Suppression of LPS-induced inflammatory activities by Rosmarinus officinalis L.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) has been used in folk medicine to treat headaches, epilepsy, poor circulation, and many other ailments. It was found that rosemary could act as a stimulant and mild analgesic and could reduce inflammation. However, the mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of rosemary need more study to be established. Therefore, in this study, the effects of rosemary on the activation of nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-kB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and the production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), and cytokine in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells were investigated. A methanol extract of rosemary and its hexane fraction reduced NO generation with an IC(50) of 2.75 and 2.83 µg/ml, respectively. Also, the methanol extract and the hexane fraction inhibited LPS-induced MAPKs and NF-kB activation associated with the inhibition of iNOS or COX-2 expression. LPS-induced production of PGE(2) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were blocked by rosemary. Rosemary extract and its hexane fraction are important for the prevention of phosphorylation of MAPKs, thereby blocking NF-kB activation, which in turn leads to decreased expression of iNOS and COX-2, thus preventing inflammation.

Induction of apoptosis by immature plum in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

In the present study, the effect of an extract of immature Prunus salicina Lindl. cv. Soldam fruit on the viability and induction of apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells was investigated. The results showed that in comparison with other cancer cells, the growth inhibition exerted by immature plum extracts was greatest in HepG2. Apoptosis in HepG2 cells mediated by immature plums was associated with "death receptor signaling." Immature plum extracts significantly increased the activation of caspase-8, -10, and -3 and expression of the caspase-3 target proteins alpha-fodrin (induces membrane blebbing and cell shrinkage), poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (a nuclear enzyme that is involved in DNA repair following DNA nicks), and DNA fragmentation factor (induces apoptotic DNA fragmentation). The total yield of identified polyphenols in immature plum extract was 10 g/kg dry weight. The major components, (-)-epicatechin and (-)-gallocatechin gallate, were 34.7% and 28.6% of total polyphenols, respectively. (+)-Catechin, (-)-epicatechin gallate, and (-)-catechin gallate were also found. On the basis of these results, the immature plum (P. salicina Lindl. cv. Soldam) and its active compound, (-)-epicatechin, are expected to be a natural resource for developing novel therapeutic agents for cancer prevention and treatment.

Effects of ethanol extract from Saururus chinensis (Bour.) Baill on lipid and antioxidant metabolisms in rats fed a high-fat diet.

This study was performed to investigate the effect of ethanol extract from Saururus chinensis (Lour.) Baill on liver function, plasma lipid composition and antioxidant system with high-fat diet for 4 weeks. Rats were divided into the following five groups; untreated control group (normal), treated with 0.5% SE (normal + 0.5% SE), high-fat group (high-fat), high-fat group treated with 0.1% SE (high-fat + 0.1% SE), or 0.5% SE (high-fat + 0.5% SE). Weight gains showed a tendency to decrease in rat with high-fat + SE. Plasma total cholesterol showed a tendency to decrease with ethanol extract from S. chinensis (Lour.) Baill. LDL-cholesterol contents were lower in ethanol extract group than that of control group. Aspartate amino transferase and alanine amino transferase activities were increased by high-fat diet, and were decreased by 0.5% SE. Lipid peroxide level showed a tendency to increase in high-fat diet group than that of normal group. In ethanol extract from S. chinensis (Lour.) Baill groups, lipid peroxide level decreased significantly and SOD activity was also decreased progressively. These results demonstrated that the ethanol extract of S. chinensis (Lour.) Baill lowered serum cholesterol levels, tissue lipid contents and accumulation of cholesterol in the rat.

Induction of apoptosis by immature fruits of Prunus salicina Lindl. cv. Soldam in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the anticancer effect of Prunus salicina Lindl. cv. Soldam at three maturity stages (immature, midmature and mature stages). Previous studies have shown that this fruit (plums) possesses hematopoiesis effects, prevents osteoporosis and has anti-mutagenic effects. An acetone extract of immature P. salicina Lindl. cv. Soldam fruit contained higher levels of total phenolics and condensed tannins than midmature and mature plums. The results showed that an acetone extract of immature plums possesses cytotoxic effects, which are related to the activity of the total polyphenols in the fruits. Apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells mediated by the immature plums was associated with an increase in Bax levels and a reduction in Bcl-2 levels and the cleavage of caspase 3, caspase 7, caspase 9 and poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase. These results indicate that immature fruit of P . salicina Lindl. cv. Soldam can be regarded as a safe and promising new dietary source for decreasing the risk of developing breast cancer.

Silibinin suppresses PMA-induced MMP-9 expression by blocking the AP-1 activation via MAPK signaling pathways in MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) plays an important role in the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. In this study, we examined the inhibitory effect of silibinin, a flavonoid antioxidant from milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.) on PMA-induced MMP-9 expression in MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells. Silibinin significantly and selectively suppressed PMA-induced MMP-9 expression in MCF-7. Silibinin has been found to inhibit PMA-induced MMP-9 gene transcriptional activity by blocking the activation of AP-1 via MAPK signaling pathways. Moreover, the Matrigel invasion assay showed that silibinin reduces PMA-induced invasion of MCF-7 cells. These results suggest that silibinin represents a potential anti-metastatic agent suppressing PMA-induced cancer cell invasion through the specific inhibition of AP-1-dependent MMP-9 gene expression.

The pharmacological potential of Sorbus commixta cortex on blood alcohol concentration and hepatic lipid peroxidation in acute alcohol-treated rats.

The effect of Sorbus commixta cortex, a traditional herbal medicine used for the treatment of bronchitis, gastritis and dropsy, on blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and hepatic lipid peroxidation was examined in acute alcohol-treated rats. A 30-min pretreatment with a methanol extract of S. commixta cortex (SC) at concentrations higher than 200 mg kg(-1) resulted in a significant decrease in BAC and the ethyl acetate fraction (SE) of the extract showed the highest potency, with a maximum of a 46% decrease at 150 mg kg(-1) 2 h after alcohol administration (3.0 g kg(-1)) compared with the control group (P < 0.005). The rapid reduction in BAC did not appear to be due to the protection or activation of hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity by SE. Hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly increased by acute alcohol administration within 6 h, although pretreatment with the SE caused a significant decrease in MDA levels compared with alcohol treatment alone. Hepatic glutathione (GSH) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity remained unchanged by alcohol, SE alone or by the combined treatment of alcohol and SE. However, catalase activity was significantly reduced by acute alcohol administration and pretreatment with the SE led to significant protection of its activity. These results suggest that pretreatment with SE reduces hepatic lipid peroxidation by decreasing the bioavailability of alcohol and its oxidative metabolites, such as H2O2, at least partly, through the protection of hepatic catalase in acute alcohol-treated rats.