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Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely used as inhibitors of gastric juice secretion for treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. However, there are no previous studies of the effects on melanogenesis resulting from PPI treatments. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of PPIs on melanogenesis in melan-a cells derived from immortalized mouse melanocytes. Tyrosinase activity and copper-chelating activity were measured spectrophotometrically. In addition, the melanin content and viability of melan-a cells treated with PPIs were assessed and the mRNA levels of melanogenesis-associated genes were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Treatment with rabeprazole, but not the other PPIs tested, resulted in strong, dose-dependent inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase (TYR). By contrast, each of the PPIs tested exhibited copper-chelating activity. Treatment of melan-a cells with 100 µM concentrations of the PPIs resulted in significantly reduced melanin synthesis and reduced expression of several melanogenesis-associated genes, including TYR, TYR-related protein-1 (TRP-1) and TRP-2, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, but did not result in cytotoxic effects. These results suggest that PPIs inhibit melanin biosynthesis in melan-a cells via the downregulation of melanogenesis-associated genes. Furthermore, the findings indicate that PPIs in general could be utilized as skin-whitening agents and/or as biomaterial for treating hyperpigmentation disorders.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the methanolic extract of Piper betle leaves (MPBL) and its organic fractions with regard to antitumor activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in Swiss albino mice and to confirm their antioxidant activities. At 24 h post-intraperitoneal inoculation of tumor cells into mice, extracts were administered at 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight for nine consecutive days. The antitumor effects of the extracts were then assessed according to tumor volume, packed cell count, viable and non-viable tumor cell count, median survival time and increase in life span of EAC-bearing mice. Next, hematological profiles and serum biochemical parameters were calculated, and antioxidant properties were assessed by estimating lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels. MPBL and the ethylacetate fraction (EPBL) at a dose of 100 mg/kg induced a significant decrease in tumor volume, packed cell volume and viable cell count and increased the life span of the EAC-bearing mice (P

The aim of this study was to investigate whether S-(-)-10,11-dihydroxyfarnesic acid methyl ester produced by cell subtype Beauveria bassiana CS1029 causes acute toxicity when used for cosmetic purposes by performing an eye irritation test. New Zealand white (NZW) rabbits were treated with a 100 mg/dose of S-(-)-10,11-dihydroxyfarnesic acid methyl ester according to standard procedure guidelines. No significant changes in terms of ocular lesions of the cornea, turbidity of the cornea, swelling of the eyelid or ocular discharge were observed in the methyl ester-treated groups, while sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate, a positive control, caused severe toxicity. The anatomical and pathological observations indicate that the methyl ester produced by Beauveria bassiana CS1029 did not induce eye irritation in the lenses of the rabbits. The data suggest that the methyl ester evaluated in this study has promising potential as a cosmetic ingredient that does not irritate the eye.

Cudrania tricuspidata (CT) is a type of add-value beneficial plant. The aim of the present study was to determine the components of CT that inhibit α-glucosidase activity. Roots, leaves and stems of the plants were obtained and several subgroups were created according to harvesting time. Root extracts exhibited a 77% velocity inhibition at a concentration of 300 μg/ml and an inhibitory constant of 41.6 μg/ml. The inhibitory percentage of the positive control at 1 mM was ∼67% of the enzymatic velocity with acarbose. According to the Michaelis-Menten equation, the type of inhibitory mechanism underlying the effects of the stem and root samples according to climate was competitive or non-competitive inhibition, suggesting that the extracts contain additional antidiabetic compounds produced during the growth period. Collectively, the results from our study suggested that stem and root extracts of CT serve as an antidiabetic biomaterial and contain a variety of antidiabetic compounds.

In this study, to assess whether aqueous and ethanol fractions of Angelica keiskei induce acute skin irritation and phototoxicity, acute skin irritancy and phototoxicity tests were performed. The skin of rabbits or guinea pigs was treated with these fractions (100 mg/dose) and whether the animals sustained significant skin damage was determined. The data demonstrated that the aqueous and ethanol fractions of Angelica keiskei did not induce acute toxicity in the skin of the animals, as assessed by anatomical and pathological observations. The results from the present study suggest that these aqueous and ethanol fractions of Angelica keiskei have promising potential uses as cosmetic ingredients that do not induce significant levels of skin irritation or phototoxicity.

Glyceollins, produced to induce disease resistance responses against specific species, such as an incompatible pathogen Phytophthora sojae in soybeans, have the potential to exhibit anti-inflammatory activity in RAW 264.7 cells. To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of elicited glyceollins via a signaling pathway, we studied the glyceollin signaling pathway using several assays including RNA and protein expression levels. We found that soybean glyceollins significantly reduced LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, as well as the expression of inducible ΝΟ synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) via the suppression of NF-κB activation. Glyceollins also inhibited the phosphorylation of IκBα kinase (IKK), the degradation of IκBα, and the formation of NF-κB-DNA binding complex in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, they inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18, but increased the generation of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Collectively, the present data show that glyceollins elicit potential anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway in RAW 264.7 cells.

Acer mono Max. sap (AmMs) is called 'Gol-Li-Su' or 'Go-Lo-Soe' in Korean, which means 'water beneficial to the bones'. It is reported that the sap contains several types of minerals and sugars. In particular, the calcium concentration of the sap is 36.5 times higher than that of commercial mineral water. Apart from its anti-osteoporosis effect, no reports have addressed the biological activities of AmMs against degenerative diseases. In the present study, we investigated whether AmMs alleviates gastric ulcer-related symptoms in a stress-induced mouse model. To assess the effect of AmMs on gastric ulcer-like symptoms, we carried out a water immersion restraint (WIRE) test and found that AmMs has potential in alleviating gastric ulcers in a concentration-dependent manner. These results indicate that the nutritional factors of the sap mitigate the gastric ulcer-related symptoms caused by stress-induced gastric lesions in mice. AmMs-treated mice exhibited a significant decrease in the ulcer index as compared to those treated with omeprazole or L-arginine. To examine one potential mechanism underlying this effect, we performed reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to ascertain whether molecular markers were associated with the mitigation of the gastric lesions. Epithelial and/or tissue nitric oxide synthase (NOS) was assessed to determine whether or not the genes were down-regulated dose-dependently by the sap. The levels of these enzymes were found to be lower in the tissue samples treated with AmMs compared with the levels in the control samples. These findings collectively suggest that AmMs significantly protects the gastric mucosa against WIRE stress-induced gastric lesions, at least in part, by alleviating inducible NOS and/or neuronal NOS expression.

Inhibition of osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption is considered an effective therapeutic approach to the treatment of postmenopausal bone loss. To find natural compounds that may inhibit osteoclastogenesis, we screened herbal extracts on bone marrow cultures. In this study, we found that an aqueous extract of Foeniculum vulgare Miller seed (FvMs) at low concentration, which has traditionally been used as a treatment for a variety of ailments, inhibits the osteoclast differentiation and bone resorptive activity of mature osteoclasts. We further investigated the effects of FvMs on ovariectomy (OVX)-induced bone loss using microcomputed tomography, biomechanical tests and serum marker assays for bone remodeling. Oral administration of FvMs (30 mg or 100 mg/kg/day) for 6 weeks had an intermediary effect on the prevention of femoral bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and other parameters compared to OVX controls. In addition, FvMs slightly decreased bone turnover markers that were accelerated by OVX. The bone-protective effects of FvMs may be due to suppression of an OVX-induced increase in bone turnover. Collectively, our findings indicate that FvMs have potential in preventing bone loss in postmenopausal osteoporosis by reducing both osteoclast differentiation and function.

To evaluate whether an aqueous seed extract of Terminalia chebula Retzius inhibited development of atopy in vivo, we used a 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced animal model of atopic symptoms to investigate the effects of the extract. We measured CD4+ cell numbers by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, and determined the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, interleukin (IL)-31, and T-bet genes, in this animal model. The data showed that a Terminalia chebula extract (100 µg/ml) exhibited strong anti-atopic activity, mediating a 52% reduction in the immune response, as measured by thickness of ear swelling, and resulting in decreased eosinophil levels in adjacent skin tissue. Collectively, the results indicate that a Terminalia chebula seed extract has potential for alleviation of atopy-like symptoms induced by DNFB in the mouse.

Potent antiviral agents hinder virus-infected cell machinery, leading to rescue from viral damage. In this study, we aimed to identify selective intracellular glycosylation inhibitor(s) that do not suppress glycoprotein synthesis. Our results showed that nonactin is a potent inhibitor of intracellular glycosylation. First, we examined the effects of nonactin on syncytium formation and cytopathic activity in virus-infected baby hamster kidney cells. Nonactin effectively inhibited syncytium formation in a concentration-dependent manner, and infectious virus production was markedly reduced. However, glycoprotein synthesis was not affected. In the presence of 5 µg/ml nonactin, we observed the intracellular accumulation of vesicular stomatitis virus-G protein as well as syncytium formation, but no significant effects on Newcastle disease virus-hemagglutinin-neuramidase glycoprotein synthesis. Our results collectively indicate that nonactin potentially inhibits glycosylation by acting as a suppressor of intracellular glycosylation trafficking.

Molecular inflammation is a pivotal process in various degenerative immune diseases, including asthma and atopic dermatitis. In this study, we examined the effects of Helianthus annuus seed (HAS) aqueous extract on an in vivo anti-asthmatic model. Ovalbumin-induced mice were orally administered the aqueous extract of Helianthus annuus seeds, and their lungs were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Moreover, the expression levels of IL-4/IL-13 cytokines and IgE were determined. HAS extract induced a decrease in CD4 + cell number, IL-4/IL-13 expression, and IgE secretion levels in the lungs. Our findings collectively suggest that the HAS extract has considerable potential in reducing the asthma-like symptoms induced by a mouse ovalbumin challenge model. However, further isolation and purification of the extract is required to determine the specific factor(s) responsible for its anti-asthmatic activity.

Gastrodia elata Blume (GEB) is an important medicinal plant in Korea. In order to confirm the anti-tumor activities of GEB extracts, we carried out various in vitro anti-tumor assays, including a wound assay and an invasion assay using an ethyl ether extract of GEB. The results showed that the GEB extract exhibits potent anti-tumor activity in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. The expression of CD44, cdc42, Timp-2 or RhoA mRNA did not change by GEB treatment, compared to that of the control. GTP-Ras, an active form of a G-coupled protein family, however, is associated with the anti-tumor activity of GEB extracts. We examined various molecular markers related to metastasis by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction with the extract of GEB-treated B16 cells. There was an increase in GTP-Ras expression by the Gastrodia elata Blume extract. Together, these results suggest that the Gastrodia elata Blume extract could have potential in alleviating tumorigenesis, by a GTP-Ras-dependent pathway; although the precise molecular mechanisms are still being examined.

Using a high throughput-compatible assay to screen for potential alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, we found that the beta-lactam antibiotic ceftezole exhibited potent alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity. In in vitro alpha-glucosidase assays, ceftezole was shown to be a reversible, non-competitive inhibitor of yeast alpha-glucosidase with a Ki value of 5.78 x 10(-7) M when the enzyme mixture was pretreated with ceftezole. Using an in vivo streptozotocin-induced mouse model, we confirmed that blood glucose levels decreased by 30% 20 min after ceftezole treatment (10 mg/kg/day). Expression levels of glycogen synthase kinase-3, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma, and uncoupling protein-3 mRNA were also slightly decreased compared to controls following ceftezole treatment. Taken together, these in vivo and in vitro results suggest that ceftezole may be a clinically useful anti-diabetic compound.

We carried out in vitro and in vivo assays to investigate the immunomodulatory and immunochemotherapeutic action mechanism of BRD-glucan, a high molecular weight ( approximately 3,500 kDa) polysaccharide isolated from Aureobasidium sp, and assessed the efficacy of BRD-glucan/adriamycin co-treatment of animal cancer models. RT-PCR and suspension hemolytic, plaque forming, wounding, invasion and cell proliferation assays were utilized to investigate the in vitro immunochemotherapeutic effects of BRD-glucan. In vivo, the effects of BRD-glucan and BRD-glucan/adriamycin co-treatment were tested in a B16 melanoma initiation model and in C57BL/6 mice. In vitro, BRD-glucan did not affect the cellular wounding response or invasion activity; treatment with BRD-glucan led to increase proliferation of B cells, natural killer cells and macrophages, but not T cells. In addition, we found that the BRD-glucan activation of B cells and macrophages was dependent on Toll-like receptor2 (TLR2) and TLR4, which play important roles in innate and adaptive immunity. In vivo, BRD-glucan/adriamycin co-treatment effectively reduced the number and size of metastatic colonies. Based on the results of our in vitro and in vivo toxicity, safety and immunochemotherapy assays, we propose that BRD-glucan is a promising immunochemotherapeutic anti-tumor agent.

The present study provides evidence of the anti-asthmatic signaling activity of an aqueous fraction of green tea using specific in vitro and in vivo assays in an ovalbumin-induced asthmatic model. Mice sensitized to ovalbumin were orally administered an aqueous extract of Camellia sinensis. The lungs of these mice were then examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining and ELISA analysis to measure cytokine expression. The aqueous extract of Camellia sinensis exhibited potent anti-asthmatic activity by increasing the expression level of tumor necrosis factor-beta and interferon-gamma and decreasing the expression of anti-asthmatic cytokines in the lung. Together, these results indicate that the aqueous fraction of Camellia sinensis is effective in alleviating asthmatic symptoms by increasing the expression of Th1 cell-specific anti-asthmatic biomarkers.