Paeonia lactiflora root extract suppresses cancer cachexia by down-regulating muscular NF-κB signalling and muscle-specific E3 ubiquitin ligases in cancer-bearing mice.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The dried root of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (Radix Paeoniae) has been traditionally used to treat various inflammatory diseases in many Asian countries.

Aim Of The Study: Cancer cachexia is a catabolic syndrome driven by inflammation and characterised by a loss of skeletal muscle.

XAV939, a Wnt/β-catenin pathway modulator, has inhibitory effects on LPS-induced inflammatory response.

In this study, we report the anti-inflammatory activity of XAV939, a modulator of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. WNT/β-catenin pathway and NF-κB signaling pathway were examined in LPS-stimulated human bronchial epithelial cells and effects of XAV939 on these pathways were analyzed. The effect of XAV939 was confirmed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Gangjihwan, a polyherbal composition, inhibits fat accumulation through the modulation of lipogenic transcription factors SREBP1C, PPARγ and C/EBPα.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Gangjihwan (DF) which is composed of Ephedra intermedia, Lithospermum erythrorhizon, and Rheum palmatum has been used for the treatment of obesity in traditional medical clinics in Korea.

Aim Of The Study: This study was conducted to standardize DF and elucidate its mechanism of action for inhibiting fat accumulation in adipocytes and adipose tissues.

Materials And Methods: The herbal ingredients of DF were extracted in water, 30% ethanol or 70% ethanol and freeze-dried followed by HPLC analyses.

WNT/β-catenin pathway modulates the TNF-α-induced inflammatory response in bronchial epithelial cells.

In this study, TNF-α was found to activate the WNT/β-catenin pathway in BEAS-2B human bronchial epithelial cells. Levels of phospho-LRP6, Dvl-2, and phospho-GSK-3β were elevated, while that of Axin was reduced by TNF-α treatment. Nuclear translocation of β-catenin and the reporter activity of a β-catenin-responsive promoter were increased by TNF-α treatment.