The Aqueous Extract of Humulus japonicus Ameliorates Cognitive Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease Models via Modulating the Cholinergic System.

Humulus japonicus (HJ) is an herbal medicine, which has been reported as being antioxidative and anti-inflammatory. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of oral administration of HJ water extract (HJW) on cognitive function through the cholinergic system in Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse models. Institute of Cancer Research mice injected with beta-amyloid (Aß) (1-42) (i.c.v.) and APP/PS1 transgenic (TG) mice were orally administered with HJW at 500 mg/kg/day for 3 weeks. Aß-injected mice and APP/PS1 TG mice showed cognitive dysfunction, which was evaluated by various behavioral tests. HJW treatment significantly attenuated memory impairments in Aß-injected mice and APP/PS1 TG mice. Aß injection decreased acetylcholine (ACh) concentrations and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity, and increased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. These cholinergic impairments were also found in APP/PS1 TG mice. HJW significantly attenuated cholinergic alterations in Aß-injected mice and TG mice. In addition, HJW significantly decreased Aß plaque deposition in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of TG mice. Therefore, the present study demonstrated that HJW protected against AD-related memory impairments via enhancing the cholinergic system and inhibiting Aß plaque deposition.

Polysaccharide-Rich Extract of Phragmites rhizome Attenuates Water Immersion Stress and Forced Swimming Fatigue in Rodent Animal Model.

Our study aimed to investigate the effects of the polysaccharide-rich extract of Phragmites rhizoma (PEP) against water immersion restraint (WIR) stress and forced swimming-induced fatigue. Exposure to WIR stress significantly increased the ulcer index, bleeding score, the weight of the adrenal gland, blood glucose concentrations, total cholesterol, cortisol, and creatine kinase (CK). The weight of the spleen decreased significantly. In addition, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) were significantly upregulated by WIR stress. The antioxidative factors such as glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the stomach were decreased by WIR stress. Alterations induced by WIR stress were effectively reversed by pretreatment with PEP. The swimming endurance capacity of mice was significantly prolonged by the oral administration of PEP. Swimming-induced fatigue significantly reduced the body weight; however, the injection of PEP inhibited the decrease of body weight. The PEP-treated group had significantly lower CK levels in plasma, an indicator of muscle damage. These results indicated that PEP has anti-stress and anti-fatigue effects, which are mediated by suppressing the hyperactivation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, and antagonism of the oxidative damages induced by WIR stress and prolonged swimming times.

Aqueous Extract of Humulus japonicus Attenuates Hyperlipidemia and Fatty Liver in Obese Mice.

In this study, the effects of Humulus japonicus (HJ) aqueous extract on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and HepG2 cells (in vitro model) as well as on C57BL/6 mice fed on high-fat diet (HFD) (in vivo model) were evaluated. Mice fed on HFD for 12-weeks were taken the HJ water extract (HJW) at various doses, 50, 150, and 250 mg/kg, orally for 8 weeks. We have noticed the accumulation of fat globules in preadipocytes and HepG2 cells using Oil Red O staining. In addition, supplementation with HJW considerably inhibited the weight gain, lipid accumulation, and adipogenesis and decreased the size of subcutaneous adipocytes in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Furthermore, treatment with HJW improved hyperlipidemia via decreasing the levels of serum triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoproteins as well as the atherogenic index. Supplementation with HJW could attenuate HFD-induced lipid accumulation, increase the mRNA expressions of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD1), and would elevate the levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in mice liver. The levels of TG and FAS mRNA in HepG2 cells treated with palmitate were reduced in a dose-dependent manner. In sum, HJW could alleviate the HFD-induced obesity and decrease the dyslipidemia profiles; the keys that could contribute to cardiovascular and nonalcoholic liver diseases.

Baicalin-induced Akt activation decreases melanogenesis through downregulation of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor and tyrosinase.

Scutellaria baicalensis has been used topically to treat inflammatory skin diseases in traditional East Asian medicine. Because post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation of the skin is difficult to manage, we investigated the effects of baicalin, a major component of S. baicalensis, on melanin synthesis in Mel-Ab cells. Our data showed that baicalin significantly inhibited melanin production and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent fashion, but it did not directly influence tyrosinase activity. Moreover, baicalin treatment triggered decreases in both mRNA and protein levels of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and tyrosinase. Although AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation were induced in baicalin-treated Mel-Ab cells, they were not responsible for baicalin-induced hypopigmentation. Because the Akt pathway is also known to be involved in regulation of melanogenic protein expression and melanin synthesis, we examined the effects of baicalin on the Akt pathway. Our results showed that baicalin treatment stimulated Akt activation. Treatment with LY294002, a specific Akt inhibitor, restored baicalin-induced melanogenesis inhibition and abolished MITF and tyrosinase downregulation by baicalin. Taken together, our data suggest that Akt activation by baicalin inhibits melanin production via downregulation of MITF and tyrosinase in Mel-Ab cells.

Clinical effect of a polysaccharide-rich extract of Acanthopanax senticosus on alcohol hangover.

The present study aimed to examine the effects polysaccharide-rich extract of Acanthopanax senticosus (PEA) on blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and hangover as well as blood lab parameters. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover trial was conducted. The PEA was orally administered before and after consuming alcohol 1.75 g/kg of pure alcohol. After alcohol consumption, BAC was measured for evaluation of alcohol pharmacokinetics. In the second day morning, subjects were asked to complete the Acute Hangover Scale (AHS) questionnarie. BAC results showed little difference between placebo and PEA groups, indicating that PEA does not have an effect on the pharmacokinetics of alcohol. However, several AHS items (i.e., tired, headache, dizziness, stomachache and nausea) and AHS total score were significantly improved by PEA. Blood lab parameters were significantly altered by alcohol in the placebo group. The alteration by alcohol of glucose and C-reactive protein (CRP) level was significantly attenuated by PEA. Therefore, PEA may have potential to reduce the severity of the alcohol hangover by inhibiting the alcohol-induced hypoglycemia and inflammatory response.

The role of phosphatidylcholine and deoxycholic acid in inflammation.

AIMS: Phosphatidylcholine with deoxycholic acid (PC/DA) is widely used to reduce localized fat deposits with mild adverse effects. We previously demonstrated that PC induces lipolysis with mild PMN infiltration, while DA induces adipose tissue damage. Therefore, the aim of this study was to extend our understanding of the pro-inflammatory responses of PC, DA, and PC/DA. MAIN METHODS: We evaluated the level of edema and polymononuclear (PMN) infiltration by histopathological examination. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was analyzed using an MPO activity assay kit. Levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß and IL-6) and PGE2 were measured by ELISA. KEY FINDINGS: A low and high dose of PC failed to induce an inflammatory response, whereas DA led to an intense inflammatory response in a dose dependent manner. Combined PC/DA treatment resulted in a mild inflammatory response that was notably less severe than higher DA. Together, these results demonstrated that DA plays a role in inflammation caused by combined PC/DA. Histopathological examination and measurement of MPO activity indicated that DA was the primary cause of edema and PMN infiltration. Further, increased levels of cytokines (IL-1ß and IL-6) and PGE2 demonstrated that DA might directly induce inflammation, whereas PC alone has no effect on inflammation. SIGNIFICANCE: These results indicate that DA rather than PC is responsible for inflammation, and that PC may not aggravate inflammatory responses induced by DA. Thus, the results of this study suggest that the adverse effects of PC/DA during localized fat treatment may be solely due to DA.