Ginseng Berry Juice (GBJ) Regulates the Inflammation in Acute Ulcerative Mouse Models and the Major Bioactive Substances Are Ginsenosides Rb3, Rc, Rd, and Re.

Panax ginseng fruit is known to have various biological effects owing to its large amount of saponins such as ginsenosides. In the present study, ginseng berry juice was confirmed to be effective against acute inflammation. Ginseng berry juice was used for analysis of active constituents, antioxidant efficacy, and in vivo inflammation. A high-performance liquid chromatography method was used for analysis of ginsenosides. In an HCl/ethanol-induced acute gastric injury model, microscopic, immunofluorescent, and immunohistochemical techniques were used for analysis of inhibition of gastric injury and mechanism study. In a mouse model of acute gastritis induced with HCl/ethanol, ginseng berry juice (GBJ, 250 mg/kg) showed similar gastric injury inhibitory effects as cabbage water extract (CB, 500 mg/kg, P.O). GBJ dose-dependently modulated the pro-inflammatory cytokines such as Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and Interleukin-13 (IL-13). GBJ inhibited the activation of Nuclear Factor kappa bB (NF-κB) and suppressed the expressions of cyclooxigenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin 2 (PGE2). The anti-inflammatory effect of GBJ is attributed to ginsenosides which have anti-inflammatory effects. Productivity as an effective food source for acute gastritis was analyzed and showed that GBJ was superior to CB. In addition, as a functional food for suppressing acute ulcerative symptoms, it was thought that the efficacy of gastric protection products would be higher if GBJ were produced in the form of juice rather than through various extraction methods.

Partial Purification and Biochemical Evaluation of Protease Fraction (MA-1) from Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii and Its Fibrinolytic Effect.

The antioxidative proteolytic fraction, MA-1, was partially purified from Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii. MA-1 was purified to homogeneity using a two-step procedure, which resulted in an 89-fold increase in specific activity and 42.5% recovery. SDS-PAGE revealed two proteins with a molecular weight of 48 kDa. The zymography results revealed proteolytic activity based on the MA-1 band. MA-1 was found to be stable in the presence of Na+, Ca2+, Fe3+, K+, and Mg2+. MA-1 was also stable in methanol, ethanol, and acetone, and its enzyme activity increased by 15% in SDS. MA-1 was inhibited by ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid or ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid and exerted the highest specificity for the substrate, MeO-Suc-Arg-Pro-Tyr-pNA, for chymotrypsin. Accordingly, MA-1 belongs to the family of chymotrypsin-like metalloproteins. The optimum temperature was 40 °C and stability was stable in the range of 20 to 35 °C. The optimum pH and stability were pH 5.5 and pH 4-11. MA-1 exhibited stronger fibrinolytic activity than plasmin. MA-1 hydrolyzed the Aα, Bß, and γ chains of fibrinogen within 2 h. MA-1 exhibited an antithrombotic effect in animal models. MA-1 was devoid of hemorrhagic activity at a dose of 80,000 U/kg. Overall, our results show that M. aitchisonii produces an acid-tolerant and antioxidative chymotrypsin-like fibrinolytic enzyme, and M. aitchisonii containing MA-1 could be a beneficial functional material for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and possible complications.

Strong inhibition of xanthine oxidase and elastase of Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC stem extract and analysis of biologically active constituents.

Introduction: In the present study, strong xanthine oxidase and elastase activities of Baccharis trimera (Less) DC stem (BT) were evaluated and active ingredients were identified to determine the possibility of using BT extract as an anti-hyperuricemia (gout) and cosmetic functional material. Methods: Hot water, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100% ethanolic extracts of BT were prepared. The hot water extract had the highest extraction yield whereas the 100% ethanolic extract had the lowest yield. Results and discussion: Antioxidant effects were investigated based on DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power, and total phenolic contents. The 80% ethanolic extract showed the highest antioxidant activity. However, the 100% ethanol BT extract showed strong xanthine oxidase and elastase inhibitory activities. Functional substances were thought to be caffeic acid and luteolin. Minor active substances such as o-coumaric acid, palmitic acid, naringenin, protocatechoic acid, and linoleic acid were identified. Through this study, we firstly reported evidence that BT stem extract could be used as functional materials with anti-hyperuricemia and skin disease improving effects. BT stem extract could be used as an anti-hyperuricemia (gout) natural drug or cosmetic material. For further study, practical studies such as optimizing BT extraction and functional experiments for hyperuricemia (gout) and skin wrinkle improvement are considered necessary.

Purification of phenoloxidase from Haliotis discus hannai and its anti-inflammatory activity in vitro.

Haliotis discus hannai, a food with a high protein content, is widely consumed in Asian countries. It is known to have antioxidant, anticancer, and antibacterial effects. Since the biological significance of H. discus hannai hemolymph has not been widely studied, the objective of the present study was to purify phenoloxidase (PO) and investigate its immunological effects on human colonic epithelial cells. PO was purified through ammonium sulfate precipitation and one step column chromatography. The molecular weight of the protein was about 270 kDa. When PO was mixed with Gram-negative bacteria-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at various ratios (10:1-1:10, w/w), the amount of residual LPS was reduced. PO at concentrations up to 200 µg/mL was not cytotoxic to HT-29 cells. The inflammatory response induced by LPS in HT-29 cells was regulated when the concentration of PO was increased. With increasing concentration of PO, production levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, cytokines associated with hyperimmune responses such as IL4, IL-5, and INF-γ, and prostaglandin 2 (PGE2) were regulated. It was thought that simultaneous treatment with PO and LPS anti-inflammatory effects in HT-29 cells showed by regulating the ERK1/2-mediated NF-κB pathway. Results of this study suggest that H. discus hannai hemolymph is involved in the regulation of Gram-negative bacteria-related inflammatory immune responses in human colonic epithelial cells.

Preparation of Topical Itraconazole with Enhanced Skin/Nail Permeability and In Vivo Antifungal Efficacy against Superficial Mycosis.

In this study, a stable and highly skin-permeable topical delivery system for itraconazole (ITZ) was designed to provide effective treatment against superficial mycosis. Herein, ITZ was incorporated into a solution composed of ethanol, benzyl alcohol, hydrochloric acid, Transcutol P, and cyclomethicone as a delivery vehicle, solubilizer, protonating agent, permeation enhancer, and spreading agent, respectively. At 72 h, the optimal topical ITZ formulation (ITZ-TF#11) exhibited 135% enhanced skin permeability, which led to increases in drug deposition in the stratum corneum, epidermis, and dermis of 479%, 739%, and 2024%, respectively, compared with the deposition of 1% ITZ in ethanol (control). Moreover, on day 7, ITZ-TF#11 demonstrated 2.09- and 2.30-fold enhanced nail flux and drug deposition, compared with the control. At a dose of 40 mg/kg/day, ITZ-TF#11 showed 323% greater lesion recovery, a 165% lower mean erythema severity score, and a 37% lower mean logarithm of viable fungal cells in skin in the treated area, compared with mice that received oral ITZ at the same dose. Overall, the findings imply that ITZ-TF#11 is a superior alternative to oral ITZ for treatment of superficial mycosis.

Tyrosinase Inhibition Antioxidant Effect and Cytotoxicity Studies of the Extracts of Cudrania tricuspidata Fruit Standardized in Chlorogenic Acid.

In the present study, various extracts of C. tricuspidata fruit were prepared with varying ethanol contents and evaluated for their biomarker and biological properties. The 80% ethanolic extract showed the best tyrosinase inhibitory activity, while the 100% ethanolic extract showed the best total phenolics and flavonoids contents. The HPLC method was applied to analyze the chlorogenic acid in C. tricuspidata fruit extracts. The results suggest that the observed antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activity of C. tricuspidata fruit extract could partially be attributed to the presence of marker compounds in the extract. In this study, we present an analytical method for standardization and optimization of C. tricuspidata fruit preparations. Further investigations are warranted to confirm the in vivo pharmacological activity of C. tricuspidata fruit extract and its active constituents and assess the safe use of the plant for the potential development of the extract as a skin depigmentation agent.

Phytochemical Constituents and the Evaluation Biological Effect of Cinnamomum yabunikkei H.Ohba Leaf.

Cinnamomum yabunikkei H.Ohba leaf is known as a traditional medicinal material in Korea. However, no scientific identification of the components or efficacy of C.yabunikkei H.Ohba leaf has been reported. In the present study, we prepared various solvent extracts of C.yabunikkei H.Ohba leaf to understand its basic properties and evaluated the antioxidant, xanthine oxidase inhibitory, and elastase inhibitory activities of hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone, methanol, ethanol, and water extracts for the first time. The antioxidant properties were evaluated based on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, reducing power, and total phenolic contents. The hot water extract showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity and total phenolic contents, and the reducing power was the highest in the water extract. The hexane extract showed an excellent elastase inhibitory effect compared to control (phosphoramidone) and the highest xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity. These results present basic information for the possible uses of the hot water and hexane extracts from C. yabunikkei leaf for the treatment of diseases caused by oxidative imbalance. In the present study, individual extracts exhibited different effects. Therefore, it is hypothesized that the applicability of C. yabunikkei will depend on the extraction method and nature of the extract. The hot water and hexane extracts could be used as antioxidants, and as anti-gout and anti-wrinkle materials respectively. Several biologically active substances present in hexane extract of C. yabunikkei have been analyzed by GCMS and demonstrated to possess antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that reports the chemical profiling and biological effects of various C. yabunikkei leaf extracts, suggesting their potential use in food therapy, cosmetics or alternative medicine.