San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang reduces lipopolysaccharides-induced hypotension and inflammatory mediators.
San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang (SHXT) is a traditional Chinese medicinal formula containing Coptidis rhizoma, Scutellariae radix and Rhei rhizoma. The present study aimed to determine the preventive effects of standardized SHXT on lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced arterial hypotension, protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), cytokines formation and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. LPS-induced activation of iNOS has been recognized to increase cytokines and nitric oxide, some of them play predominant roles in sepsis. Intravenous injection of LPS (10 mg/kg) caused a marked decrease of the mean arterial pressure in normotensive rats. However, the LPS-induced arterial hypotension was inhibited by SHXT (0.01 and 0.03 g/kg), when it was given 30 min before LPS. Moreover, plasma level of cytokines and PGE2 were lowered by SHXT. In RAW 264.7 cells, SHXT (20-200 microg/ml) dose-dependently inhibited LPS (1 microg/ml)-induced iNOS and COX-2 expression, and it also significantly decreased LPS-induced cytokines in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, our data suggest that SHXT prevented LPS-induced arterial hypotension, which might be mediated through its inhibition activities on the expression of iNOS and COX-2, cytokines formation and PGE2 production. Therefore, its protection activity against LPS-induced arterial hypotension and inflammatory mediators release might be beneficial in the treatment of endotoxin shock and/or associated inflammation.
Lo
Yi-Ching
YC
Department and Graduate Institute of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100 Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan.
Tsai
Pei-Ling
PL
Huang
Yaw-Bin
YB
Shen
Kuo-Pyng
KP
Tsai
Yi-Hung
YH
Wu
Yang-Chang
YC
Lai
Yung-Hsiung
YH
Chen
Ing-Jun
IJ
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D007022:Hypotension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; C501029:San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D015232:Dinoprostone