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Since scalp hair loss has increased recently even in young people, seriously affecting individual's quality of life, the hair growth-stimulating effects of Laminaria japonica extract (LJE) and Cistanche tubulosa extract (CTE) were investigated. After confirming anagen phase of follicles under shaving, male C57BL/6 mice were dermally applied with 3% Minoxidil or orally administered with the combinations of LJE and CTE for 21 days. Minoxidil promoted the hair regrowth and increased gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GTP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities. In addition, Minoxidil up-regulated epidermal growth factor (EGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels. Co-administration of LJE and CTE at 54 mg/kg LJE plus 162 mg/kg CTE exerted synergistic promoting effects on the hair regrowth, comparable to 3% Minoxidil. LJE preferentially enhanced ALP activity, while CTE increased both gamma-GTP and ALP activities as well as EGF and VEGF expressions. In vivo air pouch inflammation model, carrageenan-induced vascular exudation and increased nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 concentrations in the exudates were synergistically suppressed by co-administration of LJE and CTE. In addition, inflammatory cell infiltration was substantially inhibited by the combinational treatment. The results suggest that combinational oral treatment with LJE and CTE in appropriate doses and ratios prevent hair loss and improve alopecia, which might be in part mediated by their anti-inflammatory activities.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Alopecia ; Animals ; Cistanche* ; Dinoprostone ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Exudates and Transudates ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; Hair* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Laminaria* ; Male ; Mice ; Minoxidil ; Nitric Oxide ; Quality of Life ; Scalp ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

The effects of a beta-dunnione compound MB12662 on the gastric secretion and ulcers were investigated in rats. In order to assess the effects of MB12662 on the gastric secretion and acidity, rats were subjected to pylorus ligation operation, and 6 hours later, gastric fluid was collected. Treatment with MB12662 reduced the gastric fluid volume to 47.3% of control level and increased pH. In an alcohol-induced ulcer model, rats were orally administered 3 mL/kg of ethanol, and 1 hour later, the ulcer lesions ware measured under a stereomicroscope. MB12662 reduced ulcer index in a dose-dependent manner which was much stronger than a proton-pump inhibitor pantoprazole. In a stress-induced ulcer model, rats were subjected to water-immersion restraint stress, and 5 hours later, the ulcer lesions ware examined. MB12662 also attenuated the stress-induced gastric lesions, although the efficacy of MB12662 was lower than that of pantoprazole. Therefore, it is suggested that MB12662 could be a candidate compound for the prevention or treatment of gastric ulcers induced by gastric over-secretion and alcoholic hangover.
2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles ; Alcoholics ; Animals ; Ethanol ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Ligation ; Pylorus ; Rats ; Stomach Ulcer ; Ulcer

According to a high anti-osteoporotic efficacy of Sigma Anti-bonding Molecule Calcium Carbonate (SAC), repeated-dose toxicities of SAC were investigated to assess its feasibility as drug or functional food ingredient. Male ICR mice were given drinking water containing 0.006, 0.02 or 0.06% SAC for 4 weeks. SAC feeding decreased the body weights and feed and water consumptions of mice in a dose-dependent manner, especially, leading to severe emaciation and 70% death in 3 weeks in the high-dose (0.06%) group. Not only kidney and heart weights, but also the levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, aspartate transaminase, and creatine phospokinase significantly increased after SAC administration, indicative of nephrotoxicity and cardiotoxicity. Such renal and cardiac toxicities were also confirmed by microscopic findings, exhibiting renal crystals and cardiac fibrosis, which may be due to the insoluble crystal formation and calcium overload, respectively. In conclusion, it is suggested that no observed adverse effect level of SAC is lower than 0.006% in mice, and that a long-term intake may cause serious adverse effects on renal and cardiac functions.
Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Body Weight ; Calcium ; Calcium Carbonate ; Creatine ; Creatinine ; Drinking Water ; Emaciation ; Fibrosis ; Functional Food ; Heart ; Humans ; Kidney ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level ; Weights and Measures

The neuroprotective effects of a butanol fraction of white rose petal extract (WRPE-BF) were investigated in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model. Seven week-old male rats were orally administered WRPE-BF for 2 weeks and subjected to MCAO for 2 h, followed by reperfusion. Twenty-four h later, MCAO-induced behavioral dysfunctions were markedly improved in a dose-dependent manner by pretreatment with WRPE-BF. Moreover, higher dose of WRPE-BF not only decreased infarction area but also effectively reduced astrogliosis. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and glial fibrillary acidic protein in MCAO model were markedly inhibited by WRPE-BF treatment. Notably, WRPE-BF decreased nitric oxide and malondialdehyde levels in the striatum and subventricular zone of stroke-challenged brains. These data suggested that WRPE-BF may exert its neuroprotective effects via anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities against ischemia-reperfusion brain injury and could be a good candidate as a therapeutic target for ischemic stroke.
Animals ; Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Humans ; Infarction ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Neuroprotective Agents* ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Rats ; Reperfusion ; Rosa* ; Stroke

Anti-inflammatory effects of Houttuynia cordata supercritical extract (HSE) were investigated in rat carrageenan-air pouch model. Oral administration of HSE (50-200 mg/kg) suppressed carrageenan-induced exudation and albumin leakage, as well as inflammatory cell infiltration at a high dose (200 mg/kg). Intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone (2 mg/kg) only decreased exudation and cell infiltration, while indomethacin (2 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced exudate volume and albumin content without influence on the cell number. HSE lowered tumor-necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and nitric oxide (NO), as well as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Dexamethasone only reduced TNF-alpha and NO, while indomethacin decreased PGE2. The results indicate that HSE exhibits anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting both TNF-alpha-NO and cyclooxygenase-2-PGE2 pathways.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Carrageenan ; Cell Count ; Dexamethasone ; Dinoprostone ; Exudates and Transudates ; Houttuynia ; Indomethacin ; Inflammation ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Nitric Oxide ; Rats ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

The anti-inflammatory effects of fuciodan and Cistanche tubulosa (CT) extract were investigated in vitro macrophage culture system and in vivo carrageenan-induced air pouch inflammation model. CT extract inhibited nitric oxide production from activated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells, while fucoidan was inactive. In vivo air pouch inflammation model, carrageenan-induced vascular exudation and increased nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 concentrations in the exudates were synergistically suppressed by co-administration of fucoidan or CT extract. Moreover, tissue inflammation was substantially attenuated by the combinational therapy. However, there was no synergistic effect against the inflammatory cell infiltration, although fucoidan and CT extract each markedly reduced the cell numbers. Therefore, it is suggested that fucoidan blocks infiltration of inflammatory cells, while CT extract inhibits activation of the cells, and that their combinational treatment could be a promising candidate for the relief of various types of inflammation.
Carrageenan ; Cell Count ; Cistanche ; Dinoprostone ; Exudates and Transudates ; Inflammation ; Laminaria ; Macrophages ; Nitric Oxide ; Polysaccharides

Effects of egg york containing IgY specific for Helicobacter pylori on the bacterial growth and intragastric infection were investigated in comparison with a proton-pump inhibitor pantoprazole. For in vitro anti-bacterial activity test, H. pylori (1x108 CFU/mL) was incubated with a serially diluted IgY for 3 days. As a result, IgY fully inhibited the bacterial growth at 16 mg/mL, which was determined to a minimal inhibitory concentration. In vivo elimination study, male C57BL/6 mice were infected with the bacteria by intragastric inoculation (1x108 CFU/mouse) 3 times at 2-day intervals, and 2 weeks later, orally treated twice a day with 50, 100, 200 or 500 mg/kg IgY for 18 days. After the final administration, biopsy sample of the gastric mucosa was assayed for the bacterial identification via urease, oxidase, catalase, nitrate reduction and H2S tests in addition to microscopic examination for mucosal inflammation. In CLO kit test, 75, 50, 12.5 and 12.5% of the animals revealed positive reaction following treatment with 50, 100, 200 and 500 mg/kg IgY, respectively, resulting in a superior efficacy at 200 mg/kg than 30 mg/kg pantoprazole that displayed 75% elimination. The CLO test results were confirmed by bacterial identification. Microscopic examination revealed that H. pylori infection caused severe gastric mucosal inflammation, which were not observed in the CLO-negative mice following treatment with IgY or pantoprazole. Taken together, IgY inhibited the growth of H. pylori, and improved gastritis and villi injuries by eliminating the bacteria from the stomach. The results indicate that IgY could be a good candidate overcoming tolerance of antibiotics for the treatment of H. pylori-mediated gastric ulcers.
2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Biopsy ; Catalase ; Gastric Mucosa ; Gastritis ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Inflammation ; Male ; Mice ; Ovum ; Oxidoreductases ; Stomach ; Stomach Ulcer ; Urease

The effects of polarized-light therapy (PLT) on high-cholesterol diet (HCD)-induced hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis were investigated in comparison with that of lovastatin in rabbits. Hypercholesterolemia was induced by feeding male New Zealand white rabbits with 1% cholesterol in diet for 2 weeks and maintained with 0.5% cholesterol for 6 weeks, followed by normal diet for 2 weeks for recovery. Lovastatin (0.002% in diet) or daily 5-min or 20-min PLT on the outside surface of ears was started 2 weeks after induction of hypercholesterolemia. Hypercholesterolemic rabbits exhibited great increases in serum cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) levels, and finally severe atheromatous plaques formation covering 57.5% of the arterial walls. Lovastatin markedly reduced both the cholesterol and LDL, but the reducing effect (47.5%) on atheroma formation was relatively low. By comparison, 5-min PLT preferentially decreased LDL, rather than cholesterol, and thereby potentially reduced the atheroma area to 42.2%. Notably, 20-min PLT was superior to lovastatin in reducing both the cholesterol and LDL levels as well as the atheromatous plaque formation (26.4%). In contrast to the increases in blood alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase following lovastatin treatment, PLT did not cause hepatotoxicity. In addition, PLT decreased platelets and hematocrit level. The results indicate that PLT attenuates atherosclerosis not only by lowering blood cholesterol and LDL levels, but also by improving blood flow without adverse effects. Therefore, it is suggested that PLT could be a safe alternative therapy for the improvement of hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis.
Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Atherosclerosis ; Blood Platelets ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Ear ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; Lovastatin ; Male ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Rabbits