Deer Velvet and Eleutherococcus senticosus Mixture Regulated Immune Function in C57BL/6N Mice with Immunosuppression Induced by Forced Swimming.

Immunosuppression occurs in response to a variety of external antigens. However, various immune cells and cytokines can activate the immune system. In this study, it was found that fermented deer velvet (FD) and fermented Eleutherococcus senticosus (FE) extract (FDE) mixtures regulated the immunity of animals that underwent induced immunosuppression through forced swimming exercise (FSE). Seven mouse treatment groups were included in the experiment: normal controls, FSE controls, positive controls (FSE+red ginseng 300 mg/kg body weight), FD200 (FSE+FD 200 mg/kg body weight), FE200 (FSE+FE 200 mg/kg body weight), FDE50 (FSE+FDE 50 mg/kg body weight), and FDE200 (FSE+FDE 200 mg/kg body weight). Oral intake of experimental and control substances lasted for 2 weeks. Oral FDE intake increased cell counts for major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I, MHC II, CD4(+) T cells, and CD8(+) T cells compared with controls. Moreover, FDE increased Th1 (interleukin [IL]-2 and interferon gamma) cytokine proliferation, T cell proliferation, IL-12 and IL-15 production, and natural killer cell activity compared with controls. In addition, FDE inhibited Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor alpha) and nitric oxide production, increased B cell proliferation and leukocyte count, and promoted immunoglobulin A and G serum levels compared with controls. Thus, the finding that FDE increased immune function in an immunosuppression model suggests that FDE has immunomodulatory capacity.

Tectoridin from Maackia amurensis modulates both estrogen and thyroid receptors.

AIM: The stem bark of Maackia amurensis has been used as folk medicine for the treatment of cancer, cholecystitis, arthritis, and hyperthyroidism in females. In this study we examined the effects of the ethyl acetate fraction obtained from the 70% ethanol extract of M. amurensis and tectoridin, an active constituent isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction on thyroid and estrogen hormone activity. METHODS: The effect of the ethanolic extract of M. amurensis stem bark on thyroid hormone activity was evaluated using thyroid hormone responsive-luciferase assay. We isolated tectoridin from the ethyl acetate fraction using a recrystallization method. T-screen assays were used to confirm thyroid hormone activity. The estrogenic activity of the ethyl acetate fraction of M. amurensis and tectoridin was evaluated by estrogen responsive-luciferase assay and estrogen receptor alpha regulation as compared to 17ß-estradiol. RESULTS: Both the ethyl acetate fraction and tectoridin activated thyroid-responsive reporters and increased thyroid hormone-dependent proliferation of rat pituitary GH3 cells, indicating modulation of thyroid hormone receptors. In parallel, the estrogenic activity of the fraction and tectoridin were characterized in a transient transfection system using estrogen-responsive luciferase plasmids in MCF-7 cells. The ethyl acetate fraction and tectoridin activated reporter gene expression and decreased the estrogen receptor protein level. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that tectoridin acts as a weak phytoestrogen as well as a thyroid hormone-like agent by activating both estrogen and thyroid hormone receptors.

Estrogen receptor mediated effects of Cimicifuga extracts on human breast cancer cells.

Cimicifuga racemosa extracts have long been used to treat female reproductive disorders both in Asia and Europe. Here in this study, we examined the possible estrogen receptor (ER)alpha effects of Cimicifuga heracleifolia var. bifida ethanol extract (C-Ex), which has been used traditionally in Asia, in MCF-7 cells. The activity of C-Ex was characterized in a transient transfection system, using ERa and estrogen-responsive luciferase plasmids in HEK 293 cells and endogenous target genes were studied in MCF-7 cells. C-Ex failed to activate ERalpha and at a concentration of 0.005-0.5 mg/ml as examined by reporter activity. In addition, no statistically significant antiestrogenic activity was observed. However, to our interest, C-Ex enhanced expression of VEGF at 0.5 mg/ml concentration and repressed ERalpha both at the mRNA and protein levels in MCF-7 cells. These results suggested that C-Ex does not activate or inactivate ERalpha in a direct manner, but the extracts may affect factors in ER signal transduction pathway.