J. Tamaoki et al., ZIZYPHI FRUCTUS, A CONSTITUENT OF ANTIASTHMATIC HERBAL MEDICINE, STIMULATES AIRWAY EPITHELIAL CILIARY MOTILITY THROUGH NITRIC-OXIDE GENERATION, Experimental lung research, 22(3), 1996, pp. 255-266
The effects of Zizyphi fructus, a major constituent of Chinese anti-as
thmatic herbal medicine, on ciliary motility and nitric oxide (NO) gen
eration in canine cultured tracheal epithelium were studied by the mic
rophoto-oscillation method and the specific amperometric method, respe
ctively. Addition of Zizyphi fructus at 100 mu g/mL rapidly increased
ciliary beat frequency (CBF), an effect that was inhibited by N-G-nitr
o-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME) but not by N-G-nitro-D-arginine meth
ylester (D-NAME), and this inhibition was reversed by L-arginine but n
ot by D-arginine. Immersion of the NO-selective electrode in the mediu
m bathing tracheal epithelial cells showed a baseline current of 21.3-
60.4 pA, which corresponded to NO concentration ([NO]) at 34.4 +/- 7.8
nM. Zizyphi fructus caused a concentration-dependent increase in [NO]
, the maximal increase from the baseline [NO] level and the concentrat
ion of Zizyphi fructus required to produce a half-maximal effect (EC(5
0)) being 107 +/- 14 nM (p < .001) and 7.2 +/- 2.9 mu g/mL, respective
ly. These results suggest that Zizyphi fructus enhances airway ciliary
motility and that this effect is exerted through the stimulation of e
pithelial NO generation.