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.
Highlights
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 Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were 62.5, 62.5, 250, 125, 250, 125, 250, 500 and 500 μg/mL, respectively. These findings suggest that Flos Lonicerae japonicae (FLJ) volatile oil is a potential source of preservatives for the food or pharmaceutical industries
Forsythiae fructus (FF) ethanol extract inhibited the secretion of the cytokine RANTES from virus-infected human bronchial epithelial cells [45]. These findings suggest that FF possesses anti-inflammatory activity through multiple target signaling pathways and multiple mechanisms of action
Summary
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. 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]
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