ABSTRACT
This study explores the potential of a natural composite formulation known as ED, consisting of Ecklonia cava (E. cava, family: Lessoniaceae) and Chrysanthemum indicum Linne (C. indicum, family: Asteraceae), in alleviating lung inflammation induced by fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Initial assessments confirmed that neither ED nor one of its components, dieckol, exhibited cytotoxic effects on A549 cells. Subsequently, the impact of ED and dieckol on MUC5AC gene expression in A549 cells stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) was investigated, revealing promising results that demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition of MUC5AC gene expression. The study also delves into the underlying mechanisms, demonstrating that ED and dieckol effectively suppressed the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including JNK, ERK, and p38, which are known to be involved in the regulation of MUC5AC gene expression. In in vivo experiments using a PM2.5-induced pulmonary inflammation mouse model, the research findings showed that ED mitigated cellular accumulation in the airways, leading to a significant reduction in the total cell count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Moreover, ED exhibited protective effects against PM2.5-induced pulmonary damage, characterized by reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and decreased mucus secretion in pulmonary tissues. Additionally, ED's anti-inflammatory properties were evident in its ability to decrease the levels of key inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IL-6, both in the serum and lung tissue of the PM2.5-induced pulmonary inflammation mouse model. These findings suggest the potential of ED as a therapeutic agent for inflammatory respiratory diseases.
ABSTRACT
Ecklonia cava (E. cava) and Chrysanthemum indicum Linne (C. indicum) are natural raw materials known to have beneficial effects on inflammatory-related diseases, as evidenced by various sources in the literature. This study aimed to investigate the airway-protective effects of a formulation called ED, comprising E. cava and C. indicum, by evaluating its potential anti-inflammatory properties. Methods: The major components of ED were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and its anti-inflammatory activity was assessed in RAW 264.7 cells through measurements of nitric oxide's (NO) inhibitory effect, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 protein expression, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory effect of ED was evaluated in an ovalbumin-induced asthma model by measuring cytokine levels in serum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and lung tissue. Through HPLC analysis, the major components of ED, dieckol and luteolin, were identified. ED demonstrated no cytotoxicity and effectively reduced NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, ED downregulated COX-2 expression through the MAPK signaling pathway in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. In the ovalbumin-induced asthma model, the ED-treated group exhibited reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines in lung tissue. Furthermore, the ED-treated group showed a decrease in the number of inflammatory cells in BALF and lower serum interleukin (IL)-6 levels compared to the ovalbumin-treated group. These results suggest that ED has the potential to be a novel therapeutic agent for improving inflammatory respiratory diseases.
ABSTRACT
Commercial gelatin-based packing materials are available under different names and compositions to be used after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of Spongostan and Cutanplast nasal packing on patients' subjective symptoms, hemostasis, and wound healing following ESS. One hundred adult patients with chronic sinusitis requiring the same extent of ESS were included. Following surgery, one nasal cavity was packed with Cutanplast and the other one with Spongostan. Patients' subjective symptoms while the packing was in situ, hemostatic properties, degree of remaining amount of packing materials, postoperative wound healing, and the cost of the pack were evaluated. Cutanplast and Spongostan are equally effective in the control of postoperative bleeding following ESS. However, Cutanplast packing was significantly more comfortable than Spongostan for nasal obstruction, postnasal drip, rhinorrhea, and headache. Furthermore, the Cutanplast packing was significantly less painful at all time points. The remaining amount of the pack was significantly lower in the Cutanplast than Spongostan packing. Spongostan packing appears to impair wound healing within the sinus cavities up to 3 months postoperatively. Cutanplast was less expensive than Spongostan as used in this study. Cutanplast may be more useful gelatin-based packing material than Spongostan in terms of efficacy and cost-benefit after ESS.