Douchi (fermented Glycine max Merr.) alleviates atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice by regulation of PKC and IL-4

An inflammation-responsive double-layer microneedle patch for recurrent atopic dermatitis therapy

Seeking a potent therapeutic strategy for alleviating atopic dermatitis (AD) attack and preventing its recurrence is highly desired but remains challenging in clinical practice. Here, we propose an inflammation-responsive double-layer microneedle (IDMN) patch in situ delivering VD3 for recurrent AD therapy. IDMN comprises the backing layer part and the double-layer microneedle part, in which the inner layer is gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) loaded with VD3 while the outer layer is composed of hyaluronic acid (HA). Introduction of the HA backing layer and outer layer around the GelMA tips can not only provide sufficient mechanical strength to penetrate into hardened AD skin with minimal invasiveness, but also exert a strong moisturizing effect after being rapidly dissolved. The inner layer of GelMA is degraded by the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) in a dose dependent manner, which is secreted according to the disease progression of AD. The responsive degradation of GelMA tips result in corresponding release of VD3 to treat AD, triggering negative feedback against GelMA degradation. The IDMN administration on AD-bearing mice reveals efficient "curing" performances (including suppress erythema, scaling and lichenification, reduce epidermal thickness, inhibit mast cells infiltration, and down-regulate inflammatory factor secretion), which are basically realized through synergistic effect of the released VD3 and the dissolved HA molecules. Importantly, the residual tips of IDMN with VD3 are retained in the skin after the first AD relief, showing promising "warning" ability to inhibit the recurrence of AD. Hence, the developed IDMN patch is expected to be one of the excellent candidates for AD therapy and other relapsing diseases in clinical fields.

Fermented soybean foods: A review of their functional components, mechanism of action and factors influencing their health benefits

After thousands of years of evolution and development, traditional fermented soybean foods, with their unique charm, have gained a stable place in the global market. With the explosive development of modern biological technologies, some traditional fermented soybean foods that possess health-promoting benefits are gradually appearing. Physiologically active substances in fermented soybean foods have received extensive attention in recent decades. This review addresses the potential health benefits of several representative fermented soybean foods, as well as the action mechanism and influencing factors of their functional components. Phenolic compounds, low-molecular-weight peptides, melanoidins, furanones and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid are the antioxidative components predominantly found in fermented soybean foods. Angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptides and γ-aminobutyric acid isolated from fermented soy foods provide potential selectivity for hypertension therapy. The potential anti-inflammatory bioactive components in fermented soybean foods include γ-linolenic acid, butyric acid, soy sauce polysaccharides, 2S albumin and isoflavone glycones. Deoxynojirimycin, genistein, and betaine possess high activity against α-glucosidase. Additionally, fermented soybean foods contain neuroprotective constituents, including indole alkaloids, nattokinase, arbutin, and isoflavone vitamin B12. The anticancer activities of fermented soybean foods are associated with surfactin, isolavone, furanones, trypsin inhibitors, and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid. Nattokinase is highly correlated with antioxidant activity. And a high level of menaquinones-7 is linked to protection against neurodegenerative diseases. Sufficiently recognizing and exploiting the health benefits and functional components of traditional fermented soybean foods could provide a new strategy in the development of the food fermentation industry.

Gastro-Protective Effect of Fermented Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in a Rat Model of Ethanol/HCl-Induced Gastric Injury

The present research purposed to examine the gastro-protective effect of Glycine max (L.) Merr. fermented using Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. delbrueckii Rosell-187 (Gastro-AD®) on ethanol/HCl-induced gastric damage, specifically on gastric acid secretion. After oral supplementation of Gastro-AD® to Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with ethanol/HCl-induced gastric damage, we determined that Gastro-AD® attenuated the gastric mucosal lesion, hemorrhage and gastric acid secretion induced by ethanol/HCl. In addition, we observed that the Gastro-AD® treatment increased the serum prostaglandin E2 level and decreased the levels of gastric acid secretion-related receptors in both gastric tissues and primary gastric parietal cells. Furthermore, it decreased the levels of inflammatory factors, including serum histamine and expression of p-IκB, p-p65, iNOS and COX-2 and the activity of apoptotic signaling pathways, including those involving p-JNK, Bcl2/Bax, Fas, FADD, caspase-8 and caspase-3, in the stomach of the ethanol/HCl-treated rats. Thus, we suggest that Gastro-AD® supplementation may reduce ethanol/HCl-induced gastric acid secretion and prevent gastric injury.

Extract from Black Soybean Cultivar A63 Extract Ameliorates Atopic Dermatitis-like Skin Inflammation in an Oxazolone-Induced Murine Model

Black soybean has been used in traditional medicine to treat inflammatory diseases, cancer, and diabetes and as a nutritional source since ancient times. We found that Korean black soybean cultivar A63 has more cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, (C3G), procyanidin B2 (PB2), and epicatechin (EPC) contents than other cultivars and has beneficial effects on cell viability and anti-oxidation. Given the higher concentration of anthocyanidins and their strong anti-oxidant activity, we predicted that A63 extract could relieve inflammatory disease symptoms, including those of atopic dermatitis (AD). Here, we evaluated the anti-AD activity of A63 extract in an oxazolone (OXA)-induced mouse model. A63 extract treatment significantly reduced epidermal thickness and inflammatory cell infiltration, downregulated the expression of AD gene markers, including Interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5, and restored damaged skin barrier tissues. Furthermore, A63 extract influenced the activation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 and STAT6, extracellular regulatory kinase (ERK), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathways, which play a crucial role in the development of AD. Altogether, our results suggest that A63 can ameliorate AD-like skin inflammation by inhibiting inflammatory cytokine production and STAT3/6 and Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling and restoring skin barrier function.

Current perspectives on the anti-inflammatory potential of fermented soy foods

Fermented soy foods (FSF) are gaining significant attention due to promising health benefits. In recent years, FSF are being studied extensively due to the presence of diverse functional ingredients including active isoflavones and peptides along with essential micronutrients. The process of fermentation is responsible for the enrichment of various bioactive principles in soy-based fermented foods and exclusion of some anti-nutrient factors which are found predominantly in raw soybeans. Emerging evidence suggests that FSF possess immense therapeutic potential against inflammation and associated pathological complications. Extracts prepared from various FSF (e.g. fermented soy paste, milk, and sauce) were found to exert promising anti-inflammatory effects in numerous in vitro and in vivo settings. Moreover, clinical findings highlighted an inverse relationship between consumption of FSF and the prevalence of chronic inflammatory disorders among the communities which habitually consume fermented soy products. Molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory role of FSF have been delineated in many literatures which collectively suggest that FSF extracts have regulatory actions over the expression and/or activity of several proinflammatory cytokines, inflammatory mediators, oxidative stress markers, and some other factors involved in the inflammatory pathways. The present review discusses the anti-inflammatory effects of FSF with mechanistic insights based upon the available findings from cell culture, preclinical, and clinical investigations.

A Comprehensive Review of Therapeutic Approaches Available for the Treatment of Dermatitis

BACKGROUND

Dermatitis or eczema is a prevalent skin disorder worldwide and is also very common as a pediatric inflammatory skin disorder. Its succession gets worse with the multiple comorbidities which exhibit mechanisms that are poorly understood. Its management further becomes a challenge due to the limited effective treatment options available. However, the Novel Drug Delivery Systems (NDDS) along with new targeting strategies can easily bypass the issues associated with dermatitis management. If we compare the active constituents against phytoconstituents effective against dermatitis then phytoconstituents can be perceived to be more safe and gentle.

OBJECTIVE

Administration of NDDS of plant extract or actives displays improved absorption behavior, which helps them to permeate through lipid-rich biological membrane leading to increased bioavailability. The newer efficient discoveries related to eczema can face various exploitations. This can be intervened by the subjection of patent rights, which not only safeguard the novel works of individual(s) but also give them the opportunity to share details of their inventions with people globally.

CONCLUSION

The present review focuses on the available research about the use of nanoformulations in the topical delivery. It further elaborates the use of different animal models as the basis to characterize the different features of dermatitis. The review also highlights the recent nanoformulations which have the ability to amplify the delivery of active agents through their incorporation in transfersomes, ethosomes, niosomes or phytosomes, etc.

Effects of Different Fermented Feeds on Production Performance, Cecal Microorganisms, and Intestinal Immunity of Laying Hens

Simple Summary

Fermented feed exerts beneficial effects on intestinal microorganisms, host health, and production performance. However, the effect of fermented feed on laying hens is uncertain due to the different types of inoculated probiotics, fermentation substrates, and fermentation technology. Hence, this experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of fermented feed with different compound strains on the performance and intestinal health of laying hens. Supplement fermented feed reduced the feed conversion ratio and promoted egg quality. Both dietary treatment (fermented feed A produced Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus, and Yeast and fermented feed B produced by C. butyricum and L. salivarius) influenced intestinal immunity and regulated cecal microbial structure. This may be because the metabolites of microorganisms in fermented feed and the reduced pH value inhibited the colonization of harmful bacteria, improved the intestinal morphology, and then had a positive impact on the production performance and albumen quality of laying hens.

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different compound probiotics on the performance, cecal microflora, and intestinal immunity of laying hens. A total of 270 Jing Fen No.6 (22-week-old) were randomly divided into 3 groups: basal diet (CON); basal diet supplemented with 6% fermented feed A by Bacillussubtilis,Lactobacillus, and Yeast (FA); and with 6% fermented feed B by C. butyricum and L. salivarius (FB). Phytic acid, trypsin inhibitor, β-glucan concentrations, and pH value in fermented feed were lower than the CON group (p < 0.05). The feed conversion ratio (FCR) in the experimental groups was decreased, while albumen height and Haugh unit were increased, compared with the CON group (p < 0.05). Fermented feed could upregulate the expression of the signal pathway (TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB) to inhibit mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (p < 0.05). Fermented feed promoted the level of Romboutsia (in the FA group) Butyricicoccus (in the FB group), and other beneficial bacteria, and reduced opportunistic pathogens, such as Enterocooccus (p < 0.05). Spearman’s correlations showed that the above bacteria were closely related to albumen height and intestinal immunity. In summary, fermented feed can decrease the feed conversion ratio, and improve the performance and intestinal immunity of laying hens, which may be related to the improvement of the cecal microflora structure.

Purple corn extract alleviates 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis-like phenotypes in BALB/c mice

Zea mays L. (Poaceae), also known as purple corn, is an annual herbaceous plant that is grown as food for human consumption in a variety of forms, including cooking oils and sweeteners in processed food and beverage products. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a novel purple corn extract, FB801, might have an anti-atopic dermatitis (AD) effect on AD-like skin lesions induced by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) in BALB/c mice. Topical sensitization (1%) and challenge (0.3%) by DNCB were performed on the dorsal skin and right ear of BALB/c mice to induce AD. Following FB801 and dexamethasone administered orally, the severity of skin lesions was examined macroscopically and histologically. Serum levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) and various cytokines were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Oral administration of FB801 significantly reduced typical symptoms of AD (erythema/bleeding, swelling, molting/erosion and scaling/drying), scratching frequencies, and the recruitment of inflammatory and mast cells. In addition, FB801 suppressed serum levels of IgE and T helper (Th)2 type cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 in DNCB-treated BALB/c mice. Furthermore, FB801 reduced the degradation of inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB proteins (NF-κB) in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-stimulated human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. These results suggest that FB801 inhibited the development of the AD-like skin symptoms by regulating Th1 and Th2 responses in the skin lesions in mice and suppressing TNF-α induced NF-κB activation in HaCaT cells, suggesting that FB801 has potential application as an effective alternative therapy for the prevention and management of AD.

Atopic dermatitis: new insight into the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and novel treatment strategies

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the long-lasting chronic inflammatory skin condition associated with cutaneous hyper-reactivity and triggered by environmental factors. The attributes of AD include dry skin, pruritus, lichenification and frequent eczematous abrasions. This has a strong heritable aspect and typically occurs with asthma and allergic rhinitis. The complex pathological mechanism behind AD etiology is epidermal barrier destruction resulting in the lack of filaggrin protein that can induce inflammation and T-cell infiltration. T-helper 2 cell-mediated pathways also bear the responsibility of damage to the epidermal barrier. Certain causative factors for AD include microbial imbalance of skin microbiota, immunoglobulin-E-induced sensitization and neuro-inflammation. Numerous beneficial topical and oral treatments have been available to patients and there are even more drugs in the pipeline for the treatment of AD. Topical moisturizers, corticosteroids, anti-inflammatory agents such as calcineurin inhibitors, phototherapy, cAMP-specific 3, 5 half-cyclic phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors and systemic immunosuppressants are widely available for AD treatments. Different positions and pathways inside the immune system including JAK-STAT, phosphodiesterase 4, aryl hydrocarbon receptor and T-helper 2 cytokines are targeted by above-mentioned drug treatments. Instead of the severe side effects of topical steroids and oral antihistamines, herbal plants and their derived phytoconstituents are commonly used for the treatment of AD. A clear understanding of AD's cellular and molecular pathogenesis through substantial advancement in genetics, skin immunology and psychological factors resulted in advancement of AD management. Therefore, the review highlights the recent advancements in the understanding of clinical features, etiology, pathogenesis, treatment and management and non-adherence to AD treatment.

High-throughput sequencing-based analysis of fungal diversity and taste quality evaluation of Douchi, a traditional fermented food

Douchi, a popular traditional fermented soybean product, is mainly made by natural fermentation. However, its taste quality is affected by specific fungal communities which vary greatly according to fermentation conditions and production technologies used in different regions. Therefore, the taste quality of Douchi samples from different regions was digitally evaluated using electronic tongue technology. In addition, the fungal community structures and its association of them were also identified using high-throughput sequencing technology. Results showed that there were obvious differences in the taste quality of samples from different regions, while the tastes of different types of samples from the same region were similar. Sourness, umami, richness, and saltiness were the main reasons for regional differences in taste. Similarly, the results of high-throughput sequencing indicated that samples from different regions displayed important differences in dominant fungal genus, among which Debaryomyces, Fusarium, Pichia, Aspergillus, and Saccharomyces were the main dominant fungi. Debaryomyces and Trichosporon were conducive to the formation of taste qualities of Douchi, while Cladosporium and Candida have a negative impact on the taste quality of Douchi var correlation analysis. This study indicated the effects of dominant fungi on the formation of Douchi taste quality, allowing a deeper understanding of the role of microbial species in generating fermented soybean products in China. Our work provides theoretical support to guide the improvement of the industrial production process of Douchi.

Topical Application of A New Herbal Complex, NI-01, Ameliorates House Dust Mite-Induced Atopic Dermatitis in NC/Nga Mice

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by pruritus and cutaneous dry skin. Here, we investigated whether topical application of NI-01 composed of six herbal medicines has a therapeutic effect on AD in vivo. Twelve marker compounds of NI-01 were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with a photodiode array detector for quality control. To induce AD, house dust mite extract was applied to the shaved dorsal skin and ear surfaces of NC/Nga mice twice a week for 6 weeks. NI-01 (1, 2, or 4 mg/mouse) was applied daily to the site for experiment periods. The coefficient of determination of each compound showed good linearity (≥ 0.9999). The recovery rate of the 12 marker components was 96.77%–105.17%; intra and interday precision and repeatability were ≤ 1.40%. Topical application of NI-01 reduced house dust mite induced AD symptoms. The increased expressions of interleukin-4 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 caused by house dust mites were markedly suppressed in NI-01-treated mice. Corticosterone levels significantly decreased, whereas serotonin levels increased with NI-01 application. These results suggest that NI-01 alleviates AD symptoms by inhibiting infiltration of inflammatory cells, thereby decreasing AD-related stress. NI-01 could be beneficial for the treatment of AD-like skin diseases.

The formulae and biologically active ingredients of Chinese herbal medicines for the treatment of atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common relapsing inflammatory skin disease characterized by severe pruritus that seriously affects the quality of patients' life. There is an increasingly large amount of research demonstrating that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) including herbal formulae and bioactive ingredients exerts pharmacological effects on atopic dermatitis. It has been a long history of TCM being used to treat atopic dermatitis, especially in preventing disease recurrence, maintaining long-term remission, and reducing disease burden. Nowadays, both of TCM monomer preparations and traditional formulae are still widely used. This review focuses on TCM as well as its bioactive ingredients for the treatment of AD, from the perspectives of animal model construction, pharmacodynamic mechanisms and clinical studies of formulae. To be more specific, the regulation and molecular mechanisms of the herbal formulae and bioactive ingredients of TCM are investigated, and the latest clinical research on TCM formulae is discussed. Furthermore, it provides a summary of the strengths and utilities of TCM, and will be useful for doctors who use Chinese medicine for treatment or researchers who select candidates for clinical treatments or further high-quality clinical studies.

Reduction in biogenic amines in douchi fermented by probiotic bacteria

Ecology studies showed that esophageal and gastric cancers are directly correlated with the consumption of processed foods. The carcinogenicity of traditional Chinese fermented foods such as douchi (fermented black beans or fermented black soybeans) is due to the presence of carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds, which are derived from biogenic amines. Among the various biogenic amines that can act as precursors of N-nitroso compounds, histamine and tyramine are considered to be the most toxic and are of public health concern when present in food. We have examined some douchi products on the market, and significant amounts of histamine and tyramine were found. The use of fermentation starters generated by subculturing fermented products with unknown microbiota would induce the risk of biogenic amines. As the microbiota used in fermentation is a crucial factor in determining the biogenic amines of fermented food, it is hypothesized that the possible harmful effects of douchi can be minimized through the use of fermentation starters composed of probiotic bacteria. This is the first study to investigate the potential of using probiotic bacteria in manufacturing douchi. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) and Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) were used to ferment black beans in this study, and no tyramine was detected in black bean samples incubated with these three strains anaerobically at 37°C or 20°C. The starter culture strains, temperature and presence of oxygen during the incubation period were found to be critical to the generation of biogenic amines. The findings of this study can provide evidence-based insights and warrant further investigations on the potential of reducing the harmful compounds in food fermented with probiotic bacteria as well as the sensory evaluation of douchi fermented with probiotic bacteria.

Effect of Hataedock Treatment on Epidermal Structure Maintenance through Intervention in the Endocannabinoid System

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of Hataedock (HTD) on skin barrier maintenance through the endocannabinoid system (ECS) intervention in Dermatophagoides farinae-induced atopic dermatitis (AD) NC/Nga mice. Douchi (fermented Glycine max Merr.) extracts prepared for HTD were orally administered to NC/Nga mice at a 20 mg/kg dose. Then, Dermatophagoides farinae extract (DfE) was applied to induce AD-like skin lesions during the 4th-6th and 8th-10th weeks. Changes in the epidermal structure of the mice were observed by histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, and TUNEL assay. The results showed that HTD significantly reduced the clinical scores (p < 0.01) and effectively alleviated the histological features. In the experimental groups, increased expression of cannabinoid receptor type (CB) 1, CB2, and G protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55) and distribution of filaggrin, involucrin, loricrin, and longevity assurance homolog 2 (Lass2) indicated that HTD maintained the epidermal barrier through intervening in the ECS. The expression of E-cadherin and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4) was increased, and the levels of cluster of differentiation 1a (CD1A) were low. Moreover, the apoptosis of inflammatory cells was elevated. The production of phosphorylated extracellular signal-related kinase (p-ERK), phosphorylated c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (p-JNK), and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) was low, and epidermal thickness was decreased. Besides, the expression levels of involucrin were measured by treating genistein, an active ingredient of Douchi extract, and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), one of the ECS agonists. The results showed that genistein had a better lipid barrier formation effect than PEA. In conclusion, HTD alleviates the symptoms of AD by maintaining skin homeostasis, improving skin barrier formation, and downregulating inflammation, through ECS intervention.

Intake of a fermented plant product attenuates allergic symptoms without changing systemic immune responses in a mouse model of Japanese cedar pollinosis

Background

Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP) is one of the most prevalent allergies in Japan. Within the past few decades, many food factors have been demonstrated to suppress symptoms of pollinosis and mast cell degranulation directly or indirectly. Herein, we conducted a study to clarify the anti-allergic potency of a fermented plant product (FPP) in JCP model mice.

Methods

Mice were administered FPP, 10-fold-diluted FPP, or saline every day for 40 days by oral gavage and sensitized with major Japanese cedar pollen allergens (SBP). The numbers of sneezes were counted for 5 minutes after SBP nasal challenge. We analyzed the SBP-specific immunoglobulin titers, serum concentration of mast cell protease 1, and cytokine production from splenocytes stimulated with SBP.

Results

The numbers of sneezes by the mice administered FPP were significantly suppressed compared to those administered saline. The 10-fold-diluted FPP also suppressed the number of sneezes compared to saline, although not significantly. Serum level of mast cell protease 1 tended to be suppressed in FPP-consumed mice compared to those in saline-treated mice. The SBP-specific immunoglobulin titers and cytokine production were comparable among the groups.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that FPP intake could attenuate JCP symptoms without change of systemic immune responses.

Therapeutic Effects of Fermented Flax Seed Oil on NC/Nga Mice with Atopic Dermatitis-Like Skin Lesions

Background. Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin diseases. Objective. This experiment aimed to study the effects of Fermented Flax Seed Oil (FFSO) on symptoms such as redness, eczema, and pruritus induced by AD. Materials and Methods. AD-induced NC/Nga mice were used to observe the immunological and therapeutic effects of FFSO on skin in vivo. Raw 264.7 cells were used to investigate the effects of FFSO in cells. Fc receptor expression and concentration of beta-hexosaminidase were measured. Nitric oxide assay, Western blotting, real-time PCR, image analysis, and statistical analysis were performed in vitro. Results. In the immunohistochemical results, p-ERK 1/2 expression decreased, fibrogenesis strongly increased, and distribution reduction is observed. Distribution of IL-4-positive cells in the corium near the basal portion of the epithelium in the AT group was reduced. FFSO treatment reduced the number of cells showing NF-κB p65 and iNOS expression. The level of LXR in the AT group was higher than that in the AE group, and elevation of PKC expression was significantly reduced by FFSO treatment. Conclusion. FFSO could alleviate symptoms of AD such as epithelial damage, redness, swelling, and pruritus.