metabolism)
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Inflammation (drug therapy)
• Lung (drug effects)
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests
• NF-kappa B (metabolism)
• Nucleocapsid Proteins (metabolism)
• Orthomyxoviridae (drug effects)
• Orthomyxoviridae Infections (drug therapy)
• Phytotherapy
• Virus Replication (drug effects)