Effects of the Traditional Chinese Medical Prescription Linba Fang as a Treatment for Lymphedema

Y Luo,N F Liu,L Zhao,Neboj A Kladar

doi:10.1155/2020/8889460

Abstract

Lymphedema can lead to a series of complicated and irreversible chronic pathological changes, including lymphatic fluid retention, infiltration of inflammatory cells, lipid deposition, and fibrosis of the surrounding tissues. Typically, compression physiotherapy is recommended for early lymphedema. However, the chronic fluid compartments will lead to fat deposition, skin fibrosis, and hyperkeratosis. Few treatment methods are available for patients with lymphedema. Previous studies have attempted to apply diuretics, diosmin, and sodium β-aescinate to treatment for venous edema, but the curative effect was unsatisfactory. There is currently no established effective treatment for lymphedema. In this paper, we investigated the effects of the traditional Chinese medical prescription Linba Fang as a treatment for lymphedema using a mouse model. A lymphedema model was established in C57BL/6 mice through lymphatic ablation at the base of tails. Negative controls were administered with 0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution by gavage twice daily, positive controls with aescuvenforte, and test mice with Linba Fang. Aescuvenforte and Linba Fang were dissolved in 0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution to produce a homogeneous mixture. After treatment for 2–4 weeks, tail diameter and weight, inflammatory cytokine levels (IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α), lipid deposition, and fibrosis were evaluated. The results showed that none of the mice died during the treatment with Linba Fang. The levels of tail swelling, inflammation, lipid deposition, and fibrosis in mice treated with Linba Fang were significantly decreased compared with negative and positive controls. Among mice treated with the same dose of Linba Fang, the levels of tail swelling, inflammation, lipid deposition, and fibrosis in mice treated for 4 weeks were significantly lower than those treated for 2 weeks. Among mice treated for the same duration of time, the levels of tail swelling, inflammation, lipid deposition, and fibrosis showed a decreasing tendency following increasing doses. Notably, the inflammation in tail tissues decreased to the similar level of normal group after treatment for 4 weeks using the high dose of Linba Fang. In conclusion, the traditional Chinese medical prescription Linba Fang could inhibit the pathological changes caused by lymphedema, including swelling, inflammation, lipid deposition, and fibrosis.

Highlights

Lymphedema can lead to a series of complicated and irreversible chronic pathological changes, including lymphatic fluid retention, infiltration of inflammatory cells, lipid deposition, and fibrosis of the surrounding tissues
We investigated the effects of the traditional Chinese medical prescription Linba Fang as a treatment for lymphedema using a mouse model
Among mice treated with the same dose of Linba Fang, the levels of tail swelling, inflammation, lipid deposition, and fibrosis in mice treated for 4 weeks were significantly lower than those treated for 2 weeks

Summary

Materials and Methods

A lymphedema model was established in mice through lymphatic ablation at the base of tails. E lymphedema model was established in all mice except for the normal group. A Chinese herbal medicine compound prescribe, called Linba Fang, was used in the treatment of lymphedema in a mouse tail model. After the mice were sacrificed, the tails were removed proximal to the wound site (designated as P) for measurement of tail weight. Frozen sectioning was performed on the tissue obtained from the mouse tail proximal to the wound site (designated as P). For Masson’s trichrome staining, nuclear staining was performed on the tissue sections with hematoxylin for 5 minutes, followed by rinsing with distilled water and differentiation using HCl-alcohol. E tissue sections were removed from the staining solution and rinsed with tap water, followed by nuclear staining with hematoxylin. Significance was set at two-sided P < 0.05

Results

Lipid Deposition in Tail Tissues

Fibrosis in Tail Tissues

Discussion