Taeumjowi-tang, a Traditional Korean Sasang Remedy, Improves Obesity-Atopic Dermatitis Comorbidity by Regulating Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 Alpha

Sword Bean (Canavalia gladiata) Pod Exerts Anti-Allergic and Anti-Inflammatory Effects through Modulation of Th1/Th2 Cell Differentiation

Allergy is an immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated process, and its incidence and prevalence have increased worldwide in recent years. Therapeutic agents for allergic diseases are continuously being developed, but side effects follow when used for a long-term use. Therefore, treatments based on natural products that are safe for the body are urgently required. Sword bean (Canavalia gladiata) pod (SBP) has been traditionally used to treat inflammatory diseases, but there is still no scientific basis for its anti-allergic effect. Accordingly, this study investigates the anti-allergic effect and its mechanism of SBP in vitro and in vivo. SBP reduced the nitric oxide production and decreased mRNA and protein expression of inflammatory mediates (inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)), and inhibited the phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), a major signaling molecule in the inflammatory response. Additionally, SBP extract treatment inhibited phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/mTOR) signaling activity to further inhibit degranulation and allergy mediator generation and control the balance of Th1/Th2 cells, which can induce an allergic reaction when disrupted. Furthermore, the SBP extract exhibited anti-allergic effects in anti-dinitrophenyl IgE-induced RBL-2H3 cells and ovalbumin-treated mice. These findings have potential clinical implications for the treatment as well as prevention of allergic diseases.

Inhibitory Effects of Donkey Hide Gelatin on DNCB-Induced Atopic Dermatitis in NC/Nga Mice

The increase of atopic dermatitis has led to higher socio-economic cost and raised a need for alternative medicine as novel therapeutic agents. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of Donkey Hide Gelatin (DHG) water extract on DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mice and on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α/interferon (IFN)-γ-treated keratinocytes and to investigate its underlying molecular mechanisms. NC/Nga mice were induced by DNCB, administered Dexamethasone (3 mg/kg) or DHG water extracts (100–400 mg/kg) for 3 weeks. The skin symptom score, serum IgE and immune cells were measured, the ALN, spleen and dorsal skin tissue were extracted for FACS, quantitative real-time PCR and histology analysis. In vitro, HaCaT cells were induced by TNF-α/IFN-γ, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines and its underlying mechanism were measured by ELISA and Western blot. As a result, DHG groups showed a significant decrease in the skin symptom score and the immune cell absolute number. It also showed a marked reduction of allergic and the levels of neutrophils and eosinophils in histology analysis. In TNF-α/IFN-γ induced HaCaT cells, DHG showed inhibition effects on IL-6, IL-8, TARC and RANTES, it also downregulated the expression of ICAM-1 and COX-2, up-regulated the expression of Filaggrin. Furthermore, DHG suppressed the activation of NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathway induced by TNF-α/IFN-γ. Taken together, DHG maybe a potential therapeutic agent or supplement for skin inflammatory disease such as atopic dermatitis.

Management of Atopic Dermatitis Via Oral and Topical Administration of Herbs in Murine Model: A Systematic Review

Over the past few decades, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) using herbs, or their active constituents have garnered substantial attention in the management of a chronic and relapsing inflammatory skin disorder called atopic dermatitis (AD), particularly in attenuating disease recurrence and maintaining long-term remission. In Eastern Asian countries including China, Korea and Taiwan, herbal medicine available in both topical and oral preparation plays a significant role in treating skin diseases like AD as they possibly confer high anti-inflammatory properties and immunomodulatory functions. Conventional murine models of AD have been employed in drug discovery to provide scientific evidence for conclusive and specific pharmacological effects elicited by the use of traditional herbs and their active constituents. Coupled with the goal to develop safe and effective novel therapeutic agents for AD, this systematic review consists of a summary of 103 articles on both orally and topically administered herbs and their active constituents in the murine model, whereby articles were screened and selected via a specialized framework known as PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparator and Outcome). The objectives of this review paper were to identify the efficacy of oral and topical administered herbs along with their active constituents in alleviating AD and the underlying mechanism of actions, as well as the animal models and choice of inducer agents used in these studies. The main outcome on the efficacy of the majority of the herbs and their active constituents illustrated suppression of Th2 response as well as improvements in the severity of AD lesions, suppression of Immunoglobulin E (IgE) concentration and mast cell infiltration. The majority of these studies used BALB/c mice followed by NC/Nga mice (commonly used gender-male; commonly used age group - 6-8 weeks). The most used agent in inducing AD was 2, 4-Dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), and the average induction period for both oral and topical administered herbs and their active constituents in AD experiments lasted between 3 and 4 weeks. In light of these findings, this review paper could potentially assist researchers in exploring the potential candidate herbs and their active constituents using murine model for the amelioration of AD.

PEX13 is required for thermogenesis of white adipose tissue in cold-exposed mice

Non-shivering thermogenesis (NST) is a heat generating process controlled by the mitochondria of brown adipose tissue (BAT). In the recent decade, 'functionally' acting brown adipocytes in white adipose tissue (WAT) has been identified as well: the so-called process of the 'browning' of WAT. While the importance of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1)-oriented mitochondrial activation has been intensely studied, the role of peroxisomes during the browning of white adipocytes is poorly understood. Here, we assess the change in peroxisomal membrane proteins, or peroxins (PEXs), during cold stimulation and importantly, the role of PEX13 in the cold-induced remodeling of white adipocytes. PEX13, a protein that originally functions as a docking factor and is involved in protein import into peroxisome matrix, was highly increased during cold-induced recruitment of beige adipocytes within the inguinal WAT of C57BL/6 mice. Moreover, beige-induced 3 T3-L1 adipocytes and stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells by exposure to the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonist rosiglitazone showed a significant increase in mitochondrial thermogenic factors along with peroxisomal proteins including PEX13, and these were confirmed in SVF cells with the beta 3 adrenergic receptor (β3AR)-selective agonist CL316,243. To verify the relevance of PEX13, we used the RNA silencing method targeting the Pex13 gene and evaluated the subsequent beige development in SVF cells. Interestingly, siPex13 treatment suppressed expression of thermogenic proteins such as UCP1 and PPARγ coactivator 1 alpha (PGC1α). Overall, our data provide evidence supporting the role of peroxisomal proteins, in particular PEX13, during beige remodeling of white adipocytes.

Efficacy and safety of Soshiho-tang in atopic dermatitis patients with gastrointestinal disorders: A double-blinded, randomized, and placebo-controlled clinical trial

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Because of the growing incidence of AD, psychosocial and economic burden of AD patients are often considerable. Steroid treatments are widely used, but long term use of this treatment can cause side effects. To reduce the burden of AD patients and find new efficient treatment, this study chose Soshiho-tang, a traditional medicine used in eastern Asia.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Soshiho-tang (SSHT) is a traditional herbal medicine that has anti-inflammatory effects and improves immune function. This clinical trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of SSHT in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients with gastrointestinal disorders in comparison with placebo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was a single-center, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, and investigator-initiated clinical trial. A total of 60 patients aged 3-18 years with gastrointestinal disorders and diagnosed with AD by Hanifin & Rajka criteria with a Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index between 15 and 49 were enrolled. Participants were randomly assigned to the SSHT or placebo groups in a ratio of 1:1 and efficacy evaluation was conducted at week 4 and 8. The participants orally administered SSHT or placebo three times a day for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was measured based on a change of SCORAD index. The secondary outcome measurements included the following: survey questionnaires of gastrointestinal disorder, amount and frequency of ointment application for AD, dermatology quality of life index, and safety evaluation (diagnostic test, adverse reaction, and vital sign monitoring).

RESULTS

During efficacy evaluation, the SCORAD score and digestive symptoms in the experimental and placebo groups were not statistically significant. However, the amount and frequency of ointment application in the experimental group were reduced compared to those in the placebo group at week 8. Also, In the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI), statistically significant Quality of Life (QOL) improvement was observed in the SSHT experimental group compared to the placebo group. In safety evaluation, all participants were within the normal range during the study period. Blood sample testing indicated that the lymphocytes ratio decreased, and neutrophils ratio increased in the experimental group, whereas the placebo group showed the opposite immune response pattern.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that SSHT administration can reduce steroid ointment dependence and improve the QOL in AD patients by regulating neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio.

Therapeutic effects of Gambi-jung for the treatment of obesity

Obesity is known as metabolic syndrome and it affects many tissues including adipose tissue, liver, and central nervous system (CVS). Gambi-jung (GBJ) is a modified prescription of Taeumjowi-tang (TJT), which has been used to treat obesity in Korea. GBJ is composed of 90% Ephedra sinica Stapf (ES). Therefore, the present study was designed to assess the antiobesity effects of GBJ and to compare the effects of GBJ and ES on obesity. GBJ administration remarkably reduced the body weight, Body mass index (BMI), and body fat percentage compared to the ES administration in human subjects. GBJ-treated mice had lower white adipose tissue (WAT) amounts than ES-treated mice. GBJ and ES administration enhanced adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, epididymal WAT and liver of HFD-induced obese mice. Moreover, GBJ and ES reduced food intake by suppressing the mRNA levels of orexigenic peptides, agouti-related protein (AgRP) and neuropeptide-Y (NPY), as well as AMPK in the brain of HFD-induced obese mice. Furthermore, GBJ-treated mice had dramatically lower expression of macrophage marker F4/80 in epididymal WAT than those of ES-treated mice. Based on these results, we suggest the use of GBJ as a natural drug to control weight gain.

Efficacy and Safety of Socheongryong-Tang Among Atopic Dermatitis Patients With Respiratory Disorders: A Double-Blinded, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects the growth and development of children. The prevalence of atopic dermatitis has been continually increasing, and this has also been accompanied by rising socioeconomic costs. Interest has been growing in alternative medicine as a means of alleviating the burden of atopic dermatitis. This was a single-center, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled investigator-led clinical trial including 60 atopic dermatitis patients. The participants were classified into an experimental group (30 persons) and a control group (30 persons), who were administered, respectively, socheongryong-tang or a placebo for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks of treatment, the participants visited the trial center again and assess their efficacy and safety. The researchers performed statistical comparisons of the changes in the SCORAD Index, amount and frequency of ointment use, and height and weight to assess the efficacy. To assess the safety, diagnostic tests and vital sign checks were performed at each visit, and the presence or absence of adverse events was observed. As a result, the frequency and the amount of steroid ointment application in both groups increased, but the experimental group showed less tendency (p = 0.081). Results of analyzing the children in the experimental group in relation to growth showed a significantly greater height growth than the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, all study participants did not show any remarkable abnormal signs in the safety evaluation. In conclusion, compared to the control group, the experimental group, who took socheongryong-tang showed a tendency to be less dependent on steroid ointment and statistically significant increase in height.