Coptis chinensis (CC) is used in conventional Chinese medicine. The main active components of CC are isoquinoline alkaloids, including berberine, coptisine, palmatine, and magnoflorine; all these are known to have several pharmacological properties. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is a well-known synthetic biocompatible polymer suitable for a range of pharmaceutical uses; it can be used as a matrix for the incorporation of functional materials and has a wide range of applications in the cosmetics, food, pharmaceutical, and packaging industries. In this study, PVA-based electrospun nanofibers containing CC extract were successfully fabricated. Furthermore, the effects of different CC extract contents on the morphologies, and antimicrobial and antifungal properties of PVA/CC extract nanofibers were investigated. Morphological changes were observed using different molecular weights of PVA. For characterization, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier transform infrared analysis were performed. The effectiveness of these nanofibers has been demonstrated by evaluating the thermal stability against Staphylococcus aureus, antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, and the antifungal activity against the fungi Aureobasidium pullulans and Penicillium pinophilum. The PVA/CC extract nanofibers were found to have excellent antibacterial and antifungal activity and thermal stability; hence, their use in medicinal sectors is highly recommended.

Background and objectives: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) overwhelm the antioxidant defense system, induce oxidative stress, and increase matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression, resulting in skin aging. Thus, preventing ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced skin damage can attenuate skin aging. Spirulina (a biomass of cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae) is comprised of prokaryotes, whereas microalgae are eukaryotes and are rich in phycocyanin, a powerful antioxidant. Materials and Methods: Here, we investigated the photoprotective effects of spirulina-derived C-phycocyanin (C-PC) against UVB radiation using keratinocytes (HaCaT cells). Results: UVB radiation increased MMP-1 and MMP-9 expression but decreased involucrin, filaggrin, and loricrin expression. C-PC showed no toxicity at concentrations of 5–80 μg/mL in terms of HaCaT cell viability. UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells had a 50.8% survival rate, which increased to 80.3% with C-PC treatment. MMP expression increased with UVB treatment, whereas MMP-1 and MMP-9 concentrations decreased with C-PC treatment. UVB reduced involucrin, filaggrin, and loricrin expression in HaCaT cells, but 80 μg/mL C-PC increased their expression by >25%. In the UVB radiation group, dichlorofluorescin diacetate fluorescence intensity in HaCaT cells increased by 81.6% compared with that in the control group, whereas ROS production was reduced by 51.2% and 55.1% upon treatment with 40 and 80 μg/mL C-PC, respectively. Conclusions: C-PC might reduce or prevent skin aging by reducing UVB irradiation-induced skin wrinkles and free radicals.

Chamaecyparis obtusa (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. (C. obtusa) has been used as folk medicine in East Asia and has been reported to alleviate inflammatory diseases. However, the detailed mechanisms for the anti-inflammatory effects of C. obtusa remain unclear. Although the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of natural products have been studied for decades, it is still important to identify the potential anti-inflammatory effects of natural sources. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects and underlying mechanism of C. obtusa leaf extracts. The cell viability was determined by MTT and crystal violet staining. NO production in the supernatant was measured using Griess reagent. The cell lysates were analyzed by immunoblotting and RT-qPCR. Secreted cytokines were analyzed using ELISA kit and cytokine array kit. mRNA expression from the GSE9632 database set. Z-scores were calculated for each gene and visualized by heat map. Among the extracts of C. obtusa obtained with different extraction methods, the 99% ethanol leaf extract (CO99EL) strongly inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and Janus kinase/signaling transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) phosphorylation in RAW264.7 cells. In addition, CO99EL strongly inhibited LPS-induced interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-27, and C-C motif chemokine ligand (CCL)-1 production and directly inhibited LPS-induced JAK/STAT phosphorylation in RAW264.7 cells. These findings demonstrate that CO99EL significantly prevents LPS-induced macrophage activation by inhibiting the JAK/STAT axis. Therefore, we suggest the use of C. obtusa extracts as therapeutic approach for inflammatory diseases.

Chamaecyparis obtusa (C. obtusa, cypress species) is a plant that grows mainly in the temperate Northern Hemisphere and has long been used as a traditional anti-inflammatory treatment in East Asia. C. obtusa contains phytoncides, flavonoids, and terpenes, which have excellent anti-cancer effects and have been reported to prevent the progression of various cancers. However, the detailed mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer effects of C. obtusa extracts are unknown. We sought to confirm the anti-cancer effects of C. obtusa leaf extracts and to reveal the mechanism of action, with the possibility of its application in the treatment or prevention of cancer. The cytotoxicity of C. obtusa leaf extracts was confirmed using an MTT assay. Intracellular changes in protein levels were measured by immunoblotting, and mRNA levels were measured with qRT-PCR. Wound healing assay and transwell migration assay were used to evaluate the metastatic potential of breast cancer cells. The extract-induced apoptosis was observed using IncuCyte Annexin V Red staining analysis. A syngeneic breast cancer mouse model was established by injecting 4T1-Luc mouse breast cancer cells into the fat pad of female BALB/c mice, and the extract was administered orally. Luciferin solution was injected intraperitoneally to assess primary tumor development and metastasis by bioluminescence. C. obtusa leaf extracts were extracted with boiling water, 70% EtOH, and 99% EtOH. Among the extracts, the 99% EtOH extract of C. obtusa leaf (CO99EL) most clearly inhibited the tyrosine phosphorylation of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (pY-STAT3) in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells at a concentration of 25 and 50 μg/mL. In addition, CO99EL strongly inhibited not only endogenous pY-STAT3 levels but also IL-6-induced STAT3 activation in various types of cancer cells, including breast cancer. CO99EL inhibited metastatic potential by downregulating the expression of N-cadherin, fibronectin, TWIST, MMP2, and MMP9 in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. CO99EL also induced apoptotic cell death by increasing cleaved caspase-3 and decreasing anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. In an in vivo syngeneic breast cancer mouse model, 100 mg/kg CO99EL suppressed tumor growth and induced apoptosis of cancer cells. Moreover, CO99EL significantly inhibited lung metastasis from primary breast cancer. Our study demonstrated that 100 mg/kg CO99EL has potent anti-tumor effects against breast cancer, thus suggesting that 100 mg/kg CO99EL has potential applications in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer.

Cypress tree (Chamaecyparis obtusa) bark is well-known for its bio-functional activities and high content of polyphenol and flavonoids. It has previously exhibited antioxidant, anti-pathogenic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Our study aimed to investigate the anti-melanogenic effect of Cypress Tree Bark extract (CBE). We evaluated cellular tyrosinase activity and melanin content in alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) induced B16F10 murine melanoma cells. We analyzed microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase-related protein (TRP1 and TRP2), and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) activation via phosphorylation of AKT and ERK using western blot analysis. Tyrosinase, MITF, TRP1, and TRP2 mRNA expression were examined via real-time polymerase chain reaction. CBE restored melanin content and tyrosinase activity remarkably in α-MSH stimulated melanoma cells. It exhibited an anti-melanogenic effect through suppressing MITF, TRP1, TRP2, tyrosinase mRNA and protein expression in α-MSH-induced B16F10 cells. Furthermore, CBE has significantly inhibited CREB activation by suppressing AKT and extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation. Our data strongly suggest that CBE has potential effects against melanogenesis. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT