Korean Chestnut Honey Suppresses HSV-1 Infection by Regulating the ROS-NLRP3 Inflammasome Pathway.

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is double-stranded DNA virus that belongs to the Orthoherpesviridae family. It causes serious neurological diseases of the central nervous system, such as encephalitis. The current U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs for preventing HSV-1 infection include acyclovir (ACV) and valacyclovir; however, their long-term use causes severe side effects and often results in the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Therefore, it is important to discover new antiviral agents that are safe and effective against HSV-1 infection. Korean chestnut honey (KCH) has various pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammation effects; however, antiviral effects against HSV-1 have not yet been reported. Therefore, we determined the antiviral activity and mechanism of action of KCH after HSV-1 infection on the cellular level. KCH inhibited the HSV-1 infection of host cells through binding and virucidal steps. KCH decreased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and calcium (Ca2+) following HSV-1 infection and suppressed the production of inflammatory cytokines by inhibiting nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-кB) activity. Furthermore, we found that KCH inhibited the expression of the nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome during HSV-1 infection. Taken together, the antiviral effects of KCH occur through multiple targets, including the inhibition of viral replication and the ROS-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Our findings suggest that KCH has potential for the treatment of HSV-1 infection and related diseases.

Castanea crenata honey reduces influenza infection by activating the innate immune response.

Influenza is an acute respiratory disorder caused by the influenza virus and is associated with prolonged hospitalization and high mortality rates in older individuals and chronically ill patients. Vaccination is the most effective preventive strategy for ameliorating seasonal influenza. However, the vaccine is not fully effective in cases of antigenic mismatch with the viral strains circulating in the community. The emergence of resistance to antiviral drugs aggravates the situation. Therefore, developing new vaccines and antiviral drugs is essential. Castanea crenata honey (CH) is an extensively cultivated food worldwide and has been used as a nutritional supplement or herbal medicine. However, the potential anti-influenza properties of CH remain unexplored. In this study, the in vitro and in vivo antiviral effects of CH were assessed. CH significantly prevented influenza virus infection in mouse Raw264.7 macrophages. CH pretreatment inhibited the expression of the viral proteins M2, PA, and PB1 and enhanced the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and type-I interferon (IFN)-related proteins in vitro. CH increased the expression of RIG-1, mitochondrial antiviral signaling (MAVS) protein, and IFN-inducible transmembrane protein, which interferes with virus replication. CH reduced body weight loss by 20.9%, increased survival by 60%, and decreased viral replication and inflammatory response in the lungs of influenza A virus-infected mice. Therefore, CH stimulates an antiviral response in murine macrophages and mice by preventing viral infection through the RIG-1-mediated MAVS pathway. Further investigation is warranted to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the protective effects of CH on influenza virus infection.

The protective effect of Tilia amurensis honey on influenza A virus infection through stimulation of interferon-mediated IFITM3 signaling.

Recently, attention has focused on the prevention and treatment of respiratory viruses including influenza viruses. We evaluated the antiviral effect of Tilia amurensis honey (TH) against influenza A virus in murine macrophages. Influenza A virus infection was reduced following pretreatment with TH. Pretreatment of murine macrophages with TH increased the production and secretion of type-1 interferon (IFN) and proinflammatory cytokines and increased phosphorylation of the type-1 IFN-related proteins, TANK-binding kinase (TBK), and STAT. Moreover, TH increased the expression of IFN-stimulating genes and increased the expression of IFN-inducible transmembrane (IFITM3), a protein that interferes with virus replication and entry. Taken together, these findings suggest that TH suppresses influenza A virus infection by regulating the innate immune response in macrophages. This supports the development of preventive and therapeutic agents for influenza A virus and enhances the economic value of TH.

Efficacy of a Novel Herbal Formulation (F2) on the Management of Obesity: In Vitro and In Vivo Study.

BACKGROUND: Currently, obesity and its comorbidities have become a serious threat to human health necessitating urgent development of safe and effective therapy for their management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this research, a novel polyherbal formulation (F2) was prepared by mixing specific proportions of royal jelly and lemon juice with ethanol extracts of Orostachys japonicus, Rhus verniciflua, and Geranium thunbergii. The antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH and ABTS assay methods. The antiobesity potential of the F2 was assessed in vitro using 3T3-L1 fibroblast and in vivo using a high-fat diet (HFD) fed C57BL/6J mice model. F2 was administered in mice at the dose of 23 mg/kg and 46 mg/kg, twice daily by oral gavage. A well-accepted antiobesity agent, Garcinia cambogia (GC), at 200 mg/kg was used as a positive control. RESULTS: F2 was observed to exhibit synergistic antiadipogenic activity in 3T3-L1 cells. This inhibition was reinforced by the downregulation of specific adipogenic transcription factors. Furthermore, F2 was also found to reduce mice body weight gain, food efficiency ratio, fasting blood glucose level, fat deposition into the liver, and mass of white adipose tissue. F2 also played a role in the excretion of fat consumed by the mice. For most of the assays performed, the F2 (46 mg/kg) was comparable to the positive control GC (200 mg/kg). In addition, potential and synergistic antioxidant activity was observed on F2. CONCLUSION: The results revealed that the formulation F2 exhibited potential antiobesity activity through the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation, dietary fat absorption, and reduction of free fatty acids deposition in tissues.

Anti-Adipogenic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of (-)-epi-Osmundalactone and Angiopteroside from Angiopteris helferiana C.Presl.

Angiopteris helferiana C.Presl is a gigantic fleshy-type fern, belonging to Marattiaceae family. In previous study, we reported the potent anti-adipogenic and anti-inflammatory activities of ethylacetate (EtOAc) and n-butanol (BuOH) fractions of methanol extract of rhizomes of A. helferiana. In continuation, in this study, we report the isolation, characterization, and bioactivity analysis of principle bioactive compounds in these fractions. (-)-epi-Osmundalactone (1) and angiopteroside (2) were isolated from EtOAc and BuOH fractions, respectively. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of NMR spectroscopic data. The quantification study using UPLC revealed the contents of compounds 1 and 2 in the dried rhizome to be 1.54% and 3.2%, respectively. These compounds were evaluated for their anti-adipogenic and anti-inflammatory activities using 3T3-L1 and RAW 264.7 cells, respectively. Compound 1 (2.5 µg/mL) and 2 (20 µg/mL) inhibited the lipid production by 35% and 25%, respectively. Regarding the anti-inflammatory activity, compound 1 (5 µg/mL) inhibited the nitrite production by nearly 82%. In conclusion, the presence of potent anti-adipogenic and anti-inflammatory compounds in A. helferiana indicate its potential role in the use of herb-based treatment for obesity and other related diseases.

Bioassay-guided isolation of active anti-adipogenic compound from royal jelly and the study of possible mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Royal jelly (RJ) has been used traditionally for dietary, cosmetic and health purposes for a long time in different parts of the world. Scientific studies have also shown its numerous health-promoting properties including hypoglycemic and anti-hypercholesterolemic action. In this study, we investigated the anti-adipogenic activity of RJ in 3 T3-L1 cells and isolated the major responsible root component for the activity. METHODS: An active anti-adipogenic compound was isolated through bioassay-guided isolation process by successive treatment of RJ and its active fractions on 3 T3-L1 cell line. (E)-10-Hydroxy-2-decenoic Acid (10-HDA) was identified using NMR spectroscopy and ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). As 10-HDA showed significant anti-adipogenic activity with Oil Red O staining and TG content assay on 3 T3-L1 adipocytes, further study was carried out in molecular level for the expression of adipogenic transcription factors such as PPARγ, FABP4, C/EBPα, SREBP-1c, and Leptin. The effect of 10-HDA on preliminary molecules such as pAkt, pERK, C/EBPß, and pCREB were studied in the early stage of adipogenesis. The effect of 10-HDA on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in fully differentiating adipocytes was measured by nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) assay. RESULT: Results showed that triacylglycerol accumulation and ROS production was markedly suppressed by 10-HDA. Preliminary molecules such as pAkt, pERK, pCERB, and C/EBPß were found to be down-regulated by 10-HDA, which led to down-regulation of key adipogenic transcription factors such as PPARγ, FABP4, CEBPα, SREBP-1c, and Leptin on 3 T3-L1 adipocytes. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that anti-adipogenesis of 10-HDA on 3 T3-L1 adipocyte takes place via two mechanisms: inhibition of cAMP/PKA pathway and inhibition of p-Akt and MAPK dependent insulin signaling pathway. So it is considered that 10-HDA, a major component of RJ, can be a potential therapeutic medicine for obesity.

Exploration of Underlying Mechanism of Anti-adipogenic Activity of Sulfuretin.

Sulfuretin is a natural flavonoid found in the plant Rhus verniciflua STOKES. The plant has been traditionally used as medicinal agent for antiviral, cathartic, diaphoretic, anti-rheumatic and sedative activities in East Asia. In this study we isolated and identified sulfuretin from R. verniciflua and investigated its anti-adipogenic activity against 3T3-L1 preadipocytes cells. We evaluated the effects of sulfuretin on the adipogenic transcription factors like peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα), fatty acid synthase (FAS), Fabp4, adiponectin and zinc fingerprint protein (Zfp) 521 by gene expression (real-time QPCR) and Western blot analysis. Sulfuretin treatment at Day 0 and 2 showed significant reduction of lipid production in 3T3-L1 cells in concentration dependent manner. Gene expression analysis (real-time PCR) revealed that sulfuretin inhibited the both major adipogenic factors (C/EBPα, C/EBPß and PPARγ) and minor adipogenic factors (sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP1c), adiponectin, FAS, Fabp4, Zfp423, and Ebf1). Western blot analysis showed the increased expression of ß-catenin and suppression of PPARγ after sulfuretin treatment. Overall, sulfuretin is a natural flavonoid having potent anti-adipogenic activity through the suppression of major adipogenic factors C/EBPα, C/EBPß and PPARγ, which initiate adipogenesis.

Emulsion-Based Intradermal Delivery of Melittin in Rats.

Bee venom (BV) has long been used as a traditional medicine. The aim of the present study was to formulate a BV emulsion with good rheological properties for dermal application and investigate the effect of formulation on the permeation of melittin through dermatomed rat skin. A formulated emulsion containing 1% (w/v) BV was prepared. The emulsion was compared with distilled water (DW) and 25% (w/v) N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) in DW. Permeation of melittin from aqueous solution through the dermatomed murine skin was evaluated using the Franz diffusion cells. Samples of receptor cells withdrawn at pre-determined time intervals were measured for melittin amount. After the permeation study, the same skin was used for melittin extraction. In addition, a known amount of melittin (5 µg/mL) was added to stratum corneum, epidermis, and dermis of the rat skin, and the amount of melittin was measured at pre-determined time points. The measurement of melittin from all samples was done with HPLC-MS/MS. No melittin was detected in the receptor phase at all time points in emulsion, DW, or NMP groups. When the amount of melittin was further analyzed in stratum corneum, epidermis, and dermis from the permeation study, melittin was still not detected. In an additional experiment, the amount of melittin added to all skin matrices was corrected against the amount of melittin recovered. While the total amount of melittin was retained in the stratum corneum, less than 10% of melittin remained in epidermis and dermis within 15 and 30 min, respectively. Skin microporation with BV emulsion facilitates the penetration of melittin across the stratum corneum into epidermis and dermis, where emulsified melittin could have been metabolized by locally-occurring enzymes.

Evaluation of the skin phototoxicity and photosensitivity of honeybee venom.

OBJECTIVE: Bee (Apis mellifera L.) venom (BV) has been used as a cosmetic ingredient owing to its anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects. The aim of this study was to assess the skin safety of BV. METHODS: For this purpose, skin phototoxicity and sensitization tests were conducted in healthy male Hartley guinea pigs. The animals were divided into three groups (n=5) for the phototoxicity test: G1 (negative control), G2 (BV gel treatment), and G3 (positive control). After specified treatments, the animals were irradiated with ultraviolet A (15 J/cm2 ). The photosensitivity test was also performed in three groups: G4 (negative control, n=5), G5 (BV gel treatment, n=10), and G6 (positive control, n=5). RESULTS: Erythema and edema were observed after 24, 48, and 72 hours in the positive control group, but not in the negative control and BV gel groups. Application of BV to the guinea pig skin had no toxic effects on any clinical signs, body weight, or mortality. In addition, it did not evoke a skin reaction in both either the skin phototoxicity and skin photosensitization tests. CONCLUSION: Therefore, it can be concluded that BV has the potential to be developed as a drug ingredient for topical uses.

Antibacterial Activity and Antibiotic-Enhancing Effects of Honeybee Venom against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), along with other antibiotic resistant bacteria, has become a significant social and clinical problem. There is thus an urgent need to develop naturally bioactive compounds as alternatives to the few antibiotics that remain effective. Here we assessed the in vitro activities of bee venom (BV), alone or in combination with ampicillin, penicillin, gentamicin or vancomycin, on growth of MRSA strains. The antimicrobial activity of BV against MRSA strains was investigated using minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) and a time-kill assay. Expression of atl which encodes murein hydrolase, a peptidoglycan-degrading enzyme involved in cell separation, was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The MICs of BV were 0.085 µg/mL and 0.11 µg/mL against MRSA CCARM 3366 and MRSA CCARM 3708, respectively. The MBC of BV against MRSA 3366 was 0.106 µg/mL and that against MRSA 3708 was 0.14 µg/mL. The bactericidal activity of BV corresponded to a decrease of at least 3 log CFU/g cells. The combination of BV with ampicillin or penicillin yielded an inhibitory concentration index ranging from 0.631 to 1.002, indicating a partial and indifferent synergistic effect. Compared to ampicillin or penicillin, both MRSA strains were more susceptible to the combination of BV with gentamicin or vancomycin. The expression of atl gene was increased in MRSA 3366 treated with BV. These results suggest that BV exhibited antibacterial activity and antibiotic-enhancing effects against MRSA strains. The atl gene was increased in MRSA exposed to BV, suggesting that cell division was interrupted. BV warrants further investigation as a natural antimicrobial agent and synergist of antibiotic activity.

Development of UPLC Fingerprint with Multi-Component Quantitative Analysis for Quality Consistency Evaluation of Herbal Medicine "Hyangsapyeongwisan".

Hyangsapyeongwisan (HSPWS), known as traditional herbal medicine, has been used in the treatment of gastric disease. Standardization of HSPWS is a necessary step for the establishment of a consistent biological activity for the production and manufacturing of HSPWS herbal preparations. A simple, sensitive and accurate method using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) fingerprinting with a diode array detector (DAD) was developed and validated for systematic quality evaluation of HSPWS. Separation conditions were optimized using a Halo C18 2.7 µm, 4.6 × 100 mm column with a mobile phase of 0.1% phosphoric acid and acetonitrile, and detection wavelengths of 215, 250 and 350 nm. Validation of the analytical method was evaluated by tests of linearity, precision, accuracy and robustness. All calibration curves of components showed good linearity (R(2) > 0.9996). The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were within the ranges of 0.004-0.134 and 0.012-0.406 µg/mL, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) values of intra- and inter-day testing were within the range of 0.01-3.84%. The result of the recovery test was 96.82-104.62% with an RSD value of 0.14-3.84%. Robustness values of all parameters as well as the stability test of analytical solutions were within the standard limit. It showed that the developed method was simple, specific, sensitive, accurate, precise, reproducible and robust for the quantification of active components of HSPWS. Chromatographic fingerprinting with quantitative analysis of marker compounds in HSPWS prepared by different methods and commercial formulation was also evaluated successfully.

Whitening Effect of Watersoluble Royal Jelly from South Korea.

Royal jelly has been widely used as a health supplement worldwide. However, royal jelly has been implicated in allergic reactions, and we developed a water-soluble royal jelly (WSRJ) without the allergy inducing protein. In this study, we aimed to identify the anti-melanogenic efficacy of WSRJ. B16F1 melanoma cells were first treated with 10 nM α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and then with various doses of WSRJ. In addition, we investigated the mRNA and protein expression of melanogenesis-related genes such as tyrosinase, tyrosinase related protein-1 (TRP-1) and TRP-2 by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. WSRJ directly inhibited tyrosinase and cellular tyrosinase activity, which decreased melanin synthesis in α-MSH stimulated B16F1 melanoma cells a level comparable to that observed with arbutin. WSRJ decreased the mRNA and protein expressions of tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2, which was comparable to that observed with arbutin. WSRJ has strong anti-melanogenic activity, which invoice direct inhibition of tyrosinase enzyme activity and suppression of expression of melanogenesis related genes. Results from this study suggests that WSRJ is a potential candidate for the treatment of skin pigmentation.

Evaluation of in vitro and in vivo biological activities of Cheilanthes albomarginata Clarke.

BACKGROUND: The Cheilanthes albomarginata Clarke (CA), a fern belonging to Pteridaceae family, is found mainly in India, Nepal, Pakistan and Bhutan at an altitude of 1300-2700 m. It grows mostly in the rock crevices on slopes. Juice from the rhizome of CA has been used to treat peptic ulcer. In this study, the biological activities (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-adipogenic and anti-obesity) of the extracts of CA were investigated. The total phenolic content of each extract was quantified. This is the first report regarding the study of biological activities on CA. METHODS: In the current study, the crude methanol and fractionated extract of the aerial part of CA were investigated for the antioxidant tests which were namely DPPH assay, hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay and nitrite scavenging assay. Their phenolic contents were measured by the Folin-Ciocalteu's method.In vitro anti-inflammatory and anti-adipogenic assays were evaluated against the RAW 264.7 macrophage cells and 3 T3-L1 cells respectively. The crude methanol extract and phenolic fraction (combination of ethyl acetate and butanol fraction) were studied for the in vivo anti-obesity test using male Sprague Dawley rats. RESULTS: The ethyl acetate fraction showed the strongest DPPH radical scavenging (82.54 ± 0.48%), hydrogen peroxide scavenging (3.41 ± 0.21 mg/ml) and nitrite scavenging activity (61.39%). The highest phenolic content was found in the ethyl acetate fraction followed by the butanol fraction. The ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest in vitro anti-inflammatory and anti-adipogenic activities. From the in vivo study on rats, the crude methanol extract and phenolic fraction showed plasma triglyceride lowering activity as well as reduction of weight of adipose tissue in high fat diet induced obese rats. CONCLUSION: The current study suggests that the ethyl acetate and butanol extracts of CA are potential source for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-adipogenic remedies. In addition to that the results of in vivo studies evidenced the possibility of CA as a source of anti-obesity drug remedies.

Methyl gallate from Galla rhois successfully controls clinical isolates of Salmonella infection in both in vitro and in vivo systems.

Galla rhois is a commonly used traditional medicine for the treatment of pathogenic bacteria in Korea as well as in other parts of Asia. Methyl gallate (MG), a major component of Galla Rhois, exhibits strong antibacterial activity, but its mechanism of action against Salmonella spp. is unclear. In the present study, we investigated the antibacterial actions of MG against Salmonella. The antibacterial activity determined by broth dilution method indicated that the antibacterial activity of MG against Salmonella strains ranged from 3.9 to 125 µg/ml. In vitro bacterial viability test indicated that MG significantly decreased the viability of Salmonella over 40% when combined with ATPase inhibitors. The time-kill curves showed that a combined MG and ATPase inhibitors (DCCD and NaN3) treatment reduced the bacterial counts dramatically after 24 h. Oral administration of MG showed a strong anti-bacterial activity against WS-5 infected BALB/c mice. In contrast to the untreated Salmonella infected control animals, MG treated groups showed no clinical symptoms of the disease, such as lethargy and liver damage. It was observed that MG treatment significantly increased the survival of animals from Salmonella infection, while in untreated groups all animal succumbed to disease by the sixth day post infection. Thus, the present study demonstrates the therapeutic ability of MG against Salmonella infections.

Quantitative assessment of traditional Oriental herbal formulation Samhwangsasim-tang using UPLC technique.

A specific and reliable ultra-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection method has been developed and validated for the quantitative assessment of a traditional Oriental herbal formulation, Samhwangsasim-tang (SST). A Halo reversed-phase amide column (2.7 µm, 4.6 × 150 mm) was used to separate marker compounds; detection was conducted by ultraviolet absorbance at 250 nm. The column temperature was maintained at 45°C. A mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile (A) and 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid in water (B) was found to be suitable for the separation, at a flow rate of 1.8 mL/min with gradient elution. Linearity, specificity, precision and recovery were calculated to validate the method and instrumentation. Under the described conditions, all marker compounds (rhaponticin, berberine, palmatine, baicalin, baicalein and wogonin) were collected within 25 min. All calibration curves of components showed good linearity (correlation coefficient > 0.9996). The limit of detection and limit of quantification ranged from 0.08-3.05 and 0.23-8.12 µg/mL, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) and repeatability values of intra-day and inter-day precision were less than 2.30, 2.99 and 1.82%, respectively. In the recovery test, the accuracy ranged from 97.56-103.30% with RSD values less than 2.63%. The developed method was simple, specific, sensitive, accurate, precise and reproducible for the quantification of the active chemical constituents of SST. The simultaneous analysis of the contents of marker compounds in different SST samples prepared by different extraction procedures and different commercial products was successfully evaluated.

Development of simultaneous analysis for marker constituents in Hwangryunhaedok-tang () and its application in commercial herbal formulas.

This study was performed to develop methods for the chromatographic determination of biomarkers in Hwangryunhaedok-tang (HHT) and the quantitative evaluation of commercial HHT. To develop an analytical method, an RP-amide column (2.7 µm, 4.6 × 100 mm, Halo: Supelco, Bellefonte, PA) was used with a gradient solvent system of mixed acetonitrile and 0.1 % phosphoric acid/water and an ultra performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector. The method was validated by specificity, linearity, accuracy (recovery) and precision tests (repeatability, intra and inter-day). The correlation coefficients (R (2)) of biomarkers were calculated as 0.9998-1.000 and their ranges were as follows: geniposide (62.5-1,000.0 µg/ml), berberine (31.3-500.0 mg/ml), palmatine (31.3-500.0 µg/ml), baicalin (125.0-1,500.0 µg/ml), baicalein (15.6-250.0 µg/ml) and wogonin (5.2-125.0 µg/ml), respectively. The limit of detection was 0.34-4.01 µg/ml, and the limit of quantification was 1.02-12.16 µg/ml. The intra-day and inter-day precision of six components were revealed as 0.02-2.48 % as a relative standard deviation (RSD). The repeatability value of biomarkers in three different concentrations of HHT was 0.29-2.98 % (RSD value) and recovery was 95.72-104.90 %. Among several extraction methods tested, biomarker content was higher with the 20 times extraction (20TE) and mixture of extract powder (MEP) methods than with any other method, and some differences among diverse pharmaceutical medicines were revealed. The validation data indicated that the method developed is suited to the determination of six marker compounds in HHT. The content of biomarkers by simultaneous analysis was evaluated in 20TE, MEP, USA formula and Taiwan formula.

The protective effect of Cassia obtusifolia on DSS-induced colitis.

Cassia obtusifolia (CO) has been traditionally used in Korea to treat eye inflammation, photophobia, and lacrimation. However, the regulatory effect and molecular mechanism of CO in intestinal inflammation has not been understood. In this study, we investigate the protective effect of CO in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. CO reduced clinical signs of DSS-induced colitis, including body weight loss, shortened colon length, and increased disease activity index. The results show that CO significantly suppressed the levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in DSS-treated colon tissues. Additionally, we observed that CO reduced the activation of transcription nuclear factor-κB p65 in DSS-treated colon tissues. Taken together, these findings suggest that CO has improving effects on DSS-induced ulcerative colitis, which may explain its beneficial effect in the regulation of chronic intestinal inflammation.

Insamhodo-tang, a traditional Korean medicine, regulates mast cell-mediated allergic inflammation in vivo and in vitro.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Insamhodo-tang (IHT) has traditionally been used in Korea to treat a variety of diseases, including chronic cough, tuberculosis, and chronic bronchitis. However, the anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects of IHT and its molecular mechanisms have yet to be clearly elucidated. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the effects of IHT on mast cell-mediated allergy inflammation in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated to ascertain the pharmacological effects of IHT on both compound 48/80-induced and 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced allergic reactions under in vivo conditions. Additionally, to find a possible explanation for the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of IHT, we evaluated the regulatory effects of IHT on the level of inflammatory mediators in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate plus calcium ionophore A23187 (PMACI)-stimulated human mast cells (HMC-1). RESULTS: The finding of this study demonstrated that IHT reduced compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylactic shock, DNFB-induced dermatitis, and ear swelling responses in mice. Additionally, IHT inhibited the production of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and TNF-α, as well as the activation of nuclear factor-κB and caspase-1 in PMACI-stimulated HMC-1. CONCLUSION: Collectively, the findings of this study provide us with a novel insight into the pharmacological actions of IHT as a potential molecule for use in the treatment of allergic inflammation diseases.

Antibacterial activity of Ecklonia cava against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp.

Ecklonia cava is a brown alga (Laminariales, Phaeophyta) growing on the subtidal rocky shores of Korea. It has antioxidant, antidiarrhea, and anticoagulant effects. In this study, the antimicrobial activity of E. cava EtOH extract and its fractions (n-hexane, CH2Cl2, EtOAc, n-BuOH, and H2O) were investigated against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp. The E. cava EtOAc fraction showed good antibacterial activity against all bacteria. Eckol isolated from E. cava EtOAc fraction showed antimicrobial activity against all the tested strains. The minimum inhibitory concentration of eckol against S. aureus strains ranged from 125 to 250 microg/mL and 125 to 250 microg/mL for Salmonella strains. The fraction inhibitory concentration index of eckol in combination with ampicillin ranged from 0.31 to 0.5, indicating remarkable synergism against S. aureus. However, against Salmonella gallinarum ATCC 9184 and Salmonella typhimurium, it ranges from 0.75 to 1.0. The combinations of eckol + ampicillin exhibited improved inhibition of S. aureus and Salmonella with synergy or additive effect. We suggest that eckol ingredients of the E. cava against S. aureus and Salmonella have antibacterial activity.