Fruiting Bodies of Antrodia cinnamomea and Its Active Triterpenoid, Antcin K, Ameliorates N-Nitrosodiethylamine-Induced Hepatic Inflammation, Fibrosis and Carcinogenesis in Rats.

Antrodia cinnamomea (A. cinnamomea), a popular medicinal mushroom in Taiwan, is widely used to prevent or treat liver diseases. Systematic studies on the anti-inflammatory effect of A. cinnamomea and its molecular mechanisms have not yet been fully investigated. HPLC fingerprint analysis identified seven ergostane-type triterpenoids from A. cinnamomea water extract (ACW), including high amounts of Antcin K (AC), Antcin C, Antcin H, Dehydrosulphurenic acid, Antcin B, Antcin A and Dehydroeburicoic acid. Here, we explored the effects and mechanisms of ACW and the highest content AC on N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) induced liver inflammation, fibrosis and carcinogenesis in rats. In the in vitro study, we measured how ACW and AC dose-dependently scavenged O[Formula: see text], H2O2 and HOCl by a chemiluminescence analyzer. In the in vivo experiment, oral intake ACW and AC significantly inhibited DEN-enhanced hepatocellular inflammation, fibrosis and carcinoma by pathologic observation, the elevated bile and liver reactive oxygen species (ROS) amounts, plasma [Formula: see text]-glutamyl transpeptidase, and oxidative stress including 3-nitrotyrosine, 4-hydroxynonenal and Kuppfer cell infiltration (ED-1 stains) in the inflammatory livers. DEN enhanced nuclear factor-[Formula: see text]B (NF-[Formula: see text]B) translocation, whereas ACW and AC suppressed DEN-enhanced NF-[Formula: see text]B translocation through the inhibition of its upstream signaling of p85/phosphoinositide-3-kinase, mitogen activated protein kinase and CYP2E1 expression. In conclusion, DEN can induce hepatocellular inflammation, fibrosis and carcinoma by increasing NF-[Formula: see text]B translocation to the nucleus, and oxidative injury. ACW and its active component, Antcin K, counteract DEN-induced hepatic injury and inflammation by the protective and therapeutic mechanisms of a direct scavenging ROS activity and an upregulation of anti-oxidant defense mechanisms.

Monascus Adlay and Monacolin K Attenuates Arterial Thrombosis in Rats through the Inhibition of ICAM-1 and Oxidative Stress.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Monascus Adlay (MA) prepared from fungal fermentation of Monascus purpureus inoculating with cooked adlay contains high content of monakolin K (MK) and phenolic compounds. We explored whether MA and MK improve FeCl3-induced arterial thrombosis in rats. METHODS: The rats were divided into control, FeCl3-treated rat carotid artery occlusion (TTO), TTO determined with one-week MA, and TTO determined with one-week MK. We compared MA or MK effects on oxidative stress by chemiluminescence amplification and immunohistochemistry, TTO by a transonic system, NFκB, ICAM-1, endoplasmic reticulum stress CHOP and Nrf2 signaling by western blotting. RESULTS: MA or MK efficiently depressed O2-, H2O2 and HOCl levels, platelet activation and aggregation and H2O2-enhanced ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression in the endothelial cells. FeCl3 significantly increased NFκB p65, 3-nitrotyrosine, CHOP and ICAM-1 expression, and decreased nuclear Nrf2 translocation and induces arterial thrombus formation. MA or MK pretreatment significantly elongated the level of FeCl3-induced TTO compared to TTO group, significantly decreased proinflammatory NF-κB/ICAM-1 signaling, endoplasmic reticulum stress CHOP expression and decreased thrombotic area. MA or MK significantly preserved nuclear Nrf2 translocation. MA and MK exerted a similar protective effect in attenuating thrombus formation. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest MA is better than MK to improve FeCl3-induced arterial thrombosis.