Acanthopanax trifoliatus inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response in vitro and in vivo.

Acanthopanax trifoliatus is a well-known herb that is used for the treatment of bruising, neuralgia, impotence, and gout in Taiwan. This herb exhibits multifunctional activities, including anticancer, anti-inflammation, and antioxidant effects. This paper investigated the in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory effect of A. trifoliatus. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis established the fingerprint chromatogram of the ethyl acetate fraction of A. trifoliatus (EAAT). The anti-inflammatory effect of EAAT was detected using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation of the mouse macrophage cell line RAW264.7 in vitro and LPS-induced lung injury in vivo. The effects of EAAT on LPS-induced production of inflammatory mediators in RAW264.7 murine macrophages and the mouse model were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot. EAAT attenuated the production of LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and IL-6 in vitro and in vivo. Pretreatment with EAAT markedly reduced LPS-induced histological alterations in lung tissues. Furthermore, EAAT significantly reduced the number of total cells and protein concentration levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Western blotting test results revealed that EAAT blocked protein expression of inducible NO synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, phosphorylation of Nuclear factor-kappa-B Inhibitor alpha (IκB-α) protein, and mitogen-activated protein kinases in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells as well as LPS-induced lung injury. This study suggests that A. trifoliatus may be a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Evidence for improved neuropharmacological efficacy and decreased neurotoxicity in mice with traditional processing of Rhizoma Arisaematis.

Rhizoma Arisaematis (RA, the rhizome of Pinellia pedatisecta Schott) is a traditional Chinese medicine commonly used in the treatment of convulsions, inflammation, and cancer. Despite the fact that it has been used for more than 2000 years, the pharmacological and toxic effects of traditionally processed products of RA are still unclear. In this study, we attempted to investigate the effects exerted by untreated crude RA and different preparations of RA treated with alumen in combination with ginger juice (Zhinanxing) or bile juice (Dannanxing) in ICR mice. The results showed that both the Zhinanxing and Dannanxing water extracts exerted significantly increased sedative effects, as indicated by the inhibitory effects on ambulatory distances, jumps, vertical-plane entries, and prolonged pentobarbital-induced sleeping time. The extracts also exerted significantly increased analgesic effects (increase of tail flick latency in nociceptive testing) in mice than did the unprocessed crude RA after oral administration for one to three days, and effects persisted 18 days after the cessation of treatment. By contrast, the toxic effects, such as an increase in stereotype-1 episodes of locomotor activities and reduction of the retention time on a rotating rod (motor equilibrium dysfunction), were observed only in mice treated with the unprocessed crude RA for three consecutive days, and effects persisted for 18 days after the cessation of treatment. These neurotoxic effects were accompanied by an increase in plasma lipid peroxidation (LPO), decrease in whole blood nitric oxide (NO(x)) levels, and inhibition of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activities in membrane fractions of erythrocytes and in the cerebral cortex. In conclusion, these findings provide scientific evidence that the processed RA indeed possesses not only enhanced neuropharmacological efficacy but also reduced neurotoxic effects as compared to the unprocessed crude RA. The signaling of NO(x)/oxidative stress/Na(+)-K(+)- ATPase activities played a role, at least in part, in the underlying mechanisms of neurotoxic effects induced by the crude RA.

Hepatoprotective effect of Crossostephium chinensis (L.) Makino in rats.

The hepatoprotective potential of Crossostephium chinensis (L.) Makino water extract (CCW) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) induced liver damage was evaluated in preventive and curative rat models. Not only were indicators of hepatic damage including GPT, GOT, lipid peroxides and TBARS were examined, the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx) and GSH were examined as well. The results showed that CCW (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg) significantly reduced the elevated levels of GPT and GOT by CCl(4) administration (p < 0.05). TBARS level was dramatically reduced, and SOD, CAT, GPx and GSH activities were significantly increased. In addition, CCW decreased NO production and TNF-α activation in CCl(4)-treated rats. Therefore, we speculate that CCW protects against acute liver damage through its radical scavenging ability. CCW inhibited the expression of MMP-9 protein, indicating that MMP-9 played an important role in the development of CCl(4)-induced chronic liver damage in rats. In LC-MS-MS analysis, the chromatograms of CCW with good hepatoprotective activities were established. Scopoletin may be an important bioactive compound in CCW.

Hepatoprotective effect of the aqueous extract of Flemingia macrophylla on carbon tetrachloride-induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats through anti-oxidative activities.

This study investigated the protective effect of the aqueous extract of Flemingia macrophylla (AFM) against hepatic injury induced by CCl(4). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were detected as biomarkers in the blood to indicate hepatic injury. Product of lipid peroxidation (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and reduced glutathione (GSH) contents were evaluated for oxidative stress in hepatic injury. Moreover, histopathological observation was assayed for the degree of hepatic injury. After oral administration of AFM, 0.5 g/kg and 1.0 g/kg doses significantly decreased ALT and AST, attenuated the histopathology of hepatic injury, ameliorated oxidative stress in hepatic tissue, and increased the activities of CAT, SOD and GSH-Px. The hepatoprotective effect of daidzein and genistein were consistent to that of AFM. This study demonstrated for the first time that AFM has hepatoprotective effect on acute liver injuries induced by CCl(4), and the results suggested that the effect of AFM against CCl(4)-induced liver damage was related to antioxidant properties.

Application of gamma irradiation in ginseng for both photodegradation of pesticide pentachloronitrobenzene and microbial decontamination.

This study investigates the feasibility of using gamma irradiation for photodegradation of a common residual fungicide, pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB), in ginseng, and for microbial decontamination. American ginseng, Panax quinquefolius, was subjected to gamma irradiation. PCNB residues were analyzed by gas chromatography with electron capture detection and mass spectrometry. Eighty percent of PCNB (100 ppm) in a methanol aqueous solution was degraded by 5 kGy irradiation, and the primary degradation product was pentachloroaniline. Furthermore, contaminated PCNB (3.7 ppm) in ginseng were reduced to 0.2 ppm after 20 kGy irradiation. The IC(50) for treatment of Sclerotium rolfsii with 20 kGy irradiated PCNB was about 2.7 times higher than that for treatment with unirradiated PCNB. The survival rate of mouse fibroblast L929 cells treated with 20 kGy irradiated PCNB was about 12.9% higher than that of L929 cells treated with unirradiated PCNB. Additionally, after 20 kGy irradiation, less than 5% reduction of contents of ginsenoside Rb1 and Re were observed, and amounts of ginsenosides Rc, Rd, and Rg1 were not reduced significantly. The minimal gamma dose for microbial decontamination was 10 kGy. Therefore, gamma irradiation can be used for both PCNB photodegradation and microbial decontamination of ginseng without obvious loses of ginsenoside contents.

Evaluation of nanofabricated ginseng extract powders.

The objective of this study is to investigate the nano-fabrication method for ginseng extract powders (GEPs) and detect the differences in physical and chemical properties, and cytotoxicity of GEPs before and after fabrication. White ginseng was used as the raw material to produce the GEPs (Sample A). After grinding, the GEPs passed a 40-mesh sieve (particle size < 105 microm) and was named as Sample B. The residue (particle size > 105 microm) was named as Sample C. Samples A and B were used for nanofabrication though the use of a high-energy ball mill. Sample B was ground for 3 hr (Sample D) and 1 hr (Sample E), while Sample A was ground for 3 hr (Sample F) and 1 hr (Sample G). Nanoparticles of GEPs with ranges of 300 nm approximately 1 microm and 500 nm approximately 3 microm were produced. The heavy metal content (As, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se and W) of Samples A-G were all under the maximum residue limit. Sample C contained a higher amount of yellow crystal material and had the highest ginsenoside contents and antioxidant capacity. There were enrichments of ginsenosides (approximately 1.3 fold) and antioxidant capacities (approximately 1.6 fold) in Sample C compared to Sample A. Moreover, after nano-fabrication, the antioxidant capacity was not changed significantly. However, the cellular growth enhancement ability was increased significantly. Samples F and G had the higher cellular growth enhancement ability and improved the cellular growth of L929 cells about 1.3 times as compared to Sample A. In future studies, Sample C will be used for nanofabrication in order to enhance the curative efficiency of ginseng.