Artemisia argyi extract ameliorates IL-17A-induced inflammatory response by regulation of NF-κB and Nrf2 expression in HIG-82 synoviocytes

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune and chronic inflammatory disease that results in joint destruction and disability in the adult population. RA is characterized by the accumulation and proliferation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes. Many pro-inflammatory mediators are associated with RA, such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-17, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). Furthermore, IL-17 upregulates the production of other pro-inflammatory mediators, including IL-1β and IL-6, and promotes the recruitment of neutrophils in RA. Artemisia argyi, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, is used for the treatment of diseases associated with inflammation and microbial infections. In this study, synoviocytes (HIG-82) were treated with varying doses of A. argyi extract (AAE) following IL-17A stimulation. Proliferation of the IL-17A-stimulated cells was increased compared to that of the non-stimulated control cells. However, cell proliferation decreased significantly in a dose-dependent manner following AAE treatment. Treatment of IL-17A-stimulated cells with AAE resulted in decreased levels of phosphorylated (p)-NF-κB, p-IκB-α, and COX-2. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results showed that IL-1β and IL-6 levels were increased in the IL-17A-stimulated group but decreased in the AAE treatment group. Additionally, we found that AAE facilitated nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression and promoted its nuclear translocation, thereby inducing the expression of heme oxygenase-1. Moreover, AAE did not attenuate IL-17A-induced inflammatory mediator production in the presence of ML385, an Nrf2-specific inhibitor. These results suggest that the downregulation of expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the transcription factor NF-κB by AAE may be a potential therapeutic strategy for reducing inflammation associated with RA.

Effects of Artemisia argyi Powder on Egg Quality, Antioxidant Capacity, and Intestinal Development of Roman Laying Hens

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with Artemisia argyi (A. argyi) on egg quality, serum biochemical, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal development in Roman laying hens. A total of 432 (34-week-old) Roman hens were randomly divided into control group and three experimental groups. The control group was fed a basal diet, and the experimental group was fed a basal diet with 1%, 2%, and 3% A. argyi powder, respectively. The results showed that dietary supplementation of 2% A. argyi to the diet increased egg weight and egg white weight, and the daturic acid (C17:0), stearic acid (C18:0), eicosadienoic acid (C20:2), docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n-3), α-linolenic acid (C18:3n-3), linoleic acid (C18:2n-6c), and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in egg yolk. Meanwhile, the addition of 1∼3% A. argyi decreased serum urea. Moreover, dietary supplementation of 1% A. argyi promoted the antioxidative capacity of the hens by increasing hepatic T-SOD and CAT activities, as well as GSH-Px content. However, the addition of 3% A. argyi to the diet significantly increased the content of malondialdehyde in serum and liver and destroyed the intestinal morphology by increasing duodenal crypt depth. In conclusion, the addition level of A. argyi promoting egg quality and antioxidant capacity was at 2% and 1%, respectively.

Effects of stigmata maydis on the methicillin resistantStaphylococus aureusbiofilm formation

Background

Mastitis is an inflammatory reaction of the mammary gland tissue, which causes huge losses to dairy farms throughout the world. Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequent agent associated with this disease. Staphylococcus aureus isolates, which have the ability to form biofilms, usually lead to chronic mastitis in dairy cows. Moreover, methicillin resistance of the bacteria further complicates the treatment of this disease. Stigmata maydis (corn silk), a traditional Chinese medicine, possess many biological activities.

Methods

In this study, we performed antibacterial activity assays, biofilm formation assays and real-time reverse transcription PCR experiments to investigate the effect of stigmata maydis (corn silk) on biofilm formation and vancomycin susceptibility of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains isolated from dairy cows with mastitis.

Results

In this study, the aqueous extracts of stigmata maydis inhibited the biofilm formation ability of MRSA strains and increased the vancomycin susceptibility of the strains under biofilm-cultured conditions.

Conclusion

This study proves that the aqueous extracts of stigmata maydis inhibit the biofilm formation ability of MRSA strains and increase the vancomycin susceptibility of the MRSA strains under biofilm-cultured conditions.