Identifying active components of Yang-Yin-Qing-Fei-Tang and its anti-cancer properties
By dominguez // 2020-03-19
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In this study, researchers from China identified the active components of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) yang yin qing fei tang (YYQFT) and elucidated the mechanism behind its effect on non-small cell lung cancer. Their findings were published in The American Journal of Chinese Medicine.
  • YYQFT is a well-known TCM used in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary emphysema, bronchitis and cytomegaloviral pneumonia, but its mode of action is still unclear.
  • To address this, the researchers first different solvents to obtain extracts from YYQFT. They then identified the most effective extract by assessing their effects on non-small cell lung cancer cell growth.
  • The researchers also identified several active compounds in YYQFT and found that quercetin is one of them.
  • They then tested the anti-tumor activity of quercetin in vivo using a lung cancer xenograft model in mice.
  • The researchers reported that quercetin at a concentration of 200 mcg/mL significantly reduced tumor volume without affecting the body weight of the mice.
  • Quercetin also induced apoptosis in tumor tissues by upregulating multiple apoptosis-related genes, such as p53, Bax and Fas.
  • Additionally, quercetin increased the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2.
Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that quercetin, as the main active component of YYQFT, is responsible for the inhibitory activity shown by this TCM on non-small cell lung cancer cell growth. Journal Reference: Li H, Tan L, Zhang JW, Chen H, Liang B, Qiu T, Li QS, Cai M, Zhang QH. QUERCETIN IS THE ACTIVE COMPONENT OF YANG-YIN-QING-FEI-TANG TO INDUCE APOPTOSIS IN NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER. The American Journal of Chinese Medicine. 2019;47(04):879–893. DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x19500460
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