The immunoregulatory effects of total glucosides of peony in autoimmune diseases

Abstract

Total glucoside of peony and its main active ingredient paeoniflorin, extracted from the Chinese herb Paeonia lactiflora Pallas, exhibit potent immunomodulatory effects. Total glucoside of peony has been shown to inhibit inflammatory responses and disease progression in experimental models of multiple autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren’s syndrome, psoriasis, and so on. Total glucoside of peony shows broad immunomodulatory effects on many immune cells, such as T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells, by regulating their activation, proliferation, differentiation, and production of effector molecules. Mechanistically, total glucoside of peony modulates intracellular signaling transductions, including JAK/STAT, NF-κB, MAPK, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways. Moreover, total glucoside of peony has been applied in the clinical treatment of various autoimmune diseases with satisfactory therapeutic outcomes and minor side effects. Thus, available studies have demonstrated that total glucoside of peony and its bioactive constituents exhibit anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory functions and may have extensive applications in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.