In vitro anti-microbial and in vivo cytokine modulating effects of different prepared Chinese herbal medicines.
The toxicity, antimicrobial and cytokine modulating effects of herbal medicines in treating periodontal diseases were evaluated in this study. Using the broth dilution method and disc agar diffusion test, in individual and combined decocted preparations, different concentrations of Ching-Wei-San and its individual herbal components, Coptidis rhizoma, Angelicae sinensis radix, Rehmanniae radixet rhizom, Moutan radicis cortex, and Cimicifuga foetida, were tested for in vitro inhibitory effects on three well-known plaque-causing bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivialis, Streptococcus sanguis, and Streptococcus mutans, and two common pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The cytokine modulating effects were evaluated in Balb/c mice. The results suggested that one milliliter Ching-Wei-San at the 25,000 mg/mL concentration daily for the mice had significantly high levels in the liver function indexes in the 3-day acute toxicity test and in both the liver and kidney function indexes in the 28-day subacute toxicity test (P<0.01). The 250 mg/mL Ching-Wei-San is comparable to 250 mg/mL of tetracycline, and had similar inhibitory effects on the tested bacteria. Coptidis rhizoma (62.5 mg/mL) was the only individual herbal component to show 100% inhibitory effects. The mean cytokine ratios of IL-2, IL-4, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha in Balb/c mice treated with individual herbal components were shown to be different from each other. Ching-Wei-San modulated the immunity of mice, up-regulated IL-2, IL-4 and TNF-alpha, but down-regulated IFN-gamma. The effects of none of the individual herbal components alone can substitute for the cumulative effect of Ching-Wei-San.
Lin
Shyh-Jye
SJ
School of Medical Laboratory and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, No. l10, Sec. 1, Chien-Kuo North Road, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
Chen
Chung-Shih
CS
Lin
Shih-Shen
SS
Chou
Ming-Yung
MY
Shih
Hung-Che
HC
Lee
I-Pang
IP
Kao
Chia-Tze
CT
Ho
Chuan-Chen
CC
Chen
Fong-Lin
FL
Ho
Yung-Chyuan
YC
Hsieh
Kuang-Hui
KH
Huang
Chi-Ruei
CR
Yang
Chi-Chiang
CC
D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D018675:Toxicity Tests
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal