Heme Oxygenase-1 Induction and Anti-inflammatory Actions of Atractylodes macrocephala and Taraxacum herba Extracts Prevented Colitis and Was More Effective than Sulfasalazine in Preventing Relapse

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), repeated bouts of remission and relapse occur in patients and can impose a risk of colitis-associated cancer. We hypothesized that plant extracts of Atractylodes macrocephala (AM) or Taraxacum herba (TH) may be better than sulfasalazine for treating this disease because these extracts can promote additional regeneration. METHODS: Murine intestinal epithelial IEC-6 cells were pretreated with AM or TH before a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced challenge. Acute colitis was induced with 7 days of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in male C57BL/6 mice, and extracts of AM and TH were administered for 2 weeks before DSS administration. RESULTS: In vitro studies demonstrated that AM or TH treatment reduced LPS-induced COX-2 and tumor necrosis factor-α mRNA levels but increased heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Oral preadministration of AM and TH rescued mice from DSS-induced colitis by inhibiting inflammatory mediators via inactivated extracellular signal regulated kinase and repressed nuclear factor κB and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, but the effect was weaker for sulfasalazine than that for the extracts. Anti-inflammatory activities occurred via the inhibition of macrophage and T lymphocyte infiltrations. Unlike sulfasalazine, which did not induce HO-1, TH extracts afforded significant HO-1 induction. CONCLUSIONS: Because the AM or TH extracts were far superior in preventing DSS-induced colitis than sulfasalazine, AM or TH extracts can be considered natural agents that can prevent IBD relapse.

Scutellaria baicalensis in stroke management: nature's blessing in traditional Eastern medicine / 中国结合医学杂志

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi is the most widely used medicinal plant in traditional Eastern medicine, especially in Chinese medicine. The major phytochemicals isolated from S. baicalensis are flavonoids, glycosides and their glucoronides such as baicalin, baicalein, wogonin etc. More than 30 different kinds of flavonoids are isolated from this plant. S. baicalensis and its flavonoids are reported to have several pharmacological activities, which includes anti-allergic, antioxidant, anti apoptic, anti-inflammatory effects and many more. Recently, S. baicalensis and its isolated flavonoids have been studied for their neuroprotective effects, through a variety of in vitro and in vivo models of neurodegenerative diseases, plausibly suggesting that S. baicalensis has salutary effect as a nature's blessing for neuroprotection. In this review, we are focousing on the neuroprotective effects of S. baicalensis and its flavonoids in ischemia or stroke-induced neuronal cell death. We aimed at compiling all the information regarding the neuroprotective effect of S. baicalensis in various experimental models of cerebral ischemia or stroke.

Differentiation of Mass-Forming Autoimmune Pancreatitis from Pancreatic Cancer Using A 2-Week Steroid Trial / 대한내과학회지

The differentiation of mass-forming autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) from pancreatic cancer is critical because AIP can be successfully treated with steroid therapy and unnecessary surgery avoided. We herein report a case of 69-year-old male with a prior history of recurrent AIP who developed a pancreatic body mass with upstream duct dilatation. Laboratory findings were nonspecific for AIP or pancreatic cancer, although an endoscopic ultrasonography-guided biopsy revealed chronic inflammation. To differentiate mass-forming AIP from pancreatic cancer, we administered oral steroids for 2 weeks. After steroid therapy, a computed tomography scan revealed a decrease in the pancreatic mass size and improvement in dilatation of the upstream duct. So we could differentiate mass-forming AIP from pancreatic cancer; thereafter resolution of pancreatic lesion could be achieved with further steroid therapy. In conclusion, a 2-week steroid trial followed by radiologic imaging was helpful to differentiate mass-forming AIP from pancreatic cancer.