Inhibition of trypsin-induced mast cell activation by acanthoic acid.

Acanthoic acid (AA) is a pimaradiene diterpene isolated from the Korean medicinal plant, Acanthopanax koreanum (Araliaceae). In the present study, we examined whether AA has the inhibitory effect on the production of inflammatory mediators and activating signals induced in trypsin-treated human leukemic mast cell-1 (HMC-1). HMC-1 cells were stimulated with trypsin (100 nM) in the presence or absence of AA (1, 10, and 100 microg/ml). We assessed the production of TNF-alpha and tryptase by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or reverse transcription-PCR, ERK activation by Western blot, and NF-kappaB activation by gel shift assay. AA (10 and 100 microg/ml) significantly inhibited production of both TNF-alpha and tryptase in a dose-dependent manner in trypsin-stimulated HMC-1. Furthermore, AA inhibited ERK phosphorylation and NF-kappaB activation induced by trypsin treatment without blocking of trypsin activity even with 100 microg/ml. These results suggest that AA may inhibit the production of inflammatory mediators through inhibition of ERK phosphorylation and NF-kappaB activation pathway in human mast cells. It supports the evidence that AA may be used to blocks the development of inflammation caused from mast cells.

Effect of processed Scutellaria baicalensis on dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice.

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (Labiatae) has been used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Drug processing (Poje) is the process of treating crude drugs by several methods before use. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of processed Scutellaria baicalensis on experimental ulcerative colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). The types of processed Scutellaria baicalensis used in this study were parched Scutellaria baicalensis (PS) and rice wine-baked Scutellaria baicalensis (RWBS). Experimental colitis was induced in mice using a daily treatment of 5% DSS in the drinking water for 7 days. The water extracts of processed Scutellaria baicalensis (1 g/kg) were administered orally once a day for 7 days. The mice were divided in four groups: i) water plus DSS group, ii) crude Scutellaria baicalensis (CS) plus DSS group, iii) PS plus DSS group, and iv) RWBS plus DSS group. RWBS ameliorated all of the inflammatory symptoms, such as body weight loss, rectal bleeding and histological damage, compared to CS. Furthermore, RWBS significantly reduced the mucosal myeloperoxidase activity, and TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor-alpha), COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2), NF-kappaB (nuclear factor-kappa B) and chymase expression more than CS. But these effects were not shown in the PS plus DSS group. Efficacy of Scutellaria baicalensis was increased after rice wine baking, but not after parching. The findings in this study suggest that RWBS may be a useful therapeutic agent for ulcerative colitis.