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The pepper fruit of Capsicum annuum L. is used as a food, spice, and topical medicine. Here, we investigated the effect of a methanolic C. annuum L. extract (CAE) in a mouse model of ovalbumin-induced allergic airway inflammation. Animals were treated with CAE by oral gavage before ovalbumin challenge. After ovalbumin challenge, airway responsiveness to methacholine, influx of inflammatory cells into the lung, cytokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity in lungs, and lung histopathology were assessed. Oral treatment with CAE significantly reduced the pathophysiological signs of allergic airway disease, including increased inflammatory cell recruitment to the airways, airway hyperresponsiveness, and increased levels of T-helper type 2 cytokines. Reactive oxygen species were also decreased in cells from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. In addition, we found that administration of CAE attenuated ovalbumin-induced increases in NF-κB activity in lungs. Collectively, these results suggest that CAE may be an effective oral treatment for allergic airway inflammation by virtue of its antioxidant activity.

Aim of the Study: Lilium lancifolium is commonly used to treat bronchitis, pneumonia, etc. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of methanol extracts of the root of Lilium lancifolium (LL extracts) in LPS-stimulated Raw264.7 cells., Material and Methods: Levels of NO, PGE(2) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-alpha) in the supernatant fraction were determined using sandwich ELISA. Expression of COX-2 and iNOS, phosphorylation of MAPK subgroups (ERK and JNK), and NF-kappaB activation in extracts were detected via Western blot and immunocytochemistry assays., Results: The LL extract significantly inhibited NO, PGE(2), IL-6 and TNF-alpha production in LPS-stimulated cells, and suppressed iNOS and COX-2 expression. A mechanism-based study showed that phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and JNK and translocation of the NF-kappaB p65 subunit into nuclei were inhibited by the LL extract. Furthermore, interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 production in Con A-induced splenocytes was suppressed., Conclusion: These results indicate that anti-inflammatory effects of methanol extracts from Lilium lancifolium are due to downregulation of iNOS and COX-2 via suppression of NF-kappaB activation and nuclear translocation as well as blocking of ERK and JNK signaling in LPS-stimulated Raw264.7 cells., (Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Aim of the Study: We investigated the efficacy of Viola mandshurica W. Becker (VM) ethanolic (EtOH) extract in the treatment of bronchial asthma in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic BALB/c mouse model., Materials and Methods: Female BALB/c mice were sensitized with intraperitoneal (i.p.) ovalbumin (OVA) on days 0 and 14, and were next given intranasal OVA on days 28-30. Randomized treatment groups of sensitized mice received VM EtOH extract, dexamethasone, or placebo, orally, from days 28 to 30., Results: VM EtOH extract significantly inhibited increases in total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 levels in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and also effectively suppressed airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), eosinophilia, and mucus hypersecretion, in mice with OVA-induced asthma., Conclusions: The results suggest that VM EtOH extract and allied extracts could be useful herbal medicines for asthma treatment, and that VM may also be a valuable lead material for anti-asthma drug development., (Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Polyphenols have the potential to reduce the risk of many metabolic disorders. Lily bulbs are rich in polyphenols; however, their effects on lipid metabolism remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the effects of lily bulbs' polyphenols (LBPs) on oxidative stress and lipid metabolism., Results: A total of 14 polyphenolic compounds in LBPs were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with diode-array detection mass spectrometry. Total phenolic compound in LBPs was 53.76 ± 1.12 g kg -1 dry weight. In cellular experiments, LBPs attenuated the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, impeded reactive oxygen species production, alleviated oxidative stress, and reduced lipid accumulation in oleic acid induced HepG2 cells. In in vivo studies, LBPs significantly inhibited body weight gain, reduced lipid levels in serum and liver, and improved oxidative damage in a dose-dependent manner in mice fed a high-fat diet. Moreover, LBPs ameliorated hepatic steatosis and suppressed the expression of hepatic-lipogenesis-related genes (SREBP-1c, FAS, ACC1, and SCD-1) and promoted lipolysis genes (SRB1 and HL) and lipid oxidation genes (PPARα and CPT-1) in mice fed a high-fat diet., Conclusion: It was concluded that LBPs are a potential complementary therapeutic alternative in the development of functional foods to curb obesity and obesity-related diseases, such as metabolic syndrome. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Background: Tinospora cordifolia (Willd).Miers is a perennial climbing medicinal shrub that has been traditionally used for the treatment of chronic inflammatory ailments. Our previous pre- clinical studies on anti-inflammatory effects, proved that the chloroform extract of T. cordifolia (CETC) suppressed the LPS induced up-regulation of pro-inflammatory biomarkers, hence, further follow up study was carried out to evaluate whether CETC can exhibit a protective effect against LPS induced lethal endotoxemia in vivo and also to analyze the impact of CETC pre-treatment on the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro by THP-1 cells. Methods: To corroborate our previous preclinical studies on inflammation, we investigated the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effect of T. cordifolia on THP-cells which were pre-incubated with CETC (30 min) and stimulated subsequently with LPS (1 μg/ml) for 20 h. Levels as well as gene expressions of various cytokines were compared with that of LPS alone incubated cells. Alongside, in vivo oral anti-inflammatory efficacy against LPS induced endotoxemia study was effectuated, wherein rats were administered with CETC 48, 24, 12 and 1 h prior to the injection of LPS and the survival of rats were monitored upto 10 days. Cytokine levels were quantified by ELISA. Nitrite levels were measured using Griess reagent. Expression of pro-inflammatory proteins was inspected in rat tissues by histochemical and immuno -histochemical examinations. Results: CETC was able to down-regulate the up-regulation of pro-inflammatory biomarkers in THP-1 macrophages though blockade of NF-κB nuclear translocation and could improve the survival rate during endotoxemic episodes with a marked suppression of the tissue expression of pro-inflammatory proteins. Conclusion: These findings concomitantly reveal the anti-inflammatory mechanism of CETC and support us to move forward for the development of drugs against disorders resulting from deregulated immune reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lignosus rhinocerus (L. rhinocerus), which is known locally as Tiger Milk mushroom, is traditionally used in the treatment of asthma by indigenous communities in Malaysia. However, to date, its efficacy on asthma has not been confirmed by scientific studies and there is also sparse information available on its active constituents. In this study, the volatile constituent of L. rhinocerus hot water extract was investigated using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The potential effects of L. rhinocerus extract for anti-asthmatic activity was further investigated on ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized asthmatic Sprague Dawley rats. Methods: Sequential extraction using five solvents (petroleum ether, diethyl ether, hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol) was conducted prior to GC-MS analysis. Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into the following four groups of five animals each: 1) normal rats, 2) sensitization plus OVA-challenged rats 3) sensitization plus OVA-challenged with L. rhinocerus treatment and 4) sensitization plus OVA-challenged with dexamethasone treatment. The levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the serum and T-helper 2 cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5 and IL-13, in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), as well as eosinophil infiltration in the lungs, were investigated. Results: GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of five main groups (alkane, fatty acids, benzene, phenol and dicarboxylic acid) with a total of 18 constituents. Linoleic acid (21.35 %), octadecane (11.82 %) and 2,3-dihydroxypropyl elaidate (10.47 %) were present in high amounts. The extract significantly ameliorated the increase in total IgE in serum and IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 levels in BALF and also effectively suppressed eosinophils numbers in BALF while attenuating eosinophil infiltrations in the lungs. Conclusion: L. rhinocerus hot water extract has the potential to be used as an alternative for the treatment of acute asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Macrophages play a crucial role in inflammation. Astilbe chinensis is one of perennial herbs belonging to the genus Astilbe. Plants in the genus have been used for pain, headaches, arthralgia, and chronic bronchitis. However, the effect of A.chinensis on inflammation remains unclear. To study the anti-inflammatory action of A.chinensis ethanol extract (ACE), we investigated the effect of ACE on the production of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines in macrophages. Methods: We evaluated the effectiveness of ACE in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages and thioglycollate (TG)-elicited peritoneal macrophages from male C57BL/6 mice. We measured the levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines, and examined the anti-inflammatory actions of ACE on nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway in the macrophages. Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence microscopy were used to determine protein level and translocation, respectively. Results: ACE suppressed the output of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and pro-inflammatory cytokines in stimulated macrophages via inhibiting the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) proteins. ACE suppressed mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). We examined the efficacies of ACE on NF-κB activation by measuring the expressions including IκB kinase (IKK), inhibitor of κB (IκB), and nuclear p65 proteins. In addition, the inhibition of NF-κB p65's translocation was determined with immunofluorescence assay. Conclusion: Our findings manifested that ACE inhibited LPS or TG-induced inflammation by blocking the NF-κB signaling pathway in macrophages. It indicated that ACE is a potential therapeutic mean for inflammation and related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]