Qiang-Huo herb found to exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic properties

In this study, researchers from different universities in China analyzed the volatile compounds found in the medicinal herb Notopterygium incisum and evaluated the anti-arthritic capacity of its volatile oils to determine the possible mechanism of action. The results of their study were published in the Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines.

• Notopterygium incisum (QH) has been used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, and volatile oils may be its main bioactive constituents.
• The researchers used GC-MS to analyzed the volatile compounds present in QH; for the anti-arthritic capacity test of the volatile oils, they used adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rats.
• They also tested the anti-inflammatory property of QH using a nitric oxide (NO) release model in RAW 264.7 cells.
• They used endothelial cells to evaluate its anti-proliferative and anti-tube formative effects.
• The researchers successfully analyzed 70 compounds found in the volatile oils.
• The volatile oils of QH weakened rat AIA in a dose-dependent manner (2, 4, and 8 grams crude drug/kilogram).
• They also decreased the NO production of RAW 264.7 cells by more than 50 percent (5, 15, and 45 microgram·milliliter^?1).
• Treatment with the volatile oils inhibited EAhy926 cell proliferation and further delayed EAhy926 cell capillary tube formation in a concentration-dependent manner.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that the therapeutic effects of QH, namely, anti-NO productive, anti-proliferative, and anti-tube formative, can be attributed to its volatile oils’ potent anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic activities.

Journal Reference:

Bi J-P, Li P, Xu XX, Wang T, Li F. ANTI-RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIC EFFECT OF VOLATILE COMPONENTS IN NOTOPTERYGIUM INCISUM IN RATS VIA ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTI-ANGIOGENIC ACTIVITIES. Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines. 2018;16(12):926–935. DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(18)30134-1