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Int J Clin Exp Med 2011;4(4):309-319
Original Article
An old herbal medicine with a potentially new therapeutic application in
inflammatory bowel disease
Richard Li, Philip Alex, Mei Ye, Ting Zhang, Ling Liu, Xuhang Li
1Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Deparment
of Genetics/Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; 2Department of Internal Medicine & Geriatrics, Zhongnan Hospital,
Wuhan University, China
Received October 15, 2011; accepted October 18, 2011; Epub October 29, 2011; Published November 8, 2011
Abstract: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic and frequently disabling inflammatory disorder of the intestine. New
developments in IBD therapy are primarily focused on biologic treatments; however, they are both expensive and associated with
significant side effects. Here, we provide the first preclinical evidence that YunNan BaiYao (YNBY), a well-known traditional Chinese
herbal remedies frequently used for treating hemorrhages and wounds, can effectively alleviate experimental colitis. Oral
administration of YNBY in drinking water significantly reduced the disease activities of both DSS- and TNBS-induced experimental
colitis. Mechanistic studies revealed that the effectiveness of YNBY was not due to the anti-bacterial function since YNBY had no effect
on E. coli growth. Rather, it exhibited an anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive function: In the DSS colitis model, YNBY treatment
decreased the levels of several pro-inflammatory cytokines in colonic mucosa, including TNFα, IL-12p40, and IL-17. Similar cytokine
changes were also observed in mouse serum, suggesting that systemic changes in general reflect the changes in the affected colon.
Significant down-regulation of IL-12p40 and IL-17, in addition to IFNγ, was also seen in TNBS-colitis model. Another potential
mechanism for the anti-inflammatory effects of YNBY involves the selective suppression of pro-inflammatory immune cells: YNBY
effectively suppressed the growth of multiple T- and B-lymphocytes, including Molt-4, Jurkat, and EBV-transformed human B-
lymphocytes, more potently than 6-mecaptopurine (6-MP) and 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), two of the most commonly used first-line
drugs in IBD therapy. In sharp contrast, YNBY exhibited no cytotoxicity to colonic epithelial cells (Caco-2 cells), even at the concentration
10-fold higher when compared to lymphocytes; and instead promoted cell spreading and wound healing. These results strongly
suggest that YNBY not only has effective anti-inflammatory properties through suppressing lymphocyte growth pro-inflammatory
cytokine expression, but also can promote intestinal epithelial wound-healing and repair. Therefore, YNBY demonstrates strong
potential as an alternative herbal therapy for IBD. (IJCEM1110004).
Key words: IBD, Crohn’s disease, herbal medicine, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), YunNan BaoYao (YNBY), DSS-
colitis, TNBS-colitis, cytokines, wound healing, immunesuppression
Full Text PDF
Address all correspondence to:
Dr. Xuhang Li
Department of Medicine
Division of Gastroenterology
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 746
Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Tel: 443-287-4804; Fax: 410-955-9677
E-mail: xuhang@jhmi.edu
Original Article
An old herbal medicine with a potentially new therapeutic application in
inflammatory bowel disease
Richard Li, Philip Alex, Mei Ye, Ting Zhang, Ling Liu, Xuhang Li
1Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Deparment
of Genetics/Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; 2Department of Internal Medicine & Geriatrics, Zhongnan Hospital,
Wuhan University, China
Received October 15, 2011; accepted October 18, 2011; Epub October 29, 2011; Published November 8, 2011
Abstract: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic and frequently disabling inflammatory disorder of the intestine. New
developments in IBD therapy are primarily focused on biologic treatments; however, they are both expensive and associated with
significant side effects. Here, we provide the first preclinical evidence that YunNan BaiYao (YNBY), a well-known traditional Chinese
herbal remedies frequently used for treating hemorrhages and wounds, can effectively alleviate experimental colitis. Oral
administration of YNBY in drinking water significantly reduced the disease activities of both DSS- and TNBS-induced experimental
colitis. Mechanistic studies revealed that the effectiveness of YNBY was not due to the anti-bacterial function since YNBY had no effect
on E. coli growth. Rather, it exhibited an anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive function: In the DSS colitis model, YNBY treatment
decreased the levels of several pro-inflammatory cytokines in colonic mucosa, including TNFα, IL-12p40, and IL-17. Similar cytokine
changes were also observed in mouse serum, suggesting that systemic changes in general reflect the changes in the affected colon.
Significant down-regulation of IL-12p40 and IL-17, in addition to IFNγ, was also seen in TNBS-colitis model. Another potential
mechanism for the anti-inflammatory effects of YNBY involves the selective suppression of pro-inflammatory immune cells: YNBY
effectively suppressed the growth of multiple T- and B-lymphocytes, including Molt-4, Jurkat, and EBV-transformed human B-
lymphocytes, more potently than 6-mecaptopurine (6-MP) and 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), two of the most commonly used first-line
drugs in IBD therapy. In sharp contrast, YNBY exhibited no cytotoxicity to colonic epithelial cells (Caco-2 cells), even at the concentration
10-fold higher when compared to lymphocytes; and instead promoted cell spreading and wound healing. These results strongly
suggest that YNBY not only has effective anti-inflammatory properties through suppressing lymphocyte growth pro-inflammatory
cytokine expression, but also can promote intestinal epithelial wound-healing and repair. Therefore, YNBY demonstrates strong
potential as an alternative herbal therapy for IBD. (IJCEM1110004).
Key words: IBD, Crohn’s disease, herbal medicine, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), YunNan BaoYao (YNBY), DSS-
colitis, TNBS-colitis, cytokines, wound healing, immunesuppression
Full Text PDF
Address all correspondence to:
Dr. Xuhang Li
Department of Medicine
Division of Gastroenterology
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 746
Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Tel: 443-287-4804; Fax: 410-955-9677
E-mail: xuhang@jhmi.edu
