Λεξικό .. Chinese traditional herbal medicine

Many of the botanical "immunomodulators", a class of herbal medicines widely recognized in traditional medical systems such as Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurvedic Medicine, alter immune function and may offer clinically relevant therapeutics or leads to therapeutics. Many of these traditional remedies are prepared from combinations of medicinal plants which may influence numerous molecular pathways. These effects may differ from the sum of effects from the individual plants and therefore, research demonstrating the effects of the formula is crucial for insights into the effects of traditional remedies[3].

Chinese herbal tee formula (FAHF-1) has given promising results for the treatment of food allergy. When FAHF-1 treatment was initiated after sensitization of the mice for a total of 7 weeks, treated mice did not show any sign of anaphylaxis after peanut challenge. Peanut specific serum IgE levels were significantly reduced and the peanut antigen-induced TH2 cytokine production was diminished. Such strategies might be most welcome in humans. Current efforts aim to characterize the active ingredient in this herbal tea[1].

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is one kind of nose mucous membrane inflammation reactiveness disease, which is mediated by IgE for the environment sensitization. The major clinical symptoms are: nose itch, the sneeze, nasal discharge, nasal obstruction and so on. It is thought that the acient disease named "Bi Qiu" has included AR. By comparing the AR clinical manifestation characteristic with trditional Chinese medicine (TCM) "Feng/wind" induced disease characteristic and the "Feng/wind" disease clinical manifestation characteristic, we can know that AR should belong to the "Feng/wind" disease category of TCM. It is shown that the "Feng/ wind" medicine is the most windly appeared in AR treatment formulas of TCM clinical research data (in each formular) in the past 10 years[2]. In this review we surveyed the primary literature for research that focused on combinations of medicinal plants and effects on cytokine activity.

The results demonstrate that many extracts of herb mixtures have effects on at least one cytokine. The most commonly studies cytokines were IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF and IFN-gamma. The majority of the formulas researched derived from TCM.

The following formulas had activity on at least three cytokines; Chizukit N, CKBM, Daeganghwal-tang, Food Allergy Formula, Gamcho-Sasim-Tang, Hachimi-jio-gan, Herbkines, Hochuekki, Immune System Formula, Jeo-Dang-Tang, Juzen-taiho-to, Kakkon-to, Kan jang, Mao-Bushi-Saishin-to, MSSM-002, Ninjin-youei-to, PG201, Protec, Qing-huo-bai-du-yin, Qingfu Guanjieshu, Sambucol Active Defense, Seng-fu-tang, Shin-Xiao-Xiang, Tien Hsien, Thuja formula, Unkei-to, Vigconic, Wheeze-relief-formula, Xia-Bai-San, Yangyuk-Sanhwa-Tang, Yi-fey Ruenn-hou, and Yuldahansotang. Of the western based combinations, formulas with Echinacea spp. were common and showed multiple activities.

Numerous formulas demonstrated activity on both gene and protein expression. The research demonstrates that the reviewed botanical formulas modulate cytokine activity, although the bulk of the research is in vitro. Therapeutic success using these formulas may be partially due to their effects on cytokines. Further study of phytotherapy on cytokine related diseases/syndromes is necessary[3].

References

1. Li XM, Zhang TF, Huang CK, Srivastava K, Teper AA, Zhang L et al. Food Allergy Herbal Formula-1 (FAHF-1) blocks peanut-induced anaphylaxis in a murine model. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2001;108: 639-646.

2. Zhang X, Li Y, Lian Z. Thinking and look forward to clinical study of allergic rhinitis by treatment of traditional Chinese medicine.Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2009 Sep;34(18):2419-22.

3. Burns JJ, Zhao L, Taylor EW, Spelman K. The influence of traditional herbal formulas on cytokine activity. Toxicology. 2009 Oct 7.