This study predicts the quality markers(Q-markers) for the cough-relieving and phlegm-expelling effects of Kening Granules based on pharmacodynamics, plasma drug chemistry, network pharmacology, and pharmacokinetics. Strong ammonia solution spray and phenol red secretion assays were employed to evaluate the cough-relieving and phlegm-expelling effects of Kening Granules. Twentysix absorbed prototype components of Kening Granules were identified by ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with QExactive Plus quadrupole/Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-Exactive Plus Orbitrap HRMS). Through network pharmacology, 11 potential active components were screened out for the cough-relieving and phlegm-expelling effects of Kening Granules. The 11 components acted on 40 common targets such as IL6, TLR4, and STAT3, which mainly participated in PI3K/Akt, HIF-1, and EGFR signaling pathways. Pharmacokinetic quantitative analysis was performed for 7 prototype components. Three compounds including azelaic acid, caffeic acid, and vanillin were identified as Q-markers for the cough-relieving and phlegm-expelling effects of Kening Granules based on their effectiveness, transmissibility, and measurability. The results of this study are of great significance for clarifying the pharmacological substance basis, optimizing the quality standards, and promoting the clinical application of Kening Granules.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Network Pharmacology ; Cough/blood* ; Male ; Humans ; Animals ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Quality Control ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Antitussive Agents/chemistry*

This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory, antitussive, expectorant, and anti-asthmatic effects of Qinbaohong Oral Liquid in mouse experiments and explore its action mechanism based on network pharmacology. The mouse auricle swelling was induced by xylene for detecting the anti-inflammatory effect of Qinbaohong Oral Liquid, whose antitussive effect was then examined in mice with cough after exposure to ammonium hydroxide. The expectorant effect was determined based on the excretion of phenol red into the mouse trachea. The mouse model of asthma induced by histamine phosphate and acetylcholine chloride was used to observe the anti-asthmatic effect. The chemical components of Qinbaohong Oral Liquid were retrieved from TCMSP and literature, followed by target prediction based on BATMAN-TCM. The targets of inflammation, cough, expectoration, and asthma collected from GeneCards were intersected with drug targets for GO and KEGG enrichment analysis using Metascape. The results were imported into STRING for exploring protein-protein interactions and screening the key targets. As demonstrated by our findings, Qinbaohong Oral Liquid at 4.5 and 9.0 mL·kg~(-1) obviously decreased the weight(P<0.05) and thickness(P<0.01) of the right swelling ear and also the weight diffe-rence(swelling degree) between the two ears(P<0.05), prolonged the incubation period of cough(P<0.05), reduced the frequency of cough within 3 min(P<0.05), and increased the excretion of phenol red into the mouse trachea(P<0.01). Qinbaohong Oral Li-quid at 2.3, 4.5, and 9.0 mL·kg~(-1) dramatically prolonged the incubation period of asthma(P<0.05). A total of 324 chemical components and 1 245 targets were harvested for the Qinbaohong Oral Liquid, together with 10 272 inflammation targets, 4 400 cough targets, 192 expectoration targets, and 7 533 asthma targets. Their intersection revealed that the anti-inflammatory, antitussive, expectorant and anti-asthmatic effects of Qinbaohong Oral Liquid were correlated with such GO biological processes as the regulation of ion transport and blood circulation and such KEGG pathways as cancer-related signaling pathways and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. Qinbaohong Oral Liquid has been confirmed by both experiments and network pharmacology analysis to be efficient in anti-inflammation, stopping cough, eliminating phlegm, and relieving asthma.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use* ; Antitussive Agents/therapeutic use* ; Asthma/drug therapy* ; Cough/drug therapy* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Mice ; Network Pharmacology

PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the additive effect of the Hedera helix (HH) and Rhizoma coptidis (RC) extracts mixture on antitussive and expectorant activities in animals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expectorant assay was performed with phenol red secretion in mice trachea. Mice or guinea pigs were randomly divided into groups of 8 each, including negative and positive control groups. After gastric administration of the test extracts in mice, 2.5% phenol red solution (0.2 mL) was intraperitoneally injected. Trachea was dissected and optical density of tracheal secretion was measured. After gastric administration of the test extracts in guinea pigs, the antitussive activities were assessed using a citric acid-induced cough measurement. RESULTS: The extracts of HH and RC significantly increased tracheal secretion and inhibited cough. The mixture of HH and RC extracts in a 1:1 concentration at a dose of 200 mg/kg showed a more potent effect on phenol red secretion (25.25+/-3.14) and cough inhibition (61.25+/-5.36) than the individual use of each extracts [phenol red secretion; HH 13.39+/-4.22 (p=0.000), RC 20.78+/-2.50 (p=0.010), cough inhibition; HH 9.89+/-4.14 (p=0.010), RC 30.25+/-7.69 (p=0.000)]. A 3:1 ratio mixture of HH to RC demonstrated an optimal expectorant effect (p<0.001), and this mixture showed expectorant and antitussive effects in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence for antitussive and expectorant effect of a 3:1 mixture of HH and RC, which may be a useful therapeutic option for respiratory diseases.
Animals ; Antitussive Agents/*administration & dosage/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; *Behavior, Addictive ; Cough/*drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/*administration & dosage/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Ethanol ; Expectorants/*administration & dosage/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Guinea Pigs ; Hedera/*chemistry/metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology ; Plant Roots/chemistry ; Trachea/drug effects/metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the analgesic, expectorant and antitussive effects of the compatible use of Aconiti Radix Cocta and Fritillaria cirrhosa or F. thunbergii with different matching ratio or dose in mice.

METHODThe two-factor, seven-level uniform design method was adopted to observe the analgesic, expectorant and antitussive effects of the oral administration with the two combined decoctions in rats, with frequency of body torsions induced by acetum, secretion of phenol red in tracheas and frequency of coughs as indexes. Significant matching proportions and doses were collected for verification.

RESULTThe effect on the frequency of body torsions: The combined decoctions could effectively reduce the frequency of body torsions. According to a regression analysis, Aconiti Radix Cocta and F. cirrhosa had the synergistic effect, which was maximized with a ratio of 1: 1. The 1: 1 combined decoction played the least role in reducing the frequency of body torsions with a total dose of more than 5 g x kg(-1). The effect on the secretion of phenol red in tracheas. The combined decoctions could effectively increase the secretion of phenol red in tracheas. According to a regression analysis, Aconiti Radix Cocta and F. thunbergii had the antagonism, which was maximized at the ratio of 1: 1, and minimized with a total dose of less than 10 g x kg(-1) and a ratio of 5: 1 between F. thunbergii and Aconiti Radix Cocta. The effect on the frequency of coughs. The combined decoctions could effectively reduce the frequency of coughs. According to a regression analysis, Aconiti Radix Cocta and F. cirrhosa had the antagonism, which was maximized at the ratio of more than 1: 5 and less than 10: 1. There was no interaction between Aconiti Radix Cocta and F. thunbergii. F. thunbergii could reduce the frequency of coughs, whereas Aconiti Radix Cocta showed no effect.

CONCLUSIONThe compatible application of Aconiti Radix Cocta and F. cirrhosa could enhance the analgesic effect of Aconiti Radix Cocta and reduce the expectorant and antitussive effects of F. cirrhosa, which vary according to different matching ratio and dose. The compatible application of Aconiti Radix Cocta and F. thunbergii shows no effect on the antitussive effect of F. thunbergii. This study provides experimental basis for in-depth studies on the combined effect of Aconiti Radix Cocta and Fritillaria--two of eighteen incompatible pairs.

Aconitum ; chemistry ; Analgesics ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Antitussive Agents ; pharmacology ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Drug Synergism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Expectorants ; pharmacology ; Fritillaria ; chemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Phenolsulfonphthalein ; metabolism ; Trachea ; drug effects ; metabolism

The antitussive activity assay for the root extraction of Disporum cantoniense was carried out with coughing mice induced by ammonia liquor. The results showed that the ethanol and water extractions of D. cantoniense possess strong antitussive activity, and the high dose of the former was better than positive control, and then the constituents of the ethanol extraction were separated and purified by various modern chromatographic techniques. Their structures were identified by physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic data. As a result, eight compounds were isolated and identified as stigmast-4-en-3-one(1), (22E, 24R)-ergosta-5, 7, 22-trien-3beta-ol(2), obtucarbamate A(3), obtucarbamate B(4), neotigogenin(5), azo-2, 2'-bis[Z-(2,3-dihydroxy-4-methyl-5-methoxy) phenyl ethylene] (6),dimethyl {[carbonylbis (azanediyl)] bis( 2-methyl-5, 1-phenylene) j dicarbamate (7) , and quercetin-3-O-pB-D-glucopyranoside(8). All compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time, and the result of bioactivity-directed isolation showed that compounds 3, 4, and 6 had obvious effect on antitussive activity, and compound 6 had the same level as positive control.
Animals ; Antitussive Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Female ; Liliaceae ; chemistry ; Male ; Mice

OBJECTIVETo investigate the cough-relieving, analgesic and antibiotic effects of durian shell extract (DSE) in relieving cough and its analgesic and antibiotic effects.

METHODSThe effect of DSE in relieving cough was assessed in mice challenged with ammonia and SO(2) to induce coughing. The analgesic and antibiotic effects of DSE in mice were evaluated by hot plate test and twisting reaction induced by acetic acid, and by minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and disc-agar diffusion tests, respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the mice treated with 300 and 900 mg/kg DSE showed significantly prolonged latency with decreased number of coughing induced by ammonia and SO(2), and the effect was dose-dependent. DSE markedly prolonged the latency and decreased the twisting number of the mice induced by acetic acid without affecting the pain threshold in hot plate test. DSE produced no significant inhibitory effects against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, or E. coli, and showed a week inhibition against Bacillus aeruginosus.

CONCLUSIONDSE shows obvious effect in relieving cough and produces better analgesic effect against chemical factor-induced pain than against physical agent-induced pain sensation. DSE has a moderate inhibitory effect against Bacillus aeruginosus.

Analgesics ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Antitussive Agents ; pharmacology ; Bombacaceae ; chemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation

To search for potential drugs with potent antitussive, expectorant, antiasthmatic activities and low toxicity, a series of verticinone-bile acids salts were prepared based on the clearly elucidated antitussive, expectorant and antiasthmatic activities of verticinone in bulbs of Fritillaria and different bile acids in Snake Bile. The antitussive, expectorant and antiasthmatic activities of these verticinone-bile acid salts were then screened with different animal models. Ver-CA (verticinone-cholic acid salt) and Ver-CDCA (verticinone-chenodeoxycholic acid salt) showed much more potent activities than other compounds. The bioactivities of Ver-CA and Ver-CDCA are worthy to be intensively studied, and it is also deserved to pay much attention to their much more potent antitussive effects than codeine phosphate. In order to elucidate whether they have synergistic effect and attenuated toxicity, their activities will be continuously compared with single verticinone, cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid at the same doses on different animal models. The application of "combination principles" in traditional Chinese medicinal formulations may be a novel way in triditional Chinese medicine research and discovery.
Animals ; Anti-Asthmatic Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Antitussive Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Asthma ; prevention & control ; Bile Acids and Salts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cevanes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Chenodeoxycholic Acid ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cholic Acid ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cough ; prevention & control ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drug Synergism ; Expectorants ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Female ; Fritillaria ; chemistry ; Guinea Pigs ; Male ; Mice ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Snakes

OBJECTIVETo investigate the varieties, resoures and identification authentication of Guoshangye used in Tuja and Miao's folk.

METHODThrough field investigations and comparing the collected specimens and literatures, the classification and identification of the species were studied.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONOrigin of Guoshangye plant was from Pholidota yunnanensis, Bulbophyllum andersonii, B. odoratissimum, B. kamgtimgemse, ect. their morphological characters were identified. Due to limited resource of Guoshangye, the development and protection should be paid more attention.

Analgesics ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Antitussive Agents ; pharmacology ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; History, 19th Century ; History, Medieval ; Humans ; Orchidaceae ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; classification ; Pharmacognosy ; history ; Plant Roots ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; classification

OBJECTIVETo establish a method for the determination of the papaverine content in Qiangli Pibalu by HPLC.

METHODA C18 column with a solvent system of acetonitrile-0.02 mol x L(-1) sodium dihydrogen phosphate (0.2% triethylamine, phosphoric acid, at pH 3) (25:75) and UV detection 240 nm were used. The flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1). The column temperature was maintained at 40 degrees C.

RESULTThere was a good linear relationship between the absorption value and the concentration in the range of 0.020 2-0.100 5 microg for papaverine. The average recovery rates were 99.1% (RSD 2.3%).

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple, accurate and can be used to determine the contents in Qiangli Pibalu.

Antitussive Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Eriobotrya ; chemistry ; Expectorants ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Papaver ; chemistry ; Papaverine ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVETo investigate the species of Ligularia distributed in the northwestern China and their medicinal uses in the local area.

METHODField investigation, specimen collection, taxonomic study and datum check were adopted.

RESULTThere are 29 species and 1 varieties of Ligularia distributed in the northwestern China, and 18 species of them had been used as folk medicines with the function of resolving phlegm, relieving cough, clearing heat and toxins.

CONCLUSIONThe northwestern China is abundant in medicinal resource of Ligularia.

Anti-Asthmatic Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Antitussive Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Asteraceae ; chemistry ; classification ; China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Pharmacognosy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification