Author Correction: Cyclocarya paliurus tea leaves enhances pancreatic β cell preservation through inhibition of apoptosis.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

An External CAM Therapy (Tian Jiu) versus Placebo in Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis: A Pilot Single-Blinded, Three-Arm, Randomized Controlled Study.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is one of the common allergic diseases in clinical practice and significantly impairs the quality of life (QoL) of patients. The conventional treatments are not satisfactory because of various reasons. Tian Jiu (TJ) therapy is a characteristic external intervention of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and has been widely utilized in the management of AR.

Cyclocarya paliurus tea leaves enhances pancreatic β cell preservation through inhibition of apoptosis.

Leaves of Cyclocarya paliurus are a sweet tea traditionally used to treat obesity and diabetes in China. However, its protective mechanisms against hyperglycemia remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the extract of C.

Magnolol, a Natural Polyphenol, Attenuates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice.

Magnolol is a lignan with anti-inflammatory activity identified in . Ulcerative colitis (UC), one of the types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is a disease that causes inflammation and ulcers in the colon. To investigate the effect of magnolol in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced experimental UC model, male C57 mice were treated with 2% DSS drinking water for 5 consecutive days followed by intragastric administration with magnolol (5, 10 and 15 mg/kg) daily for 7 days.

Azoxystrobin Induces Apoptosis of Human Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma KYSE-150 Cells through Triggering of the Mitochondrial Pathway.

Recent studies indicate that mitochondrial pathways of apoptosis are potential chemotherapeutic target for the treatment of esophageal cancer. Azoxystrobin (AZOX), a methoxyacrylate derived from the naturally occurring strobilurins, is a known fungicide acting as a ubiquinol oxidation (Qo) inhibitor of mitochondrial respiratory complex III. In this study, the effects of AZOX on human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma KYSE-150 cells were examined and the underlying mechanisms were investigated.

Halofuginone reduces the inflammatory responses of DSS-induced colitis through metabolic reprogramming.

Hypoxia and inflammation have been identified as the hallmarks of colitis, intertwined with metabolism. Here, we report that halofuginone (HF), an antiparasitic drug, attenuates dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice, as represented by attenuating the disease activity index, inhibiting colonic shortening, ameliorating colonic lesions and histological signs of damage, reducing colonic myeloperoxidase activity, and suppressing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in colon tissue. Intriguingly, the hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1α) and tumor necrosis factor alpha were also suppressed by HF treatment in colon tissues, exhibiting a tissue-specific effect.

Berberine ameliorates chronic relapsing dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in C57BL/6 mice by suppressing Th17 responses.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an increasingly common condition particularly in developed countries. The lack of satisfactory treatment has fueled the search for alternative therapeutic strategies. In recent studies, berberine, a plant alkaloid with a long history of medicinal use in Chinese medicine, has shown beneficial effects against animal models of acute UC.

Anti-inflammatory Actions of (+)-3'α-Angeloxy-4'-keto-3',4'-dihydroseselin (Pd-Ib) against Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in C57BL/6 Mice.

The immunoregulatory protective properties of (+)-3'α-angeloxy-4'-keto-3',4'-dihydroseselin (Pd-Ib) isolated from Bupleurum malconense has not been reported. In the present study, the therapeutic effect of Pd-Ib (30, 60, and 120 mg/kg/day) was examined in a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis. Administration of Pd-Ib significantly reduced the disease activity index, inhibited the shortening of colon length, reduced colonic tissue damage, and suppressed colonic myeloperoxidase activity and nitric oxide levels in mice with DSS-induced colitis.

A novel coumarin, (+)-3'-angeloxyloxy-4'-keto-3',4'-dihydroseselin, isolated from Bupleurum malconense (Chaihu) inhibited NF-κB activity.

Background: This study aims to identify the major anti-inflammatory components in the petroleum ether extract of Bupleurum malconense (Chaihu), by bioassay-guided fractionation, and to investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of active components in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine macrophage RAW-Blue cells.

Methods: A QUANTI-Blue assay was used to guide fractionation of B. malconense root extract.

Spexin Enhances Bowel Movement through Activating L-type Voltage-dependent Calcium Channel via Galanin Receptor 2 in Mice.

A novel neuropeptide spexin was found to be broadly expressed in various endocrine and nervous tissues while little is known about its functions. This study investigated the role of spexin in bowel movement and the underlying mechanisms. In functional constipation (FC) patients, serum spexin levels were significantly decreased.

Anti-fibrotic effect of trans-resveratrol on pancreatic stellate cells.

Trans-resveratrol, also known as 3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene, is a natural stilbenoid found at high concentration in skins of red grapes and berries. Over the recent years, it has been reported with a variety of beneficial effects such as antioxidant, anti-aging and anti-inflammatory bioactivities; thus often utilized as an active substance in human and veterinary therapeutics. In the current study, we aimed to delineate the mechanism of its anti-fibrotic action by means of various biochemical assays, such as immunofluorescent staining, real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting analyses in a cellular model, the LTC-14 cells, which retain essential characteristics and morphological features of primary pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs).

Secolignans, neolignans and phenylpropanoids from Daphne feddei and their biological activities.

Two new secolignans and one new neolignan, named feddeiphenols A-C (1-3), together with eight known compounds (4-11), were isolated from the leaves and stems of Daphne feddei. Their structures were established on the base of spectroscopic methods, mainly extensive NMR, UV spectroscopy, and MS spectrometry. Compounds 1-11 were tested for their anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 activity and cytotoxicity.

Neolignans from Schisandra wilsoniana and their anti-human immunodeficiency virus-1 activities.

Four new neolignans, marphenols G-J (1-4), together with two known ones, were isolated from the leaves and stems of Schisandra wilsoniana. The structures of 1-4 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including extensive 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques. New compounds 1-4 were tested for their anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 activities and they showed weak bioactivities.

Dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans from the fruits of Schisandra rubriflora and their anti-HIV-1 activities.

Two new dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans, rubrilignans A and B (1, 2), together with 17 known ones, were isolated from the fruits of Schisandra rubriflora. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including extensive 1D and 2D NMR techniques. Compounds 1 and 2 were also evaluated for their anti-HIV-1 activities and showed weak anti-HIV-1 activity with EC(50) values of 2.