Blood-Pressure-Lowering and Endothelium-Dependent Vasorelaxant Effects of Nutgall Tree in Rats.

Hypertension is the crucial modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, and efforts to identify functional foods that are effective for hypertension control are increasing. The nutgall tree (NT, Rhus chinensis Mill.) is used in traditional medicine and food because of its medicinal value. However, the role of NT in hypertension has not been investigated. Therefore, the hypotensive effect of NT leaf ethanol extract (NTE) was investigated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). SHRs were allocated to three groups (control, 300, or 1000 mg/kg NTE), and blood pressure was measured before and after oral administration. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure significantly decreased in the NTE 1000 mg/kg group and was the lowest at 2 h after administration (-26.4 ± 10.3, -33.5 ± 9.8%, respectively). Daily NTE administration for five days also resulted in a similar effect. Further, the vasorelaxant effects and related mechanisms were investigated in the aortas of Sprague Dawley rats. NTE showed the dose-dependent blood-vessel-relaxing effect, and its mechanism involves the NO-sGC-cGMP pathway, activation of K+ channels, and reduction in the vasoconstrictive action of angiotensin II. Therefore, our study provides basic data indicating the potential use of NTE as a functional food for high blood pressure.

Therapeutic Potential of Chungsangboha-tang for the Treatment of Asthma: A Review of Preclinical and Clinical Studies.

In traditional Korean medicine, Chungsangboha-tang (CSBHT) and its modified forms are used to treat various respiratory disorders, including asthma. This study aimed to identify research trends, clarify the effectiveness of CSBHT and related prescriptions, and lay a foundation for future research. We conducted a literature review using PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, National Digital Science Links, Korean Medical Database, Wanfang Data, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. We analyzed 25 studies, including 5 in vitro studies, 6 animal studies, and 14 human studies. Many studies evaluated the efficacy of CSBHT and its related prescriptions, including experimental studies on its effectiveness in asthma. The main mechanism of action involves the anti-inflammatory effect caused by the regulation of various immune cells, cytokines, and chemokines. In addition, clinical trials on asthma reported the benefits of CSBHT and its related prescriptions. However, there has been no randomized controlled study of clinical trials on the clinical effectiveness of CSBHT in asthma. Therefore, large-scale randomized controlled studies should be conducted in the future.

Anti-colitic effects of the modified Bojanggunbi-tang on dextran sulfate sodium-induced mouse colitis model.

Bojanggunbi-tang (BGT) is a well-known and widely used herbal prescription in Korea for colon diseases, with well-documented pharmacological effects on the digestive system. The current study aimed to develop a new simple and effective prescription using the original prescription. mBGT, a modified BGT, was developed by mixing the extracts of Lonicera japonica Thunb., Alisma orientalis and Atractylodes macrocephala based on a literature review and screening of 16 kinds of component herbs of BGT. A colitis mouse (Male, BALB/c) model was induced using dextran sulfate sodium (5%). The effects of BGT and mBGT on body weight, histological damage, clinical score, macroscopic score and colon length were compared. The mechanisms of action were analyzed based on cytokine production in colon tissue. mBGT at 300mg/kg showed similar effectiveness to that of BGT on colon shortening (P<0.01), clinical score (P<0.05), macroscopic score (P<0.01) and histological damage (P<0.01). In addition, mBGT decreased cytokines, including Interleukin 1 beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha and Interleukin 17, in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, mBGT could be a substitute prescription for BGT in clinics and a candidate for the development of a new BGT-based therapeutic agent against colitis.

Efficacy of complementary medicine for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced small intestinal injuries: A narrative review.

ABSTRACT: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced small bowel injuries (NSIs) have been largely ignored for decades due to the focus on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug gastropathy. With the visualization of the small intestines enabled by video capsule endoscopy, the frequency and severity of NSIs have become more evident. NSIs have a complex pathophysiology, and no effective preventive or treatment options have been proven. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been used to treat disorders of the small intestine, and more research on its effectiveness for NSIs has been conducted.We reviewed the current evidence and mechanisms of action of CAMs on NSI. Clinical and experimental studies on the effect of CAMs on NSIs were performed using 10 databases.Twenty-two studies (3 clinical and 19 in vivo experimental studies) were included in the final analysis involving 10 kinds of CAMs: bovine colostrum, Orengedokuto (coptis), muscovite, licorice, grape seed, wheat, brown seaweed, Ganoderma lucidum fungus mycelia, Chaenomeles speciosa (sweet) Nakai (muguasantie), and Jinghua Weikang capsule. The mechanisms of CAM include an increase in prostaglandin E2, reparation of the enteric nervous system, inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines, reduction of intestinal permeability and enteric bacterial numbers, decrease in oxidative stress, and modulation of small intestinal motility.CAM may be a novel alternative option for treating and preventing NSI, and further studies on human and animal models with relevant comorbidities are warranted.

Efficacy and safety of Ojeok-san plus Saengmaek-san for gastroesophageal reflux-induced chronic cough: protocol for a pilot, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a major cause of chronic cough. GERD-induced chronic cough is difficult to diagnose because some patients do not complain of any gastrointestinal (GI) reflux symptoms. Although chronic cough due to GERD is highly prevalent, no effective treatment is currently available, especially for GERD-related cough without GI symptoms. Because the herbal medicines Ojeok-san and Saengmaek-san can effectively treat GERD and cough, we aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a combination of these components for relieving chronic cough due to GERD. METHODS/DESIGN: This is a study protocol of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center pilot trial. After a 1-week run-in period, a total of 30 patients with GERD-induced chronic cough will be randomly allocated to an intervention group (n = 15) or a placebo group (n = 15). Participants will receive 5.76 g of Ojeok-san plus Saengmaek-san or a placebo three times per day for 6 weeks. The primary outcome measures, which are the frequency and severity of cough, will be recorded using a cough diary. The secondary outcome measures will include a cough visual analogue scale, the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (Korean version), the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, the Hull Airway Reflux (hypersensitivity) Questionnaire, the Pattern Identification for Chronic Cough Questionnaire, the Pattern Identification for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, and safety testing. Adverse events will also be reported. DISCUSSION: This will be the first clinical trial to explore the use of herbal medicines for GERD-related chronic cough, including patients without GI reflux symptoms. This study will provide useful evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of Ojeok-san plus Saengmaek-san treatment. In addition, this trial will offer a scientific basis for the combination of herbal medicines. This study will also provide important data for conducting a larger-scale clinical trial on GERD-induced chronic cough. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial has been registered with Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) of South Korea (http://cris.nih.go.kr; registration number KCT0003115). Registered August 28, 2018.

Icariin Improves Functional Behavior in a Mouse Model of Traumatic Brain Injury and Promotes Synaptic Plasticity Markers.

Epimedii Herba (EH) has been used in traditional Asian medicine to treat hemiplegia following stroke. Icariin, its major active component, is used as a quality-control marker and for its various pharmacological effects. We hypothesized that icariin would show protective effects following traumatic brain injury (TBI). The TBI mouse model was induced using a controlled cortical impact method. Body weight, brain damage, motor function, and cognitive function were evaluated. Synaptogenesis markers were analyzed to investigate potential mechanisms of action. The animals were divided into six groups: sham, control, minocycline-treated group, and icariin-treated (3, 10, and 30 mg/kg, p. o.) groups. The icariin 30 mg/kg-treated group regained body weight at 7 and 8 d post TBI. Icariin 30 mg/kg- and 10 mg/kg-treated groups showed enhanced sensory-motor function at 8 d post TBI in rotarod and balance beam tests. Icariin-treated groups showed increased recognition index in the novel object recognition test at all doses and increased spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze test at 30 mg/kg. Icariin upregulated brain-derived neurotrophic factor, synaptophysin and postsynaptic density protein 95 expressions. However, no protective effects against brain damage or neuronal death were observed. The current results provide a basis for using icariin following TBI and suggest that it could be a candidate for the development of therapeutic agents for functional recovery after TBI.

Effects of Dangguisusan, a prescription of Korean medicine on controlled cortical impact-induced traumatic brain injury mouse model.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Dangguisusan (DGSS) is a widely used prescription for the treatment of traumatic injury in Korean medicine. AIM OF THE STUDY: To demonstrate the effects of DGSS on a mouse model of traumatic brain injury (TBI) for providing scientific evidence in clinical use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TBI was induced in a mouse model using the controlled cortical impact method. Water extract of DGSS (50, 150, and 450 mg/kg) was administered twice a day for 8 d. Histological analyses were performed 8 d after TBI. Moreover, beam-walking, grip-strength, and novel object recognition (NOR) tests were conducted to evaluate the effects on motor function, muscle strength, and cognitive memory function, respectively. RESULT: DGSS inhibited body weight loss, hippocampal damage, and neuronal loss in the thalamic region. Furthermore, it reduced transverse time and foot faults in the beam-walking test at 3 d and increased the muscle strength in the grip-strength test at 3 and 8 d. It also improved the recognition index (%) in the NOR test. However, DGSS did not show protective effects against total damage. CONCLUSIONS: DGSS might improve sensory-motor and cognitive functions after TBI with partial protective effects against brain damage. The present findings provide a scientific basis for the clinical use of DGSS in TBI.

The Effects of Chunghyul-Dan, an Agent of Korean Medicine, on a Mouse Model of Traumatic Brain Injury.

Chunghyul-Dan (CHD) is the first choice agent for the prevention and treatment of stroke at the Kyung Hee Medical Hospital. To date, CHD has been reported to have beneficial effects on brain disease in animals and humans, along with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pharmacological effects of CHD on a traumatic brain injury (TBI) mouse model to explore the possibility of CHD use in patients with TBI. The TBI mouse model was induced using the controlled cortical impact method. CHD was orally administered twice a day for 5 d after TBI induction; mice were assessed for brain damage, brain edema, blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage, motor deficits, and cognitive impairment. Treatment with CHD reduced brain damage seen on histological examination and improved motor and cognitive functions. However, CHD did not reduce brain edema and BBB damage. In conclusion, CHD could be a candidate agent in the treatment of patients with TBI. Further studies are needed to assess the exact mechanisms of the effects during the acute-subacute phase and pharmacological activity during the chronic-convalescent phase of TBI.

Epimedii Herba: A Promising Herbal Medicine for Neuroplasticity.

Epimedii Herba (EH) is an herbal medicine originating from several plants of the genus Epimedium. It is a major therapeutic option for kidney yang deficiency syndrome, which is closely related to androgen hormones and also has been used to treat hemiplegia following a stroke in traditional medicine of Korea and PR China. To date, many clinical and basic researches of EH have shown the activities on functional recovery from brain diseases. Recently, neuroplasticity, which is the spontaneous reaction of the brain in response to diseases, has been shown to accelerate functional recovery. In addition, androgen hormones including testosterone are known to be the representative of neuroplasticity factors in the brain recovery processes. In this review, we described the neuro-pharmacological activities of EH, focusing on neuroplasticity. Thirty-three kinds of papers from MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, and CNKI were identified and analyzed. We categorized the results into five types based on neuroplasticity mechanisms and presented the definition of each category and briefly described the results of these papers. Altogether, we can suggest that neuroplasticity is a novel viewpoint for guiding future brain research of EH and provide the evidence for the development of new clinical applications using EH in the treatment of brain diseases. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Protective Effects of Dihydrocaffeic Acid, a Coffee Component Metabolite, on a Focal Cerebral Ischemia Rat Model.

We recently reported the protective effects of chlorogenic acid (CGA) in a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAo) rat model. The current study further investigated the protective effects of the metabolites of CGA and dihydrocaffeic acid (DHCA) was selected for further study after screening using the same tMCAo rat model. In the current study, tMCAo rats (2 h of MCAo followed by 22 h of reperfusion) were injected with various doses of DHCA at 0 and 2 h after onset of ischemia. We assessed brain damage, functional deficits, brain edema, and blood-brain barrier damage at 24 h after ischemia. For investigating the mechanism, in vitro zymography and western blotting analysis were performed to determine the expression and activation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9. DHCA (3, 10, and 30 mg/kg, i.p.) dose-dependently reduced brain infarct volume, behavioral deficits, brain water content, and Evans Blue (EB) leakage. DHCA inhibited expression and activation of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Therefore, DHCA might be one of the important metabolites of CGA and of natural products, including coffee, with protective effects on ischemia-induced neuronal damage and brain edema.

Endothelium-Independent Vasorelaxant Effect of Ligusticum jeholense Root and Rhizoma on Rat Thoracic Aorta.

Ligusticum jeholense has been used as the traditional medicine 'Go-Bon' (Chinese name, Gao-ben) in China and Korea. Considering the increased use of medicinal herbs to treat hypertension, in this study, we aimed to investigate the mechanisms of the vasorelaxation effect caused by L. jeholense. We tested the methanol (MeOH) extract of L. jeholense root and rhizoma for vasorelaxant effects; while using an isolated organ-chamber technique, L. jeholense extract (LJE) induced relaxation in the rat aortic rings by stimulating vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells. LJE showed concentration-dependent relaxant effects on endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded aortic rings pre-contracted with both phenylephrine (PE) and potassium chloride (KCl) in Krebs-Henseleit (KH) buffer. The vasorelaxant effect of LJE was partly attenuated by pre-treatment with glibenclamide or 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) as K+ channel blockers. Moreover, LJE showed concentration-dependent inhibition of vasoconstriction by Ca2+ supplementation in the aortic rings that were pre-contracted with PE or KCl in Ca2+-free KH buffer. In addition, a combination of LJE and nifedipine, pre-incubated further, decreased PE-induced contractions. The results suggested that LJE-induced vasorelaxation were related to blocking K+ channels and inhibiting entry of extracellular Ca2+ via receptor-operative Ca2+ channels (ROCCs) or voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (VDCCs).

Protective effect of Laminaria japonica with probiotics on murine colitis.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronically relapsing inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Most IBD treatments are unsatisfactory; therefore, various dietary supplements have emerged as promising interventions. Laminaria japonica (LJ) is an edible seaweed used to regulate digestive symptoms. Probiotics have been reported to improve digestive problems and their simultaneous administration with seaweeds has been shown to produce synergistic therapeutic effects. Here, we investigated the effect of LJ combination with probiotics on dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis model in mice. Aqueous LJ extracts (LJE) at doses from 100 to 300 mg/kg and probiotics at a dose of 300 mg/kg were orally administered for 7 days. Body weight, colon length, histological score, macroscopic damage, and the levels of cytokines IFN- γ , IL-1 ß , IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 (P40), IL-12 (P70), IL-17, and TNF- α were assessed. LJE alone caused a significant improvement of colitis signs such as colon length, histological score, and IL-1 ß and IL-6 production. LJE and probiotics demonstrated a synergistic effect by the histological score and levels of IL-1 ß , IL-6, and IL-12 (P40) but not IFN- γ , IL-10, and IL-12 (P70). In conclusion, LJE was effective in inducing protection against colitis in mice and acted synergistically with probiotics.

Vasorelaxant effect of osterici radix ethanol extract on rat aortic rings.

The root of Ostericum koreanum Maximowicz has been used as a traditional medicine called "Kanghwal" in Korea (or "Qianghuo" in China). The purpose of this study was to investigate the vasorelaxant activity and mechanism of action of an ethanol extract of the O. koreanum root (EOK). We used isolated rat aortic rings to assess the effects of EOK on various vasorelaxant or vasoconstriction factors. EOK induced vasorelaxation in phenylephrine hydrochloride (PE) or KCl precontracted aortic rings in a concentration-dependent manner. However, the vasorelaxant effects of EOK on endothelium-intact aortic rings were reduced by pretreatment with L-NAME or methylene blue. In Ca(2+)-free Krebs-Henseleit solution, pretreatment with EOK (0.3 mg/mL) completely inhibited PE-induced constriction. In addition, EOK (0.3 mg/mL) also completely inhibited vasoconstriction induced by supplemental Ca(2+) in aortic rings that were precontracted with PE or KCl. Furthermore, the EOK-induced vasorelaxation in PE-contracted aortic rings was inhibited by preincubation with nifedipine. These results indicate that the vasorelaxant effects of EOK are responsible for the induction of NO formation from L-Arg and NO-cGMP pathways, blockage of the extracellular Ca(2+) entry via the receptor-operative Ca(2+) channel and voltage-dependent calcium channel, and blockage of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) release via the inositol triphosphate pathway.

Therapeutic effects of traditional herbal medicine on cerebral ischemia: a perspective of vascular protection.

Although many agents for acute ischemic stroke treatment have been developed from extensive preclinical studies, most have failed in clinical trials. As a result, researchers are seeking other methods or agents based on previous studies. Among the various prospective approaches, vascular protection might be the key for development of therapeutic agents for stroke and for improvements in the efficacy and safety of conventional therapies. Traditional medicines in Asian countries are based on clinical experiences and literature accumulated over thousands of years. To date, many studies have used traditional herbal medicines to prove or develop new agents based on stroke treatments mentioned in traditional medicinal theory or other clinical data. In the current review, we describe the vascular factors related to ischemic brain damage and the herbal medicines that impact these factors, including Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix, Notoginseng Radix, and Curcumae Rhizoma, based on scientific reports and traditional medical theory. Further, we point out the problems associated with herbal medicines in stroke research and propose better methodologies to address these problems.

Myristica fragrans seed extract protects against dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice.

Nutmeg (seed of Myristica fragrans [MF]) is one of the most commonly used spices in the world and also a well-known herb for the treatment of various intestinal diseases, including colitis in traditional Korean medicine. The purpose of the current study was to investigate whether water extract of MF (MFE) can protect against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced colitis in a mouse model. Colitis was induced by 5% DSS in balb/c mice. MFE (100, 300 or 1000 mg/kg) was orally administered to the mice twice a day for 7 days. Body weight, colon length, clinical score, and histological score were assessed to determine the effects on colitis. Proinflammatory cytokines (interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin [IL]-1ß, and IL-6) were measured to investigate the mechanisms of action. MFE dose dependently inhibited the colon shortening and histological damage to the colon. However, it did not prevent weight loss. MFE also inhibited proinflammatory cytokines. The current results suggest that MFE ameliorates DSS-induced colitis in mice by inhibiting inflammatory cytokines. Further investigation, including the exact mechanisms is needed.

Vasorelaxant effect of Prunus yedoensis bark.

BACKGROUND: Prunus yedoensis Matsum. is used as traditional medicine-'Yaeng-Pi' or 'Hua-Pi'-in Japan and Korea. However, no studies have examined the pharmacological activities of the P. yedoensis bark. Only the antioxidant and antiviral activities of P. yedoensis fruit and the anti-hyperglycaemic effect of P. yedoensis leaf have been investigated. While studying the antihypertensive effects of several medicinal plants, we found that a methanol extract of P. yedoensis bark (MEPY) had distinct vasorelaxant effects on rat aortic rings. METHODS: The aortic rings were removed from Sprague-Dawley rats and suspended in organ chambers containing 10 ml Krebs-Henseleit solution. The aortic rings were placed between 2 tungsten stirrups and connected to an isometric force transducer. Changes in tension were recorded via isometric transducers connected to a data acquisition system. RESULTS: MEPY relaxed the contraction induced by phenylephrine (PE) both in endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded aortic rings concentration dependently. However, the vasorelaxant effects of MEPY on endothelium-denuded aortic rings were lower than endothelium-intact aortic rings. The vasorelaxant effects of MEPY on endothelium-intact aortic rings were reduced by pre-treatment with L-NAME, methylene blue, or ODQ. However, pre-treatment with indomethacin, atropine, glibenclamide, tetraethylammonium, or 4-aminopyridine had no affection. In addition, MEPY inhibited the contraction induced by extracellular Ca(2+) in endothelium-denuded rat thoracic aorta rings pre-contracted by PE (1 µM) or KCl (60 mM) in Ca(2+)-free solution. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that MEPY exerts its vasorelaxant effects via the activation of NO formation by means of L-Arg and NO-cGMP pathways and via the blockage of extracellular Ca(2+) channels.

Prophylactic effects of Lonicera japonica extract on dextran sulphate sodium-induced colitis in a mouse model by the inhibition of the Th1/Th17 response.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronically relapsing inflammatory disorders of the intestine. Although some therapeutic agents, including steroids, are available for the treatment of IBD, these agents have limited use. Therefore, dietary supplements have emerged as possible interventions for IBD. Japanese honeysuckle flower, the flower of Lonicera japonica, is a well-known dietary supplement and has been used to prevent or treat various inflammatory diseases. In the present study, we investigated the effects of L. japonica on experimental murine colitis. Colitis was induced by 5 % dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) in Balb/c mice. The water extract of L. japonica (LJE) at doses of 20, 100 or 500 mg/kg was orally administered to mice twice per day for 7 d. Body weight, colon length and a histological damage score were assessed to determine the effects on colitis. Cytokine profiles were assessed to examine the effects on helper T (Th) cell-related immunological responses. In addition, CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺T cells were analysed in vivo and in vitro for investigating the effects on regulatory T (Treg) cells. LJE showed dose-dependent inhibitory effects against colon shortening, weight loss and histological damage. LJE down-regulated IL-1ß, TNF-α, interferon-γ, IL-6, IL-12 and IL-17. However, LJE did not show any significant effects on IL-10, IL-23, transforming growth factor-ß1 and Treg cell populations. In conclusion, LJE showed protective effects against DSS-induced colitis via the Th1/Th17 pathway and not via Treg cell-related mechanisms.

Endothelium-independent vasorelaxation effects of Sigesbeckia glabrescens (Makino) Makino on isolated rat thoracic aorta.

The present study aimed to investigate the vasorelaxant effect of the methanol extract of Sigesbeckia glabrescens (Makino) Makino (MESG) on rat aortic rings and mechanism of action. MESG inhibited both noradrenaline bitartrate (NA)- and potassium chloride (KCl)-induced contraction of endothelium-intact aortic rings in a concentration-dependent manner. Removal of the endothelium did not influence the effect of MESG on NA-precontracted aortic rings. Pretreatment with MESG (250 µg/mL) inhibited calcium chloride-induced vasocontraction of NA- or KCl-precontracted endothelium-denuded aortic rings. It also relaxed phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate-induced contraction of aortic rings in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, Bay K8644 (an L-type calcium channel opener) vasocontracted in MESG pretreated aortic rings. On the other hand, the inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor, the ryanodine receptor, the Rho-kinase inhibitor (Y-27632), a soluble guanylyl cyclase blocker (1-H-[1,2,4]-oxadiazolo-[4,3a]-quinoxalin-1-one), and K⁺ channel blockers (glybenclamide, tetraethylammonium, and 4-aminopyridine) did not affect the effect of MESG. These results suggested that the mechanism underlying the vasorelaxant effect of MESG is mediated by endothelium-independent pathways. This specifically refers to blockade of the influx of extracellular Ca²âº via receptor-operative Ca²âº channels and voltage-dependent Ca²âº channels and inhibition of a protein kinase C-mediated cellular pathway.

The aerial part of Taraxacum coreanum extract has an anti-inflammatory effect on peritoneal macrophages in vitro and increases survival in a mouse model of septic shock.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Taraxacum coreanum Nakaiis a dandelion native to Korea and is widely consumed as an edible and medicinal herb. The aerial part of Taraxacum coreanum (TC) has been used therapeutically as a diuretic and anti-inflammatory agent, but its mechanism of action has not yet been evaluated. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of a Taraxacum coreanum chloroform fraction(TCC) and its mechanisms of action in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Isolated mouse peritoneal macrophages were stimulated in vitro with interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the presence or absence of TCC. The anti-inflammatory effects of TCC were assessed by measuring nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, as well as expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), IκBα, phospho-IKK, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT1). The effects of TCC were tested in vivo by measuring cytokine production and survival in a mouse model of lethal septic shock. And the standard compounds of Taraxacum coreanum were analyzed by HPLC using a C18 column. RESULTS: Treatment of primary macrophages with TCC in vitro significantly inhibited all of the inflammatory parameters measured, including LPS-induced NO and PGE2 production, iNOS and COX-2 expression, IκBα degradation, IKK phosphorylation, and MAPK and STAT1 activation. In a mouse model of LPS-induced septic shock, TCC inhibited the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1ß, and IL-6, and increased survival by 83%.Standard compounds (gallic acid, syringic acid) of Taraxacum coreanum were qualified by HPLC analysis. CONCLUSIONS: TCC possesses potent anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and in vivo, which occurs at least partly through inhibition of proinflammatory signaling and mediator release. These results strongly support the therapeutic potential of TCC as an anti-inflammatory agent in vivo.

Protective effects of Galla Rhois, the excrescence produced by the sumac aphid, Schlechtendalia chinensis, on transient focal cerebral ischemia in the rat.

Galla Rhois is formed by aphids, primarily Schlechtendalia chinensis Bell (Homoptera: Pemphigidae), on the leaf of sumac, Rhus javanica L. (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae). It is a tannin-rich herb that is widely used in traditional Korean medicine. Its various pharmacological effects, including its radical-scavenging effects, have been reported. The purpose of the current study was to determine if these radical-scavenging effects can be confirmed using in vitro assays and to investigate its neuroprotective effects, optimal dosage, mechanisms, and therapeutic time window in an animal model of stroke. Galla Rhois 85% methanol extract (GRE) exhibited potent and dose-dependent radical-scavenging effects on various radicals. Oral administration of GRE (300 mg/kg) in a transient focal cerebral ischemia rat model (two hours of occlusion followed by 22 hours of reperfusion) reduced the brain infarct volume by 37.5%. It also improved sensory motor function and reduced lipid-peroxidation in middle cerebral artery occlusion. However, it did not have any inhibitory effects on brain edema. The time window study revealed that pre- and co-treatment with GRE had protective effects, but post-treatment with GRE (three or six hours after ischemia) did not have protective effects. In conclusion, GRE had potent radical-scavenging activities and neuroprotective effects in a rat model of stroke when it was pre- and co-administered. The optimal dosage may be around 300 mg/kg for oral administration.