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Lipolysis is the hydrolysis of triglycerides (TGs), commonly known as fats. Intracellular lipolysis of TG is associated with adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), which provides fatty acids during times of metabolic need. The aim of this study was to determine whether Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf ( Coix ) sprouts (CS) can alleviate obesity through lipolysis. Overall, we investigated the potential of CS under in vitro and in vivo conditions and confirmed the underlying mechanisms. Huh7 cells were exposed to free fatty acids (FFAs), and C57BL/6J mice were fed a 60% high-fat diet. When FFA were introduced into Huh7 cells, the intracellular TG levels increased within the Huh7 cells. However, CS treatment significantly reduced intracellular TG levels. Furthermore, CS decreased the expression of Pparγ and Srebp1c mRNA and downregulated the mutant Pnpla3 (I148M) mRNA. Notably, CS significantly upregulated ATGL expression. CS treatment at a dose of 200 mg/kg/day resulted in a significant and dose-dependent decrease in body weight gain and epididymal adipose tissue weight. Specifically, the group treated with CS (200 mg/kg/day) exhibited a significant modulation of serum lipid biomarkers. In addition, CS ameliorated histological alterations in both the liver and adipose tissues. In summary, CS efficiently inhibited lipid accumulation through the activation of the lipolytic enzyme ATGL coupled with the suppression of enzymes involved in TG synthesis. Consequently, CS show promise as a potential anti-obesity agent.

Background and Objectives : Muscle atrophy occurs when protein degradation exceeds protein synthesis, resulting in imbalanced protein homeostasis, compromised muscle contraction, and a reduction in muscle mass. The incidence of muscle atrophy is increasingly recognized as a significant worldwide public health problem. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of whey peptide (WP) on muscle atrophy induced by dexamethasone (DEX) in mice. Materials and Methods: C57BL/6 mice were divided into six groups, each consisting of nine individuals. WPs were orally administered to C57BL/6 mice for 6 weeks. DEX was administered for 5-6 weeks to induce muscle atrophy (intraperitoneal injection, i.p.). Results : Microcomputer tomography (CT) analysis confirmed that WP significantly increased calf muscle volume and surface area in mice with DEX-induced muscle atrophy, as evidenced by tissue staining. Furthermore, it increased the area of muscle fibers and facilitated greater collagen deposition. Moreover, WP significantly decreased the levels of serum biomarkers associated with muscle damage, kidney function, and inflammatory cytokines. WP increased p-mTOR and p-p70S6K levels through the IGF-1/PI3K/Akt pathway, while concurrently decreasing protein catabolism via the FOXO pathway. Furthermore, the expression of proteins associated with myocyte differentiation increased noticeably. Conclusions : These results confirm that WP reduces muscle atrophy by regulating muscle protein homeostasis. Additionally, it is believed that it helps to relieve muscle atrophy by regulating the expression of myocyte differentiation factors. Therefore, we propose that WP plays a significant role in preventing and treating muscle wasting by functioning as a supplement to counteract muscle atrophy.

The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy and the underlying mechanism of Veronica incana in osteoarthritis (OA) induced by intraarticular injection of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA). The selected major four compounds (A-D) of V. incana were found from fractions 3 and 4. Its structure elucidation was determined by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) data analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data comparison with literature. MIA (50  μ L with 80 mg/mL) for the animal experiment was injected into the right knee joint. The V. incana was administered orally every day to rats for 14 days from 7 days after MIA treatment. Finally, we confirmed the four compounds: (A) verproside; (B) catalposide; (C) 6-vanilloylcatapol; and (D) 6-isovanilloylcatapol. When we evaluated the effect of V. incana on the MIA injection-induced knee OA model, there were a noticeable initial decreased in hind paw weight-bearing distribution compared to the Normal group ( P  < .001), but V. incana supplementation resulted in a significant increase in the weight-bearing distribution to the treated knee ( P  < .001). Moreover, the V. incana treatment led to a decrease in the levels of liver function enzymes and tissue malondialdehyde ( P  < .05 and .01). The V. incana significantly suppressed the inflammatory factors through the nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway and downregulated the expression of matrix metalloproteinases, which are involved in the degradation of the extracellular matrix ( P  < .01 and .001). In addition, we confirmed the alleviation of cartilage degeneration through tissue stains. In conclusion, this study confirmed the major four compounds of V. incana and suggested that V. incana could serve as an anti-inflammatory candidate agent for patients with OA.

Metformin, an antidiabetic drug, and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer (GU), an oriental medicinal herb, have been reported to exert anti-obesity effects. This study investigated the synergistic action of metformin and GU in improving diet-induced obesity. Mice were fed a normal diet, a high-fat diet (HFD), or HFD + 0.015% GU water extract for 8 weeks. The HFD and GU groups were then randomly divided into two groups and fed the following diets for the next 8 weeks: HFD with 50 mg/kg metformin (HFDM) and GU with 50 mg/kg metformin (GUM). GUM prevented hepatic steatosis and adiposity by suppressing expression of mRNAs and enzyme activities related to lipogenesis in the liver and upregulating the expression of adipocyte mRNAs associated with fatty acid oxidation and lipolysis, and as a result, improved dyslipidemia. Moreover, GUM improved glucose homeostasis by inducing glucose uptake in tissues and upregulating mRNA expressions associated with glycolysis in the liver and muscle through AMP-activated protein kinase activation. GUM also improved inflammation by increasing antioxidant activity in the liver and erythrocytes and decreasing inflammatory cytokine productions. Here, we demonstrate that GU and metformin exert synergistic action in the prevention of obesity and its complications.

Gardeniae Fructus (GF, the dried ripe fruits of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis) has traditionally been used to treat various diseases in East Asian countries, such as liver disease. Silymarin is a well-known medicine used to treat numerous liver diseases globally. The present study was purposed to evaluate the synergistic effects of GF and silymarin on the thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis of a mouse model. Mice were orally administered with distilled water, GF (100 mg/kg, GF 100), silymarin (100 mg/kg, Sily 100), and GF and silymarin mixtures (50 and 100 mg/kg, GS 50 and 100). The GS group showed remarkable amelioration of liver injury in the serum levels and histopathology by observing the inflamed cell infiltrations and decreases in necrotic bodies through the liver tissue. TAA caused liver tissue oxidation, which was evidenced by the abnormal statuses of lipid peroxidation and deteriorations in the total glutathione in the hepatic protein levels; moreover, the immunohistochemistry supported the increases in the positive signals against 4-hydroxyneal and 8-OHdG through the liver tissue. These alterations corresponded well to hepatic inflammation by an increase in F4/80 positive cells and increases in pro-inflammatory cytokines in the hepatic protein levels; however, administration with GS, especially the high dose group, not only remarkably reduced oxidative stress and DNA damage in the liver cells but also considerably diminished pro-inflammatory cytokines, which were driven by Kupffer cell activations, as compared with each of the single treatment groups. The pharmacological properties of GS prolonged liver fibrosis by the amelioration of hepatic stellate cells’ (HSCs’) activation that is dominantly expressed by huge extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules including α-smooth muscle actin, and collagen type1 and 3, respectively. We further figured out that GS ameliorated HSCs activated by the regulation of Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) activities in the hepatic protein levels, and this finding excellently reenacted the transforming growth factor-β-treated LX-2-cells-induced cell death signals depending on the Sirt1 activities. Future studies need to reveal the pharmacological roles of GS on the specific cell types during the liver fibrosis condition.

Artemisiae argyi is a well-known traditional herbal medicine used in East Asia. Although the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects of A. argyi have been reported, its efficacy in improving obesity has not been yet evaluated. In this study, mice were fed a normal diet (AIN-93), a high-fat diet (HFD, 60% of kcal from fat), and an HFD with 0.1% of A. argyi water extract for 16 weeks. The body weight and body fat in A. argyi- fed mice significantly decreased via upregulation of the mRNA expression of fatty acid oxidation-related genes, with a simultaneous decrease in plasma lipid content and leptin levels. A. argyi water extract also ameliorated hepatic steatosis by restricting lipogenesis via lowering the activities of fatty acid synthase and phosphatidic acid phosphatase. Consistently, hepatic histological analysis indicated that A. argyi water extract decreased hepatic lipid accumulation in accordance with the hepatic H, E and Oil Red O-stained area. Additionally, A. argyi ameliorated the impaired glucose homeostasis by increasing the mRNA expression of AMP-activated kinase and glycolysis-related genes. In conclusion, our results indicate that A. argyi can be used to treat obesity-related metabolic conditions.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, progressive joint disease associated with pain, functional impairment, and diminished quality of life in affected individuals. At a societal level, it also has a high economic burden. Boswellia serrata has been reported to have potent anti-inflammatory, antiarthritic, and analgesic effects. The aim of this study was to explore the therapeutic potential and possible underlying mechanism of 5-Loxin®, a standardized Boswellia serrata extract, in a rat model of OA. The OA model was established by the intra-articular injection of 50  μ L of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) (60 mg/mL). 5-Loxin® was administered orally, and efficacy was evaluated through serum analysis, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), histologic staining, and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Results indicated that administration of 5-Loxin® can relieve OA joint pain through inhibition of both inflammatory processes and cartilage degeneration. In the group of rats treated with 5-Loxin®, the suppression of inflammatory enzymes such as cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and 5-lipoxygenase (LOX) resulted in a significant reduction in the prostaglandin (PG) E 2 and leukotriene (LT) B 4 levels. Moreover, 5-Loxin® ameliorated the deterioration of the main components of the articular extracellular matrix (ECM), such as glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and aggrecan, through the downregulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). These findings suggest that 5-Loxin® may be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of OA., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest. H. J. Choi was affiliated with the Food Test and Research Center of Daejeon University while conducting the animal study., (Copyright © 2022 Mi-Rae Shin et al.)

Muscle atrophy (MA) is a case in which protein degeneration occurs excessively due to an imbalance between protein synthesis and breakdown, and is characterized by decreased muscle mass and weakened muscle strength. Despite mounting concern about MA, the number of patients with MA is increasing every year. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of Gardeniae Fructus (GF) hot water extract on dexamethasone (DEX)-induced MA in mice. C57BL/6N mice were grouped ( n  = 8) as follows: Normal mice (Normal), MA mice were treated with distilled water (Control), MA mice were treated with GF 100 mg/kg (GF100), MA mice were treated with GF 200 mg/kg (GF200). For 10 days, DEX (25 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) injection was used to induce MA, and GF was administered. GF treatment restored the muscle weight decreased due to MA, and in particular, the weights of EDL+TA and Sol were significantly increased in the GF200 group. Also, it was confirmed that the swimming time was improved in the GF200 group. In addition, the expression of NADPH oxidase related to oxidative stress was significantly reduced, and protective (insulin-like growth factor I/phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway) and catabolic (AMP-activated kinase [AMPK]/sirtuin 1 [SIRT1]/proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1 α (PGC-1 α )-forkhead box O (FOXO) pathway) pathways were significantly modulated. These results demonstrate that GF regulates muscle protein synthesis and catabolic pathways, and in particular, it is judged to improve MA by regulating the proteolytic AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1 α -FOXO pathway.

Aim: Citrus unshiu peel has been used to treat various diseases in traditional East Asian medicine including Korea, and many studies have been reported regarding inflammatory diseases including ulcerative colitis (UC). However, the underlying mechanism by which Citrus unshiu peel modulates inflammation in UC remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect and underlying mechanism of Citrus unshiu peel water extract (CUP) for UC., Methods: The experiment for UC was conducted with 8-week-old male Balb/c mice. After 1 week of adaptation, acute colitis was induced in all groups except the normal group by 5% DSS dissolved in drinking water for 1 week. Balb/c mice were divided into 5 groups ( n  = 8/group): control group (Control), distilled water-treated group (DSS), 100 mg/kg sulfasalazine-treated group (SASP), 100 mg/kg CUP-treated group (CUPL), and 200 mg/kg CUP-treated group (CUPH). The efficacy of CUP on UC was evaluated by biochemical analyses such as ROS and MPO in serum and MDA in tissues, and expression of proteins related to inflammation and apoptosis was evaluated through Western blot., Results: As a result of confirming the macroscopic changes and H&E staining in colon tissues to confirm the preventive and therapeutic effects of CU, decrease in colon length and inflammatory lesions were inhibited in the CUP-treated group compared to the DSS group. In addition, as a result of serum ROS and tissue MDA analysis and oxidative stress-related protein analysis, it was significantly decreased in the CUP-administered group compared to the control group. In addition, treatment with CUP not only inactivated MAPK, p-I κ B α , and NF- κ Bp65 by blocking the PI3K/Akt pathway but also significantly reduced the expression of inflammatory cytokines., Conclusion: These results show that CUP not only suppresses oxidative stress in UC but also regulates inflammation-related proteins and apoptotic proteins by regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, suggesting that it has the potential as a material for developing new natural therapeutic agents for UC., Competing Interests: The authors declare no cinflicts of interest related to this study or its publication., (Copyright © 2022 Se Hui Lee et al.)

Renal fibrosis is a type of chronic kidney disease (CKD) induced by infiltration of inflammatory cells, myofibroblast accumulation, and ECM production in the kidney. From a long time ago, Corni Fructus (CF) is known to supplement the liver and kidney with its tepid properties. In this study, we investigated the renal protective mechanism of CF, which is known to supplement the kidney, in rat model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). After inducing UUO through surgery, the group was separated ( n = 8) and the drug was administered for 2 weeks; normal rats (normal), water-treated UUO rats (control), CF 100 mg/kg-treated UUO rats (CF100), and CF 200 mg/kg-treated UUO rats (CF200). As a result of histopathological examination of kidney tissue with H&E, MT, and PAS staining, it was confirmed that the infiltration of inflammatory cells and the erosion of collagen were relatively decreased in the kidneys treated with CF. Also, CF significantly reduced the levels of MDA and BUN in serum. As a result of confirming the expression of the factors through western blotting, CF treatment significantly reduced the expression of NADPH oxidase and significantly regulated the AMPK/LKB1/NF- κ B pathway associated with inflammation. In addition, it downregulated the expression of major fibrotic signaling factors, such as α -SMA, collagen I, MMP-2, and TIMP-1, and significantly regulated the TGF- β 1/Smad pathway, which is known as a major regulator of renal fibrosis. Taken together, these findings indicate that CF can alleviate renal fibrosis by regulating the TGF- β 1/Smad pathway through inhibition of oxidative stress in UUO., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 Jin A. Lee et al.)

Aim: Acute liver injury (ALI) can occur for various reasons by induced inflammation and apoptosis of liver cells including hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, and hepatic stellate cells. Thioacetamide (TAA), which is a classic hepatotoxin, causes oxidative stress, membrane damage, and accumulation of lipid droplets and subsequently provokes consecutive liver injury. In the current study, we tested whether Paeoniae Radix Alba (PR) could alleviate TAA-induced ALI., Methods: Thirty-five male rats were equally separated into five groups. The first group was the normal group, which received distilled water only. The remaining four groups received intraperitoneal TAA (200 mg/kg) for 3 days to induce ALI. The four groups were divided into the control group (no treatment), silymarin-treated, 100 mg/kg PR-treated, and 200 mg/kg PR-treated. The efficacy of PR against hepatotoxicity was evaluated in terms of the serum biochemical index and protein expression associated with inflammation and apoptosis. Moreover, the dissected livers were analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin stain., Results: PR alleviated liver dysfunction as evidenced by decreased levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and ammonia. Phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) levels were obviously decreased in the TAA control group, whereas PR reversed these changes. PR also prevented deteriorative effects through inhibition of inflammation and apoptosis via nuclear transcription factor-kappa Bp65 (NF- κ Bp65) inactivation. Moreover, we found that the hepatoprotective effect of PR pretreatment was mediated by restoration of histopathological changes., Conclusion: PR efficiently blocked both the inflammatory response and apoptosis through activating the AMPK/Sirt1/NF- κ Bp65 pathway. Therefore, PR is considered a potential therapeutic agent against ALI., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest related to this study or its publication., (Copyright © 2022 Mi-Rae Shin et al.)

Objective: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a gastrointestinal disorder in which stomach contents reflux into the esophagus, causing complications such as mucosal damage. GERD is a very common disease and is on the rise worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a Scutellariae Radix and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium mixture (SC) on esophageal mucosal injury in rats with chronic acid reflux esophagitis (CARE)., Methods: After inducing reflux esophagitis through surgery, the group was separated and the drug was administered for 2 weeks: normal rats (Normal, n  = 8), CARE-induced rats were treated with distilled water (Control, n  = 8), CARE-induced rats were treated with vitamin E 30 mg/kg body weight (VitE, n  = 8), CARE-induced rats were treated with SC 100 mg/kg body weight (SC100, n  = 8), and CARE-induced rats were treated with SC 200 mg/kg body weight (SC200, n  = 8)., Results: SC treatment significantly reduced the degree of esophageal mucosal damage, significantly reduced levels of MDA and MPO, and inhibited the activation of the NF- κ B inflammatory pathway by activating the PPAR γ /RXR pathway. In addition, SC treatment significantly regulated the expression of arachidonic acid-related proteins (COX-1, COX-2, and PGE 2 ) and modulated the MMP/TIMP proteins in reflux esophagitis., Conclusion: Consequently, SC improved the damage to the esophageal mucosa. Also, the anti-inflammatory effects of the SC suggested the inhibition of NF- κ B pathway through the activation of the PPAR γ /RXR pathway, thereby reducing the expression of inflammation-related cytokines., Competing Interests: All authors declare there are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Jin A. Lee et al.)

Liver fibrosis, which means a sort of the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrices (ECMs) components through the liver tissue, is considered as tissue repair or wound-healing status. This pathological stage potentially leads to cirrhosis, if not controlled, it progressively results in hepatocellular carcinoma. Herein, we investigated the pharmacological properties and underlying mechanisms of Gardeniae Fructus (GF) against thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis of mice model. GF not only attenuated hepatic tissue oxidation but also improved hepatic inflammation. We further confirmed that GF led to ameliorating liver fibrosis by ECMs degradations. Regarding the possible underlying mechanism of GF, we observed GF regulated epigenetic regulator, Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), in TAA-injected liver tissue. These alterations were well supported by SIRT1 related signaling pathways through regulations of its downstream proteins including, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), p47 phox , NADPH oxidase 2, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase-1, respectively. To validate the possible mechanism of GF, we used HepG2 cells with hydrogen peroxide treated oxidative stress and chronic exposure conditions via deteriorations of cellular SIRT1. Moreover, GF remarkably attenuated ECMs accumulations in transforming growth factor-β1-induced LX-2 cells relying on the SIRT1 existence. Taken together, GF attenuated liver fibrosis through AMPK/SIRT1 pathway as well as Nrf2 signaling cascades. Therefore, GF could be a clinical remedy for liver fibrosis patients in the future.

Background: The present study extensively aimed to evaluate the underlying mechanism of the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of Phellinus linteus mycelium (PLM)., Methods: To assess whether PLM influences the production of markers related to inflammation, Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells were treated with PLM (50, 100, 200, and 500 μg/mL). Splenocyte, thymus, peritoneal exudate cells (PEC), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from the Balb/c mice treated with Korean red ginseng or PLM once a day for 5 weeks. Moreover, all mice except normal mice were stimulated with 10% proteose peptone (PP) treated 3 days before the sacrifice and 2% starch treated 2 days before the sacrifice. Subsequently, the cytotropic substance was evaluated by using flow cytometry analysis and ELISA assay., Results: PLM200 treatment significantly suppressed the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and inhibited the release of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α dose-dependently in the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. PLM200 supplementation showed a significant increase in IL-2, IL-12, and interferon (IFN)-γ production and upregulated the ratio of IFN-γ (T-helper type 1, Th1) to IL-4 (T-helper type 2, Th2) in splenocytes. After PLM200 treatment, the significant elevation of CD4 + CD25 + , CD4 + &CD8 + , and CD4 + CD69 + treatment were detected in thymus. Moreover, CD4 + and CD4 + CD69 + in PBMC and CD69 + in PEC were also shown in a significant increase., Conclusions: Taken together, these results showed an immunomodulatory effect of PLM about an elevated INF-γ/IL4 ratio, as an index of Th1/Th2, as well as the anti-inflammatory effect in the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Therefore, our findings demonstrate that PLM possesses immunostimulatory and anti-inflammatory effects., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Both oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation are two fundamental pathological processes of acute liver injury (ALI). The current work is to investigate the effect and possible mechanism of Uncaria rhynchophylla (UR) on thioacetamide- (TAA-) induced ALI in rats. UR (100 and 200 mg/kg) was orally administrated with TAA (200 mg/kg of bodyweight, intraperitoneal injection) for 3 consecutive days. ALI was confirmed using histological examination and the factors associated with OS and liver function activity measured in serum. Moreover, expressions of inflammation and collagen-related proteins were measured by the Western blot analysis. Myeloperoxidase (MPO), which mediates OS in the ALI control group, was manifested by a significant rise compared with the normal group. UR significantly reduced AST, ALT, and ammonia levels in serum. The nuclear factor- κ B (NF- κ B) activation induced by TAA led to increase both inflammatory mediators and cytokines. Whereas, UR administration remarkably suppressed such an overexpression. UR supplementation improved matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) such as MMP-1, -2, and -8. In contrast, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases- (TIMP-) 1 level increased significantly by UR treatment. In addition, the histopathological analysis showed that the liver tissue lesions were improved obviously by UR treatment. UR may ameliorate the effects of TAA-induced ALI in rats by suppressing both OS through MPO activation and proinflammatory factors through NF- κ B activation. In conclusion, UR exhibited a potent hepatoprotective effect on ALI through the suppression of OS., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Mi-Rae Shin et al.)

Since 2016, the invasive halophyte Spartina anglica has been colonizing mudflats along the western coast of South Korea. In order to minimize costs on S. anglica expansion management and waste-treatment of collected biomass, the potential application of the collected biomass of S. anglica was investigated. Ethanolic extracts and subfractions thereof (hexanes, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, 1-butanol, and water-soluble) of the aerial and belowground parts of S. anglica showed free radical-scavenging [2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS)], tyrosinase inhibitory, and pancreatic lipase inhibitory activities. An ethyl acetate fraction derived from aerial parts (EA-a) showed the most potent radical-scavenging and pancreatic lipase inhibitory activities, whereas tyrosinase inhibition was mainly observed in the methylene chloride soluble fractions (MC-bg) and other lipophilic fractions (ethyl acetate and hexanes layers) obtained from belowground parts. The major EA-a compound isolated and identified was 1,3-di- O - trans -feruloyl quinic acid ( 1 ) based on spectroscopic analysis, whereas the two major MC-bg compounds were identified as p -hydroxybenzaldehyde ( 2 ) and N - trans -feruloyltyramine ( 3 ). Compounds 1 and 3 scavenged both DPPH and ABTS radicals, whereas 1 and 2 inhibited pancreatic lipase activity. These results indicate that extracts and fractions of S. anglica have antioxidant, anti-obesity, and whitening properties with potential pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical, and functional food applications.

Objective: Liver kinase B (LKB) 1 and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) are master regulators and sensors for energy homeostasis. AMPK is mainly activated via phosphorylation of LKB1 under energy stress. Here, we highlighted the antiobesity effect and underlying mechanism of Taraxacum coreanum Nakai (TCN) in connection with LKB1-AMPK signaling pathway., Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice were fed on a high-fat diet (60% kcal fat; HFD) to induce obesity. Simultaneously, they received 100 or 200 mg/kg TCN orally for 5 weeks. We measured the body weight gain and liver weight along with liver histology. Moreover, the changes of factors related to lipid metabolism and β -oxidation were analyzed in the liver, together with blood parameters., Results: The body weights were decreased in mice of the TCN200 group more than those of the HFD control group. Moreover, TCN supplementation lowered serum triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels, whereas TCN increased HDL-cholesterol level. Liver pathological damage induced by HFD was alleviated with TCN treatment and accompanied with significant reduction in serum AST and ALT activities. In addition, TCN significantly increased the expression of p-AMPK compared with the HFD control group via the activation of LKB1/AMPK signaling pathway. Lipid synthesis gene like ACC was downregulated and factors related to β -oxidation such as carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 (CPT-1) and uncoupling protein 2 (UCP-2) were upregulated through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α activation., Conclusion: Taken together, these data suggest that TCN treatment regulates lipid metabolism via LKB1-AMPK signaling pathway and promotes β -oxidation by PPAR α ; hence, TCN may have potential remedy in the prevention and treatment of obesity., Competing Interests: All authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Mi-Rae Shin et al.)

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is induced by the reflux of stomach contents or gastric acid, pepsin into the esophagus for prolonged periods of time due to defection of the lower esophageal sphincter. Reflux esophagitis is a disease found in less than 50% of GERD patients. This study is aimed at evaluating the protective effect of Curcumae longae Rhizoma 30% EtOH extract (CLR) in acute reflux esophagitis (ARE) rats. CLR measured antioxidant activity through in vitro experiments. Based on the results, we performed experiments in vivo . Before 90 min ARE induction, CLR was administered orally by concentration. ARE was derived by linking the metastatic junction between pylorus and forestomach and corpus in Sprague-Dawley rats. And rats were sacrificed 5 h after surgery. We analyzed the expression of antioxidant and inflammatory-related markers by western blot and observed the production of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), reactive oxygen species (ROS), peroxynitrite (ONOO - ), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS). The administration of CLR reduced esophagus tissue damage in rats with acute reflux esophagitis and decreased the elevated ALT, AST, ROS, ONOO - , and TBARS. In addition, CLR effectively increased antioxidant-related factors and reduced inflammatory protein. Overall, these results suggest that CLR would be used as a therapeutic material in protection and treatment for ARE. Overall, CLR treatment informed that markedly ameliorated inactivation of NF- κ B led to the inhibition of the expressions of proinflammatory proteins. These results suggest that CLR would be used as a therapeutic material in protection and treatment for ARE., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Jin A. Lee et al.)

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been a major cause of a chronic liver disease over recent decades and increasing worldwide in parallel with the remarkable growth of obesity. In the present study, we investigate the ameliorative effects of PCM, a combination of Diospyros kaki fruit and Citrus unshiu peel mixture, on high-fat diet- (HFD-) induced NAFLD and clarify the potential mechanisms. PCM in HFD-fed mice was orally administered at a dose of 50 or 100 mg/kg subsequently for 2 months. Thereafter, lipid metabolism parameters and fat synthesis-related genes in the mouse liver were evaluated. Subsequently, body weight changes, liver weight, serum liver function and lipid profiles, and liver pathology were examined, and the relative levels of fatty acid synthesis and β -oxidation gene expression were evaluated by western blot. Serum AST, ALT, and TG levels in the HFD control mice were significantly higher than those of normal mice. Compared with HFD control mice, PCM supplementation increased phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α was significantly increased by PCM administration. Continuously, the activation of PPAR α significantly elevated carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT-1), a key enzyme in fatty acid β -oxidation, and mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 (UCP-2), thermogenic regulatory genes, in PCM-treated mice compared with those of HFD control mice. Moreover, PCM inhibits lipogenesis and cholesterol synthesis via suppression of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) and SREBP-2 and its target genes such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid synthase (FAS), stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1), and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR). Taken together, these effects were mediated through activation of AMPK. In the conclusion, PCM improved liver damage in HFD-fed mice and attenuated NAFLD by the activation of PPAR α and the inhibition of SREBPs expression via AMPK-dependent pathways., Competing Interests: The authors declare there are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Mi-Rae Shin et al.)

A 'remedy for all' natural product widely known in the Korean Peninsula is called Panax Ginseng Meyer. Globalization represents a persistent risk to the ozone layer, leading to bountiful amounts of Ultra-Violet B beams (UVB). The variety in human skin hues is ascribed to the characteristic color called Melanin. However, Melanin overproduction due to UVB beams promotes skin staining and tumorigenesis, a process called photo aging, which damages skin quality. To assess the effects of Korean Red Ginseng Oil (KGO) on photo aging, the murine melanoma cell lines B16/F10 were used in vitro and HRM-2 hairless mice exposed to UVB were studied in vivo. Our results revealed that KGO reduced tyrosinase activity and melanin production in B16/F10 cells along with the suppression of upstream factors involved in the melanin production pathway, both transcriptionally and transitionally. In the in vivo studies, KGO suppressed the expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP) and Interleukins along with a reduction of depth in wrinkle formation and reduced collagen degradation. Moreover, the feed intake and feed efficiency ratio that decreased as a result of UVB exposure was also improved by KGO treatment. In light of our results, we conclude that KGO can have considerable benefits due to its various properties of natural skin enhancement.

Background: Sulfasalazine has been used as a standard-of-care in ulcerative colitis for decades, however, it results in severe adverse symptoms, such as hepatotoxicity, blood disorders, male infertility, and hypospermia. Accordingly, the new treatment strategy has to enhance pharmacological efficacy and stimultaneously minimize side effects., Aim: To compare the anti-inflammatory action of sulfasalazine alone or in combination with herbal medicine for ulcerative colitis in a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model., Methods: To induce ulcerative colitis, mice received 5% DSS in drinking water for 7 d. Animals were divided into five groups ( n = 9 each) for use as normal (non-DSS), DSS controls, DSS + sulfasalazine (30 mg/kg)-treatment experimentals, DSS + sulfasalazine (60 mg/kg)-treatment experimentals, DSS + sulfasalazine (30 mg/kg) + Citrus unshiu peel and Bupleuri radix mixture (30 mg/kg) (SCPB)-treatment experimentals., Results: The SCPB treatment showed an outstanding effectiveness in counteracting the ulcerative colitis, as evidenced by reduction in body weight, improvement in crypt morphology, increase in antioxidant defenses, down-regulation of proinflammatory proteins and cytokines, and inhibition of proteins related to apoptosis., Conclusion: SCPB may represent a promising alternative therapeutic against ulcerative colitis, without inducing adverse effects., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no competing financial interests related to this study or its publication., (©The Author(s) 2020. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the protective effects of Phellinus linteus mycelium (PLM) and its possible mechanisms in a model of monosodium iodoacetate- (MIA-) induced osteoarthritis (OA)., Methods: Intra-articular injection of MIA was injected to 50  μ L with 80 mg/mL using a 0.3 mL insulin syringe into the right knee joint. Changes in hindpaw weight-bearing distribution between the right (osteoarthritic) and left (contralateral control) legs were used as an index of joint discomfort. PLM (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight) was orally administered once daily for 14 days from day 7 after MIA treatment. And then, various factors associated with inflammatory response and cartilage degeneration in cartilage tissues detected by western blotting., Results: PLM treatment showed a concentration-dependent elevation in change in hindpaw weight-bearing distribution (HWBD). PLM200 demonstrated the capacity to significantly increase HWBD, indicating that the change in weight-bearing distribution means the reduction of spontaneous pain. Our results indicate that PLM suppressed the inflammatory factors via NF- κ B signaling pathway induced by p38 phosporlyation. Moreover, PLM200 exhibited a significant reduction of ROS produced by the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase. PLM100 and PLM200 inhibited the levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, one of proteinase that degrades extracellular matrix (ECM)., Conclusions: Taken together, our results indicated that PLM has a strong chondroprotective effect through the suppression both ROS production and inflammation., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Mi-Rae Shin et al.)

Background: Panax ginseng is a marvelous herbal remedy for all ailments of body. That may be why it is called Panax, which means "cure for all". Melanin is a pigment that gives color to our skin; however, increased melanin production can lead to tumor formation. Human exposure to ultraviolet B radiation has increased extensively owing to the increased sunlight due to global warming. Consequently, a phenomenon called photoaging has been observed for all skin colors and types. As a result of this phenomenon, a set of enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases, which serve as degradation enzymes for extracellular matrix proteins, mainly collagen, is increased, causing depletion of collagen and resulting in early wrinkle formation., Methods: Therefore, in our study, we used the murine melanoma cell line B16/F10 to study the inhibition of melanogenesis by Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) extract in vitro and HRM-2 hairless mice exposed to artificial ultraviolet B to examine the efficacy of KRG in vivo . We prepared a 3% red ginseng extract cream and evaluated its effects on human skin., Results: Our results demonstrated that KRG induced potent suppression of tyrosinase activity and melanin production in B16/F10 cells; moreover, it reduced the transcription and translation of components involved in the melanin production pathway. In the in vivo experiments, KRG potently suppressed the expression of matrix metalloproteinases, reduced wrinkle formation, and inhibited collagen degradation. On human skin, ginseng cream increased skin resilience and skin moisture and enhanced skin tone., Conclusion: Therefore, we conclude that KRG is an excellent skin whitening and antiaging product., (© 2019 The Korean Society of Ginseng, Published by Elsevier Korea LLC.)

Young persimmon fruit (YPF) has recently been reported to have a regulatory effect on lipid metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the YPF aqueous extract (YPFE) exert an antiobesity effect by modulating lipid metabolism in the white adipose tissue (WAT) of obese C57BLKS/J db/db mice. YPFE (100 or 200 mg/kg body weight/day) or distilled water as a vehicle was orally administered by gavage to 12-week-old obese male db/db mice for 3 weeks ( n  = 7 for each group). YPFE administration significantly reduced body weight and WAT size. Furthermore, YPFE considerably reduced triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations in serum and WAT. Obese vehicle treated mice exhibited an enhanced protein expression of adipogenic and lipogenic genes. However, this increased expression was alleviated in the YPFE-fed groups, resulting in inhibition of adipogenesis and downregulation of fatty acid synthesis. In addition, there was an increase in the level of transcription factors associated with fatty acid oxidation in the YPFE-treated group. In obese mice, the expression of proteins associated with cholesterol metabolism was augmented. YPFE did not affect cholesterol synthesis, but cholesterol efflux-related proteins were significantly upregulated. YPF exerts beneficial effects on obesity by inhibiting adipogenesis and reducing lipid synthesis and accumulation by regulation of lipid-related transcription factors in the WAT of obese mice.

Gardeniae Fructus 50% EtOH extract (GE) is a traditional herb that has been used to treat a variety of diseases. In this study, we investigate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties of GE on acute reflux-induced esophagitis (RE) model in rats. 2,2'-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazolin-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays were performed to determine the antioxidant activity of GE. GE was given orally at 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight 1h 30 min prior to RE induction. And its effect was assessed in comparison with RE control and normal groups. The administration of the extract of the GE showed remarkable protection of mucosal damage in esophageal tissue, and the histologic observation showed that the gastric lesion was improved. Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the serum were diminished by GE treatment. The antioxidative biomarkers including nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were significantly increased. GE administration significantly reduced the inflammatory protein expression through MAPK-related signaling pathways and the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF- κ B) pathway. These results suggest that GE protects the esophagus mucosal membrane by attenuating oxidative stress and inflammatory response under reflux esophagitis condition through the antioxidant pathway. Therefore, it is suggested that GE may be a potential remedy for the treatment of reflux esophagitis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Soo Hyun Kim et al.)

Background: Traditional medicine herbal prescriptions used for the treatment of skin disease have been developed into cosmetics. Sang-Hyul-Yun-Boo-Em (SHYBE) is a mixed herbal formula prescribed for patients with yin or blood deficiency patterns of skin disease. A previous study reported that SHYBE exercises anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects. To date, no study has reported the efficacy of cosmetics containing the SHYBE extract., Aims: To observe the efficacy of SHYBE extract cream on hydration, elasticity, thickness, and dermis density in aged skin., Methods: This was a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled parallel-group trial. The trial consisted of an 8-week topical application of the test or placebo products with two visits at 4-week intervals. A total of 46 healthy Korean females, aged 40-59, were enrolled in this study. Objective skin assessments for hydration, elasticity, thickness and dermis density, self-assessment, and safety assessment were conducted., Results: Sang-Hyul-Yun-Boo-Em extract cream improved skin hydration, elasticity, and dermal density in Asian middle-aged females compared with placebo cream, which excluded SHYBE extract and contained other cosmetic materials., Conclusions: Sang-Hyul-Yun-Boo-Em extract cream showed anti-aging properties in middle-aged women. It could be recommended for aging skin with dryness, and loss of elasticity and density., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Banha-sasim-tang (BST; Hange-shashin-to in Kampo medicine; Banxia xiexin tang in traditional Chinese medicine) is a traditional Chinese harbal medicine that has been commonly used for gastrointestinal disorders., Aim of the Study: To investigate the pharmacological effects of BST, a standardized herbal drug, on main symptoms of functional dyspepsia including delayed gastric emptying, and underlying mechanisms of action in mouse model., Methods and Materials: Balb/C mice were pretreated with BST (25, 50, 100 mg/kg, po) or mosapride (3 mg/kg, po) for 3 days, and then treated with loperamide (10 mg/kg, ip) after 19 h fasting. A solution of 0.05% phenol red (500 μL) or 5% charcoal diet (200 μL) was orally administered, followed by scarifying and assessment of gastric emptying or gastro-intestinal motility. C-kit (immunofluorescence), nNOS (western blot) and gastric contraction-related gene expression were examined in stomach tissue., Results: The loperamide injection substantially delayed gastric emptying, while the BST pretreatment significantly attenuated this peristaltic dysfunction, as evidenced by the quantity of stomach-retained phenol red (p < 0.05 or 0.01) and stomach weight (p < 0.05 or 0.01). The BST pretreatment significantly tempered the loperamide-induced inactivation of c-kit and nNOS (p < 0.05 or 0.01) as well as the contraction-related gene expression, such as the 5HT 4 receptor (5HT 4 R), anoctamin-1 (ANO1), ryanodine receptor 3 (RYR3) and smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase (smMLCK). The BST pretreatment also significantly attenuated the alterations in gastro-intestinal motility (p < 0.01)., Conclusion: Our results are the first evidence of the prokinetic agent effects of Banha-sasim-tang in a loperamide-induced FD animal model. The underlying mechanisms of action may involve the modulation of peristalsis via activation of the interstitial cells of Cajal and the smooth muscle cells in the stomach., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Obesity is one of major health challenges in the industrial world. Although rice hull has been reported to show various bioactivities, no studies have evaluated its anti-obesity effect. We hope to demonstrate the anti-obesity effect of rice hull extract (RHE) and the underlying mechanism in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice and 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Serum lipid profiles were determined by enzymatic methods. Histological analysis of liver and epididymis fat tissues was carried out with hematoxylin and eosin stain. The mRNA expression of adipogenic markers was analyzed with qRT-PCR and western blotting. Oral administration of RHE reduced body weight gain and fat accumulation in HFD-fed mice. RHE also reduced lipid accumulation by inhibiting the mRNA expression of adipogenic-related genes in HFD-fed obese mice and differentiated preadipocytes. The downregulation of adipogenesis by RHE was mediated through the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). In addition, RHE induced the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) and extracellular-signal-regulated kinases (ERK) in liver and epididymis adipose tissues of HFD-fed obese mice. Taken together, these findings indicate that RHE could inhibit the differentiation of adipose cell and prevent HFD-induced obesity, suggesting its potential in the prevention of obesity and metabolic syndrome and related-disorders.

Vanillic acid, which is well known as a benzoic acid derivative, has been used as a flavouring agent. Currently, we ascertained the therapeutic potential action of vanillic acid on allergic inflammatory reaction in human mast cell line, HMC-1. Treatment with vanillic acid resulted in a significant decrease in levels of thymic stromal lymphopoietin and pro-inflammatory cytokines compared to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and calcium ionophore A23187 (PMACI)-treated HMC-1 cells. In PMACI-stimulated cells, treatment with vanillic acid also dramatically inhibited activities of caspase-1 and nuclear factor-kB (p65). Furthermore, treatment with vanillic acid suppressed phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases in PMACI-treated HMC-1 cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that vanillic acid has a beneficial effect on allergic inflammatory disorders.

Although Aster glehni is a common dietary herb that has various bioactivities, including anti-diabetic, anti-adipogenic, and anti-inflammatory effects, A. glehni has not been studied in colon cancer. Therefore, we hypothesized the chemopreventive effects of an ethanol extract of A. glehni (AG) on azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium (AOM/DSS)-induced colitis-associated cancer (CAC) in mice. In this study, we found that treatment with AG significantly attenuated the AOM/DSS-induced enlargement of the spleen and shortening of the colon. In addition, colonic tumor formation, colonic damage, and increased muscle thickness were significantly reduced in AOM/DSS-induced mice fed AG. Treatment with AG also reduced intestinal interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production and decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 protein expression in mice with AOM/DSS-induced CAC. Furthermore, AG reduced nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation via phosphorylation and degradation of inhibitor of kappa Bα (IκBα), leading to inhibition of NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation. It also downregulated the expression of NF-κB-related proteins, including the B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family and inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs), in mice with AOM/DSS-induced CAC. Taken together, these findings suggest that the treatment with AG inhibited colitis-associated colon carcinogenesis in mice, and this chemopreventive effect was strongly mediated by suppression of the NF-κB signaling pathway, indicating that AG could be a promising protective agent against CAC., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Bee venom (BV) has been widely used in the treatment of certain immune-related diseases. It has been used for pain relief and in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. Despite its extensive use, there is little documented evidence to demonstrate its medicinal utility against obesity. In this study, we demonstrated the inhibitory effects of BV on adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells and on a high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity mouse model through the inhibition of adipogenesis. BV inhibited lipid accumulation, visualized by Oil Red O staining, without cytotoxicity in the 3T3-L1 cells. Male C57BL/6 mice were fed either a HFD or a control diet for 8 weeks, and BV (0.1 mg/kg or 1 mg/kg) or saline was injected during the last 4 weeks. BV-treated mice showed a reduced body weight gain. BV was shown to inhibit adipogenesis by downregulating the expression of the transcription factors CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPs) and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), using RT-qPCR and Western blotting. BV induced the phosphorylation of AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) in the cell line and in obese mice. These findings demonstrate that BV mediates anti-obesity/differentiation effects by suppressing obesity-related transcription factors., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Oligonol, a polyphenol derived from lychee fruit, is produced by an oligomerization process that converts high-molecular-weight polyphenol polymers into low-molecular-weight oligomers. Evidence suggests that oligonol exerts its beneficial effects based on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study was the first to investigate the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of oligonol on gastroesophageal inflammatory models: surgically induced acute reflux esophagitis (RE) and gastric ulcer (GU) induced by HCl/ethanol. In the in vitro study, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazolin-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging assays were performed to determine the antioxidant activity of oligonol. The experimental groups were each composed of normal, vehicle, and oligonol groups. RE rats and GU mice were treated orally with oligonol (100 mg/kg bw) or distilled water as a vehicle (n = 8 for each group). Oligonol exhibited potent free radical-scavenging capacities for DPPH and ABTS radicals, activities that were similar to those of ascorbic acid. The in vivo study revealed that oligonol consumption significantly prevented RE and GU formation and decreased the gross mucosal injury from oxidative stress. Oligonol decreased the reactive oxygen species levels and elevated levels of both inflammatory mediators and cytokines (p-IκB, NF-κBp65, COX-2, iNOS, TNF-α, and IL-1β) in the RE and GU models. Oligonol had a protective effect against oxidative stress by regulating antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and GPx-1/2) activities in GU mice. Oligonol has potential as a preventive and therapeutic agent for gastroesophageal inflammatory diseases, including RE and GU.

Atractylenolide III (ATL-III) is an active compound of Atractylodes lancea, which has been widely used for the treatment of cancer. Cancer is closely connected with inflammation, and many anti-inflammatory agents are also used to treat cancer. We investigated the influence of ATL-III on thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP)-induced inflammatory reactions. Pretreatment with ATL-III suppressed murine double minute 2 levels and promoted p53 levels in TSLP-treated human mast cell, HMC-1 cells. Mast cell proliferation increased by TSLP or IL-3 stimulation was significantly decreased by ATL-III pretreatment. Interleukin (IL)-13 and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, 5, and 6 levels in TSLP-treated HMC-1 cells were also decreased by ATL-III pretreatment. In addition, ATL-III decreased the TSLP-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and IL-8). ATL-III decreased the levels of Bcl2 and procaspase-3 and increased caspase-3 activation and cleaved PARP levels. Furthermore, ATL-III decreased TSLP-induced mast cell proliferation and the production of inflammatory cytokine by LAD2 cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that ATL-III plays a useful role as an anti-inflammatory agent and should be viewed as a potential anti-cancer agent., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Although Aster glehni has been reported to prevent diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, insomnia, and cardiovascular disease, the anti-inflammatory effect of Aster glehni in colonic tissue remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects and the underlying molecular mechanism of an ethanol extract of Aster glehni (AG) in mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. AG significantly attenuated DSS-induced DAI scores, which implied that it suppressed diarrhea, gross bleeding, and the infiltration of immune cells. AG administration also effectively prevented shortening of the colon length and enlargement of the spleen size. Histological examinations indicated that AG suppressed colonic damage and the thickness of the muscle layer induced by DSS. In addition, AG inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and the protein expression of COX-2 and iNOS in mice with DSS-induced colitis. Administration with AG suppressed the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) including the nuclear translocation of the p65 NF-κB subunit, phosphorylation and degradation of IκB-α. Taken together, these findings suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of AG are mainly related to the inhibition of the expressions of inflammatory mediators via NF-κB inactivation, and support its possible therapeutic application in colitis.

Aim: To evaluate the anti-apoptotic effect of banhasasim-tang (BHSST) on chronic acid reflux esophagitis (CARE) using a rat model., Methods: A surgically-induced CARE model was established in Sprague-Dawley rats. The modeled rats were divided into a treatment group or untreated group, and given BHSST (1 g/kg body weight per day) or water, respectively, for 15 consecutive days ( n = 7 each group). Changes in expression of proteins related to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase and apoptosis were assessed by western blotting. Changes in esophageal pathology were analyzed by gross and histological examinations., Results: The CARE exposure modeled rats showed increased levels of the NADPH oxidase subunit, NOX4 and p47 phox in the esophagus. The BHSST treatment completely resolved these CARE-related increases. The CARE rats also showed markers of cytokine stress, including elevated levels of TNF-α and reactive oxygen species as well as of the consequent increase in JNK activation, and subsequent decrease in pro-survival gene expression, such as of Bcl-2 . BHSST treatment resolved the CARE-related changes. BHSST also exerted an anti-apoptotic effect, as evidenced by altered expression of the apoptosis-related genes for bax, cytochrome c, and caspase 3. Finally, the BHSST treatment markedly ameliorated the CARE-related esophageal mucosal ulcerations., Conclusion: In the rat model of CARE, BHSST can suppress development of esophageal mucosal ulceration via regulation of reactive oxygen species-dependent apoptosis., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no competing financial interests related to this study or its publication.

The protective effects of a chondroitin sulfate-rich extract (CSE) from skate cartilage against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced hepatic damage were investigated, and its mechanism of action was compared with that of chondroitin sulfate (CS) from shark cartilage. ICR mice were orally administrated 200 mg/kg body weight (BW) of CS or 400 mg/kg BW of CSE for 3 consecutive days, followed by a one-time intraperitoneal injection of LPS (20 mg/kg BW). The experimental groups were vehicle treatment without LPS injection (NC group), vehicle treatment with LPS injection (LPS group), CS pretreatment with LPS injection (CS group), and CSE pretreatment with LPS injection (CSE group). Hepatic antioxidant enzyme expression levels in the CS and CSE groups were increased relative to those in the LPS group. In LPS-insulted hepatic tissue, inflammatory factors were augmented relative to those in the NC group, but were significantly suppressed by pretreatment with CS or CSE. Moreover, CS and CSE alleviated the LPS-induced apoptotic factors and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). In addition, CS and CSE effectively decreased the serum lipid concentrations and downregulated hepatic sterol regulatory element-binding proteins expression. In conclusion, the skate CSE could protect against LPS-induced hepatic dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, probably through the regulation of MAPK signaling., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Resin known as Resina Pini is listed in the Korean and Japanese pharmacopoeias and has been used for treating skin wounds and inflammation. Resin is composed of more than 50% abietic acid and 10% neutral substances., Objective: In the present study, the wound-healing effects of abietic acid and the possible underlying mechanism of action were investigated in various in vitro and in vivo models., Materials and Methods: The effects of abietic acid on tube formation and migration were measured in human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). Protein expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation was evaluated via Western blotting analysis. The wound-healing effects of abietic acid were assessed using a mouse model of cutaneous wounds., Results: The results showed that abietic acid enhanced cell migration and tube formation in HUVECs. Abietic acid induced significant angiogenic potential, which is associated with upregulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 expression. Additionally, 0.8μM abietic acid-treated groups showed accelerated wound closure compared to the controls in a mouse model of cutaneous wounds., Conclusion: The current data indicate that abietic acid treatment elevated cell migration and tube formation in HUVECs by the activation of ERK and p38 MAPKs. We suggest that abietic acid can be developed as a wound-healing agent., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The present study was conducted to examine whether magnesium lithospermate B (MLB) extracted from Salviae miltiorrhizae radix was renoprotective in pathways related to age-related oxidative stress in aged rats. Magnesium lithospermate B was orally administered at a dose of 2- or 8-mg/kg body weight for 16 consecutive days, and the effects were compared with those of vehicle in old and young rats. Magnesium lithospermate B administration to old rats ameliorated renal oxidative stress through reduction of reactive oxygen species. The old rats exhibited a dysregulation of the expression of proteins related to oxidative stress and inflammation in the kidneys, and MLB administration significantly reduced the protein expression of major subunits of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (Nox4 and p22 phox ), phospho-p38, nuclear factor-kappa B p65, cyclooxygenase-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase. In addition, MLB-treated old rats showed lower levels of senescence-related proteins such as p16, ADP-ribosylation factor 6, p53, and p21 through effects on the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Magnesium lithospermate B administration also significantly attenuated the age-related increase in serum urea nitrogen, reflecting renal dysfunction, up-regulated podocyte structural proteins, and reduced renal structural injury. Our results provide important evidence that MLB reduces the renal damage of oxidative stress in old rats. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., (Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Persicarin is one of the major components of the Oenanthe javanica (water dropwort). The present study was aimed to evaluate the role of persicarin in the hepatic tissue of streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetic mice. Diabetes was induced by single intra-peritoneal injection of streptozotocin (120 mg/kg body weight) and then oral administration of persicarin at a dose 2.5 and 5 mg/kg body weight for 10 days. Serum and hepatic glucose levels were increased in diabetic control mice, while persicarin treatment groups were markedly reduced. Also, the increased levels of ALT and AST in serum were improved by persicarin. In our results revealed that persicarin suppressed increased oxidative stress parameter (reactive oxygen species, peroxinitrite, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase subunit (Nox-4 and P47 phox ) and inflammatory related makers (NF-κB, AP-1, TGF-β, COX-2, and iNOS). These results suggest that persicarin protects against liver damage by attenuating oxidative stress and inflammatory response under hyperglycemic conditions. Thus, persicarin could perform as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of diabetic mellitus.

Background: Chong-Myung-Tang (CMT) extract is widely used in Korea as a traditional herbal tonic for increasing memory capacity in high-school students and also for numerous body ailments since centuries. The use of CMT to improve the learning capacity has been attributed to various plant constituents, especially black ginseng, in it. Therefore, in this study, we have first investigated whether black ginseng-enriched CMT extracts affected spatial learning using the Morris water maze (MWM) test. Their molecular mechanism of action underlying improvement of learning and memory was examined in vitro ., Methods: We used two types of black ginseng-enriched CMT extracts, designated as CM-1 and CM-2, and evaluated their efficacy in the MWM test for spatial learning behavior and their anti-inflammatory effects in BV2 microglial cells., Results: Our results show that both black ginseng-enriched CMT extracts improved the learning behavior in scopolamine-induced impairment in the water maze test. Moreover, these extracts also inhibited nitric oxide production in BV2 cells, with significant suppression of expression of proinflammatory cytokines, especially inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and interleukin-1β. The protein expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-κB pathway factors was also diminished by black ginseng-enriched CMT extracts, indicating that it not only improves the memory impairment, but also acts a potent anti-inflammatory agent for neuroinflammatory diseases., Conclusion: Our research for the first time provides the scientific evidence that consumption of black ginseng-enriched CMT extract as a brain tonic improves memory impairment. Thus, our study results can be taken as a reference for future neurobehavioral studies.

The present study was conducted to evaluate both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of Banhasasim-tang (BHSST) on chronic acid reflux esophagitis (CRE) model. Rat CRE model was established operatively and then treated with BHSST (1 g/kg body weight per day) for 15 days Esophageal pathological changes were analyzed using macroscopic examination and hematoxylin/eosin staining. The antioxidant and inflammatory protein levels were determined using Western blotting. The administration of BHSST significantly reduced both the overexpression of serum reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an excessive formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in esophagus tissue. Thus, the severity of esophageal ulcer was lower in BHSST treated rats than control rats on the gross and histological evaluation. Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) led to the upregulation of antioxidant enzyme including SOD, GPx-1/2, and HO-1 by binding to antioxidant response element (ARE). Moreover, BHSST administration markedly reduced the expression of inflammatory proteins through mitogen-activated protein kinase- (MAPK-) related signaling pathways and decreased significantly the protein expressions of inflammatory mediators and cytokines by inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF- κ B) activation. Taken together, these results support the fact that BHSST administration can suppress the development of esophageal mucosal ulcer via regulating inflammation through the activation of the antioxidant pathway., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

The present study aimed to investigate the comparative evaluation of pharmacological efficacy between sulfasalazine alone and sulfasalazine in combination with herbal medicine on dextran sodium sulfate- (DSS-) induced UC in mice. Balb/c mice received 5% DSS in drinking water for 7 days to induce colitis. Animals were divided into five groups ( n = 9): Group I (normal group), Group II (DSS control group), Group III (DSS + sulfasalazine (30 mg/kg)), Group IV (DSS + sulfasalazine (60 mg/kg)), and Group V (DSS + sulfasalazine (30 mg/kg) + Cinnamomi Cortex and Bupleuri Radix mixture (30 mg/kg) (SCB)). Colonic pathological changes were analyzed using hematoxyline/eosin staining. The antioxidant, inflammatory, and apoptotic protein levels were determined using western blotting. SCB supplementation, as well as sulfasalazine, suppressed colonic length and mucosal inflammatory infiltration. In addition, SCB treatment significantly reduced the expression of proinflammatory signaling molecules through suppression of both mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF- κ B) signaling pathways and prevented the apoptosis of the colon. Moreover, SCB administration significantly led to the upregulation of antioxidant enzymes including SOD and catalase. Taken together, SCB treatment might offer a better treatment for human UC than sulfasalazine alone or may be useful as an alternative therapeutic strategy against UC, without any evidence of side effects.

The present study evaluated the effects of heat-processed Scutellariae Radix (Scutellaria baicalensis) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury in mice. Scutellariae Radix heat-processed at 160[Formula: see text]C or 180[Formula: see text]C was orally administered at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight for three days before the intraperitoneal injection of LPS, and the effects were compared with those of vehicle-treated LPS administered to control mice. The administration of Scutellariae Radix decreased the elevated serum monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitrite/nitrate, peroxynitrite, and hepatic functional parameters, and reduced the increased ROS in the liver. The augmented expressions of hepatic oxidative stress and inflammation-related proteins, phospho-p38, phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase, phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase, nuclear factor-[Formula: see text] B p65, activator protein-1, cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, MCP-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, tumor necrosis factor-[Formula: see text], and IL-6, were downregulated by the heat-processed Scutellariae Radix. Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that the increased hepatocellular damage in the liver of LPS-treated mice improved with the administration of heat-processed Scutellariae Radix. Overall, the ameliorative effects of Scutellariae Radix were superior to those when heat-processed at 180[Formula: see text]C. Our results indicate that heat-processed Scutellariae Radix acts as an anti-inflammatory agent by ameliorating oxidative stress in the liver of mice with LPS-induced liver injury.

Extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis (TB) cannot be easily or quickly diagnosed. We developed a rapid, automated assay for the detection of XDR-TB plus resistance to the drug isoniazid (INH) for point-of-care use. Using a simple filter-based cartridge with an integrated sample processing function, the assay identified a wide selection of wild-type and mutant sequences associated with XDR-TB directly from sputum. Four new large-Stokes-shift fluorophores were developed. When these four Stokes-shift fluorophores were combined with six conventional fluorophores, 10-color probe detection in a single PCR tube was enabled. A new three-phase, double-nested PCR approach allowed robust melting temperature analysis with enhanced limits of detection (LODs). Finally, newly designed sloppy molecular beacons identified many different mutations using a small number of probes. The assay correctly distinguished wild-type sequences from 32 commonly occurring mutant sequences tested in gyrA, gyrB, katG, and rrs genes and the promoters of inhA and eis genes responsible for resistance to INH, the fluoroquinolone (FQ) drugs, amikacin (AMK), and kanamycin (KAN). The LOD was 300 CFU of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 1 ml sputum. The rate of detection of heteroresistance by the assay was equivalent to that by Sanger sequencing. In a blind study of 24 clinical sputum samples, resistance mutations were detected in all targets with 100% sensitivity, with the specificity being 93.7 to 100%. Compared to the results of phenotypic susceptibility testing, the sensitivity of the assay was 75% for FQs and 100% each for INH, AMK, and KAN and the specificity was 100% for INH and FQ and 94% for AMK and KAN. Our approach could enable testing for XDR-TB in point-of-care settings, potentially identifying highly drug-resistant TB more quickly and simply than currently available methods., (Copyright © 2016 American Society for Microbiology.)

Obesity is a major risk factor for various metabolic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this study, we prepared ethanol extracts from Agastache rugosa (ARE), Chrysanthemum zawadskii (CZE), Mentha arvensis (MAE), Perilla frutescens (PFE), Leonurus sibiricus (LSE), Gardenia jasminoides (GJE), and Lycopus coreanus (LCE). The anti-oxidant and anti-adipogenic effects were evaluated. The IC 50 values for ascorbic acid and LCE against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals were 246.2 μg/mL and 166.2 μg/mL, respectively, followed by ARE (186.6 μg/mL), CZE (198.6 μg/mL), MAE (337.1 μg/mL), PFE (415.3 μg/mL), LSE (548.2 μg/mL), and GJE (626.3 μg/mL). In non-toxic concentration ranges, CZE had a strong inhibitory effect against 3T3-L1 adipogenes (84.5%) than those of the other extracts. Furthermore, the anti-adipogenic effect of CZE is largely limited in the early stage of adipogenesis, and we revealed that the inhibitory role of CZE in adipogenesis is required for the activation of Wnt signaling. Our results provide scientific evidence that the anti-adipogenic effect of CZE can be applied as an ingredient for the development of functional foods and nutri-cosmetics for obesity prevention.

We have identified the effects of oligonol, a low-molecular polyphenol derived from lychee fruit, on diabetes-induced pancreatic damage via oxidative stress. Oligonol was orally administered at 10 or 20 mg (kg d)(-1) for 10 days to streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, and we assessed the changes in the serum glucose and insulin levels, as well as those of body weight and food and water consumption. In addition, analyses of the weight, insulin content, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, and western blots of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase-4 (Nox-4), p22(phox), p47(phox), phosphor-c-Jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK), Bax, cytochrome c, caspase 3, pancreatic-duodenal homeobox (PDX-1) and cyclin E were also performed in the pancreas. However, these unfavorable outcomes under diabetes were reversed by oligonol administration. Oligonol treatment led to significantly attenuated histological damage in the pancreas. In conclusion, this study suggests that oligonol protects the pancreas from Bax and PDX-1 via oxidative stress for the prevention or delaying of diabetes mellitus.

The fermentation of natural plants has a favorable effect on the functional and biological activities of living systems. These include anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-platelet aggregation activities. This is attributed to the chemical conversion of the parent plants to functional constituents, which show more potent biological activity. In our study, rice bran along with oriental medicinal plants (Angelicae gigantis, Cnidium officinale, Artemisia princeps, and Camellia sinensis) was fermented by Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Pichia deserticola (FRBE). We evaluated the effects of oral administration of FRBE on atopic dermatitis in 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-treated NC/Nga mice. FRBE significantly ameliorated the macroscopic and microscopic appearance of skin lesions in DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis and reduced levels of serum immunoglobulin E and the differential white blood cell count. In addition, it reduced skin thickness compared to that of atopic dermatitis-affected skin. FRBE treatment also reduced mast cell incorporation in skin lesions of atopic dermatitis. The total cell number in dorsal skin tissue and the axillary lymph node increased following DNCB application, and this was normalized by FRBE treatment. Moreover, it decreased the levels of CD8(+) helper T cells and Gr-1(+)/CD11b(+) B cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and skin lesions in DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis, we demonstrated that FRBE significantly inhibited mRNA expression of cytokines (e.g., interleukin-5 and interleukin-13) and cyclooxygenase-2 in AD skin lesions. These results suggest that FRBE could be a valuable herbal remedy for the treatment of atopic dermatitis., (© 2016 the Journal of Biomedical Research. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Mesenchymal-epithelial interactions are important in controlling hair growth and the hair cycle. The β-catenin pathway of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) plays a pivotal role in morphogenesis and normal regeneration of hair follicles. Deletion of β-catenin in the dermal papilla reduces proliferation of the hair follicle progenitor cells that generate the hair shaft and induces an early onset of the catagen phase. In this study, a modulator of the Wnt/β-catenin activity was studied in oriental herb extracts on cultured human DPCs., Methods: The effect of Malva verticillata (M. verticillata) seeds on human DPCs was investigated by a Wnt/β-catenin reporter activity assay system (β-catenin-TCF/LEF reporter gene) and cell proliferation analysis. The synthesis of the factors related to hair growth and cycling was measured at both the mRNA and the protein level by semi-quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively., Results: An extract from M. verticillata seeds increased Wnt reporter activity in a concentration-dependent manner and also led to increased β-catenin levels in cultured human DPCs. Myristoleic acid, identified as an effective compound of M. verticillata seeds, stimulated the proliferation of DPCs in a dose-dependent manner and increased transcription levels of the downstream targets: IGF-1, KGF, VEGF and HGF. Myristoleic acid also enhanced the phosphorylation of MAPKs (Akt and p38)., Conclusion: Overall, the data suggest that this extract of M. verticillata seeds could be a good candidate for treating hair loss by modulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in DPCs., (© 2015 Society of Cosmetic Scientists and the Société Française de Cosmétologie.)