Protective Effects of Black Hoof Medicinal Mushroom from Korea, Phellinus linteus (Higher Basidiomycetes), on Osteoporosis In Vitro and In Vivo.

The protective effect of Phellinus linteus (ethanol extract) against osteoporosis was investigated using the Saos-2 human osteoblast-like cell line and osteoclasts. A nontoxic concentration of Ph. linteus (10-2 to 10-8 mg mL-1) increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (EC 3.1.3.1) activity to a larger extent than soy did. Ph. linteus also attenuated the number and the activity of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive multinucleated osteoclasts. These results indicate that Ph. linteus likely regulated both osteoblasts and osteoclasts, contributing to the protection against osteoporosis. The protective effect of Ph. linteus was examined in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Histological analysis indicates that Ph. linteus improved trabecular bone mass and reduced osteoclast frequency without affecting lipid droplet accumulation in the femur of OVX rats. A Ph. linteus supplementation for 12 weeks also significantly increased serum ALP activity and reduced urinary deoxypyridinoline level in OVX rats. Ultimately, we found that 12-week Ph. linteus supplementation increased the bone accumulation of minerals, including calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Collectively, Ph. linteus protected against osteoporosis by balancing the number of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which was particularly associated with increased ALP activity in vitro and in vivo and mineral accumulation in bone.

Therapeutic effect of Broussonetia papyrifera and Lonicera japonica in ovalbumin-induced murine asthma model.

Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) Vent. and Lonicera japonica Thunb. have been used in recent medicinal research for their antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. The present study investigated the therapeutic efficacy of B. papyrifera and L. japonica ethanolic extracts in a murine model of ovalbumin-induced asthma, in which intra-peritoneal (IP) injections and aerosol ovalbumin delivery were used to induce allergic asthma. Bronchioalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), serum samples, lungs and livers were collected from the experimental groups. In the groups treated with B. papyrifera and L. japonica extracts, CD3, CD4, serum IgE and IL-4 levels; activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9; and eotaxin levels in the BALF significantly decreased to near normal levels. Results of a histopathological analysis showed that the level of inflammation and mucous secretions reduced in the treated groups compared to the corresponding levels in the other groups. Moreover, results of a serum enzymatic analysis showed the non-toxic nature of the extracts in the B. papyrifera and L. japonica treated groups. Taken together, these results clearly indicate that the B. papyrifera and L. japonica extracts may be very effective against asthma and inflammation related diseases.