Chondroprotective effect of Alpinia oxyphylla extract in experimentally induced cartilage degradation in rabbit articular cartilage explants.

Alpinia oxyphylla is a widely used medicinal herb for diarrhea, gastralgia, tumors, hypertention, and cerebrovascular disorders. Here, we evaluated the chondroprotective effect of A. oxyphylla dried fruit ethanol extract (AOE) against cartilage degradation in rabbit articular cartilage explants. Treatment of interleukin-1α (IL-1α) and plasminogen increased degraded collagen release in culture supernatants, but pretreatment of AOE (50, 100, 200 µg/ml) inhibited the collagen release in dose-dependent manner. To examine the mechanism of action of AOE on chondroprotection, the level of matrix metalloproteinases-3 (MMP-3), matrix metalloproteinases-13 (MMP-13), tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease-1 (TIMP-1), and inflammatory mediators like prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 ) and nitric oxide (NO) was evaluated. AOE inhibited upregulation of MMP-3 and MMP-13 and downregulation of TIMP-1 and also reduced increase of PGE2 and NO level induced by exposure of IL-1α and plasminogen. These results indicate that AOE show chondroprotective effect through inhibiting collagen degradation via regulating MMPs, TIMP-1, and inflammatory mediators. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a one of the most common chronic disorders in elderly persons. Because the regenerative power of joint articular cartilage is very low, treatment of OA is difficult to expect complete recovery. Therefore, there is a need to develop a therapeutic agent that can safely and effectively inhibit the cartilage destruction. For the first time, we exhibited the inhibitory effect of AOE on collagen degradation through regulating MMPs and TIMP-1 in articular cartilage explants. These findings support AOE could be used as herbal therapeutic application for protecting articular cartilage to prevent OA.

Combination of Red Clover and Hops Extract Improved Menopause Symptoms in an Ovariectomized Rat Model.

Red clover and hops are already known for their alternative menopausal therapies; however, their combination has not yet been studied. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the combination of red clover and hops extract (RHEC) for treating menopausal symptoms for the first time. A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for RHEC was developed and validated for the analysis of biochanin A in red clover extract and xanthohumol in hops extract. An in vivo study was conducted using an ovariectomized rat model treated with RHEC (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg, p.o.) for a 12-week test period. Changes in body weight, tail skin temperature (TST), serum lipid profile, bone metabolism, antioxidants, and markers of vasorelaxation and uterus endometrium were evaluated. RHEC significantly inhibited body weight gain and decreased fat weight. Changes in TST associated with flashes were significantly inhibited in the RHEC groups. Other markers related to menopausal symptoms, such as blood lipid profile (total cholesterol and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol), bone metabolism (serum alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and c-terminal telopeptide type 1), antioxidants (superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde), and vasorelaxants (endothelin-1 and nitric oxide), were significantly improved after the administration of RHEC. We also confirmed the safety of RHEC through histopathological observation of the endometrium. Our findings demonstrate that RHEC appears to have high potential for comprehensively improving various symptoms of menopause.

28-day repeated oral dose toxicity study of an aqueous extract of Gryllus bimaculatus in sprague-dawley rat.

This study was performed to demonstrate a No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) for an aqueous extract of Gryllus bimaculatus. According to other studies, using dried material or extract with ethanol or methanol determined a NOAEL dose of 1000 mg/kg or 5000 mg/kg in rats. Therefore, the Gryllus bimaculatus groups were administered orally at doses of 0, 1000, 2000, and 3000 mg/kg for four weeks. Two-week recovery groups were administered at doses of 0, and 3000 mg/kg. During administration and recovery period, the animals were observed for clinical signs, change of body weight, food consumption, hematology, and clinical chemistry. Rats in each group were periodically sacrificed, and organs were weighed and examined histologically. No difference arose between any of the dosage groups and the control group in clinical signs, histopathological examination, hematology, or clinical chemistry. In conclusion, 3000 mg/kg is a NOAEL dose for Gryllus bimaculatus extracts in Sprague Dawley rats.

Anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities of Alpinia Oxyphylla Miquel extracts in animal models.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Alpinia Oxyphylla Miquel is a widely used traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of abdominal pain, intestinal disorders, enuresis, and inflammatory conditions. AIM OF THE STUDY: In this study we aimed to demonstrate the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects of Alpinia Oxyphylla Miquel extracts with 50% ethanol (AOE) in animal models. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The anti-inflammatory and nociceptive effects of AOE were estimated in vivo using a carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model, an arachidonic acid-induced mice ear edema model, an acetic acid induced mice writhing test model, and an ex vivo sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG) inhibition assay. In vitro inhibition assays for cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) were performed to determine the IC50 of AOE. RESULTS: Compared with the control, AOE caused a significant inhibition of paw edema, ear thickness, and abdominal constriction in animals. Compared with untreated explants exposed to interleukin-l alpha (IL-1α), preoteoglycan degradation by IL-1α was inhibited (18.2%-82.0%) in explants treated with AOE (50-400 µg/ml). In vitro, IC50 values of AOE were 299.87, 199.07, and 170.29 µg/ml for COX-1, COX-2, and 5-LOX respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate the potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of AOE and suggest AOE to be useful for the treatment of osteoarthritis and/or associated symptoms.