Chemistry and pharmacology of the herb pair Flos Lonicerae japonicae-Forsythiae fructus
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Chemistry and pharmacology of the herb pair Flos Lonicerae japonicae-Forsythiae fructus Yi-ping Guo, Li-gen Lin* and Yi-tao Wang*
Abstract The Chinese medicine herb pair Flos Lonicerae japonicae (FLJ) and Forsythiae fructus (FF), is a representative heat-clearing (qing re) and detoxifying (jie du) combination that exhibits many pharmacological activities, including antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. Extensive phytochemical studies have identified a series of bioactive compounds, such as chlorogenic acid from FLJ and forsythoside A from FF. This article provides a comprehensive review on the chemical and pharmacological principles of the traditional functions of FLJ-FF, and sheds light on further developments of this herb pair.
Introduction Although Chinese medicine (CM) often uses multicomponent formulations and the actions of each component on multiple targets [1], the use of herb pairs—the unique clinical combination of two relatively fixed herbs—is the simplest and most fundamental form of multiherb therapy aimed at specific efficacy. The role of herb pairs has been explained by the yin and yang and five-phase theories [2], and by reference to the broader philosophical and cultural frameworks that emphasize balance between bodily functions and environmental conditions [3]. Herb pairs are simpler in composition than complete formulae but still therapeutically effective. There are several aims and principles of herbal compatibility, sometimes called the “seven relations of CM”: singular application, mutual promotion, mutual assistance, mutual restraint, mutual detoxification, mutual inhibition, and mutual intoxication [4]. The principle of mutual promotion explains why herb pairs have significantly better pharmacological efficacy than individual herbs, a principle that is applied in many famous herb formulae, such as Yinqiao San [1]. Recent pharmacological investigation has clarified this mutual effect [5]. The herb pair of Flos Lonicerae japonicae (FLJ) and Forsythiae fructus (FF) has been widely used to cure febrile illness (e.g., cold and flu) at the primary stage [6]. FLJ is the flower bud of Lonicera japonica Thunb and FF is the dried fruit of Forsythia suspensa. Yinqiao San, which * Correspondence: [email protected]; [email protected] State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Macau, SAR, China
contains FLJ and FF with a crude weight ratio of 1:1, is used for detoxification and relieving internal heat and fever [7]. Nowadays, the various available dosage forms of FLJ-FF herb pair, such as capsules, powder, oral decoctions, and granules, are mainly indicated for cold, fever, and even upper respiratory tract infection [8]. The most familiar ones are Vc Yinqiao tablet and Shuanghuanglian oral decoction [9]. However, the mechanisms of the formulae have not been completely elucidated, and research on this combination has rarely been summarized. Thi
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