Background:Traditional formulae usually exhibit therapeutic effects through the combinations of different ingredients. The purpose of this study was to investigate
in vitro anti-oxidative activity of Thanh Hao Miet Giap Thang (THMGT) (Sweet Wormwood and Tortoise Shell Decoction) formula and
the interactions of its ingredients leading to the overall anti-oxidative effect.
Materials and Methods: We prepared 31 combinations containing two to four of the five ingredients including Herba
Artemisia apiacea
L (HbA),
Carapax Trionycis (
Tryonix sinensis
) (CT), Rhizoma Anemarrhenae (
Anemarrhena asphodeloides
) (RzA), Radix Rehmanniae (
Rehmannia glutinosa
Libosch) (RdR), Moutan Cortex (
Paeonia suffruticosa
) (MC). These combinations were tested for anti-oxidative activity using DCFH-DA and DPPH
assays on Hep G2 cells. We also analyzed changes in expression of genes involved in antioxidant defense system including Nuclear Factor Erythroid-
Derived 2-Like 2 (
NFE2L2), catalase (
CAT), heme oxygenase-1 (
HO-1), glutathione peroxidase (
GPx), cytoplasmic superoxide dismutase (
SOD1),
mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (
SOD2).
Results: The complete formula and all combinations containing Moutan Cortex showed high antioxidant activity in both radical solution-based
chemical assay and cellular-based assay. On the contrary, Carapax Trionycis displayed inhibitory effect on the overall antioxidant activity when
present in a combination, an effect clearly emphasized in cellular-based assay. Hep G2 cells treated with the formula showed increased gene
expression of
HO-1 and
SOD2 while expression of
CAT,
SOD1,
GPx was unchanged.
Conclusion: Our results suggested that THMGT had anti-oxidative activity essentially through intrinsic reducing capacities and the overall activity of
the formula resulted from enhancing and inhibiting interactions of ingredients.
