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Rosa rugosa is a medicinal plant known for its potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, and antimicrobial benefits. The pharmacological effects of Rosa rugosa extract on hair loss have not yet been documented. This research sought to assess the inhibitory effects and mechanisms of action of Rosa rugosa water extract (RWE) in a mouse model of dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-induced alopecia. The study was conducted using C57BL/6 mice, which were assigned to five groups: control, DHT-treated, Rosa rugosa water extract (RWE) at doses of 25 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg body weight, and bicalutamide-treated. To induce hair loss, dihydrotestosterone (1 mg/day per body weight) was administered via intraperitoneal injections, and dorsal hair removal was timed to align with the telogen phase. Each group received oral treatments for a period of 23 days. In this study, we assessed hair growth activity, examined histological changes, and performed immunoblot analysis. We noted improvements in hair length and thickness. Additionally, the protein expression of growth factors associated with hair growth, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), showed significant increases in the group treated with RWE. Additionally, treatment with RWE suppressed the protein expression of hair growth inhibitory factors, including dickkopf WNT signaling pathway inhibitor 1 (DKK1) and interleukin (IL)-6. Moreover, hair growth regulatory pathway related factors, including ERK, AKT, and GSK-3β, were activated. These findings indicate that RWE could serve as a promising natural therapy for preventing hair loss by enhancing the production of factors that promote hair growth while inhibiting those that suppress it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug-resistant infectious diseases pose a substantial challenge and threat to medical regimens. While adaptive laboratory evolution provides foresight for encountering such situations, it has inherent limitations. Novel drug delivery systems (DDSs) have garnered attention for overcoming these hurdles. Multi-stimuli responsive DDSs are particularly effective due to their reduced background leakage and targeted drug delivery to specific host sites for pathogen elimination. Bacterial infections create an acidic state in the microenvironment (pH: 5.0–5.5), which differs from normal physiological conditions (pH: 7.4). Infected areas are characterized by the overexpression of hyaluronidase, gelatinase, phospholipase, and other virulence factors. Consequently, several effective stimuli-responsive DDSs have been developed to target bacterial pathogens. Additionally, biofilms, structured communities of bacteria encased in a self-produced polymeric matrix, pose a significant challenge by conferring resistance to conventional antimicrobial treatments. Recent advancements in nano-drug delivery systems (nDDSs) show promise in enhancing antimicrobial efficacy by improving drug absorption and targeting within the biofilm matrix. nDDSs can deliver antimicrobials directly to the biofilm, facilitating more effective eradication of these resilient bacterial communities. Herein, this review examines challenges in DDS development, focusing on enhancing antibacterial activity and eradicating biofilms without adverse effects. Furthermore, advances in immune system modulation and photothermal therapy are discussed as future directions for the treatment of bacterial diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expression of virulence genes in bacteria is known to be regulated by various environmental and host factors. Vibrio vulnificus, an estuarine bacterium, experiences a dramatic environmental change during its infection process. We reported that V. vulnificus RtxA1 toxin caused acute cell death only when close contact to host cells was allowed. A sigma factor RpoS is a very important regulator for the maximal survival of pathogens under stress conditions. Here, we studied the role of RpoS in V. vulnificus cytotoxicity and mouse lethality. The growth of rpoS mutant strain was comparable to that of wild-type in heart infusion (HI) media and DMEM with HeLa cell lysate. An rpoS mutation resulted in decreased cytotoxicity, which was restored by in trans complementation. Interestingly, host contact increased the expression and secretion of V. vulnificus RtxA1 toxin, which was decreased and delayed by the rpoS mutation. Transcription of the cytotoxic gene rtxA1 and its transporter rtxB1 was significantly increased after host factor contact, whereas the activity was decreased by the rpoS mutation. In contrast, the rpoS mutation showed no effect on the transcriptional activity of a cytolytic heamolysin gene (vvhA). Additionally, the LD50 of the rpoS mutant was 15-fold higher than that of the wild-type in specific pathogen-free CD-1 female mice. Taken together, these results show that RpoS regulates the expression of V. vulnificus RtxA1 toxin and its transporter upon host contact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The individual parts of Morus alba L. including root bark, branches, leaves, and fruits are used as a cosmetic ingredient in many Asian countries. This study identified several anti-melanogenesis constituents in a 70% ethanol extract of M. alba leaves. The ethyl acetate fraction of the initial ethanol extract decreased the activity of tyrosinase, a key enzyme in the synthetic pathway of melanin. Twelve compounds were isolated from this fraction and their structures were identified based on spectroscopic spectra. Then, the authors investigated the anti-melanogenesis effects of the isolated compounds in B16-F10 mouse melanoma cells. Compounds 3 and 8 significantly inhibited not only melanin production but also intracellular tyrosinase activity in alpha-melanocyte-stimulating-hormone (α-MSH)-induced B16-F10 cells in a dose-dependent manner. These same compounds also inhibited melanogenesis-related protein expression such as microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, and tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1). Compound 3 modulated the cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) and p38 signaling pathways in α-MSH-activated B16-F10 melanoma cells, which resulted in the anti-melanogenesis effects. These results suggest that compound 3, isolated from M. alba leaves, could be used to inhibit melanin production via the regulation of melanogenesis-related protein expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendropanax morbiferus H. Lév has been reported to have some pharmacologic activities and also interested in functional cosmetics. We found that the water extract of D. morbiferus leaves significantly inhibited tyrosinase activity and melanin formation in α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH)-induced B16-F10 cells. D. morbiferus reduced melanogenesis-related protein levels, such as microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), TRP-1, and TRP-2, without any cytotoxicity. Two active ingredients of D. morbiferus, (10E)-9,16-dihydroxyoctadeca-10,17-dien-12,14-diynoate (DMW-1) and (10E)-(-)-10,17-octadecadiene-12,14-diyne-1,9,16-triol (DMW-2) were identified by testing the anti-melanogenic effects and then by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) analysis. DMW-1 and DMW-2 significantly inhibited melanogenesis by the suppression of protein kinase A (PKA)/cyclic AMP (cAMP)-responsive binding protein (CREB) and p38 MAPK phosphorylation. DMW-1 showed a better inhibitory effect than DMW-2 in α-MSH-induced B16-F10 cells. D. morbiferus and its active component DMW-1 inhibited melanogenesis through the downregulation of cAMP, p-PKA/CREB, p-p38, MITF, TRP-1, TRP-2, and tyrosinase. These results indicate that D. morbiferus and DMW-1 may be useful ingredients for cosmetics and therapeutic agents for skin hyperpigmentation disorders., (Copyright © 2020 Park, Yang, Guo, Li, Kim and Kim.)