The Chinese prescription lianhuaqingwen capsule exerts anti-influenza activity through the inhibition of viral propagation and impacts immune function

BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017 Feb 24;17(1):130. doi: 10.1186/s12906-017-1585-7.

Abstract

Background: Lianhuaqingwen Capsule (LH-C) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula used to treat respiratory tract infectious diseases in Chinese. The aim of this study was to determine the antiviral activity of LH-C and its immunomodulatory effects on viral infection.

Method: The in vitro cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of LH-C was determined by MTT and Plaque reduction assays. Time course study under single-cycle virus growth conditions were used to determine which stage of viral replication was blocked. The effect of LH-C on the nuclear export of the viral nucleoprotein was examined using an indirect immunofluorescence assay. The regulation to different signaling transduction events and cytokine/chemokine expression of LH-C was evaluated using Western blotting and real-time RT-PCR. After virus inoculation, BALB/c mice were administered with LH-C of different concentrations for 5 days. Body-weight, viral titers and lung pathology of the mice were measured, the level of inflammatory cytokines were also examined using real-time RT-PCR.

Results: LH-C inhibited the proliferation of influenza viruses of various strain in vitro, with the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) ranging from 0.35 to 2 mg/mL. LH-C blocked the early stages (0-2 h) of virus infection, it also suppressed virus-induced NF-kB activation and alleviated virus-induced gene expression of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-a, IP-10, and MCP-1 in a dose-dependent manner. LH-C treatment efficiently impaired the nuclear export of the viral RNP. A decrease of the viral titers in the lungs of mice were observed in groups administered with LH-C. The level of inflammatory cytokines were also decreased in the early stages of infection.

Conclusions: LH-C, as a TCM prescription, exerts broad-spectrum effects on a series of influenza viruses, including the newly emerged H7N9, and particularly regulates the immune response of virus infection. Thus, LH-C might be a promising option for treating influenza virus infection.

Keywords: Antiviral; Immuno-regulation; Influenza virus; Lianhuaqingwen capsule.

MeSH terms

  • A549 Cells
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / pharmacology*
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Lung / drug effects
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Nucleocapsid Proteins / metabolism
  • Orthomyxoviridae / drug effects*
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / drug therapy*
  • Phytotherapy
  • Virus Replication / drug effects*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Cytokines
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • NF-kappa B
  • Nucleocapsid Proteins
  • lianhuaqingwen