Pancreatic lipase is the enzyme responsible for digestion and absorption of triglycerides, being its inhibition one of the widest studied methods used to determine the potential activity of natural products to inhibit dietary fat absorption. Decrease of energy intake from dietary fat through inhibition of this enzyme may be an excellent strategy to prevent and treat obesity. The inhibitory activity on pancreatic lipase enzyme ofDiospyros kakifruit andCitrus unshiupeel mixture extract (PCM) was evaluatedin vitroand its antiobesity effects were studied based on the serum lipid parameters analysis from high-fat diet- (HFD-) fed micein vivo. PCM was orally administered at a dose of 50 and 200 mg/kg body weight for 6 weeks. In addition, the activity of pancreatic lipase was assessed using orlistat (positive control). PCM exhibited inhibitory effect on lipase activity with IC₅₀value of 507.01 μg/mL. Moreover, serum triacylglycerol, total cholesterol levels, and visceral fat weight were significantly reduced compared to HFD control mice in PCM 200 mg/kg-treated mice (p<0.05). These results suggest that PCM administration may be a novel potential antiobesity agent for reduction of fat absorption via inhibition of pancreatic lipase.

AIM: To observe the effects of traditional antiinflammatory medicine Lonicerae Flos (LF) on rat reflux esophagitis (RE) induced by pylorus and forestomach ligation compared with the well-known proton antioxidant, α-tocopherol.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory effects of the combined extract of Rhei rhizoma and Coptidis rhizoma (RC‐mix) in experimental model of acute reflux esophagitis. The antioxidant activity was assessed by in vitro 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays. RC‐mix was given at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight 2 h prior to induction of reflux esophagitis (RE). After 5 h, the effects of RC‐mix treated rats were compared with those of normal and control rats. The representative flavonoid contents of RC‐mix, such as sennoside A, epiberberine, coptisine, palmatine, and berberine, were detected using HPLC. The elevated esophageal mucosa damage was markedly ameliorated by RC‐mix treatment in a dose‐dependent manner. Furthermore, the administration of RC‐mix reduced the increase of serum reactive oxygen species (ROS) and peroxynitrite (ONOO⁻). The improvement of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) levels were marked in the group given RC‐mix. Moreover, the elevation of inflammatory mediators and cytokines by nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) activation in control rats decreased by RC‐mix pretreatment. These results indicate that RC‐mix treatment reduces the pathological states of esophagitis via regulating NF‐κB mediated inflammation related to oxidative stress.

Liver fibrosis, which means a sort of the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrices (ECMs) components through the liver tissue, is considered as tissue repair or wound-healing status. This pathological stage potentially leads to cirrhosis, if not controlled, it progressively results in hepatocellular carcinoma. Herein, we investigated the pharmacological properties and underlying mechanisms of Gardeniae Fructus (GF) against thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis of mice model. GF not only attenuated hepatic tissue oxidation but also improved hepatic inflammation. We further confirmed that GF led to ameliorating liver fibrosis by ECMs degradations. Regarding the possible underlying mechanism of GF, we observed GF regulated epigenetic regulator, Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), in TAA-injected liver tissue. These alterations were well supported by SIRT1 related signaling pathways through regulations of its downstream proteins including, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), p47^phox, NADPH oxidase 2, nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase-1, respectively. To validate the possible mechanism of GF, we used HepG2 cells with hydrogen peroxide treated oxidative stress and chronic exposure conditions via deteriorations of cellular SIRT1. Moreover, GF remarkably attenuated ECMs accumulations in transforming growth factor–β1-induced LX-2 cells relying on the SIRT1 existence. Taken together, GF attenuated liver fibrosis through AMPK/SIRT1 pathway as well as Nrf2 signaling cascades. Therefore, GF could be a clinical remedy for liver fibrosis patients in the future.

Background: The present study extensively aimed to evaluate the underlying mechanism of the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of Phellinus linteus mycelium (PLM). Methods: To assess whether PLM influences the production of markers related to inflammation, Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells were treated with PLM (50, 100, 200, and 500 μg/mL). Splenocyte, thymus, peritoneal exudate cells (PEC), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from the Balb/c mice treated with Korean red ginseng or PLM once a day for 5 weeks. Moreover, all mice except normal mice were stimulated with 10% proteose peptone (PP) treated 3 days before the sacrifice and 2% starch treated 2 days before the sacrifice. Subsequently, the cytotropic substance was evaluated by using flow cytometry analysis and ELISA assay. Results: PLM200 treatment significantly suppressed the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and inhibited the release of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α dose-dependently in the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. PLM200 supplementation showed a significant increase in IL-2, IL-12, and interferon (IFN)-γ production and upregulated the ratio of IFN-γ (T-helper type 1, Th1) to IL-4 (T-helper type 2, Th2) in splenocytes. After PLM200 treatment, the significant elevation of CD4⁺CD25⁺, CD4⁺&CD8⁺, and CD4⁺CD69⁺ treatment were detected in thymus. Moreover, CD4⁺ and CD4⁺CD69⁺ in PBMC and CD69⁺ in PEC were also shown in a significant increase. Conclusions: Taken together, these results showed an immunomodulatory effect of PLM about an elevated INF-γ/IL4 ratio, as an index of Th1/Th2, as well as the anti-inflammatory effect in the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Therefore, our findings demonstrate that PLM possesses immunostimulatory and anti-inflammatory effects.