Magnolol Inhibits the Inflammatory Response in Mouse Mammary Epithelial Cells and a Mouse Mastitis Model

Bioactive Compounds and Probiotics Mitigate Mastitis by Targeting NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Mastitis is a significant inflammatory condition of the mammary gland in dairy cows. It is caused by bacterial infections and leads to substantial economic losses worldwide. The disease can be either clinical or sub-clinical and presents challenges such as reduced milk yield, increased treatment costs, and the need to cull affected cows. The pathogenic mechanisms of mastitis involve the activation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), specifically TLR2 and TLR4. These receptors play crucial roles in recognizing pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and initiating immune responses through the NF-κB signaling pathway. Recent in vitro studies have emphasized the importance of the TLR2/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in the development of mastitis, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target. This review summarizes recent research on the role of the TLR2/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in mastitis. It focuses on how the activation of TLRs leads to the production of proinflammatory cytokines, which, in turn, exacerbate the inflammatory response by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway in mammary gland tissues. Additionally, the review discusses various bioactive compounds and probiotics that have been identified as potential therapeutic agents for preventing and treating mastitis by targeting TLR2/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Overall, this review highlights the significance of targeting the TLR2/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway to develop effective therapeutic strategies against mastitis, which can enhance dairy cow health and reduce economic losses in the dairy industry.

Experimental Insights on the Use of Secukinumab and Magnolol in Acute Respiratory Diseases in Mice

This study investigates the combined treatment of secukinumab (SECU) and magnolol (MAGN) in a mouse model of LPS-induced ALI overlapped with allergic pulmonary inflammation, aiming to better understand the mechanism behind this pathology and to assess the therapeutic potential of this novel approach in addressing the severity of ALI. The combined treatment reveals intricate immunomodulatory effects. Both treatments inhibit IL-17 and promote M2 macrophage polarization, which enhances anti-inflammatory cytokine production such as IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13, crucial for lung repair and inflammation resolution. However, the combination treatment exacerbates allergic responses and increases OVA-specific IgE, potentially worsening ALI outcomes. MAGN pretreatment alone demonstrates higher potency in reducing neutrophils and enhancing IFN-γ, suggesting its potential in mitigating severe asthma symptoms and modulating immune responses. The study highlights the need for careful consideration in therapeutic applications due to the combination treatment's inability to reduce IL-6 and its potential to exacerbate allergic inflammation. Elevated IL-6 levels correlate with worsened oxygenation and increased mortality in ALI patients, underscoring its critical role in disease severity. These findings offer valuable insights for the advancement of precision medicine within the realm of respiratory illnesses, emphasizing the importance of tailored therapeutic strategies.

Effect and mechanism of Prunella vulgaris L. extract on alleviating lipopolysaccharide-induced acute mastitis in protecting the blood-milk barrier and reducing inflammation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

According to ancient literature, Prunella vulgaris L. (P vulgaris) alleviates mastitis and has been used in China for many years; however, there are no relevant reports that confirm this or the mechanism of its efficacy.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To explore the anti-acute mastitis effect and potential mechanism of P vulgaris extract.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

First, the active ingredients and targets of P vulgaris against mastitis were predicted using network pharmacology. Next, the relevant active ingredients were enriched using macroporous resins and verified using UV and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. Lastly, a mouse model of acute mastitis was established by injecting lipopolysaccharides into the mammary gland and administering P vulgaris extract by oral gavage. The pathological changes in mammary tissue were observed by HE staining. Serum and tissue inflammatory factors were measured by ELISA method. MPO activity in mammary tissue was measured using colorimetry and MPO expression was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, claudin-3, and occludin) in mammary tissue was detected by immunofluorescence and Western blot. iNOS and COX-2 in mammary tissue were detected by Western blot. MAPK pathway and NF-κB pathway related proteins were also detected by Western blot.

RESULTS

Network pharmacology predicted that phenolic acids and flavonoids in P vulgaris had anti-mastitis effects. The contents of total flavonoids and total phenolic acids in P vulgaris extract were 64.5% and 29.4%, respectively. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS confirmed that P vulgaris extract contained phenolic acids and flavonoids. The results of animal experiments showed that P vulgaris extract reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory edema, inflammatory cell infiltration, and interstitial congestion of mammary tissue. It also reduced the levels of serum and tissue inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, and inhibited the activation of MPO. Furthermore, it downregulated the expression of MAPK and NF-κB pathway-related proteins. The expressions of ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-3 in mammary gland tissues were upregulated.

CONCLUSIONS

P vulgaris extract can maintain the integrity of mammary connective tissue and reduce its inflammatory response to prevent acute mastitis. Its mechanism probably involves regulating NF-κB and MAPK pathways.

Magnolol and Temozolomide exhibit a synergistic anti-glioma activity through MGMT inhibition

Temozolomide (TMZ) is the leading chemotherapeutic agent used for glioma therapy due to its good oral absorption and blood-brain barrier permeability. However, its anti-glioma efficacy may be limited due to its adverse effects and resistance development. O6-Methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT), an enzyme associated with TMZ resistance, is activated via the NF-κB pathway, which is found to be upregulated in glioma. TMZ also upregulates NF-κB signaling like many other alkylating agents. Magnolol (MGN), a natural anti-cancer agent, has been reported to inhibit NF-κB signaling in multiple myeloma, cholangiocarcinoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma. MGN has already shown promising results in anti-glioma therapy. However, the synergistic action of TMZ and MGN has not been explored. Therefore, we investigated the effect of TMZ and MGN treatment in glioma and observed their synergistic pro-apoptotic action in both in vitro and in vivo glioma models. To explore the mechanism of this synergistic action, we found that MGN inhibits MGMT enzyme both in vitro and in vivo glioma. Next, we established the link between NF-κB signaling and MGN-induced MGMT inhibition in glioma. MGN inhibits the phosphorylation of p65, a subunit of NF-κB, and its nuclear translocation to block NF-κB pathway activation in glioma. MGN-induced NF-κB inhibition results in the transcriptional inhibition of MGMT in glioma. TMZ and MGN combinatorial treatment also impedes p65 nuclear translocation to inhibit MGMT in glioma. We observed a similar effect of TMZ and MGN treatment in the rodent glioma model. Thus, we concluded that MGN potentiates TMZ-induced apoptosis in glioma by inhibiting NF-κB pathway-mediated MGMT activation.

Supplementation with paraformic acid in the diet improved intestinal development through modulating intestinal inflammation and microbiota in broiler chickens

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of supplementing paraformic acid (PFA) to the diet of broiler chickens on intestinal development, inflammation, and microbiota. A total of 378 healthy 1-day-old Arbor Acres broilers with similar birth weight were used in this study, and randomly assigned into two treatment groups. The broiler chickens were received a basal diet or a basal diet supplemented with 1,000 mg/kg PFA. Results showed that PFA supplementation increased (P < 0.05) small intestinal villus height and villus height/crypt depth ratio, elevated intestinal mucosal factors (mucin 2, trefoil factor family, and zonula occludens-1) concentrations, and upregulated mNRA expression of y + L amino acid transporter 1. Moreover, PFA supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) the concentrations of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10), activities of caspase-3 and caspase-8, and mNRA expressions of Toll-like Receptor 4, nuclear factor-kappa B, Bax, and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in small intestinal mucosa. Dietary PFA supplementation also increased (P < 0.05) alpha diversity of cecal microbiota and relative abundance of Alistipes. The present study demonstrated that supplementation of 1,000 mg/kg PFA showed beneficial effects in improving intestinal development, which might be attributed to the suppression of intestinal inflammation and change of gut microbiota composition in broiler chickens. These findings will aid in our knowledge of the mechanisms through which dietary PFA modulates gut development, as well as support the use of PFA in poultry industry.

Tannic Acid Extracted from Galla chinensis Supplementation in the Diet Improves Intestinal Development through Suppressing Inflammatory Responses via Blockage of NF-κB in Broiler Chickens

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of adding tannic acid (TA) extracted from Galla chinensis to the diet of broiler chickens on intestinal development. A total of 324 healthy 1-day-old broilers were used in a 42 d study, and divided into two treatment groups at random (six replicates per group). Broilers were either received a basal diet or a basal diet supplemented with 300 mg/kg microencapsulated TA extracted from Galla chinensis. The results showed that dietary supplemented with 300 mg/kg TA from Galla chinensis improved intestinal morphology, promoted intestinal mucosal barrier integrity, and elevated mucosal expressions of nutrients transporters and tight junction protein CLDN3 in broilers. Besides, 300 mg/kg TA from Galla chinensis supplementation decreased the concentrations of inflammatory cytokines in serum and intestinal mucosa and reduced the mRNA expression of NF-κB in intestinal mucosa. Above all, supplementation of 300 mg/kg microencapsulated TA extracted from Galla chinensis showed beneficial effects in improving intestinal development, which might be attributed to the suppression of inflammatory responses via blockage of NF-κB in broiler chickens. These findings will support the use of TA sourced from Galla chinensis in poultry industry.

Tamquam alter idem: formal similarities in a subset of reports on anti-inflammatory compounds in the years 2008–2019

A literature search on the in vitro testing of anti-inflammatory compounds of natural origin revealed a considerable number of studies adopting a similar template for data reporting in the years up to 2019. Sixty-five such reports appear to have been published between the years 2008 and 2019. Interestingly, this format template was clearly recognizable by a few hallmarks, such as a precise way of plotting cell viability data, extremely consistent endpoints, and the way these were graphically represented. In some instances the similarities extended to some textual features, such as in the case of figure legends. The similarity was so high that chance can be excluded and these studies can be safely assumed to have intentionally followed a template. By 2020, however, no new reports following this format have been published. Although a consistent and reproducible formatting for data reporting may improve report readability, this phenomenon should also be closely scrutinized to assess the rationale why it occurred, the validity of the endpoints that were chosen and why it was then abandoned. The present report reviewed the mean features of this format, traced its origin and its evolution over time, while discussing the limitations of this model.

Anti-inflammation of epicatechin mediated by TMEM35A and TMPO in bovine mammary epithelial cell line cells and mouse mammary gland

Epicatechin (EC) has significant antiinflammation, antioxidation, and anticancer activities. It also provides a new alternative treatment for mastitis, which can result in great economic losses in the dairy industry if left untreated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of EC on mastitis and the underlying mechanism using in vivo and in vitro systems. The use of ELISA and immunohistochemistry assays showed that EC treatment at 1.5, 7.5, 15, and 30 mg/mL decreased protein expression of inflammatory mediators, including cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase; inflammatory cytokines, which were composed of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated bovine mammary epithelial cell line (MAC-T); and mouse mammary gland, together with reduced filtration of T lymphocytes in the mouse mammary gland. Furthermore, EC treatment reduced LPS-induced phosphorylation levels of p65 and inhibitor of NF-κB, and blocked nuclear translocation of p65 as revealed by western blot and immunofluorescence test in MAC-T cells and the mouse mammary gland. Epicatechin also attenuated LPS-induced phosphorylation levels of mitogen-activated protein kinase members (i.e., p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1/2 and extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2). Using RNA-seq and tandem mass tag analyses, upregulation of TMEM35A and TMPO proteins was disclosed in MAC-T cells cotreated with LPS and EC. Although clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9-based knockdown of TMEM35A and TMPO attenuated abundance of phosphorylated (p)-p65, p-p38, TNF-α, and iNOS, overexpression of TMEM35A reversed EC-mediated effects in TMPO knockdown cells. Moreover, interaction between TMEM35A and TMPO was detected using the co-immunoprecipitation method. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that EC inhibited LPS-induced inflammatory response in MAC-T cells and the mouse mammary gland. Importantly, TMEM35A mediated the transmembrane transport of EC, and the interaction between TMEM35A and TMPO inhibited MAPK and NF-κB pathways.

Melatonin Ameliorates the Toxicity Induced by Deoxynivalenol in Murine Ovary Granulosa Cells by Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Effects

Melatonin is an important endogenous hormone that shows antioxidant functions and pleiotropic effects, playing a crucial role in animal reproduction. Ovary granulosa cells (GCs) surround the oocyte, which play an important role in regulating oocytes development. Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a common fusarium mycotoxin contaminant of feedstuff and food, posing a serious threat to human and animal reproductive systems. Herein, murine ovary GCs were studied as a reproduction cell model, aimed to assess the protective effect of melatonin on DON-induced toxicity in murine ovary GCs. The results showed that DON adversely affected the viability and growth of murine ovary GCs and increased the apoptosis rate, while melatonin administration ameliorated these toxic effects. We further reveal that DON exposure increased the intracellular reactive oxygen species level, reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP, and upregulated Tnfα (tumor necrosis factor α), Il6 (interleukin 6), and Il1β (interleukin 1 β) gene expression. Moreover, DON exposure downregulated reproductive hormone gene expression and significantly increased nuclear factor kappa B (p65) activation and mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation. Melatonin treatment attenuated all these effects, suggesting that melatonin protects GCs from the adverse effects of DON by ameliorating oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation. Overall, these results reveal the mechanisms of DON and melatonin in GCs and provide a theoretical basis for melatonin as a drug to improve mycotoxin contamination.

miR-489-3p inhibits TLR4/NF-κB signaling to prevent inflammation in psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease whose etiology has not yet been determined. MicroRNAs (miRs) regulate the early stages of psoriasis and are targets for therapeutic intervention. The present study aimed to investigate the functional role of miR-489-3p in psoriasis. The present study first assessed the expression levels of miR-489-3p and Toll-like receptor (TLR)4 mRNA using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, and also detected the protein expression levels of TLR4 and NF-κB via western blot analysis. TargetScan and miRDB target gene prediction tools were used to confirm the regulation of Toll-like receptor (TLR)4 by miR-489-3p. Moreover, a Cell Counting Kit (CCK)-8 assay was conducted to evaluate cell viability, while cell cycle and colony formation assays were performed to evaluate cell proliferation. Human keratinocytes (HaCaT) were co-transfected with TLR4-small interfering RNA and miR-489-3p-inhibitor plasmids, and analysis of cell proliferation and inflammatory cytokine secretion was performed using CCK-8 assay and ELISA. It was found that miR-489-3p expression was downregulated in patients with psoriasis. Bioinformatics analysis identified that TLR4 was a direct target of miR-489-3p. This was confirmed via luciferase reporter assays in HaCaT cells. The overexpression of miR-489-3p inhibited the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and reduced cell proliferation. TLR4 silencing alleviated the effects of miR-489-3p, and enhanced cell proliferation and inflammatory cytokine secretion. Taken together, these data suggested that miR-489-3p may be a key effector of psoriasis, which promotes inflammatory responses by direct targeting of TLR4. miR-489-3p therefore represents a promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for psoriasis treatment.

Pharmacology, Toxicity, Bioavailability, and Formulation of Magnolol: An Update

Magnolol (MG) is one of the primary active components of Magnoliae officinalis cortex, which has been widely used in traditional Chinese and Japanese herbal medicine and possesses a wide range of pharmacological activities. In recent years, attention has been drawn to this component due to its potential as an anti-inflammatory and antitumor drug. To summarize the new biological and pharmacological data on MG, we screened the literature from January 2011 to October 2020. In this review, we provide an actualization of already known anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular protection, antiangiogenesis, antidiabetes, hypoglycemic, antioxidation, neuroprotection, gastrointestinal protection, and antibacterial activities of MG. Besides, results from studies on antitumor activity are presented. We also summarized the molecular mechanisms, toxicity, bioavailability, and formulations of MG. Therefore, we provide a valid cognition of MG.

In Vivo Bactericidal Efficacy of GWH1 Antimicrobial Peptide Displayed on Protein Nanoparticles, a Potential Alternative to Antibiotics

Oligomerization of antimicrobial peptides into nanosized supramolecular complexes produced in biological systems (inclusion bodies and self-assembling nanoparticles) seems an appealing alternative to conventional antibiotics. In this work, the antimicrobial peptide, GWH1, was N-terminally fused to two different scaffold proteins, namely, GFP and IFN-γ for its bacterial production in the form of such recombinant protein complexes. Protein self-assembling as regular soluble protein nanoparticles was achieved in the case of GWH1-GFP, while oligomerization into bacterial inclusion bodies was reached in both constructions. Among all these types of therapeutic proteins, protein nanoparticles of GWH1-GFP showed the highest bactericidal effect in an in vitro assay against Escherichia coli, whereas non-oligomerized GWH1-GFP and GWH1-IFN-γ only displayed a moderate bactericidal activity. These results indicate that the biological activity of GWH1 is specifically enhanced in the form of regular multi-display configurations. Those in vitro observations were fully validated against a bacterial infection using a mouse mastitis model, in which the GWH1-GFP soluble nanoparticles were able to effectively reduce bacterial loads.

Cl-amidine attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced mouse mastitis by inhibiting NF-κB, MAPK, NLRP3 signaling pathway and neutrophils extracellular traps release

Cl-amidine, a peptidylarginine deiminase inhibitor, has been shown to ameliorate the disease course and clinical manifestation in variety of disease models. Due to the beneficial effects of Cl-amidine, it has been becoming the hottest compound for the study in inflammatory diseases. However, the anti-inflammatory activity of Cl-amidine in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse mastitis remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of Cl-amidine on LPS-induced mastitis mouse model. The mouse mastitis model was established by injection of LPS through the canals of the mammary gland. Cl-amidine was administered intraperitoneally 1 h before LPS treatment. The results showed that Cl-amidine significantly attenuated the damage of the mammary gland, which suppressed the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO). The real-time PCR results indicated that Cl-amidine inhibited the production of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in LPS-induced mouse mastitis. Moreover, the western blot results indicated that Cl-amidine decreased the phosphorylation of IκB, p65, p38, ERK and the expression of NLRP3 in LPS-induced mouse mastitis. Furthermore, the neutrophils extracellular traps (NETs) were determined by Quant-iT picogreen dsDNA assay kit®, which suggested that Cl-amidine significantly inhibited the NETs in mouse serum. This study demonstrated that Cl-amidine decreased the pathological injury in LPS-induced mouse mastitis by inhibiting NF-κB, MAPK, NLRP3 signaling pathway and NETs release, which provides a potential candidate for the treatment of mastitis.

Inhibition of Drug Resistance of Staphylococcus aureus by Efflux Pump Inhibitor and Autolysis Inducer to Strengthen the Antibacterial Activity of β-lactam Drugs

This study explored a potential treatment against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections that combines thioridazine (TZ), an efflux pump inhibitor, and miconazole (MCZ), an autolysis inducer, with the anti-microbial drug cloxacillin (CXN). In vitro, the combination treatment of TZ and MCZ significantly reduced 4096-fold (Σ (FIC) = 0.1 – 1.25) the MIC value of CXN against S. aureus. In vivo, the combination therapy significantly relieved breast redness and swelling in mice infected with either clinical or standard strains of S. aureus. Meanwhile, the number of bacteria isolated from the MRSA135-infected mice decreased significantly (p = 0.0427 < 0.05) after the combination therapy when compared to monotherapy. Moreover, the number of bacteria isolated from the mice infected with a reference S. aureus strain also decreased significantly (p = 0.0191 < 0.05) after the combination therapy when compared to monotherapy. The pathological changes were more significant in the CXN-treated group when compared to mice treated with a combination of three drugs. In addition, we found that combination therapy reduced the release of the bacteria-stimulated cytokines such as IL-6, IFN-γ, and TNF-α. Cytokine assays in serum revealed that CXN alone induced IL-6, IFN-γ, and TNF-α in the mouse groups infected with ATCC 29213 or MRSA135, and the combination of these three drugs significantly reduced IL-6, IFN-γ, and TNF-α concentrations. Also, the levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ in mice treated with a combination of three drugs were significantly lower than in the CXN-treated group. Given the synergistic antibacterial activity of CXN, we concluded that the combination of CXN with TZ, and MCZ could be developed as a novel therapeutic strategy against S. aureus.

Magnolol additive improves carcass and meat quality of Linwu ducks by modulating antioxidative status

Magnolol rich in Magnolia officinalis is a bioactive polyphenolic compound. The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of magnolol additive (MA) on carcass and meat quality, biochemical characteristics and antioxidative capacity of Linwu ducks, by comparing it to that of antibiotic additive (colistin sulphate, CS). A total of 275 49-d-old ducks were randomly assigned to 5 groups with 5 cages of 11 ducks each and fed by the diets supplemented with 0, 100, 200 and 300 mg of MA/kg and 30 mg of CS/kg for 3 weeks, respectively. The results revealed that MA administration not only increased dressed percentage (calculated as a percentage of live weight), percentage of breast muscle, leg muscle and lean meat (calculated as a percentage of eviscerated weight), but also remarkably increased a*_{45 min} and pH_{45 min} of leg muscle. Moreover, MA administration decreased the percentage of abdominal fat (calculated as a percentage of eviscerated weight), 45-min cooking loss, water loss rate of leg muscle, 45-min cooking loss and drip loss of breast muscle at 24 hr and 48 hr. Furthermore, MA administration enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in serum or liver, serum total antioxidant capacity and hepatic reduced glutathione concentration significantly, compared with the basal diet or CS group (p < .05). On the other hand, triglyceride, total cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine contents in serum and liver were significantly increased in Linwu ducks fed with CS, compared with MA groups (p < .05). Taken together, these data demonstrated that magnolol could effectively improve the carcass and meat quality of Linwu ducks by regulating the in vivo antioxidant status and would be a potential candidate to replace antibiotic.

Ssc-novel-miR-106-5p reduces lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response in porcine endometrial epithelial cells by inhibiting the expression of the target gene mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 14 (MAP3K14)

As an important gram-negative bacterial outer membrane component, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plays an important role in bacterial-induced endometritis in sows. However, how LPS induces endometritis is unclear. We stimulated sow endometrial epithelial cells (EECs) with LPS and detected cell viability and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) secretion. LPS affected EEC viability and TNF-α and IL-1 secretion in a dose-dependent manner. LPS induced differential expression in 10 of 393 miRNAs in the EECs (downregulated, nine; upregulated, one). MicroRNA (miRNA) high-throughput sequencing of the LPS-induced EECs plus bioinformatics analysis and the dual-luciferase reporter system revealed a novel miRNA target gene: mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 14 (MAP3K14). Ssc-novel-miR-106-5p mimic, inhibitor and the nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, alpha (IκBα) phosphorylation inhibitor Bay11-7085 were used to detect EEC nuclear factor-κB phosphorylation levels (p-NF-κB) and TNF-α and IL-1 secretion. MiR-106-5p mimic downregulated MAP3K14 mRNA and protein expression levels, inhibited p-NF-κB levels and decreased IL-1 and TNF-α secretion, whereas miR-106-5p inhibitor had the opposite effect. Bay11-7085 inhibited p-NF-κB expression and TNF-α and IL-1 secretion. These results suggest that LPS downregulates ssc-novel-miR-106-5p expression in sow EECs to increase MAP3K14 expression, which increases p-NF-κB to promote IL-1 and TNF-α secretion.

Moringa Extract Attenuates Inflammatory Responses and Increases Gene Expression of Casein in Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells

Bovine mastitis is a common inflammatory disease in the udder of dairy cows that causes economic loss to dairy industries. The development of alternative strategies, especially the utilization of natural products, e.g. Moringa oleifera, has gained a lot of interests. The objective of the current study was to investigate the protective effects of moringa extract (ME) in bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T) in in vitro settings. Radical scavenging capacities and anti-inflammatory properties of ME were examined using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged MAC-T cells. ME showed significant radical scavenging activities. In addition, ME decreased reactive oxygen species produced by LPS in cells. ME also attenuated inflammatory cyclooxygenase-2 expression induced by LPS by down-regulating NF-κB signaling cascade. Moreover, ME ameliorated LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-, interleukin-1, and interleukin-6. Furthermore, ME up-regulated mRNA expression levels of heme oxygenase-1, NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase-1, and thioredoxin reductase 1. Importantly, ME promoted differentiated MAC-T cells by increasing mRNA expression levels of α-casein S1, α-casein S2, and β-casein. In conclusion, ME has beneficial effects in bovine mammary epithelial cells through its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and casein production properties. Our study provides evidence that ME could be a good candidate for a feed supplement to decrease inflammatory responses due to bovine mastitis.

Insights on the Multifunctional Activities of Magnolol

Over years, various biological constituents are isolated from Traditional Chinese Medicine and confirmed to show multifunctional activities. Magnolol, a hydroxylated biphenyl natural compound isolated from Magnolia officinalis, has been extensively documented and shows a range of biological activities. Many signaling pathways include, but are not limited to, NF-κB/MAPK, Nrf2/HO-1, and PI3K/Akt pathways, which are implicated in the biological functions mediated by magnolol. Thus, magnolol is considered as a promising therapeutic agent for clinic research. However, the low water solubility, the low bioavailability, and the rapid metabolism of magnolol dramatically limit its clinical application. In this review, we will comprehensively discuss the last five-year progress of the biological activities of magnolol, including anti-inflammatory, antimicroorganism, antioxidative, anticancer, neuroprotective, cardiovascular protection, metabolism regulation, and ion-mediating activity.

A review of the phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of Magnoliae officinalis cortex

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex (the dried bark of Magnolia officinalis), a widely used traditional Chinese medicine, is also known as 'Houpo' (Chinese: ). Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex has a wide range of pharmacological effects and has been used to treat conditions such as abdominal distention, vomiting, diarrhea, food accumulation, Qi stagnation, constipation, phlegm and fluid retention and cough resulting from asthma.

AIMS OF THE REVIEW

The present paper reviews advances in research relating to the botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex. Prospects for future investigation and application of this herb are also discussed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Information on Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex was obtained from published materials, including ancient and modern books; PhD and MSc dissertations; monographs on medicinal plants; the pharmacopoeia of different countries and electronic databases, such as SCI finder, PubMed, Web of Science, ACS, Science Direct, Wiley, Springer, Taylor, AGRIS, Europe PMC, EBSCO host, CNKI, WanFang DATA, J-STAGE and Google Scholar.

RESULTS

More than 200 chemical compounds have been isolated from Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex, including lignans, phenylethanoid glycosides, phenolic glycosides, alkaloids, steroids and essential oils. The plant has been reported to have pharmacological effects on the digestive system, nervous system and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems, as well as antibacterial, anti-tumour, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex is an essential traditional Chinese medicine with pharmacological activities that mainly affect the digestive system, nervous system and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems. This review summarises its botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology. These information suggest that we should focus on the development of new drugs related to Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex, including specific constituents, so that Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex can exert greater therapeutic potential. Meanwhile, it is important to pay attention to the rational use of Magnolia resources, avoiding over-harvesting which could lead to lack of resources. We should also pursue research on Magnolia substitutes and develop resources such as Magnoliae Officinalis Flos and Magnolia Leaf.

Sini decoction ameliorates sepsis-induced acute lung injury via regulating ACE2-Ang (1-7)-Mas axis and inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway

Sepsis, as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, is characterized by the extensive release of cytokines and other mediators. Sini decoction (SND), a traditional Chinese prescription medicine, has been used clinically for the treatment of sepsis. But its explicit mechanism of action is still unclear. The present study aims to evaluate the potential protective effects of SND on sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI). After SND intervention, the lung tissues of each experimental group were collected. H&E sections were used to observe the pathological changes of lung tissue, and alveolar lavage fluid was collected to detect the infiltration of inflammatory cells. Level of inflammatory factors in lung tissue were analyzed by qRT-PCR. The change of Renin angiotensin system (RAS), as well as downstream MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathways were measured by Western blot. For in vitro experiments, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were pretreated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and treated with SND. Subsequently, the expression levels of RAS and MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathways were measured by Western blot. In vivo, we found that SND significantly attenuated sepsis-induced pathological injury in the lung. SND also inhibited LPS-mediated inflammatory cell infiltration, the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins and the production of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α and MCP-1. In vitro, experiments using a co-culture of HUVECs with SND showed that there was a decrease in pro-apoptotic protein and pro-inflammatory mediator. In this research, we also found that SND protective action could be attributed to the regulation of renin-angiotensin system (RAS). MAPKs and NF-κB pathways. To conclude, our study demonstrated that SND ameliorates sepsis-induced-ALI via regulating ACE2-Ang (1-7)-Mas axis and inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway.

Protective effects of PNU‑282987 on sepsis‑induced acute lung injury in mice

The cholinergic anti‑inflammatory pathway is considered an attractive approach for the alleviation of inflammatory diseases. Sepsis is characterized by systemic inflammation and widespread organ injury, especially that in the lung. In the present study, we explored the effects of an α7nAChR agonist, PNU‑282987, on sepsis‑induced lung injury and investigated the mechanisms of PNU‑282987 in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in peritoneal macrophages. Sepsis was induced in C57BL/6 mice via cecal ligation puncture (CLP). Fifty mice were randomly divided into five groups: The sham group treated with vehicle, the sham group treated with PNU‑282987, the CLP group treated with vehicle, and the CLP group treated with PNU‑282987 (1 mg/kg) 1 h before or 2 h after surgery. All mice were sacrificed at 12 or 24 h after CLP. Both pre‑ and post‑CLP treatment with PNU‑282987 significantly attenuated sepsis‑induced lung injury and the release of IL‑6 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Pre‑treatment with PNU‑282987 also inhibited sepsis‑increased TNF‑α and IL‑6 production, while post‑CLP treatment only inhibited IL‑6 production in the lung tissue. Neither pre‑ nor post‑CLP treatment with PNU‑282987 affected IL‑6 release in the serum. Furthermore, pretreatment with PNU‑282987 resulted in reductions in TNF‑α and IL‑6 release in a dose‑ and time‑dependent manner and decreased the phosphorylation levels of p38, JNK and ERK under LPS conditions in peritoneal macrophages. Our results demonstrate that activation of α7nAChR alleviates sepsis‑induced lung injury; this effect is associated with the suppression of inflammatory responses via the MAPK pathway, suggesting that α7nAChR is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of sepsis.

Magnolol exhibits anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in a rat model of intracerebral haemorrhage

Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) induces inflammation, which can cause severe secondary injury. Recent evidence has suggested that magnolol (MG) has a protective effect against ischaemic stroke through the inhibition of inflammation. However, the anti-inflammatory effect of MG in intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) remains unclear. Here, we report that the protective effect of MG in a rat model of ICH can be achieved by anti-inflammatory processes. We found that MG administration significantly reduced the brain water content, restored the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and subsequently attenuated neurological deficits via decreasing the activation of glial cells, decreasing the infiltration of neutrophils and reducing the production of pro-inflammation factors (IL-1β, TNF-α and MMP-9) in a rat model of ICH. These results suggest that MG reduced inflammatory injury and improved neurological outcomes in ICH model.

Magnolol prevents ovariectomy‑induced bone loss by suppressing osteoclastogenesis via inhibition of the nuclear factor‑κB and mitogen‑activated protein kinase pathways

Magnolol is the active component of the traditional Chinese medicine Magnolia officinalis, and has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities, as well as an effect on bone metabolism in vitro. In the present study, it is reported that magnolol suppresses osteoclastogenesis in vivo and in vitro. Magnolol prevented ovariectomy-induced bone loss and osteoclastogenesis in vivo, and decreased the serum levels of C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5B. In vitro, magnolol inhibited the osteoclastogenesis induced by the receptor activator for nuclear factor-κB ligand, and impaired the osteoclast function in bone marrow monocytes and RAW264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, magnolol suppressed the expression levels of the osteoclastogenesis markers cathepsin K, calcitonin receptor, matrix metalloproteinase 9, TNF receptor-associated factor 6 and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase by inhibiting the nuclear factor-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. Therefore, magnolol is a promising agent for the treatment of osteoporosis and associated disorders.

Licochalcone A Protects the Blood-Milk Barrier Integrity and Relieves the Inflammatory Response in LPS-Induced Mastitis

Background/Aims: Mastitis is an acute clinical inflammatory response. The occurrence and development of mastitis seriously disturb women's physical and mental health. Licochalcone A, a phenolic compound in Glycyrrhiza uralensis, has anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we examined the effect of licochalcone A on blood-milk barrier and inflammatory response in LPS-induced mice mastitis.

Methods:In vivo, we firstly established mice models of mastitis by canal injection of LPS to mammary gland, and then detected the effect of licochalcone A on pathological indexes, inflammatory responses and blood-milk barrier in this model. In vivo, Mouse mammary epithelial cells (mMECs) were treated with licochalcone A prior to the incubation of LPS, and then the inflammatory responses, tight junction which is the basic structure of blood-milk barrier were analyzed. Last, we elucidated the anti-inflammatory mechanism by examining the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and AKT/NF-κB signaling pathways in vivo and in vitro.

Result: The in vivo results showed that licochalcone A significantly decreased the histopathological impairment and the inflammatory responses, and improved integrity of blood-milk barrier. The in vitro results demonstrated that licochalcone A inhibited LPS-induced inflammatory responses and increase the protein levels of ZO-1, occludin, and claudin3 in mMECs. The in vivo and in vitro mechanistic study found that the anti-inflammatory effect of licochalcone A in LPS-induced mice mastitis was mediated by MAPK and AKT/NF-κB signaling pathways.

Conclusions and Implications: Our experiments collectively indicate that licochalcone A protected against LPS-induced mice mastitis via improving the blood–milk barrier integrity and inhibits the inflammatory response by MAPK and AKT/NF-κB signaling pathways.

The effect of magnolol on Ca2+ homeostasis and its related physiology in human oral cancer cells

OBJECTIVE

Magnolol, a polyphenol compound from herbal medicines, was shown to alter physiology in various cell models. However, the effect of magnolol on Ca²⁺ homeostasis and its related physiology in oral cancer cells is unclear. This study examined whether magnolol altered Ca²⁺ signaling and cell viability in OC2 human oral cancer cells.

METHODS

Cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentrations ([Ca²⁺]_i) in suspended cells were measured by using the fluorescent Ca²⁺-sensitive dye fura-2. Cell viability was examined by 4-[3-[4-lodophenyl]-2-4(4-nitrophenyl)-2H-5-tetrazolio-1,3-benzene disulfonate] water soluble tetrazolium-1 (WST-1) assay.

RESULTS

Magnolol at concentrations of 20-100 μM induced [Ca²⁺]_i rises. Ca²⁺ removal reduced the signal by approximately 50%. Magnolol (100 μM) induced Mn²⁺ influx suggesting of Ca²⁺ entry. Magnolol-induced Ca²⁺ entry was partially suppressed by protein kinase C (PKC) regulators, and inhibitors of store-operated Ca²⁺ channels. In Ca²⁺-free medium, treatment with the endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ pump inhibitor 2,5-di-tert-butylhydroquinone (BHQ) abolished magnolol-evoked [Ca²⁺]_i rises. Conversely, treatment with magnolol abolished BHQ-evoked [Ca²⁺]_i rises. Inhibition of phospholipase C (PLC) with U73122 partially inhibited magnolol-induced [Ca²⁺]_i rises. Magnolol at 20-100 μM decreased cell viability, which was not reversed by pretreatment with the Ca²⁺ chelator 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid-acetoxymethyl ester (BAPTA/AM).

CONCLUSIONS

Together, in OC2 cells, magnolol induced [Ca²⁺]_i rises by evoking partially PLC-dependent Ca²⁺ release from the endoplasmic reticulum and Ca²⁺ entry via PKC-sensitive store-operated Ca²⁺ entry. Magnolol also caused Ca²⁺-independent cell death. Therefore, magnolol-induced cytotoxicity may not be involved in activation mechanisms associated with intracellular Ca²⁺ mobilization in oral cancer cells.

Magnolol treatment attenuates dextran sulphate sodium-induced murine experimental colitis by regulating inflammation and mucosal damage

Magnolol, the main and active ingredient of the Magnolia officinalis, has been widely used in traditional prescription to the human disorders. Magnolol has been proved to have several pharmacological properties including anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the effects of magnolol on ulcerative colitis (UC) have not been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of magnolol on dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. The results showed that magnolol significantly alleviated DSS-induced body weight loss, disease activities index (DAI), colon length shortening and colonic pathological damage. In addition, magnolol restrained the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-12 via the regulation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) pathways. Magnolol also enhanced the expression of ZO-1 and occludin in DSS-induced mice colonic tissues. These results showed that magnolol played protective effects on DSS-induced colitis and may be an alternative therapeutic reagent for colitis treatment.

Magnolol, a Natural Polyphenol, Attenuates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice

Magnolol is a lignan with anti-inflammatory activity identified in Magnolia officinalis. Ulcerative colitis (UC), one of the types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is a disease that causes inflammation and ulcers in the colon. To investigate the effect of magnolol in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced experimental UC model, male C57 mice were treated with 2% DSS drinking water for 5 consecutive days followed by intragastric administration with magnolol (5, 10 and 15 mg/kg) daily for 7 days. The results showed that magnolol significantly attenuated disease activity index, inhibited colonic shortening, reduced colonic lesions and suppressed myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Moreover, colonic pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) induced by colitis were dramatically decreased by magnolol. To further unveil the metabolic signatures upon magnolol treatment, mass spectrometry-based metabolomic analysis of the small molecular metabolites in mice serum were performed. Compared with controls, abnormality of serum metabolic phenotypes in DSS-treated mice were effectively reversed by different doses of magnolol. In particular, magnolol treatment effectively elevated the serum levels of tryptophan metabolites including kynurenic acid (KA), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, indoleacetic acid (IAA), indolelactic acid and indoxylsulfuric acid, which are potential aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) ligands to impact colitis. These findings suggest that magnolol exerts anti-inflammatory effect on DSS-induced colitis and its underlying mechanisms are associated with the restoring of tryptophan metabolites that inhibit the colonic inflammation.

Magnolol pretreatment attenuates heat stress-induced IEC-6 cell injury

OBJECTIVE

Heat stress (HS) is an important environmental stressor that adversely influences livestock during the summer. The aim of this study was to investigate whether magnolol protects against HS-induced intestinal epithelial cell injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An intestinal epithelial cell line (IEC-6) was subjected to HS at 42 °C, with and without magnolol pretreatment. Cell injury was detected by monitoring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. MTS (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium) assay was used to assess cell proliferation and viability, including identifying effective concentrations of magnolol. Flow cytometry confirmed G1-phase cell-cycle arrest and its alleviation by magnolol. Active DNA synthesis was measured by incorporation of nucleic acid 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU). G1-phase cell-cycle-related gene expression was assessed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and levels of G1-phase-related proteins by Western blotting.

RESULTS

HS induced IEC-6 cell injury and decreased cell viability, as demonstrated by data from LDH and MTS assays, respectively. Based on a number of criteria, IEC-6 cells subjected to HS were arrested in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Magnolol pretreatment decreased HS-induced cell injury through relief of this cell-cycle arrest.

CONCLUSIONS

Magnolol pretreatment attenuates HS-induced injury in IEC-6 cells. Magnolol is potentially promising as a protective strategy for HS in livestock.

Magnolol additive as a replacer of antibiotic enhances the growth performance of Linwu ducks

Magnolol rich in Magnolia officinalis is a bioactive polyphenolic compound. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of magnolol additive (MA) on growth performance, expression levels of antioxidant-related genes, and intestinal mucosal morphology of Linwu ducks aged from 49 to 70 days, comparing with that of an antibiotic additive (colistin sulfate [CS]). A total of 275, 49-day-old ducks were assigned to 5 groups with 5 cages of 11 ducks each and fed diets supplemented with 0, 100, 200 and 300 mg of MA/kg and 300 mg of CS/kg for 3 weeks, respectively. The results showed that the average daily body weight gain (ADG) was increased significantly in MA-fed groups (200 and 300 mg/kg), compared with the basal diet (BD) group (P < 0.05). The mRNA levels of superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1), manganese superoxide dismutase-2 (MnSOD2) and catalase (CAT) were also increased significantly in MA groups (P < 0.05). In addition, hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed that Linwu ducks fed the diets with MA had more intact intestinal mucosa than those fed the BD and CS diets. In addition, ileal villus height, ileal villus height/crypt depth ratio (V/C) and duodenal V/C were also improved significantly (P < 0.05). Taken together, these data demonstrated that MA is an effective feed additive to enhance the growth performance of the Linwu ducks by improving the antioxidant and intestinal mucosal status, suggesting that MA will be a potential additive to replace antibiotic (CS).

Gamma-Linolenic Acid Suppresses NF-κΒ Signaling via CD36 in the Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammatory Response in Primary Goat Mammary Gland Epithelial Cells

Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and linoleic acid (LA), which are both n-6 unsaturated fatty acids, play vital roles in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation. The multi-functional protein scavenger receptor CD36 has also been shown to participate in inflammation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between CD36 and GLA or LA in LPS-induced inflammation remain unclear. We used small interfering RNA and adenoviral systems to manipulate CD36 expression in primary goat mammary gland epithelial cells (pGMECs), and the results showed that nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) levels were significantly decreased by CD36 receptor signaling following treatment with GLA but not LA. GLA inhibited NF-κB activation in LPS-induced pGMECs. However, silencing CD36 or deleting its fatty acid-binding domain blocked the anti-inflammatory effects of GLA, resulting in an increase in NF-κB activation and disrupting its localization during LPS-induced inflammation. The activity of the cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, which act downstream of NF-κB, was also modulated when CD34 expression was manipulated by the addition of GLA in LPS-induced pGMECs. Our data suggest that GLA, but not LA, may interact with the CD36 fatty acid-binding domain to regulate the activation and localization of NF-κB in LPS-induced pGMECs.

Indirubin Treatment of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Mastitis in a Mouse Model and Activity in Mouse Mammary Epithelial Cells

Indirubin is a Chinese medicine extracted from indigo and known to be effective for treating chronic myelogenous leukemia, neoplasia, and inflammatory disease. This study evaluated the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of indirubin in a lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced mouse mastitis model. The indirubin mechanism and targets were evaluated in vitro in mouse mammary epithelial cells. In the mouse model, indirubin significantly attenuated the severity of inflammatory lesions, edema, inflammatory hyperemia, milk stasis and local tissue necrosis, and neutrophil infiltration. Indirubin significantly decreased myeloperoxidase activity and downregulated the production of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6 caused by LPS. In vitro, indirubin inhibited LPS-stimulated expression of proinflammatory cytokines in a dose-dependent manner. It also downregulated LPS-induced toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression and inhibited phosphorylation of LPS-induced nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-κB) P65 protein and inhibitor of kappa B. In addition to its effect on the NF-κB signaling pathway, indirubin suppressed the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling by inhibiting phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), P38, and c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK). Indirubin improved LPS-induced mouse mastitis by suppressing TLR4 and downstream NF-κB and MAPK pathway inflammatory signals and might be a potential treatment of mastitis and other inflammatory diseases.

Magnolia officinalis (Hou Po) bark extract stimulates the Nrf2-pathway in hepatocytes and protects against oxidative stress

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The highly aromatic bark of Magnolia officinalis Rehder and EH Wilson, (magnolia bark) has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine where it is known as Hou Po. Historically the bark of the tree has been used for treating variety of disorders the most common use of magnolia bark in traditional prescription has been to treat stress and anxiety disorders. Till date it is not clear regarding the fundamental cellular pathway it modulates. NRF2 signaling has emerged as the central pathway that protects cells from variety of stressors this led us to hypothesize that basis for magnolia bark's effects could be via activating NRF2 pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We utilized variety of biochemical procedures like luciferase reporter assay, enzyme induction, gene expression to determine NRF2 inducing activity by magnolia bark extract and its significance. Further we identified the phytochemicals inducing this activity using bio-directed fractionation procedure.

RESULTS

In this study, we demonstrate that magnolia bark extract activates Nrf2-dependent gene expression and protects against hydrogen peroxide mediated oxidative stress in hepatocytes. We further identified through HPLC fractionation and mass spectroscopy that magnolol, 4-methoxy honokiol and honokiol are the active phytochemicals inducing the Nrf2-mediated activity. This could be the molecular basis for its numerous beneficial activity.

Identification of two candidate innate immune genes by transcriptional profiling and RNA interference in mouse mammary gland epithelial cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide

Mammary epithelial cells (MECs) play an important role in immune responses and inflammatory diseases such as mastitis, which is mainly attributed to the activation of Toll-like receptors and the release of cytokines. However, the overall change of gene expression and biological pathways of MECs to microbial factors stimulation remains unknown. Here, we analyzed the gene expression profile in mouse MECs treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 h. Microarray analysis revealed that about 1548 genes differentially expressed, these genes mainly involved in 346 gene ontology terms and 128 molecular pathways, and particularly, some innate immune-associated pathways were significant. By analyzing data for pathway relation network, we prioritized differentially expressed genes with respect to LPS. The importance of changes, indicating that RNA interference-mediated inhibition of two genes identified in this analysis, transforming growth factor beta 1 (Tgf-β1) and platelet-derived growth factor B (Pdgfb), reduced interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor α production respectively, in gene expression was verified. These findings delineate mouse MECs gene response patterns induced by LPS and identify Tgf-β1 and Pdgfb that have been closely related to innate immunity.

Protective effect of magnolol-loaded polyketal microparticles on lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in rats

Magnolol has shown inhibitory effects on NO production and TNF-alpha production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages and LPS-induced acute lung injury; however, the poor solubility of magnolol has hindered its clinical success. In this study, magnolol-loaded microparticles were prepared via single emulsion method from a polyketal polymer, termed PK3. The particle sizes of magnolol-loaded PK3 microparticle is 3.73 ± 0.41 μm, and was suitable for phagocytosis by macrophages and pulmonary drug delivery. PK3 microparticles exhibited excellent biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo. More importantly, intratracheal delivery of these magnolol-loaded microparticles significantly reduced the lung inflammatory responses at low dosage of magnolol (0.5 mg/kg), and have great clinical potential in treating acute lung injury.

Methylation and Esterification of Magnolol for Ameliorating Cutaneous Targeting and Therapeutic Index by Topical Application

PURPOSE

As a continuing effort to elucidate the impact of structure modification upon cutaneous absorption behavior, we attempted to assess the skin permeation of magnolol by methylation and acetylation.

METHODS

Diacetylmagnolol and 2-O-acetyl-2'-O-methylmagnolol (AMM) were designed and synthesized in this study. The anti-inflammatory activity against stimulated neutrophils and keratinocytes was evaluated to check the bioactivity of the analogues. In vitro skin absorption was investigated using nude mouse and pig skin models at both equimolar and saturated doses.

RESULTS

Magnolol generally showed the strongest anti-inflammatory potential, followed by diacetylmagnolol and AMM. The antibacterial activity was observed for magnolol and diacetylmagnolol but not AMM. Diacetylmagnolol and AMM could be partly hydrolyzed to magnolol and 2-O-methylmagnolol after entering the skin. The hydrolysis rate of diacetylmagnolol was faster than that of AMM. The lipophilicity played a crucial role in cutaneous absorption, with AMM exhibiting the highest skin deposition. AMM accumulation within nude mouse skin was about 2.5-fold greater than that of magnolol and diacetylmagnolol. On the other hand, the transdermal penetration across the skin was lessened by methylation and esterification. This led to a superior skin targeting of AMM. Although the pharmacological activity of AMM was low, the high skin uptake and bioconversion into 2-O-methylmagnolol in the skin contributed to a greater therapeutic index (TI, skin deposition x inflammatory inhibition percentage) compared to the others. The accumulation of AMM in the hair follicles was 77.12 nmol/cm(2), which was significantly greater than that with magnolol (44.84 nmol/cm(2)) and diacetylmagnolol (26.96 nmol/cm(2)). The synthetic analogues were tolerable to the nude mouse skin.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the experimental results, we may suggest topically applied AMM as a potent and safe candidate for the treatment of cutaneous inflammation.

The effects of Brazilian propolis on etiological agents of mastitis and the viability of bovine mammary gland explants

The objective of this study was to evaluate in vitro the antimicrobial activity of Brazilian propolis from Urupema, São Joaquim, and Agua Doce (Santa Catarina State) and green propolis from Minas Gerais State, and the effects of propolis on bovine mammary gland explant viability. The propolis samples differed in flavonoid content and antioxidant activity. Green propolis showed the highest content of flavonoids, followed by the sample from São Joaquim. The propolis from Urupema showed the lowest flavonoid content along with the lowest antioxidant activity. The total phenolics were similar across all studied samples. Despite phytochemical differences, the propolis samples from Minas Gerais, São Joaquim, and Urupema presented the same level of antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus strains. The reduction in S. aureus growth was, on average, 1.5 and 4 log10 times at 200 and 500 μg/mL, respectively. At concentrations of 1,000 μg/mL, all propolis reduced bacterial growth to zero. On the other hand, when the propolis were tested against strains of Escherichia coli, the samples presented weak antimicrobial activity. Mammary explants were maintained in culture for 96h without a loss in viability, demonstrating the applicability of the model in evaluating the toxicity of propolis. The origin and chemical composition of the propolis had an effect on mammary explant viability. We encountered inhibitory concentrations of 272.4, 171.8, 63.85, and 13.26 μg/mL for the propolis from Água Doce, Urupema, São Joaquim, and Mina Gerais, respectively. A clear association between greater antimicrobial activity and toxicity for mammary explants was observed. Of all propolis tested, the Urupema sample was noteworthy, as it showed antimicrobial activity at less toxic concentrations than the other samples, reducing bacterial growth to an average of 9.3 × 10(2) cfu/mL after 6h of contact using 200 μg/mL of extract. The results demonstrate the potential for Brazilian propolis in the treatment of mastitis, although effectiveness is dependent on geographical origin and concentration. The results from the mammary gland explant assays are promising for the investigation of other natural products with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that can be used in the intramammary treatment of subclinical mastitis and during dry cow therapy.