Centipeda minima (L.) A. Braun & Asch is a well-studied plant in Chinese medicine that is used for the treatment of several diseases. A recent study has revealed the effects of extract of Cetipeda minima (CMX) standardized by brevilin A in inducing hair growth. However, the mechanism of action of CMX in human hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs) has not yet been identified. We aimed to investigate the molecular basis underlying the effect of CMX on hair growth in HFDPCs. CMX induced the proliferation of HFDPCs, and the transcript-level expression of Wnt family member 5a (Wnt5a), frizzled receptor (FZDR), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was upregulated. These results correlated with an increase in the expression of growth-related factors, such as VEGF and IGF-1. Immunoblotting and immunocytochemistry further revealed that the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK was enhanced by CMX in HFDPCs, and β-catenin accumulated significantly in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, CMX substantially induced the expression of Wnt signaling-related proteins, such as GSK phosphorylation and β-catenin. This study supports the hypothesis that CMX promotes hair growth and secretion of growth factors via the Wnt/β-catenin, ERK, and JNK signaling pathways. In addition, computational predictions of drug-likeness, together with ADME property predictions, revealed the satisfactory bioavailability score of CMX compounds, exhibiting high gastrointestinal absorption. We suggest that CMX could be used as a promising treatment for hair regeneration and minimization of hair loss.

The epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cancer cells is a crucial process in cancer cell metastasis. An Aquimarina sp. MC085 extract was found to inhibit A549 human lung cancer cell invasion, and caprolactin C (1), a new natural product, α-amino-ε-caprolactam linked to 3-methyl butanoic acid, was purified through bioactivity-guided isolation of the extract. Furthermore, its enantiomeric compound, ent-caprolactin C (2), was synthesized. Both 1 and 2 inhibited the invasion and γ-irradiation-induced migration of A549 cells. In transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-treated A549 cells, 2 inhibited the phosphorylation of Smad2/3 and suppressed the EMT cell marker proteins (N-cadherin, β-catenin, and vimentin), as well as the related messenger ribonucleic acid expression (N-cadherin, matrix metalloproteinase-9, Snail, and vimentin), while compound 1 did not suppress Smad2/3 phosphorylation and the expression of EMT cell markers. Therefore, compound 2 could be a potential candidate for antimetastatic agent development, because it suppresses TGF-β-induced EMT.

Alternative medicines, especially herbal remedies, have been employed to treat infections and metabolism-related chronic inflammation because their safety and multidimensional therapeutic potential outweigh those of synthetic drugs. So Shiho Tang (SSHT), a well-known Oriental prescription (Xiao Chai Hu Tang in Chinese) composed of seven herbs, is traditionally prescribed to treat various viral infections and chronic metabolic disorders in Asia with or without the support of other natural medicines. To provide a general background on how SSHT is used as a medicinal alternative, we conducted a scoping review using the PubMed database system. Among the 453 articles, 76 studies used aqueous extracts of SSHT alone. This result included seven clinical studies and 69 basic studies: cell-based, animal-based, and ex vivo studies. The in vitro and clinical reports mainly focus on hepatic infection and hepatocarcinoma, and the documentation of in vivo tests of SSHT presents a wide range of effects on cancer, fibrosis, inflammation, and several metabolic disorder symptoms. Additionally, among the seven clinical records, two reverse-effect case studies were reported in middle-aged patients. In brief, this systematic review provides general knowledge on the natural remedy SSHT and its potential in phytotherapeutic primary health care.

Chemical investigations of Aquimarina sp. MC085, which suppressed TGF-β-induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in A549 human lung cancer cells, led to the isolation of compounds 1–3. Structural characterization using spectroscopic data analyses in combination with Marfey’s analysis revealed that they were two diketopiperazines [cyclo(l-Pro-l-Leu) (1) and cyclo(l-Pro-l-Ile) (2)] and one N-phenethylacetamide (3). Cyclo(l-Pro-l-Leu) (1) and N-phenethylactamide (3) inhibited the TGF-β/Smad pathway and suppressed the metastasis of A549 cells by affecting TGF-β-induced EMT. However, cyclo(l-Pro-l-Ile) (2) downregulated mesenchymal factors via a non-Smad-mediated signaling pathway.

Cinnamomum cassia is a natural product found in plants that has been used as a folk remedy for inflammation. In this study, we investigated the mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of C. cassia extract (ECC) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced murine RAW 264.7 cells, in comparison with 4-hydroxycinnamaldehyde, a C. cassia extract component. ECC and 4-hydroxycinnamaldehyde inhibited the production of nitrite oxide in a dose-dependent manner and did not show any change in cellular toxicity when treated with the same dose as that used in the nitrite assay. Moreover, they attenuated ROS accumulation after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. ECC and 4-hydroxycinnamaldehyde decreased the mRNA and protein expression levels of inflammatory mediators (iNOS and COX-2) and cytokines such as TNF and IL-6. We also found that ECC and 4-hydroxycinnamaldehyde mitigated the phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and transcription factors, such as NF-κB and STAT3, suppressing NF-κB nuclear translocation in LPS-activated macrophages. In addition, administration of ECC in a Sprague Dawley rat model of acute gastric injury caused by indomethacin significantly increased the gastric mucus volume. Analysis of serum and tissue levels of inflammatory mediators revealed a significant decrease in serum PGE2 and myeloperoxidase levels and a reduction in gastric iNOS, COX-2, and p65 protein levels. Collectively, these results suggest that ECC has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and is a potential candidate for curing gastritis.

Diarrhea is a common adverse effect of antibiotics particularly that acts on anaerobes. Moutan Radicis Cortex (MRC) is an herbal medicine used for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial actions. The purpose of this study was to analyze the active components of MRC to determine their effect on antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) and anti-inflammatory effects. Of the various components of MRC, seven compounds (gallic acid, oxypaeoniflorin, paeoniflorin, ethyl gallate, benzoic acid, benzoylpaeoniflorin, paeonol) were identified and assessed for anti-inflammation effects. Paeonol was found to effectively reduce nitric oxide production and levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in a concentration-dependent manner. Paeonol also effectively reduced the mRNA expression level of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α. Western blotting analysis confirmed the reduction of COX-2 and NF-κB levels; p-p38 MAPK levels increased in the presence of a low concentration (25 μM) of paeonol but decreased in the presence of a high concentration (50 μM). In the mouse model of lincomycin-induced AAD, all experimental groups treated with paeonol (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg concentrations) showed diminished diarrhea status scores. Finally, the expression levels of TNF-α and IL-4 were reduced compared with those in the control group. Therefore, paeonol may have active compounds of MRC to alleviate the diarrhea symptoms of AAD and reduce inflammatory mediators. Other components of the MRC extract could contribute to its known anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity and should be tested for their possible activity.