Narrowband-ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) has been used to treat skin diseases such as psoriasis. Chronic use of NB-UVB might cause skin inflammation and lead to skin cancer. In Thailand, Derris Scandens (Roxb.) Benth. is used as an alternative medicine to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for low back pain and osteoarthritis. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the potential anti-inflammatory effect of Derris scandens extract (DSE) on pre- and post exposed NB-UVB human keratinocytes (HaCaT). The results indicated that DSE could not protect HaCaT from cell morphology changes or DNA fragmentation and could not recover cell proliferation ability from the NB-UVB effects. DSE treatment reduced the expression of genes related to inflammation, collagen degradation, and carcinogenesis, such as IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, iNOS, COX-2, MMP-1, MMP-9, and Bax. These results indicated the potential use of DSE as a topical preparation against NB-UVB-induced inflammation, anti-aging, and prevention of skin cancer from phototherapy.

TPDM6315 is an antipyretic Thai herbal recipe that contains several herbs with anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity activities. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of TPDM6315 extracts in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophages and TNF-α-induced 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and the effects of TPDM6315 extracts on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The results showed that the TPDM6315 extracts reduced the nitric oxide production and downregulated the iNOS, IL-6, PGE₂, and TNF-α genes regulating fever in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. The treatment of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes with TPDM6315 extracts during a differentiation to the adipocytes resulted in the decreasing of the cellular lipid accumulation in adipocytes. The ethanolic extract (10 µg/mL) increased the mRNA level of adiponectin (the anti-inflammatory adipokine) and upregulated the PPAR-γ in the TNF-α induced adipocytes. These findings provide evidence-based support for the traditional use of TPDM6315 as an anti-pyretic for fever originating from inflammation. The anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory actions of TPDM6315 in TNF-α induced adipocytes suggest that this herbal recipe could be useful for the treatment of metabolic syndrome disorders caused by obesity. Further investigations into the modes of action of TPDM6315 are needed for developing health products to prevent or regulate disorders resulting from inflammation.

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) resulting from benign prostatic hyperplasia are a common complaint among elderly men worldwide. Our previous study reported alleviative efficacy of Thai traditional massage (TTM) on LUTS patients. However, underlying mechanism at cellular level remained elusive. Herein, we investigated the effect of TTM on urinary monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and associative inflammatory biomarkers. Forty-three patients were randomized into two groups: Tamsulosin (n = 23) and TTM (n = 20). The urinary MCP-1 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels as well as gene expression levels of MCP-1, Chemotactic protein receptor 2b (CCR2b), IFN-γ, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) were evaluated before and after a four-week treatment. The urinary MCP-1 and IFN-γ levels as well as gene expression levels of MCP-1, CCR2b, IFN-γ, IL-1β, and TGF-β1 were evaluated before and after treatment with Tamsulosin or TTM group. Urinary MCP-1 and IFN-γ levels and the expression levels of five genes from sedimented urine samples were measured using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction, respectively. We observed significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the ratio of urinary MCP-1 and creatinine (Cr); MCP-1/Cr levels in subjects given only TTM. There were no significant differences (p < 0.05) in IFN-γ/Cr levels in both groups. TTM group down-regulated the expression of IFN-γ whereas up-regulated IL-1β and TGF-β1 mRNA. Our findings suggested TTM had alleviative effects in LUTS patients, which were partially mediated by a reduction of urinary inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory gene expression.

Lysiphyllum strychnifolium (Craib) A. Schmitz (LS) has been traditionally used as a medicinal herb by folk healers in Thailand with rare evidence-based support. Hepatic cytochrome P450s (CYPs450) are well known as the drug-metabolizing enzymes that catalyze all drugs and toxicants. In this study, we investigated the mRNA levels of six clinically important CYPs450, i.e., CYP1A2, 3A2, 2C11, 2D1, 2D2, and 2E1, in rats given LS extracts. Seventy Wistar rats were randomized into seven groups (n = 10). Each group was given LS stem ethanol (SE) and leaf water (LW) extracts orally at doses of 300, 2000, and 5000 mg/kg body weight (mg/kg.bw) for twenty-eight consecutive days. After treatment, the expression of CYPs450 genes was measured using quantitative real-time PCR. The results revealed that SE and LW, which contained quercetin and gallic acid, promoted the upregulation of all CYPs450. Almost all CYPs450 genes were downregulated in all male LW-treated rats but upregulated in female-treated groups, suggesting that CYP gene expressions in LS-treated rats were influenced by gender. Moderate and high doses of the LS extracts had a tendency to induce six CYP450s’ transcription levels in both rat genders. CYP2E1 gene showed a unique expression level in male rats receiving SE at a dose of 2000 mg/kg.bw, whereas a low dose of 300 mg/kg.bw was found in the LW-treated female group. As a result, our findings suggest that different doses of LS extracts can moderate the varying mRNA expression of clinically relevant CYP genes. In this study, we provide information about CYP induction and inhibition in vivo, which could be a desirable condition for furthering the practical use of LS extracts in humans.

Background: Recent studies have reported associations between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the findings thus far are inconsistent. This study aims to clarify the association of vitamin D intake, VDR levels, and relevant polymorphisms in early stages of CRC in Thai patients following vitamin D₃ supplementation. Methods: Total RNA and genomic DNA were isolated from the buffy coats of CRC patients (n = 27). The levels of VDR, RXR, CYP27B1, and CYP24A1 were measured using quantitative real-time PCR. Associations of nine single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of VDR, CYP27B1, CYP24A1 and serum vitamin D levels were investigated. Results: The expression levels of VDR, RXR and CYP27B1 were significantly elevated in the vitamin D₃-treated group. However, no significant associations were observed between vitamin D intake and the specific VDR SNPs, including FokI, BsmI, ApaI, TaqI, and Tru9I. Furthermore, none of the SNPs or haplotypes within the VDR, CYP27B1 (rs10877012), or CYP24A1 (rs6013897, rs158552, rs17217119) were linked to colorectal cancer susceptibility. Conclusions: This finding demonstrated that vitamin D intake enhances the expression of VDR and related genes in early-stage CRC patients; these effects are independent of VDR, CYP27B1, and CYP24A1 genetic polymorphisms. This suggests that gene expression changes may be driven more by vitamin D status than by underlying genetic variation.