title: Effect of bojungikki-tang on lipopolysaccharide-induced cytokine production from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of chronic fatigue syndrome patients.
abstract: Bojungikki-tang (BIT) has been widely used to treat patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). However, its effect has not been yet investigated experimentally. Based upon the clinical presentation of CFS, we hypothesized that cytokines may play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease. We studied the effect of BIT on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced various cytokines production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of CFS patients. Bojungikki-tang (1 mg/mL) significantly inhibited LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 production by 63.55% +/- 0.19%, 55.06% +/- 0.27%, 48.23% +/- 0.48%, 54.09% +/- 0.76%, respectively (P < 0.05). Bojungikki-tang showed a slightly lower inhibitory effect of LPS-induced Interferon (IFN)-gamma production. These results suggest that BIT may be useful in treating fatigue associated with chronic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Dongdaemun-Gu, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Chang-Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Tae-Yong
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Eon-Jeong
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyung-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma