Beneficial effect of indigo naturalis on acute lung injury induced by influenza A virus

Abstract

Background: Infections induced by influenza viruses, as well as coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic induced by severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) led to acute lung injury (ALI) and multi organ failure, during which traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) played an important role in treatment of the pandemic. The study aimed to investigate the effect of indigo naturalis on ALI induced by influenza A virus (IAV) in mice.Method: The anti-influenza and anti-inflammatory properties of aqueous extract of indigo naturalis (INAE) were evaluated in vitro. BALB/c mice inoculated intranasally with IAV (H1N1) were treated intragastrically with INAE (40, 80 and 160 mg·kg-1/d) 2 h later for 4 or 7 days. Animal lifespan and mortality were recorded. Expression of high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB-1) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) were evaluated through immunohistological staining. Inflammatory cytokines were also monitored by ELISA.Result: INAE inhibited virus replication on Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells and decreased nitric oxide (NO) production from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated peritoneal macrophages in vitro. The results showed that oral administration of 160 mg/kg of INAE significantly improved the lifespan (P < 0.01) and survival rate of IAV infected mice, improved lung injury and lowered viral replication in lung tissue (P < 0.01). Treatment with INAE (40, 80 and 160 mg/kg) significantly increased liver weight and liver index (P < 0.05), as well as weight and organ index of thymus and spleen at 160 mg/kg (P < 0.05). Serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were reduced by INAE administration (P < 0.05). The expression of HMGB-1 and TLR4 in lung tissue were also suppressed. The increased production of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and methylene dioxyamphetamine (MDA) in lung tissue were inhibited by INAE treatment (P < 0.05). Treatment with INAE reduced the high levels of interferon α (IFN-α), interferon β (IFN-β), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted factor (RANTES), interferon induced protein-10 (IP-10), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) (P < 0.05), with increased production of interferon γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) (P < 0.05).Conclusion: The results showed that INae alleviated IAV induced ALI in mice. The effect of INAE might be related with its anti-influenza, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation properties, which give a hint that indigo naturalis might be effective on respiratory viruses infected acute lung injury or SAR-CoV-2 caused COVID-19.

Perilla Fruit Water Extract Attenuates Inflammatory Responses and Alleviates Neutrophil Recruitment via MAPK/JNK-AP-1/c-Fos Signaling Pathway in ARDS Animal Model

“…In addition, PFWE decreased the gene expression and protein production of in ammatory cytokine (IL-6) and chemokine (CCL2/ MCP-1). Although this is the rst study to show the e cacy of PFWE in controlling ARDS, similar results have been reported by applying other TCM, such as Indigo naturalis, Huang Qin, or Sophorae avescentis Radix [21][22][23]. Our data further support the use of TCM for the treatment of pulmonary diseases in the acute phase.…”

Validation of the Anticolitis Efficacy of the Jian-Wei-Yu-Yang Formula

“…Moreover, oral drug administration exacerbates the metabolic burden in the liver, which might result in metabolic disturbances and thereby increasing the susceptibility to carcinogenesis [86]. Issues regarding hepatotoxicity have been resolved by the promoted liver regeneration by BT [87], PP [88], BD [89], CH [90,91], LC [92,93], SK [94], and CWT [95]. ③ IBD patients are susceptible to malnutrition including anemia, amino acid, and vitamin deficiency [96], which could be rescued by PP [97] due to its hematopoiesis-promoting effect [98][99][100] and by the addition of pearl that is produced from shellfish mollusks which contain 20 amino acids and Fe and Mg elements [101].…”