Lactobacillus casei-fermented Amomum xanthioides ameliorates metabolic dysfunction in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.

Amomum xanthioides (AX) has been used as an edible herbal medicine to treat digestive system disorders in Asia. Additionally, Lactobacillus casei is a well-known probiotic commonly used in fermentation processes as a starter. The current study aimed to investigate the potential of Lactobacillus casei-fermented Amomum xanthioides (LAX) in alleviating metabolic disorders induced by high-fat diet (HFD) in a mouse model. LAX significantly reduced the body and fat weight, outperforming AX, yet without suppressing appetite. LAX also markedly ameliorated excessive lipid accumulation and reduced inflammatory cytokine (IL-6) levels in serum superior to AX in association with UCP1 activation and adiponectin elevation. Furthermore, LAX noticeably improved the levels of fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, and HOMA-IR through positive regulation of glucose transporters (GLUT2, GLUT4), and insulin receptor gene expression. In conclusion, the fermentation of AX demonstrates a pronounced mitigation of overnutrition-induced metabolic dysfunction, including hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and obesity, compared to non-fermented AX. Consequently, we proposed that the fermentation of AX holds promise as a potential candidate for effectively ameliorating metabolic disorders.

Sambou Bamboo salt™ down-regulates the expression levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 in activated human mast cells.

Mast cells have a detrimental impact on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Sambou Bamboo salt™ (BS) suppresses mast cell-mediated inflammatory response and enhances immunity. In this study, we investigated the regulatory effects of BS on expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane protease/serine subfamily member 2 (TMPRSS2) in human mast cell line (HMC)-1 cells. BS resulted in significant reductions in expression levels of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in activated HMC-1 cells. Levels of tryptase were reduced by BS. In addition, BS blocked activation of activator protein 1 (AP-1), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinases (JNK), p38, and phosphatidylinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) in activated HMC-1 cells. Therefore, these results show that BS reduces levels of ACE2, TMPRSS2, and tryptase by inhibiting AP-1/JNK/p38/PI3K signaling pathways in mast cells. These findings can serve as valuable foundational data for the development of therapeutic agents aimed at preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Determination of the Combined Effects of Asian Herbal Medicine with Calcium and/or Vitamin D Supplements on Bone Mineral Density in Primary Osteoporosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Our review of 52 RCTs from 5 databases suggests a tendency for notable improvement in BMD when combining herbal medicine with supplements (calcium and vitamin D variants) compared to supplement monotherapy in primary osteoporosis. However, caution is needed in interpreting results due to substantial heterogeneity among included studies. PURPOSE: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine whether herbal medicine (HM) plus supplements such as calcium (Ca) or vitamin D (Vit.D) improves bone mineral density (BMD) compared to supplements alone in primary osteoporosis (OP) patients. METHODS: We searched 5 databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using HMs with supplements (Ca or Vit.D variants) as interventions for primary OP patients published until August 31, 2022. Meta-analysis using BMD score as the primary outcome was performed using RevMan 5.4 version. Risk of bias in the included studies was assessed useing RoB 2.0 tool. RESULTS: In total, 52 RCTs involving 4,889 participants (1,408 men, 3,481 women) were included, with average BMD scores of 0.690 ± 0.095 g/cm2 (lumbar) and 0.625 ± 0.090 g/cm2 (femoral neck). As a result of performing meta-analysis using BMD scores for all 52 RCTs included in this review, combination of HMs with Ca and Vit.D variants improved the BMD score by 0.08 g/cm2 (lumbar, 38 RCTs, 95% CI: 0.06-0.10, p < 0.001, I2 = 97%) and 0.06 g/cm2 (femoral neck, 19 RCTs, 95% CI: 0.04-0.08, p < 0.001, I2 = 92%)compared to controls. However, statistical significance of the lumbar BMD improvement disappeared after adjusting for potential publication bias. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that combining of HM and supplements tends to be more effective in improving BMD in primary OP than supplements alone. However, caution is needed in interpretation due to the reporting bias and high heterogeneity among studies, and well-designed RCTs are required in the future.

Polarization-Dependent Thin Films with Biaxial Anisotropic Absorption Constructed by a Single Coating and Subsequent Topochemical Polymerization of Chromophores.

For the construction of hierarchical superstructures with biaxial anisotropic absorption, a newly synthesized diacetylene-functionalized bipyridinium is self-assembled to use an electron-accepting host for capturing and arranging guests. The formation of the donor-acceptor complex triggers an intermolecular charge transfer, leading to chromophore activation. Polarization-dependent multichroic thin films are prepared through a sequential process of single-coating, self-assembly, and topochemical polymerization of host-guest chromophores. Molecular packing structures constructed in the single-layer optical thin film possess orthogonal absorption axes for two different wavelengths. By tuning the linear polarization angle, the color of the optical thin film can be intentionally controlled. This single-layered multichroic film provides a new pathway for the development of anticounterfeiting and multiplexing encryptions.

Lactobacillus Casei-fermented Amomum Xanthioides Mitigates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in a high-fat diet mice model.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a substantial global health issue owing to its high prevalence and the lack of effective therapies. Fermentation of medicinal herbs has always been considered a feasible strategy for enhancing efficacy in treating various ailments. This study aimed to investigate the potential benefits of the Lactobacillus casei-fermented Amomum xanthioides (LAX) on NAFLD in a high-fat diet model. HFD-fed C57BL6/j mice were administered with 200 mg/kg of LAX or unfermented Amomum xanthioides (AX) or 100 mg/kg of metformin for 6 weeks from the 4th week. The 10-week HFD-induced alterations of hepatic lipid accumulation and hepatic inflammation were significantly attenuated by LAX dominantly (more than AX or metformin), which evidenced by pathohistological findings, lipid contents, inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)- 6 and IL-1ß, oxidative parameters such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and molecular changes reversely between lipogenic proteins such as glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAM) and sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)- 1, and lipolytic proteins including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR-α) and AMP-activated kinase (AMPK)-α in the liver tissues. In addition, the abnormal serum lipid parameters (triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol) notably ameliorated by LAX. In conclusion, these findings support the potential of LAX as a promising plant-derived remedy for NAFLD.

Modulating effect of Eunkyo-san on expression of inflammatory cytokines and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 in human mast cells.

Eunkyo-san is widely used in the treatment of severe respiratory infections. Mast cells not only serve as host cells for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but also they also exacerbate Coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19) by causing a cytokine storm. Here we investigated whether Eunkyo-san and its active compound naringenin regulate the expression of inflammatory cytokines and factors connected to viral infection in activated human mast cell line, HMC-1 cells. Eunkyo-san and naringenin significantly reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, thymic stromal lymphopoietin, and tumor necrosis factor-α without impacting cytotoxicity. Eunkyo-san and naringenin reduced levels of factors connected to SARS-CoV-2 infection such as angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2, SARS-CoV-2 receptor), transmembrane protease/serine subfamily member 2, and tryptase in activated HMC-1 cells. Treatment with Eunkyo-san and naringenin considerably reduced expression levels of ACE2 transcription factor, AP-1 (C-JUN and C-FOS) by blocking phosphatidylinositide-3-kinase and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinases signaling pathways. In addition, Eunkyo-san and naringenin effectively suppressed activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB, and activation of caspase-1 in activated HMC-1 cells. Furthermore, Eunkyo-san and naringenin reduced expression of ACE2 mRNA in two activated mast cell lines, RBL-2H3 and IC-2 cells. The overall study findings showed that Eunkyo-san diminished the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and ACE2, and these findings imply that Eunkyo-san is able to effectively mitigating the cytokine storm brought on by SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Photochemically and Thermally Programmed Optical Multi-States from a Single Diacetylene-Functionalized Cyanostilbene Luminogen.

To develop advanced optical systems, many scientists have endeavored to create smart optical materials which can tune their photophysical properties by changing molecular states. However, optical multi-states are obtained usually by mixing many dyes or stacking multi-layered structures. Here, multiple molecular states are tried to be generated with a single dye. In order to achieve the goal, a diacetylene-functionalized cyanostilbene luminogen (DACSM) is newly synthesized by covalently connecting diacetylene and cyanostilbene molecular functions. Photochemical reaction of cyanostilbene and topochemical polymerization of diacetylene can change the molecular state of DACSM. By thermal stimulations and the photochemical reaction, the conformation of polymerized DACSM is further tuned. The synergetic molecular cooperation of cyanostilbene and diacetylene generates multiple molecular states of DACSM. Utilizing the optical multi-states achieved from the newly developed DACSM, switchable optical patterns and smart secret codes are successfully demonstrated.

The relationship between blood vitamin A levels and diabetic retinopathy: a population-based study.

We assessed the relationship between blood vitamin A levels and the risk of diabetic retinopathy. The study was population-based epidemiological study for 11,727 participants aged 40 or older who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Vitamin A in the blood was classified into quartiles. Diabetic retinopathy was diagnosed by the Early Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy Study. After adjusting confounding variables such as age, sex, smoking, cholesterol, diabetes prevalence period, glycated hemoglobin levels, and high blood pressure, the odd ratio (OR) of vitamin A at quartile level 4 for diabetic retinopathy was 0.32 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.14-0.72, P for trend < 0.001). In male, the OR of quartile 3 level vitamin A for diabetic retinopathy was 0.11 (95% CI, 0.01-0.69, P for trend = 0.010). In adults under the age of 60, the OR of vitamin A at quartile level 3 for diabetic retinopathy was 0.10. (95% CI, 0.03-0.29, P for trend < 0.001). Serum vitamin A high levels are associated with low risk of diabetic retinopathy. Particularly, there is a more effective relationship in male and adults under the age of 60.

Comparative characteristics of fatigue in irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Fatigue is a common symptom in both irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). This study aimed to distinguish fatigue characteristics in IBS and IBD, two functional and organic disorders. METHODS: We systematically searched the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases from inception to June 30, 2023, and conducted a meta-analysis to generate precise estimates and 95% confidence intervals. The analyses were stratified by fatigue type, severity, sex, disease phase, and comorbidities, and study quality was assessed using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). RESULTS: Our analysis included 74 data (13 IBS, 31 CD, 30 UC) encompassing 16,689 participants (6484 males, 7402 females, and 2803 unknown). Overall, fatigue prevalence trended higher in IBS (54.5% [95%CI, 44.5-64.6]), followed by CD (49.8% [95%CI, 44.0-55.5]) and UC (43.6% [95%CI, 38.5-48.7]). This pattern persisted across sub-analyses, including general fatigue (63.4% vs. 51.3% vs. 45.3%) and moderate to severe fatigue (73.8% vs. 59.5% vs. 52.7%) for IBS, CD, and UC, respectively. Female predominance was observed in all three diseases (odds ratio: 1.5 in IBS and CD, 1.8 in UC). Fatigue prevalence significantly varied between disease phases (active vs. remission) in CD (61.3% vs. 36.3%) and UC (53.8% vs. 32.6%). Anemia, anxiety/depression, and/or IBS-like symptoms also contributed to fatigue in CD and UC. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first extensive comparison of fatigue prevalence and features in IBS, CD, and UC. The findings offer valuable insights for treatment and management, aiding our understanding of functional and organic diseases.

Identification of Muscle Strength-Related Gut Microbes through Human Fecal Microbiome Transplantation.

The gut microbiome is well known for its influence on human physiology and aging. Therefore, we speculate that the gut microbiome may affect muscle strength in the same way as the host's own genes. To demonstrate candidates for gut microbes affecting muscle strength, we remodeled the original gut microbiome of mice into human intestinal microbiome through fecal microbiome transplantation (FMT), using human feces and compared the changes in muscle strength in the same mice before and three months after FMT. After comparing before and after FMT, the mice were divided into three groups based on the observed changes in muscle strength: positive, none, and negative changes in muscle strength. As a result of analyzing the α-diversity, ß-diversity, and co-occurrence network of the intestinal microbial community before and after FMT, it was observed that a more diverse intestinal microbial community was established after FMT in all groups. In particular, the group with increased muscle strength had more gut microbiome species and communities than the other groups. Fold-change comparison showed that Eisenbergiella massiliensis and Anaeroplasma abactoclasticum from the gut microbiome had positive contributions to muscle strength, while Ileibacterium valens and Ethanoligenens harbinense had negative effects. This study identifies candidates for the gut microbiome that contribute positively and those that contribute negatively to muscle strength.

The Clinical Diagnosis-Based Nationwide Epidemiology of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Liver Disease in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Although most epidemiological studies have been conducted using a relatively small population or subjects who had medical screenings, the present study aimed to investigate the incidence and prevalence of MASLD (formerly NAFLD) in Korea using nationwide registry data provided by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA). METHODS: Using nationwide medical records provided by HIRA, we analyzed the entire dataset of patients with MASL (KCD10-K76.0) and MASH (KCD10-K75.8) from 2010 to 2021 and calculated the incidence and prevalence by year, age, and gender. The prevalence and incidence rates were calculated by analyzing the HIRA data covering almost the entire population of Korea for 12 years, from 2010 to 2021, with an average population of 50,856,244 during this period. Statistical analyses included calculating confidence intervals using Ulm's formula and conducting sex- and age-specific analyses with a Cochran-Armitage test for trends. RESULTS: The annual incidence of MASL/MASH increased significantly from 9.71/0.37 in 2010 to 13.95/5.52 per 1000 persons in 2021 (p < 0.01). The annual prevalence of MASL increased from 15.69 in 2010 to 34.23 per 1000 persons in 2021, while the annual prevalence of MASH increased from 0.49 to 9.79 per 1000 persons between 2010 and 2021 (p < 0.01). Regarding the sex-dimorphic feature of MASLD, there was a male predominance in those < 50 years old but a female predominance in those ≥ 50 years old for the incidence and prevalence of MASL and the incidence of MASH. CONCLUSION: The incidence of MASL increased by 3% to 4% every year, while the incidence of MASH increased 14.91-fold from 2010 to 2021. The increasing trend is noteworthy compared with previous reports.

Evaluating the Suitability of the Plantaris Tendon for Sports Trauma Reconstruction and a Predictive Model of Tendon Length Based on Height and Leg Length.

This study evaluates the suitability of the plantaris tendon (PT) as a tendon graft donor for sports trauma reconstruction and proposes a predictive model for estimating PT length by using an individual's height and leg length. Anatomical dissection of 50 cadavers (32 males and 18 females) yielded precise measurements of PT length and width while also recording height and leg length. Among the lower limbs, 89% were suitable for at least one recommended graft suitability criterion. In addition, PT length exhibited robust positive correlations with height and leg length. Predictive equations were established for estimating the PT length based on leg length and height with consistency across sexes and sides: PT length = 0.605 + 0.396 × leg length (r = 0.721) and PT length = 1.480 + 0.193 × height (r = 0.626). This study underscores the grafting potential of the PT, providing a predictive tool that can aid surgeons in addressing tendon graft challenges within sports trauma scenarios.

Geometric Transformations Afforded by Rotational Freedom in Aramid Amphiphile Nanostructures.

Molecular self-assembly in water leads to nanostructure geometries that can be tuned owing to the highly dynamic nature of amphiphiles. There is growing interest in strongly interacting amphiphiles with suppressed dynamics, as they exhibit ultrastability in extreme environments. However, such amphiphiles tend to assume a limited range of geometries upon self-assembly due to the specific spatial packing induced by their strong intermolecular interactions. To overcome this limitation while maintaining structural robustness, we incorporate rotational freedom into the aramid amphiphile molecular design by introducing a diacetylene moiety between two aramid units, resulting in diacetylene aramid amphiphiles (D-AAs). This design strategy enables rotations along the carbon-carbon sp hybridized bonds of an otherwise fixed aramid domain. We show that varying concentrations and equilibration temperatures of D-AA in water lead to self-assembly into four different nanoribbon geometries: short, extended, helical, and twisted nanoribbons, all while maintaining robust structure with thermodynamic stability. We use advanced microscopy, X-ray scattering, spectroscopic techniques, and two-dimensional (2D) NMR to understand the relationship between conformational freedom within strongly interacting amphiphiles and their self-assembly pathways.

Coatable Negative Dispersion Retarder: Kinetically Controlled Self-Assembly Pathway of Butterfly-Shaped Molecular Building Blocks for the Construction of Nanocolumns.

Disc-shaped building blocks with columnar phases have attracted attention for their potential in optical applications, including a retarder. However, to achieve coatable high-performance optical films, it is essential to understand a subtle interaction balance between building blocks and relevant self-assembled behaviors during material processing. Herein, we studied a self-assembled nanocolumn evaluation of linear butterfly-shaped dendrons (T-A3D) consisting of thiophene-based conjugated core and flexible alkyl dendron. X-ray diffraction provided insight into the unique hexagonal columnar liquid crystal phase of T-A3D, driven by intermolecular hydrogen bonding and coplanarity of the thiophene-based conjugated core. The formation of a self-assembled nanocolumn with high mobility enabled the uniaxial orientation of butterfly-shaped T-A3D on the aligned rod-shaped nematic reactive mesogens, resulting in a transparent and colorless two-layered negative retarder. The self-assembled nanocolumn consisting of butterfly-shaped molecule would break a new ground for developing advanced optical thin films.

Postoperative Refractive Outcomes of Biometric Formulas in Phacovitrectomy with Gas Tamponade.

PURPOSE: To investigate the refractive accuracy of intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation for biometric formulas in phacovitrectomy. METHODS: This retrospective study included 357 eyes of 357 patients who underwent phacovitrectomy using four commonly available IOL power formulas: Hoffer Q (87 eyes), Holladay 1 (78 eyes), Holladay 2 (91 eyes), and SRK/T (101 eyes). The mean refractive error (ME) and the mean absolute refractive error (MAE) were calculated based on the predicted postoperative refraction error, and they were compared using analysis of variance test. Subjects were divided into high myopic eyes (axial length, ≥26 mm) and nonhigh myopic eyes (axial length, <26 mm). RESULTS: The ME and the MAE after phacovitrectomy did not show a significant difference among the four IOL power formulas (p = 0.546 and p = 0.495, respectively). There was no significant statistical difference in formulas when the eyes were grouped into high myopia and nonhigh myopia (ME: p = 0.526 and p = 0.482, respectively; MAE: p = 0.715 and p = 0.627, respectively). The ME showed myopic shift in all formulas regardless of IOL formula used. The ME showed greater myopic shift in high myopia group than nonhigh myopia group in all formulas. CONCLUSIONS: Our study did not find evidence for superiority of any formula in phacovitrectomy. However, in phacovitrectomy, possible myopic shift should be considered for IOL power calculation. Especially, in phacovitrecotmy in patients with high myopia, more myopic shift should be considered when selecting IOL.

Identification of the Intestinal Microbes Associated with Locomotion.

Given the impact of the gut microbiome on human physiology and aging, it is possible that the gut microbiome may affect locomotion in the same way as the host's own genes. There is not yet any direct evidence linking the gut microbiome to locomotion, though there are some potential connections, such as regular physical activity and the immune system. In this study, we demonstrate that the gut microbiome can contribute differently to locomotion. We remodeled the original gut microbiome of mice through fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) using human feces and compared the changes in locomotion of the same mice before and three months after FMT. We found that FMT affected locomotion in three different ways: positive, none (the same), and negative. Analysis of the phylogenesis, α-diversities, and ß-diversities of the gut microbiome in the three groups showed that a more diverse group of intestinal microbes was established after FMT in each of the three groups, indicating that the human gut microbiome is more diverse than that of mice. The FMT-remodeled gut microbiome in each group was also different from each other. Fold change and linear correlation analyses identified Lacrimispora indolis, Pseudoflavonifractor phocaeensis, and Alistipes senegalensis in the gut microbiome as positive contributors to locomotion, while Sphingobacterium cibi, Prevotellamassilia timonensis, Parasutterella excrementihominis, Faecalibaculum rodentium, and Muribaculum intestinale were found to have negative effects. This study not only confirms the presence of gut microbiomes that contribute differently to locomotion, but also explains the mixed results in research on the association between the gut microbiome and locomotion.

Are dietary intake parameters of vitamin A, carotene, retinol appropriate factors to evaluate the risk of diabetic retinopathy?

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether dietary parameters of vitamin A, carotene, and retinol are sufficient for assessing the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR). This was a population-based cross sectional study using systematic stratified, multilevel, nationwide, clustered sampling methods. From 2008 to 2012, 1948 subjects aged ≥ 40 years who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included. Participants underwent standardized interviews, dietary vitamin A estimation, carotene and retinol level evaluation, and eye examination. Daily dietary intake was evaluated using data in the form of a single 24-hour recall. The odds ratio (OR) of dietary vitamin A between extreme quartiles for DR was 0.72 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.45-1.16, P for trend = .462) after adjusting for covariates such as age, sex, hypertension, hemoglobin A1c levels, and diabetes duration. The adjusted OR of dietary carotene between extreme quartiles for DR was 0.65 (95% CI, 0.39-1.09, P for trend = .220). The adjusted OR of dietary retinol between extreme quartiles for DR was 1.05 (95% CI, 0.62-1.80, P for trend = .279). There was no statistical significance in proliferative DR and Vision-threatening Dr Our study did not find evidence that the risk of DR is correlated with dietary vitamin A levels. Dietary intake parameters of vitamin A, carotene, and retinol might be insufficient to determine the association between the risk of Dr To demonstrate an association for the risk of DR, the use of serum information and not dietary information is needed.

Predicting Maximum Oxygen Uptake from Non-Exercise and Submaximal Exercise Tests in Paraplegic Men with Spinal Cord Injury.

This study aimed to develop prediction equations for maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) based on non-exercise (anthropometric) and submaximal exercise (anthropometric and physiological) variables in paraplegic men with a spinal cord injury. All participants were tested on an arm ergometer using a maximal graded exercise test. Anthropometric variables such as age, height, weight, body fat, body mass index, body fat percentage, and arm muscle mass and physiological variables such as VO2, VCO2, and heart rate at 3 and 6 min of graded exercise tests were included in the multiple linear regression analysis. The prediction equations revealed the following. Regarding non-exercise variables, VO2max was correlated with age and weight (equation R = 0.771, R2 = 0.595, SEE= 3.187). Regarding submaximal variables, VO2max was correlated with weight and VO2 and VCO2 at 6 min (equation R = 0.892, R2 = 0.796, SEE = 2.309). In conclusion, our prediction equations can be used as a cardiopulmonary function evaluation tool to estimate VO2max simply and conveniently using the anthropometric and physiological characteristics of paraplegic men with spinal cord injuries.

Caudatin attenuates inflammatory reaction by suppressing JNK/AP-1/NF-κB/caspase-1 pathways in activated HMC-1 cells.

One of the interfering factors in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the cytokine storm, which contributes to hyperinflammation. Mast cells cause COVID-19 hyperinflammation by increasing inflammatory cytokine levels. We investigated whether caudatin, an active compound of Cynanchum auriculatum, could suppress inflammatory response signaling in human mast cell line, HMC-1 cells. Caudatin suppressed activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and activator protein-1 (AP-1) in HMC-1 cells. Caudatin suppressed nuclear translocation of catalytic subunit (p65) of nuclear factor (NF)-κB by blocking IκBα phosphorylation and degradation. Caudatin also reduced levels of activated-caspase-1 protein and activation of caspase-1. Non-toxic caudatin doses inhibited the mRNA expression and protein synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines. A significant finding was that caudatin inhibited JNK/AP-1/NF-κB/caspase-1 signaling molecules, reducing the secretion of inflammatory cytokines. Consequently, we propose that caudatin might be used as a material in health functional foods to alleviate mast cell-mediated inflammatory conditions like COVID-19.