NYMC Faculty Publications
Butanol Purified Food Allergy Herbal Formula-2 Has an Immunomodulating Effect
Author Type(s)
Faculty
DOI
10.3389/fmed.2021.782859
Journal Title
Frontiers in Medicine
First Page
782859
Last Page
782859
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-29-2021
Department
Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology
Abstract
Background: TNF-α has a major role in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD). In contrast, GM-CSF may be beneficial for its anti-inflammatory role in a subset of patients with CD with antibodies against GM-CSF as seen in prior trials of GM-CSF which resulted in clinical improvement in CD. We developed butanol purified Food Allergy Herbal Formula-2 (B-FAHF-2) by refining FAHF-2. FAHF-2 suppressed TNF-α production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and colonic mucosa, and abrogated colitis in a murine model. We sought to examine the effect of B-FAHF-2 and the herbs that comprise it on TNF-α and GM-CSF production as a potential herbal therapy for the treatment of CD. Methods: B-FAHF-2 was examined using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and compared to the original formulation, FAHF-2. PBMCs from pediatric patients with CD were cultured with lipopolysaccharide and B-FAHF-2, individual herbs or medium alone. Colonic biopsy specimens were cultured with or without B-FAHF-2. TNF-α and GM-CSF were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). B-FAHF-2 efficacy was tested in vivo in the CD45Rbhi transfer model. Results: B-FAHF-2 had a similar HPLC fingerprint as FAHF-2 but decreased TNF-α production by PBMCs and colonic mucosa from pediatric CD subjects at 20% of the FAHF-2 dose. B-FAHF-2 increased GM-CSF production by PBMCs and colonic mucosa from pediatric CD subjects including those with antibodies to GM-CSF. Of B-FAHF-2's herbal constituents, only Huang Bai suppressed TNF-α and increased GM-CSF production. In the murine model, B-FAHF-2 treatment alleviated colitis. Conclusions: B-FAHF-2 decreased TNF-α production by PBMCs and colonic mucosa from pediatric subjects at a lower dose than FAHF-2. B-FAHF-2 also increased GM-CSF production by PBMCs independent of antibodies. B-FAHF-2 may have a benefit in CD patients.
Recommended Citation
Chen, X., Lai, J., Song, Y., Yang, N., Gnjatic, S., Gillespie, V., Hahn, W., Chefitz, E., Pittman, N., Jossen, J., Benkov, K., Dubinsky, M., Li, X., & Dunkin, D. (2021). Butanol Purified Food Allergy Herbal Formula-2 Has an Immunomodulating Effect. Frontiers in Medicine, 8, 782859-782859. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2021.782859