A Comparative Study on Photo-Protective and Anti-Melanogenic Properties of Different Extracts.

(KC), a beneficial plant for human health, has been used for centuries in China, Thailand, and Korea in folk medicine and food. There is evidence supporting the biological effects of highly bioactive ingredients in KC such as lignans, triterpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, steroids, and amino acids. In this study, we aimed to explore the effects, functions, and mechanisms of the extracts from KC root (KCR), stem (KCS), leaf (KCL), and fruit (KCF) in UVA and UVB-irradiated keratinocytes and α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-stimulated melanocytes.

S-petasin induces apoptosis and inhibits cell migration through activation of p53 pathway signaling in melanoma B16F10 cells and A375 cells.

Melanoma is a dangerous type of skin cancer that develops from the melanocytes. Activation of p53 in melanoma cells has been validated as a strategy for melanoma therapy. S-Petasin, a dietary sesquiterpene isolated from Petasites japonicus, has been shown to possess multiple biological effects.

S-petasin inhibits lipid accumulation in oleic acid-induced HepG2 cells through activation of the AMPK signaling pathway.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become one of the most common medical problems. Inhibition of lipogenesis and promotion of lipolysis are two ways to prevent NAFLD. In this study, oleic acid-induced HepG2 cells are used as a NAFLD cell model to test whether s-petasin exerts inhibition of lipogenesis and promotion of the lipolysis effect.

Pelargonidin suppresses adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells through inhibition of PPAR-γ signaling pathway.

Pelargonidin is a natural compound that exists widely in fruits, and exerts antioxidant, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperglycemic, and anti-diabetic activities. However, there have not been any studies concerning its anti-obesity potential to date. Therefore, we evaluated the anti-obesity potential of pelargonidin via inhibition of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells.

S-Petasin isolated from Petasites japonicus exerts anti-adipogenic activity in the 3T3-L1 cell line by inhibiting PPAR-γ pathway signaling.

Petasites japonicus is an edible and medicinal plant with a good flavor, and it is a rich source of bioactive compounds. S-Petasin has been isolated from Petasites hybridus (L.), Petasites officinalis (L.

Non-destructive evaluation of bacteria-infected watermelon seeds using visible/near-infrared hyperspectral imaging.

Background: There is a need to minimize economic damage by sorting infected seeds from healthy seeds before seeding. However, current methods of detecting infected seeds, such as seedling grow-out, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the real-time PCR have a critical drawbacks in that they are time-consuming, labor-intensive and destructive procedures. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential of visible/near-infrared (Vis/NIR) hyperspectral imaging system for detecting bacteria-infected watermelon seeds.

Neuroprotective effects of α-iso-cubebene against glutamate-induced damage in the HT22 hippocampal neuronal cell line.

Since oxidative stress is critically involved in excitotoxic damage, we sought to determine whether the activation of the transcription factors, cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2, also known as NFE2L2), by α-iso-cubebene is involved in its protective effects against glutamate-induced neuronal cell death. Pre-treatment with α-iso-cubebene significantly attenuated glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in mouse hippocampus-derived neuronal cells. α-iso-cubebene also reduced the glutamate-induced generation of reactive oxygen species and calcium influx, thus preventing apoptotic cell death.

Therapeutic effects of α-iso-cubebenol, a natural compound isolated from the Schisandra chinensis fruit, against sepsis.

α-Iso-cubebenol, a natural compound isolated from the Schisandra chinensis fruit, strongly enhances survival rate in cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) challenge-induced sepsis. Mechanistically, α-iso-cubebenol markedly reduces viable bacteria in the peritoneal fluid and peripheral blood, by increasing production of superoxide anion. α-Iso-cubebenol also significantly attenuates widespread immune cell apoptosis in a mouse CLP sepsis model, and inhibits the production of proinflammatory cytokines including interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-6 in CLP mice and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated splenocytes.

Anti-inflammatory effect of heme oxygenase-1 toward Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide in macrophages exposed to gomisins A, G, and J.

Periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory periodontal disease that develops from gingivitis, is caused by periodontal pathogenic bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis. Recent studies have focused on the antioxidant, anti-human immunodeficiency virus, anticarcinogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties of gomisins. However, the anti-inflammatory activities of gomisin plants through heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) signals remain poorly defined.

Identification of a novel compound that inhibits iNOS and COX-2 expression in LPS-stimulated macrophages from Schisandra chinensis.

A novel alpha-iso-cubebenol, which has anti-inflammatory effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages, was isolated from the fruits of Schisandra chinensis. alpha-iso-cubebenolinhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production.

Pinoresinol-4,4'-di-O-beta-D-glucoside from Valeriana officinalis root stimulates calcium mobilization and chemotactic migration of mouse embryo fibroblasts.

Lignans are major constituents of plant extracts and have important pharmacological effects on mammalian cells. Here we showed that pinoresinol-4,4'-di-O-beta-D-glucoside (PDG) from Valeriana officinalis induced calcium mobilization and cell migration through the activation of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor subtypes. Stimulation of mouse embryo fibroblast (MEF) cells with 10 microM PDG resulted in strong stimulation of MEF cell migration and the EC(50) was about 2 microM.