Fermented rice bran prevents atopic dermatitis in DNCB-treated NC/Nga mice

The fermentation of natural plants has a favorable effect on the functional and biological activities of living systems. These include anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-platelet aggregation activities. This is attributed to the chemical conversion of the parent plants to functional constituents, which show more potent biological activity. In our study, rice bran along with oriental medicinal plants （Angelicae gigantis, Cnidium officinale, Artemisia princeps, and Camellia sinensis） was fermented by Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Pichia deserticola （FRBE）. We evaluated the effects of oral administration of FRBE on atopic dermatitis in 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene （DNCB）-treated NC/Nga mice. FRBE significantly ameliorated the macroscopic and microscopic appearance of skin lesions in DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis and reduced levels of serum immunoglobulin E and the differential white blood cell count. In addition, it reduced skin thickness compared to that of atopic dermatitis-affected skin. FRBE treatment also reduced mast cell incorporation in skin lesions of atopic dermatitis. The total cell number in dorsal skin tissue and the axillary lymph node increased following DNCB application, and this was normalized by FRBE treatment. Moreover, it decreased the levels ofCD8＋ helper T cells and Gr-1 ＋/CD1 lb＋ B cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and skin lesions in DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis, we demonstrated that FRBE significantly inhibited mRNA expression of cytokines （e.g., interleukin-5 and interleukin-13） and cyclooxygenase-2 in AD skin lesions. These results suggest that FRBE could be a valuable herbal remedy for the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

Involvement of heme oxygenase-1 induction in anti-vascular inflammation effects of Xanthoceras sorbifolia in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

OBJECTIVE: To define the effects of Xanthoceras sorbifolia(EXS) on vascular inflammation and the mechanisms in endothelial cells.METHODS: Vascular protective effects of an ethanol extract of seeds from EXS(1-50 μg/mL) against tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)-induced vascularinflammation were examined in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs).RESULTS: EXS significantly decreased TNF-α-induced expression of cell adhesion molecules, such as intracellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and endothelial cell selectin,in a dose-dependent manner. Pre-treatment with EXS significantly inhibited translocation and transcriptional activity of nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB) increased by TNF-α. EXS also significantly inhibited formation of intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS). Moreover, the vascular protective effects of EXS were linked to up-regulation of heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) and nuclear factor E2-related factor-2(Nrf-2) expression. EXS-induced HO-1 expression was significantly decreased in SnPP(HO-1 inhibitor)-and HO-1 siRNA-treated cells, whereas an increase was found in cobalt protoporphyrin IX(CoPP)(HO-1 inducer)-treated cells. In addition, pretreatment with EXS increased HO-1 and Nrf-2 expression under TNF-α stimulation with or without N-acetyl-L-cysteine. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of EXS on TNF-α-induced vascular inflammation were partially reversed in SnPP-and of HO-1siRNA-treated cells but increased by CoPP.CONCLUSION: These results suggest that EXS may have important implications for prevention of vascular complications associated with vascular inflammation by inhibition of the NF-κB/ROS pathway and activation of the Nrf-2/HO-1 pathway.

Hwangryunhaedoktang exerts anti-inflammation on LPS-induced NO production by suppressing MAPK and NF-κB activation in RAW264.7 macrophages

OBJECTIVE： This study aimed to evaluate whether Hwangryunhaedoktang （HHT）, a herbal compound, has an inhibitory effect on lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 macrophages. METHODS： The effects of HHT were evaluated by confirming nitric oxide （NO） production and expression of inducible NO synthase （iNOS） and mitogen-activated protein kinases （MAPKs） in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages via the Griess assay, Western blotting, and real-time reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Western blot analyses and luciferase assays were used to evaluate whether HHT has an effect on the phosphorylation and translocation of nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）. The secretion and expression of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and interleukin-6 （IL-6） were determined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot analyses. RESULTS： HHT suppressed LPS-induced NO production and expression of iNOS in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, MAPKs activation was also attenuated via inhibition of phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2, c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38 which were related to inflammatory pathway. Furthermore, HHT also effectively attenuated NF-κB activation and its translocation to the nucleus, a process that is closely linked to inflammation. LPS normally induced the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6, but the secretion and expression of TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly attenuated by pretreating the cells with HHT. CONCLUSION： HHT suppressed LPS-induced NO production by blocking the activation of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways in RAW264.7 macrophages. Furthermore, HHT may have an anti-inflammatory effect by suppressing the LPS-induced secretion of TNF-α and IL-6. Therefore, the traditional herbal formula HHT might be a useful potential therapeutic agent for inflammation.