Natural Anti-inflammatory Agent Research Articles

Palmitoylethanolamide: A Natural Body-Own Anti-Inflammatory Agent, Effective and Safe against Influenza and Common Cold

Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is a food component known since 1957. PEA is synthesized and metabolized in animal cells via a number of enzymes and exerts a multitude of physiological functions related to metabolic homeostasis. Research on PEA has been conducted for more than 50 years, and over 350 papers are referenced in PubMed describing the physiological properties of this endogenous modulator and its pharmacological and therapeutical profile. The major focus of PEA research, since the work of the Nobel laureate Levi-Montalcini in 1993, has been neuropathic pain states and mast cell related disorders. However, it is less known that 6 clinical trials in a total of nearly 4000 people were performed and published last century, specifically studying PEA as a therapy for influenza and the common cold. This was done before Levi-Montalcini's clarification of PEA's mechanism of action, analyzing the role of PEA as an anti-inflammatory agent. We will review in depth these studies, as the results support the effectiveness and safety of PEA in flu and respiratory infections.

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad and Wendl (Kaṇṭakāri) extract in laboratory animals.

Context:Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad and Wendl (Kaṇṭakāri) is a diffuse herb with prickly stem, traditionally used for the treatment of inflammation and one in the group of daśamūla (group of ten herbs) herbs commonly used drug in Ayurveda.Aims:In continuation of search for potent natural anti-inflammatory agents, the present research work was planned to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of ethanol extract of S. xanthocarpum whole plant.Settings and Design:The ethanol extract was evaluated at dose 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg p.o. in rats.Materials and Methods:Using pharmacological screening models carrageenan induced rat paw edema, histamine induced rat paw edema and cotton pellet granuloma in rats.Statistical Analysis Used:Data obtained was analyzed statistically using analysis of variance followed by post-hoc Dunnett test, P < 0.05 is considered as statistically significant.Results:Acute treatment didn’t show anti-inflammatory activity against carrageenan and histamine induced paw edema. However, administration of 100 mg/kg p.o for 7 day reduced the granuloma formation in cotton pellet granuloma model.Conclusions:Present results support the traditional use of plant for anti-inflammatory activity. In brief, the results provide scientific pharmacological basis for the therapeutic use of S. xanthocarpum.

Preventive Effects of a Natural Anti-Inflammatory Agent, Astragaloside IV, on Ischemic Acute Kidney Injury in Rats

This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of astragaloside IV(AS-IV) on ischemia/reperfusion (IR) induced acute kidney injury (AKI) in rats. Experimental model of ischemic AKI was induced in rats by bilateral renal artery clamp for 45 min followed by reperfusion of 12 h and 24 h, respectively. AS-IV was orally administered once a day to rats at 10 and 20 mg·kg−1·d−1 for 7 days prior to ischemia. AS-IV pretreatment significantly decreased serum urea, creatinine, and cystatin C levels at 12 h and 24 h of reperfusion in AKI rats. AS-IV pretreatment also ameliorated tubular damage and suppressed the phosphorylation of p65 subunit of NF-κB in AKI rats. Moreover, NF-κB and MPO activity as well as serum and tissue levels of TNF-α, MCP-1, and ICAM-1 were elevated in AKI rats. All of these abnormalities were prevented by AS-IV. Furthermore, AS-IV downregulated the mRNA expression of NF-κB, TNF-α, MCP-1, and ICAM-1 in AKI rats. These results suggest that AS-IV might be developed as a novel therapeutic approach to prevent ischemic AKI through inhibition of NF-κB mediated inflammatory genes expression.

Experimental study on anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory effect of Thespesia populnea phytochemical extract in mice models

In the present study, we have conducted a dose- and duration-dependent response of phytochemical extract of Thespesia populnea (Malvaceae) plant native of costal forest of India. Our earlier studies revealed the anti-oxidant and chemoprotective effect of this plant extract. In the present study, we have attempted to study the anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory response of T. populnea using experimental mouse models. Our studies revealed that administration of T. populnea methanol extract was shown to inhibit the solid tumor development in mice. T. populnea treatment significantly reduced tumor cell glutathione (GSH) levels as well as serum γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in the tumor-bearing animals (p < 0.01). The total white blood cell count and hemoglobin levels were also significantly increased in extract-treated hosts (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). The use of T. populnea substantially reduced the acute inflammation (assessed as paw edema) induced by carrageenan and also reduced inflammation edema induced by formalin. These studies suggest that T. populnea extract could be used as a (natural) anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor agent.

Preparation, Physicochemical Evaluation and Antimicrobial Potential of Topical Dosage Forms Containing Natural Anti-inflammatory Agent, Curcuma longa

In an attempt for better treatment of bacterial infections and burn wounds various topical formulations containing 1%w/w of Curcuma longa were prepared and evaluated for physical appearance, pH, rheological properties and stability studies. Antimicrobial activity of prepared formulations was found to be more effective against various strains of bacteria. Carbopol gel base is the most suitable dermatological base for Curcuma longa in comparison to various other dermatological bases. It also has aesthetic appeal, which other bases lack, an important aspect from patient compliance and consumer point of view. The therapeutic potential of such topical formulations may motivate researchers for its further exploitation so that it may be commercially viable. This innovative mode of formulation of Curcuma longa can be employed for enhancing the anti-microbial effect. Keywords: Curcuma longa, topical, antimicrobial, polyethylene glycol, Dimethylformamide, Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, Topical route, semisolid formulations, carbopol gel base, dermatological base.

The Anti-Inflammatory and Pharmacological Actions of Oleocanthal, a Phenolic Contained in Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is consumed as part of the health promoting Mediterranean diet and contains several phenolic compounds that are responsible for the unique and distinctive flavour of EVOO. The phenolic fraction of EVOO also imparts many beneficial effects on human health. Oleocanthal is an EVOO phenolic that shares a unique perceptual quality with the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ibuprofen and also mimics the anti-inflammatory actions of this drug. Oleocanthal has therefore been deemed a naturally occurring NSAID because of its demonstrated attenuation of cyclooxygenase (COX) activity in a dose dependent manner. New and emerging research has reported that oleocanthal also acts on inflammatory markers associated with neurodegenerative disease, joint degenerative disease, and cancer. This review will give an up-to-date summary of the history of oleocanthal and the current evidence establishing oleocanthal as a potent natural anti-inflammatory agent.

Nuclear Factor-κB is expressed in early colon cancer and its down-regulation by Curcumin and Diclofenac is associated with the suppression of proliferation and the induction of apoptosis

A number of experimental, epidemiological, and clinical studies suggest that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), particularly the highly selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors may prevent colon cancer. However, the long-term use of COX-2 inhibitors is not completely toxicity-free and therefore necessitated to be applied along with amenable natural anticancer agent. The present study demonstrates the more potential chemopreventive and anti-inflammatory effects of Diclofenac, a preferential COX-2 inhibitor and Curcumin, a natural anti-inflammatory agent when given in combination in 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) induced early neoplasm of colon. Both Diclofenac and Curcumin lowered the COX-2 activity and PGE2 level while the expression of IκBα was found higher and a lowered IKK activity stating that these agents may suppress the transfer of NF-κB to the nucleus and its pro-inflammatory gene transcription. Diclofenac and Curcumin were able to down-regulate the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-2 through the inhibition of NF-κB. Flow cytometric data showed that Diclofenac and Curcumin were able to induce apoptosis, thus confirming the regulatory role of NF-κB which is associated with the inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis. Both Diclofenac and Curcumin have chemopreventive effects alone on the early neoplasm while the effect is found enhanced using a combination regimen of the two drugs.

Regulatory effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on vascular smooth muscle cells.

Inflammatory response has been recognized as a central feature in the development and progression of atherosclerosis, and VSMCs (Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells) - the main cellular component of media, play an important role in this process. Many reports indicate that the biologically active vitamin D metabolite - 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25(OH)(2)D(3) = calcitriol), besides its well established role in calcium homeostasis, plays an essential role in the regulation of the inflammation process. The aim of this study was to determine the regulatory effects of calcitriol, applied at two supra-physiological doses (10 nM and 100 nM), in VSMC culture. Secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and TNF-α, was significantly attenuated in calcitriol-treated VSMC culture, but the level of anti-inflammatory TGF-β was generally unchanged. Since in advanced atherosclerosis lesions several cell types, including VSMCs, overproduce the HSP70 chaperone protein, we also checked the effects of calcitriol on its synthesis. The presence of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) did not affect HSP70 synthesis under physiological conditions but the synthesis of HSP70 in VSMCs exposed to heat shock was significantly inhibited by calcitriol (=100 nM). We observed that 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) induced SOD 1 activity, stimulated the expression of IκB-α, and did not influence the level of NF-κB-p65 in VSMCs. The results of our study suggest that 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) may serve as a natural anti-inflammatory agent and may therefore play a beneficial role in the physiology of VSMC in some contexts of atherosclerosis.

Anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activity of the marine mangrove Rhizophora apiculata

A methanolic extract of Rhizophora apiculata was evaluated for its anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activity against B16F10 melanoma cells in BALB/c mice. The administration of R. apiculata extract was shown to inhibit the solid tumor development in mice. R. apiculata treatment significantly reduced tumor cell glutathione (GSH) levels as well as serum γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in the tumor-bearing animals. The total white blood cell count and hemoglobin levels were also significantly increased in extract-treated hosts. The use of R. apiculata substantially reduced the acute inflammation (assessed as paw edema) induced by carrageenan and also reduced inflammation edema induced by formalin. Analysis of this methanolic extract revealed a high content of 4-pyrrolidinyl, pyrazole, and ketone derivatives. These studies suggest that R. apiculata extract could be used as a (natural) anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor agent.

Isolation and identification of the metabolites of paeonol in human urine

Paeonol, a major component of Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews, is used in clinical situations in China as a natural anti-inflammatory agent. The aim of the present study is to investigate the metabolism of paeonol in humans.Six metabolites were isolated from human urine after oral administration of paeonol, and their structures were elucidated as resacetophenone (M1), resacetophenone-2-O-sulfate (M2), 2-hydroxy-4-methoxyacetophenone-5-O-sulfate(M3), 2-hydroxy-4-methoxyacetophenone-5-O-glucopyranuronoside (M4), 2-hydroxyacetophenone-4-O-glucopyranuronoside (M5) and 2,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxyacetophenone(M6) by a series of analyses involving mass spectrometry, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and NOESY spectra.In addition, three more metabolites 2,4-dihydroxyacetophenone-5-O-sulfate (M7), paeonol-2-O-glucopyranuronoside (M8) and paeonol-2-O-sulfate (M9), were identified in human urine by using a UPLC/Q-TOF–MS/MS method.This is the first study of paeonol metabolism in humans. Based on the identified metabolites, possible metabolic pathways of paeonol in humans are proposed. Paeonol is metabolized mainly by hydroxylation and demethylation to give the corresponding phase I metabolites, M1, M6 and 2,4,5-trihydroxyacetophenone, and which then underwent conjugation with glucuronic acid or sulfuric acid to form phase II metabolites,

Anti-inflammatory activity of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives isolated from corn bran in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated Raw 264.7 macrophages

In this study, the effect of the 80% ethanolic extract of corn bran (EECB) on inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells was investigated. The EECB inhibited LPS-induced NO production and iNOS expression in a dose-dependent manner. Four hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives (HADs), including two free cinnamic acids, p-coumaric acid (CA) and ferulic acid (FA), and their conjugate phenolic amides, p-dicoumaroyl-putrescine (DCP) and diferuloylputrescine (DFP), were found to be present in the EECB by LC–MS analysis, and DFP (378.66μg/g) was the predominant phenolic compound, followed by DCP (7.83μg/g)>CA (5.58μg/g)>FA (1.84μg/g). The four HADs significantly inhibited NO production and iNOS expression in a dose-dependent manner. Among the four HADs tested, DFP showed the most potent inhibition on NO production and iNOS mRNA and protein expression, followed by DCP>FA⩾CA. DFP also exhibited the strongest inhibition on LPS-induced iNOS and NF-κB luciferase activity, which was followed by DCP⩾FA (CA)>CA (FA). Thus, these results suggest that phenolic amides in the corn bran may be a potential source of natural anti-inflammatory agents.

Liposomal Delivery System Enhances Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Curcumin

Curcumin is a well-established natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Up till now its potential in treatment of vaginal inflammation has not been evaluated. We are aiming at developing liposomal delivery system for curcumin targeting vaginal administration. Liposomes as nanosized phospholipid-based vesicles are expected to solubilize curcumin and enhance its activity, thus serving as an advanced topical formulation in the treatment of vaginal inflammation. Curcumin and curcuminoids were analyzed by the high-performance liquid chromatography method. Liposomes containing curcumin/curcuminoids of various sizes were prepared and characterized. Antioxidant activities of curcumin and liposomal curcumin were compared based on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging and superoxide dismutase activities. The anti-inflammatory activities were determined by measuring the inhibition of lipopolysaccharide -induced nitric oxide, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α production in macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Curcumin/curcuminoids were encapsulated in phosphatidylcholine vesicles with high yields. Vesicles in the size range around 200 nm were selected for stability and cell experiments. Liposomal curcumin were found to be twofold to sixfold more potent than corresponding curcuminoids. Moreover, the mixture of curcuminoids was found to be more potent than pure curcumin in regard to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Liposomal delivery systems for curcumin are promising formulations for the treatment of vaginal inflammation.

Honey and cancer: sustainable inverse relationship particularly for developing nations-a review.

Honey and cancer has a sustainable inverse relationship. Carcinogenesis is a multistep process and has multifactorial causes. Among these are low immune status, chronic infection, chronic inflammation, chronic non healing ulcers, obesity, and so forth. There is now a sizeable evidence that honey is a natural immune booster, natural anti-inflammatory agent, natural antimicrobial agent, natural cancer “vaccine,” and natural promoter for healing chronic ulcers and wounds. Though honey has substances of which the most predominant is a mixture of sugars, which itself is thought to be carcinogenic, it is understandable that its beneficial effect as anticancer agent raises skeptics. The positive scientific evidence for anticancer properties of honey is growing. The mechanism on how honey has anticancer effect is an area of great interest. Among the mechanisms suggested are inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and cell-cycle arrest. Honey and cancer has sustainable inverse relationship in the setting of developing nations where resources for cancer prevention and treatment are limited.

Vitamin E modifies poly(D,L)lactic acid wettability and reduces bacterial adhesion

Highly biocompatible polylactic acid (PLA)-derived polymers are used for different biomedical applications such as orthopaedic screws and drug delivery devices. Nevertheless their clinical use is limited by their proinflammatory characteristics. Vitamin E (α-tocopherol, Vit. E), a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent has been used to improve different biomaterials biostability [1], and among them also P(D,L)LA [2]. In this work, addition of Vit.E (10-40% w/v) to P(D,L)LA films obtained by solvent casting technique increased polymer surface wettability and human plasma protein adsorption, while addition of Vit.E acetate (Vit.E Ac, 10-40% w/v), the acetic ester of α-tocopherol, often used as an alternative to Vit.E itself, failed in modifying polymer wettability. On the other hand, bacterial adhesion experiments onto control, Vit.E and Vit.E Ac enriched P(D,L)LA films showed that both presence of Vit.E and Vit.E Ac was able to reduce the adhesion of the RP62A Staphylococcus epidermidis strain [3]. In particular, in PLA + Vit. E samples the decrease in bacterial adhesion was of 56%, while, in the case of PLA + Vit. E Ac samples the decrease was of 40%. These preliminary data suggest that Vit. E addition to PLA containing medical devices could improve their resistance to bacterial infections.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Cancer Survivorship

Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Cancer Survivorship

Seagrass as a potential source of natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents

Context: Halophila spp. is a strong medicine against malaria and skin diseases and is found to be very effective in early stages of leprosy. Seagrasses are nutraceutical in nature and therefore of importance as food supplements.Objective: The antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of Halophila ovalis R. Br. Hooke (Hydrocharitaceae) methanol extract were investigated and the chemical constituents of purified fractions were analyzed.Materials and methods: Plant materials were collected from Pondicherry coastal line, and antimicrobial screening of crude extract, and purified fractions was carried out by the disc diffusion method and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs) of the purified fractions and reference antibiotics were determined by microdilution method. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were investigated in vitro. Chemical constituents of purified fractions V and VI were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and the phytochemicals were quantitatively determined.Results: Methanol extract inhibited the growth of Bacillus cereus at a minimum inhibitory concentration of 50 µg/mL and other Gram-negative pathogens at 75 µg/ml, except Vibrio vulnificus. Reducing power and total antioxidant level increased with increasing extract concentration. H. ovalis exhibited strong scavenging activity on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide radicals at IC50 of 0.13 and 0.65 mg/mL, respectively. Methanol extract of H. ovalis showed noticeable anti-inflammatory activity at IC50 of 78.72 µg/mL. The GC–MS analysis of H. ovalis revealed the presence of triacylglycerols as major components in purified fractions. Quantitative analysis of phytochemicals revealed that phenols are rich in seagrass H. ovalis.Discussion and conclusion: These findings demonstrated that the methanol extract of H. ovalis exhibited appreciable antibacterial, noticeable antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities, and thus could be use as a potential source for natural health products.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Dichondra repens Forst. and its reference compounds

Dichondra repens (DR) is the main constituent in herbal beverages and consumed daily as a nutrition supplement for the liver in Taiwan. This study investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of D. repens ethanol extract (EDR) and its reference compounds ex vivo and in vivo. Fingerprint chromatograms (from HPLC) indicated that EDR contained vanillin, umbelliferone and scopoletin. EDR was evaluated for its antioxidant effects and LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells. EDR decreased the LPS-induced NO production and expressions of iNOS and COX-2 in RAW 264.7 cells. In vivo anti-inflammatory activities of EDR were assessed in mouse paw oedema, induced by λ-carrageenan (Carr). We investigate the antioxidant mechanism of EDR via studies of the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the liver and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrite oxide (NO) in the oedematous paw. Serum NO and TNF-α were also measured. EDR exerts anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing TNF-α, NO, and might be related to the decrement of the level of MDA in the oedema paw via increasing the activities of CAT, SOD and GPx in the liver. The results show that EDR might be a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative activities of organic fractions from the Mediterranean brown seaweed Cystoseira sedoides

The present study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative activities of organic fractions from Cystoseira sedoides (Desfontaines) C.Agardh . Various fractions of C. sedoides (chloroform (F-CHCl3), ethyl acetate (F-AcOEt), and methanol (F-MeOH)) were screened for total phenol content, as well as antioxidant activity, using the stable radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and assays for determining the reducing power of these fractions. The anti-inflammatory properties of these fractions were assessed using the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema model. The antiproliferative activity of C. sedoides fractions was evaluated on normal Madin-Darby canine kiney (MDCK), and fibroblast cells and on cancer cell lines (A549, MCF7, and HCT15), using the ability of the cells to metabolically reduce 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) formazan dyes. The F-CHCl3 and F-AcOEt fractions showed significant total phenolic content at 55.09 and 61.30mg gallic-acid equivalent/g dried sample, respectively. Using the DPPH method, the F-CHCl3 and the F-AcOEt fractions exhibited the strongest radical scavenging activity, with IC50 120µg/mL for F-CHCl3 and 121µg/mL for F-AcOEt, which approaches the activity of the powerful antioxidant standard, Trolox (IC50= 90µg/mL). The reducing power of the samples was in the following order: F-AcOEt> F-CHCl3> F-MeOH fraction. The F-CHCl3 and F-AcOEt fractions of C. sedoides tested at different doses (25 and 50mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p)), exhibited a dose-dependent reduction of rat paw oedema. The percentage of inhibition of oedema, 3 h after carrageenan injection, ranged from 67.71% to 73.49% and from 67.74% to 74.58%, for F-CHCl3 and F-AcOEt, respectively. Their effects are comparable with that of lysine acetylsalicylate (300mg/kg body mass; i.p.), which is used as a reference drug with the ability to inhibit oedema by 66.14%. Our results revealed that the F-CHCl3 and F-AcOEt fractions from C. sedoides showed important antiproliferative properties towards all of the cancer cell lines studied here, as judged by their IC50 values, which ranged from 52.6 to 66.5µg/mL for A549; 22.4 to 70.2µg/mL for MCF7, and 250.6 to 255.3µg/mL for HCT15. Moreover, no visible destruction or alteration of normal cells was observed, even at 500µg/mL F-CHCl3 or F-AcOEt. These results suggest that C.sedoides fractions might be used as a potential source of natural antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor agents. The purification and determination of the chemical structures of the compounds in these active fractions are under investigation. The results could provide a compound(s) with a promising role in future medicines and nutrition, when used either as a drug or a dietary supplement.

찔레나무뿌리(Rosa multiflora root)의 항산화 및 항염증효과

찔레나무뿌리를 열수, 에탄올, 메탄올, 아세톤에서 추출하여 항산화 및 항염증 효능효과를 확인하였다. 그 결과 아세톤추출물에서 가장 많은 67.05<TEX>${\pm}$</TEX>0.56 mg/g의 폴리페놀 함량을 확인하였으며, SOD 유사활성능을 제외한 DPPH, ABTS, superoxide anion 라디컬소거능 확인 결과 우수한 항산화 효과를 확인하였다. 찔레나무뿌리 추출물의 HAase 저해능을 측정한 결과 에탄올, 메탄올, 아세톤 추출물 500 <TEX>${\mu}g/ml$</TEX> 에서 60% 이상의 높은 HAase 저해 효과를 확인할 수 있었다. NO 생성량을 확인한 결과, RAW 264.7 cell에서 LPS에 의해 유도된 NO 생성을 농도의존적으로 뚜렷하게 감소시키는 것을 확인하였으며, 에탄올 추출물에서 NO 생성억제 효과가 가장 우수한 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 위의 사실에 기초하여 NO 생성저해의 기전을 알아보기 위하여 iNOS의 발현을 분석한 결과, 에탄올추출물 100 <TEX>${\mu}g/ml$</TEX>에서 40%의 iNOS protein 발현 감소를 확인하였으며, iNOS의 발현억제가 NO생성억제와 유사한 경향을 나타냄으로 NO생성억제는 iNOS의 발현저해를 경유한 것임을 확인할 수 있었다. 이러한 결과들은 찔레나무뿌리 추출물이 항산화 및 항염증 연구의 기초 자료로 활용될 것으로 예상된다. 또한 추후 산업적 응용도 가능함으로 기능성화장품의 가능성을 제시하고 있다. Rosa multiflora thunberg belonging to Rosaceae is widely distributed in East Asia including Korea and Japan, and has been reported to have tormentic acid and rosamultin. To develop a new natural anti-inflammatory agent for cosmetics, we investigated the inhibitory effects of inflammation in Rosa multiflora root (R. multiflora root). The biological activity and anti-inflammatory effects were investigated by water, ethanol, methanol and acetone extracts of R. multiflora root. The measurements of polyphenol content from R. multiflora root were highest in water and acetone extracts, at 57.48 <TEX>${\pm}$</TEX> 0.88 mg/g and 67.05 <TEX>${\pm}$</TEX> 0.56 mg/g, respectively. The result of DPPH, ABTS and superoxide anion radical scavenging effects showed over 50% efficacy at 50 <TEX>${\mu}g/ml$</TEX> in ethanol, methanol and acetone extracts. Hyaluronidase inhibition effect showed over 60% efficacy at 500 <TEX>${\mu}g/ml$</TEX> in ethanol, methanol, and acetone extracts. Nitric oxide radical inhibition effect of R. multiflora root ethanol extracts showed over 30% efficacy at 500 <TEX>${\mu}g/ml$</TEX>. We investigated the effect of R. multiflora root extracts on nitric oxide (NO) production of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. The result showed that R. multiflora root extracts have an inhibitory effect on NO production and iNOS expression and also can be used as an anti-inflammatory agent. These antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of R. multiflora root show applicant potential application as a functional cosmetic material.

Anti-inflammatory activity of methanolic extracts from edible mushrooms in LPS activated RAW 264.7 macrophages

Nowadays there is a great interest in the use of edible mushrooms as functional food since they are rich in bioactive compounds. Although their immunomostimulant activity has been largely demonstrated, their potential anti-inflammatory activity has been scarcely explored. We have investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of methanolic extracts from different edible mushrooms species: Agaricus bisporus, Boletus edulis, Cantherellus cibarius, Cratarellus cornucopioides, Lactarius deliciosus and Pleurotus ostreatus, in activated macrophages. The species that exhibited higher anti-inflammatory activities were A. bisporus, C. cibarius and L. deliciosus, inducing inhibition of NO production and iNOS, IL-1β and IL6 mRNAs expression in response to LPS stimulation. C. cornucopioides only induced inhibition of NO production and iNOS expression, and the other species did not present anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, some edible mushrooms species have a potential anti-inflammatory capacity in vitro, suggesting that they could be regarded as a potential source of natural anti-inflammatory agents.