The Extracts of Dendrobium Alleviate Dry Eye Disease in Rat Model by Regulating Aquaporin Expression and MAPKs/NF-κB Signalling.

Dry eye is one of the most common ocular surface diseases caused by tear film instability and ocular surface damage due to an abnormal quality or quantity of tears. Inflammatory factors can initiate relevant transduction signalling pathways and trigger the inflammatory cascade response, resulting in ocular surface inflammation. It has been shown that the active ingredients in Dendrobium, such as polysaccharides, alkaloids and phenols, have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour and immunity-boosting effects, and Dendrobium officinale extract can improve glandular secretion function, increase salivary secretion and increase the expression level of water channel protein in salivary glands in patients with dry eye syndromes. We investigated the in vitro cytoprotective effect of Dendrobium extracts in sodium chloride induced hyperosmotic conditions in human cornea keratocytes (HKs). Results showed that Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo water extract (DOW) and Dendrobium loddigesii Rolfe water extract (DLW) could upregulate the expression of aquaporins (AQP)5 protein, thus exerting a repairing effect by promoting cell migration. Furthermore, oral administration of DOW and DLW enhanced tear production in rats and exerted a protective effect on ocular surface damage. DOW and DLW could upregulate the expression of AQP5 and mucin (muc)5ac proteins in the lacrimal gland and reduce the inflammatory response. DOW and DLW inhibited the activation of the corresponding mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and NF-KB pathway, thereby playing a role in improving dry eye symptoms. This study provides a new perspective on dry eye treatment, and DOW and DLW may be potential therapeutic agents for dry eye.

Effects of topical application of a tri-herb formula on inflammatory dry-skin condition in mice with oxazolone-induced atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory and pruritic skin disease, affecting 10-20% of the population worldwide. Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews (Paeoniaceae) (Cortex Moutan) and Mentha haplocalyx Briq. (Labiatae) (Herba Menthae) have shown beneficial effects on AD. Calendula officinalis L. (Asteraceae) is commonly used for treating skin rashes and wounds. PURPOSE: In the present study, a three-herbs formula including Cortex Moutan and Herba Menthae, together with C. officinalis at 1:1:1 weight ratio was used as a topical agent and its therapeutic effects on AD was investigated. METHODS: In vitro effects of individual herbs and three-herbs formula (0.125-1 mg/ml) were examined using cytokine release assay on human mast HMC-1 cells, inflammation test on murine macrophage RAW cells and human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells, and migration scratch assay on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The contributing functional pathway of three-herbs formula in AD was explored using Western Blot assay in HMC-1 cells. Oxazolone-induced AD-like mice model was also used to investigate the in vivo therapeutic effect of the topical application of the three-herbs formula. RESULTS: Herba Menthae, Cortex Moutan, and three-herbs formula significantly reduced the production of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in HMC-1 cells, inhibited the expression of IL-6, IL-8 and CCL2 in TNF-α/IFN-γ stimulated HaCaT cells, and suppressed the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, Herba Menthae and three-herbs formula significantly suppressed CCL2 and TNF-α production in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. C. officinalis and three-herbs formula promoted wound healing in HUVEC. For intracellular mechanisms, three-herbs formula inhibited the expressions of molecules in STAT1 and STAT3-dependent pathways. In vivo model showed that topical application of three-herbs formula on challenged ear reduced ear swelling and mice scratching frequencies. H&E and toluidine blue staining of the challenged ear tissue demonstrated that three-herbs formula reduced the epidermal thickness and mast cell infiltration, respectively. CONCLUSION: The three-herbs formula of Cortex Moutan, Herba Menthae and C. officinalis at 1:1:1 (w/w) exhibited anti-inflammatory effect and promotion of cell migration in vitro. It also alleviated ear redness, swelling, epidermal thickness and inflammation of the OXA-induced AD mice. These findings suggest a potential beneficial role of the topical application of the three-herbs formula for treatment of AD.

Contemporary approaches and future perspectives of antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): A systematic review.

The high prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causing skin and soft tissue infections in both the community and healthcare settings challenges the limited options of effective antibiotics and motivates the search for alternative therapeutic solutions, such as antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aPDT). While many publications have described the promising anti-bacterial activities of PDT in vitro, its applications in vivo and in the clinic have been very limited. This limited availability may in part be due to variabilities in the selected photosensitizing agents (PS), the variable testing conditions used to examine anti-bacterial activities and their effectiveness in treating MRSA infections. We thus sought to systematically review and examine the evidence from existing studies on aPDT associated with MRSA and to critically appraise its current state of development and areas to be addressed in future studies. In 2018, we developed and registered a review protocol in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) with registration No: CRD42018086736. Three bibliographical databases were consulted (PUBMED, MEDLINE, and EMBASE), and a total of 113 studies were included in this systematic review based on our eligibility criteria. Many variables, such as the use of a wide range of solvents, pre-irradiation times, irradiation times, light sources and light doses, have been used in the methods reported by researchers, which significantly affect the inter-study comparability and results. On another note, new approaches of linking immunoglobulin G (IgG), antibodies, efflux pump inhibitors, and bacteriophages with photosensitizers (PSs) and the incorporation of PSs into nano-scale delivery systems exert a direct effect on improving aPDT. Enhanced activities have also been achieved by optimizing the physicochemical properties of the PSs, such as the introduction of highly lipophilic, poly-cationic and site-specific modifications of the compounds. However, few in vivo studies (n = 17) have been conducted to translate aPDT into preclinical studies. We anticipate that further standardization of the experimental conditions and assessing the efficacy in vivo would allow this technology to be further applied in preclinical trials, so that aPDT would develop to become a sustainable, alternative therapeutic option against MRSA infection in the future.

Bone protection effects of a novel Chinese herbal formula, taikong yangxin prescription, in hindlimb unloaded rats against bone deterioration.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effects of a Chinese herbal formula, taikong yangxin prescription (TKYXP) against bone deterioration in a hindlimb unloaded (tail-suspension) rat model. METHODS: Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups: tail-suspension group fed with 2.5 g•kg(-1)•day(-1) of TKYXP extract (high dose), tail-suspension group fed with 1.25 g•kg(-1)•day(-1) (low dose), tail-suspended group treated with water placebo (placebo control group) and non tail-suspended group. The effects of TKYXP on bone were assessed using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT), microcomputerized tomography (micro-CT) and three-point bending biomechanical test on the femur in vivo. RESULTS: TKYXP had a significant protective effect against bone loss induced by tail-suspension on day 28, as shown in the reduction in bone mineral density (BMD) loss, preservation of bone micro-architecture and biomechanical strength. The administration ofhigh dose TKYXP could significantly reduce the total BMD loss by 4.8% and 8.0% at the femur and tibia regions, respectively, compared with the placebo control group (P<0.01) on day 28. Its bone protective effect on the femur was further substantiated by the increases of the trabecular BMD (by 6.6%), bone volume fraction (by 20.9%), trabecular number (by 9.5%) and thickness (by 11.9%) as compared with the placebo control group. CONCLUSION: TKYXP may protect the bone under weightless influence from gradual structural deterioration in the tail-suspension model.

Structure elucidation and immunomodulatory activity of a beta glucan from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma sinense.

A polysaccharide named GSP-2 with a molecular size of 32 kDa was isolated from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma sinense. Its structure was well elucidated, by a combined utilization of chemical and spectroscopic techniques, to be a ß-glucan with a backbone of (1→4)- and (1→6)-Glcp, bearing terminal- and (1→3)-Glcp side-chains at O-3 position of (1→6)-Glcp. Immunological assay exhibited that GSP-2 significantly induced the proliferation of BALB/c mice splenocytes with target on only B cells, and enhanced the production of several cytokines in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and derived dendritic cells. Besides, the fluorescent labeled GSP-2 was phagocytosed by the RAW 264.7 cells and induced the nitric oxide secretion from the cells.

Microencapsulation of Traditional Chinese Herbs-PentaHerbs extracts and potential application in healthcare textiles.

In this work, Traditional Chinese Herbs (TCH)-PentaHerbs--was successfully microencapsulated in chitosan-sodium alginate (CSA) blend matrix using emulsion-chemical cross-linking method and the final product was characterised with regard to structure, surface morphology, particle size, in vitro drug release and skin toxicity by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), laser diffraction particle size analysis, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assays respectively. Results showed that the microcapsules were in spherical form with diameter mostly in the range of 3-18 µm and that the release performance of the microcapsules was influenced by pH value of phosphate buffer solution (PBS). The microcapsules had no toxic effects on cells and were successfully grafted onto the surface of cotton fabrics. These results indicated that PentaHerbs loaded CSA microcapsule may possess potential application in clinical treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD).

Preparation and characterisation of chitosan microcapsules loaded with Cortex Moutan.

The process of preparation and characterisation of chitosan microcapsules loaded with Cortex Moutan was studied and the optimum condition for microcapsule preparation was investigated by orthogonal array analysis. Based on the yield percentage of microcapsule, the optimum condition for microcapsule preparation was (i) core-shell ratio=1:2; (ii) chitosan concentration=6% (w/v); (iii) agitation speed=1100 rpm; and (iv) cross-linking time=90 min. Meanwhile, relative importance of the preparation parameters was in the order: core-shell ratio, agitation speed, chitosan concentration and cross-linking time. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed that Cortex Moutan has been completely encapsulated into chitosan microcapsule. The release rate of Cortex Moutan from microcapsules in pH 5.4 phosphate buffered saline (PBS) was slightly better than that in pH 5.0 PBS after the initial 48 h and the release rate became steady after that.