Bioactivities of Lentinus polychrous and Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes) Polysaccharide Extracts.

This study aimed to compare the bioactivities of Lentinus polychrous polysaccharide extracts with Ganoderma lucidum. Three hot water-extracted polysaccharide fractions of L. polychrous (LPE), including immature fruiting bodies (im-LPE), mature fruiting bodies (ma-LPE), and mycelium (my-LPE), were analyzed for their phytochemical contents and bioactivities (e.g., anticancer, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects) compared with G. lucidum extract (GLE). Although GLE had the highest total phenolic and protein contents and lower carbohydrate content than LPE, im-LPE showed strong inhibition on HepG2 cell proliferation as did GLE. GLE and LPE showed antiviral effects on herpes simplex virus-1 and the relative antiproliferative activity was from im-LPE > my-LPE > ma-LPE. However, im-LPE showed the best protective activity on the viral attachment step with some virucidal effects. Moreover, all LPE showed selective and stronger inhibitory effects on LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages than those of GLE on genetic expression. Considering the 50% inhibitory concentration values, my-LPE possessed the strongest inhibitory activity on the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase. However, ma-LPE had the strongest inhibitory effects on interleukin-1ß and tumor necrosis factor-α gene expression. The extracts increased splenocyte proliferation under mycohaemagglutinin induction with a relative order of my-LPE > GLE > ma-LPE = im-LPE. In conclusion, LPE showed positive effects and stronger activity than G. lucidum. L. polychrous may have potential for use as an ingredient in functional foods.

Bioactivities of alcohol based extracts of Phyllanthus emblica branches: antioxidation, antimelanogenesis and anti-inflammation.

Phyllanthus emblica is an euphorbiaceous plant that has long been used in traditional medicines for health promotion, anti-aging and also for treatment of wide ranges of symptoms and diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the pharmacological activity of the plant branch. Alcohol based extracts of P. emblica branch were prepared in 50 % ethanolic extract by maceration (EPE) and methanolic extract by Soxhlet apparatus (MPE). EPE and MPE contained high total phenolic content and strong antioxidative activity. By HPLC analysis, gallic acid and vanillic acid are the major phenolic compounds of these extracts. Both EPE and MPE inhibited tyrosinase activity stronger than the ethanolic extract of P. emblica fruit (IC50 of 247.37 ± 18.57 and 193.75 ± 44.90 versus 4346.95 ± 166.23 µg/ml). EPE significantly inhibited the mRNA expressions of tyrosinase, and tyrosinase related proteins (TRP-1 and TRP-2) in B16 murine melanoma cells and suppressed the expression of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory genes (COX-2, iNOS, TNF-α, IL-16 and IL-6) in RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells in a dose-dependent manner. These extracts significantly suppressed the carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats in a dose-dependent manner.

Hair growth-promoting effect of Carthamus tinctorius floret extract.

The florets of Carthamus tinctorius L. have traditionally been used for hair growth promotion. This study aimed to examine the potential of hydroxysafflor yellow A-rich C. tinctorius extract (CTE) on hair growth both in vitro and in vivo. The effect of CTE on cell proliferation and hair growth-associated gene expression in dermal papilla cells and keratinocytes (HaCaT) was determined. In addition, hair follicles from mouse neonates were isolated and cultured in media supplemented with CTE. Moreover, CTE was applied topically on the hair-shaved skin of female C57BL/6 mice, and the histological profile of the skin was investigated. C. tinctorius floret ethanolic extract promoted the proliferation of both dermal papilla cells and HaCaT and significantly stimulated hair growth-promoting genes, including vascular endothelial growth factor and keratinocyte growth factor. In contrast, CTE suppressed the expression of transforming growth factor-ß1 that is the hair loss-related gene. Furthermore, CTE treatment resulted in a significant increase in the length of cultured hair follicles and stimulated the growth of hair with local effects in mice. The results provided the preclinical data to support the potential use of CTE as a hair growth-promoting agent.

Cytotoxic and immunomodulatory effects of polyhydroxyoctane isolated from Lentinus polychrous mycelia.

A polyhydroxyoctane, 6-methylheptane-1,2,3,4,5-pentaol (MHP), was first isolated from mycelia of the Thai edible mushroom Lentinus polychrous. MHP was evaluated for its cytotoxic and immunomodulatory effects in vitro. MHP was slightly cytotoxic to murine splenocytes but not to RAW264.7 cells or peripheral blood mononuclear cells. MHP decreased nitric oxide and intracellular O2 (-) production from lipopolysaccharide- and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate-activated RAW264.7 cells at levels of 78.98 ± 4.72 and 78.48 ± 2.41 % of controls, respectively. The mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory mediators, including iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, COX-1 and COX-2, were significantly suppressed by MHP. In addition, MHP significantly increased the proliferation of phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen-induced splenocytes. These results indicate that MHP is able to modulate inflammatory responses and the proliferation of both T- and B-lymphocyte cells, suggesting that MHP may be a good natural immunomodulator.

In vivo and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of Lentinus polychrous extract.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Lentinus polychrous is a Thai local edible mushroom, traditionally used for the treatments of fever and inflammation due to snake or scorpion envenomation. AIM OF STUDY: The present study aimed to investigate an anti-inflammatory effect of Lentinus polychrous mycelial extract (LPME) both in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cytotoxicity and suppressive effects of LPME on nitric oxide production, intracellular O2(-) production, pro-inflammatory mediator expression, TNF-α production were determined by using LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, Anti-inflammatory effect of LPME was evaluated by using carageenan-induced paw edema in rats. RESULTS: The LPME exhibited cytotoxicity with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 280.25 ± 10.10 µg/ml and significantly suppressed the productions of NO and intracellular O2(-) with dose-dependent manner. LPME decreased the expressions of iNOS, IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α and COX-2 and significantly decreased the TNF-α production in LPS-activated macrophage with dose-dependent manners. Moreover, LPME showed significant suppressive effect on paw edema in rats. CONCLUSION: The results clearly revealed that the LPME inhibited NO and pro-inflammatory productions by down-regulating the gene expressions of pro-inflammatory mediators leading to the decrease paw edema in rat which support the traditional use.

Anti-inflammatory effect of Streblus asper leaf extract in rats and its modulation on inflammation-associated genes expression in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells.

AIM OF THIS STUDY: Streblus asper is a medicinal plant from Thailand used in folk medicine for the treatment of several inflammatory diseases. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of Streblus asper leaf ethanolic extract (SAE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experimental carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats was performed in which the SAE at doses of 125, 250, 500 mg/kg body weight was intraperitoneally administered to the rats. Then, reverse transcriptive polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique was also performed to determine the effect of SAE on the expression of inflammation-associated genes in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). RESULTS: The SAE at all given doses caused a significant dose-dependent inhibition of edema (p<0.05). Moreover, the significant and dose-dependent LPS-induced cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expressions were demonstrated in RAW 264.7 cells treated with SAE. The inhibition is selective, since COX-1 mRNA expression did not change in the presence of SAE. CONCLUSION: The results of this study are the first scientific evidence on the molecular effects of Streblus asper as a potential anti-inflammatory agent, which supports the fact that the plant is employed in traditional remedies.