Anti-inflammatory effects of glycyrol isolated from Glycyrrhiza uralensis in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages

Designing combinational herbal drugs based on target space analysis

BACKGROUND

Traditional oriental medicines (TOMs) are a medical practice that follows different philosophies to pharmaceutical drugs and they have been in use for many years in different parts of the world. In this study, by integrating TOM formula and pharmaceutical drugs, we performed target space analysis between TOM formula target space and small-molecule drug target space. To do so, we manually curated 46 TOM formulas that are known to treat Anxiety, Diabetes mellitus, Epilepsy, Hypertension, Obesity, and Schizophrenia. Then, we employed Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity (ADMET) properties such as human ether-a-go-go related gene (hERG) inhibition, Carcinogenicity, and AMES toxicity to filter out potentially toxic herbal ingredients. The target space analysis was performed between TOM formula and small-molecule drugs: (i) both are known to treat the same disease, and (ii) each known to treat different diseases. Statistical significance of the overlapped target space between the TOM formula and small-molecule drugs was measured using support value. Support value distribution from randomly selected target space was calculated to validate the result. Furthermore, the Si-Wu-Tang (SWT) formula and published literature were also used to evaluate our results.

RESULT

This study tried to provide scientific evidence about the effectiveness of the TOM formula to treat the main indication with side effects that could come from the use of small-molecule drugs. The target space analysis between TOM formula and small-molecule drugs in which both are known to treat the same disease shows that many targets overlapped between the two medications with a support value of 0.84 and weighted average support of 0.72 for a TOM formula known to treat Epilepsy. Furthermore, support value distribution from randomly selected target spaces in this analysis showed that the number of overlapped targets is much higher between TOM formula and small-molecule drugs that are known to treat the same disease than in randomly selected target spaces. Moreover, scientific literature was also used to evaluate the medicinal efficacy of individual herbs.

CONCLUSION

This study provides an evidence to the effectiveness of a TOM formula to treat the main indication as well as side effects associated with the use of pharmaceutical drugs, as demonstrated through target space analysis.

Comparative genomics and phylogenomics of the genus Glycyrrhiza (Fabaceae) based on chloroplast genomes

Glycyrrhiza (Fabaceae) species are rich in metabolites and widely used in medicine. Research on the chloroplast genome of Glycyrrhiza is important for understanding its phylogenetics, biogeography, genetic diversity, species identification, and medicinal properties. In this study, comparative genomics and phylogenomics of Glycyrrhiza were analyzed based on the chloroplast genome. The chloroplast genomes of six Glycyrrhiza species were obtained using various assembly and annotation tools. The final assembled chloroplast genome sizes for the six Glycyrrhiza species ranged from 126,380 bp to 129,115 bp, with a total of 109-110 genes annotated. Comparative genomics results showed that the chloroplast genomes of Glycyrrhiza showed typically lacking inverted repeat regions, and the genome length, structure, GC content, codon usage, and gene distribution were highly similar. Bioinformatics analysis revealed the presence of 69-96 simple sequence repeats and 61-138 long repeats in the chloroplast genomes. Combining the results of mVISTA and nucleotide diversity, four highly variable regions were screened for species identification and relationship studies. Selection pressure analysis indicated overall purifying selection in the chloroplast genomes of Glycyrrhiza, with a few positively selected genes potentially linked to environmental adaptation. Phylogenetic analyses involving all tribes of Fabaceae with published chloroplast genomes elucidated the evolutionary relationships, and divergence time estimation estimated the chronological order of species differentiations within the Fabaceae family. The results of phylogenetic analysis indicated that species from the six subfamilies formed distinct clusters, consistent with the classification scheme of the six subfamilies. In addition, the inverted repeat-lacking clade in the subfamily Papilionoideae clustered together, and it was the last to differentiate. Co-linear analysis confirmed the conserved nature of Glycyrrhiza chloroplast genomes, and instances of gene rearrangements and inversions were observed in the subfamily Papilionoideae.

Glycyrol Prevents the Progression of Psoriasis-like Skin Inflammation via Immunosuppressive and Anti-Inflammatory Actions

Glycyrol (GC) is one natural active product. Imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like Balb/c mouse models were established. The model mice were intraperitoneally injected with cyclosporine A (CsA) and GC for 8 days followed by a series of biological detections. GC had little toxicity according to the levels of peripheral blood cells, hemoglobin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (CRE), while CsA significantly increased the levels of BUN and CRE. GC decreased the splenic index and reduced the expressions of IL-6, IL-23, and CXCL-3 in the model mice and IL-6, CXCL-1, and CXCL-2 in the inflammatory HaCaT cells. The half inhibition concentration (IC50) of GC on HaCaT cells was 29.72 μmol/L, resulting in improved apoptosis, enhanced expressions of p21, BAX, and BIK, and reduced expressions of BCL-2. GC is an immunosuppressive agent against psoriasis-like symptoms by anti-inflammatory effects, which provides a strategy for the discovery of anti-psoriatic natural products.

Systematic investigation of the multi-scale mechanisms of herbal medicine on treating ventricular remodeling: Theoretical and experimental studies

BACKGROUND

To explore the underlying molecule mechanism of herbal medicine in preventing ventricular remodeling (VR), we take a herbal formula that is clinically effective for preventing VR as an example, which composed of Pachyma hoelen Rumph, Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz., Cassia Twig and Licorice. Due to multi-components and multi-targets in herbal medicine, it is extremely difficult to systematically explain its mechanisms of action.

METHODS

An innovative systematic investigation framework which combines with pharmacokinetic screening, target fishing, network pharmacology, DeepDDI algorithm, computational chemistry, molecular thermodynamics, in vivo and in vitro experiments was performed for deciphering the underlying molecular mechanisms of herbal medicine for treating VR.

RESULTS

ADME screening and SysDT algorithm determined 75 potentially active compounds and 109 corresponding targets. Then, systematic analysis of networks reveals the crucial active ingredients and key targets in herbal medicine. Additionally, transcriptomic analysis identifies 33 key regulators during VR progression. Moreover, PPI network and biological function enrichment present four crucial signaling pathways, i.e. NF-κB and TNF, PI3K-AKT and C-type lectin receptor signaling pathways involved in VR. Besides, both molecular experiments at animal and cell levels reveal the beneficial effect of herbal medicine on preventing VR. Finally, MD simulations and binding free energy validate the reliability of drug-target interactions.

CONCLUSION

Our novelty is to build a systematic strategy which combines various theoretical methods combined with experimental approaches. This strategy provides a deep understanding for the study of molecular mechanisms of herbal medicine on treating diseases from systematic level, and offers a new idea for modern medicine to explore drug interventions for complex diseases as well.

Molecular Targets and Mechanisms of 6,7-Dihydroxy-2,4-dimethoxyphenanthrene from Chinese Yam Modulating NF-κB/COX-2 Signaling Pathway: The Application of Molecular Docking and Gene Silencing

Chinese yam (Dioscorea opposita) tuber has a significant effect of invigorating the intestine and improving the symptoms of long-term diarrhea according to the records of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Phenanthrene polyphenols from Chinese yam, with higher inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) than anti-inflammatory drugs, are an important material basis in alleviating ulcerative colitis via nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB)/COX-2 pathway, based on our previous research. The present study further explored the target and molecular mechanisms of phenanthrenes' modulation of the NF-κB/COX-2 signaling pathway by means of molecular docking and gene silencing. Firstly, interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression of 6-hydroxy-2,4,7-trimethoxyphenanthrene (PC2)/6,7-dihydroxy-2,4-dimethoxyphe-nanthrene (PC4) were compared on TNF-α induced human colon adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells. Secondly, molecular docking and dynamics simulation were implemented for PC2/PC4 and COX-2. Finally, COX-2 silencing was performed on TNF-α induced Caco-2 cells to confirm the target of PC4 on NF-κB/COX-2 pathway. Lower expression of IL-8 and TNF-α in PC4 treated Caco-2 cells indicated that PC4 had stronger anti-inflammatory activity than PC2. The binding of PC4 and COX-2 was stronger due to the hydrogen bond between hydroxyl group and Tyr385. No significant differences were found in phosphorylation nuclear factor kappa-B inhibitor alpha (pIkBα), phosphorylation NF-κB (pNF-κB) and phosphorylation extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (pERK1/2) expression between control and PC4 group after silencing, while these protein expressions significantly decreased in PC4 group without silencing, which confirmed that COX-2 was the important target for PC4 in alleviating ulcerative colitis. These findings indicate that PC4 was supposed to have inhibited NF-κB pathway mediated inflammation via suppression of positive feedback targeting COX-2.

Anti-inflammatory diterpenoid alkaloids from Aconitum tanguticum (Maxim.) Stapf

Fifteen undescribed diterpenoid alkaloids and seven known analogs were coisolated from the whole plant Aconitum tanguticum (Maxim.) Stapf. Their structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic methods. Among them, tangirine A was a heteratisine-hetidine-type bis-diterpenoid alkaloid, tanguticinines A-F were six hetidine-hetisine-type bis-diterpenoid alkaloids, tanguticinine G was one hetidine-atisine-type bis-diterpenoid alkaloid, and N-oxide anthoroidine B, 5-deoxyanthoridine B and N-oxide 5-deoxyanthoroidine B were three unusual hetidine-rearranged hetisine-type bis-diterpenoid alkaloids. In the bioassay, thirteen compounds showed some inhibitory effects on the secretion of NO and TNF-α in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells, with IC₅₀ values of 67.56 μM-683.436 μM.

Development and validation of an LC-MS/MS method for detection of glycyrol in rat plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) is one of the most popular edible and medicinal plants and is widely used in Asia. Glycyrol (GC) is a major coumarin present in licorice that exhibits various biological activities. We aimed to develop a highly sensitive and rapid liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry method for the quantitative determination analysis of GC in rat plasma. GC showed linear calibration ranges of 1-100 and 50-2,000 ng/ml with correlation coefficients >0.99. The average extraction recovery ranged from 113.26 to 114.84%, and the relative standard deviation of internal standard normalized matrix factors ranged from 6.36 to 9.46%. The intra-day and inter-day precisions of GC were <15%, and the accuracy ranged from 95.31 to 112.72%. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that GC was distributed in the body with a volume of distribution of 9.06 L/kg, and the initial plasma concentration was 3275.11 ng/ml. The area under the plasma concentration vs. time curve was 479.25 ng h/ml. It was rapidly eliminated with a terminal elimination half-life of 1.47 h and a clearance rate of 4.24 L/h/kg. The pharmacokinetic results can help us to better understand the pharmacological effects of GC in the body.

Chemical composition and therapeutic mechanism of Xuanbai Chengqi Decoction in the treatment of COVID-19 by network pharmacology, molecular docking and molecular dynamic analysis

Xuanbai Chengqi Decoction (XBCQD), a classic traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used to treat COVID-19 in China with remarkable curative effect. However, the chemical composition and potential therapeutic mechanism is still unknown. Here, we used multiple open-source databases and literature mining to select compounds and potential targets for XBCQD. The COVID-19 related targets were collected from GeneCards and NCBI gene databases. After identifying putative targets of XBCQD for the treatment of COVID-19, PPI network was constructed by STRING database. The hub targets were extracted by Cytoscape 3.7.2 and MCODE analysis was carried out to extract modules in the PPI network. R 3.6.3 was used for GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis. The effective compounds were obtained via network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis. Drug-likeness analysis and ADMET assessments were performed to select core compounds. Moreover, interactions between core compounds and hub targets were investigated through molecular docking, molecular dynamic (MD) simulations and MM-PBSA calculations. As a result, we collected 638 targets from 61 compounds of XBCQD and 845 COVID-19 related targets, of which 79 were putative targets. Based on the bioinformatics analysis, 10 core compounds and 34 hub targets of XBCQD for the treatment of COVID-19 were successfully screened. The enrichment analysis of GO and KEGG indicated that XBCQD mainly exerted therapeutic effects on COVID-19 by regulating signal pathways related to viral infection and inflammatory response. Meanwhile, the results of molecular docking showed that there was a stable binding between the core compounds and hub targets. Moreover, MD simulations and MM-PBSA analyses revealed that these compounds exhibited stable conformations and interacted well with hub targets during the simulations. In conclusion, our research comprehensively explained the multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway intervention mechanism of XBCQD in the treatment of COVID-19, which provided evidence and new insights for further research.

Chemotherapeutic Potential of Saikosaponin D: Experimental Evidence

Saikosaponin D (SSD), an active compound derived from the traditional plant Radix bupleuri, showcases potential in disease management owing to its antioxidant, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory properties. The toxicological effects of SSD mainly include hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity, hemolysis, and cardiotoxicity. SSD exhibits antitumor effects on multiple targets and has been witnessed in diverse cancer types by articulating various cell signaling pathways. As a result, carcinogenic processes such as proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis are inhibited, whereas apoptosis, autophagy, and differentiation are induced in several cancer cells. Since it reduces side effects and strengthens anti-cancerous benefits, SSD has been shown to have an additive or synergistic impact with chemo-preventive medicines. Regardless of its efficacy and benefits, the considerations of SSD in cancer prevention are absolutely under-researched due to its penurious bioavailability. Diverse studies have overcome the impediments of inadequate bioavailability using nanotechnology-based methods such as nanoparticle encapsulation, liposomes, and several other formulations. In this review, we emphasize the association of SSD in cancer therapeutics and the discussion of the mechanisms of action with the significance of experimental evidence.

Structural characterization of a pectic polysaccharide from laoshan green tea and its inhibitory effects on the production of NO, TNF-α and IL-6

A novel pectic polysaccharide, named GTPS3-1, was isolated and purified from Laoshan green tea polysaccharide (GTPS) through DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow and Sephacryl S-300 columns, its structure was characterized and its anti-inflammatory activity was explored. GTPS3-1, with a molecular weight of 26.05 kDa, was mainly composed of galacturonic acid, galactose, rhamnose and arabinose in a molar ratio of 4.72:2.5:1.68:1 on the basis of monosaccharide composition. Structural analysis results revealed that GTPS3-1 was a highly branched pectin consisting of →3)-Galp-(1→, →2)-Rhap-(1→, →3,5)-Araf-(1→, →3)-Rhap-(1→, GalpA-(1→, →3,4)-Galp-(1→, →4)-GalpA-(1→, →5)-Araf-(1→, →2,4)-Rhap-(1→, Rhap-(1→ and Araf-(1→ according to FT-IR, methylation and NMR analyses. In addition, GTPS3-1 inhibited the production of NO, TNF-α and IL-6 in a dose-dependent manner, which resulted in the amelioration of inflammatory injury in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. These results would provide a theoretical basis for practical application of the novel polysaccharide as an anti-inflammatory adjuvant.

Network pharmacological analysis of active components of Xiaoliu decoction in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme

Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive primary nervous system brain tumor. There is still a lack of effective methods to control its progression and recurrence in clinical treatment. It is clinically found that Xiaoliu Decoction (XLD) has the effect of treating brain tumors and preventing tumor recurrence. However, its mechanism is still unclear.

Methods: Search the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Database (TCSMP) for efficient substances for the treatment of XLD in the treatment of GBM, and target the targeted genes of the effective ingredients to construct a network. At the same time, download GBM-related gene expression data from the TCGA and GTEX databases, screen differential expression bases, and establish a drug target disease network. Through bioinformatics analysis, the target genes and shared genes of the selected Chinese medicines are analyzed. Finally, molecular docking was performed to further clarify the possibility of XLD in multiple GBMs.

Results: We screened 894 differentially expressed genes in GBM, 230 XLD active ingredients and 169 predicted targets of its active compounds, of which 19 target genes are related to the differential expression of GBM. Bioinformatics analysis shows that these targets are closely related to cell proliferation, cell cycle regulation, and DNA synthesis. Finally, through molecular docking, it was further confirmed that Tanshinone IIA, the active ingredient of XLD, was tightly bound to key proteins.

Conclusion: To sum up, the results of this study suggest that the mechanism of XLD in the treatment of GBM involves multiple targets and signal pathways related to tumorigenesis and development. This study not only provides a new theoretical basis for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme with traditional Chinese medicine, but also provides a new idea for the research and development of targeted drugs for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme.

Exploring the role of Xingren on COVID ‐19 based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

Since the outbreak of novel Coronavirus Pneumonia 2019 (COVID‐19), the role of Almonds (Xingren) in the protection and treatment of COVID‐19 is not clear. Network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to explore the potential mechanism and potential key targets of Xingren on COVID‐19. A total of nine common targets between them were obtained, and these targets were involved in multiple related processes of GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Molecular docking showed that licochalcone B has the best binding energy (−9.33 kJ·mol⁻¹) to PTGS2. They are maybe the important ingredient and key potential target. Its possible mechanism is to intervene anxiety disorder in the process of disease development, such as regulation of blood pressure, reactive oxygen species metabolic process, leishmaniasis peroxisome, and IL‐17 signaling pathway.

Methylsulfonylmethane relieves cobalt chloride-induced hypoxic toxicity in C2C12 myoblasts

AIMS

In biology and medicine, hypoxia refers to reduced oxygen tension or oxygen starvation resulting from various environmental or pathological conditions. Prolonged hypoxia may lead to an imbalance in protein production and a loss of muscle mass in animals. The physiological response to hypoxia includes oxidative stress-induced activation of complex cell-signaling networks such as hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT). Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a natural sulfur compound that regulates HIF-1α expression and provides cytoprotection from oxidative stress. In this study, we explored the anti-hypoxic activity and cytoprotective effect of MSM in cobalt chloride (CoCl₂)-induced hypoxic C2C12 mouse myoblast culture.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used western blotting, real time PCR, flow cytometry for molecular signaling studies and we also used MTT assay and ChIP assay along with comet assay for cellular processes.

KEY FINDINGS

MSM prevented the CoCl₂ induced cytotoxicity. Molecular markers of hypoxia, induced by CoCl₂, were normalized or reduced by MSM, which also inhibited the effect of CoCl₂-induced JAK2/STAT5b/Cyclin D1 and PI3K/AKT signaling. CoCl₂-induced oxidative stress results in activation of the NRF2/HO-1-mediated cell survival pathway and inhibition of DNA repair, both of which were prevented by MSM.

SIGNIFICANCE

We suggest MSM can be considered as a candidate drug for reducing the effects of hypoxia in both animals and humans.

Preparation, characterization, in vitro drug release and anti-inflammatory of thymoquinone-loaded chitosan nanocomposite

In this study, we formulated Thymoquinone-loaded nanocomposites (TQ-NCs) using high-pressure homogenizer without sodium tripolyphosphate. The TQ-NCs were characterized and their anti-inflammatory determined by the response of the LPS-stimulated macrophage RAW 264.7 cells in the production of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β. The physicochemical properties of TQ-NC were determined using different machines. TQ was fully incorporated in the highly thermal stable nanoparticles. The nanoparticles showed rapid release of TQ in the acidic medium of the gastric juice. In medium of pH 6.8, TQ-NC exhibited sustained release of TQ over a period of 100 h. The results suggest that TQ-NC nanoparticles have potential application as parenterally administered therapeutic compound. TQ-NC effectively reduce production of inflammatory cytokines by the LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, indicating that they have anti-inflammatory properties. In conclusion, TQ-NC nanoparticles have the characteristics of efficient carrier for TQ and an effective anti-inflammatory therapeutic compound.

Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice): A Comprehensive Review on Its Phytochemistry, Biological Activities, Clinical Evidence and Toxicology

There are more than 30 species of Glycyrrhiza genus extensively spread worldwide. It was the most prescribed herb in Ancient Egyptian, Roman, Greek, East China, and the West from the Former Han era. There are various beneficial effects of licorice root extracts, such as treating throat infections, tuberculosis, respiratory, liver diseases, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and immunodeficiency. On the other hand, traditional medicines are getting the attraction to treat many diseases. Therefore, it is vital to screen the medicinal plants to find the potential of new compounds to treat chronic diseases such as respiratory, cardiovascular, anticancer, hepatoprotective, etc. This work comprehensively reviews ethnopharmacological uses, phytochemistry, biological activities, clinical evidence, and the toxicology of licorice, which will serve as a resource for future clinical and fundamental studies. An attempt has been made to establish the pharmacological effect of licorice in different diseases. In addition, the focus of this review article is on the molecular mechanism of licorice extracts and their four flavonoids (isoliquiritigenin, liquiritigenin, lichalocone, and glabridin) pharmacologic activities. Licorice could be a natural alternative for current therapy to exterminate new emerging disorders with mild side effects. This review will provide systematic insights into this ancient drug for further development and clinical use.

Isoliquiritigenin attenuates acute renal injury through suppressing oxidative stress, fibrosis and JAK2/STAT3 pathway in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the protective effects and mechanisms of isoliquiritigenin (ISO) on acute renal injury. CCK-8 assays were applied to assess the effects of ISO at different doses (20, 40, and 80 μg/mL) on oxidative damage in human renal HK-2 cells incubated with high glucose. After the diabetic nephropathy (DN) rat model was established, the model animals were randomly assigned to saline-treated control, three model groups received the 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg ISO, respectively, using the healthy Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats as normal control. The blood biochemical indexes, renal functions, oxidative stress, morphological changes, fibrosis- and JAK2/STAT3-related factors in DN model rats were all assessed. The cellular viability of the renal HK-2 cells with oxidative damages were all markedly ameliorated via the incubation of ISO between 10 and 80 μg/mL compared with negative control. In addition, the significantly down-regulated ROS content and up-regulated expression levels of GSH, SOD2, and GPX1 were all observed in ISO-treated groups. Long-term administration of ISO at different doses in DN rats effectively improved general diabetic characteristics and renal morphology. Furthermore, long-term administration of ISO could ameliorate excessive oxidation stress, down-regulate the expression levels of renal fibrosis- and inflammation-related factors, as well as inhibit the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. In conclusion, ISO at all three dosages could efficiently improve the renal injury induced by STZ via ameliorating renal fibrosis, oxidative stress, and inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathways in the DN rats.

The Therapeutic Effects of Oral Intake of Hydrogen Rich Water on Cutaneous Wound Healing in Dogs

This study explored the effects of drinking Hydrogen-rich water (HRW) on skin wound healing in dogs. Eight circular wounds were analyzed in each dog. The experimental group was treated with HRW thrice daily, while the control group was provided with distilled water (DW). The wound tissues of dogs were examined histopathologically. The fibroblasts, inflammatory cell infiltration, the average number of new blood vessels, and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the skin homogenate of the wound was measured using the corresponding kits. The expressions of Nrf-2, HO-1, NQO-1, VEGF, and PDGF were measured using the real-time fluorescence quantitative method. We observed that HRW wounds showed an increased rate of wound healing, and a faster average healing time compared with DW. Histopathology showed that in the HRW group, the average thickness of the epidermis was significantly lower than the DW group. The average number of blood vessels in the HRW group was higher than the DW group. The MDA levels were higher in the DW group than in the HRW group, but the SOD levels were higher in the HRW group than in the DW group. The results of qRT-PCR showed that the expression of each gene was significantly different between the two groups. HRW treatment promoted skin wound healing in dogs, accelerated wound epithelization, reduced inflammatory reaction, stimulated the expression of cytokines related to wound healing, and shortened wound healing time.

The genus Glycyrrhiza (Fabaceae family) and its active constituents as protective agents against natural or chemical toxicities

Licorice is the dried roots and rhizomes of various species of the genus Glycyrrhiza (Fabaceae) that have been used in folk medicine from ancient times. Many important research projects have established several beneficial effects for this medicinal herb, including antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, antiprotozoal, antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective. Licorice contains important bioactive components, such as glycyrrhizin (glycyrrhizic, glycyrrhizinic acid), liquiritigenin, liquiritin, and glycyrrhetinic acid. The protective effects of licorice and its main chemical components against toxins and toxicants in several organs including the brain, heart, liver, kidney, and lung have been shown. In this comprehensive review article, the protective effects of these constituents against natural, industrial, environmental, and chemical toxicities with attention on the cellular and molecular mechanism are introduced. Also, it has been revealed that this plant and its main compounds can inhibit the toxicity of different toxins by the antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties as well as the modulation of Inhibitor of kappaB kinase (IKK), Extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase1/2 (ERK1/2), p38, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways. More high-quality investigations in both experimental and clinical studies need to firmly establish the efficacy of licorice and its main constituents against toxic agents.

6,7-Dihydroxy-2,4-Dimethoxyphenanthrene from Chinese Yam Peels Alleviates DSS-Induced Intestinal Mucosal Injury in Mice via Modulation of the NF-κB/COX-2 Signaling Pathway

In this study, we evaluated the protective effect and molecular mechanism of a dominant phenanthrene, (6,7-dihydroxy-2,4-dimethoxyphenanthrene, CYP4), from Chinese yam peels on intestinal epithelial integrity. Three doses of Chinese yam phenolic extract (CYPE) and Chinese yam phenanthrene 4 (CYP4) were administered to BALB/c mice for 7 days before dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) treatment, with berberine hydrochloride as a positive control (PC). Results showed that both disease activity indexes (DAIs), histological damage score (HDS) and survival rate in DSS mice, were improved with preintervention of CYPE and CYP4, which exhibited better efficiency than PC. Further studies showed that administration of CYP4 downregulated the oxidative stress-associated factors, MPO and NO, and improved tight junction protein occludin. Besides, the CYP4 treatment substantially downregulated the caspase-3 expression and the apoptosis rate of intestinal epithelial cells. In addition, the CYP4 treatment ameliorated the production of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-10, and IL-23 in the colon. Furthermore, the protein expression of ERK1/2, NF-κB p65, pNF-κB, and COX-2 was suppressed in CYE4 groups as compared with that in model control (MC). These findings suggested that CHP4 could effectively inhibit the activation of NF-κB/COX-2 in an experimental UC model in vivo. It was demonstrated for the first time that CYPE and CYP4 protected intestinal mucosa from damage and prevented DSS-induced colitis in mice. CYP4 was one of the active principles obligatory for the biological effect of Chinese yam in protecting intestinal health. These findings indicated that CYP4 might be a promising and useful approach for treatment of UC in humans.

Naturally occurring coumestans from plants, their biological activities and therapeutic effects on human diseases

Naturally occurring coumestans are known as a collection of plant-derived polycyclic aromatic secondary metabolites which are characterized by the presence of an oxygen heterocyclic four-ring system comprising a coumarin moiety and a benzofuran moiety sharing a C˭C bond. Recently, there is an increasing attention in excavating the medicinal potential of coumestans, particularly coumestrol, wedelolactone, psoralidin and glycyrol, in a variety of diseases. This review is a comprehensive inventory of the chemical structures of coumestans isolated from various plant sources during the period of 1956-2020, together with their reported biological activities. 120 molecules were collected and further classified as coumestans containing core skeleton, dimethylpyranocoumestans, furanocoumestans, O-glycosylated coumestans and others, which showed a wide range of pharmacological activities including estrogenic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-osteoporotic, organ protective, neuroprotective, anti-diabetic and anti-obesity, antimicrobial, immunosuppressive, antioxidant and skin-protective activities. Furthermore, this review focuses on the counteraction of coumestans against bone diseases and organ damages, and the involved molecular mechanisms, which could provide important information to better understand the medicinal values of these compounds. This review is intended to be instructive for the rational design and development of less toxic and more effective drugs with a coumestan scaffold.

A Sulfated Polysaccharide from Saccharina japonica Suppresses LPS-Induced Inflammation Both in a Macrophage Cell Model via Blocking MAPK/NF-κB Signal Pathways In Vitro and a Zebrafish Model of Embryos and Larvae In Vivo

Inflammation is a complicated host-protective response to stimuli and toxic conditions, and is considered as a double-edged sword. A sulfated Saccharinajaponica polysaccharide (LJPS) with a sulfate content of 9.07% showed significant inhibitory effects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells and zebrafish. Its chemical and structural properties were investigated via HPLC, GC, FTIR, and NMR spectroscopy. In vitro experiments demonstrated that LJPS significantly inhibited the generation of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) via the downregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β production via the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathways in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, LJPS showed strong protective effects against LPS-induced inflammatory responses in zebrafish, increasing the survival rate, reducing the heart rate and yolk sac edema size, and inhibiting cell death and the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and NO. Its convenience for large-scale production and significant anti-inflammatory activity indicated the potential application of LJPS in functional foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries.

Pharmacological Activities of Coumarin Compounds in Licorice: A Review

Licorice is a traditional medicine commonly used in China and many other countries. Over the last 50 years, the structure and pharmacological effects of coumarin compounds in licorice have been investigated. However, a comprehensive review of the literature summarizing current trends is currently lacking. Thus, the aim of the present review is to provide an up-to-date summary of the scientific literature regarding the pharmacological effects of coumarin compounds in licorice, thereby laying the foundation for further research and optimal utilization of licorice. We retrieved 111 articles on the coumarin components of licorice and their potential pharmacological effects, based on titles, keywords, and abstracts from databases (including PubMed and Web of Science). Glycycoumarin, isoglycycoumarin, licoarylcoumarin, licopyranocoumarin, glycyrin, isotrifoliol, glycyrol, and glycyrurol have been investigated for their anticancer, hepatoprotective, antispasmodic, immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties, and use as therapeutic agents in metabolic syndrome, thereby demonstrating their potential for clinical applications. Future research should further explore the pharmacological mechanisms of action of coumarin compounds, including their antibacterial activities. Investigations into the pharmacological activities of different glycycoumarin isomers might open new research frontiers.

Inhibition of Butyrylcholinesterase and Human Monoamine Oxidase-B by the Coumarin Glycyrol and Liquiritigenin Isolated from Glycyrrhiza uralensis

Eight compounds were isolated from the roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis and tested for cholinesterase (ChE) and monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitory activities. The coumarin glycyrol (GC) effectively inhibited butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) with IC₅₀ values of 7.22 and 14.77 µM, respectively, and also moderately inhibited MAO-B (29.48 µM). Six of the other seven compounds only weakly inhibited AChE and BChE, whereas liquiritin apioside moderately inhibited AChE (IC₅₀ = 36.68 µM). Liquiritigenin (LG) potently inhibited MAO-B (IC₅₀ = 0.098 µM) and MAO-A (IC₅₀ = 0.27 µM), and liquiritin, a glycoside of LG, weakly inhibited MAO-B (>40 µM). GC was a reversible, noncompetitive inhibitor of BChE with a K_i value of 4.47 µM, and LG was a reversible competitive inhibitor of MAO-B with a K_i value of 0.024 µM. Docking simulations showed that the binding affinity of GC for BChE (−7.8 kcal/mol) was greater than its affinity for AChE (−7.1 kcal/mol), and suggested that GC interacted with BChE at Thr284 and Val288 by hydrogen bonds (distances: 2.42 and 1.92 Å, respectively) beyond the ligand binding site of BChE, but that GC did not form hydrogen bond with AChE. The binding affinity of LG for MAO-B (−8.8 kcal/mol) was greater than its affinity for MAO-A (−7.9 kcal/mol). These findings suggest GC and LG should be considered promising compounds for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease with multi-targeting activities.

The Aqueous Extract of Radio-Resistant Deinococcus actinosclerus BM2T Suppresses Lipopolysaccharide-Mediated Inflammation in RAW264.7 Cells

Deinococcus actinosclerus BM2^T (GenBank: KT448814) is a radio-resistant bacterium that is newly isolated from the soil of a rocky hillside in Seoul. As an extremophile, D. actinosclerus BM2^T may possess anti-inflammatory properties that may be beneficial to human health. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of BM2U, an aqueous extract of D. actinosclerus BM2^T, on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated inflammatory responses in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. BM2U showed antioxidant capacity, as determined by the DPPH radical scavenging (IC₅₀ = 349.3 μg/ml) and ORAC (IC₅₀ = 50.24 μg/ml) assays. At 20 μg/ml, BM2U induced a significant increase in heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression (p < 0.05). BM2U treatment (0.2-20 μg/ml) significantly suppressed LPS-induced increase in the mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 (p < 0.05). BM2U treatment also suppressed the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which are involved in the production of inflammatory mediators. BM2U treatment also inhibited the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs): JNK, ERK, and p-38 (p < 0.05). Collectively, BM2U exhibited anti-inflammatory potential that can be exploited in attenuating inflammatory responses.

Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Kukoamine A From the Root Bark of Lycium chinense Miller

Kukoamine A (Kuk A) is a naturally occurring bioactive spermine alkaloid found in the root bark of Lycium chinense, and it exerts various therapeutic effects including antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic effects. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory properties of Kuk A against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells and carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats. Pretreatment of cells with Kuk A significantly inhibited the production of reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, cyclooxygenase-2 activity, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6 in LPS-treated cells. In addition, pretreatment of rats with Kuk A significantly decreased inflammatory response to carrageenan-induced paw edema by alleviating proinflammatory cytokines in the serum, malondialdehyde levels in the liver and increasing the activities of liver antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) of carrageenan-treated rats. These results suggest the protective role of Kuk A in acute inflammatory reaction and could be useful in the treatment of inflammatory-related disorders.

Leocarpinolide B attenuates LPS-induced inflammation on RAW264.7 macrophages by mediating NF-κB and Nrf2 pathways

Macrophages-mediated inflammation is involved in the regulation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Sigesbeckiae Herba (SH) has been traditionally used for rheumatism. However, the bioactive ingredients of SH are still unclear. Recently, we isolated a compound (Leocarpinolide B, LB) from SH and identified its potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on RAW264.7 macrophages for the first time. LB effectively inhibited excessive production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂), cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α and MCP-1), and the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthases (iNOS) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells. LB blocked the degradation of inhibitor of kappa B (IκBα) and translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65. Additionally, LB reduced the intracellular reactive oxygen species, and increased the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and the translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in the presence or absence of LPS. The results suggested that LB might be one of the bioactive components of SH, and be potential for the treatment of RA and valuable to be further investigated.

Korean Traditional Medicine (Jakyakgamcho-tang) Ameliorates Colitis by Regulating Gut Microbiota

The objective of this study was to examine the anti-colitis activity of Jakyakgamcho-tang (JGT) in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis and explore changes of the gut microbial community using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and metabolomics approaches. It was found that treatment with JGT or 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) alleviated the severity of colitis symptoms by suppressing inflammatory cytokine levels of IL-6, IL-12, and IFN-γ. The non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis of gut microbiome revealed that JGT groups were clearly separated from the DSS group, suggesting that JGT administration altered gut microbiota. The operational taxonomic units (OTUs) that were decreased by DSS but increased by JGT include Akkermansia and Allobaculum. On the other hand, OTUs that were increased by DSS but decreased by 5-ASA or JGT treatments include Bacteroidales S24-7, Ruminococcaceae, and Rikenellaceae, and the genera Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, Oscillospira, and Coprobacillus. After JGT administration, the metabolites, including most amino acids and lactic acid that were altered by colitis induction, became similar to those of the control group. This study demonstrates that JGT might have potential to effectively treat colitis by restoring dysbiosis of gut microbiota and host metabolites.

Topical Application of KAJD Attenuates 2,4-Dinitrochlorobenzene-Induced Atopic Dermatitis Symptoms Through Regulation of IgE and MAPK Pathways in BALB/C Mice and Several Immune Cell Types

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a frequent skin complication that is caused by unknown reasons. KHU-ATO-JIN-D (KAJD) is a new drug aimed at AD composed of a mixture of extracts from six plants known to have anti-inflammatory and antiallergic effects. This study investigated whether KAJD alleviates 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD in BALB/c mice and several immune cell types. We applied KAJD to DNCB-induced AD-like skin lesions in BALB/c mice, phorbol myristate acetate/ionomycin-stimulated human mast cells (HMC-1), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages and splenocytes. Histological, ELISA, PCR, and Western blot experiments were performed. The application of KAJD significantly attenuated the lesion severity and skin thickness and inhibited the infiltration of inflammatory cells, mast cells, and CD4+ T cells into the sensitized skin of mice. Reduced leukocyte numbers and proinflammatory cytokine and IgE levels were also observed in the sera of KAJD-treated mice. Moreover, in vitro studies demonstrated that KAJD treatment reduced the LPS-induced expression of proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells. The regulation of IL-4 and IL-6 mRNA and MAPK pathways was also detected in agonist-induced isolated splenocytes and HMC-1 cells by the addition of KAJD. Taken together, our results demonstrate that KAJD inhibits the development of DNCB-induced AD in BALB/c mice and in several immune cell types, suggesting that KAJD might be a useful therapeutic drug for the treatment of AD.

Purification, structural elucidation and anti-inflammatory activity in vitro of polysaccharides from Smilax china L

Smilax china L. is a traditional Chinese medicine mainly used for the treatment of pelvic inflammation. Polysaccharide might be one of the anti-inflammatory components of Smilax china L. Based on this hypothesis, this work aimed at extraction, purification and structural elucidation of Smilax china L. polysaccharides and their preliminary anti-inflammatory effects were also studied. Two polysaccharides named SCLP1 (Smilax china L. polysaccharide 1, 42.1kDa) and SCLP3-2 (Smilax china L. polysaccharide 3-2, 16.8kDa) were for the first time purified from Smilax china L. The structures of SCLP1 and SCLP3-2 were elucidated by chemical and spectral analysis. The results revealed that SCLP1 was a neutral polysaccharide composed of glucose and mannose (54.5:1.0). Its backbone was 1,4‑linked α‑Glcp interspersed with 1,2‑linked α‑Glcp and Manp; the branches were 1,6‑linked α-Glcp and terminated with α‑Glcp. SCLP3-2 was composed of galacturonic acid, arabinose, galactose and rhamnose (23.3:2.1:1.7:1.0) and was a pectin-type polysaccharide with an α‑1,4‑linked homogalacturonan backbone which was partially methyl-esterified and slightly acetylated. The side chains consisted of α‑Rhap, β‑Galp and α‑Araf. SCLP1 and SCLP3-2 could inhibit the production of NO, IL-6 and TNF-α in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells via NF-κB and MAPKs (ERK1/2, JNK) pathways, indicating that they possessed a potential anti-inflammatory activity.

Curcumin attenuates collagen-induced rat arthritis via anti-inflammatory and apoptotic effects

Curcumin is a natural herbal product that has been popularly used to treat autoimmune diseases in China; however, its effects on rheumatoid arthritis and its mechanism are not clear. The main purposes of this study are to explore the therapeutic effects of curcumin on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats and the pharmacological mechanism. In the present study, CIA rats were established by injecting bovine type II collagen. Curcumin and methotrexate were then orally administered daily, and the swelling degree of the hind limb joints was scored every two days. Histopathological changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The levels of cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-17 and TGF-β) were detected by radioimmunoassay, while the expression of IκBα and COX-2 was detected by Western blot. In addition, cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay, and the effect of curcumin on macrophage apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry and TUNEL assay. The results indicated that in vivo curcumin attenuated the degree of joint swelling of rats and the further development of joint histopathology. Moreover, it downregulated the levels of cytokines. In vitro curcumin inhibited the degradation of IκBα and reduced the production of COX-2 in LPS-induced inflammatory RAW264.7 cells. Importantly, curcumin significantly induced macrophage apoptosis. In conclusion, in this study, we have demonstrated that curcumin exerts therapeutic effects on arthritis in CIA rats and has a strong pharmacological activity on reducing the inflammatory response in macrophages. Its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway and the promotion of macrophage apoptosis.

Characterization of Moringa oleifera roots polysaccharide MRP-1 with anti-inflammatory effect

Moringa oleifera is a mutli-purpose herbal plant which has attained enormous attention as a natural source of nutrients and folk medicine. This work aimed to get a novel polysaccharide, termed MRP-1, which was isolated from Moringa oleifera roots with hot water extraction method followed by ethanol precipitation and purified with DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow column. Monosaccharide composition analysis based on GC-MS showed that MRP-1 mainly consisted of Rha, Ara, Fru, Xyl, Man and Gal in the molar ratio of 1.5:2.0:3.1:6.0:5.3:1.1. The Roman spectra, FT-IR and NMR analysis showed that the typical features of carbohydrates, such as α-Araf, α-Gly, β-Galp, α-GalpA and β-Gly was contained by MRP-1. The LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophage cells were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of MRP-1. The result demonstrated that the increasing of NO and TNF-α production induced by LPS could be prevented by different concentrations of MRP-1 treatment. Moreover, the mRNA expression level of iNOS induced by LPS was decreased significantly (p < 0.05) by MRP-1 treatment while show no obvious effect on the COX-2 mRNA expression. This study may provide new possible application of Moringa oleifera root polysaccharide related to anti-inflammation.

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.

Multi-Functional Drug Carrier Micelles With Anti-inflammatory Drug

The multi-functional micelles poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N,N-dimethylacrylamide-co-10 undecanoic acid)/CM-Dextran Fe3O4 (PNDU/CM-Dex Fe3O4) were poly (NIPAAm-co-DMAAm-co-UA) (PNDU) grafting hydrophilic CM-Dextran Fe3O4 which possess pH-dependent temperature response and magnetic response. In this research, anti-inflammation drug Hesperetin was encapsulated by micelles using membrane dialysis method to obtain the different ratio of Hesperetin-embedded P5DF10, P10DF10, and P20DF10. These micelles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H-NMR, thermogravimetric analyzer, and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer. The morphology and particle size of micelles was observed by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The low critical solution temperature of the P10DF10 micelles is in pH 6.6 at about 37.76°C and in pH 7.4 at about 41.70°C. The biocompatibility of micelles was confirmed by cytotoxicity study. Inflammatory inhibition of hesperetin-embedded P10DF10 micelles also studied through RAW264.7. Hesperetin-embed P10DF10 micelles suppressed LPS-induced inflammatory response. Via immunofluorescence cell staining demonstrate that Hesperetin-embed P10DF10 micelles inhibited the activation of NF-κB p60 and markedly attenuated in a drug dose-dependent manner. At a concentration of 1,000 ug/ml, an inflammatory rate can be reduced to 36.9%. Based on these results, the hesperetin-embed P10DF10 micelles had successfully synthesized and enable to carry and release the anti-inflammatory drugs, which instrumental for biomedical therapy and applications.

Phytochemical Constituents and Pharmacological Effects of Licorice: A Review

Licorice (or “liquorice”) is one of most widely used in foods, herbal medicine, and extensively researched medicinal plants of the world. In traditional medicine licorice roots have been used against treating many ailments including lung diseases, arthritis, kidney diseases, eczema, heart diseases, gastric ulcer, low blood pressure, allergies, liver toxicity, and certain microbial infections. Licorice extract contains sugars, starch, bitters, resins, essential oils, tannins, inorganic salts, and low levels of nitrogenous constituents such as proteins, individual amino acids, and nucleic acids. A large number of biological active compounds have been isolated from Glycyrrhiza species, where triterpene saponins and flavonoids are the main constitutes which show broad biological activity. This review examines recent studies on the phytochemical and pharmacological data and describes some side effects and toxicity of licorice and its bioactive components.

Chinese Herbal Medicines Facilitate the Control of Chemotherapy-Induced Side Effects in Colorectal Cancer: Progress and Perspective

Side effects, including nausea, vomiting, mucositis, peripheral neuropathy, and diarrhea, have been frequently reported in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients undergoing chemotherapy. Chinese Herbal Medicines (CHMs) display distinct clinical outcomes, as a result, they have been increasingly used as an adjuvant therapy to manage chemotherapy-induced side effects. In this review, we aim to intensively explore the molecular mechanisms of CHMs, underline the significance of CHMs in mitigating the side effects induced by chemotherapy, and examine the necessary studies required to understand the role of CHMs in alleviating chemotherapy-induced side effects. Specifically, ginger, Astragali Radix, and Liujunzi Decoction have been verified to ameliorate nausea and vomiting. Banxia Xiexin Decoction and Huangqin Decoction have been confirmed to be beneficial to mucositis and delayed-onset of diarrhea. Moreover, Niuche Shenqi Wan, Guilong Tongluo Decoction, Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction, and tumeric have been found to display potential therapeutic effects for preventing the genesis and development of peripheral neurotoxicity. These findings have further emphasized the pivotal role of CHMs in improving the outcomes of chemotherapy-induced side effects in CRC. Nonetheless, more molecular evidence is required to comprehensively understand and more appropriately apply CHMs in routine clinical practice for CRC.

Curcumin's Metabolites, Tetrahydrocurcumin and Octahydrocurcumin, Possess Superior Anti-inflammatory Effects in vivo Through Suppression of TAK1-NF-κB Pathway

Curcumin (CUR), a promising naturally occurring dietary compound, is commonly recognized as the potential anti-inflammatory agent. While the application of CUR was hampered by its low stability and poor systemic bioavailability, it has been suggested that the biological activities of CUR are intimately related to its metabolites. In the current investigation, we aimed to comparatively explore the anti-inflammatory effects of tetrahydrocurcumin (THC), octahydrocurcumin (OHC), and CUR, and to elucidate the underlying action mechanisms on experimental mice models of acute inflammation, i.e., xylene-induced ear edema, acetic acid-induced vascular permeability, and carrageenan-induced paw edema. The results showed that THC and OHC exerted significant and dose-dependent inhibitions on the formation of ear edema induced by xylene and paw edema provoked by carrageenan and inhibited the Evans blue dye leakage in peritoneal cavity elicited by acetic acid. Moreover, THC and OHC treatments were more effective than CUR in selectively inhibiting the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and suppressing nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathways via transforming growth factor β activated kinase-1 (TAK1) inactivation in the carrageenan-induced mouse paw edema model.

Activation of Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway by Nardochinoid C Inhibits Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Macrophages

The roots and rhizomes of Nardostachys chinensis have neuroprotection and cardiovascular protection effects. However, the specific mechanism of N. chinensis is not yet clear. Nardochinoid C (DC) is a new compound with new skeleton isolated from N. chinensis and this study for the first time explored the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effect of DC. The results showed that DC significantly reduced the release of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 cells. The expression of pro-inflammatory proteins including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were also obviously inhibited by DC in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells. Besides, the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were also remarkably inhibited by DC in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells. DC also suppressed inflammation indicators including COX-2, PGE₂, TNF-α, and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated THP-1 macrophages. Furthermore, DC inhibited the macrophage M1 phenotype and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells. Mechanism studies showed that DC mainly activated nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway, increased the level of anti-oxidant protein heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and thus produced the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects, which were abolished by Nrf2 siRNA and HO-1 inhibitor. These findings suggested that DC could be a new Nrf2 activator for the treatment and prevention of diseases related to inflammation and oxidative stress.

Augmented reduction in colonic inflammatory markers of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis with a combination of 5-aminosalicylic acid and AD-lico™ from Glycyrrhiza inflata

The primary aim of this study was to determine whether the oral administration of AD-lico™, a functional extract from Glycyrrhiza inflata in combination with 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) could ameliorate the inflammatory symptoms in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in rodents. This DSS rodent model is used to study drug candidates for colitis, as part of the spectrum of diseases falling under the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) category. Here, with oral AD-lico™ administration, there was a substantial disruption of the colonic architectural changes due to DSS and a significant reduction in colonic myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, a marker of colitis. In the same samples, there were also reduced levels of colonic and serum IL-6 in the oral AD-lico™ treated rats. This study also addressed the possible mechanisms for AD-lico™ mediated changes on colonic inflammation markers. These included the observations that AD-lico™ dampened the IL-6 proinflammatory-signaling pathway in THP-1 human monocytic cells and reduced the TNFα-mediated upregulation of surface adhesion molecule ICAM-1 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Finally, it was shown that AD-lico™ could be combined with 5-ASA in reducing the inflammatory markers for colorectal sites affected by colitis, a first study of its kind for a combination therapy.

Clarifying of the potential mechanism of Sinisan formula for treatment of chronic hepatitis by systems pharmacology method

Chronic hepatitis is a general designation class of diseases, which results in different degrees of liver necrosis and inflammatory reaction, followed by liver fibrosis, may eventually develop into cirrhosis. However, the molecular pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis is too complex to elucidate. Herbal medicines, featured with multiple targets and compounds, have long displayed therapeutic effect in treating chronic hepatitis, though their molecular mechanisms of contribution remain indistinct. This research utilized the network pharmacology to confirm the molecular pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis through providing a comprehensive analysis of active chemicals, drug targets and pathways' interaction of Sinisan formula for treating chronic hepatitis. The outcomes showed that 80 active ingredients of Sinisan formula interacting with 91 therapeutic proteins were authenticated. Sinisan formula potentially participates in immune modulation, anti-inflammatory and antiviral activities, even has regulating effects on lipid metabolism. These mechanisms directly or indirectly are involved in curing chronic hepatitis by an interaction way. The network pharmacology based analysis demonstrated that Sinisan has multi-scale curative activity in regulating chronic hepatitis related biological processes, which provides a new potential way for modern medicine in the treatment of chronic diseases.

Phytochemical-rich medicinal plant extracts suppress bacterial antigens-induced inflammation in human tonsil epithelial cells

BACKGROUND

Pharyngitis is an inflammatory condition of the pharynx and associated structures commonly caused by the Group A streptococci (GAS). There is a growing interest in discovering plant-based anti-inflammatory compounds as potential alternatives to conventional drugs. This study evaluated anti-inflammatory activity of phytochemical-rich extracts prepared from 12 herbal plants using human tonsil epithelial cells (HTonEpiC) in vitro.

METHODS

The HTonEpiC were induced by a mixture of lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and peptidoglycan (PGN) (10 µg/mL; bacterial antigens) for 4 h and then exposed to ethanol extracts (EE) or aqueous extracts (AE) for 20 h. The secretion of four pro-inflammatory cytokines was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Total phenolic and total flavonoid contents of the extracts were determined using spectrophotometric methods.

RESULTS

The herbal plant extracts (≤5 µg/mL) were not cytotoxic to HTonEpiC. The extracts exhibited a broad range of reduction (1.2%-92.6%) of secretion of interleukin-8 (IL-8), human beta defensin-2 (hBD-2), epithelial-derived neutrophil activating protein-78 (ENA-78), and granulocyte chemotactic protein-2 (GCP-2). Both EE and AE of clove, ginger, and echinacea flower and EE from danshen root significantly inhibited the pro-inflammatory cytokine production as induced by LTA and PGN in HTonEpiCs at the concentrations of 1 and 5 µg/mL.

DISCUSSION

Our observations indicate that danshen root, clove, ginger, and echinacea flower extracts exhibit an anti-inflammatory effect in HTonEpiCs. The most efficacious extracts from danshen root, clove, ginger and echinacea flowers have potential to be used as natural sources for developing phytotherapeutic products in the management of painful inflammation due to streptococcal pharyngitis.

Glycyrrhizin inhibits LPS-induced inflammatory mediator production in endometrial epithelial cells

Endometriosis is a continuous inflammation of uterine endometrium that usually affects women of reproductive age. Glycyrrhizin, a triterpene isolated from the roots and rhizomes of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), has been known to have anti-inflammatory effect. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of glycyrrhizin on LPS-stimulated mouse endometrial epithelial cells (MEEC). The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and PGE₂ were measured by ELISA. The expression of COX-2, iNOS, TLR4, and NF-ĸB were detected by western blot analysis. The results showed that glycyrrhizin significantly suppressed LPS-induced TNF-α, IL-1β, NO, and PGE₂ production. Also, LPS-induced iNOS and COX-2 expression were attenuated by glycyrrhizin. Furthermore, glycyrrhizin significantly attenuated TLR4 expression and NF-κB activation induced by LPS in MEEC. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that glycyrrhizin inhibited LPS-induced inflammatory response by inhibiting TLR4 signaling pathway in MEEC. Glycyrrhizin may be used as a potential agent for the treatment of endometriosis.

Inhibitory effects of 2-oxo-2H-chromen-4-yl 4-methylbenzenesulfonate on allergic inflammatory responses in rat basophilic leukemia cells

Mast cells play crucial roles in the initiation of allergic inflammatory responses by releasing various mediators such as histamines, cytokines, and leukotrienes. In addition, signaling cascade pathways, such as the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, contribute to the regulation of mast cell degranulation. Accordingly, different research strategies have been pursued to develop anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic drugs by regulating these signaling pathways. The development of new drugs that inhibit mast cell degranulation may help in the treatment of allergies. In this study, we investigated the effects of coumarin derivatives on mast cell degranulation. The effect of coumarin derivatives on degranulation in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-2H3 cells was determined by a β-hexosaminidase assay and histamine assay. A coumarin derivative 1 (C1), 2-oxo-2H-chromen-4-yl 4-methylbenzenesulfonate, inhibited degranulation in a dose-dependent manner and demonstrated maximum therapeutic effect when used at 25μM. Additionally, these compounds inhibited the phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. Taken together, these results indicate that 2-oxo-2H-chromen-4-yl 4-methylbenzenesulfonate inhibits mast cell degranulation by suppressing the activation of the ERK pathway and this inhibitory effect suggests potential therapeutic strategies towards the prevention of allergic disorders.

Characterization and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of an Exopolysaccharide from Submerged Mycelial Culture of Schizophyllum commune

Background and Purpose: Mushroom polysaccharides have attracted attention in food and pharmacology fields because of their many biological activities. The structure characterization and anti-inflammatory activity of exopolysaccharide from Schizophyllum commune were evaluated in present study. Methods: An exopolysaccharide from a submerged mycelial fermentation of S. commune was obtained using DEAE-52 cellulose and Sephadex G-150 chromatography. The molecular weight (MW), monosaccharide compositions, chemical compositions, methylation analysis, circular dichroism studies, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy were investigated. Results: It was a homogeneous protein-bound heteropolysaccharide with MW of 2,900 kDa. The exopolysaccharide contained a β-(1→3) glycosidic backbone, (1→4)- and (1→6)- glycosidic side chain, and high amount of glucose. The anti-inflammatory activity of exopolysaccharide was assessed by inhibiting the production of nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and 5- lipoxygenase (5-LOX) from macrophages. This exopolysaccharide significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited lipopolysaccharides-induced iNOS expression levels in the cells in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: It indicated significant anti-inflammatory effects, which showed that exopolysaccharide might be exploited as an effective anti-inflammatory agent for application in NO-related disorders such as inflammation and cancer.

Immune-Stimulatory Effects of Althaea rosea Flower Extracts through the MAPK Signaling Pathway in RAW264.7 Cells

Althaea rosea (Linn.) is a medicinal plant from China and Korea that has been traditionally used to control inflammation, to stop bedwetting and as a mouthwash in cases of bleeding gums. Its flowers are employed medicinally for their emollient, demulcent and diuretic properties, which make them useful in chest complaints. Furthermore, a flower extract decoction is used to improve blood circulation, for the treatment of constipation, dysmenorrhoea, haemorrhages, etc. However, the possible mechanisms of the immune-stimulatory effect remains to be elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the role of Althaea rosea flower (ARF) extracts in the immune-stimulatory effect of macrophages and the underlying mechanisms of action. ARF water extract (ARFW) could dose-dependently increase NO production and cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α). We also found that ARFW significantly increased the expression of iNOS and COX-2 proteins in RAW264.7 cells. Consistent with these results, MAPK protein (JNK, ERK, p38) expression levels were induced after treatment with ARFW. Additionally, ARFW showed a marked increase in the phosphorylation level of IκBα and subsequent IκBα degradation allowing NF-κB nuclear translocation. These results suggest that the immune-stimulatory effect of A. rosea flower extracts is mediated through the translocation of NF-κB p65 subunit into the nucleus from the cytoplasm and subsequent activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) and other mediators (iNOS and COX-2), which occurs mainly through MAPK signalling pathway. Thus, we suggest that ARFW could be considered as a potential therapeutic agent useful in the development of immune-stimulatory compounds.

Licocoumarone isolated from Glycyrrhiza uralensis selectively alters LPS-induced inflammatory responses in RAW 264.7 macrophages

The effects of licocoumarone (LC) isolated from Glycyrrhiza uralensis were studied in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Our study demonstrated that LC dose-dependently attenuated LPS-induced NO production by down-regulating iNOS expression. Additionally, the treatment with LC inhibited LPS-induced expression of cytokines including IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10, but not TNF-α, at both mRNA and protein levels. Similar suppressive effects of LC were observed on LPS-stimulated murine peritoneal macrophages as well. Furthermore, LC significantly reduced LPS-stimulated NF-κB activation by inhibition of IκBα degradation and p65 phosphorylation. The results from NF-κB-luc reporter gene assay further support the inhibitory effect of LC on NF-κB activation. Further studies showed that LC also interfered with the MAPKs and STAT3 signaling pathways, which are typical inflammatory signaling pathways triggered by LPS. Taken together, these results show that LC attenuates LPS-induced cytokine gene expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages through mechanisms that involve NF-κB, MAPKs and STAT3 signaling pathways, but the pattern of inhibition differs from that of a global immunosuppresant. Our study indicates that LC is a functional constituent of Glycyrrhiza uralensis with potential implications in infectious and immune-related diseases.

In vitro assesment of anti-inflammatory activities of coumarin and Indonesian cassia extract in RAW264.7 murine macrophage cell line

OBJECTIVES

Inflammation is an immune response toward injuries. Although inflammation is healing response, but in some condition it will lead to chronic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's and various cancer. Indonesian cassia (Cinnamomum burmannil C. Nees & T. Ness) known to contain coumarin, is widely used for alternative medicine especially as an anti-inflammatory. This study was conducted to determine the anti-inflammatory properties of coumarin and Indonesian cassia extract (ICE) in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cell line.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The cytotoxic assay of coumarin and ICE against RAW264.7 cells was conducted using MTS (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium). The anti-inflammatory potential was determined using LPS-induced RAW 267.4 macrophages cells to measure inhibitory activity of compound and ISEon production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and also cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and TNF-α.

RESULTS

Coumarin 10 µM and ICE 10 µg/ml were nontoxic to the RAW264.7 cells. Both of coumarin and ICE were capable to reduce the PGE2, TNF-α, NO, IL-6, and IL-β level in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Coumarin had higher activity to decrease PGE2 and TNF-α, whilst ICE had higher activity to inhibit NO, IL-6, and IL-β levels.

CONCLUSION

Coumarin and ICE possess anti-inflammatory properties through inhibition of PGE2 and NO along with pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β production.