title: [Optimal combination of baicalin, icariin and Astragalus saponin I from a Chinese herbal compound Biminne].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the optimal combined ratio of baicalin, icariin and Astragalus saponin I from a Chinese herbal compound Biminne.
  
  
  METHODS
  Firstly, a mouse model of allergic rhinitis was established by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminum hydroxide gel suspension, and the effective dose range of baicalin, icariin and Astragalus saponin I was detected by 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide inner salt method. Secondly, 10 groups of combinations of baicalin, icariin and Astragalus saponin I assembled by U(10)(10(8)) form were employed to determine the optimal combination by means of analyzing of the inhibitory effect on the splenocyte proliferation. Finally, the effects of each effective ingredient and the optimal combination were compared by observing the splenocyte proliferation, the contents of interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in supernatant of the splenocyte cultures and the ratio of IL-4 to IFN-gamma in order to verify the result.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baicalin or icariin at concentrations ranging from 2 to 10 micromol/L, and Astragalus saponin I from 1 to 10 micromol/L effectively suppressed the splenocyte proliferation. When the proportion of baicalin, icariin and Astragalus saponin I was 1:2.14:2.65, the inhibitory effect was most remarkable. Further research confirmed the rationality of the optimal combination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An optimal combination of the major effective ingredients from Chinese herbal compound Biminne most effectively suppresses the proliferation of splenocytes from sensitized mice and regulates the cytokine secreting.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Yi
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Xin-Min
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zi-Yin
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Guo-Rang
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Su-Qin
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Run-Hong
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wei-Dong
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jing-Cheng
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D027883:Astragalus Plant / Q000737:chemistry*; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015195:Drug Design; D004344:Drug Incompatibility; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005419:Flavonoids; C526710:biminne; C056599:icariin