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Myung Joo Kang1,Jae Yoon Eum1, Mi Sook Jeong2, Sang Han Park1, Ki Young Moon1, Mean Hyung Kang1, Min Soo Kim1, Sun Eun Choi1, Min Won Lee1, Do Ik Lee1, Hyoweon Bang2, Chung Soo Lee2, Seong Soo Joo3, Kapsok Li2, Mi-Kyung Lee2, Seong Jun Seo2, Young Wook Choi11College of Pharmacy, ChungAng University, Heuksuk-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 2College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Heuksukdong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 3Division of Marine Molecular Biotechnology, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, South KoreaBackground: The aim of the present study was to enhance a topical delivery of hirsutenone (HST), a naturally occuring immunomodulator, employing Tat peptide-admixed elastic liposomes (EL/T).Methods: HST-loaded EL, consisting of phosphatidylcholine and Tween 80 (85:15 w/w%), were prepared using thin film hydration method. By adding Tat peptide to EL (0.16 w/w%), EL/T were formulated. The in vitro skin permeation of HST was examined using a Franz diffusion cell mounted with depilated mouse skin. Lesions for atopic dermatitis (AD) were induced by a topical application of diphenylcyclopropenone to NC/Nga mice. Therapeutic improvements of AD were evaluated by clinical skin severity scores. Immunological analyses on inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 levels in the skin and interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, immunoglobulin E, and eosinophil levels in the blood were also performed.Results: EL systems were superior to conventional cream, revealing greater flux values in a permeation study. The addition of Tat peptide further increased the skin permeation of HST. In an efficacy study with AD-induced NC/Nga mice, an HST-containing EL/T formulation brought a significant improvement in both skin severity score and immune-related responses for the levels of nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, IL-4, IL-13, immunoglobulin E, and eosinophils.Conclusion: A novel EL/T formulation was successfully developed for topical delivery of HST to treat AD.Keywords: hirsutenone, elastic liposomes, atopic dermatitis, NC/Nga mice, Tat peptide

The needles of Pinus densiflora Siebold et Zuccarini, a representative Pinus species that grows in Korea, have been used in oriental traditional medicine as remedies for rheumatitis, hemorrhage, cancer, etc. Phytochemical examination of the needles of Pinus densiflora Siebold et Zuccarini led to the isolation of four lignans, one flavan-3-ol, two flavonols and one organic acid. They were identified as icariside E(4) (1), cupressoside A (2), schizandriside (3), (+)-isolariciresinol (4), (+)-catechin (5), quercetin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (6), 5,7,8,4'-tetrahydroxy-3-methoxy-6-methylflavone 8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7) and (-)-shikimic acid (8). In order to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of these compounds, their inhibitory activities against nitric oxide and prostaglandin E(2) production in IFN-γ- and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells were examined.

Recently, the isolation of several condensed tannins from the roots of Rosa multiflora Thunberg, a traditional herbal therapy in oriental medicine for rheumatoid arthritis and scabies, was described. Two of the major condensed tannins - procyanidin B-3 (ProB3) and ent-guibourtinidol-(4β → 6)-catechin (RM-1) - were then applied topically to atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions on NC/Nga mice in order to assess their immunomodulatory properties. Both ProB3 and RM-1 significantly reduced the serum levels of eosinophils, IgE and certain Th2 cytokines (IL-4, 5 and 13) (p 0.05 or 0.01). Additionally, ProB3 and RM-1 significantly reduced both the mRNA and protein expression of COX-2 and iNOS in mouse skin tissues (p 0.01). Such results strongly suggest that ProB3 and RM-1 may be useful in the treatment allergic skin conditions, most notably atopic dermatitis.

Three new stereoisomers of condensed tannins (1—3), and four known phenolic compounds (4—7) were isolated from the 80% acetone extract of the roots of Rosa multiflora Thunberg. The structures of these compounds were elucidated using 1D/2D NMR, high resolution (HR)-MS, and circular dichroism (CD) spectra. In order to evaluate their anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities, their 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and inhibitory activity on nitric oxide (NO) production were determined.

Aim of the study The bark of Alnus species has long been used in traditional oriental medicine in the treatment of many pathological conditions, including fever, hemorrhage, diarrhea, alcoholism, various skin diseases (e.g. chronic herpes, eczema and prurigo), and inflammation. In order to assess the immunomodulatory efficacy of a novel herbal medicine in treating atopic dermatitis, we measured serum levels of several allergic and inflammatory biomarkers in NC/Nga mice before and after treatment with this experimental agent. Materials and methods Gene and protein expression analyses of iNOS and COX-2 were quantified by real time PCR and Western blot analysis and serum levels of IL-4, -5 and -13 were also measured by ELISA, all of which were reduced after treatment with the experimental agent. Additionally, serum concentrations of IgE and blood eosinophil counts were reduced in treated mice. Results The topical application of leaf and bark extract from Alnus japonica suppressed the development of AD-like skin lesions. The percent of blood eosinophils was decreased after treatment with leaf and bark extract from Alnus japonica. The serum IgE and Th2-related cytokine levels were decreased after treatment with leaf and bark extract from Alnus japonica compared with those treated with base cream (vehicle treated AD group). The IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 were lower than those of vehicle treated AD group. Conclusions We contend that leaf and bark extract from Alnus japonica may prove useful in the treatment of atopic dermatitis and other allergic skin diseases, although more in-depth clinical studies are necessary before clinical implementation.

In order to develop topical preparations of taxifolin glycoside (TXG) for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD), formulations of Pep-1 peptide-conjugated elastic liposomes (Pep1-EL) were examined for their in vitro skin permeation profile and in vivo therapeutic efficacy. TXG-loaded Pep1-EL - a nanovesicle consisting of phosphatidylcholine, Tween 80, N-[4-(p-maleimidophenyl)butyryl]-phosphatidylethanolamine (MPB-PE), and Pep-1 peptide - is 130nm in size, and has a zeta potential of 25mV and a deformability index value of 60. Here, we examined the skin permeability of several topical preparations using a Franz diffusion cell mounted with depilated mouse skin and found that formulations of Pep1-EL exhibited superior absorption when compared to aqueous solution, EL or Pep-1 peptide-admixed EL formulations. Both transepidermal water loss and skin surface hydration were also measured using AD-induced NC/Nga mice, and the TXG-loaded Pep1-EL treatment group displayed a significantly expedited recovery in skin barrier function when compared to the controls treated with a TXG aqueous solution (p

To develop an external preparation of oregonin (ORG) for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD), conventional creams (CC) and elastic liposomes (EL) containing ORG have been formulated and examined for their in vitro skin permeation properties and in vivo therapeutic efficacy assessments. EL, consisting of soybean phosphatidylcholine and Tween 80 (85 : 15 w/w %), were of flexible nanocarriers: they were about 130 nm in size and had a 4-fold greater deformability index than conventional liposomes. In a skin permeation study using a Franz diffusion cell mounted with depilated mouse skin, liposomal systems were superior to cream, revealing greater flux values. Both CC and EL were diversified with the addition of Trans-activating transcriptional activator (Tat) peptide, a sort of cell penetrating peptide, and subjected to in vivo efficacy evaluations in NC/Nga mice with AD-like lesions. On clinical observation for skin severity, rapid and profound improvement was observed in the treatment group with Tat-added liposomes (EL/T), showing a significant difference (p

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease. The increasing prevalence and severity of AD have prompted the developments of safer, more effective drugs. Although topical corticosteroids have been used as first line therapy for AD, their potential side effects limit their clinical applications. To investigate the effect of hirsutenone (HIR), a diarylheptanoid compound, on AD-like skin lesions and other factors related to immune response is the aim of this paper Th2-related cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13), eosinophil, IgE inflammatory factors (COX-2, iNOS) levels were reduced in blood, lymphocytes, and tissue after HIR treatment. These results suggest that HIR might be an effective treatment for AD.

Increased levels of eosinphils, IgE, IL-4, 5, and 13 and pro-inflammatory factors (COX-2, iNOS) are observed in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Taxifolin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (TAX) from the roots of Rhododendron mucronulatum (RM) was examined to determine whether its immunomodulatory effect was applicable for treating atopic dermatitis.A total of 7 groups of NC/Nga mice with AD were treated by topical application or intraperitoneal injection of TAX for 4 weeks. Follow-up evaluations were done to assess the changes in clinical observations, eosinophil counts, and levels of IgE, cytokines, COX-2 and iNOS.In the clinical observation during the experimental period, TAX treatment significantly reduced the severity of AD-like lesions induced in NC/Nga mice. Eosinophil and IgE levels decreased after treatment of the animals with TAX. TAX may thus be associated with improvement of eosinophil-related allergic diseases. The expression of cytokines (IL-4, 5 and 13) was significantly inhibited in the TAX-treated group, suggesting that TAX might play an immunoregulatory role associated with AD. In RT-PCR, iNOS and COX-2 expression levels were reduced in the TAX-treated group. In western blotting, the expression levels of iNOS and COX-2 were also reduced in the TAX-treated group.These findings suggest that TAX is effective for the treatment of AD by preventing the production of inflammatory cytokines and by reducing skin inflammation.

Activity guided fractionation of Aconitum koreanum root extract (RAK), a traditional medicine in Korea, afforded four caffeoyl derivatives, caffeic acid (1), 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (2), 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3) and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid methyl ester (4). In order to evaluate the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of these compounds, their 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities and abilities to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 were examined. And the protein and mRNA levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in LPS-stimulated HaCaT cells were also quantified by Western blotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Compounds (1-4) showed potent DPPH radical scavenging and NO inhibitory activities as compared with positive controls (L-ascorbic acid and N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), respectively). Also, these compounds dose-dependently inhibited the expressions of iNOS and COX-2 as well as their mRNA levels.

The diarylheptanoid, oregonin (ORE), which was isolated from the bark of Alnus japonica Steudel that grows natively in Korea, has been known to exert antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and immune response inhibitory effects. The antioxidative effect of ORE was observed on the superoxide and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical, as well as on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in lipopolysaccharide-treated RAW264.7 macrophages. The statistically significant inhibitory action of ORE against production of cytokines induced by bacterial products or by interleukin (IL)-1beta, free radicals and nitrogen species, and a corresponding increase in cellular calcium concentration because of ORE were confirmed in bone marrow and spleen dendritic cells that are known to play important functions in the development and advancement of atopic dermatitis (AD). It was thus expected that ORE would exert a beneficial effect in the treatment of AD. A study on the pharmaceutical benefits of ORE against AD has not yet been conducted in vivo. We therefore used an in vivo AD animal model, namely the NC/Nga mice, and by applying ORE onto the animals through skin application as well as intraperitoneal injection, we attempted to evaluate the benefits of ORE in this system. Evaluation of ORE was conducted by following the SCORE method to score the effect, as well as by measuring the Th2 cytokines IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 levels from serum and lymphocytes, and IgE and eosinophil levels from serum. Additionally, the expression of mRNA and protein levels was estimated using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting analysis. The following categories of clinical evaluation, Th2 cytokines IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 values, serum IgE levels, serum eosinophil levels, and mRNA and protein expression levels of iNOS and COX-2, were evaluated from topical application and intraperitoneal injection groups of ORE. The effects of ORE on AD in NC/Nga mice were confirmed as being similar to the positive control group, while a significant difference with the negative control group was observed. The results presented in this report suggest that ORE might be beneficial in the treatment of AD.

Antigen-presenting dendritic cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. Taxifolin is demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory effects. The present study was designed to assess the effect of taxifolin glycoside against stimulated responses of dendritic cells isolated from mouse bone marrow and spleen. Dendritic cells exposed to lipopolysaccharide, lipoteichoic acid or interleukin (IL)-1β exhibited increased production of IL-12 p70 and tumour necrosis factor alpha, increased formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO), and elevation of intracellular Ca2+ levels. Treatment with taxifolin glycoside inhibited responses stimulated by the microbial products or IL-1β in dendritic cells in a dose-dependent manner. Taxifolin glycoside had a significant inhibitory effect on the production of cytokines, formation of ROS and NO, and change in intracellular Ca2+ levels in dendritic cells of bone marrow and spleen. The results show that taxifolin glycoside seems to inhibit the dendritic cell responses stimulated by microbial products and IL-1β, suggesting that taxifolin glycoside may exert an inhibitory effect against dendritic-cell-mediated immune responses.

The diarylheptanoids (1-10) 1,7-bis-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-heptane-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)-beta-D-xylopyranoside (1), 1,7-bis-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-heptane-3-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), 1,7-bis-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-heptane-5-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), 1,7-bis-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5-hydroxyheptane (4), 1,7-bis-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-heptane-3-one-5-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5), oregonin (6), hirsutanonol (7), hirsutenone (8), 1,7-bis-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5-hydroxyheptane-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (9), and platyphylloside (10), isolated from the bark of Alnus japonica, were analyzed for their cytotoxic activities on various human and mouse cancer cell lines. The cytotoxic activities of these ten compounds were evaluated against murine B16 melanoma, human SNU-1 gastric cancer, human SNU-354 hepatoma cancer and human SNU-C4 colorectal cell lines. The diarylheptanoids showed potent cytotoxic activities against murine B16 melanoma cells and human SNU-C1 gastric cancer cell when the cell viability was analyzed by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide) assay.

Chemical investigation of the 80% Me(2)CO extract from the seeds of Prunus tomentosa led to the isolation and identification of six flavonoids: kaempferol (1), kaempferol 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (2; afzelin), kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-(6-acetyl)-glucopyranosyl(1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (3; multiflorin A), kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (4; multiflorin B), quercetin 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (5; quercitrin), and quercetin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (6; multinoside A). Anti-oxidative and inhibitory activities on nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E(2) production in interferon-gamma (INF-gamma) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 cells in vitro (COX-2) of the isolated compounds were evaluated. Compounds 1, 5, and 6 exhibited potent anti-oxidative activity in the DPPH radical scavenging assay with IC(50) values of 57.2, 59.4, and 54.3 microg/mL respectively. The positive control, ascorbic acid, had an IC(50) of 55.5 mug/mL. Compounds 1, 5, and 6 also reduced COX-2 levels in a dose dependent manner with IC(50) values of 10.2, 8.7, and 9.6 microg/mL respectively, with the positive control, indomethacin, having an IC(50) of 5.1 microg/mL. All six compounds inhibited NO production in a dose dependent manner with IC(50) values of 35.1, 42.8, 40.0, 44.8, 43.7, and 43.9 microg/mL respectively, while the positive control, L-NMMA, had an IC(50) of 42.1 microg/mL.