Preventive effects of a novel herbal mixture on atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in BALB/C mice.

BACKGROUND: A combination of parts of Cornus officinalis, Rosa multiflora, Lespedeza bicolor, Platycladus orientalis, and Castanea crenata is commonly used for alleviating inflammatory skin disorders. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo preventive effects of a novel herbal formula made from the five plants (C2RLP) against atopic dermatitis in BALB/C mice. METHODS: Mice were allocated into five groups (n = 8) including, control (Normal, petrolatum, and betamethasone treated) and treatment groups (treated with 2.5 and 5% C2RLP ointment). Atopic lesion was induced by applying 1-Chloro-2, 4-dinitrobenzene to the dorsal thoracic area of mice. Macroscopical and histological evaluations were performed to determine the effects of treatment on the progress of the skin lesions. The effects of treatment on the production and release of interleukins, interferon -ϒ, nitrite, prostaglandin E2, thymus and activation-receptor chemokine, and ß-hexosaminidase were evaluated and comparisons were made between groups. In addition, the chemical compounds present in C2RLP were identified by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. RESULTS: Topical application of C2RLP reduced the dermatitis score and suppressed histopathological changes in mice. Treatment significantly reduced (P < 0.05) plasma IL-4 level, the production of nitrite, prostaglandin E2, and thymus and activation-receptor chemokine production. The lipopolysaccharide-induced iNOS-mRNA expression in RAW 264.7 cells was also suppressed by high concentrations of C2RLP. In addition, C2RLP showed an inhibitory effect against DPPH free radical (IC50 = 147.5 µg/ml) and ß-hexosaminidase release (IC50 = 179.5 µg/ml). Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry analysis revealed the presence of various compounds, including loganin, ellagic acid, and kaempferol 3-glucoside. CONCLUSION: Down-regulation of T- helper 2 cellular responses and suppression of inflammatory mediators contributed to the protective effects of C2RLP from atopic dermatitis in BALB/C mice.

An in vivo immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory study of fermented Dendropanax morbifera Léveille leaf extract.

BACKGROUND: Medicinal plants represent a source of new drugs for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. Dendropanax morbifera Léveille is an economically and medicinally important subtropical tree that has various biological activities. However, its ability to affect immune responses in vivo is unknown. Hence, this study was designed to examine the immunomodulatory activity of fermented D. morbifera extract in BALB/c mice. METHODS: five-week-old female BALB/c mice were arranged in six groups and kept under a standard laboratory condition. Splenocyte counts were determined using the trypan blue dye exclusion method, and splenic lymphocyte proliferation was determined using concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Flow cytometric analysis was performed to phenotype T-lymphocytes. Next, cytokine and immunoglobulin quantitation was performed using sandwich ELISA. RESULTS: The results showed an increase in spleen cells by 71 and 67% in mice treated with 125 and 250 mg/kg of D. morbifera, respectively. In addition, splenocyte proliferation was increased 58.7% in response to concanavalin A treatment, while LPS treatment induced a 73.3% increase in mice treated with 125 mg/kg. T-cell phenotypic analysis indicated that D. morbifera-treated groups showed higher CD8a+, CD11b and CD3+ T-cell expression. However, the treatment groups showed suppression of IL-1α, Il-1ß and IL-4. In addition, the IgG super-family was downregulated in a dose-dependent manner by 4.5% up to 43.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, we show that D. morbifera increases the number and proliferation of T- and B-lymphocytes. Moreover, these effects may play a role in boosting non-specific immunity, while suppressing proinflammatory cytokines and immunoglobulins after a single antigen exposure.

Probiotic properties and adsorption of Enterococcus faecalis PSCT3-7 to vermiculite.

The probiotic properties of Enterococcus (E.) faecalis PSCT3-7, a new strain isolated from the intestines of pigs fed dietary fiber containing 50% sawdust, were investigated. E. faecalis PSCT3-7 tolerated a pH range of 3 to 8 and 0.3% bile salts, and it inhibited the growth of Salmonella Typhimurium in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, E. faecalis showed resistance to several antibacterial agents. Vermiculite, a nutrient and microbial carrier, increased the bile tolerance of the strain. Scanning electron microscope images revealed good adsorption of E. faecalis PSCT3-7 onto vermiculite. E. faecalis PSCT3-7 represents a potential probiotic candidate to administer with vermiculite to swine.

Pharmacokinetics of marbofloxacin after intravenous and intramuscular administration in Hanwoo, Korean native cattle.

Pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters of marbofloxacin (MRFX) in Korean cattle, Hanwoo, were determined following its intravenous (i.v.) or intramuscular (i.m.) administration at a dose of 2 mg/kg. Area under the curve (AUC0-24 hr), half-life (t1/2) and total body clearance (CLB) of i.v. MRFX were 6.87 hr∙µg/ml, 2.44 hr and 0.29 l/kg∙hr, respectively, and the corresponding values for i.m. administration of MRFX were 5.07 hr∙µg/ml, 2.44 hr and 0.39 l/kg∙hr. The suggested optimal doses of MRFX in Hanwoo cattle, calculated by integration of PK data obtained in the present study and previously reported minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for MRFX against susceptible (MIC ≤1 µg/ml) and intermediate (MIC ≤2 µg/ml) pathogenic bacteria, were 2.1 and 4.2 mg/kg/day by i.v. route and 3.9 and 7.8 mg/kg/day by i.m. route.

Synergistic effect and antiquorum sensing activity of Nymphaea tetragona (water lily) extract.

Salmonellosis is a common and widely distributed food borne disease where Salmonella typhimurium is one of the most important etiologic agents. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of Nymphaea tetragona alone and in combination with antibiotics against S. typhimurium. It also aimed to assess the plant for quorum sensing inhibition (QSI) activity and to identify the bioactive compounds. The antibacterial activities of the extract were assessed using broth microdilution method. Disk agar diffusion method was employed to determine the QSI and bioactive compounds were identified by GC-MS analysis. Ethyl acetate fraction of N. tetragona extract (EFNTE) demonstrated good antimicrobial activity (MIC 781 µg/mL) against 4 strains out of 5. FIC index ranged from 0.375 to 1.031 between EFNTE/tylosin and 0.515 to 1.250 between EFNTE/streptomycin against S. typhimurium. Among all extracts, EFNTE and butanol fraction more significantly inhibited pigment production of C. violaceum. Polyphenols were identified as major compound of EFNTE and butanol fraction. These results indicate that combination among N. tetragona extract and antibiotics could be useful to combat drug-resistance Salmonella infections and polyphenols are promising new components from N. tetragona that warrant further investigation as a candidate anti-Salmonella agent and quorum sensing inhibitor.