FYI: Herbal Derivative Shown to Accelerate Bilirubin Clearance in Mice

[Guest guest]

Herbal Derivative Shown to Accelerate Bilirubin Clearance in Mice

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jan 09 - A compound derived from the Chinese herb

Yin Chin activates the androstane receptor (CAR) and thereby increases the

clearance of bilirubin from the liver, biologists at Baylor College of

Medicine report. The findings suggest that " CAR is a potential target for

the development of new drugs to treat neonatal, genetic, or acquired forms

of jaundice. "

Writing in the Journal of Clinical Investigation for January, the

Houston-based team explains that Yin Zhi Huang, which contains extracts of

Yin Chin (Artemisia capillaries) and three other plants, is used in Asia to

prevent and treat neonatal jaundice.

To investigate the mechanism of action of these herbs, senior investigator

Dr. D. and colleagues administered a tea of Yin Zhi Huang to

wild-type and CAR-knockout mice for 3 days, then performed a bilirubin

clearance assay. In wild-type but not the CAR-null mice, the tea

significantly increased 1-hour bilirubin clearance in a dose-dependent

manner.

After showing that CAR is required for Yin Zhi Huang to affect bilirubin

levels, the scientists repeated the procedure in mice expressing human CAR

in the liver, using Yin Zhi Huang and Yin Chin separately. Both concoctions

increased bilirubin clearance.

Finally, they examined the role of two compounds present in Yin Chin, the

coumarin 6,7-dimethylesculetin (scoparone) and 4'-hydroxyacetophenone in

primary hepatocytes from wild-type mice and humanized CAR mice. Scoparone

increased nuclear CAR expression, similar in effect to that of Yin Chin.

" It is intriguing that Artemisia species related to Yin Chin (e.g.,

wormwood, absinthe, mugwort, and tarragon) have been used in traditional

medicines from many cultures for a variety of indications, including liver

ailments, " Dr. 's team notes. These agents also have hepatoprotective

effects in animal models.

And in a related commentary, Dr. A. Lazar calls it " very exciting

if a pure compound emerges from the tea leaves as a pharmacological therapy

for neonatal jaundice that is complementary or alternative to the current

Western practice of phototherapy. " Dr. Lazar is an endocrinologist at the

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia.

J Clin Invest 2004;113:23-25,137-143.

[Guest guest]

Herbal Derivative Shown to Accelerate Bilirubin Clearance in Mice

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jan 09 - A compound derived from the Chinese herb

Yin Chin activates the androstane receptor (CAR) and thereby increases the

clearance of bilirubin from the liver, biologists at Baylor College of

Medicine report. The findings suggest that " CAR is a potential target for

the development of new drugs to treat neonatal, genetic, or acquired forms

of jaundice. "

Writing in the Journal of Clinical Investigation for January, the

Houston-based team explains that Yin Zhi Huang, which contains extracts of

Yin Chin (Artemisia capillaries) and three other plants, is used in Asia to

prevent and treat neonatal jaundice.

To investigate the mechanism of action of these herbs, senior investigator

Dr. D. and colleagues administered a tea of Yin Zhi Huang to

wild-type and CAR-knockout mice for 3 days, then performed a bilirubin

clearance assay. In wild-type but not the CAR-null mice, the tea

significantly increased 1-hour bilirubin clearance in a dose-dependent

manner.

After showing that CAR is required for Yin Zhi Huang to affect bilirubin

levels, the scientists repeated the procedure in mice expressing human CAR

in the liver, using Yin Zhi Huang and Yin Chin separately. Both concoctions

increased bilirubin clearance.

Finally, they examined the role of two compounds present in Yin Chin, the

coumarin 6,7-dimethylesculetin (scoparone) and 4'-hydroxyacetophenone in

primary hepatocytes from wild-type mice and humanized CAR mice. Scoparone

increased nuclear CAR expression, similar in effect to that of Yin Chin.

" It is intriguing that Artemisia species related to Yin Chin (e.g.,

wormwood, absinthe, mugwort, and tarragon) have been used in traditional

medicines from many cultures for a variety of indications, including liver

ailments, " Dr. 's team notes. These agents also have hepatoprotective

effects in animal models.

And in a related commentary, Dr. A. Lazar calls it " very exciting

if a pure compound emerges from the tea leaves as a pharmacological therapy

for neonatal jaundice that is complementary or alternative to the current

Western practice of phototherapy. " Dr. Lazar is an endocrinologist at the

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia.

J Clin Invest 2004;113:23-25,137-143.

[Guest guest]

Herbal Derivative Shown to Accelerate Bilirubin Clearance in Mice

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jan 09 - A compound derived from the Chinese herb

Yin Chin activates the androstane receptor (CAR) and thereby increases the

clearance of bilirubin from the liver, biologists at Baylor College of

Medicine report. The findings suggest that " CAR is a potential target for

the development of new drugs to treat neonatal, genetic, or acquired forms

of jaundice. "

Writing in the Journal of Clinical Investigation for January, the

Houston-based team explains that Yin Zhi Huang, which contains extracts of

Yin Chin (Artemisia capillaries) and three other plants, is used in Asia to

prevent and treat neonatal jaundice.

To investigate the mechanism of action of these herbs, senior investigator

Dr. D. and colleagues administered a tea of Yin Zhi Huang to

wild-type and CAR-knockout mice for 3 days, then performed a bilirubin

clearance assay. In wild-type but not the CAR-null mice, the tea

significantly increased 1-hour bilirubin clearance in a dose-dependent

manner.

After showing that CAR is required for Yin Zhi Huang to affect bilirubin

levels, the scientists repeated the procedure in mice expressing human CAR

in the liver, using Yin Zhi Huang and Yin Chin separately. Both concoctions

increased bilirubin clearance.

Finally, they examined the role of two compounds present in Yin Chin, the

coumarin 6,7-dimethylesculetin (scoparone) and 4'-hydroxyacetophenone in

primary hepatocytes from wild-type mice and humanized CAR mice. Scoparone

increased nuclear CAR expression, similar in effect to that of Yin Chin.

" It is intriguing that Artemisia species related to Yin Chin (e.g.,

wormwood, absinthe, mugwort, and tarragon) have been used in traditional

medicines from many cultures for a variety of indications, including liver

ailments, " Dr. 's team notes. These agents also have hepatoprotective

effects in animal models.

And in a related commentary, Dr. A. Lazar calls it " very exciting

if a pure compound emerges from the tea leaves as a pharmacological therapy

for neonatal jaundice that is complementary or alternative to the current

Western practice of phototherapy. " Dr. Lazar is an endocrinologist at the

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia.

J Clin Invest 2004;113:23-25,137-143.

[Guest guest]

Herbal Derivative Shown to Accelerate Bilirubin Clearance in Mice

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jan 09 - A compound derived from the Chinese herb

Yin Chin activates the androstane receptor (CAR) and thereby increases the

clearance of bilirubin from the liver, biologists at Baylor College of

Medicine report. The findings suggest that " CAR is a potential target for

the development of new drugs to treat neonatal, genetic, or acquired forms

of jaundice. "

Writing in the Journal of Clinical Investigation for January, the

Houston-based team explains that Yin Zhi Huang, which contains extracts of

Yin Chin (Artemisia capillaries) and three other plants, is used in Asia to

prevent and treat neonatal jaundice.

To investigate the mechanism of action of these herbs, senior investigator

Dr. D. and colleagues administered a tea of Yin Zhi Huang to

wild-type and CAR-knockout mice for 3 days, then performed a bilirubin

clearance assay. In wild-type but not the CAR-null mice, the tea

significantly increased 1-hour bilirubin clearance in a dose-dependent

manner.

After showing that CAR is required for Yin Zhi Huang to affect bilirubin

levels, the scientists repeated the procedure in mice expressing human CAR

in the liver, using Yin Zhi Huang and Yin Chin separately. Both concoctions

increased bilirubin clearance.

Finally, they examined the role of two compounds present in Yin Chin, the

coumarin 6,7-dimethylesculetin (scoparone) and 4'-hydroxyacetophenone in

primary hepatocytes from wild-type mice and humanized CAR mice. Scoparone

increased nuclear CAR expression, similar in effect to that of Yin Chin.

" It is intriguing that Artemisia species related to Yin Chin (e.g.,

wormwood, absinthe, mugwort, and tarragon) have been used in traditional

medicines from many cultures for a variety of indications, including liver

ailments, " Dr. 's team notes. These agents also have hepatoprotective

effects in animal models.

And in a related commentary, Dr. A. Lazar calls it " very exciting

if a pure compound emerges from the tea leaves as a pharmacological therapy

for neonatal jaundice that is complementary or alternative to the current

Western practice of phototherapy. " Dr. Lazar is an endocrinologist at the

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia.

J Clin Invest 2004;113:23-25,137-143.