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Functional Analysis of Cultured Neural Cells for Evaluating Cold/Cool- and Hot/Warm-Natured Chinese Herbs

Yan-Qiu Liu

Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China

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Meng-Chun Cheng

Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China

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Long-Xing Wang

Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China

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Nan Zhao

Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China

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Hong-Bin Xiao

Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China

Correspondence to: Dr. Hong-Bin Xiao, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China. Tel: (+86) 411-8437-9756, Fax: (+86) 411-8437-9756.

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Zheng-Tao Wang

Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Medicines, Ministry of Education Shanghai R&D Center for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai Universtiy of TCM, Shanghai 201203, China

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https://doi.org/10.1142/S0192415X08006223Cited by:27 (Source: Crossref)

Abstract

Recently, modern scientific research has been required to understand pharmacological basis of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory based on the ancient clinical experience, and to investigate the molecular mechanisms of action of Chinese herbs. Here, 20 Chinese herbs, classified into 4 properties (hot, warm, cold and cool) of TCM, were analyzed for their ability to exhibit antioxidant action, to enhance glucose uptake by murine microglia N9 cells, and to influence neurotransmitter norepinephrine (NE) release from rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. We found a generally protective effect of both hot/warm-natured and cold/cool-natured herbs against H₂O₂-induced N9 cell death, partially by elevating superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Glucose uptake was elevated after treatment with some hot/warm-natured herbs. In addition, most herbs with hot/warm nature tended to stimulate NE release, while such stimulatory effect was not observed in the herbs with cold/cool nature. Two cold/cool-natured herbs, Rhizoma coptidis and Radix scutellariae, even significantly suppressed the release. These results suggest that the distinct abilities of Chinese herbs to regulate neural cell functions appear to be correlated with their natures identified in traditional TCM theory, and may be a useful guide for their utility in neural degenerative diseases.

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