Synthetic colourants in capsule dietary supplements on the Korean market.

This study developed a rapid and easy analytical method for the simultaneous determination of nine synthetic colourants (SCs) in capsule dietary supplements. Sample pretreatment involved thermal treatment to dissolve gelatin, using the enzymes protease and amylase to prevent the gelation of gelatin and fat-soluble substances removal using petroleum ether. The method was linear (r2 ≥0.999), with LOD of 0.009-0.029 µg/mL and LOQ of 0.42-1.40 µg/g. Recovery ranged from 90.9 to 108.9%. The relative expanded measurement uncertainty ranged from 4.1 to 6.3%. Allura Red AC (R40) and Brilliant Blue FCF (B1) were commonly detected in 20 of the 28 samples. Up to six SCs such as Tartrazine (Y4), Sunset yellow (Y5), Amaranth (R2), Erythrosine B (R3), R40 and B1 were detected in a single sample, ranging from 30.5 to 40.2 µg/g. Total content of SCs in various capsule supplements ranged from 0.3 to 73.7 µg/g.

Large-Scale Screening of the Plant Extracts for Antifungal Activity against the Plant Pathogenic Fungi.

Plants produce chemicals of immense diversity that provide great opportunities for development of new antifungal compounds. In search for environment-friendly alternatives to the fungicide of current use, we screened plant extracts obtained from more than eight hundred plant materials collected in Korea for their antifungal activity against the model plant pathogenic fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae. This initial screening identified antifungal activities from the eleven plant extract samples, among which nine showed reproducibility in the follow-up screening. These nine samples were able to suppress not only M. oryzae but also other fungal pathogens. Interestingly, the plant extracts obtained from Actinostemma lobatum comprised five out of eight samples, and were the most effective in their antifungal activity. We found that butanol fraction of the A. lobatum extract is the most potent. Identification and characterization of antifungal substances in the A. lobatum extracts would provide the promising lead compounds for new fungicide.

Effects of Aqueous Extract of Phyllostachyos Caulis in Taeniam on Longitudinal Bone Growth in Adolescent Rats.

This study examined whether treatment with Phyllostachyos Caulis in Taeniam aqueous extract improves longitudinal bone growth in adolescent male rats. Three-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: a control group, a Phyllostachyos Caulis in Taeniam group (200 mg/kg, p.o.), and a recombinant human growth hormone group (20 µg/kg, s.c.). The total tibial length and the height of each growth plate zone were evaluated by radiography and histomorphometry. The total number of proliferative cells and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine-positive cells were counted after 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine staining. Serum total osteocalcin levels were assayed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The average total tibial length of the Phyllostachyos Caulis in Taeniam group was significantly longer than that of the control group. The heights of the proliferative and hypertrophic zones in the Phyllostachyos Caulis in Taeniam group were increased, and the ratio of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine-positive to total cells in the proliferative zone was also increased. The serum osteocalcin, growth hormone, and insulin-like growth factor-1 levels were significantly increased in the Phyllostachyos Caulis in Taeniam group compared to the control group. Insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor were highly expressed in the proliferative and hypertrophic zones in the Phyllostachyos Caulis in Taeniam group. The Phyllostachyos Caulis in Taeniam extract increased bone length, promoted cell proliferation, and activated the growth plate zones, which suggested that the extract could play an important role in longitudinal bone growth. Therefore, the Phyllostachyos Caulis in Taeniam extract might be a good alternative medicine to growth hormone therapy.

Anti-inflammatory effects of Glehnia littoralis extract in acute and chronic cutaneous inflammation.

Glehnia littoralis (Umbelliferae) is a traditional medicine used in Korea, China, and Japan to treat the immune-related diseases. However, its anti-inflammatory activities and mechanisms remain to be defined. We investigated the effects of 70% ethanolic extract from G. littoralis (GLE) on skin inflammation in mice. Production of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß and TNF-α), activation of myeloperoxidase (MPO), and histological indicators were examined in acute and chronic skin inflammation using 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced mouse ear edema. We also performed acetic acid-induced vascular permeability tests. GLE treatment at 200 mg/kg inhibited topical edema in the mouse ear, leading to substantial reductions in skin thickness and tissue weight, inflammatory cytokine production, neutrophil-mediated MPO activity, and several histopathological indicators. Furthermore, GLE effectively reduced inflammatory damage induced by chronic TPA exposure and significantly inhibited the vascular permeability induced by acetic acid in mice. These results suggest that G. littoralis is an effective anti-inflammatory agent in murine phorbol ester-induced dermatitis and may have therapeutic potential in a variety of immune-related cutaneous diseases.

Anti-inflammatory activity of methylene chloride fraction from Glehnia littoralis extract via suppression of NF-kappa B and mitogen-activated protein kinase activity.

Glehnia littoralis (Umbelliferae) has been used traditionally in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese medicine for the treatment of immune-related diseases; however, its anti-inflammatory activity and underlying mechanism remain to be defined. We investigated the anti-inflammatory effect and inhibitory mechanism on inflammation by the methylene chloride fraction from Glehnia littoralis extract (MCF-GLE), which was more effective than Glehnia littoralis extract (GLE). MCF-GLE inhibited 12-O-Tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammation in an inflammatory edema mouse model. Also, MCF-GLE strongly inhibited the releases of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and significantly suppressed the mRNA and protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, MCF-GLE suppressed NF-kappaB activation and IkappaB-alpha degradation. MCF-GLE also attenuated the activation of ERK and JNK in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that MCF-GLE has an inhibitory effect on the in vivo and in vitro inflammatory reaction and is a possible therapeutic agent. Our results suggest that the anti-inflammatory properties of MCF-GLE may result from the inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as NO, PGE(2), TNF-alpha, and IL-1beta via suppression of NF-kappaB- and mitogen-activated protein kinases-dependent pathways.

Chrysanthemum indicum Linné extract inhibits the inflammatory response by suppressing NF-kappaB and MAPKs activation in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages.

AIMS OF STUDY: Although the flowers of Chrysanthemum indicum Linné (Asteraceae) have long been used in traditional Korean and Chinese medicine to treat inflammatory diseases, the underlying mechanism(s) by which these effects are induced remains to be defined. We investigated the effects of a 70% ethanolic extract of C. indicum (CIE) on the activities of cellular signaling molecules that mediate inflammatory responses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Production of NO, PGE(2), TNF-alpha, and IL-1beta by ELISA, mRNA and protein expression of iNOS and COX-2, phosphorylation of MAPKs, and activation of NF-kappaB by RT-PCR and Western blotting were examined in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. RESULTS: The CIE strongly inhibited NO, PGE(2), TNF-alpha, and IL-1beta production, and also significantly inhibited mRNA and protein expression of iNOS and COX-2 in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages, in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the CIE clearly suppressed nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB p65 subunits, which correlated with an inhibitory effect on IkappaBalpha phosphorylation. The CIE also attenuated the activation of ERK1/2 and JNK in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the anti-inflammatory properties of CIE might result from the inhibition of inflammatory mediators, such as NO, PGE(2), TNF-alpha, and IL-1beta, via suppression of MAPKs and NF-kappaB-dependent pathways.

Anti-inflammatory activity of Chrysanthemum indicum extract in acute and chronic cutaneous inflammation.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Although Chrysanthemum indicum Linné (Compositae) has long been used in traditional Korean, Chinese, Japanese medicine to treat various immune-related diseases the underlying mechanism(s) by which these effects are induced remains to be defined in vivo model system. We investigated the effects of 70% ethanolic extract from Chrysanthemum indicum Linné (CIE) on skin inflammation in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta), activation of myeloperoxidase, and histological assessment were examined in acute and chronic skin inflammation using 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced mouse ear edema. RESULTS: CIE inhibited topical edema in the mouse ear, following administration at 200mg/kg (i.p.), leading to substantial reductions in skin thickness and tissue weight, inflammatory cytokine production, neutrophil-mediated myeloperoxidase activity, and various histopathological indicators. Furthermore, CIE was effective at reducing inflammatory damage induced by chronic TPA exposure. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that CIE is an effective anti-inflammatory agent in murine phorbol ester-induced dermatitis, and suggest that the extract may have therapeutic potential in a variety of immune-related cutaneous diseases.

Anti-inflammatory effects of Asparagus cochinchinensis extract in acute and chronic cutaneous inflammation.

AIMS OF STUDY: Although Asparagus cochinchinensis Merrill (Liliaceae) has long been used in traditional Korean and Chinese medicine to treat inflammatory diseases, the underlying mechanism(s) by which these effects are induced remains to be defined. We investigated the effects of 70% ethanolic extract from Asparagus cochinchinensis Merrill (ACE) on skin inflammation in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta), activation of myeloperoxidase, and histological assessment were examined in acute and chronic skin inflammation using 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced mouse ear edema. We also performed acetic acid-induced vascular permeability test. RESULTS: ACE inhibited topical edema in the mouse ear, following administration at 200mg/kg (i.p.), leading to substantial reductions in skin thickness and tissue weight, inflammatory cytokine production, neutrophil-mediated myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and various histopathological indicators. Furthermore, ACE was effective at reducing inflammatory damage induced by chronic TPA exposure and evoked a significant inhibition of vascular permeability induced by acetic acid in mice. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that ACE is an effective anti-inflammatory agent in murine phorbol ester-induced dermatitis, and suggest that the compound may have therapeutic potential in a variety of immune-related cutaneous diseases.