Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Artemisia argyi on Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcer: Analytical, In Vitro and In Vivo Studies for the Identification of Action Mechanism and Active Compounds.

Artemisia argyi is widely used as traditional medicine in East Asia. However, its effects against inflammation and gastric ulcers have not been reported yet. We analyzed anti-inflammatory activity and its molecular mechanisms of A. argyi using RAW264.7 cells line, then evaluated the curative efficacy in rats with acute gastric ulcers. Nitric oxide and IL-6 production was measured using Griess reagent and an ELISA kit. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin (IL)-6, and mucin (MUC)1, MUC5AC, and MUC6 mRNA were determined by SYBR Green or Taqman qRT-PCR methods. The phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, p38, and c-Jun protein were detected by western blotting. RW0117 inhibited LPS-induced NO and IL-6 production. The mRNA levels of iNOS and IL-6 were strongly suppressed. The phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and c-Jun decreased by treatment with RW0117. Oral administration of RW0117 recovered the amount of mucin mRNA and protein level that was decreased due to gastric ulcers by HCl-EtOH. A. argyi exhibited strong anti-inflammatory effects and contributed to the modulation of HCl-EtOH-induced gastric ulcer in rats.

A 12-Week, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial for Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of DKB114 on Reduction of Uric Acid in Serum.

This study sought to investigate the antihyperuricemia efficacy and safety of DKB114 (a mixture of Chrysanthemum indicum Linn flower extract and Cinnamomum cassia extract) to evaluate its potential as a dietary supplement ingredient. This clinical trial was a randomized, 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. A total of 80 subjects (40 subjects with an intake of DKB114 and 40 subjects with that of placebo) who had asymptomatic hyperuricemia (7.0-9.0 mg/dL with serum uric acid) was randomly assigned. No significant difference between the DKB114 and placebo groups was observed in the amount of uric acid in serum after six weeks of intake. However, after 12 weeks of intake, the uric acid level in serum of subjects in the DKB114 group decreased by 0.58 ± 0.86 mg/dL and was 7.37 ± 0.92 mg/dL, whereas that in the placebo group decreased by 0.02 ± 0.93 mg/dL and was 7.67 ± 0.89 mg/dL, a significant difference (p = 0.0229). In the analysis of C-reactive protein (CRP) change, after 12 weeks of administration, the DKB114 group showed an increase of 0.05 ± 0.27 mg/dL (p = 0.3187), while the placebo group showed an increase of 0.10 ± 0.21 mg/dL (p = 0.0324), a statistically significant difference (p = 0.0443). In the analysis of amount of change in apoprotein B, after 12 weeks of administration, the DKB114 group decreased by 4.75 ± 16.69 mg/dL (p = 0.1175), and the placebo group increased by 3.13 ± 12.64 mg/dL (p = 0.2187), a statistically significant difference between the administration groups (p = 0.0189). In the clinical pathology test, vital signs and weight measurement, and electrocardiogram test conducted for safety evaluation, no clinically significant difference was found between the ingestion groups, confirming the safety of DKB114. Therefore, it may have potential as a treatment for hyperuricemia and gout. We suggest that DKB114 as a beneficial and safe food ingredient for individuals with high serum uric acid. Trial registration (CRIS.NIH. go. Kr): KCT0002840.

Anti-Obesity Effect of DKB-117 through the Inhibition of Pancreatic Lipase and α-Amylase Activity.

This study sought to evaluate the effects of Phaseolus multiflorus var. albus Bailey extract (PM extract) and Pleurotus eryngii var. ferulae extract (PF extract) on the inhibition of digestive enzymes and to confirm the anti-obesity effect of DKB-117 (a mixture of PM extract and PF extract) in digestive enzyme inhibition in a mouse model of obesity induced by a high-fat diet. In in vitro studies, PM extract and PF extract have increased dose-dependent inhibitory activity on α-amylase (Inhibitory concentration (IC50 value: 6.13 mg/mL)) and pancreatic lipase (IC50 value; 1.68 mg/mL), respectively. High-fat diet-induced obese mice were orally administered DKB-117 extracts at concentrations of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg/day, while a positive control group was given orlistat (pancreatic lipase inhibitor) and Garcinia cambogia (inhibiting the enzymes needed to synthesize carbohydrates into fat) at concentrations of 40 and 200 mg/kg/day, respectively, for eight weeks. As a result, body weight, fat mass (total fat mass, abdominal fat, and subcutaneous fat) detected with microcomputed tomography, fat mass (abdominal fat and inguinal fat) after an autopsy, and liver triglyceride levels were decreased significantly in the DKB-117 (300 mg/kg/day) group compared to those in the HFD control group. Additionally, we obtained results indicating that the presence of carbohydrates was found more in the DKB-117-300 (300 mg/kg/day) group than in the HFD control group. These data clearly show that DKB-117 extracts are expected to have an anti-obesity effect through a complex mechanism that promotes carbohydrate release through the inhibition of carbohydrate-degrading enzymes while blocking lipid absorption through lipase inhibition.

Protective Mechanisms of Avocado Oil Extract Against Ototoxicity.

Despite the excellent antimicrobial activity of aminoglycoside antibiotics, permanent inner ear damage associated with the use of these drugs has resulted in the need to develop strategies to address the ototoxic risk given their widespread use. In a previous study, we showed that avocado oil protects ear hair cells from damage caused by neomycin. However, the detailed mechanism by which this protection occurs is still unclear. Here, we investigated the auditory cell-protective mechanism of enhanced functional avocado oil extract (DKB122). RNA sequencing followed by pathway analysis revealed that DKB122 has the potential to enhance the expression of detoxification and antioxidant genes associated with glutathione metabolism (Hmox4, Gsta4, Mgst1, and Abcc3) in HEI-OC1 cells. Additionally, DKB122 effectively decreased ROS levels, resulting in the inhibition of apoptosis in HEI-OC1 cells. The expression of the inflammatory genes that encode chemokines and interleukins was also downregulated by DKB122 treatment. Consistent with these results, DKB122 significantly inhibited p65 nuclear migration induced by TNF-α or LPS in HEI-OC1 cells and THP-1 cells and the expression of inflammatory chemokine and interleukin genes induced by TNF-α was significantly reduced. Moreover, DKB122 treatment increased LC3-II and decreased p62 in HEI-OC1 cells, suggesting that DKB122 increases autophagic flux. These results suggest that DKB122 has otoprotective effects attributable to its antioxidant activity, induction of antioxidant gene expression, anti-inflammatory activity, and autophagy activation.

Avocado Oil Extract Modulates Auditory Hair Cell Function through the Regulation of Amino Acid Biosynthesis Genes.

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is one of the most common causes of disability, affecting over 466 million people worldwide. However, prevention or therapy of SNHL has not been widely studied. Avocado oil has shown many health benefits but it has not yet been studied in regards to SNHL. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of avocado oil on SNHL in vitro and in vivo and elucidate its mode of action. For the present study, we used enhanced functional avocado oil extract (DKB122). DKB122 led to recovery of otic hair cells in zebrafish after neomycin-induced otic cell damage. Also, DKB122 improved auditory sensory transmission function in a mouse model of noise induced-hearing loss and protected sensory hair cells in the cochlea. In addition, RNA sequencing was performed to elucidate the mechanism involved. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes showed that DKB122 protected House Ear Institute-Organ of Corti 1 (HEI-OC1) cells against neomycin-related alterations in gene expression due to oxidative stress, cytokine production and protein synthesis.

Comparison of Selenium bioaccumulation in the clams Corbicula fluminea and Potamocorbula amurensis: a bioenergetic modeling approach.

Selenium uptake from food (assimilation efficiency) and dissolved phase (influx rate) as well as loss kinetics (efflux rate) were compared between two bivalves, Corbicula fluminea and Potamocorbula amurensis. The effects of salinity and temperature on these kinetic parameters for both clam species also were evaluated. The Asiatic clam, C. fluminea, more efficiently assimilated Se associated with algae (66-87%) than Se associated with oxic sediments (20-37%). However, no consistent difference was found between Se assimilation efficiencies from both food types (19-60%) for P. amurensis. The temperature and salinity had a minor influence on the Se assimilation from ingested food. However, the effects of temperature and salinity were more evident in the uptake from dissolved sources. The influx rate of Se(IV) increased by threefold with the increase of temperature from 5 to 21 degrees C for C. fluminea. The increase of salinity from 4 to 20 psu decreased the uptake rate constant (ku) of Se in P. amurensis from 0.011 to 0.005 L/g/h, whereas salinity change (0-8 psu) had a negligible effect on the Se influx rate of C. fluminea. The Se influx rate of P. amurensis decreased by half with the 3.5-fold increase in tissue dry weight. The rate constant of loss was greater for P. amurensis (0.029/d at 8 psu) than for C. fluminea (0.014/d at 0 psu and 0.01/d at 8 psu). A bioenergetic model suggests that dietary uptake is the dominant pathway for Se bioaccumulation in the two clams in San Francisco Bay and that interspecies differences in Se bioaccumulation can be explained by differences in food ingestion rates.