ABSTRACT
Development of bioactive ingredients from natural sources has long been the research project of our laboratory. In this study, the extract from Corylus hallaisanensis Nakai branches was investigated and their anti-inflammatory constituents were identified. The prepared ethanol extract was successively partitioned into n-hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous layers. Upon anti-inflammatory screenings, ethyl acetate fraction exhibited good nitric oxide production inhibitory activity in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Further phytochemical studies for the ethyl acetate fractions led to isolation of four constituents such as β-sitosterol (1), 3,3’,4’-tri-O-methylellagic acid (2), carpinontriol A (3) and carpinontriol B (4). All of the compounds were isolated for the first time from this plant. The isolates 2, 3 and 4 showed considerable inhibition on the production of nitric oxide in the RAW 264.7 cell without causing cell toxicities. And compounds 3 and 4 reduced the production of interleukin-6, an inflammatory cytokine, in dose-dependent manner in RAW 264.7 cells. Based on these results, C. hallaisanensis extracts could be potentially applicable as anti-inflammatory agents in pharmaceutical or cosmetic industries.
ABSTRACT
For the purpose of developing anti-wrinkle cosmetic ingredients, the extracts from branches of a woody plant Sambucus sieboldiana var. pendula were examined on collagen synthesis activities using fibroblast HDFn cells. As a result, the S. sieboldiana ethanol extract (SSE) proved to activate the production of type I procollagen in a dose-dependent manner without showing cell toxicity. Phytochemical study was conducted to isolate the active constituents in the extracts by solvent fractionation followed by chromatographic purifications. From this procedure, two known compounds, kaempferol 3-O-sophoroside (1) and daucosterol (2), were identified by spectroscopic studies. From the isolates, the flavonoid glycoside 1 was verified to induce the synthesis of the type I procollagen dose-dependently. These results suggested that S. sieboldiana extract containing the flavonoid 1 could be useful as an active ingredient in wrinkle-care cosmetics.
ABSTRACT
The essential oils were prepared from Aster spathulifolius (ASE) and Vitex rotundifolia (VRE) by hydrodistillation and their chemical compositions were investigated by GC–MS. Analysis of ASE provided 15 components and eight of which were identified sesquiterpene compounds. The major components in ASE included germacrene D (35.1 %), trans-caryophyllene (15.9 %) and trans-phytol (14.9 %). On the other hand, VRE provided manoyl oxide (14.3%), α-terpineol (13.1 %) and α-pinene (10.0 %) as major ingredients. To assess the anti-inflammatory effects of the essential oils, the production of nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were monitored using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. In this test, ASE and VRE were appeared to suppress both NO and TNF-α synthesis in dose-dependent manner. The results indicate that VRE and ASE could be useful in cosmetic applications as natural products possessing antiinflammatory efficacy
ABSTRACT
Development of anti-melanogenic agents from natural sources has long been the research project of our laboratory. In this study, ethyl acetate extracts of Oreocnide fruticosa (Gaudich.) Hand.-Mazz. branches (OBE) were examined for their melanin synthesis inhibitory activities using B16 melanoma cells. Our results indicated that OBE down-regulates melanin production in a dose-dependent pattern. To clarify the target of OBE action in melanogenesis, we performed Western blotting for the key melanogenic enzymes; tyrosinase, tyrosinase related protein-1 (TRP-1) and TRP-2. The results showed that OBE efficiently inhibited tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2 in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, OBE is a good candidate for the further study including identification of the effective chemical constituents as well as their working mechanism for the application of whitening agent in the human skin.
ABSTRACT
Nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin (PG)E2, known inflammatory mediators, are critically involved in the pathogenesis of a large number of human inflammatory diseases. Therefore, a search of inducible nitric oxide synthases (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) selective inhibitors is a useful strategy to find functional substances to alleviate inflammatory disease. In our search for anti-inflammatory ingredients, we found that extracts of Ulva fasciata (UFE) and Desmarestia viridis (DVE) inhibit the generation of NO and PGE2 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. U. fasciata and D. viridis were extracted with 80% ethanol and then partitioned successively with ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate fractions are effective dose-dependent inhibitors of LPS-induced NO and PGE2 synthesis in RAW 264.7 cells. To test the inhibitory effects of UFE and DVE on pro-inflammatory cytokines, we performed ELISA assays for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL (interleukin)-1β, and IL(interleukin)-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. In these assays, the UFE and DVE showed a dose-dependent decrease in the production of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. As a preliminary study of the anti-inflammatory mechanism, we determined, using the Western blot analysis, whether or not UFE and DVE inhibit the degradation of I-kappa-B-alpha (IκB-α). Our results indicate that UFE and DVE indeed prevent the degradation of IκB-α, in a dose-dependent manner. Based on these results, we suggest that extracts of U. fasciata and D. viridis be considered candidates for anti-inflammatory agents for human use.