Alternative Medicine Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Alternative Medicine, including details on complementary medicine, alternative therapies, homeopathy.

Anti-inflammatory mechanisms of the Tibetan herbal preparation Padma 28 in the vessel wall.

Exner M, Raith M, Holzer G, Gmeiner B, Wagner O, Kapiotis S

Klinisches Institut für Medizinische und Chemische Labordiagnostik, Institut für Medizinische Chemie, Medizinische Universität Wien, Austria. markus.exner@meduniwien.ac.at

BACKGROUND: The Tibetan herbal preparation Padma 28 has been shown to act as an anti-atherosclerotic agent in advanced peripheral arterial occlusive disease. We tested the effect of aqueous Padma 28 extracts on both the Creactive protein (CRP) induced expression of the pro-inflammatory cell adhesion molecule E-selectin and the anti-atherosclerotic protective enzyme heme oxygenase- 1 (HO-1) in human aortic endothelial cells. METHODS AND RESULTS: According to FACS analysis, quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot, CRP-induced E-selectin expression was completely prevented by aqueous Padma 28 extracts. Additionally, Padma 28 mediated an up to 60-fold upregulation of HO-1 mRNA as measured by quantitative RT-PCR. This upregulation could also be demonstrated on the protein level. CONCLUSION: Aqueous extracts of the Tibetan herbal preparation Padma 28 inhibit CRP-induced expression of the inflammatory cell adhesion molecule E-selectin and lead to upregulation of the vascular protective enzyme HO-1 in human aortic endothelial cells. These properties may be responsible for its anti-atherosclerotic effects in peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

Published 3 April 2006 in Forsch Komplementarmed, 13: 13-7.
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