Electroacupuncture improves trinitrobenzene sulfonic Acid-induced colitis, evaluated by transcriptomic study.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic colonic inflammation that displays symptoms like diarrhea and weight loss. Acupuncture has been widely accepted by Western countries for the treatment of pain. Here, we analyzed efficacy and mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) on trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid- (TNBS-) induced colitis in mice.

Inhibitory effects of Zuo-Jin-Wan and its alkaloidal ingredients on activator protein 1, nuclear factor-κB, and cellular transformation in HepG2 cells.

Zuo-Jin-Wan (ZJW) has been used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma in Asia. This study was to determine whether ZJW and its components blocked activator protein 1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activities as well as tumor promotion in hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells. ZJW and its components, Coptis chinensis and Evodia rutaecarpa, inhibited AP-1 and NF-κB activities, and suppressed anchorage-independent growth of HepG2 cells.

Evodiamine inhibits 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced activator protein 1 transactivation and cell transformation in human hepatocytes.

Evodia rutaecarpa has been used to treat inflammatory digestive disorders in Asian countries. However, little is known about the antitumor activities of E. rutaecarpa and its bioactive constituent evodiamine (EVO).

Inhibition of Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin-induced diarrhea by Chaenomeles speciosa.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is responsible for millions of deaths in developing countries. Heat-labile enterotoxin (LT), the virulence factor of ETEC, induces diarrhea by initially binding to the G(M1) on the surface of intestinal epithelial cells and consequently leading to the massive loss of fluid and ions from cells. Fruit of Chaenomeles (FC), the dried fruit of Chaenomeles speciosa, has been used for diarrhea in China.

Differential regulation of activator protein 1 activity by glycyrrhizin.

Glycyrrhizin, a major component of Glycyrrhiza uralensis (licorice) root, is a saponin and exhibits a number of pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammation, anti-ulcer, anti-allergy, and anticarcinogenesis. Activator protein I (AP-1), a nuclear transcription factor, consists of Jun/Fos heterodimers or Jun/Jun homodimers, and blocking of tumor promoter-induced AP-1 activity could inhibit induced cellular transformation. In order to elucidate the molecular mechanism of glycyrrhizin-induced anticarcinogenesis, effect of glycyrrhizin on the AP-1 activity in untreated and tumor promoter-12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-treated conditions was analyzed in this study.