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

PLoS One. 2014 Jun 26;9(6):e100382. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0100382. eCollection 2014.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

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

Substances

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

Grants and funding

This research was supported by Hong Kong Research Grants Council Theme-based Research Scheme (T13-607/12R), GRF (662911, 663012, 662713, N_HKUST629/13), The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and Foundation of The Awareness of Nature (TAON12SC01) and ITC (GHP/059/12SZ) to Karl Tsim. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.