Chronic exposure of particulate matter of less than 2.5 μm (PM_2.5) has been considered as one of the major etiologies for various respiratory diseases. Adenophora stricta Miq. is a medicinal herb that has been used for treating respiratory diseases in East Asia. The present study investigated the effect of A. stricta root extract (AsE) on PM_2.5-induced lung injury in mice. Oral administration of 100–400 mg/kg AsE for 10 days significantly reduced the PM_2.5-mediated increase in relative lung weight, but there was no difference in body weight with AsE administration. In addition, AsE dose-dependently decreased congested region of the lung tissue, prevented apoptosis and matrix degradation, and alleviated mucus stasis induced by PM_2.5. Moreover, cytological analysis of bronchioalveolar lavage fluid revealed that AsE significantly inhibited the infiltration of immune cells into the lungs. Consistently, AsE also decreased expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in lung tissue. Furthermore, AsE administration blocked reactive oxygen species production and lipid peroxidation through attenuating the PM_2.5-dependent reduction of antioxidant defense system in the lungs. Therefore, A. stricta root would be a promising candidate for protecting lung tissue from air pollution such as PM_2.5.

Photoaging refers to the accumulation of skin damage which includes wrinkle formation, loss of elasticity, and epidermal thickening due to repeated ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The present study investigated the protective effects of Elaeagnus umbellata fruit extract (Elaea) on UV-mediated photoaged skin of SKH1 hairless mice and compared the effects of Elaea with ascorbic acid. Although there was no difference in body weight between groups during experimental period, oral administration of 50–200 mg/kg Elaea once daily for 15 weeks significantly prevented an increase in skin weight, epithelial thickening of epidermis, and apoptosis caused by UV irradiation. Skin replica and histopathological analyses revealed that Elaea dose-dependently decreased wrinkle and microfold formation. In addition, Elaea administration restored UV-mediated reduction in type I collagen and hyaluronan through the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase expression. Moreover, Elaea suppressed UV-dependent increases in superoxide anion production, fatty acid oxidation, and protein nitration by up-regulating antioxidant system. Furthermore, Elaea alleviated infiltration of inflammatory cells in UV-irradiated skin. The preventive effects of 100 mg/kg Elaea administration against UV-induced photoaging were similar to those by 100 mg/kg ascorbic acid. Collectively, the present study suggests that the E. umbellata fruit is a promising edible candidate to prevent skin photoaging.

In this paper, we hypothesized that ShashamKyeongok-go (SKOG) is a mixed preparation of Adenophorae Radix powder (AR) and Kyeongok-go (KOG). SKOG may be served as a novel preventive and/or therapeutic agent for various respiratory diseases. SKOG were orally administered to ICR mice at 400, 200, and 100 mg/kg once a day for 11 days to examine antitussive, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory effects. The NH₄OH exposure-induced allergic acute inflammation with coughing responses was dose-dependently and significantly (p < 0.01) inhibited by pretreatment with SKOG at doses of 400, 200, and 100 mg/kg. With these concentrations of SKOG, the thickness of intrapulmonary secondary bronchus mucosa and the number of periodic acid Schiff stain-positive mucous-producing cells were significantly (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) increased, as a result of the increased amount of phenol red secretion. Subsequently, SKOG showed significant (p < 0.01) anti-inflammatory activities as characterized by reducing the effects of xylene-induced increases of ear weight, thickness of total ear and ear dermis, and number of infiltrated inflammatory cells in the ear dermis, in a dose-dependent manner. These results supported that SKOG might have potential therapeutic effects to be used as an antitussive, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory agents in the prevention or treatment of chronic bronchitis and asthma.

Adenophora stricta Miq. (Campanulaceae family) is a traditional herb used for relieving cough and phlegm in East Asia. This study explored the effects of A. stricta root extract (AsE) in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages. Administration of 100–400 mg/kg AsE dose-dependently decreased pulmonary congestion and suppressed the reduction of alveolar surface area in mice with OVA-mediated allergic asthma. Histopathological analysis of lung tissue and cytological analysis of bronchioalveolar lavage fluid showed that AsE administration significantly attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration into the lungs. In addition, AsE also alleviated OVA-specific immunoglobulin E, interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-5 production, which are essential for OVA-dependent activation of T helper 2 lymphocytes. In Raw264.7 macrophage cells, AsE significantly blocked nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant factor-1 production in response to LPS. Results from an immunoblot assay revealed that AsE inhibited the phosphorylation of c-jun N-terminal kinase, inhibitory-κB kinase α/β, and p65 in LPS-stimulated cells. Furthermore, 2-furoic acid, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, and vanillic acid 4-β-D-glucopyranoside in AsE were shown to inhibit the production of proinflammatory mediators by LPS. Taken together, the present results suggest that A. stricta root will be a useful herb for relieving allergic asthma through managing airway inflammation.

Objectives: The present study explored the protective effects of Pruns persica leaf extract (AstraPL) on photoaging , and investigated the associated molecular mechanisms. Methods: HaCaT keratinocytes or SKH1 hairless mice that had been treated with AstraPL were exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays. Results: Treatment with AstraPL significantly inhibited the decrease in cell viability of UV-irradiated HaCaT cells. In addition, AstraPL treatment decreased phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and cleavage of caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Moreover, UV-mediated lipid peroxidation and its protein adducts were reduced by AstraPL, which is along with accumulation of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in the nucleus, transactivation of Nrf2, and expression of Nrf2-dependent antioxidant genes. AstraPL significantly increased phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase α (AMPKα), but AMPK inhibition blocked AstraPL-mediated nuclear Nrf2 accumulation and antioxidant genes induction. Consistently, topical application of AstraPL to mice significantly prevented increases in epithelial thickness, apoptosis, dryness, wrinkle length and wrinkle depth in UV-irradiated dorsal skin tissue. Furthermore, AstraPL restored UV-mediated imbalance between oxidative stress and antioxidant defense system with an increase in phosphorylated AMPKα in the skin tissue. Conclusion: The present results suggest that AstraPL may be a valuable cosmetic and therapeutic candidate for managing various UV-related skin disorders.