Effects of Dipsacus asperoides and Phlomis umbrosa Extracts in a Rat Model of Osteoarthritis

Extracts of Phlomoides umbrosa Turczaninow alleviate allergic airway inflammation in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and ovalbumin-induced hyper-responsiveness mouse model

Phlomoides umbrosa Turczaninow (PU), a traditional Korean medicinal herb, exhibits osteogenic and anti-inflammatory effects. This research explored the effect of PU extracts on hyperimmune responses within the respiratory tract using lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and an ovalbumin-induced hyper-responsiveness model. The inflammatory cytokines, protein expression linked to airway inflammation, antioxidant enzyme activity, histopathological observation, and expectorant activity were measured. The results revealed that PU treatment led to a concentration-dependent reduction in Th2 cytokines and the expression of nuclear factor (NF)-κB, phosphatase-tensin homolog, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Simultaneously, antioxidant enzyme activity increased. Furthermore, PU exhibited substantial enhancements in lung tissue condition and expectorant activity relative to the allergic rhinitis-induced group. These findings indicate the potential of PU to mitigate airway inflammation and excessive mucus production by suppressing NF-κB, MAPK, and iNOS pathways. Consequently, PU emerges as a promising anti-inflammatory agent for respiratory tract applications.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-024-01521-3.

High-throughput sequencing-based analysis of the composition and diversity of the endophytic bacterial community in the roots of Dipsacus asperoides

This study employed Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology to investigate diversity and community structure of endophytic bacteria in wild D. asperoides growing in three distinct regions. The study analyzed the impact of region on endophytic bacteria, uncovered the core bacterial community, and furnished valuable insights for the screening of endophytic bacteria. This study identified 6,540 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) coexisting with D. asperoides roots. These ASVs belong to 35 phyla, 84 classes, 204 orders, 365 families, and 708 genera. At the phylum level, the dominant phyla were Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria, while at the genus level, Acidothermus, Acidibacter, Bradyrhizobium, Frankia, and Pseudomonas emerged as the dominant genera. Furthermore, noticeable differences in endophytic bacterial communities were observed between the Yunnan and Guizhou regions. These findings can serve as a reference for the authentication of medicinal materials from various origins and the selection of active strains.

Dipsacus and Scabiosa Species-The Source of Specialized Metabolites with High Biological Relevance: A Review

The genera Dipsacus L. and Scabiosa L. of the Caprifoliaceae family are widely distributed in Europe, Asia, and Africa. This work reviews the available literature on the phytochemical profiles, ethnomedicinal uses, and biological activities of the most popular species. These plants are rich sources of many valuable specialized metabolites with beneficial medicinal properties, such as triterpenoid derivatives, iridoids, phenolic acids, and flavonoids. They are also sources of essential oils. The genus Dipsacus has been used for centuries in Chinese and Korean folk medicines to treat bone (osteoporosis) and joint problems (rheumatic arthritis). The Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeia and Chinese Pharmacopoeia include Dipsaci radix, the dried roots of D. asperoides C.Y.Cheng & T.M.Ai. In addition, S. comosa Fisch. ex Roem & Schult. and S. tschiliiensis Grunning are used in traditional Mongolian medicine to treat liver diseases. The current scientific literature data indicate that these plants and their constituents have various biological properties, including inter alia antiarthritic, anti-neurodegenerative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial activities; they have also been found to strengthen tendon and bone tissue and protect the liver, heart, and kidney. The essential oils possess antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal properties. This paper reviews the key biological values of Dipsacus and Scabiosa species, as identified by in vitro and in vivo studies, and presents their potential pharmacological applications.

Role of the hedgehog signaling pathway in rheumatic diseases: An overview

Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved signal transduction pathway that plays an important regulatory role during embryonic development, cell proliferation, and differentiation of vertebrates, and it is often inhibited in adult tissues. Recent evidence has shown that Hh signaling also plays a key role in rheumatic diseases, as alterations in their number or function have been identified in rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic sclerosis, and Sjogren's Syndrome. As a result, emerging studies have focused on the blockade of this pathogenic axis as a promising therapeutic target in several autoimmune disorders; nevertheless, a greater understanding of its contribution still requires further investigation. This review aims to elucidate the most recent studies and literature data on the pathogenetic role of Hh signaling in rheumatic diseases.

Novel Plant Extract Ameliorates Metabolic Disorder through Activation of Brown Adipose Tissue in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Obesity is characterized by excessive body fat accumulation due to unbalanced energy intake and expenditure. Potential therapeutic targets for anti-obesity include the inhibition of white adipose tissue (WAT) hypertrophy and hyperplasia and the activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT). Not only the activation of BAT but also the browning of WAT have gained increasing attention in research fields as an alternative method in the prevention and treatment of obesity. Here, we investigated possible mechanisms underlying the anti-obesity effect of Phlomis umbrosa Turcz. root ethanol extract (PUE) in an obesogenic animal model. PUE treatment can reduce diet-induced obesity and modulate obesity-associated metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, and inflammation. In the liver, PUE improved hepatic steatosis by suppressing hepatic lipogenesis and lipid absorption while increasing biliary sterol excretion and hepatic fatty acid oxidation compared to the high-fat group. Moreover, PUE increased energy expenditure and regulated fecal lipid excretion, leading to reduced body weight gain. In particular, PUE remarkably activated the browning of subWAT via upregulation of the browning-related protein and gene expression and promoted BAT activation. In conclusion, these findings provide the potential therapeutic usefulness into the effects of PUE in the treatment of obesity and metabolic disorders. Furthermore, it suggests that PUE treatment can regulate energy metabolism via activating BAT and browning subWAT.

A Review on the Molecular Mechanisms of Action of Natural Products in Preventing Bone Diseases

The drugs used for treating bone diseases (BDs), at present, elicit hazardous side effects that include certain types of cancers and strokes, hence the ongoing quest for the discovery of alternatives with little or no side effects. Natural products (NPs), mainly of plant origin, have shown compelling promise in the treatments of BDs, with little or no side effects. However, the paucity in knowledge of the mechanisms behind their activities on bone remodeling has remained a hindrance to NPs’ adoption. This review discusses the pathological development of some BDs, the NP-targeted components, and the actions exerted on bone remodeling signaling pathways (e.g., Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor κ B-ligand (RANKL)/monocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF)/osteoprotegerin (OPG), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)s/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap-1)/nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2)/Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1), Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (BMP2)-Wnt/β-catenin, PhosphatidylInositol 3-Kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 Beta (GSK3β), and other signaling pathways). Although majority of the studies on the osteoprotective properties of NPs against BDs were conducted ex vivo and mostly on animals, the use of NPs for treating human BDs and the prospects for future development remain promising.