Anti-Obesity Effect and Signaling Mechanism of Potassium Poly-γ-Glutamate Produced by Bacillus subtilis Chungkookjang in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

The purpose of this work was to examine the effects of potassium poly-γ-glutamate (PGA-K) on mice fed a high-fat diet consisting of 60% of total calories for 12 weeks. PGA-K administration reduced the increase in body weight, epididymal fat, and liver weight caused by a high-fat diet compared to the obese group. The triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, which are blood lipid indicators, were significantly increased in the obese group but were significantly decreased in the PGA-K-treated group. The administration of PGA-K resulted in a significant inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 6. Moreover, the levels of leptin and insulin, which are insulin resistance indicators, significantly increased in the obese group but were significantly decreased in the PGA-K-treated group. These results suggest that PGA-K exhibits a protective effect against obesity induced by a high-fat diet, underscoring its potential as a candidate for obesity treatment.

Skin-whitening effects of Spergularia marina by suppressing MITF translocation.

Spergularia marina is a plant that grows in salty regions along the coastline and exerts radical-scavenging and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we investigated the skin-whitening effects of S. marina extract (SME) in B16F10 melanoma cells. SME was found to exert radical-scavenging effects. It suppressed α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-induced melanogenesis and tyrosinase activity. We also assessed the melanin production signaling pathway to identify the inhibitory action mechanism of SME on melanogenesis. SME decreased the protein expression levels of tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1, TRP-2, and tyrosinase, which play important roles in melanogenesis. Furthermore, western blotting revealed that SME inhibited the nuclear translocation of melanocyte inducing transcription factor (MITF), which is a transcription factor for TRP-1, TRP-2, and tyrosinase, suggesting that SME exerts its skin-whitening effect by inhibiting MITF nuclear translocation. Therefore, SME may potentially be used in skin-whitening medicines and cosmetics.

Water Extract of Capsella bursa-pastoris Mitigates Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity by Upregulating Antioxidant Enzymes.

Doxorubicin (DOX), an effective chemotherapeutic drug, causes cardiotoxicity in a cumulative and dose-dependent manner. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of hot-water extract of Capsella bursa-pastoris (CBW) on DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DICT). We utilized H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells to evaluate the effects of CBW on DOX-induced cell death. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and oxygen consumption rate were measured in H9c2 cells. C57BL/6 mice were treated with DOX and CBW to assess their impact on various cardiac parameters. Human-induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived cardiomyocytes were also used to investigate DOX-induced electrophysiological changes and the potential ameliorative effects of CBW. UPLC-TQ/MS analysis identified seven flavonoids in CBW, with luteolin-7-O-glucoside and isoorientin as the major compounds. CBW inhibited DOX-induced death of H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes but did not affect DOX-induced death of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. CBW increased SOD levels in a dose-dependent manner, reducing ROS production and increasing the oxygen consumption rate in H9c2 cells. The heart rate, RR interval, QT, and ST prolongation remarkably recovered in C57BL/6 mice treated with the combination of DOX and CBW compared to those in mice treated with DOX alone. Administration of CBW with DOX effectively alleviated collagen accumulation, cell death in mouse heart tissues, and reduced the levels of creatinine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum. Furthermore, DOX-induced pathological electrophysiological features in human-induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived cardiomyocytes were ameliorated by CBW. CBW may prevent DICT by stabilizing SOD and scavenging ROS. The presence of flavonoids, particularly luteolin-7-O-glucoside and isoorientin, in CBW may contribute to its protective effects. These results suggest the potential of CBW as a traditional therapeutic option to mitigate DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.

Krill oil inhibited adipogenic differentiation by inducing the nuclear Nrf2 expression and the AMPK activity.

The current study investigated the antiadipogenic mechanism of krill oil from the 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The krill oil adhered to the criteria as a food standard by showing 50.8% of the total phospholipid, 5.27% myristic acid, and 1.63% linoleic acid. The lipid accumulation that was measured in the 3T3-L1 cells using oil red O staining was reduced up to 54% by the krill oil. The krill oil treatment reduced the adipogenic transcription factors by downregulating the sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), phospho-ACC, and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation. The current study confirmed that the krill oil inhibited adipogenesis by downregulating SREBP1 and ACC via the upregulation of the AMPK and nuclear factors E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway in the 3T3-L1 adipocytes. These findings suggest that krill oil is a good source of phospholipid and phosphatidylcholine, which could be a potential natural antiobesity ingredient by inhibiting adipogenesis.

Porcine Placenta Peptide Inhibits UVB-Induced Skin Wrinkle Formation and Dehydration: Insights into MAPK Signaling Pathways from In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.

Excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight accelerates skin aging, leading to various clinical manifestations such as wrinkles, dryness, and loss of elasticity. This study investigated the protective effects of porcine placenta peptide (PPP) against UVB-induced skin photoaging. Female hairless SKH-1 mice were orally administered PPP for 12 weeks, followed by UVB irradiation. PPP significantly reduced wrinkle formation, improved skin moisture levels, and prevented collagen degradation. Mechanistically, PPP inhibited the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and upregulated collagen production. Moreover, PPP elevated hyaluronic acid levels, contributing to enhanced skin hydration. Additionally, PPP demonstrated antioxidant properties by increasing the expression of the antioxidant enzyme GPx-1, thereby reducing UVB-induced inflammation. Further molecular analysis revealed that PPP suppressed the activation of p38 MAP kinase and JNK signaling pathways, crucial mediators of UV-induced skin damage. These findings highlight the potential of porcine placental peptides as a natural and effective intervention against UVB-induced skin photoaging. The study provides valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of PPP, emphasizing its potential applications in skincare and anti-aging formulations.

Umbilicaria esculenta Extract Exhibits Antiwrinkle Activity by Suppressing ErbB2 Phosphorylation.

Umbilicaria esculenta (UE), an edible lichen, is widespread in northeast Asian countries, including China, Japan, and Korea. In the present study, we examined the antiwrinkle activity of UE. We observed that the UE extract (UEE) suppressed ultraviolet (UV)-induced matrix metalloprotein-1 (MMP-1) expression and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in a human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) and human skin tissue. In addition, UEE reversed the UV-induced decrease in collagen in the human skin tissue. Excessive and chronic UV exposure is a key factor underlying skin wrinkle formation via MMP-1 expression. As treatment with UEE disrupted the UV-activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, we applied an antibody array to unveil the underlying mechanism of UEE. Interestingly, UEE treatment inhibited ErbB2 phosphorylation, but not epidermal growth factor receptor phosphorylation, a heterodimerization partner with ErbB2. Furthermore, UEE treatment enhanced UV-suppressed phosphatase activity via ROS suppression. Collectively, our findings indicate that UEE enhances ErbB2 dephosphorylation to suppress UV-induced MMP-1 expression.

Inhibitory effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae extract obtained through ultrasound-assisted extraction on melanoma cells.

Although the immune enhancing effect of yeast has been widely reported, studies specifically investigating its effects on skin cancer are lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a yeast extract capable of inhibiting melanoma cells using ultrasound technology, which can lyse the cell walls allowing subsequent rapid yeast extraction. To compare the extraction efficiency across different extraction methods, the total yield, as well as total glucan, α-glucan, and ß-glucan yields were measured. Ultrasound-assisted extract of yeast (UAEY) was found to effectively inhibit melanoma cell growth and proliferation as well as the expression of cyclin D1 and c-myc, in vitro. Additionally, the extract reduced melanoma tumor volume and cyclin D1 levels in BALB/c nu/nu mice. The optimal extraction conditions were 0.2 M NaOH, 3 h, 70 °C, 20 kHz, and 800 W, resulting in an increased total extraction and ß-glucan yields of 73.6% and 7.1%, respectively, compared with that achieved using a conventional chemical (0.5 M NaOH) extraction method. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that UAEY may represent an effective anti-skin cancer agent.

Ethanol Extract of Yak-Kong Fermented by Lactic Acid Bacteria from a Korean Infant Markedly Reduces Matrix Metallopreteinase-1 Expression Induced by Solar Ultraviolet Irradiation in Human Keratinocytes and a 3D Skin Model.

Yak-Kong is a type of black soybean that is colloquially referred to as the "medicinal bean" and it elicits several beneficial effects that are relevant to human health, including attenuating the formation of skin wrinkles. It has previously been shown that soybean extracts elicit additional bioactivity that is fermented by lactic acid bacteria. In this study of lactic acid bacteria strains that were isolated from the stools of breast-feeding infants (<100 days old), we selected Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis LDTM 8102 (LDTM 8102) as the lead strain for the fermentation of Yak-Kong. We investigated the effects of LDTM 8102-fermented Yak-Kong on solar-ultraviolet irradiation (sUV)-induced wrinkle formation. In HaCaT cells, the ethanol extract of LDTM 8102-fermented Yak-Kong (EFY) effectively reduced sUV-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) secretion. The effect of EFY was superior to that of unfermented (UFY)- and Lactis KCTC 5854 (another Bifidobacterium animalis species)-fermented Yak-Kong. Additionally, EFY reduced sUV-induced MMP-1 mRNA expression and promoter activity, as well as the transactivation of AP-1 and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and JNK1/2. Furthermore, EFY alleviated sUV-induced MMP-1 secretion, the destruction of the epidermis, and degradation of collagen in a three-dimensional (3D) skin culture model. EFY had a higher total polyphenol content and anti-oxidative activity than UFY. Twelve metabolites were significantly (≥2-fold) increased in Yak-Kong extract after fermentation by LDTM 8102. Among them, the metabolites of major isoflavones, such as 6,7,4'-trihydroxyisoflavone (THIF), exerted the reducing effect of MMP-1, which indicated that the isoflavone metabolites contributed to the effect of EFY on MMP-1 expression as active compounds. These findings suggest that EFY is a potent natural material that can potentially prevent sUV-induced wrinkle formation.

Propolis Suppresses UV-Induced Photoaging in Human Skin through Directly Targeting Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase.

Propolis is a resinous substance generated by bees using materials from various plant sources. It has been known to exhibit diverse bioactivities including anti-oxidative, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. However, the direct molecular target of propolis and its therapeutic potential against skin aging in humans is not fully understood. Herein, we investigated the effect of propolis on ultraviolet (UV)-mediated skin aging and its underlying molecular mechanism. Propolis suppressed UV-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 production in human dermal fibroblasts. More importantly, propolis treatment reduced UV-induced MMP-1 expression and blocked collagen degradation in human skin tissues, suggesting that the anti-skin-aging activity of propolis can be recapitulated in clinically relevant conditions. While propolis treatment did not display any noticeable effects against extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38, and c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways, propolis exerted significant inhibitory activity specifically against phosphorylations of phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK1) and protein kinase B (Akt). Kinase assay results demonstrated that propolis can directly suppress phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) activity, with preferential selectivity towards PI3K with p110α and p110δ catalytic subunits over other kinases. The content of active compounds was quantified, and among the compounds identified from the propolis extract, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, quercetin, and apigenin were shown to attenuate PI3K activity. These results demonstrate that propolis shows anti-skin-aging effects through direct inhibition of PI3K activity.

Rose (Rosa gallica) Petal Extract Suppress Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Human Lung Adenocarcinoma A549 Cells through via the EGFR Signaling Pathway.

We sought to investigate the effect of rose petal extract (RPE) on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of cancer cells. RPE significantly inhibited the growth of lung and colorectal cancer cell lines, with rapid suppression of A549 lung cancer cells at low concentrations. These effects occurred concomitantly with downregulation of the cell proliferation mediators PCNA, cyclin D1, and c-myc. In addition, RPE suppressed the migration and invasion of A549 cells by inhibiting the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-2 and -9). We hypothesize that the suppressive activity of RPE against lung cancer cell proliferation and early metastasis occurs via the EGFR-MAPK and mTOR-Akt signaling pathways. These early results highlight the significant potency of RPE, particularly for lung cancer cells, and warrant further investigation.

Efficacy and safety of decompressive craniectomy with non-suture duraplasty in patients with traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: Decompressive craniectomy is an important surgical treatment for patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Several reports have been published on the efficacy of non-watertight sutures in duraplasty performed in decompressive craniectomy. This study sought to determine the safety and feasibility of the non-suture dural closure technique in decompressive craniectomy. METHODS: A total of 106 patients were enrolled at a single trauma center between January 2017 and December 2018. We retrospectively collected data and classified the patients into non-suture and suture duraplasty craniectomy groups. We compared the characteristics of patients and their intra/postoperative findings such as operative time, blood loss, imaging findings, complications, and Glasgow Outcome Scale scores. RESULTS: There were 37 and 69 patients in the non-suture and suture duraplasty groups, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups concerning general characteristics. The operative time was significantly lower in the non-suture duraplasty group than in the suture duraplasty group (150 min vs. 205 min; p = 0.002). Furthermore, blood loss was significantly less severe in the non-suture duraplasty group than in the suture duraplasty group (1000 mL vs. 1500 mL; p = 0.028). There were no other significant differences. CONCLUSION: Non-suture duraplasty involved shorter operative times and less severe blood losses than suture duraplasty. Other complications and prognoses were similar across groups. Therefore, the non-suture duraplasty in decompressive craniectomy is a safe and feasible surgical technique.

Selective activation of the estrogen receptor-ß by the polysaccharide from Cynanchum wilfordii alleviates menopausal syndrome in ovariectomized mice.

The menopausal syndrome caused by rapid changes in hormone levels greatly influences the quality of life of women. Though hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is widely used to treat the menopausal syndrome, it exhibits many side effects, including the risk of thrombosis, cardiovascular diseases, and increased incidence of breast cancer; thus, diversifying the interest for phytotherapy-based materials as alternatives to HRT. Here, we isolated a crude polysaccharide fraction (CWPF) from Cynanchum wilfordii root that alleviated the ovariectomy-induced uterine atrophy and bone loss without changes in plasma estradiol concentration in mice. Increased plasma levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (OC) in ovariectomized mice were also reduced to normal levels by CWPF administration. We found that the inhibitory effects of CWPF on menopausal symptoms were mediated by the estrogen receptor ß (ER-ß) specific activation, not ER-α. Moreover, CWPF treatment suppressed the phosphorylation of Akt, suggesting that CWPF alleviates post-menopausal symptoms by regulating ER-ß related Akt signaling pathway. These results demonstrate that the polysaccharides corresponding to CWPF among the water-soluble extracts of CW could be used as a beneficial herbal alternative for the development of therapeutic agents to prevent menopausal syndrome in women.

Rose Petal Extract (Rosa gallica) Exerts Skin Whitening and Anti-Skin Wrinkle Effects.

We sought to investigate the effect of extracts from Rosa gallica petals (RPE) on skin whitening and anti-wrinkle activity. Tyrosinase activity was attenuated by RPE treatment, concomitant with the reduction of melanin accumulation in human B16F10 melanoma. Treatment of the facial skin of volunteers in a clinical trial with an RPE-containing formulation enhanced skin brightness (L* value) significantly. The underlying mechanism responsible was determined to be associated with mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation. In addition, RPE exhibited anti-wrinkle formation activity of human dermal fibroblasts by suppressing matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 level. In vivo study, RPE also inhibited solar ultraviolet-stimulated MMP-1 level by c-Jun regulation. Overall, our findings indicate that RPE evokes skin whitening and anti-wrinkle formation activity by regulating intracellular signaling, supporting its utility as an ingredient for skin whitening and anti-wrinkle cosmetic products.

Enhancement of the apoptotic effects of Arctii Fructus extracts on cancer cells by the enzymatic bioconversion of lignans.

The fruit of Arctium lappa L. (Arctii Fructus) is one of the most popularly used medicinal plant components in Asia. To enhance the functionality of Arctii Fructus extract, a bioconversion method was developed to produce arctigenin from arctiin. Treatment with ß-glucosidase increased the arctigenin content by >5 fold in Arctii Fructus extracts. The bioconversion products enhanced the apoptosis of cancer cells. The cell viabilities of gefitinib-resistant lung cancer HCC827 (HCC827GR) cells and colon cancer cells (DLD1) were decreased by 40% and 35%, respectively. The bioconversion products also decreased anchorage-independent growth of cancer cells. In addition, the increase of apoptosis in cancer cells by bioconversion was confirmed by the flow cytometry analysis. These results indicated that arctigenin exerts anticancer effects on lung and colon cancer cells and that Arctii Fructus can potentially function as a chemopreventive agent. In addition, bioconverted Arctii Fructus extract displayed higher anticancer activity than the same levels of purified arctigenin, indicating the advantage of consuming Arctii Fructus itself as a food or medicinal material.

Red Ginseng Improves Exercise Endurance by Promoting Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Myoblast Differentiation.

Red ginseng has been reported to elicit various therapeutic effects relevant to cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, and inflammatory diseases. However, the effect of red ginseng on exercise endurance and skeletal muscle function remains unclear. Herein, we sought to investigate whether red ginseng could affect exercise endurance and examined its molecular mechanism. Mice were fed with red ginseng extract (RG) and undertook swimming exercises to determine the time to exhaustion. Animals fed with RG had significantly longer swimming endurance. RG treatment was also observed to enhance ATP production levels in myoblasts. RG increased mRNA expressions of mitochondrial biogenesis regulators, NRF-1, TFAM, and PGC-1α, which was accompanied by an elevation in mitochondrial DNA, suggesting an enhancement in mitochondrial energy-generating capacity. Importantly, RG treatment induced phosphorylation of p38 and AMPK and upregulated PGC1α expression in both myoblasts and in vivo muscle tissue. In addition, RG treatment also stimulated C2C12 myogenic differentiation. Our findings show that red ginseng improves exercise endurance, suggesting that it may have applications in supporting skeletal muscle function and exercise performance.

Silk peptide production from whole silkworm cocoon using ultrasound and enzymatic treatment and its suppression of solar ultraviolet-induced skin inflammation.

Silk fibroin, which is derived from sericin through degumming, is mainly used as a biomaterial. However, interest in functional verification and industrial applications of sericin has been growing for several years. We used ultrasonication to simplify the extraction process of the silk peptide under low salt conditions at 20 °C, instead of using the conventional conditions of high salt and temperature. The concentration of the silk peptide was measured to determine the optimized extraction time and solvent, which were 4 h and 0.1 N NaOH, respectively. The molecular weight of the enzyme-treated silk peptide was measured using SDS-PAGE and GPC. Silk peptide treated with papain after ultrasound had a molecular weight of less than 5 kDa, and the papain treated-silk peptide reduced solar ultraviolet-induced COX-2 expression through inhibition of ERK phosphorylation. This is the first study investigating simultaneous extraction of fibroin and sericin, which can be used for mass production of food materials.

Quercetin Directly Targets JAK2 and PKCδ and Prevents UV-Induced Photoaging in Human Skin.

Quercetin is a naturally occurring polyphenol present in various fruits and vegetables. The bioactive properties of quercetin include anti-oxidative, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic effects. However, the effect of quercetin on skin aging and the direct molecular targets responsible have remained largely unknown. Herein, we investigated the protective effect of quercetin against UV-mediated skin aging and the molecular mechanisms responsible. Treatment with quercetin suppressed UV-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and prevented UV-mediated collagen degradation in human skin tissues. Quercetin exerted potent inhibitory effects towards UV-induced activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activity. Further examination of the upstream signaling pathways revealed that quercetin can attenuate UV-mediated phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N terminal kinases (JNK), protein kinase B (Akt), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Kinase assays using purified protein demonstrated that quercetin can directly inhibit protein kinase C delta (PKCδ) and Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) kinase activity. Quercetin was observed to bind to PKCδ and JAK2 in pull-down assays. These findings suggest that quercetin can directly target PKCδ and JAK2 in the skin to elicit protective effects against UV-mediated skin aging and inflammation. Our results highlight the potential use of quercetin as a natural agent for anti-skin aging applications.

Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester Inhibits UV-Induced MMP-1 Expression by Targeting Histone Acetyltransferases in Human Skin.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a naturally occurring bioactive compound, displays anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-microbial effects. However, the effect of CAPE on skin photoaging is unknown. Herein, we investigated the inhibitory effect of CAPE against ultraviolet (UV) irradiation-mediated matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 expression and its underlying molecular mechanism. CAPE treatment suppressed UV-induced MMP-1 levels in both human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) and human skin tissues. While CAPE did not display any significant effects against the upstream regulatory pathways of MMP-1, CAPE was capable of reversing UV-mediated epigenetic modifications. CAPE suppressed UV-induced acetyl-histone H3 (Lys9) as well as total lysine acetylation in HDF cells. Similarly, CAPE also attenuated UV-induced lysine acetylations in human skin tissues, suggesting that the CAPE-mediated epigenetic alterations can be recapitulated in ex vivo conditions. CAPE was found to attenuate UV-induced histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity in HDF. Notably, CAPE was able to directly inhibit the activity of several HATs including p300, CREP-binding protein (CBP), and p300/CBP-associated factor (PCAF), further confirming that CAPE can function as an epigenetic modulator. Thus, our study suggests that CAPE maybe a promising agent for the prevention of skin photoaging via targeting HATs.

Isolation, purification, and characterization of novel polysaccharides from lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) leaves and their immunostimulatory effects.

In this study, a crude water-soluble polysaccharide (LLWP-C) was extracted from lotus leaves and further purified by size exclusion chromatography, to obtain the two main polysaccharides, LLWP-1 and LLWP-3. Physical and chemical analyses showed that they were homogeneous polysaccharides in ß-type glycosidic linkage. LLWP-1 was devoid of helical conformation, had a molecular weight of 85.1 kDa and was mainly composed of Rha, Ara, Gal, Glu, and GalA in a molar ratio of 7.0:24.8:28.0:6.0:26.4. LLWP-3 showed a helical conformation, had a molecular weight of 12.5 kDa and consisted mainly of Rha, Ara, Gal, Glu, Man, and GalA in a molar ratio of 6.6:9.8:15.0:8.9:6.1:47.2. It was demonstrated that LLWP-C and both purified LLWP-1 and LLWP-3 could effectively enhance the proliferation, phagocytosis, nitric oxide (NO), and cytokine secretions by activating corresponding mRNA expression in macrophages, via MAPK and NF-κB pathways. LLWP-3 displayed the greatest immunostimulatory potential, followed by LLWP-1 and LLWP-C. These findings suggest that polysaccharides extracted from lotus leaf exert immunostimulatory activity that could be further investigated to develop functional foods and natural immunopotentiating therapeutic agents.

Skin anti-inflammatory activity of rose petal extract (Rosa gallica) through reduction of MAPK signaling pathway.

The aim of this study was to investigate the skin anti-inflammatory activity of rose petal extract (RPE) and the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. Recently, flowers have been considered as dietary resources owing to their biological activities, such as inhibition of nephritis and hemorrhoids. The Rosa plant exerts various biological functions, including antioxidant and anti-microbiological activities. Herein, we confirmed the skin anti-inflammatory activity of RPE upon solar UV (sUV) exposure. RPE reduced sUV-induced COX-2 expression as well as expressions of several cytokines. Activation of MKK4-JNK, MEK-ERK, and MKK3-p38 signaling pathways, which are associated with cytokine production, was also attenuated by RPE treatment. We hypothesized these RPE-induced changes are because of its antioxidant activity, because RPE displayed drastic radical scavenging and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). Furthermore, high anthocyanins, polyphenols, and flavonoids contents were found in RPE. Hence, these results indicated the skin anti-inflammatory activity of RPE is because of antioxidant activity.