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Preface: Molecular Approaches of Chinese Medicine
i-iii
10.1615/ForumImmunDisTher.v3.i1.10
Thomas
Efferth
Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Johannes Gutenberg University, Staudinger Weg 5, Mainz 55128, Germany
Coronaviral Ion Channels as Target for Chinese Herbal Medicine
1-13
10.1615/ForumImmunDisTher.2012004378
Silvia
Schwarz
Shanghai Research Center for Acupuncture & Meridians, 199 Guoshoujing Rd, Shanghai 201203, China
Daniel
Sauter
Shanghai Research Center for Acupuncture & Meridians, 199 Guoshoujing Rd, Shanghai 201203, China ; Institute for Biophysics, JW-Goethe-University, Max-von-Laue Str. 1, 60438 Frankfurt a.M., Germany
Wei
Lu
Max-Planck Intitute for Biophysics, Max-von-Laue Str. 3, 60438 Frankfurt a.M., Germany
Kai
Wang
Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200025, China
Bing
Sun
Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200025, China
Thomas
Efferth
Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Johannes Gutenberg University, Staudinger Weg 5, Mainz 55128, Germany
Wolfgang
Schwarz
Shanghai Research Center for Acupuncture & Meridians, 199 Guoshoujing Rd, Shanghai 201203, China; Max-Planck Intitute for Biophysics, Max-von-Laue Str. 3, 60438 Frankfurt a.M., Germany;3Institute for Biophysics, JW-Goethe-University, Max-von-Laue Str.
Coronavirus
virus release
ion channel
anthraquinone
flavonol
flavanon
isoflavon
artesunate.
A variety of viruses encode for proteins that can form ion channels in the membrane of infected cells. For example, the protein coded by the open-reading-frame 3a of SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) has been demonstrated to form a cation-selective channel that may become expressed in the infected cell, and its activation is then involved in virus release. Chinese herbal drugs that inhibit the ion channel formed by the 3a protein can be expected to inhibit virus release, and therefore they are a source for the development of novel therapeutic agents. Various drugs found in Chinese herbs are well known as anticancer agents and also have antiviral potency. In one study we tested some of them with respect to their potency to block the 3a channel. Application of the anthraquinone emodin was used as adjunct therapy in treatment of SARS, and we have demonstrated that it can inhibit the 3a ion channel as well as virus release with a K1/2 value of approximately 20 µM. Also the flavonols kaempferole and kaempferole glycosides may be potent inhibitors of the 3a channels. On the other hand, the favonol quercitin seems not to be effective. In addition, the flavanon naringenin and the isoflavon genistein were ineffective in inhibiting 3a-mediated currents. Antiviral activity of the artemisinin derivative artesunate is well documented, but we did not detect any inhibition of 3a-mediated currents. We suggest that viral ion channels, in general, may be good targets for the development of antiviral agents, and that, in particular, emodin and kaempferol gycosides are good candidates for 3a channel proteins in coronaviruses.
Treatment of Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: The Role of Medicinal Herbs
15-39
10.1615/ForumImmunDisTher.2012004631
Sven
Schroeder
HanseMerkur Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
Gesa
Meyer-Hamme
HanseMerkur Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
Thomas
Friedemann
HanseMerkur Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
Polyneuropathy
traditional Chinese medicine
Chinese herbs
chemotherapy-induced neuropathy
Chinese medicine
natural products
medical plants
antioxidative stress
mitochondrial dysfunction
Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy (CIPN) is one main dose-limiting toxicity in oncologic treatment. It leads to neuropathic pain and gait impairment and decreases patients' quality of life. Platinum compounds such as taxanes, epothilones, vinca-alkaloids, bortezomib, and taladomide, are the major substances that cause CIPN. Presently, there are no curative conventional treatments for CIPN. Mechanisms of CIPN are not well known, but oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are involved. The aim of this review is to illuminate the possible role of herbal treatment in CIPN. Chamomile, Acorus calmus and Salvia officinalis show evidence of being effective against neuropathic pain, Gingko biloba and the herbal combination Goshajinkigan (Niu-che-sen-qi-wan) show some evidence of preventing neuronal degeneration in CIPN. Herbal antioxidants and herbs for enhancement of nerve growth as putative treatment options for CIPN are reviewed here. Many promising substances, mainly Chinese medicinal herbs with possible effects on CIPN or a putative influence on mechanisms of CIPN, have been identified in recent years, but no clear clinical recommendation for herbal treatment of CIPN can be provided by this review. Modern research on Chinese medical herbs should not only focus on single components but also on herbal combinations to develop treatments for multifactorial diseases like CIPN.
Activation of Mast Cells by Acupuncture Stimuli
41-50
10.1615/ForumImmunDisTher.2012004648
Lina
Wang
Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Wolfgang
Schwarz
Shanghai Research Center for Acupuncture & Meridians, 199 Guoshoujing Rd, Shanghai 201203, China; Max-Planck Intitute for Biophysics, Max-von-Laue Str. 3, 60438 Frankfurt a.M., Germany;3Institute for Biophysics, JW-Goethe-University, Max-von-Laue Str.
acupuncture
mast cell
physical stimuli
degranulation
In traditional Chinese medicine, selected points on the body surface, the acupuncture points, are treated by various physical stimuli. Degranulation of subcutaneous mast cells has been suggested to be involved in initiation of the acupuncture effects. Here we give an overview on our recent research illustrating that ion channels in mast cell membranes can be activated by mechanical and red-laser-light stimuli. These stimuli can induce degranulation of the human mast cell line HMC1 as well as mast cells in connective tissue of rats. For HMC1 we also could show that the stimulation led to an increase in intracellular Ca2+. Activation of transient receptor potential channels sensitive to valinoid (TRPV) may be involved in initiation of the degranulation process. A stretch-activated anion channel may also be involved.
The Role of Brain-Derived Estrogen in the Female Hippocampus
51-58
10.1615/ForumImmunDisTher.2012004688
Gabriele M
Rune
Institute of Neuroanatomy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
hippocampus
estradiol
synaptic plasticity
aromatase
Steroids, in particular estrogens, have been shown to be potent neuromodulators. Estrogens play essential roles in the modulation of synaptic plasticity and neuroprotection in males as well as in females, as has been preferentially shown in the hippocampus. It has also been shown that hippocampal neurons are able to synthesize estradiol de novo in this part of the brain. Increasing evidence points to a role of hippocampus-derived estradiol on synaptic plasticity and neuroprotection rather than of estradiol originating from the gonads. In recent years, a number of in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that in females hippocampus-derived estradiol substantially contributes to hippocampal function, in particular to structural synaptic plasticity.
Molecular Mechanism of Opioid Analgesia
59-70
10.1615/ForumImmunDisTher.2012004796
Christian
Zollner
Department of Anesthesiology and Internal Medicine, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg Germany
Thomas
Efferth
Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Pharmacy, Johannes Gutenberg University, Staudinger Weg 5, Mainz 55128, Germany
G proteins
signal transuction
opioids
Opioids are still the most powerful drug in the treatment of acute and chronic pain. They comprise a class of drugs also known as narcotic analgesics. Opioid agonists can activate central and peripheral opioid receptors. Opioid receptors belong to the family of G protein−coupled receptors, which includes the typical structure of seven putative transmembrane (TM) regions. Opioid receptors are prototypical Gi/Go-coupled receptors because opioid signals are efficiently blocked by pertussis toxin, a bacterial toxin produced by Bordetella pertussis that ADP-ribosylates and inactivates the a subunits of Gi/Go proteins. The prolonged activation by opioids leads to the expression of compensating mechanisms in many neurons or neuronal systems. Soon after the discovery of opiate receptors it was reported that brain extracts contain a factor that inhibits acetylcholine release from nerves in the guinea pig ileum in a naloxone-reversible fashion, and that electrical stimulation of specific brain regions in rats elicited a profound analgesia, which was reversible by naloxone. After a century of effort, opioids remain the most effective treatment against pain. Most painkillers, such as aspirin, have an upper limit to their painkilling level, but opioids block more and more pain with increasing doses. Opioids are far from perfect, however; ongoing efforts by chemists and pharmacologists will continue to deliver new opioid drugs with higher potency and a reduction in severe side effects.
Chinese Herbal Medicine for Menopausal Symptoms
71-89
10.1615/ForumImmunDisTher.v3.i1.70
Lian-Wei
Xu
Gynecology Department, Yueyang Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China ;HanseMerkur Traditional Chinese Medicine Centre at University Medical Centre Hambur
Man
Jia
Gynecology Department, Yueyang Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
Xue-Jun
Cui
Clinical Evaluation Centre, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
Hong-Yong
Deng
Technology Information Centre, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
Sven
Schroeder
HanseMerkur Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
Roland
Salchow
HanseMerkur Traditional Chinese Medicine Centre at University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
Chinese herbal medicine
menopausal symptoms
systematic review
This study employed a systematic review of randomized clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy and adverse effects of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) for menopausal symptoms. Five electronic databases, including 2 English databases (MEDLINE and Cochrane Library) and 3 Chinese databases (VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese BioMedical Literature Database) were searched. Thirteen high-quality, randomized, clinical trials that scored 3 to 5 using the Jadad scale were included. Two thousand two hundred ninety-one participants were involved: 1294 received CHM therapies and 997 were in the control groups. Outcomes for menopausal symptoms were measured by quantitative questionnaires or participants' symptom diaries. According to the present evidence, CHM with an adequate Chinese diagnosis for menopausal symptoms is effective and has better results than that without adequate Chinese diagnosis. The evidence also shows that CHM is safe but has some slight adverse effects.