[Qibai Pingfei capsule alleviates inflammation and oxidative stress in a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease rat model with syndromes of Qi deficiency and phlegm and blood stasis by regulating the SIRT1/FoxO3a pathway]

Xi Bao Yu Fen Zi Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2019 Feb;35(2):115-120.
[Article in Chinese]

Abstract

Objective To explore the effect of Qibai Pingfei capsule (QPC) on the inflammation and oxidative stress in a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) rat models with the syndromes of qi deficiency and phlegm and blood stasis by regulating the SIRT1/FoxO3a pathway. Methods A total of 80 male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups with 20 animals in each group: a non-diseased group, a non-treated diseased group, a diseased group treated with QPC, and a diseased group treated with placebo. The COPD rat models with the syndromes of qi deficiency and phlegm and blood stasis were then developed with established protocols. After the corresponding treatments, the serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukine 1β (IL-1β), and IL-2 were determined by ELISA; the protein levels of SIRT1 and FoxO3a were quantified by Western blot analysis; the mRNA levels of the SIRT1 and FoxO3a genes were also measured by real-time quantitative PCR. Results First of all, compared with the non-diseased group, the serum levels of MDA, IL-1β, and IL-2 were elevated in the diseased group, while the level of SOD was reduced. Both mRNA and protein levels of SIRT1 decreased, while the levels of FoxO3a increased in the lung tissues of the diseased group. Compared with the diseased group treated with placebo, the diseased group treated with QPC had reduced serum levels of MDA, IL-1β and IL-2, elevated SOD, increased mRNA and protein levels of SIRT1 and decreased levels of FoxO3a, thereby restoring their levels partially under the disease state. Conclusion QPC can alleviate inflammation and oxidative stress of COPD rats with syndrome of qi deficiency and phlegm and blood stasis effectively, potentially through regulating the expression level of the SIRT1/FoxO3a pathway.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal* / pharmacology
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal* / therapeutic use
  • Forkhead Box Protein O3 / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation* / drug effects
  • Inflammation* / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Oxidative Stress* / drug effects
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* / drug therapy
  • Qi*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Sirtuin 1 / genetics
  • Syndrome

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • FOXO3 protein, rat
  • Forkhead Box Protein O3
  • Sirt1 protein, rat
  • Sirtuin 1