Evaluation of Anti-Colitic Effect of Chung-Jang-Hwan (C-mix) in Mice

Comparative Genomic Analysis and Physiological Properties of Limosilactobacillus fermentum SMFM2017-NK2 with Ability to Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of Latilactobacillus sakei SMFM2017-NK1 (LS1), L. sakei SMFM2017-NK3 (LS2), and Limosilactobacillus fermentum SMFM2017-NK2 (LF) on colitis using an animal model. DSS (dextran sulfate sodium salt) was orally injected into C57BL/6N mice to induce inflammation in the colon for seven days. Colitis mice models were treated with LS1, LS2, and LF, respectively, and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) was used as a positive control. During oral administration of lactic acid bacteria, the weights of the mice were measured, and the disease activity index (DAI) score was determined by judging the degree of diarrhea and bloody stool. When comparing the differences between the minimum weight after DSS administration and the maximum weight after lactic acid bacteriaadministration were compared, the LF-treated group showed the highest weight gain at 8.91%. The DAI scores of the LF, LS2, and LGG groups were lower than that of the control group. After sacrifice, mRNA expression levels for proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IFN-γ) and mediators (iNOS and COX-2) in the colon were measured. LF was selected as a superior strain for anti-inflammation in the colon. It was further analyzed to determine its biochemical characteristics, cytotoxicity, and thermal stability. Catalase and oxidase activities for LF were negative. In cytotoxicity and heat stability tests, the LF group had higher cell viability than the LGG group. The genome of LF was obtained, and 5682 CDS, 114 tRNA, 2 RNA, and 5 repeat regions were predicted. Especially, LF could be distinguished from the other three L. fermentum strains based on taxonomic profiling, specific orthologous genes of the strain, and genomic variants. The results of this study suggest that L. fermentum SMFM2017-NK2 is a novel strain with an anti-inflammatory effect on colitis.

In vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory effect of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa methanol extract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Aiton) Hassk. is a representative Thai medicinal plant traditionally used in South Asian countries to relieve various inflammatory symptoms. However, no systematic studies on its anti-inflammatory activity and mechanisms have been reported.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The effect of the methanol extract from the leaves of this plant (Rt-ME) on the production of inflammatory mediators [nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)] and the molecular mechanism of Rt-ME-mediated inhibition, including target enzymes, were studied with RAW264.7, peritoneal macrophage, and HEK293 cells. Additionally, the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of this extract was evaluated with mouse gastritis and colitis models.

RESULTS

Rt-ME clearly inhibited the production of NO and PGE2 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 cells and peritoneal macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. According to RT-PCR, immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation analyses and a kinase assay with mRNA, whole cell extract, and nucleus lysates from RAW264.7 cells and mice, it was revealed that Rt-ME was capable of suppressing the activation of both nuclear factor (NF)-κB and activator protein (AP)-1 pathways by directly targeting Syk/Src and IRAK1/IRAK4.

CONCLUSION

Rt-ME could have anti-inflammatory properties by suppressing Syk/Src/NF-kB and IRAK1/IRAK4/AP-1 pathways and will be further developed as a herbal remedy for preventive and/or curative purposes in various inflammatory diseases.