Wei Zou1, Hougang Zhou2, Jian Hu3, Li Zhang4, Qiue Tang1, Xiaoke Wen5, Zuoqi Xiao1, Wei Wang6. 1. Key Laboratory of Hunan Province for Traditional Chinese Medicine in Obstetrics & Gynecology, Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changsha 410008, China. 2. Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changsha 410008, China. 3. Key Laboratory of Hunan Province for Traditional Chinese Medicine in Obstetrics & Gynecology, Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changsha 410008, China; TCM and Ethnomedicine Innovation & Development Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China. 4. Department of Medicine, Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changsha 410008, China. 5. Key Laboratory of Hunan Province for Traditional Chinese Medicine in Obstetrics & Gynecology, Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changsha 410008, China. Electronic address: wxk19631214@sina.com. 6. TCM and Ethnomedicine Innovation & Development Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China. Electronic address: wangwei402@hotmail.com.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae (RSG) is traditionally used to treat gynecological disease, which is simply recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. However, whether it has effect on upper genital tract inflammation (UGTI) is unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the pharmacological effect of RSG on UGTI in rats and analyze its phytochemistry characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The substances in RSG extract was qualified by LC-Q-TOF-MS method, and 11 substances were further quantified. The RSG extract, at dose of 241, 482 (clinical dose) and 964mg/kg/day, was orally administered to UGTI rats whose upper genital tracts were multi-infected with pathogens. Infiltrations of neutrophil and lymphocyte and productions of IL-1β, IL-6, CXCL-1, MCP-1, RANTES, PGE2, COX-2, NF-κB p65 and IκB-α in upper genital tract were examined to evaluate the effects of RSG and its potential mechanism. RESULTS: A total of 77 substances were detected in RSG extract, with 50 substances putatively identified, most of which were flavonoids, phenolic acids and phenylpropanoids. The quantification analysis showed flavonoid had a relative high amount. In pharmacological study, RSG extract suppressed infiltrations of inflammatory cells, reduced over-productions of factors involved in inflammation and pelvic pain. A potential mechanism of these effects was blocking NF-κB signal pathway. CONCLUSIONS: The RSG extract exhibited anti-inflammatory effect on UGTI, with a potential mechanism of blocking the activation of NF-κB signal pathway. The effect may be involved in the presence of substances, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae (RSG) is traditionally used to treat gynecological disease, which is simply recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. However, whether it has effect on upper genital tract inflammation (UGTI) is unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the pharmacological effect of RSG on UGTI in rats and analyze its phytochemistry characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The substances in RSG extract was qualified by LC-Q-TOF-MS method, and 11 substances were further quantified. The RSG extract, at dose of 241, 482 (clinical dose) and 964mg/kg/day, was orally administered to UGTIrats whose upper genital tracts were multi-infected with pathogens. Infiltrations of neutrophil and lymphocyte and productions of IL-1β, IL-6, CXCL-1, MCP-1, RANTES, PGE2, COX-2, NF-κB p65 and IκB-α in upper genital tract were examined to evaluate the effects of RSG and its potential mechanism. RESULTS: A total of 77 substances were detected in RSG extract, with 50 substances putatively identified, most of which were flavonoids, phenolic acids and phenylpropanoids. The quantification analysis showed flavonoid had a relative high amount. In pharmacological study, RSG extract suppressed infiltrations of inflammatory cells, reduced over-productions of factors involved in inflammation and pelvic pain. A potential mechanism of these effects was blocking NF-κB signal pathway. CONCLUSIONS: The RSG extract exhibited anti-inflammatory effect on UGTI, with a potential mechanism of blocking the activation of NF-κB signal pathway. The effect may be involved in the presence of substances, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids.