An Herbal Formula (GPC) Suppresses the Releases of Pro-Inflammatory Effectors in Lipopolysaccharide/Peptidoglycan-Activated RAW264.7 Macrophages and Reduces the Extent of Chemical-Induced Acute/Chronic Inflammation in Rodents
Pharyngitis (an inflammation in the pharynx) is a commonly occurring symptom of
upper respiratory tract infection in patients suffering from common cold. The high
prevalence of upper respiratory tract infection necessitates a safe and effective antiinflammatory
agent for pharyngitis. Chinese herbal medicine, which has been clinically
prescribed for thousands of years, may offer a basis for the treatment of common
cold as well as the amelioration of pharyngitis. In the present study, we investigated
the in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activities of a Chinese herbal formula,
namely GPC, which is comprised of Glycyrrhiza Radix, Platycodonis Radix,
Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, Phyllanthi Fructus and Taraxaci Herba. Incubation
with GPC (30, 100 and 300 μg/mL) suppressed the releases of tumor necrosis factor α
(TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and nitric oxide in lipopolysaccharide/peptidoglycanactivated
RAW264.7 macrophages. In addition to the cell-based study, long-term
treatment with GPC (0.35, 1.05 and 2.10 mL/kg/day × 30 doses) was found to reduce
the extent of inflammation in animal models of carrageenan-induced paw edema
(acute inflammation) as well as cotton pellet-induced granuloma formation (chronic
inflammation) in mice. The ability of GPC to enhance the tracheobronchial expectorant
action suggested its immunomodulatory activity in the respiratory tract. This
postulation was supported by the observation that GPC reduced the degree of pharyngitis and reversed the changes in plasma TNF-α and IL-6 levels in capsaicininduced
pharyngitis in rats. The ensemble of results suggests that GPC may offer a
promising prospect for alleviating the extent of pharyngitis by virtue of antiinflammatory
activities.
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