Evaluation of Antipyretic Activity and Potential Mechanism of Yak Horn on LPS-Induced Fever Rat Model

  OBJECTIVE  To evaluate the antipyretic activity of yak horn and explore its mechanism based on LPS-induced fever rat model, so as to provide scientific basis for new resources of yak horn medicinal materials.

  METHODS  Based on LPS-induced fever rat model, the antipyretic activity of yak horn was evaluated by anal temperature change value and body temperature response index of rats. The levels of PGE₂ and cAMP in hypothalamus and TNF-α and IL-1β in serum were determined by ELISA kits. Combined with the detection of endogenous markers in plasma of rats with fever by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS, the antipyretic mechanism of yak horn was explored.

  RESULTS  The body temperature of rats significantly decreased at the 1st, 2nd and 3rd hour after yak horn powder was delivered (P < 0.05), the levels of TNF-α and cAMP in the low dose yak horn group significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and the level of cAMP in the high dose yak horn group significantly decreased (P < 0.01). The expression of IL-1β and PGE₂ was inhibited in the yak horn powder administration groups. 15 potential differential metabolites in plasma samples between blank group and model group were identified, while high dose yak horn significantly regulated 11 metabolites, including phosphatidyl ethanolamine, sphingomyelin, adenine, succinic acid, L-alanine, 4-hydroxyproline, phosphatidyl choline, hemolytic, phosphatidyl ethanolamine and so on, mainly involving glycerol phospholipid metabolism pathways.

  CONCLUSION  Yak horn shows definitely antipyretic activity, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of endogenous heat source, the release of positive regulatory medium of central body temperature, and the regulation of lipid metabolism.