Alismol Purified from the Tuber of Relieves Acute Lung Injury in Mice via Nrf2 Activation.

Since the ethanol extract of Juzepzuk (EEAO) suppresses lung inflammation by suppressing Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and activating Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-related Factor 2 (Nrf2), we set out to identify chemicals constituting EEAO that suppress lung inflammation. Here, we provide evidence that among the five most abundant chemical constituents identified by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), alismol is one of the candidate constituents that suppresses lung inflammation in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) mouse model and protects mice from ALI-like symptoms. Alismol did not induce cytotoxicity or reactive oxygen species (ROS).

The ethanol extract of Garcinia subelliptica Merr. induces autophagy.

Background: Garcinia subelliptica Merr. is a multipurpose coastal tree, the potential medicinal effects of which have been studied, including cancer suppression. Here, we present evidence that the ethanol extract of G.

Herbal medicines for anorexia in lung cancer: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Anorexia is the most common cause of malnutrition in lung cancer patients as well as an independent prognostic factor for cancer survival. This review will deal with the clinical evidence of herbal medicine use for reducing anorexia in lung cancer patients.

The methanol extract of Guettarda speciosa Linn. Ameliorates acute lung injury in mice.

Background: Guettarda speciosa is mainly found in tropical areas in Asia. Although G. speciosa is traditionally used to treat some of the inflammatory disorders, the experimental evidence supporting the anti-inflammatory effect of G.

Anti-inflammatory activity of the decoction of Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl is related to Nrf2 and A20.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The water extract of Forsythiae Fructus (WFF) is an herbal remedy that is prescribed to treat various inflammatory diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. Although the anti-inflammatory activity of WFF has been reported, the underlying mechanisms for the activity remain unclear. Here, we examined whether the anti-inflammatory activity of WFF is associated with Nrf2, an anti-inflammatory factor, and A20, an ubiquitin-regulator protein that inhibits signaling cascades of endotoxin or cytokines.

Hominis placenta Suppresses Acute Lung Inflammation by Activating Nrf2.

Hominis placenta (HP), a dried human placenta, has been known to target liver, lung, or kidney meridians, improving the functions associated with these meridians in traditional Chinese or Asian medicine (TCM). Since recent studies implicate an HP extract in suppressing inflammation, we investigated whether an aqueous HP extract can ameliorate inflammation that occurred in the lungs. When administered with a single intratracheal lipopolysaccharide (LPS), C57BL/6 mice developed an acute neutrophilic lung inflammation along with an increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes.

Differential Regulation of NF-B and Nrf2 by Bojungikki-Tang Is Associated with Suppressing Lung Inflammation.

Bojungikki-tang (BT), an Asian herbal remedy, has been prescribed to increase the vitality of debilitated patients. Since a compromised, weakened vitality often leads to illness, BT has been widely used to treat various diseases. However, little is known about the mechanism by which BT exerts its effect.

Suppression of lung inflammation by the methanol extract of Spilanthes acmella Murray is related to differential regulation of NF-κB and Nrf2.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Although Spilanthes acmella has been used to relieve inflammation, fever, pain, or infection in traditional Asian medicine, experimental evidence supporting these functions is scarce. Here, we examined an anti-inflammatory function and a possible underlying mechanism of S. acmella Murray (SAM).

Suppressed ubiquitination of Nrf2 by p47 contributes to Nrf2 activation.

Although critical in phagocytosis in innate immunity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) collaterally inflict damage to host phagocytes because they indiscriminate targets. Since Nrf2 increases the expression of anti-oxidant enzymes that nullifies ROS, ROS activating Nrf2 is a critical negative regulatory step for countering the deleterious effects of ROS. Here, we postulate whether, along with ROS activating Nrf2, NADPH oxidase components also participate in direct activation of Nrf2, contributing to protection from ROS.

Kaurenoic acid activates TGF-β signaling.

Background: Kaurenoic acid (ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid: KA) is a key constituent found in the roots of Aralia continentalis Kitagawa (Araliaceae) that has been used for treating rheumatism in traditional Asian medicine.

Hypothesis: Although KA was reported to suppress inflammation by activating Nrf2, the anti-inflammatory function of KA is less characterized. Given the complex nature of the inflammatory response and the critical role of TGF-β in resolving inflammation, we hypothesized that KA suppresses inflammatory response by activating TGF-β signaling.

The function of cancer-shed gangliosides in macrophage phenotype: involvement with angiogenesis.

Tumor-derived gangliosides in the tumor microenvironment are involved in the malignant progression of cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of gangliosides shed from tumors on macrophage phenotype remain unknown. Here, we showed that ganglioside GM1 highly induced the activity and expression of arginase-1 (Arg-1), a major M2 macrophage marker, compared to various gangliosides in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM), peritoneal macrophages and Raw264.

The Fruit Hull of Enhances the Anti-Tumor Effect of -Diammine Dichloridoplatinum II (Cisplatin).

Lung cancer has substantial mortality worldwide, and chemotherapy is a routine regimen for the treatment of patients with lung cancer, despite undesirable effects such as drug resistance and chemotoxicity. Here, given a possible antitumor effect of the fruit hull of (FGS), we tested whether FGS enhances the effectiveness of -diammine dichloridoplatinum (II) (CDDP), a chemotherapeutic drug. We found that CDDP, when administered with FGS, significantly decreased the viability and increased the apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells, which were associated with the increase of p21 and decreases of cyclin D1 and CDK4.

Therapeutic effect of Mahaenggamseok-tang on neutrophilic lung inflammation is associated with NF-κB suppression and Nrf2 activation.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Mahaenggamseok-tang (MHGST), an herbal formula in traditional Asian medicine, has been used to treat patients with various pulmonary diseases including common cold and influenza. However, the potential therapeutic effect of MHGST on acute lung injury (ALI), a leading cause of death worldwide, and the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of MHGST remained less understood.

Materials And Methods: The methanol extract of MHGST was prepared and fingerprinted by HPLC.

Glycosylation enables aesculin to activate Nrf2.

Since aesculin, 6,7-dihydroxycoumarin-6-O-β-glucopyranoside, suppresses inflammation, we asked whether its anti-inflammatory activity is associated with the activation of nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a key anti-inflammatory factor. Our results, however, show that aesculin marginally activated Nrf2. Since glycosylation can enhance the function of a compound, we then asked whether adding a glucose makes aesculin activate Nrf2.

Ethanol extract of the tuber of Alisma orientale reduces the pathologic features in a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease mouse model.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The tuber of Alismataceae Alisma orientale Juzepzuk has been prescribed as a remedy for treating the diseases associated with body fluid dysfunction such as edema and inflammatory lung diseases. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a debilitating, inflammatory lung disease without effective treatment. Along with persistent inflammation, autophagy has been recently reported to contribute to COPD.

Therapeutic effect of ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid on neutrophilic lung inflammation and sepsis is mediated by Nrf2.

Kaurenoic acid (ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid: KA) is a key constituent found in the roots of Aralia continentalis Kitagawa (Araliaceae), a remedy to treat patients with inflammatory diseases in traditional Asian medicine. Since KA activates Nrf2, a key anti-inflammatory factor, at the cellular level, we explored a possible therapeutic usage of KA against neutrophilic inflammatory lung disease such as acute lung injury (ALI). Intraperitoneal (i.

Neutrophilic Lung Inflammation Suppressed by Picroside II Is Associated with TGF-β Signaling.

Although acute lung injury (ALI) is a leading cause of death in intensive care unit, effective pharmacologic means to treat ALI patients are lacking. The rhizome of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora used in a traditional herbal medicine in Asian countries has been shown to have anti-inflammatory function, and picroside II (PIC II) is known as a major constituent in the plant. Here, we examined whether PIC II has an anti-inflammatory activity, which is applicable for treating ALI.

Cold stress aggravates inflammatory responses in an LPS-induced mouse model of acute lung injury.

Although the relationship between environmental cold temperature and susceptibility to respiratory infection is generally accepted, the effect of ambient cold temperature on host reactivity in lung inflammation has not been fully studied. To examine the function of ambient cold temperature on lung inflammation, mice were exposed to 4 °C for 8 h each day for 14 days. In the lungs of mice exposed to cold stress, inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and lung tissues were slightly increased by about twofold.

The inhibitory effects of Geranium thunbergii on interferon-γ- and LPS-induced inflammatory responses are mediated by Nrf2 activation.

Geranium thunbergii Sieb. et Zucc. (GT; which belongs to the Geraniaceae family) has been used as a traditional medicine in East Asia for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, including arthritis and diarrhea.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel baicalein glycoside as an anti-inflammatory agent.

Baicalein-6-α-glucoside (BG), a glycosylated derivative of baicalein, was synthesized by using sucrose and the amylosucrase of Deinococcus geothermalis and tested for its solubility, chemical stability, and anti-inflammatory activity. BG was 26.3 times more soluble than baicalein and highly stable in buffered solutions and Dulbecco׳s modified Eagle medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum.

Suppression of lung inflammation in an LPS-induced acute lung injury model by the fruit hull of Gleditsia sinensis.

Background: The fruit hull of Gleditsia sinensis (FGS) used in traditional Asian medicine was reported to have a preventive effect on lung inflammation in an acute lung injury (ALI) mouse model. Here, we explored FGS as a possible therapeutics against inflammatory lung diseases including ALI, and examined an underlying mechanism for the effect of FGS.

Methods: The decoction of FGS in water was prepared and fingerprinted.

Characteristics of gintonin-mediated membrane depolarization of pacemaker activity in cultured interstitial cells of Cajal.

Background/aims: Ginseng regulates gastrointestinal (GI) motor activity but the underlying components and molecular mechanisms are unknown. We investigated the effect of gintonin, a novel ginseng-derived G protein-coupled lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor ligand, on the pacemaker activity of the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in murine small intestine and GI motility.

Materials And Methods: Enzymatic digestion was used to dissociate ICC from mouse small intestines.

Nrf2 is a novel regulator of bone acquisition.

Nuclear factor E2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor involved in the expression of cytoprotective genes induced by external stresses. We investigated the role of Nrf2 in osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation. Nrf2 knockdown or deletion increased osteoclastic differentiation from bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) through the upregulation of NF-κB, c-Fos, and NFATc1 transcription factors.