So Shiho Tang (SSHT) is a traditional herbal medicine commonly used in Asian countries. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of SSHT and the associated mechanism using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages and murine dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis models. Pre-treatment of RAW 264.7 macrophages with SSHT significantly reduced LPS-induced inflammation by decreasing nitrite production and regulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Meanwhile, in mice, DSS-induced colitis symptoms, including colon shortening and body weight loss, were attenuated by SSHT. Moreover, representative compounds of SSHT, including glycyrrhizic acid, ginsenoside Rb₁, baicalin, saikosaponin A, and saikosaponin B2, were quantified, and their effects on nitrite production were measured. A potential anti-inflammatory effect was detected in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Our findings suggest that SSHT is a promising anti-inflammatory agent. Its representative components, including saikosaponin B2, ginsenoside Rb₁, and baicalin, may represent the key active compounds responsible for eliciting the anti-inflammatory effects and can, therefore, serve as quality control markers in SSHT preparations.

Background/Objectives: Obesity is a major health concern that can lead to various chronic diseases. Little is known about the anti-obesity effect of a standardized hot water extract from the stems of Ipomoea batatas (WIB). This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of WIB as a natural alternative to conventional anti-obesity treatments by assessing its effects on body weight, fat accumulation, and key metabolic biomarkers in a high-fat diet-induced obesity model. Methods: A high-fat diet (HFD) induced obesity in C57BL/6 mice. The mice were then treated orally with either orlistat (positive control) or WIB. Changes in body weight, food intake, and fat weight were measured, along with blood lipid profiles and adipokines. Western blot analyses were conducted to determine protein levels in each tissue. H&E staining in white adipose tissue and liver, and the gut microbiota composition were analyzed. Results: WIB treatment significantly reduced body weight and fat mass compared to the HFD group and demonstrated comparable effects to orlistat. WIB improved blood lipid profiles and adipokine levels. H&E staining revealed reduced fat accumulation in the white adipose tissue and liver. Also in those tissues, WIB restored expression levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) and increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation. In brown adipose tissue, WIB enhanced AMPK phosphorylation and upregulated thermogenic-related proteins, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1), and cytochrome C oxidase subunit 4 (COX-IV). Analysis of gut microbiota revealed that WIB normalized β-diversity and reversed HFD-induced phyla imbalances (notably in Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria). Conclusions: By reducing adiposity under the conditions tested in a murine model, improving metabolic markers, and favorably modulating gut microbiota, WIB demonstrates potential in mitigating obesity-related risks. These findings suggest that WIB may serve as a promising natural substance for the management of obesity. Further studies are warranted to confirm its efficacy and explore the potential underlying mechanisms in overweight or obese humans as a health supplement to help manage or prevent obesity.