[Optimal combination of baicalin, icariin and Astragalus saponin I from a Chinese herbal compound Biminne].
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.
Gong
Wei-Yi
WY
Institute of Chinese Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China.
Zhang
Xin-Min
XM
Shen
Zi-Yin
ZY
Hu
Guo-Rang
GR
Zhang
Su-Qin
SQ
Liu
Run-Hong
RH
Zhang
Wei-Dong
WD
Dong
Jing-Cheng
JC
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
D016207:Cytokines; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005419:Flavonoids; C526710:biminne; C056599:icariin