Root Extract Attenuates Osteoarthritis Progression by Inhibiting Inflammation and Cartilage Degradation in Interleukin-1β and Monosodium Iodoacetate-Induced Osteoarthritis Models.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint condition caused by an imbalance between cartilage synthesis and degradation, which disrupts joint homeostasis. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory and joint-improving effects of root extract powder (PDREP) in both in vitro and in vivo OA models.

Methods/results: In an in vitro OA model, in which SW1353 human chondrosarcoma cells were treated with interleukin (IL)-1β, PDREP treatment significantly reduced the mRNA levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-3, and MMP-13 while enhancing collagen type II alpha 1 (Col2a1) mRNA level, and decreased IL-6 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels.

Immune-enhancing effect of fermented soybean food, on cyclophosphamide-treated immunosuppressed rat.

Cheonggukjang () is a traditional food, made by the fermentation of beans, and it has different recipes for different regions in Korea. However, it has anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-obesity effects, and is known to affect changes in the intestinal microbiota. In this study, we investigated the immune-enhancing effects of four type s (one commercial and three transitional s).

Augmentation of NK-cell activity and immunity by combined natural polyphenols and saccharides in vitro and in vivo.

Curcuma longa and Sargassum coreanum are commonly used in traditional pharmaceutical medicine to improve immune function in chronic diseases. The present study was designed to systematically elucidate the in vitro and in vivo immuno-enhancing effects of a combination of C. longa and S.

, a traditional Korean fermented food, protects through suppressed inflammatory pathways and histological structure disruption in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mice.

The mechanisms underlying chronic inflammatory diseases remain unclear. Therefore, researchers have explored the mechanisms underlying colitis using diverse materials. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in fermented products and bioconversion materials, their potential efficacy is being actively studied.

The Effect of the Mixed Extract of Nakai and Nakai on the Improvement of Degenerative Osteoarthritis through Inflammation Inhibition in the Monosodium Iodoacetate-Induced Mouse Model.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease, and, due to the lack of fundamental treatment, the main objective is to alleviate pain and prevent cartilage damage. Nakai and Nakai are herbal plants known for their excellent anti-inflammatory properties. The objective of this study is to confirm the potential of a mixture extract of Nakai and Nakai as a functional raw material for improving osteoarthritis through anti-inflammatory effects in macrophages and MIA-induced arthritis experimental animals.

Anti-Obesity Effect of Chlorin e6-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy on Mice with High-Fat-Diet-Induced Obesity.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Chlorin e6 (Ce6)-based photodynamic therapy (PDT) for anti-obesity activities in high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced obesity mouse models. We induced obesity in C57BL/6 mice by HFD and administered Ce6 (2.5 or 5 mg/kg) orally with 3 h of incubation.

Influence of Molecular Weight on the Enzymatic Degradation of PLA Isomer Blends by a Langmuir System.

Polylactides (PLAs) and lactide copolymers are biodegradable, compostable, and derived from renewable resources, offering a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based synthetic polymers owing to their advantages of comparable mechanical properties with commodity plastics and biodegradability. Their hydrolytic stability and thermal properties can affect their potential for long-lasting applications. However, stereocomplex crystallization is a robust method between isomer PLAs that allows significant amelioration in copolymer properties, such as thermal stability, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility, through substantial intermolecular interactions amid l-lactyl and d-lactyl sequences, which have been the key approach to initial degradation rate and further PLA applications.

(Thunb.) Siebold leaf extract enhanced immunostimulatory effects in a cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed rat model.

Background: (Thunb.) Siebold (EA) is a medicinal plant used in some Asian countries to treat various diseases, including cancer, hyperglycemia, diabetes, urticaria, dysmenorrhea, and arthritis. Owing to the wide range of pharmacological applications of EA, various roles of EA are being studied.

Potential Effect of Enzymatic Porcine Placental Hydrolysate (EPPH) to Improve Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD) by Promoting Lipolysis in the Liver.

Alcoholic liver disease is associated with the production of highly reactive free radicals by ethanol and its metabolites. Free radicals not only induce liver oxidation and damage tissues, but also stimulate an inflammatory response in hepatocytes, leading to severe liver disease. In order to improve alcoholic liver disease, enzymatic porcine placenta hydrolysate was studied by exploring various materials.

Protective effect of traditional Korean fermented soybean foods () on a dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis mouse model.

: The cause of ulcerative colitis (UC) is unknown, and the use of anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs with certain side effects is currently replacing treatment. Therefore, it is important to find new healthy foods or ingredients that exhibit potential protective and anti-inflammatory effects on UC. This study investigated the potential protective effect of on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in a mouse model.

Immune-Enhancing Effects of Co-treatment With Nakai Bark and Gaertner Leaf Extract in a Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppressed Rat Model.

Objective: Immune system disorders can result in various pathological conditions, such as infections and cancer. Identifying therapies that enhance the immune response might be crucial for immunocompromised individuals. Therefore, we assessed the immune-enhancing effect of co-treatment with Nakai Bark and Gaertner leaf extract (KPNN) in a cyclophosphamide (Cy)-induced immunosuppressed rat model.

Immuno-enhancement effects of Platycodon grandiflorum extracts in splenocytes and a cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed rat model.

Background: Platycodon grandiflorum is a flowering plant that is used in traditional medicine for treating pulmonary and respiratory disorders. It exerts various pharmacological effects, including immunomodulatory and anti-cancer activities. The purpose of this study was to confirm the in vitro and in vivo immune-enhancing effects of P.

A. Berger Extracts Induce Immunity-Enhancing Effects on Cyclophosphamide-Treated Immunosuppressed Rats.

In this study, we evaluated the immunity-enhancing effects of A. Berger (OJ). To examine the immune protective effect in vitro, primary mouse splenocytes were treated with water or ethanol extracts of OJ in the absence or presence of cyclophosphamide (CY), which is a cytotoxic, immunosuppressive agent.

Immunostimulatory Effect of -Based Complex Oil Prepared by Supercritical Fluid Extraction in Splenocytes and Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppressed Rats.

Complex oil of and seed (ZPCO) is used as a traditional medicine due to its pharmacological activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunostimulatory effect of ZPCO in isolated splenocytes as well as in an immunosuppressed rat model, which was generated via oral administration of cyclophosphamide. Notably, our results showed that ZPCO exerted an immunity-enhancing effect both and .

Lipase-Catalyzed Regioselective Synthesis of Dextrin Esters.

Four lipase enzymes were investigated as catalysts in the synthesis of regioselectively monosubstituted dextrin esters from dextrin and vinyl acetate. An immobilized lipase enzyme (Lipozyme TL IM) exhibited the highest activity. This enzyme showed regioselective substitution of the dextrin at the primary hydroxyl group (C6 position) under optimal conditions (60 °C for 24 h, using a 1:3 molar ratio of glucose unit/vinyl acetate and 2.

Attenuated RANKL-induced cytotoxicity by Portulaca oleracea ethanol extract enhances RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis.

Background: Portulaca oleracea (PO) has been widely used as traditional medicine because of its pharmacological activities. However, the effects of PO on osteoclasts that modulate bone homeostasis are still elusive.

Methods: In this study, we examined the effects of PO ethanol extract (POEE) on receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-mediated Ca(2+) mobilization, nuclear factor of activated T-cell c1 (NFATc1) amplification, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive (TRAP+) multinucleated cell (MNC) formation, and cytotoxicity.

Prolonged oral administration of Gastrodia elata extract improves spatial learning and memory of scopolamine-treated rats.

Gastrodia elata (GE) is traditionally used for treatment of various disorders including neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. To investigate the neuroprotective effect of GE, amyloid-β peptide (Aβ)-treated PC12 cells were cultured with GE aqueous extract. In vitro assay demonstrated that 50 µM of pre-aggregated Aβ was lethal to about a half portion of PC12 cells and that Aβ aggregate-induced cell death was significantly decreased with GE treatment at ≤10 mg/mL in a dose-dependent manner.

Ameliorative effects of Monascus pilosus-fermented black soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) on high-fat diet-induced obesity.

The purpose of this study was to examine the antiobesity effects of Monascus pilosus-fermented black soybean (F-BS) in C57BL/6 mice with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. F-BS (oral, 0.5 and 1.

Laxative effect of peanut sprout extract.

Certain phenolic compounds are known to exhibit laxative properties. Seed sprouts, such as those of peanut, are known to promote de novo biosynthesis of phenolic compounds. This study was conducted to examine the potential laxative properties of 80% (v/v) ethanolic extract of peanut sprout (PSE), which contains a high concentration of phenolic compounds such as resveratrol.

Immunostimulating effects of extract of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus.

As malfunction/absence of immune cells causes a variety of immunosuppressive disorders and chemical synthetic drugs for curing these diseases have many adverse effects, vigorous studies are being conducted. The Acanthopanax family has been used as traditional medicines for gastric ulcer, diabetes, etc. and culinary materials in East-South Asia.

Treatment of eggshell with casein phosphopeptide reduces the severity of ovariectomy-induced bone loss.

It has been generally accepted that calcium intake prevents bone loss, and frequent fracture resulted from osteoporosis. However, it is still elusive as to how effective sole calcium intake is in preventing or attenuating the severity of osteoporosis. Here, we demonstrate the effects of eggshell-casein phosphopeptide (ES-CPP), and compared these effects those of calcium supplement, for restoring ovariectomy-mediated bone loss.

Water extracts of immature Rubus coreanus regulate lipid metabolism in liver cells.

Hyperlipidemia is a major contributor for atherosclerosis and hypolipidemic drugs such as statin are highly prescribed to treat elevated lipid level in plasma. Rubus coreanus, which is widely cultivated in south eastern Asia, have been reported to show significant cholesterol lowering action in hyperlipidemic subjects. Our objective was to determine the cellular effect of Rubus coreanus extract (RCE) on cholesterol biosynthesis in human hepatic cells (HepG2) and to elucidate the molecular mechanism by which it causes change in cholesterol metabolism.

Effects of male silkworm pupa powder on the erectile dysfunction by chronic ethanol consumption in rats.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a highly prevalent disorder that affects millions of men worldwide. ED is now considered an early manifestation of atherosclerosis, and consequently, a precursor of systemic vascular disease. This study was designed to investigate the effects of male silkworm pupa powder (SWP) on the levels of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression, nitrite, and glutathione (GSH); lipid peroxidation; libido; and erectile response of the corpus cavernosum of the rat penis.