Anti-osteoporotic effects of Yi Mai Jian on bone metabolism of ovariectomized rats.

Yi Mai Jian herbal formula (YMJ) is formulated with Eucommiae Folium, Astragali Radix, Ligustri Lucidi Fructus, and Elaeagnus Fructus to improve bone function in traditional Chinese medicine. The anti-osteoporotic effects of YMJ in bone metabolism were evaluated in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The skeletal structure of the femur and vertebrae was analyzed after treating OVX rats with YMJ for 114 days. The results showed that YMJ significantly increased the bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular number (Tb. N) of the femur and 5th lumbar vertebrae and reduced trabecular separation (Tb. Sp). Moreover, trabecular bone volume/total tissue volume (BV/TV), bone stiffness, and maximum femur load were significantly increased. The serum concentrations of NTX1 and PYD were significantly decreased. According to these results, YMJ could ameliorate osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats. Eucommiae Folium and Elaeagnus Fructus inhibited osteoclast differentiation, Ligustri Lucidi Fructus inhibited calcium reabsorption, Astragali Radix stimulated osteoblast proliferation, and Astragali Radix and Eucommiae Folium stimulated mineralization. Therefore, the combination of the four herbs into one formula, YMJ, could alleviate bone remodeling caused by low estrogen levels. We suggest that YMJ could be a healthy food candidate for preventing post-menopausal osteoporosis.

Hepatoprotective effect of the ethanol extract of Polygonum orientale on carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury in mice.

Polygonum orientale L. (Polygonaceae) fruits have various medicinal uses, but their hepatoprotective effects have not yet been studied. This study investigated the hepatoprotective activity of the ethanolic extract of P. orientale (POE) fruits against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver injury (ALI). Mice were pretreated with POE (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 g/kg) or silymarin (0.2 g/kg) for 5 consecutive days and administered a dose of 0.175% CCl4 (ip) on the 5th day to induce ALI. Blood and liver samples were collected to measure antioxidative activity and cytokines. The bioactive components of POE were identified through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Acute toxicity testing indicated that the LD50 of POE exceeded 10 g/kg in mice. Mice pretreated with POE (0.5, 1.0 g/kg) experienced a significant reduction in their serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels and reduction in the extent of liver lesions. POE reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, and increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GRd) in liver. HPLC revealed peaks at 11.28, 19.55, and 39.40 min for protocatechuic acid, taxifolin, and quercetin, respectively. In summary, the hepatoprotective effect of POE against CCl4-induced ALI was seemingly associated with its antioxidant and anti-proinflammatory activities.

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the ethanol extract of Taxillus tsaii Chiu in mice.

Preclinical Research This study was conducted to investigate the analgesic activities and mechanism of anti-inflammatory activities of a 50% ethanol extract of Taxillus tsaii (ETT) in vivo using the acetic acid induced writhing test and formalin induced paw licking in mice. The anti-inflammatory effect of ETT was evaluated using a mouse model of λ-carrageenan (Carr)-induced paw edema. ETT reduced the writhing in the acetic acid assay test at a dose 1.0 g/kg po and reduced the licking time in the late phase of the formalin test at doses of 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg po). Carr-induced paw edema was reduced when ETT (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg po) was administered 3-5 h after Carr injection. ETT (1.0 g/kg po) reduced the level of malondialdehyde in the edemic paw by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes, e.g., superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase, in the liver and reducing TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 activity in the edemic paw. This study demonstrates the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of ETT, thus verifying its application in traditional Chinese medicine.

Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Rosa taiwanensis Nakai in Mice.

In this study, we evaluated the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of a 70% ethanol extract from Rosa taiwanensis Nakai (RTEtOH). The analgesic effect was determined using acetic acid-induced writhing response and formalin test. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by λ-carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of RTEtOH was examined by measuring the levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the paw edema tissue and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GRd) in the liver tissue. The betulinic acid and oleanolic acid contents of RTEtOH were assayed by HPLC. The results showed that RTEtOH decreased the acetic acid-induced writhing responses (1.0 g/kg) and the late phase of the formalin-induced licking time (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg). In the anti-inflammatory models, RTEtOH (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg) reduced the paw edema at 3, 4, and 5 h after λ-carrageenan administration. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory mechanisms might be due to the decreased levels of COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6, as well as the inhibition of NO and MDA levels through increasing the activities of SOD, GPx, and GRd. The contents of two active compounds, betulinic acid and oleanolic acid, were quantitatively determined. This study demonstrated the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of RTEtOH and provided evidence to support its therapeutic use in inflammatory diseases.

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of Cuscuta chinensis seeds in mice.

The seeds of Cuscuta chinensis, Cuscutae Semen, are commonly used as a medicinal material for treating the aching and weakness of the loins and knees, tonifying the defects of the liver and the kidney, and treating the diarrhea due to hypofunction of the kidney and the spleen. Since aching and inflammation are highly correlated with such diseases, the aim of this study is to investigate the possible antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of the seeds of C. chinensis. The antinociceptive effect of the seeds of C. chinensis was evaluated via the acetic acid-induced writhing response and formalin-induced paw licking methods. The anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated via the λ-carrageenan induced mouse paw edema method. The results found that 100 and 500 mg/kg of the methanol extract of the seeds of C. chinensis( CC MeOH ) significantly decreased (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively) the writhing response in the acetic acid assay. Additionally, 20-500 mg/kg of CC MeOH significantly decreased licking time at the early (20 and 100 mg/kg, p < 0.001) and late phases (100 mg/kg, p < 0.01; 500 mg/kg, p < 0.001) of the formalin test, respectively. Furthermore, CC MeOH (100 and 500 mg/kg) significantly decreased (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively) edema paw volume four hours after λ-carrageenan had been injected. The results in the following study also revealed that the anti-inflammatory mechanism of CC MeOH may be due to declined levels of NO and MDA in the edema paw by increasing the activities of SOD, GPx and GRd in the liver. In addition, CC MeOH also decreased IL-1ß, IL-6, NF-κB, TNF-α, and COX-2 levels. This is the first study to demonstrate the possible mechanisms for the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of CC MeOH in vivo. Thus, it provides evidence for the treatment of Cuscutae Semen in inflammatory diseases.

Anti-inflammatory activity of N-(3-florophenyl)ethylcaffeamide in mice.

In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of one synthetic product, N-(3-Florophenyl)ethylcaffeamide (abbrev. FECA), by using animal model of λ-carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of FECA was determined by measuring the levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the edema paw tissue, and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GRd) in the liver. The results showed that FECA reduced the paw edema at three, four and five hours after λ-carrageenan administration. The levels of COX-2, NO, TNF-α, and MDA in the λ-carrageenan-induced edema paws were reduced and the activities of SOD, GPx, and GRd in liver tissues were raised by FECA. These results suggested that FECA possessed anti-inflammatory activities and the anti-inflammatory mechanisms might be related to the decrease of the levels of COX-2, NO, and TNF-α in inflamed tissues and the increase in the MDA level by increasing the activities of SOD, GPx, and GRd.

Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Methanol Extract of Cissus repens in Mice.

The aim of this study was to investigate possible analgesic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of the CR(MeOH). Analgesic effect was evaluated in two models including acetic acid-induced writhing response and formalin-induced paw licking. The anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated by λ-carrageenan-induced mouse paw edema and histopathologic analyses. The results showed that CR(MeOH) (500 mg/kg) decreased writhing response in the acetic acid assay and licking time in the formalin test. CR(MeOH) (100 and 500 mg/kg) significantly decreased edema paw volume at 4th to 5th hours after λ-carrageenan had been injected. Histopathologically, CR(MeOH) abated the level of tissue destruction and swelling of the edema paws. These results were indicated that anti-inflammatory mechanism of CR(MeOH) may be due to declined levels of NO and MDA in the edema paw through increasing the activities of SOD, GPx, and GRd in the liver. Additionally, CR(MeOH) also decreased IL-1ß, IL-6, NFκB, TNF-α, COX-2, and iNOS levels. The contents of two active ingredients, ursolic acid and lupeol, were quantitatively determined. This paper demonstrated possible mechanisms for the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of CR(MeOH) and provided evidence for the classical treatment of Cissus repens in inflammatory diseases.

Analgesic and Antiinflammatory Activities of the Aqueous Extract from Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. Both In Vitro and In Vivo.

Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. is a native Labiatae plant of Taiwan. The plants are commonly used in Chinese folk medicine for the treatment of cough, fever, sore throats, mumps, and mosquito bite. The aim of this study was to investigate the analgesic and antiinflammatory properties of the aqueous extract from Plectranthus amboinicus (PA) in vivo and in vitro. PA inhibited pain induced by acetic acid and formalin, and inflammation induced by carrageenan. The anti-inflammatory effect of PA was related to modulating antioxidant enzymes' activities in the liver and decreasing the Malondialdehyde (MDA) level and the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and cyclooxygenase2 (COX-2) in edema-paw tissue in mice. In vitro studies show that PA inhibited the proinflammatory mediators in RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). PA blocked the degradation of IκB-α and nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 subunit. Finally, the amount of carvacrol in the aqueous extract of PA was 1.88 mg/g extract. Our findings suggest that PA has analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. These effects were mediated by inhibiting the proinflammatory mediators through blocking NF-κB activation. Meanwhile, the effects observed in this study provide evidence for folkloric uses of Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. in relieving pain and inflammation.

Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Ethanolic Extract of Artemisia morrisonensis Hayata in Mice.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible analgesic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of the ethanolic extract of A. morrisonensis Hayata (AM(EtOH)). Two models were employed for evaluation of the analgesic effects: acetic acid-induced writhing response and formalin-induced paw licking. The results demonstrated that AM(EtOH) decreased writhing response for both the acetic acid assay and the licking time in the formalin test. The anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated by paw edema of mice induced by λ-carrageenan. AM(EtOH) significantly decreased induced paw edema three to four hours after λ-carrageenan injection. Additionally, the results indicated that the anti-inflammatory mechanism of AM(EtOH) may be due to the declined levels of nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the edematous paw. Furthermore, AM(EtOH) decreased the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, leading to the reduction of prostaglandins and subsequently alleviated edema. Isolation and purification of the AM(EtOH) extract determined p-hydroxyacetophenone to be a major component at 130 mg/g of extract. No mortality was observed in the acute toxicity test given at the dose of 10 g/kg. This study demonstrated the possible mechanisms for the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of AM(EtOH) for mice and provided evidence for the ethnobotanical uses of A. morrisonensis in treating inflammatory diseases.

Diosgenin ameliorates cognition deficit and attenuates oxidative damage in senescent mice induced by D-galactose.

This study attempted to access the neuroprotective effect of diosgenin on the senescent mice induced by d-galactose (D-gal). The mice in the experiments were orally administered with diosgenin (1, 5, 25 and 125 mg/kg), for four weeks from the sixth week. The learning and memory abilities of the mice in Morris water maze test and the mechanism involved in the neuroprotective effect of diosgenin on the mice brain tissue were investigated. Diosgenin (5, 25 and 125 mg/kg, p.o.) showed significantly improved learning and memory abilities in Morris water maze test compared to D-gal treated mice (200 mg/kg, ten weeks). Diosgenin also increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and decreased the malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the brain of D-gal treated mice. These results indicated that diosgenin has the potential to be a useful treatment for cognitive impairment. In addition, the memory enhancing effect of diosgenin may be partly mediated via enhancing endogenous antioxidant enzymatic activities.

Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Methanol Extract from Pogostemon cablin.

Pogostemon cablin (PC) is a herbal medicine traditionally applied to treat not only common cold, nausea and diarrhea but also headache and fever. The aim of this study was to investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of standardized PC methanol extract (PCMeOH) in vivo. Investigations were performed in mice with two analgesic models. One was acetic acid-induced writhing response and the other formalin-induced paw licking. The anti-inflammatory effect was tested by λ-carrageenan (Carr)-induced mice paw edema. These analgesic experimental results indicated that PCMeOH (1.0 g/kg) decreased the acetic acid-induced writhing responses and PCMeOH (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg) decreased the licking time in the second phase of the formalin test. Moreover, Carr-induced paw edema inflammation was significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner when PCMeOH (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg) was administered 3 and 4 h after the Carr injection. Mechanistic studies showed that PCMeOH decreased the levels of malondialdehyde in the edema paw by increasing the activities of anti-oxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase, in the liver and decreasing the cyclooxygenase 2 and tumor necrosis factor-α activities in the edema paw. This study has demonstrated the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of PCMeOH, thus verifying its popular use in traditional medicine.