Anti-Cancer, Anti-Oxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Herbacetin and Its Molecular Mechanisms

Rhodiola rosea,a perennial herb of the genus Rhodiola in the Crassulaceae family,is commonly used to treat depression,fatigue,cancer and cardiovascular diseases.Herbacetin is a natural flavonol compound extracted from R.rosea plant,with many pharmacological effects such as anti-cancer effect,anti-oxidant effect and anti-inflammatory effect.In this paper,the pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms of herbacetin were summarized by consulting domestic and foreign literature,in order to provide a theoretical basis for the development and utilization of herbacetin.

Anti-inflammatory effects of Tao Hong Si Wu Tang in mice with lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND Lung cancer(LC)combined with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)is a common combination of comorbidities.Anti-inflammation and modulation of oxidative/antioxidative imbalance may prevent COPD-induced LC,and are also crucial to the treatment of LC combined with COPD.Modern studies have shown that Tao Hong Si Wu Tang(THSW)has vasodilatory,anti-inflammatory,anti-fatigue,anti-shock,immunoregulatory,lipid-reducing,micronutrient-supplementing,and anti-allergy effects.AIM To observe the effects of THSW on COPD and LC in mice.METHODS A total of 100 specific pathogen-free C57/BL6 mice were randomly divided into five groups:Blank control group(group A),model control group(group B),THSW group(group C),IL-6 group(group D),and THSW+IL-6 group(group E),with 20 mice in each group.A COPD mouse model was established using fumigation plus lipopolysaccharide intra-airway drip,and an LC model was replicated by in situ inoculation using the Lewis cell method.RESULTS The blank control group exhibited a clear alveolar structure.The model control and IL-6 groups had thickened alveolar walls,with smaller alveolar lumens,interstitial edema,and several inflammatory infiltrating cells.Histopathological changes in the lungs of the THSW and THSW+IL-6 groups were less than those of the model control group.The serum IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-αlevels and IL-6R,JAK,p-JAK,STAT1/3,p-STAT1/3,FOXO,p-FOXO,and IL-7R expression levels in lung tissues of mice in the rest of the groups were significantly higher than those of the blank control group(P<0.01).Compared with the model control group,the IL-6 group demonstrated significantly higher levels for the abovementioned proteins in the serum and lung tissues(P<0.01),and the THSW group had significantly higher serum IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-αlevels and IL-7R expression levels in lung tissues(P<0.01)but significantly decreased IL-6R,JAK,p-JAK,STAT1/3,p-STAT1/3,FOXO,p-FOXO,and IL-7R levels(P<0.01).CONCLUSION THSW reduces the serum IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-αlevels in the mouse model with anti-inflammatory effects.Its antiinflammatory mechanism lies in inhibiting the overactivation of the JAK/STAT1/3 signaling pathway.

Comparative study of anti-inflammatory effects of different processed products through the COX-2/PGE2 signaling pathway: based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

Background:Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata(Fu-zi)is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb,which has been widely used in the clinic and has potent anti-inflammatory activities.we aimed to explore the mechanisms of extract containing alkaloids from different Fu-zi Processed Products(FPP)in treating inflammation,especially rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Methods:Firstly,using network pharmacology technology,the ingredients,and targets of Fu-zi were obtained by searching and screening,the targets involving RA were acquired,the intersection targets were constructed a"component-target-pathway"network.A comprehensive investigation was conducted on the anti-rheumatoid arthritis mechanisms of 5 FPPs in lipopolysaccharide(LPS)induced RAW264.7 cells,which serve as a model for RA.The production of NO and inflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA kit.Quantitative Real-time PCR(qRT-PCR)was utilized to measure the mRNA levels.COX-2/PGE2 signaling pathway-associated proteins were determined by western blot.Results:According to a network pharmacological study,16 chemical components and 43 common targets were found in Fu-zi and 6 key targets including PTGS2 were closely related to the mechanism of Fu-zi in treating RA.The in vitro study revealed that the levels of NO,TNF-α,and IL-1βwere substantially decreased by the 5 FPPs.The 5 FPPs significantly suppressed the expression of proteins COX-2,iNOS,and NF-κB,with particularly notable effects observed for PFZ and XFZ.Conclusion:Altogether,these results demonstrated that the 5 PPS containing alkaloids have a good anti-RA-related inflammatory effect,and the mechanism may be related to COX-2/PGE2 signaling pathway,particularly,Fu-zi prepared utilizing a traditional Chinese technique.

Electrospinning of a sandwich-structured membrane with sustained release capability and long-term anti-inflammatory effects for dental pulp regeneration

Current electro spun membranes used for pulp capping still lack the sustained-release capability and long-term anti-inflammatory effects that are favorable for dental pulp regeneration.In this work,a single-layered poly(lac tic acid)(PLA)electro spun membrane loaded with amorphous calcium phosphate(ACP)and aspirin(PLA/ACP/Aspirin membrane,i.e.,PA A membrane)is sandwiched between two poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA)electro spun membranes as a novel sandwich-structured PLGA and PA A composite electro spun membrane(PLGA-PAA membrane)to resolve the need for sustained-release design and anti-inflammatory effects.Contact angle measurements indicate that the PLGA-PAA membrane is more hydrophilic than the PAA membrane.An in vitro release study reveals that PLGA membranes coated on PAA membrane could slightly slow down ion release,while signiificantly prolonging aspirin release.We also co-cultured membranes with dental pulp stem cells(DPSCs)and human monocytic THP-1 cells to evaluate their osteogenic ability and anti-inflammatory effects,respectively.Compared with the PAA membrane,the PLGA-PAA membrane promotes cell adhesion,proliferation,and osteogenic differentiation.A prolonged anti-inflammatory effect of up to 18 days is also observed in the PLGA-PAA group.The results suggest a promising strategy for fabricating an electro spun membrane system with controlled release capabilities and long-term anti-inflammatory effects for use as pulp-capping material for regeneration of the dentin-pulp complex.

Extraction and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Colchicine from Sagittaria sagittifolia

[Objective] This study was to study the optimal extraction technology and anti-inflammatory effects of colchicine from Sagittaria sagittifolia. [Method] The ef- fects of ethanol concentration, extraction time, extraction temperature and solid-liquid ratio on the extraction rate of colchicine from S. sagittifolia were investigated. On the basis of single-factor experiments, an L9 （34） orthogonal test was carried out to optimize the extraction process. According to the optimal extraction process, the content of colchicine in S. sagittifolia was determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The anti-inflammatory ability of colchicine was evaluated through an anti-inflammatory test in vitro. [Result] The optimal extraction process of colchicine from S. sagittifolia was as follows： ethanol concentration of 60%, extraction temper- ature of 50℃, extraction time of 30 min, and solid-liquid ratio of 1：25 （g/ml）. The content of colchicine in S. sagittifolia was determined as 40.58 μg/100 mg. Com- pared with the control, the colchicine from S. sagittifolia （9.0 and 4.5 g/kg） inhibited the increase in PGE2, TNF-α and IL-1β contents in pleural fluid （P〈0.05）. High-dose colchicine inhibited the increase in TNF-α, IL-1β and MDA contents in lung tissue （P〈0.01）, and middle-dose colchicine inhibited the increase in IL-1β content in lung tissue （P〈0.01）. [Conclusion] The colchicine in S. sagittifolia has a good anti-inflam- matory effect, which may be achieved through hindering the production of inflam- matory mediators and antioxidation.

Anti-viral and anti-inflammatory effects of kaempferol and quercetin and COVID-2019:A scoping review

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2(SARS-CoV-2)is a novel coronavirus identified at the end of 2019.It is recognized as the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).Flavonoids have been shown to exhibit therapeutical effect on complications related to COVID-19.The present study reviews possible therapeutic benefits of flavonoids on SARS-CoV-2.The Web of Science,PubMed,Scopus,and Google Scholar were searched using keywords:“COVID-19”,“SARS-CoV-2”,“Kaempferol”and“Quercetin”in the Title/Abstract.Relevant published articles in the English language until August 2020 were considered.Kaempferol and quercetin showed antiviral properties such as inhibition of protein kinase B and phosphorylation of protein kinase and blocking effects on a selective channel(3a channel)expressed in SARS-CoV infected cells.They also reduced the level of reactive oxygen species,expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase,pro-inflammatory mediators including TNF-α,IL-1α,IL-1β,IL-6,IL-10,and IL-12 p70,and chemokines.Kaempferol and quercetin might exert beneficial effects in the control or treatment of COVID-19 because of their antiviral,antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,and immunomodulatory effects.

Phytochemical constituents,analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of methanol extract of Triumfetta rhomboidea leaves in animal models

Objective:To investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the methanolic extract of the leaves of Triumfetta rhomboidea on mice and rats respectively.And to screen the phytochemical constituent of the extract. Methods:The analgesic effect was determined by acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice.While the anti-inflammatory activity was determined by egg albumin-induced oedema of the rat paw.Phytochemical screening was done by standard procedures.Results:Triumfetta rhomboidea leaf extract(50 -400 mg/kg) caused a statistically significant inhibition on the egg albumin-induced eodema or inflammation in Wister albino rats with P【0.001(ANOVA).This effect was higher than the observed effect with Piroxicam(0.5 mg/kg) which was used as a standard.The effect was also dose-dependent.Furthermore,Triumfetta rhomboidea extract caused a statistically significant reduction in the number of acetic acid-induced writhing in mice,with P【0.001(ANOVA).These effects were also does-dependent and greater than the analgesic effects by paracetamol which was used as a reference drug.Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids,steroids, triterpenoids alkaloids,tannins and saponins in Truimfetta rhomboidea leaf extract.Conclusion:Triumfetta rhomboidea can be recommended for acute inflammatory disorders and diseases associated with pains.This also supports its traditional use as an anti-snake bite and anti-cancer or anti-tumor agent.Further study is on the way to find out the mechanism of its action and also to isolate,identify and characterize the active principle responsible for these effects in this plant.

Anti-inflammatory effects of bifidobacteria by inhibition of LPS-induced NF-κB activation

AIM： Different strains of bifidobacteria were analysed for their effects on HT-29 intestinal epithelial cells （IECs） in in vitro models both of the non-inflamed and inflamed intestinal epithelium. METHODS： A reporter gene system in HT-29 cells was used to measure levels of NF-KB activation after challenge with bifidobacteria or after bacterial pre-treatment following LPS challenge. IL-8 protein and pro-inflammatory gene expression was investigated using normal HT-29 cells. RESULTS： None of the bifidobacteria tested induced activation of nuclear factor κB （NF-κB） indicating that bifidobacteria themselves do not induce inflammatory events in IECs. However, six out of eight bifidobacteria tested inhibited lipopolysaccharide- （LPS-） induced NF-κB activation in a dose- and strain-dependent manner. In contrast, NF-κB activation in response to challenge with tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） was affected by none of the tested bifidobacteria, indicating that the inhibitory effect of bifidobacteria is specific for LPS-induced inflammation in IECs. As shown with two of the six inhibitionpositive bifidobacteria, LPS-induced inhibition of NF-κB activation was accompanied by a dose-dependent decrease of interleukin 8 （IL-8） secretion and by lower mRNA levels for IL-8, TNF-α, cyclooxygenase 2 （Cox-2）, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1（ICAM-1）. CONCLUSION： Some strains of bifidobacteria are effective in inhibiting LPS-induced inflammation and thus might be appropriate candidates for probiotic intervention in chronic intestinal inflammation.

Anti-inflammatory Effects and Mechanisms of Rhein, an Anthraquinone Compound, and Its Applications in Treating Arthritis: A Review

Inflammation is a defensive response of living tissues to damaging agents,which exists in two forms,acute inflammation and chronic inflammation,and chronic inflammation is closely related to arthritis.Currently,the commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory medications are greatly limited by high incidence of gastrointestinal erosions in the clinical applications.Rhein,a bioactive constituent of anthraquinone,exhibits excellent anti-inflammatory activities and therapeutic effects on arthritis with less gastrointestinal damages.Although there are numbers of studies on anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of rhein in the last few decades,to the best of our knowledge,only a few review articles pay attention to the interactive relationships of rhein on multiple inflammatory signaling pathways and cellular processes from a comprehensive perspective.Herein,we summarized anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of rhein and its practical applications in the treatment of arthritis,thereby providing a reference for its basic researches and clinical applications.

Quercetin exerts anti-inflammatory effects via inhibiting tumor necrosis factor-α-induced matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression in normal human gastric epithelial cells

BACKGROUND Gastric injury is the most common digestive system disease worldwide and involves inflammation,which can lead to gastric ulcer or gastric cancer(GC).Matrix metallopeptidase-9[MMP-9(gelatinase-B)]plays an important role in inflammation and GC progression.Quercetin and quercetin-rich diets represent potential food supplements and a source of medications for treating gastric injury given their anti-inflammatory activities.However,the effects and mechanisms of action of quercetin on human chronic gastritis and whether quercetin can relieve symptoms remain unclear.AIM To assess whether tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)-induced MMP-9 expression mediates the anti-inflammatory effects of quercetin in normal human gastric mucosal epithelial cells.METHODS The normal human gastric mucosa epithelial cell line GES-1 was used to establish a normal human gastric epithelial cell model of TNF-α-induced MMP-9 protein overexpression to evaluate the antiinflammatory effects of quercetin.The cell counting Kit-8 assay was used to evaluate the effects of varying quercetin doses on cell viability in the normal GES-1 cell line.Cell migration was measured using Transwell assay.The expression of proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src(cSrc),phospho(p)-c-Src,extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 2(ERK2),p-ERK1/2,c-Fos,p-c-Fos,nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB/p65),and p-p65 and the effects of their inhibitors were examined using Western blot analysis and measurement of luciferase activity.p65 expression was detected by immunofluorescence.MMP-9 m RNA and protein levels were measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(q RT–PCR)and gelatin zymography,respectively.RESULTS q RT-PCR and gelatin zymography showed that TNF-αinduced MMP-9 m RNA and protein expression in a dose-and time-dependent manner.These effects were reduced by the pretreatment of GES-1 cells with quercetin or a TNF-αantagonist(TNFR inhibitor)in a dose-and timedependent manner.Quercetin and TNF-αantagonists decreased the TNF-α-induced phosphorylation of c-Src,ERK1/2,c-Fos,and p65 in a dose-and time-dependent manner.Quercetin,TNF-αantagonist,PP1,U0126,and tanshinone IIA(TSIIA)reduced TNF-α-induced c-Fos phosphorylation and AP-1–Luciferase(Luc)activity in a dose-and time-dependent manner.Pretreatment with quercetin,TNF-αantagonist,PP1,U0126,or Bay 11-7082 reduced TNF-α-induced p65 phosphorylation and translocation and p65–Luc activity in a dose-and timedependent manner.TNF-αsignificantly increased GES-1 cell migration,and these results were reduced by pretreatment with quercetin or a TNF-αantagonist.CONCLUSION Quercetin significantly downregulates TNF-α-induced MMP-9 expression in GES-1 cells via the TNFR-c-Src–ERK1/2 and c-Fos or NF-κB pathways.

Anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of Tagetes minuta essential oil in activated macrophages

Objective:To investigate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Tagetes minuta(T.minuta)essential oil.Methods:In the present study T.minuta essential oil was obtained from leaves of T.minuta via hydro-distillation and then was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.The antioxidant capacity of T.minuta essential oil was examined by measuring reactive oxygen,reactive nitrogen species and hydrogen peroxide scavenging.The anti-inflammatory activity of T.minuta essential oil was determined through measuring NADH oxidase,inducible nitric oxide synthase and TNF-αmRNA expression in lipopolysacharide-stimulated murine macrophages using realtime PCR.Results:Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis indicated that the main components in the T.minuta essential oil were dihydrotagetone(33.86%),E-ocimene(19.92%).tagetone(16.15%),cis-β-ocimene(7.94%),Z-ocimene(5.27%).limonene(3.1%)and epoxyocimene(2.03%).The T.minuta essential oil had the ability to scavenge all reactive oxygen/reactive nitrogen species radicals with IC_(50)12-15μg/mL,which indicated a potent radical scavenging activity.In addition,T.minuta essential oil significantly reduced NADH oxidase,inducible nitric oxide synthaseand TNF-αmRNA expression in the cells at concentrations of 50μg/mL,indicating a capacity of this product to potentially modulate/diminish immune responses.Conclusions:T.minuta essential oil has radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activities and could potentially be used as a safe effective source of natural anti-oxidants in therapy against oxidative damage and stress associated with some inflammatory conditions.

Screening of Effective Fractions for Antitussive and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Miao Medicine Aspidistra caespitosa

[Objectives]This study was conducted to investigate the antitussive and anti-inflammatory effects of Miao medicine Aspidistra caespitosa C.Pei.[Methods]A mouse cough model was made by the SO 2 cough induction method,and the antitussive effects of different extraction fractions of A.caespitosa were observed.The inflammation models of acute inflammatory ear swelling in mice caused by xylene,granuloma in mice caused by cotton balls,and footpad swelling in mice caused by carrageenan were made,and the different extraction fractions were used to observe the effects of different extraction fractions on mouse ear swelling,granuloma and footpad swelling.And the levels of interleukin 6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor(TNF-a)in the serum of different groups of mice were detected to screen out the extraction fractions of A.caespitosa with good antitussive and anti-inflammatory activity.[Results]Antitussive experiments on mice showed that the water layer extraction fraction,ethyl acetate extraction fraction and petroleum ether extraction fraction of Miao medicine A.caespitosa could prolong the incubation period of cough in mice and reduce the number of coughs within 2 min to varying degrees,and its different extraction fractions all had different inhibitory effects on mouse ear swelling,granuloma and footpad swelling.Compared with the blank control group,the different extraction fractions could reduce IL-6,TNF-a and other indicators to different degrees.[Conclusions]Ethyl acetate extraction fraction of A.caespitosa has good antitussive and anti-inflammatory effects.

Anti-inflammatory Effects of Volatile Oil of Ocimum basilicum L. in Bozhou and Its Mechanisms

[Objectives] The research aimed to study the anti-inflammatory effects of volatile oil from Ocimum basilicum L. in Bozhou through the experimental animal model of inflammation.[Methods] Xylene-induced mouse ear swelling model and carrageenan-induced mouse paw swelling model were used to compare the anti-inflammatory effects of volatile oil from O. basilicum L.[Results] The extremely high, high, medium, and low doses of volatile oil from O. basilicum L. had a certain inhibitory effect on the ear swelling of mice induced by xylene ( P <0.05), and the inhibitory effect of high-dose group on the ear swelling of mice was better. The swollen degree of the mice s toes in the different dose groups of volatile oil from O. basilicum L. was significantly lower ( P <0.05), and the high-dose and middle-dose groups had better inhibition.[Conclusions] The volatile oil from O. basilicum L. in Bozhou had a significant inhibitory effect on xylene-induced mouse ear swelling and carrageenan-induced mouse paw swelling. It proved and clarified the anti-inflammatory effects of volatile oil from O. basilicum L. in Bozhou.

Anti-inflammatory effects of ethanol fraction from Disporum cantoniense （Lour.） Merr. in LPS-stimulated RAW264. 7 cells

Aim To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of ethanol fraction prepared from Disporum cantoniense （Lour.） Merr. 70% ethanol extract with a cellular model of LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cell. Methods RAW264.7 cells were treated with different concentrations of ethanol fraction （25,50 and 100 g · L^-1 ） and stimu- the conditioned media was collected and analyzed. The quantity of ni- lated with LPS （10 μg· L^-1） for 24 hours, tric oxide （NO） was assayed by Griess reagent. The production of inflammatory mediators was determined by en- zyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）, such as prostaglandin E2 （PGE2）, tumor necrosis factor ot （TNF-ot） interleukin- 1 β （IL-1 β） and interleukin 6 （IL-6） in cell supernatant. The concentrations of inflammatory medi- 9 ators were calculated according to the standard curves generated by each of the recombinant cytokines provided with LPS can induce RAW264.7 cells to promote the pro- the ELISA kits. Results Compared with the control group, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. Compared with the duction of inflammatory mediators （P 〈 0.01 ） , including NO, PGE2, model group, ethanol fraction significantly suppressed LPS induced release of inflammatory mediators such as nitric NO, PGE2, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in a good dose dependent manner （P 〈 0.05, P 〈 0.01 ）. Conclusions Eth- anol fraction could significantly inhibit the production of LPS-induced inflammatory response in RAW264.7 cells, and its anti-inflammatory effect may be related to reduce the production of inflammatory mediators NO, PGE2, TNF-α, IL-1 β and IL-6. These results demonstrate that the ethanol fraction is the bioactive component of Disporum can- toniense （Lour.） Merr. , and the ethanol fraction will be further developed as a herbal remedy for preventive and/ or curative purposes in various inflammatory diseases.

Cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of kernel extract from Adenanthera pavonina on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated rat peritoneal macrophages

Objective:To investigate mechanism of anti-inflammatory activity of Adenanthera pavonina(A.pavonina) extracts.Methods:Rat peritoneal macrophages were treated with different concentrations of lipopolysaccharide and H_2O_2 in the presence and absence of kernel extract from A.pavonina.Nitric oxide,superoxide anion generation,cell viability and nuclear fragmentation were investigated.Results:The pre-treatment of kernel extract from A.pavonina suppressed nitric oxide,superoxide anion,cell death,nuclear fragmentation in lipopolysaccharide and H_2O_2stimulated or induced macrophages,respectively.Conclusions:These results suggest that A.pavonina extract suppresses the intra cellular peroxide production.

Anti-inflammatory Effects of Baicalin (In Vitro and In Vivo)

Baicalin(BA)is commonly used to treat inflammatory diseases and shows anti-inflammatory effects.The present study aimed to evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of BA both in vitro and in vivo.In animal models,acetic acid-induced writhing was used to assess analgesic activity.In addition,a variety of tests including xylene-induced ear edema test,minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC)assays and acetic acid-induced peritoneal capillary hyperpermeability test were used to evaluate antiinflammatory activity of BA.BA at 0.2 and 0.1 mg·mL-1 doses expressed analgesic as well as anti-inflammatory activities in mice.In acetic acid induced writhing test,BA applying three times,twice and once a day significantly inhibited the acetic acid-induced writhing response within 15 min by 7.80%(*p<0.05),7.50%(**p<0.01)and 6.25%(**p<0.01).In xylene-induced ear edema test,BA at 0.2,0.1 and 0.05 mg·mL-1 decreased ear edema by 45.50%(**p<0.01),15.20%(*p<0.05)and 9.10%(*p<0.05).In acetic acidinduced peritoneal capillary hyperpermeability test,BA exhibited significant inhibition(*p<0.05 versus control)of inflammation.In MIC assays,the MIC values of baicalin for S.aureus and Escherichia coli were 125 mg•mL-1,and the MIC values for the control bacteria ATCC25922 and ATCC25923 were 62.5 mg·mL-1.These findings suggested baicalin might contain analgesic and antiinflammatory agents which supported its use in traditional medicine.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Nano-Selenium against Cypermethrin-Induced Liver Toxicity

Cypermethrin (Cym) is a synthetic class II pyrethroid that is widely used and has a big risk to health. Cypermethrin produces oxidative stress and enhances inflammatory damage of liver. The present study was designed to investigate the ameliorating effects of NSe against Cym-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. For this purpose, twenty four male rats were divided into three groups. Group (I) was gavaged with Cym (control group), group (II) gavaged daily with Cym (1 mg/kg body weight), and group (III) gavaged with Cym + NSe (2.5 mg kg body weight/day, three times a week) for 21 days. Cypermethrin increased serum liver enzymes, oxidative stress and inflammatory markers. Administration of NSe significantly reduced the increased serum liver enzymes and inflammatory parameters and restored the antioxidant capacity in liver. Our results suggest that Nse exhibits promising hepato-protective effects against Cym-induced oxidative damage and inflammation.

Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Herbal Mixture Extracts in Mice

Herbal mixture extracts (HME) comprised of Semen Sojae Nigrum, Fructus Cnidii, Radix Glycyrrhizae, and Cornu Cervi. Herein, we employed three mouse models, including hot-plate test, acetic acid (AA)-induced writhing test and AA-induced vascular permeability test, to determine analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of HME. Results revealed that HME exhibited analgesic effects in hot-plate test and in AA-induced writhing test, as evidenced by increasing the latency to lick paws and decreasing AA-induced writhing counts, respectively. HME also significantly and dose-dependently decreased AA-induced vascular permeability, indicating HME exhibited anti-inflammatory effects. Similar improvement can be observed in aspirin treatment that used as positive control in this study. Most of medicinal effects of Fructus Cnidii are considered to attribute to coumarins, such as osthol (OST) and imperatorin (IMP) with several pharmacological activities. We then used OST and IMP as bioactive components in HME. The content of OST and IMP in HME was 3.57 ± 0.10 mg/g and 1.20 ± 0.02 mg/g, respectively, from three independent batches. Only OST possessed inhibitory effects in three mouse models, suggesting that OST may partially involve in protective effects of HME. These results demonstrated that HME has a potential on anti-analgesic effects and anti-inflammatory actions.

Peripheral Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Smilax canariensis in an Animal Model

Smilax canariensis Brouss. ex Willd. is an endemic plant of the Canary Islands. Its rhizomes, leaves and stems have been traditionally used in Canary folk medicine to treat a wide variety of conditions including pain. Our objective is to investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of different extracts of S. canariensis in Swiss mice, using established biological models for pain and inflammation, such as phenylquinone writhing test, formalin test, tail-flick test and mouse paw edema induced by carrageenan. Oral administration of S. canariensis extracts significantly reduce writhing episodes evoked by phenylquinone injection in a dose-dependent manner;and higher doses result in a reduction of pain similar to or higher than that of the reference drug piroxicam (59.56%;p < 0.01). The extracts also cause a marked dose-dependent inhibition of for-malin-induced pain in the second phase but only minimal inhibition of tail-flick behavior, suggesting that S. canariensis is not a centrally acting analgesic. Finally, in the carrageenan-induced hind paw edema model, the extracts show a moderate anti-inflammatory effect, the most active being the ethyl acetate fraction at 200 mg/kg p.o. (33.33%;p < 0.05). Our results suggest that S. canariensis extracts have clear dose-dependent peripheral analgesic effects, which lends support to the traditional use of this medicinal plant to treat pain associated with inflammatory or other processes.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Peanut Skin Extracts

Peanut skins are regarded as a low economic value by-product of the peanut industry;however, they contain high levels of bioactive compounds including catechins and procyanidins, which are known for their health-promoting properties. The in vitro antioxidant activity of peanut skin extracts (PSE) has been reported but the associated anti-inflammatory properties have not been widely examined. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of PSE on the pro-inflammatory enzyme, Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expression, on its downstream product, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and on nitrous oxide (NO) levels. Defatted peanut skins were extracted using two aqueous solvent mixtures (50% acetone and 90% ethanol), in order to compare the effects of the two solvent systems on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. PSE antioxidant activity was determined by the hydrophilic oxygen radical absorbance capacity (H-ORAC) assay, while total phenolics were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu assay and flavan-3-ols and procyanidins were quantified by HPLC. Acetone extracted PSE (A-PSE) exhibited numerically, but not statistically higher H-ORAC and total phenolic values than the ethanol extracted PSE (E-PSE) (1836 μmol Trolox/100 g and 67.9 mg GAE/g, and 1830 μmol Trolox/100 g and 51.8 GAE/g respectively). A-PSE also had higher levels of flavan-3-ols and procyanidins than E-PSE. RAW 264.7 cells were pretreated with 1.0%, 2.5% and 5.0% (v/v) of A-PSE or E-PSE and induced with the inflammatory marker, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 12 hours. COX-2 protein expression, measured by Western blotting was significantly (p 2 and NO levels measured by ELISA, were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased with increasing added levels of A-PSE and E-PSE suggesting that A-PSE and E-PSE not also possess similar antioxidant properties, but also exhibit similar anti-inflammatory effects.