The Anaphylactic and Anti-allergenic Properties of Shuanghuanglian: A Review

Abstract

Shuanghuanglian (SHL) and its primary constituents have demonstrated protective effects against allergenic diseases. This review examines the anaphylactic and anti-allergenic activities of SHL and its constituents. We also discuss potential avenues for future research, particularly regarding the expansion of the clinical applications of SHL formulations (oral or nebulized) for the treatment of allergenic disorders. For this review, we searched the PubMed, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases for relevant publications. Additionally, details of the essential active components and target genes of SHL were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database (TCMSP), and information on allergy-related genes was collected from the GeneCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM) databases. Lists of both the SHL target and disease-related genes were imported into the 'Draw Venn Diagram' tool on the website (http://bioinformatics.psb.ugen /web tools/Venn/). A protein-protein interaction network for SHL and disease targets was constructed with reference to the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING) database, and the potential pathways were identified based on Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genome enrichment analyses. The allergenic reactions induced by SHL injection (intravenous) and its main constituents (intraperitoneal or intravenous injection) have been verified in animal experiments. Furthermore, the protective effects of SHL injection (intraperitoneal) and its individual Chinese herb components (intragastric administration), namely, Flos Lonicerae, Radix Scutellariae, and Fructus Forsythiae, as well as their main constituents (intraperitoneal or intragastric administration), have been verified in asthma, rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and both IgE- and non-IgE-mediated systemic allergic responses. The network pharmacology analysis revealed that the therapeutic effects of SHL might be primarily mediated through the regulation of the IL-17 and TNF-α signalling pathways and Th17 cell differentiation. Accumulated research data provide a theoretical basis for the clinical application of SHL (via extravascular routes) in the treatment of allergenic diseases.

Keywords: Shuanghuanglian; allergy; asthma; dermatitis.; rhinitis.