Eun-Ok Kim

Anti-inflammatory and anti-osteoarthritis effects of fermented Achyranthes japonica Nakai.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Achyranthyes japonica Nakai (AJN) has been traditionally used to control pain and improve dysfunction in osteoarthritis (OA) patients. AIM OF THE STUDY The objectives of the present study were to investigate anti-inflammatory and anti-osteoarthritis activities of fermented AJN (FAJN). MATERIALS AND METHODS Anti-inflammatory activity of non-fermented AJN (NFAJN) and FAJN was evaluated by in vitro assay using LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, their cartilage protective effects were also determined in vitro assay using SW1353 cell and in vivo model system using collagenase-induced arthritis (CIA) in rabbits. Moreover, we isolated and identified 20-hydroxyecdysone (20-HES) as a marker component in FAJN. RESULT FAJN showed stronger anti-inflammatory activity than NFAJN through inhibiting production of NO and PGE2 in LPS-induced RAW 264.7, and lowering levels of MMP-3 release in SW1353 cells treated with TNF-a. FAJN contained higher levels of 20-HES, as a marker component, than AJN. FAJN ameliorates the progress of OA by inhibiting local inflammation. It does this by regulating levels of TNF-a and IL-4, and protecting articular cartilage by preventing destruction of proteoglycan, collagens, and also preventing injury to chondrocytes. CONCLUSION Therefore, FAJN is a potential therapeutic agent for reduction of cartilage damage that occurs in OA.

Study on the hypochlolesterolemic and antioxidative effects of tyramine derivatives from the root bark of Lycium chenese Miller

The aim of the present study was to investigate the hypocholesterolemic effect and potential of tyramine derivatives from Lycii Cortex Radicis (LCR), the root bark of lycium (Lycium chenese Miller) in reducing lipid peroxidation. The activities of enzymes, hepatic 3-hydroxy 3-methylglutaryl (HMG) CoA reductase and acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) and LDL oxidation were measured in vitro and animal experiments were also performed by feeding LCR extracts to rats. The test compounds employed for in vitro study were trans-N-p-coumaroyltyramine (CT) and trans-N-feruloyltyramine (FT), LCR components, N-(p-coumaroyl)serotonin (CS) and N-feruloylserotonin (FS) from safflower seeds, ferulic acid (FA) and 10-gingerol. It was observed that FT and FS at the concentration of 1.2 mg/mL inhibited liver microsomal HMG CoA reductase activity by ~40%, but no inhibition of activity was seen in the cases of CT, CS, FA and 10-gingerol. Whereas, ACAT activity was inhibited ~50% by FT and CT, 34-43% by FS and CS and ~80% by 10-gingerol at the concentration of 1 mg/mL. A significant delay in LDL oxidation was induced by CT, FT, and 10-gingerol. For the animal experiment, five groups of Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed high fat diets containing no test material (HF-control), 1 and 2% of LCR ethanol extract (LCR1 and LCR2), and 1% of extracts from safflower seed (Saf) and ginger (Gin). The results indicated that total cholesterol level was significantly lower in Saf, LCR2 and Gin groups, and HDL cholesterol level was lower only in Gin group when compared with HF-control group; while there was no difference in the serum triglyceride levels among the five experimental groups. The level of liver cholesterol was significantly lower in LCR1 and LCR2 groups than HF-control. Serum levels of TBARS were significantly lower only in LCR2 group when compared with HF-control group. From the observed results, we concluded that LCR can be utilized as a hypocholesterolemic ingredient in combination with ginger, especially for functional foods.