Ophiopogonin D ameliorates DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis-like lesions in BALB/c mice and TNF-α- inflamed HaCaT cell.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) can occur in both children and adults, and the symptoms include itching and eczema, which in turn cause patients to suffer. Ophiopogonin D (OP-D) is a steroidal glycoside from Radix Ophiopogon japonicus, which is well known as an effective anti-inflammatory herbal medicine in many Asian countries. In this study, we aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of OP-D, using an AD mouse model and inflamed HaCaT cells. Through a histopathological analysis, we were able to confirm the suppressive effects of OP-D on skin thickening and the mast cell activation in AD-like mouse back skin tissues stimulated by DNCB. In addition, we detected significant decreases in cytokine expression levels through multiplex assessment assays of the OP-D-treated mice blood. We observed the anti-inflammatory effect of OP-D in the spleen, causing weight loss in the spleen and in the mRNA expression levels related to diverse cytokines. In human keratinocytes inflamed by TNF-α, OP-D inhibited p38 and ERK protein activation and showed a reduction of NF-κB nuclear translocation. Furthermore, OP-D attenuated pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA expressions in TNF-α-inflamed HaCaT cells. Accordingly, we came to the conclusion that OP-D is a potential natural drug which can be used in order to treat inflammatory skin diseases, such as AD.

Rosa laevigata Attenuates Allergic Asthma Exacerbated by Water-Soluble PM by Downregulating the MAPK Pathway.

Exposure to water-soluble particulate matter (WPM) containing heavy metals can cause severe inflammatory responses and trigger and exacerbate the onset of asthma. As a follow-up study of Rosa laevigata (RL), this study analyzed the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of oral and intratracheal administration of RL and demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in asthma models. Worse T-helper cell type 2 (Th2)-related inflammatory and pro-inflammatory responses were observed after simultaneous challenge with ovalbumin (OVA) and WPM. To establish a model of asthma exacerbated by WPM, BALB/c mice were sensitized with OVA + aluminum hydroxide and challenged with OVA + WPM. To confirm the therapeutic efficacy of RL, it was administered both orally and intratracheally. Histopathological analysis of H&E staining confirmed that oral and intratracheal administration of RL alleviated inflammatory cell infiltration in the airways aggravated by OVA + WPM. RL effectively reduced the number of inflammatory cells obtained from the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. In addition, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and multiplex analysis of serum samples confirmed that the administration of RL reduced the levels of immuno-globulin E (IgE), Th2-related cytokines, and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, real-time PCR analysis of lung tissue samples confirmed that the release of MUC5AC (Mucin 5AC, Oligomeric Mucus/Gel-Forming) and pro-inflammatory cytokines was reduced by RL, and western blotting confirmed that the administration of RL reduced the phosphorylation of ERK and p38 in the MAPK pathway. In conclusion, oral and intratracheal administration of RL appears to have an anti-asthmatic effect by reducing the secretion of Th2-related cytokines, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and IgE by downregulating the MAPK pathway. Thus, RL has further demonstrated potential for development as an oral and inhaled therapeutic for asthma symptoms exacerbated by WPM exposure.

Effect of Rosa laevigata on PM10-Induced Inflammatory Response of Human Lung Epithelial Cells.

Particulate matter 10 (PM10) with a diameter of less than 10 mm causes inflammation and allergic reactions in the airways and lungs, which adversely affects asthmatic patients. In this study, we examined the anti-inflammatory effects of Rosa laevigata (RL), which has been previously investigated medicinally in Korea and China for the discovery of plant-derived anti-inflammatory agents with low side effects, using a PM10-induced lung inflammatory disease model. Using MTT assay, we confirmed that in A549 cells pretreated with RL, cytotoxicity induced by PM10 (100 µg/mL) exposure was attenuated. In addition, western blotting revealed that RL suppressed the expression level of MAPK/NF-κB pathways and its downstream signal, COX-2 in PM10-induced A549 cells. Moreover, real-time PCR demonstrated that RL downregulated the mRNA expression level of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-13, and IL-17) in PM10-induced A549 cells. Based on the results of this study, RL has been shown to relieve inflammation in the lungs due to PM10 exposure. Therefore, RL may be developed as a natural remedy for respiratory diseases caused by PM10 exposure.