Effect of Polycan, a β-Glucan from SM-2001, on Inflammatory Response and Intestinal Barrier Function in DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC), a subtype of inflammatory bowel disease, is a chronic gastrointestinal inflammatory disease with unclear etiology and pathophysiology. Herein, we determined the effects of extracellular polysaccharides purified from SM-2001 (Polycan) on tight junction protein expression, inflammation, and apoptosis in a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced acute colitis model. Fifty mice were divided into normal, DSS, DSS + Polycan 250 mg/kg (Polycan 250), DSS + Polycan 500 mg/kg (Polycan 500), and DSS + 5-aminosalicylic acid 100 mg/kg (5-ASA) groups.

Quercitrin inhibits platelet activation in arterial thrombosis.

Background: The ingestion of flavonoids has been reported to be associated with reduced cardiovascular disease risk. Quercitrin is a common flavonoid in nature, and it exhibits antioxidant properties. Although the process of thrombogenesis is intimately related to cardiovascular disease risk, it is unclear whether quercitrin plays a role in thrombogenesis.

Network Pharmacology-Based Approaches of Linne and Fischer Imply their Regulation of Liver Failure with Hepatic Encephalopathy in Mice.

and have been used as supplementary ingredients in various herbal medicines. They have been reported to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and, therefore, have potential in the treatment and prevention of various liver diseases. Considering that hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is often associated with chronic liver failure, we investigated whether an and extract mixture (RG) could reduce HE.

Effect of Extract on IgE-Antigen-Mediated Allergic Reaction in Rat Basophilic Leukemic RBL-2H3 Mast Cells and Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis in Mice.

is widely known for its antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer, and antiaging efficacy and -glucosidase inhibition. This study was designed whether extracts inhibit the IgE-antigen-mediated allergic reaction in RBL-2H3 mast cells, and it further investigated the FcRI- and arachidonate-signaling by which extracts exert its antiallergic effects. IgE-antigen-sensitized RBL-2H3 mast cells were investigated for the cytotoxicity of extracts and -hexosaminidase release, and inflammatory mediators (e.

Ethanol Extract of Linn. Inhibits FcRI-Mediated Allergic Reaction via Regulation of Lyn/Syk and Fyn Signaling Pathways in Rat Basophilic Leukemic RBL-2H3 Mast Cells.

This study is aimed at determining whether Sesamum indicum Linn. beneficially influences FcRI-mediated allergic reactions in RBL-2H3 mast cells; it is also aimed at further investigating Lyn/Fyn and Syk signaling pathways. To examine the antiallergic effect of Linn.

Antiplatelet and Antithrombotic Activity of a Traditional Medicine, Hwangryunhaedok-Tang.

Platelet activation and accumulation at the site of vascular injury are central to thrombus formation resulted in thrombotic disorders. Medicinal herbs could be one of the most important pharmaceutical agents that ameliorate thrombotic disorders, such as unstable angina, myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral vascular diseases. Hwangryunhaedok-tang (HRT) is a traditional herbal medicine that displays multiple biological properties including anti-inflammatory abilities.

Ethanol Extract Alleviates Interleukin-6-Induced Barrier Dysfunction and Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Colitis by Improving Intestinal Barrier Function and Reducing Inflammation.

Ulcerative colitis is one inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and is caused by diverse factors, including the extent and duration of intestinal inflammation. We investigated the effect of ethanol extract (KIOM-2015E) on the expression of tight junction proteins and the levels of inflammation in the cell model induced with interleukin-6- (IL-6-) and mouse model of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) induced with acute colitis. KIOM-2015E (100 mg/kg) was orally administered once per day to BALB/C mice with colitis induced by administration of 5% DSS in drinking water.

Jageum-Jung improves 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in mice and suppresses pro-inflammatory chemokine production by inhibiting TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced STAT-1 and NFκB signaling in HaCaT cells.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Jageum-Jung (JGJ) is an oriental herbal formula comprising five herbs (Melaphis chinensis Bell, Cremastra variabilis Nakai, Knoxia valerianoides Thorel, Euphorbia lathyris L., and Moschus moschiferus L.).

Leaves of Acer palmatum thumb. Rescues N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-Induced retinal degeneration in mice.

Background: In the East Asia, the genus Acer (Aceraceae) is a herbal medicine that is used to treat various diseases, including hemostasis, hepatic disorders, traumatic bleeding and poor eyesight. However, the effects of Acer palmatum thumb. on retinal degeneration are unknown.

Voglibose-mediated alterations in neurometabolomic profiles in the hypothalamus of high-fat diet-fed mice.

The alpha-glucosidase inhibitor voglibose (VO) was recently reported to have a protective effect against weight gain as well as affect various metabolic changes related to food intake and gut-brain signaling. We hypothesized that VO prevents weight gain by altering neurometabolome profiles in the hypothalamus to reduce food intake. To test this hypothesis, we assessed metabolite profiles in the hypothalamus of standard diet- or high-fat (HF) diet-fed mice in the absence or presence of VO.

Moore Improves FcRI-Mediated Allergic Responses in the Rat Basophilic Leukemia Mast Cell Line RBL-2H3 and Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis in Mice.

Moore (Drynaria rhizome extract (DRE)) is widely known for its efficacy in treating inflammation, arteriosclerosis, and bone injuries. This study evaluated whether treatment with DRE inhibited FcRI-mediated allergic responses in the RBL-2H3 mast cells and investigated the early- and late-phase mechanisms by which DRE exerts its antiallergic effects. IgE anti-DNP/DNP-HSA-sensitized RBL-2H3 mast cells were tested for cytotoxicity to DRE, followed by the assessment of -hexosaminidase release.

Beneficial effects of voglibose administration on body weight and lipid metabolism via gastrointestinal bile acid modification.

This study was designed with the goal of examining the effects of voglibose administration on body weight and lipid metabolism and underlying mechanism high fat diet-induced obese mice. Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to one of four groups: a control diet (CTL), high-fat diet (HF), high-fat diet supplemented with voglibose (VO), and high fat diet pair-fed group (PF). After 12 weeks, the following characteristics were investigated: serum lipid and glucose levels, serum polar metabolite profiles, and expression levels of genes involved in lipid and bile acid metabolism.

Risk of secondary lymphedema in breast cancer survivors is related to serum phospholipid fatty acid desaturation.

Purpose: Secondary lymphedema is a common irreversible side effect of breast cancer surgery. We investigated if risk of secondary lymphedema in breast cancer survivors was related to changes in serum phospholipid fatty acid composition.

Methods: Study subjects were voluntarily recruited into the following three groups: breast cancer survivors who had sentinel lymph node biopsy without lymphedema (SLNB), those who had auxillary lymph node dissection without lymphedema (ALND), and those who had ALND with lymphedema (ALND + LE).

Plasma phospholipid arachidonic acid and lignoceric acid are associated with the risk of cardioembolic stroke.

Cardioembolic (CE) stroke is the most severe subtype of ischemic stroke with high recurrence and mortality. However, there is still little information on the association of plasma fatty acid (FA) with CE stroke. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis whether the composition of plasma phospholipid FA is associated with the risk of CE stroke.

1-deoxynojirimycin isolated from Bacillus subtilis improves hepatic lipid metabolism and mitochondrial function in high-fat-fed mice.

The aim of this study was to determine whether 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) isolated from Bacillus subtilis MORI beneficially influences lipid metabolism and mitochondrial function in the liver of mice fed a high-fat diet in addition to the anti-obesity properties of DNJ. Male C57BL/6 mice (n = 29; 5 weeks old) were randomly assigned to three groups: normal control diet (CTL, n = 10), high-fat diet (HF, n = 10), and high-fat diet supplemented with DNJ (DNJ, n = 9). After 12 weeks, the HF group exhibited higher overall weight gain, of the liver, and of various fat pads than the CTL and DNJ groups did.

Arginase inhibition ameliorates hepatic metabolic abnormalities in obese mice.

Objectives: We examined whether arginase inhibition influences hepatic metabolic pathways and whole body adiposity in diet-induced obesity.

Methods And Results: After obesity induction by a high fat diet (HFD), mice were fed either the HFD or the HFD with an arginase inhibitor, Nω-hydroxy-nor-L-arginine (nor-NOHA). Nor-NOHA significantly prevented HFD-induced increases in body, liver, and visceral fat tissue weight, and ameliorated abnormal lipid profiles.

Voglibose administration regulates body weight and energy intake in high fat-induced obese mice.

We tested whether long-term administration of voglibose (VO) prevents diet induced obesity in addition to hypoglycemic effects in high fat fed mice and further investigated the underlying mechanisms by which voglibose exerts its weight lowering effect. Male C57BL/6 mice were fed ad libitum for 12 weeks with the control diet (CTL), high-fat diet (HFD) or the HFD with VO supplementations. Blood lipid profile, plasma leptin levels and hepatic triglyceride content, as well as expressions of genes involved in appetite and mitochondrial function were examined.

Antiobesity effects of quercetin-rich onion peel extract on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and the adipogenesis in high fat-fed rats.

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of quercetin-rich onion peel extract (OPE) on anti-differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and the antiobesity in high-fat fed rats. We found that lipid accumulations and TG contents in 3T3-L1 cells were markedly suppressed by OPE. The mRNA levels of activating protein (AP2) were down-regulated and those of carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 α (CPT-1α) and fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) were up-regulated by 75 and 100 μg/ml OPE.

1-Deoxynojirimycin isolated from a Bacillus subtilis stimulates adiponectin and GLUT4 expressions in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

We have demonstrated that 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) isolated from Bacillus subtilis MORI could enhance the levels of adiponectin and its receptors in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which has been shown to be effective in lowering blood glucose levels and enhancing insulin sensitivity. DNJ was not toxic to differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes for up to a concentration of 5 microM. In terms of expression levels of adiponectin and its receptors (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2), DNJ in concentrations as low as 0.

Effects of fisetin supplementation on hepatic lipogenesis and glucose metabolism in Sprague-Dawley rats fed on a high fat diet.

The modulatory effects of daily fisetin supplementation for 8 weeks on genes involved in hepatic lipogenesis and gluconeogenesis and hyperglycemia in rats fed a high fat (HF) diet were evaluated. Elevated levels of triglyceride (TG), along with hepatic TG content and glucose concentrations in a high fat diet group were found to be reduced by fisetin supplementation. The high fat diet significantly increased hepatic mRNA expressions of PPARγ, SREBP1C and SCD-1 genes in comparison to the control diet, which was subsequently reversed by supplementation with fisetin.

Plasma levels of apolipoprotein E and risk of intracranial artery stenosis in acute ischemic stroke patients.

Aims: We aimed to determine the potential blood markers responsible for the risks of intracranial artery stenosis (ICAS) in Korean ischemic stroke patients.

Methods: One hundred and sixteen patients diagnosed with ICAS and 188 patients without cerebral atherosclerotic stenosis were examined. All subjects were diagnosed as acute ischemic stroke patients based on brain magnetic resonance imaging results and were admitted within 7 days of symptom onset.

Plasma phospholipid fatty acid composition and estimated desaturase activity in heart failure patients with metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome is one of the major factors to increase the incidence of heart failure. In our study, we compared plasma fatty acid compositions among heart failure patients with and without Metabolic syndrome. Fatty acid (FA) composition of plasma phospholipids was analyzed and the activities of desaturase were estimated as the ratio of substrate and product fatty acids in 85 stable heart failure patients.

Onion peel extract increases hepatic low-density lipoprotein receptor and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 messenger RNA expressions in Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high-fat diet.

In the present study, we hypothesized that onion peel extract (OPE) alters hepatic gene expression to improve blood cholesterol profiles. To investigate the effect of OPE to test our hypothesis, Sprague-Dawley rats were fed ad libitum for 8 weeks with the control, high-fat diet (HFD) or the high-fat diet with 0.2% OPE supplementations (HFD + OPE).

Quercetin up-regulates LDL receptor expression in HepG2 cells.

Quercetin, an abundant flavonol found in fruits and vegetable, has been implicated in lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease that is often associated with high plasma levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Here we investigated whether quercetin could modulate the expression of LDL receptors (LDLR) in HepG2 cells and the possible underlying mechanisms to exert quercetin's effects. We found that quercetin was able to induce LDLR expression with at least a 75 µ m concentration, which was accompanied by an increase in nuclear sterol regulatory element binding protein 2 (SREBP2).