title: Effect of Liuwei Dihuang decoction, a traditional Chinese medicinal prescription, on the neuroendocrine immunomodulation network.
abstract: Liuwei Dihuang decoction (LW) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for more than 900years to prevent and treat various diseases with characteristic features of kidney yin deficiency. To date, LW has been commonly prescribed in TCM as therapy or adjuvant therapy against various diseases. To elucidate the pharmacological characteristics and mechanism of action of this formula, studies have been conducted on the pharmacological effects and chemical profiles (including bioactive ingredients) to investigate the role of LW in the neuroendocrine immunomodulation (NIM) network. In this review, we provide an overview of the pharmacological effects of LW on the NIM network, particularly on learning and memory, immunomodulation, and neuroendocrine-immune interactions, including the effects of LW on the central nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system. We also discuss advances in related chemical studies, especially those identifying the bioactive components of LW and their unique combinational effects on the immune system. Our experimental results indicate that LW exerts a broad spectrum of pharmacological effects, by modulating and restoring the balance of the NIM network disturbed by several pathological factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroimmunopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China; State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing 100850, China.
authors.forename: Wenxia
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroimmunopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China; State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing 100850, China.
authors.forename: Xiaorui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroimmunopharmacology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China; State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing 100850, China. Electronic address: zhangyx@bmi.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Yongxiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000187:drug effects*; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C042579:Liuwei Dihuang Decoction; D064209:Phytochemicals
keywords: Cognition; Immune; Liuwei Dihuang decoction; Neuroendocrine; Neuroendocrine immunomodulation network; Pharmacological effects