ABSTRACT
Galactooligosaccharides have been known to have many health benefits as prebiotic ingredients. In this study, we examined the anti-inflammatory activity of the galactooligosaccharide, NeoGOS-P70 (Korean commercial product), in a dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis model. Next, we performed compositional characterization of NeoGOS-P70, which confirmed that it was a 77.4% high-purity GOS products, including a large amount of 4'-galactosyllactose. Further experiments in DSS-induced colitis model showed that oral administration of NeoGOS-P70 could significantly improve DSS-induced colitis symptoms, such as weight loss, reduction in colon shortening, and suppression of inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and myeloperoxidase secretion from colon of ulcerative colitis mice. Histological analysis of mucin expression in colon tissue revealed the protective effects of NeoGOS-P70. These results suggest the potential of the novel GOS, NeoGOS-P70, as an anti-ulcerative colitis agent that could regulate inflammatory responses.
Subject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Bacillus , Colitis/drug therapy , Trisaccharides/pharmacology , Animals , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/administration & dosage , Colitis/chemically induced , Colitis, Ulcerative/chemically induced , Colitis, Ulcerative/drug therapy , Colon/metabolism , Dextran Sulfate/adverse effects , Inflammation Mediators/metabolism , Interleukin-6/metabolism , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Peroxidase/metabolism , Prebiotics/administration & dosage , Trisaccharides/administration & dosage , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolismABSTRACT
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of liver disease, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Due to significant adverse effects and emergence of resistant strains of currently developed anti-HCV agents, plant extracts have been considered to be potential sources of new bioactive compounds against HCV. The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional effects of triterpenoid saponins contained in the root extract of Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) on viral enzyme activities and replication in both HCV replicon cells and cell culture grown HCV- (HCVcc-) infected cells. Inhibitory activities of triterpenoid saponins from PG were verified by NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase assay and were further confirmed in the context of HCV replication. Six triterpenoid saponins (platycodin D, platycodin D2, platycodin D3, deapioplatycodin D, deapioplatycodin D2, and platyconic acid A), PG saponin mixture (PGSM), were identified as active components exerting anti-HCV activity. Importantly, PGSM exerted synergistic anti-HCV activity in combination with either interferon- α or NS5A inhibitors. We demonstrated that combinatorial treatment of PGSM and IFN- α efficiently suppressed colony formation with significant reduction in drug resistant variant of HCV. These data suggest that triterpenoid saponin may represent a novel anti-HCV therapeutic agent.
ABSTRACT
The present study aims to evaluate the anti-HCV activity of hotwater extract from Platycodon grandiflorum (BC703) with HCV genotype 1b subgenomic replicon system and investigate its hepatoprotective activity on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced acute liver damage in mice. BC703 produced significant hepatoprotective effects against CCl(4)-induced acute hepatic injury by decreasing the activities of serum enzymes, nitric oxide and lipid peroxidation. Histopathological studies further substantiated the protective effect of BC703. Furthermore, BC703 inhibited the HCV RNA replication with an EC(50) value and selective index (CC(50)/EC(50)) of 2.82 µg/mL and above 35.46, respectively. However, digested BC703 using a simulated gastric juice showed poor protective effect against CCl(4)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice and decreased anti-HCV activity as compared to the intact BC703. Although further studies are necessary, BC703 may be a beneficial agent for the management of acute hepatic injury and chronic HCV infection.