Alginic acid has anti-anaphylactic effects and inhibits inflammatory cytokine expression via suppression of nuclear factor-kappaB activation.

BACKGROUND: Alginic acid is comprised of complex polymerized polysaccharides, and can be chemically extracted from seaweed. Alginic acid has an inhibitory effect on histamine release, but its molecular mechanisms are not well understood. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of alginic acid on the mast cell-mediated anaphylactic and inflammatory reaction using in vivo and in vitro models and elucidate its molecular mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The effect of alginic acid on an allergy model was analysed by anaphylaxis, a histidine decarboxylase (HDC) assay, and a histamine assay. Cytokine production was analysed by means of ELISA. Cytokine expression was analysed by means of RT-PCR, and Western blotting. Transcription factor activity was analysed by a luciferase assay and a transcription factor-enzyme linked immunoassay. RESULTS: Alginic acid dose dependently inhibited compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylaxis with doses of 0.25-1 g/kg 1 h (P<0.01, n=6) and significantly inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis by 54.8%. Alginic acid (0.01-1 microg/mL) inhibited histamine release from serum and peritoneal mast cells (P<0.01). All these effects were stronger than those of disodium cromoglycate (DSCG), the reference drug tested. Alginic acid also inhibited HDC expression and activity on the phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)+A23187-stimulated human mast cell line, HMC-1 cells. Moreover, alginic acid significantly inhibited the production of PMA+A23187-induced inflammatory cytokines, IL-1beta and TNF-alpha, but not that of IL-6 or IL-8. In activated HMC-1 cells, the expression level of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB/Rel A protein increased in the nucleus, whereas the level of NF-kappaB/Rel A in the nucleus was decreased by alginic acid treatment. In addition, alginic acid (0.01 microg/mL) decreased the PMA+A23187-induced luciferase activity and DNA-binding activity. CONCLUSION: The present results indicate that alginic acid has potent anti-anaphylactic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Daeganghwal-tang inhibits the stem cell factor-induced migration and inflammatory cytokines secretion in mast cells.

Traditional Oriental medicinal prescription, Daeganghwal-tang (DGHT) has been used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Korea. However, its effect in experimental models remains unknown. Recent reports suggest that in patients with RA, synovial mast cells increase in number and show signs of activation and inflammatory cytokines secretion. Our results show that stem cell factor (SCF) is a potent chemotactic factor for the mast cells in vitro. The chemotactic response to SCF was blocked by DGHT. When DGHT (1mg/ml) was added, the secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6 was inhibited by 60.1, 81.8, 72.5%, respectively in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus calcium ionophore A23187-stimulated HMC-1 cells. In addition, the expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in HMC-1 cells was inhibited by DGHT (1mg/ml). These findings indicate that DGHT inhibits SCF-induced migration and PMA plus calcium ionophore-stimulated inflammatory cytokines secretion in mast cells.

Juniper oil inhibits the heat shock-induced apoptosis via preventing the caspase-3 activation in human astrocytes CCF-STTG1 cells.

BACKGROUND: Brain astrocytes play a pivotal role in neuronal activities. METHODS: An investigation was undertaken to determine whether juniper oil inhibits heat shock-induced apoptosis of astrocytes. RESULTS: Juniper oil inhibited the heat shock-induced apoptosis in human astrocyte CCF-STTG1 cells. Pretreatment of the cells with juniper oil inhibited the heat shock-induced DNA fragmentation and condensation of nuclear chromatin. Juniper oil alone did not affect the apoptosis. Juniper oil inhibited the heat shock-induced caspase-3 activation and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) fragmentation in the human astrocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Juniper oil may inhibit the apoptosis of astrocytes by preventing the caspase-3 activation.

Molecular authentication of Panax ginseng species by RAPD analysis and PCR-RFLP.

In order to develop convenient and reproducible methods for the identification of ginseng drugs at a DNA level, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analyses were applied within Panax species. To authenticate Panax ginseng among ginseng populations, RAPD analysis was carried out using a 20 mer-random primer. The similarity coefficients among the DNA of ginseng plants analyzed were low, ranging from 0.197 to 0.491. In addition, by using PCR-RFLP analysis, very different fingerprints were obtained within Korean ginseng plants. These results suggest that these methods are able to authenticate the concerned Panax species. Broader application of this approach to authenticate other morphologically similar medicinal materials is rationalized.

Inhibition of immunologic and nonimmunologic stimulation-mediated anaphylactic reactions by water extract of white eggplant (Solanum melongena).

We investigated the effect of water extract of Solanum melongena(SMWE) on immunologic and nonimmunologic stimulation-mediated anaphylactic reactions. Nonimmunologic anaphylactic reaction was induced by compound 48/80 injection. Oral administration of SMWE (1 g kg(-1)) completely inhibited compound 48/80-induced anaphylactic reaction. Immunologic anaphylactic reaction was generated by sensitizing the skin with anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) IgE followed 48 h later with an injection of antigen. Oral administration of SMWE (0.01--1 g kg(-1)) significantly inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylactic reaction activated by anti-DNP IgE to between 83.10 +/- 1.67% and 70.17 +/- 2.17%. SMWE (0.01--1 mg ml(-1)) also inhibited histamine release activated by compound 48/80 to between 93 +/- 2.65 and 70 +/- 1.50%. Moreover, SMWE (0.01--1 mg ml(-1)) had a significant inhibitory effect on IgE-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha secretion from rat peritoneal mast cells. These results indicate that SMWE inhibits immunologic and nonimmunologic stimulation-mediated anaphylactic reactions and TNF-alpha secretion from mast cells.

Effect of Polygala tenuifolia root extract on the tumor necrosis factor-alpha secretion from mouse astrocytes.

We investigated whether an aqueous extract of Polygala tenuifolia root (PTAE) inhibits secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) from primary cultures of mouse astrocytes. PTAE dose-dependently inhibited the TNF-alpha secretion by astrocytes stimulated with substance P (SP) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Interleukin-1 (IL-1) has been shown to elevate TNF-alpha secretion from LPS-stimulated astrocytes while having no effect on astrocytes in the absence of LPS. We therefore also investigated whether IL-1 mediated inhibition of TNF-alpha secretion from primary astrocytes by PTAE. Treatment of PTAE to astrocytes stimulated with both LPS and SP decreased IL-1 secretion to the level observed with LPS alone. Moreover, incubation of astrocytes with IL-1 antibody abolished the synergistic co-operative effect of LPS and SP. These results suggest that PTAE may inhibit TNF-alpha secretion by inhibiting IL-1 secretion and that PTAE has an anti-inflammatory activity on the central nervous system curing some pathological disease states.

Combining ADA, protein and IFN-gamma best allows discrimination between tuberculous and malignant pleural effusion.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to assess the usefulness of various enzymes, cytokines and biochemical studies of pleural fluid for the differential diagnosis of tuberculosis from malignant pleural effusions, and to clarify the role of combining diagnostic tests. METHODS: The study group included 39 cases with tuberculous effusions and 31 cases with malignant effusions, whose diagnoses were confirmed by pleural biopsy, cytology or microbiological methods. We compared pleural fluid levels of ADA, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, pH, protein, glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, amylase and lactic dehydrogenase between tuberculous and malignant effusions. Using stepwise logistic regression analysis, we evaluated the benefit of combining various parameters. Receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curves of ADA, cytokines and equations generated from regression analyses were plotted and compared with the area under curve(AUC). Cut-off values showing the best diagnostic accuracy were selected and compared. RESULTS: Compared to malignant effusion, tuberculous effusion showed significantly higher levels of ADA, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-2. There was a good correlation between IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. By stepwise logistic regression analysis, IFN-gamma, protein and ADA were independent variables predicting tuberculous from malignant effusions. The diagnostic accuracy and AUC of regression equation was greater than any other single parameters. CONCLUSION: For the differential diagnosis of tuberculosis and malignant pleural effusions, combining ADA, protein and IFN-gamma best allows discrimination.