Protective effect of HwangRyunHaeDok-Tang water extract against chronic obstructive pulmonary disease induced by cigarette smoke and lipopolysaccharide in a mouse model

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Hwangryunhaedok-tang is an oriental herbal formula treated to cure inflammation and gastric disorders in China, Japan, and Korea. We explored the protective effects of Hwangryunhaedok-tang water extract (HRWE) against airway pathophysiological changes caused by cigarette smoke (CS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in a mouse.

Materials and methods: We performed quantitative analyses of five marker components, namely geniposide, baicalin, coptisine, plamatine, and berberine, using high-performance liquid chromatography. Animals were received CS exposure (1h per day) for 7 days. LPS was administered intranasally on day 4. Mice were received HRWE at dose of 100 or 200mg/kg for 1h before CS exposure.

Results: Treatment with HRWE significantly suppressed the increased inflammatory cell count induced by CS and LPS exposure. In addition, reduction in IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was observed after HRWE treatment. HRWE not only decreased inflammatory cell infiltration in lung, but also decreased the expression of iNOS, NF-κB and matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)-9 in lung tissues.

Conclusion: This study showed that HRWE can attenuate respiratory inflammation caused by CS and LPS exposure. Therefore, HRWE has potential for treating airway inflammatory disease.

Keywords: Airway inflammation; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Cigarette smoke; HwangRyunHaeDok-tang; Traditional herbal formula.