Protective effect of Rhei Rhizoma on reflux esophagitis in rats via Nrf2-mediated inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Rhei Rhizoma has been widely used as a traditional herbal medicine to treat various inflammatory diseases. The present study was conducted to evaluate its anti-inflammatory activity against experimental reflux-induced esophagitis (RE) in SD rats. METHODS: Rhei Rhizoma was administered at 125 or 250 mg/kg body weight per day for 7 days prior to the induction of reflux esophagitis, and its effect was compared with RE control and normal rats. RESULTS: Rhei Rhizoma administration markedly ameliorated mucosal damage on histological evaluation. The elevated reactive oxygen species in the esophageal tissue of RE control rats decreased with the administration of Rhei Rhizoma. RE control rats exhibited the down-regulation of antioxidant-related proteins, such as nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression levels, in the presence of esophagitis; however, the levels with Rhei Rhizoma treatment were significantly higher than those in RE control rats. Moreover, RE control rats exhibited the up-regulation of protein expressions related to oxidative stress in the presence of esophagitis, but Rhei Rhizoma administration significantly reduced the expression of inflammatory proteins through mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-related signaling pathways. The protein expressions of inflammatory mediators and cytokines by nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation were modulated through blocking the phosphorylation of inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B (IκB)α. CONCLUSION: Our findings support the therapeutic evidence for Rhei Rhizoma ameliorating the development of esophagitis via regulating inflammation through the activation of the antioxidant pathway.

Evaluation of four different analytical tools to determine the regional origin of Gastrodia elata and Rehmannia glutinosa on the basis of metabolomics study.

Chemical profiles of medicinal plants could be dissimilar depending on the cultivation environments, which may influence their therapeutic efficacy. Accordingly, the regional origin of the medicinal plants should be authenticated for correct evaluation of their medicinal and market values. Metabolomics has been found very useful for discriminating the origin of many plants. Choosing the adequate analytical tool can be an essential procedure because different chemical profiles with different detection ranges will be produced according to the choice. In this study, four analytical tools, Fourier transform near­infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIR), 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H­NMR), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) were applied in parallel to the same samples of two popular medicinal plants (Gastrodia elata and Rehmannia glutinosa) cultivated either in Korea or China. The classification abilities of four discriminant models for each plant were evaluated based on the misclassification rate and Q2 obtained from principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal projection to latent structures-discriminant analysis (OPLS­DA), respectively. 1H-NMR and LC-MS, which were the best techniques for G. elata and R. glutinosa, respectively, were generally preferable for origin discrimination over the others. Reasoned by integrating all the results, 1H-NMR is the most prominent technique for discriminating the origins of two plants. Nonetheless, this study suggests that preliminary screening is essential to determine the most suitable analytical tool and statistical method, which will ensure the dependability of metabolomics-based discrimination.

Discrimination between genetically identical peony roots from different regions of origin based on 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy-based metabolomics: determination of the geographical origins and estimation of the mixing proportions of blended samples.

Sixty peony root training samples of the same age were collected from various regions in Korea and China, and their genetic diversity was investigated for 23 chloroplast intergenic space regions. All samples were genetically indistinguishable, indicating that the DNA-based techniques employed were not appropriate for determining the samples' regions of origin. In contrast, (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H-NMR) spectroscopy-based metabolomics coupled with multivariate statistical analysis revealed a clear difference between the metabolic profiles of the Korean and Chinese samples. Orthogonal projections on the latent structure-discrimination analysis allowed the identification of potential metabolite markers, including γ-aminobutyric acid, arginine, alanine, paeoniflorin, and albiflorin, that could be useful for classifying the samples' regions of origin. The validity of the discrimination model was tested using the response permutation test and blind prediction test for internal and external validations, respectively. Metabolomic data of 21 blended samples consisting of Korean and Chinese samples mixed at various proportions were also acquired by (1)H-NMR analysis. After data preprocessing which was designed to eliminate uncontrolled deviations in the spectral data between the testing and training sets, a new statistical procedure for estimating the mixing proportions of blended samples was established using the constrained least squares method for the first time. The predictive procedure exhibited relatively good predictability (adjusted R (2) = 0.7669), and thus has the potential to be used in the quality control of peony root by providing correct indications for a sample's geographical origins.

Optimization of Extraction Condition for Alisol B and Alisol B Acetate in Alismatis Rhizoma using Response Surface Methodology.

Alismatis Rhizoma is a perennial herb originating from the rhizomes of Alisma orientalis (Sam) Juzep and the same species which have been used to treat seborrheic dermatitis, eczema, polydipsia, and pedal edema. We aimed to determine the concentrations of the compounds alisol B and alisol B acetate present in a sample of the herb using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector. We selected methanol as the optimal solvent considering the structures of alisol B and alisol B acetate. We estimated the proportion of alisol B and alisol B acetate in a standard extract to be 0.0434% and 0.2365% in methanol, respectively. To optimize extraction, we employed response surface methodology to determine the yields of alisol B and alisol B acetate, which mapped out a central composite design consisting of 15 experimental points. The extraction parameters were time, concentration, and sample weight. The predicted concentration of alisol B derivatives was estimated to be 0.2388% under the following conditions: 81 min of extraction time, 76% of methanol concentration, and 1.52g of sample weight.

Effect of Curculigo orchioides on reflux esophagitis by suppressing proinflammatory cytokines.

This study was performed to investigate effects of Curculigo orchioides rhizome (curculiginis rhizome) on acute reflux esophigitis (RE) in rats that are induced by pylorus and forestomach ligation operation. Proinflammatory cytokine, as well as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-6 were all assayed and the expression of TNF-α and COX2 analyzed by RT-PCR. The esophagic tissue damage of reflux esophagitis rat was increased compared to that of normal intact group. However, the esophagic damage percentage from the extract of curculiginis rhizoma (ECR) 600 mg/kg and ECR 300 mg/kg were significantly lower than that of the RE control group. Administration of α-tocopherol (30 mg/kg) and ECR (600 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg, and 150 mg/kg) had a significant effect on the gastric acid pH in rats with induced reflux esophagitis (p < 0.05). The treatment with ECR significantly reduced the production of cytokines TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6 levels compared to the model group (p < 0.05). The expression of TNF-α and COX2 in the intact esophageal mucosa was low while those of the RE control group were significantly higher due to an inflammatory reaction in the esophagus. Compare to the model group, treatment with α-tocopherol or ECR significantly inhibited the expression levels of COX2 and TNF-α in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that anti-inflammatory and protective effects of ECR could attenuate the severity of reflux esophagitis and prevent esophageal mucosal damage.

Hepatoprotective and Antioxidative Activities of Cornus officinalis against Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice.

The fruit of Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc. is commonly prescribed in Asian countries as a tonic formula. In this study, the hepatoprotective effect of ethanolic extracts of the fruit of C. officinalis (ECO) was investigated in a mouse model of acetaminophen- (APAP-) induced liver injury. Pretreatment of mice with ECO (100, 250, and 500 mg/kg for 7 days) significantly prevented the APAP (200 mg/kg) induced hepatic damage as indicated by the serum marker enzymes (AST, ALT, and LDH). Parallel to these changes, ECO treatment also prevented APAP-induced oxidative stress in the mice liver by inhibiting lipid peroxidation (MDA) and restoring the levels of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and HO-1) and glutathione. Liver injury and collagen accumulation were assessed using histological studies by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Our results indicate that ECO can prevent hepatic injuries associated with APAP-induced hepatotoxicity by preventing or alleviating oxidative stress.

Metabolite profiling of Angelica gigas from different geographical origins using 1H NMR and UPLC-MS analyses.

Angelica gigas obtained from different geographical regions was characterized using (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) followed by multivariate data analyses. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least-squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) score plots from (1)H NMR and UPLC-MS data sets showed a clear distinction among A. gigas from three different regions in Korea. The major metabolites that contributed to the discrimination factor were primary metabolites including acetate, choline, citrate, 1,3-dimethylurate, fumarate, glucose, histamine, lactose, malate, N-acetylglutamate, succinate, and valine and secondary metabolites including decursin, decursinol, nodakenin, marmesin, 7-hydroxy-6-(2R-hydroxy-3-methylbut-3-ethyl)coumarin in A. gigas roots. The results demonstrate that (1)H NMR and UPLC-MS-based metabolic profiling coupled with chemometric analysis can be used to discriminate the geographical origins of various herbal medicines and to identify primary and secondary metabolites responsible for discrimination.

Effect of Lonicerae Flos extracts on reflux esophagitis with antioxidant activity.

AIM: To observe the effects of traditional antiinflammatory medicine Lonicerae Flos (LF) on rat reflux esophagitis (RE) induced by pylorus and forestomach ligation compared with the well-known proton antioxidant, alpha-tocopherol. METHODS: Rats were pretreated with three different dosages of LF (500, 250 and 125 mg/kg) orally, once a day for 14 d before pylorus and forestomach ligation. Nine hours after pylorus and forestomach ligation, changes to the stomach and esophagus lesion areas, gastric volumes, acid and pepsin outputs, antioxidant effects, esophageal lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase and glutathione (GSH) levels, and collagen contents (marker of flexibility) were observed on the esophageal and fundic histopathology. The results were compared with an alpha-tocopherol (once orally, 1 h before operation, 30 mg/kg) treated group in which the effects on RE were already confirmed. RESULTS: Pylorus and forestomach ligations caused marked increases of gross esophageal and gastric mucosa lesion areas, which corresponded with histopathological changes. In addition, increases of esophageal lipid peroxidation, decreases of SOD, CAT, and GSH-free radical scavengers, increases of collagen were observed. However, these pylorus and forestomach ligation induced RE were dose-dependently inhibited by treatment of 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg of LF extract, mediated by antioxidant effects. RE at 250 mg/kg showed similar effects alpha-tocopherol. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that antioxidant effects of LF could attenuate the severity of RE and prevent the esophageal mucosal damage, and validate its therapeutic use in esophageal reflux disease.

Shengmai-san-mediated enhancement of regenerative responses of spinal cord axons after injury in rats.

Shengmai-san (SMS) is a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat diverse symptoms including cardiovascular and neurological disorders. Here we investigated the effects of SMS on regenerative responses of spinal cord axons in rats that were given contusion injury at the lower thoracic level. The injury cavity was confined to a restricted area by SMS treatment, and the signals of glial scar protein chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan (CSPG) and inflammatory cell marker protein CD11beta were heavily observed within the injury cavity in SMS-treated animals. Anterograde tracing of DiI-labeled corticospinal tract (CST) axons revealed increases in collateral arborization around and within the injury cavity and caudal elongation by SMS treatment. Furthermore, SMS treatment facilitated neurite elongation of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) sensory neurons that were co-cultured with non-neuronal cells prepared from injured spinal cord. Phospho-Erk1/2 was strongly induced in both spinal cord and motor cortical areas after spinal cord injury (SCI), and it was further unregulated in the motor cortex by SMS treatment. In contrast, upregulation of cell division cycle 2 (Cdc2) production by SMS treatment was limited to a local, SCI area. These data suggest that SMS may play an active role in regenerative responses and facilitate axonal regrowth after SCI.

Effects of radix adenophorae and cyclosporine A on an OVA-induced murine model of asthma by suppressing to T cells activity, eosinophilia, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

The present study is performed to investigate the inhibitory effects of Radix Adenophorae extract (RAE) on ovalbumin-induced asthma murine model. To study the anti-inflammatory and antiasthmatic effects of RAE, we examined the development of pulmonary eosinophilic inflammation and inhibitory effects of T cells in murine by RAE and cyclosporine A (CsA). We examined determination of airway hyperresponsiveness, flow cytometric analysis (FACS), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), quantitative real time (PCR), hematoxylin-eosin staining, and Masson trichrome staining in lung tissue, lung weight, total cells, and eosinophil numbers in lung tissue. We demonstrated how RAE suppressed development on inflammation and decreased airway damage.

Suppressive effects of Chelidonium majus methanol extract in knee joint, regional lymph nodes, and spleen on collagen-induced arthritis in mice.

Chelidonium majus L. has multiple applications in Korean traditional medicine because of its anti-tumoral, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial activities and has long been known to have anti-inflammatory effects. However, no study on the anti-arthritic activity of Chelidonium majus has been reported in vivo. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease with chronic inflammation characterized by hyperplasia of synovial cells in affected joints, which ultimately leads to the destruction of cartilage and bone. Cytokine production and gene expression were assessed during CIA (collagen-induced arthritis) model mice in knee joint, lymph node (LN), and spleen, using ELISA and competitive RT-PCR. DBA/1J mice were immunized with bovine type II collagen. After a second collagen immunization, mice were treated with CME orally at 400, 40mg/kg once a day for 4 weeks. The severity of arthritis within the knee joints was evaluated by histological assessment of cartilage destruction and pannus formation. Administration of CME significantly suppressed the progression of CIA and inhibited the production of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in spleen and lymph node. The erosion of cartilage was dramatically reduced in mouse knees after treatment with CME. In conclusion, our results demonstrates that CME significantly suppressed the progression of CIA and that this action was characterized by the decreased production of TNF-alpha, IL-6, IFN-gamma, B cells, gammadelta T cells (in spleen) and increased proportion of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in vivo. In the serum of CME-treated mice, the levels of IgG and IgM RA factor were decreased.

Fritillaria cirrhosa, Anemarrhena asphodeloides, Lee-Mo-Tang and cyclosporine a inhibit ovalbumin-induced eosinophil accumulation and Th2-mediated bronchial hyperresponsiveness in a murine model of asthma.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways characterized by excess production of Th2 cytokines and eosinophil accumulation in the lungs. Fritillaria cirrhosa, Anemarrhena asphodeloides and Lee-Mo-Tang are well-known herbs used in oriental medicine for the treatment of asthma and bronchial inflammation. To clarify the anti-asthmatic effects of Fritillaria cirrhosa bulbus, Anemarrhena rhizoma and Lee-Mo-Tang, we examined the development of pulmonary eosinophilic accumulation, control of Th2 cytokine, immunoglobulin E (IgE) and histamine productions in a murine model of asthma. Eosinophil cell proliferation was performed by [(3)H]thymidine uptake, eosinophilic accumulation. Cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were investigated by means of fluorescence activated cell sorter analysis and control of Th2 cytokine, IgE and histamine productions were investigated by RT-PCR and ELISA. Moreover, lung tissue was histologically analysed. The suppressive effects of Fritillaria cirrhosa bulbus, Anemarrhena rhizoma and Lee-Mo-Tang on eosinophil recruitment and airway inflammation were demonstrated throughout the reduction of eosinophil numbers. This result correlated with a marked reduction IL-5, IL-13 and IL-4 levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Ovalbumin-specific IgE levels were also decreased in serum. Fritillaria cirrhosa bulbus, Anemarrhena rhizoma and Lee-Mo-Tang have deep inhibitory effects on airway inflammation by suppression of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13), IgE, histamine production, reduction eosinophilic accumulation and increase of interferon-gamma production.

Inhibitory effects of Actinidia polygama extract and cyclosporine A on OVA-induced eosinophilia and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in a murine model of asthma.

Actinidia polygama is one of the well known herb used in oriental medicine for treatment of anti-inflammatory and many allergic diseases. Anti-asthmatic effects of A. polygama in the development of OVA-induced eosinophilia and hyperresponsiveness in murine model of asthma have not been fully investigated in vivo. Cyclosporine A (CsA) has been shown to inhibit single allergen-induced allergic inflammation such as eosinophilic and lymphocytic infiltration and mRNA expression for interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the mucosa and is associated with excess production of Th2 cytokines and eosinophil influx in lung. To clarify the anti-inflammatory and anti-asthmatic effects of A. polygama and CsA, we examined the influence of A. polygama fructus extract (APF) and CsA on the development of pulmonary eosinophilic inflammation in murine model of asthma. Our results have shown that APF and CsA have profound inhibitory effects on the accumulation of eosinophills into airways, with the reduction of eosinophil and total lung leukocyte number by reducing IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IgE levels in the BALF. Moreover, APF decreased eosinophil CCR3 expression and CD11b expression in lung cells. These results indicate that APF has a deep inhibitory effect on airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in murine model of asthma and play a crucial role as an immunomodulator which possess anti-inflammatory and anti-asthmatic property by modulating the relationship between Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance.

Growth-promoting activity of Hominis Placenta extract on regenerating sciatic nerve.

AIM: Extract of Hominis Placenta (HP) has been used in oriental medicine as an agent for improving physiological function. The present study was conducted to investigate whether HP treatment in an experimental sciatic nerve injury animal model produces growth-promoting effects on regenerating peripheral nerve fibers after injury. METHODS: After HP was injected into a sciatic nerve injury site, changes in protein levels were analyzed in the regenerating nerve area by Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining analyses. For quantitative assessment of axonal regeneration, a retrograde tracing technique was used to identify the neuronal cell bodies corresponding to regenerating axons, and the extent of neurite outgrowth in cultured dorsal root ganglia (DRG) sensory neurons prepared from animals that had experienced a sciatic nerve crush injury 7 d before neuron collection was analyzed. RESULTS: Induction levels of axonal growth-associated protein (GAP-43) in the injured sciatic nerves were elevated by HP treatment. HP treatment also upregulated cell division cycle 2 (Cdc2) protein levels in the distal stump of the injured sciatic nerve. Induced Cdc2 protein was detected in Schwann cells, suggesting that Cdc2 kinase activity may be involved in the growth-promoting activity of regenerating axons via Schwann cell proliferation. Cell body measurement by retrograde tracing indicated that HP treatment produced significant increases in regenerating motor axons. Finally, HP treatment of cultured DRG sensory neurons significantly increased neurite arborization and elongation. CONCLUSION: HP promotes the regeneration of injured sciatic axons by upregulating the synthesis of regeneration-related protein factors such as GAP-43 and Cdc2.

Liriopis tuber inhibit OVA-induced airway inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in murine model of asthma.

Liriope platyphylla is one of the well-known herb used in oriental medicine for treatment asthma and bronchial and lung inflammation. Anti-asthmatic effects of Liriope platyphylla in the development of OVA-induced airway inflammation and murine asthma model have not been fully investigated in vivo. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the mucosa and is associated with excess production of Th2 cytokines and eosinophil accumulation in lung. To clarify the anti-inflammatory and anti-asthmatic effects of Liriope platyphylla, we examined the influence of liriopis tuber (LRT) on the development of pulmonary eosinophilic inflammation in murine model of asthma. Our results have shown that LRT were demonstrated on the accumulation of eosinophills into airways, with reduction of eosinophil, total lung leukocytes numbers by reduction IL-5, IL-13, IL-4 and IgE levels in the BALF and serum. Moreover, LRT decreased eosinophil CCR3 expression and CD11b expression in lung cells. These results indicate that LRT has a deep inhibitory effects on airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in murine model of asthma and play an crucial role as a immunomodulator which possess anti-inflammatory and anti-asthmatic property by modulating the relationship between Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance.

Mineralogical and chemical changes in pyrite after traditional processing for use in medicines.

Pyrite has been the most commonly used medicinal mineral, and its toxicity was reduced by traditional processing operations including heating and quenching in vinegar. To verify the scientific effects of this process, pyrite was processed at temperatures up to 850 degrees C and through as many as five processing cycles. A metal extraction test was carried out from the processed pyrites on the assumption that pyrite medicines with the lowest toxic metal content would be most desirable. Increasing temperature and the number of processing cycles promoted phase change of pyrite to hematite, reduction of toxic metals in pyrite and their concentrations in the extraction solutions. However, the relationships between variations in extracted elements and the number of processing cycles at the same processing temperature were not clearly defined. Heating temperature is more important than the number of processing cycles for effective processing, and pyrite should be processed at the highest possible temperature in order to diminish highly toxic metals such as As and Pb.