Functional analysis of cultured neural cells for evaluating cold/cool- and hot/warm-natured Chinese herbs.
Recently, modern scientific research has been required to understand pharmacological basis of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory based on the ancient clinical experience, and to investigate the molecular mechanisms of action of Chinese herbs. Here, 20 Chinese herbs, classified into 4 properties (hot, warm, cold and cool) of TCM, were analyzed for their ability to exhibit antioxidant action, to enhance glucose uptake by murine microglia N9 cells, and to influence neurotransmitter norepinephrine (NE) release from rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. We found a generally protective effect of both hot/warm-natured and cold/cool-natured herbs against H(2)O(2)-induced N9 cell death, partially by elevating superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Glucose uptake was elevated after treatment with some hot/warm-natured herbs. In addition, most herbs with hot/warm nature tended to stimulate NE release, while such stimulatory effect was not observed in the herbs with cold/cool nature. Two cold/cool-natured herbs, Rhizoma coptidis and Radix scutellariae, even significantly suppressed the release. These results suggest that the distinct abilities of Chinese herbs to regulate neural cell functions appear to be correlated with their natures identified in traditional TCM theory, and may be a useful guide for their utility in neural degenerative diseases.
Liu
Yan-Qiu
YQ
Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China.
Cheng
Meng-Chun
MC
Wang
Long-Xing
LX
Zhao
Nan
N
Xiao
Hong-Bin
HB
Wang
Zheng-Tao
ZT
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D051379:Mice; D017628:Microglia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D016716:PC12 Cells; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013816:Thermodynamics
D000975:Antioxidants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005947:Glucose; D009638:Norepinephrine