4-methoxycinnamyl p-coumarate reduces neuroinflammation by blocking NF-κB, MAPK, and Akt/GSK-3β pathways and enhancing Nrf2/HO-1 signaling cascade in microglial cells.

The active compound, 4-methoxycinnamyl p-coumarate (MCC), derived from the rhizome of Etlingera pavieana (Pierre ex Gagnep) R.M.Sm.

Acute and subchronic oral toxicity assessment of extract from rhizomes.

In Southeast Asia, the rhizome of is commonly consumed and parts of the rhizomes have been used as a medicine for the treatment of several disorders. Its pharmacological effects have previously been reported. However, its potential toxicity has not been described.

Enhanced production and immunomodulatory activity of levan from the acetic acid bacterium, Tanticharoenia sakaeratensis.

Levan is a fructose polymer with β-(2 → 6) glycosidic linkages. It is produced by several microorganisms, and due to its potential biotechnological and industrial applications, various levan-producing bacteria with different levels of production efficiencies have been reported. We investigated the levan-producing ability of the acetic acid bacterium, Tanticharoenia sakaeratensis.

Etlingera pavieana extract attenuates TNF-α induced vascular adhesion molecule expression in human endothelial cells through NF-κB and Akt/JNK pathways.

The aim of this study was to determine whether ethanol extracts of Etlingera pavieana rhizomes (EPE) can inhibit the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in TNF-α-stimulated human vascular endothelial cells. EPE significantly reduced ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression in a concentration-dependent manner. EPE also suppressed phospho-IκB level and nuclear translocation of NF-κB.

Anti-inflammatory effect of trans-4-methoxycinnamaldehyde from Etlingera pavieana in LPS-stimulated macrophages mediated through inactivation of NF-κB and JNK/c-Jun signaling pathways and in rat models of acute inflammation.

Trans-4-methoxycinnamaldehyde (MCD) was isolated from the rhizomes of Etlingera pavieana (Pierre ex Gagnep.) R.M.

4-methoxycinnamyl p-coumarate isolated from Etlingera pavieana rhizomes inhibits inflammatory response via suppression of NF-κB, Akt and AP-1 signaling in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Background: 4-methoxycinnamyl p-coumarate (MCC) was isolated from rhizomes of Etlingera pavieana by bioactivity-guided isolation, however, the molecular mechanism underlying its anti-inflammatory activity remains inadequately understood.

Purpose: In this study, we elucidated the suppressive effect of MCC on LPS-induced expression of inflammatory mediators and the molecular mechanisms responsible for anti-inflammatory activities in RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Biocompatible zwitterionic copolymer-stabilized magnetite nanoparticles: a simple one-pot synthesis, antifouling properties and biomagnetic separation.

A simple one-pot synthesis of biocompatible and antifouling magnetite nanoparticles (FeONPs) was developed. The process involves co-precipitation and coating of zwitterionic copolymer poly[(methacrylic acid)--(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine)] (PMAMPC). The influence of one-step and two-step coating methods on the performance of modified FeONP was investigated.

Non-cytotoxic hybrid bioscaffolds of chitosan-silica: Sol-gel synthesis, characterization and proposed application.

Biohybrid chitosan-silica scaffolds were synthesized through the sol-gel and the freeze drying processes. Hydrolysis and condensation of chitosan with tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) in the presence of 3-isocyanatopropyl triethoxysilane (ICPTES) were successfully carried out. Results obtained from FTIR, swelling test and pyrolysis confirmed that the hybrid scaffolds containing covalent coupling between the organic and inorganic networks were formed with high crosslink density of SiOSi bridging and could be classified as the class II material.

Anti-inflammatory Effect of (Pierre ex Gagnep.) R.M.Sm. Rhizomal Extract and Its Phenolic Compounds in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Macrophages.

Background: In our continuing search for anti-inflammatory agents from Thai herbs, (Pierre ex Gagnep.) R.M.

Involvement of p38 MAPK and ATF-2 signaling pathway in anti-inflammatory effect of a novel compound bis[(5-methyl)2-furyl](4-nitrophenyl)methane on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages.

Activated macrophages produce various pro-inflammatory mediators such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-derived nitric oxide (NO) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2-derived prostaglandin E (PGE) during inflammatory response. However, overproduction of NO and PGE appears to be involved in pathogenesis of various inflammatory diseases. Therefore, inhibition of NO and PGE production might be useful for the treatment of inflammatory-related diseases.

Bioassay-guided isolation and mechanistic action of anti-inflammatory agents from Clerodendrum inerme leaves.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The leaves of Clerodendrum inerme (L.) Gaertn. have commonly been used in Thai traditional medicine for treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Green synthesis and anti-inflammatory studies of a series of 1,1-bis(heteroaryl)alkane derivatives.

Molecular iodine has been used as an efficient catalyst for a double Friedel-Crafts reaction of various heteroarenes, i.e. 2-methylfuran, 2-ethylfuran, 2-methylthiophene, pyrrole, N-methylpyrrole and indole, using aldehydes as alkylating agents under "open-flask" conditions with toluene or water as the reaction media.

Anti-inflammatory effect of ethyl acetate extract from Cissus quadrangularis Linn may be involved with induction of heme oxygenase-1 and suppression of NF-κB activation.

Aim Of The Study: Cissus quadrangularis (family: Vitaceae) has been widely used in traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of hemorrhoids, gastric ulcers and bone healing. In the present study, we determined the anti-inflammatory activity and the molecular mechanism of the ethyl acetate extract of Cissus quadrangularis stem (CQE) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells.

Molecular mechanisms involved in enhancing HO-1 expression: de-repression by heme and activation by Nrf2, the "one-two" punch.

Heme oxygenase (HO)-1 is a stress response protein, which confers cytoprotection against oxidative injury and provides a vital function in maintaining tissue homeostasis. Molecular mechanisms involved in the inducible transcription of ho-1 occurring in response to numerous and diverse stressful conditions have remained elusive. Since the discovery of E1 and E2, the two upstream enhancers regulating induction of ho-1 transcription in 1989, there have been many studies dealing with molecular mechanisms involved in enhancing HO-1 expression.

CO from enhanced HO activity or from CORM-2 inhibits both O2- and NO production and downregulates HO-1 expression in LPS-stimulated macrophages.

Carbon monoxide (CO) arising from heme degradation, catalyzed particularly by the stress-inducible heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), has recently been demonstrated to provide cytoprotection against cell death in macrophages stimulated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In the present study, we determined the effects of CO on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) by the LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Cytotoxic and cytoprotective actions of O2- and NO (ONOO-) are determined both by cellular GSH level and HO activity in macrophages.

Survival of macrophages, which serve as the first-line defense against invading pathogens by invoking the overproduction of highly toxic peroxynitrite (ONOO-), depends on their ability to maintain the intracellular GSH level and to induce the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). The ONOO- is produced by macrophages stimulated by pathogens and is a powerful oxidant reacting directly with cellular GSH and proteins, killing both invading pathogens and macrophages themselves. However, macrophages can survive the toxicity of ONOO- by replenishing the depleted GSH level and by inducing HO-1 expression.

Role of NO in enhancing the expression of HO-1 in LPS-stimulated macrophages.

Macrophages serve as the first-line defense against invading pathogens by (a) overproducing O2- via activation of NADPH-oxidase localized in its plasma membrane, (b) inducing the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and overproducing NO, and (c) generating highly toxic peroxynitrite (ONOO-) to kill the invading pathogens without killing the macrophages themselves. Results show that this was due at least in part to the NO-derived induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression. The NO-derived induction of HO-1 caused (a) rapid elimination of toxic heme to inhibit lipid peroxidation and to prevent further induction of iNOS, (b) rapid production of bile pigment antioxidants to scavenge reactive oxygen (O2-) and nitrogen (NO) metabolites, and (c) rapid production of carbon monoxide (CO) to inhibit further production of O2- and NO by blocking the activities of NADPH-oxidase and iNOS, respectively.

Super-induction of HO-1 in macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide by prior depletion of glutathione decreases iNOS expression and NO production.

In the LPS-stimulated macrophages undergoing oxidative burst, intracellular storage of glutathione (GSH) is depleted, expression of iNOS is enhanced, and NO is overproduced. In response to the depletion of GSH, expression of HO-1 is induced and HO activity is elevated. Thus, in macrophages treated with LPS, productions of NO and CO, catalyzed, respectively, by accumulated iNOS and HO-1, are increased in sequence [Biochem.

Heme oxygenase-1-mediated partial cytoprotective effect by NO on cadmium-induced cytotoxicity in C6 rat glioma cells.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a 32-kDa stress induced enzyme that degrades heme to carbon monoxide (CO) and biliverdin. By employing RT-PCR and Western blotting techniques, we have examined the HO-1 induction in C6 glioma cells that were treated with cadmium chloride (CdCl(2)) or spermine NONOate (SPER/NO). By employing a cell viability assay, we have also examined the cytoprotective effect of HO-1 induction against the cytotoxicity caused by toxic dose of CdCl(2).

Biphasic induction of heme oxygenase-1 expression in macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide.

Time course relationship between inductions of iNOS and HO-1 was evaluated in RAW264.7 macrophages stimulated with LPS. Expression of HO-1 mRNA increased in a biphasic pattern, but that of xCT (cystine transporter) and iNOS mRNA increased in a monophasic manner.