Hyeong-U Son

Comparison of the toxicity of aqueous and ethanol fractions of Angelica keiskei leaf using the eye irritancy test

To determine whether aqueous and ethanol fractions of the Angelica keiskei leaf exert toxicity when used for cosmetic purposes, we performed the acute eye irritancy test. Animals were treated with sample fractions (100 mg/dose) according to standard procedure guidelines. No significant changes or damage was detected in the fraction-treated groups in terms of ocular lesions in the cornea, the size of the cornea with turbidity, swelling of the eyelid and emission discharge. However, sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate, a positive control, induced severe toxic symptoms. Thus, aqueous and ethanol fractions of Angelica keiskei do not appear to induce acute toxicity in the eye lens, as assessed from anatomical and pathological observations in the rabbit eye. Our results collectively suggest that aqueous and ethanol fractions show promise as cosmetic ingredients that do not cause eye toxicity.

The solid-state fermentation of Artemisia capillaris leaves with Ganoderma lucidum enhances the anti-inflammatory effects in a model of atopic dermatitis

Artemisia capillaris, which belongs to the Asteraceae family and the genus Artemisia, has been reported to exert inhibitory effects on diabetes, cancer and inflammation. In this study, in order to enhance the bioactivity potential of the leaves of Artemisia by Ganoderma lucidum mycelium, we prepared aqueous samples of Artemisia capillaris (Ac) leaves, Ganoderma lucidum (Gl) and aqueous fractions produced by the solid fermentation of Ganoderma lucidum on Artemisia capillaris leaves (afAc/Gl). Thereafter, we evaluated whether these samples have potential to attenuate inflammation-related symptoms in an amimal model of 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced atopic dermatitis. We found that afAc/Gl exhibited enhanced anti-inflamamatory activity following the solid fermentation process when compared with Ac or Gl on ear thickness, ear epidermal thickness and eosinophil infiltration in the skin tissues. The expression of nitric oxide (NO) synthases (NOSs) was measured by immunohistochemical staining. The results revealed that afAc/Gl decreased endothelial NOS and inducible NOS expression compared with the DNFB group, while neuronal NOS expression was not altered. By comparing NO production, we found that as opposed to Ac, afAc/Gl has potential to inhibit atopic dermatitis-related symptoms during the inflammatory event. As regards matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression patterns, afAc/Gl exerted potent inhibitory activity on the mRNA expression of MMP-2, -7, -9, -12, -14 and -19. Taken together, these results suggest that the solid state fermentation of Ac by Gl is an effective strategy to obtaining useful ingredients which are converted into valuable compounds during an atopic inflammatory insult.

Spatholobus suberectus Exhibits Antidiabetic Activity In Vitro and In Vivo through Activation of AKT-AMPK Pathway

Glucose deposition in peripheral tissue is an important parameter for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Spatholobus suberectus (Ss) on glucose disposal in skeletal muscle cells and additionally explore its in vivo antidiabetic potential. Treatment of ethanolic extract of S. suberectus (EeSs) significantly enhanced the glucose uptake, mediated through the enhanced expression of GLUT4 in skeletal muscle via the stimulation of AKT and AMPK pathways in C2C12 cells. Moreover, EeSs have potential inhibitory action on α-glucosidase activity and significantly lowered the postprandial blood glucose levels in STZ-induced diabetic mice, associated with increased expression of GLUT4 and AKT and/or AMPK-mediated signaling cascade in skeletal muscle. Furthermore, administration of EeSs significantly boosted up the antioxidant enzyme expression and also mitigated the gluconeogenesis enzyme such as PEPCK and G-6-Pase enzyme expression in liver tissue of STZ-induced diabetic mice model. Collectively, these findings suggest that EeSs have a high potentiality to mitigate diabetic symptoms through stimulating glucose uptake in peripheral tissue via the activation of AKT and AMPK signaling cascade and augmenting antioxidant potentiality as well as blocking the gluconeogenesis process in diabetic mice.

Evaluation of eye irritation by S-(-)-10,11-dihydroxyfarnesic acid methyl ester secreted by Beauveria bassiana CS1029.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether S-(-)-10,11-dihydroxyfarnesic acid methyl ester produced by cell subtype Beauveria bassiana CS1029 causes acute toxicity when used for cosmetic purposes by performing an eye irritation test. New Zealand white (NZW) rabbits were treated with a 100 mg/dose of S-(-)-10,11-dihydroxyfarnesic acid methyl ester according to standard procedure guidelines. No significant changes in terms of ocular lesions of the cornea, turbidity of the cornea, swelling of the eyelid or ocular discharge were observed in the methyl ester-treated groups, while sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate, a positive control, caused severe toxicity. The anatomical and pathological observations indicate that the methyl ester produced by Beauveria bassiana CS1029 did not induce eye irritation in the lenses of the rabbits. The data suggest that the methyl ester evaluated in this study has promising potential as a cosmetic ingredient that does not irritate the eye.

A Derivative of L-Allo Threonine Alleviates 2,4-Dinitrofluorobenzene-Induced Atopic Dermatitis Indications

LX519290, a synthetic derivative from a combinatorial chemistry library, has been screened for anti-atopic activity, but its biological activities have not yet been elucidated. To assess whether LX519290 has the potential to lessen 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis symptoms in mice, first we sensitized the skin in the dorsal neck of C57BL/6 mice and re-sensitized the ear skin to determine the ear thickness. Then, we tested to determine whether LX519290 affect atopic dermatitis symptoms in vivo. The results indicate that LX519290 significantly mitigated inflammation indications including ear thickness, total T-cell numbers, and eosinophils. Moreover, the treatment drastically inhibited the levels of mediators such as interleukin-17E and histamine by 52% and 37% of control, respectively. Taken together, the data suggest that LX519290 can alleviate atopic parameters in mice.

Inhibitory effect of obovatol from Magnolia obovata on the Salmonella type III secretion system

In many pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria, such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Yersinia and Chlamydia spp., which cause diseases in humans, the type III secretion system (TTSS) is an important virulence factor that translocates effector proteins into the cytosol of host cells. Thus, the TTSS is a good target for antibacterial agents. Here we used a hemolysis assay to search for TTSS inhibitors and found that a compound from Magnolia obovata called obovatol blocks the TTSS of Salmonella. Obovatol showed potent inhibitory activity (IC50=19.8 μM) against the TTSS-related hemolysis of Salmonella, which was not due to a reduction of bacterial growth. Instead, the compound inhibited bacterial motility, TTSS-related mRNA expression and effector protein secretion. These data demonstrate the inhibitory effect of obovatol on the Salmonella TTSS and suggest that it could be useful for the prevention and supplementary treatment of bacterial infections.

Low molecular-weight gel fraction of Aloe vera exhibits gastroprotection by inducing matrix metalloproteinase-9 inhibitory activity in alcohol-induced acute gastric lesion tissues

Abstract Context: Aloe has been used for the prevention and cure of various diseases and symptoms including burns, injuries, oedema and pain. Objective: This study determines the specific inhibitory activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 induced by the low molecular-weight gel fraction of Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. (lgfAv) on alcohol-induced acute gastric lesions. Materials and methods: We examined the protective effects of oral (p.o.) administration of lgfAv (molecular weight cutoff <50.0 kDa, 150.0 mg/kg body weight) in a Balb/c mouse model of alcohol-induced acute gastritis for 1 h exposure. By measuring ulcer index, we compared the antiulcerative activity of the fraction. mRNA expression and immunohistochemical analysis of various biomarkers were performed. Results: The lgfAv-treated mice exhibited drastically fewer ulcer lesions than the untreated control mice did. It featured that lgfAv lessened the ulcer lesions than their relevant controls. Moreover, the transcriptional level of MMP-9 was completely alleviated by lgfAv treatment in alcohol-treated gastritis-induced mice. Discussion: The transcriptional level of MMP-9 was significantly alleviated by lgfAv treatment of the model. However, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry experiments revealed that lgfAv treatment in mucosal tissues had the potential to inhibit the mRNA and protein expression levels of MMP-9, respectively. The protein expression of MMP-9 was closely associated with lgfAv-induced gastroprotection against alcohol-induced gastric lesions. Conclusions: The present findings suggest that lgfAv has the potential to alleviate alcohol-induced acute gastric lesions, which is mediated in part, mainly by the suppression of the mRNA expression of MMP-9.