T he Traditional Chinese Formulation Fang Feng Tong Sheng San (FFTSS) consists of 17 different components.[1] A previous paper reports about antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-tyrosinase, anti-neuro-degenerative and antimicrobial effects.[2] The water extract as well as the major ingredients of its component herbs were tested for their anti-inflammatory potential by the release of nitrite oxide (NO) in macrophages.
FFTSS was extracted by ultrasonication. The release of nitric oxide in RAW 264.7 macrophages was evaluated. The viability of the cells was determined using MTT colorimetric method after 48 h incubation with various concentrations of test samples. The yellow MTT is reduced to a blue formazan derivate by the mitochondria of the living cells. The measurement was performed spectrophotometrically at 570 nm. [3]
The water extract possessed a higher anti-inflammatory potential through nitric oxide inhibition compared to the reference indomethacin. None of the tested pure main ingredients of the formulation came close to this result which leads to the conclusion that synergistic effects are responsible for the anti-inflammatory potential of FFTSS. As 79.35 ± 0.98 % of the RAW 264.7 cells were able to survive the water extract is considered to be none toxic. The investigation of the anti-inflammatory activity of FFTSS supports its use for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Acknowledgements: Financial support from the BMWF (GZ 402.000/00013-WFN/6/2016) and the CACMS, Beijing, is gratefully acknowledged.
References
[ 1] Pharmacopeia of the People's Republic of China Vol. 1 Beijing; Chemical Industry Press; 2015 : 409.
[2] Brantner A, Al-Ajlani M, Zhou Y, Zhao H, Bian B. IJPSR 2017; 8 (8): 3278-3286.
[3] Teeratad S, Wattanapiromsakul C, Supinya T. Songklanarin J Sci Techn 2013; 35 (3): 317-323.