Fritillariae thunbergii Bulbus (FTB), a member of the Liliaceae family, has a long history of use in many herbal formulations for traditional and modern clinical applications to treat various infections and inflammation. To understand FTB’s diverse physiochemical properties, it is important to determine the pharmacokinetic properties of its active constituents, the steroidal alkaloids. The aim of the present study was to investigate the pharmacokinetic alterations of the alkaloids, the active components of FTB, in the presence of colitis. A single oral dose of FTB (1 g/kg) was treated to a 2,4-dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS)-induced colitis rat model to assess whether the colitis condition could influence the pharmacokinetics of the major alkaloids present in FTB. Among the four major alkaloids, peimisine exhibited a significantly increased systemic exposure, approximately five times higher, under the colitis condition compared with the normal state. Meanwhile, peimine, peiminine, and sipeimine exhibited shorter half-lives in the DNBS group without significant changes in systemic absorption. As herbal medicine may contain active substances with different or opposing efficacies, careful consideration of pharmacokinetic changes in individual components due to diseases is necessary. Further experiments on peimisine are required to ensure the effectiveness and safety of FTB’s clinical application in the presence of colitis.

Ageratum conyzoides, an annual herbaceous plant that inhabits tropical and subtropical regions, has been traditionally used in Asia, Africa, and South America for phytotherapy to treat infectious and inflammatory conditions. However, the pharmacological effects of standardized ethanolic extract of Ageratum conyzoides (ACE) on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) remain unexplored. The objective of this research is to examine the potential physiological impacts of ACE, a traditionally utilized remedy for inflammatory ailments, in a rat model with BPH induced by testosterone propionate (TP). Rats were subcutaneously administered TP (3 mg/kg) to induce BPH and concurrently orally administered ACE (20, 50, and 100 mg/kg) daily for 42 days. ACE markedly improved BPH characteristics, including prostate weight, prostate index, and epithelial thickness, while also suppressing androgens and related hormones. The findings were supported by a decrease in androgen receptor and downstream signals associated with BPH in the prostate tissues of the ACE groups. Furthermore, increased apoptotic signals were observed in the prostate tissue of the ACE groups, along with heightened detection of the apoptotic nucleus compared to the BPH alone group. These changes seen in the group that received finasteride were similar to those observed in this group. These findings suggest that ACE shows promise as an alternative phytotherapeutic agent for treating BPH.

Background/Objectives: Hair loss, driven by disrupted hair cycles, age-related hormonal imbalances, and oxidative stress, poses significant psychological challenges, necessitating the development of safe and effective therapies. This research investigates the trichogenic potential and underlying mechanisms of a standardized Ageratum conyzoides extract (ACE) using human follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs) and C57BL/6 mice as models. Methods: HFDPCs were treated with ACE to assess its effects on 5α-reductase activity, estrogen receptor (ERα/ERβ) signaling, and activation of Wnt/β-catenin and MAPK pathways. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and antioxidant enzyme expression were also evaluated. In vivo, C57BL/6 mice were administered ACE orally, and hair regrowth, follicle number and depth, and histological changes were measured. Results: In HFDPCs, ACE inhibited 5α-reductase activity, modulated ERα and ERβ signaling, and activated Wnt/β-catenin and MAPK pathways. ACE treatment at 100 μg/mL significantly increased β-catenin, p-GSK3β, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression (p < 0.01) and decreased Dickkopf-related protein-1 (DKK-)1 expression (p < 0.05). It also upregulated VEGF and other hair-growth-related factors and exhibited substantial antioxidant properties by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and elevating the expression of antioxidant enzymes, notably SOD2 at 100 μg/mL. In C57BL/6 mice, oral administration of ACE significantly increased hair regrowth, with the 50 mg/kg group showing the most prominent effects, including increased hair follicle number and depth compared to the negative control group (p < 0.05). These effects were observed to be dose-dependent and comparable to those of minoxidil. Histological analysis confirmed enhanced anagen-phase follicle development. Conclusions: These findings highlight ACE’s multifaceted biological activity in promoting hair growth through hormonal modulation, pathway activation, and antioxidant protection, positioning it as a promising natural supplement for hair growth and health, although further clinical studies are required to confirm its efficacy in humans.

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria from companion animals poses significant public health risks. Prudent antibiotic use, particularly through pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics modeling, is crucial for minimizing resistance. We investigated the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of amoxicillin (AMX) against Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. A pharmacokinetic study was conducted on healthy dogs subcutaneously injected with a dose of 15 mg/kg AMX. The antibacterial efficacy of AMX was evaluated against a standard strain from animals (KCTC 3344) and clinical isolates from dogs (B-2, B-7, and B-8), with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 0.25, 0.5, 64, and 16 μg/mL, respectively. The half-life of AMX was 7 h, allowing for extended drug efficacy. The time above MIC (%T $>$ MIC) values indicated that the AMX concentrations were maintained above MICs of the two susceptible strains (KCTC 3344 and B-2) for more than 80% of the time when dosed at a one-day interval, suggesting an effective treatment. The area under the curve over 24 h/MIC ratios confirmed the bacteriostatic, bactericidal, and bacterial eradication effects of AMX against S. pseudintermedius strains, except for B-7 (the most resistant strain). These results support improved clinical dosing strategies for AMX against S. pseudintermedius infections in dogs.

The need for antibiotics in commercial laying hens is increasing owing to intensive farming systems. Amoxicillin trihydrate (AMX), an aminopenicillin β-lactam antibiotic, exerts broad bactericidal activity. However, its short half-life necessitates frequent administration to ensure efficacy, thus limiting its use. Herein, we investigated the effect of concurrent administration of bromhexine hydrochloride (BRM), a mucolytic agent, on AMX pharmacokinetics, performing a comparative pharmacokinetic analysis of AMX administration alone and in combination with BRM. AMX (50 mg/kg) was administered by oral gavage once daily for three days alone or in combination with 10 mg/kg BRM. Plasma and egg samples were collected to evaluate pharmacokinetic profiles and egg residues. The area under the curve and maximum plasma concentration values were significantly higher in the AMX + BRM group than the AMX only group. However, there were no significant differences in AMX half-life in the elimination phase (T_1/2), elimination rate constant (k_el), or apparent clearance (CL/F) values. In the egg residue study, the withdrawal period for AMX was 5 days in both groups, with no significant difference when using the maximum residue limit (MRL) of 10 μg/kg. The concentration of BRM in the eggs remained at 100 μg/kg up to the fourth day following drug administration. Conclusion: These results confirmed that BRM co-administration increased systemic exposure to AMX, with a negligible residual impact of amoxicillin in eggs.

Background/Objectives: Chestnut inner shells, traditionally used in Korean and Chinese herbal medicine, contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds that contribute to complementary medicine. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effects of chestnut inner-shell extract (CIE) on skeletal muscle injury and atrophy using both in vivo and in vitro models. Methods: We used three experimental models representing distinct pathological mechanisms: (1) barium chloride (BaCl₂)-induced muscle injury to model acute myofiber damage, (2) sciatic nerve transection to model chronic neurogenic muscle atrophy, and (3) H₂O₂-treated C2C12 myoblasts to model oxidative-stress-related myogenic impairment. Histological analyses (e.g., hematoxylin and eosin staining and cross-sectional area measurement) and molecular analyses were performed to evaluate the effects of CIE on muscle structure, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. Results: In the BaCl₂ injury model, CIE treatment significantly restored the muscle fiber structure, with muscle protein levels returning to near-normal levels. In the denervation-induced muscle atrophy model, CIE treatment led to a dose-dependent decrease in apoptosis-related factors (especially cleaved caspase-3) and mitigated the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. In the in vitro oxidative stress model, CIE suppressed the expression of NRF2 and HO-1, which are key oxidative stress response regulators. Conclusions: These findings suggest that CIE may offer therapeutic potential for mitigating skeletal muscle damage, atrophy, and oxidative stress.