A comparative study on the antipyretic effect and underlying mechanisms of different bile-fermented Arisaemas

Cattle bile Arisaema (CBA) and Pig bile Arisaema (PBA) are both processed products fermented from Arisaema erubescens (Wall.) Schott and animal bile, which are recorded in China Pharmacopoeia. Traditionally, bile Arisaema was often used for clearing heat and eliminating phlegm, calming wind and calming panic. Modern pharmacological researches suggest that both two drugs exert an antipyretic effect, while there is lack of the systematical and comparative evidence on underlying mechanism.

To comprehensively clarify the differences and underlying mechanisms of antipyretic effect of the two drugs.

In this study, an accurate and reliable detection method based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-TQ MS) for comparing the content difference of bile acids from the two drugs was successfully established and applied. Besides, a dry yeast-induced fever rat model was established, and rectal temperature and content of pyrogenic cytokines were conducted to evaluate the antipyretic effect of CBA and PBA. Serum and hypothalamus untargeted metabolomics analysis based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) technology were performed for elucidating the changes of metabolic profile.

The results indicated that CBA and PBA both exerted a significantly antipyretic effect, but CBA showed the characteristic of quicker onset and longer duration than that of PBA. The ELISA and western blotting analysis exhibited that the underlying antipyretic mechanism of the two drugs was closely associated with inhibiting inflammation through regulating TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Moreover, the metabolism pathway analysis revealed that lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism were greatly disturbed, which showed a certain correlation with antipyretic effect of two drugs.

Collectively, our results delineate a potential mechanism of two different bile Arisaemas against febrile via regulating metabolic disorders and targeting inhibition of inflammation for the improvement of fever symptom of the body. Notably, our current study suggested that CBA might be a better choice for suppressing fever clinically.