Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Chinese Herbal Medicines: Links between Traditional Characters and the Skin Lipoperoxidation “Western” Model

The relationship between lipid peroxidation and inflammation has been accepted as a paradigm in the field of topical inflammation. The underlying biochemical mechanisms may be summarised as unspecific oxidative damage followed by specific oxidative processes as the physio pathological response in skin tissues. In this experimental review we hypothesise that the characteristics attributed by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to herbal drugs can be linked to their biomolecular activities within the framework of the above paradigm. To this end, we review and collect experimental data from several TCM herbal drugs to create 2D-3D pharmacological and biochemical spaces that are further reduced to a bidimensional combined space. When multivariate analysis is applied to the latter, it unveils a series of links between TCM herbal characters and the skin lipoperoxidation “Western” model. With the help of these patterns and a focused review on their chemical, pharmacological and antioxidant properties we show that cleansing herbs of bitter and cold nature acting through removal of toxins—including P. amurense, Coptis chinensis, S. baicalensis and F. suspensa—are highly correlated with strong inhibition of both lipid peroxidation and eicosanoids production. Sweet drugs—such as A. membranaceus, A. sinensis and P. cocos—act through a specific inhibition of the eicosanoids production. The therapeutic value of the remaining drugs—with low antioxidant or anti-inflammatory activity—seems to be based on their actions on the Qi with the exception of furanocoumarin containing herbs—A. dahurica and A. pubescens—which “expel wind”. A further observation from our results is that the drugs present in the highly active “Cleansing herbs” cluster are commonly used and may be interchangeable. Our work may pave the way to a translation between two medical systems with radically different philosophies and help the prioritisation of active ingredients with specific biomolecular activities of interest for the treatment of skin conditions

Dietary Supplementation with Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) Infusion Increases IRS-1 and PI3K mRNA Levels and Enhances Insulin Sensitivity and Secretion in Rat Pancreatic Islets

“Yerba mate” (YM), an aqueous extract of Ilex paraguariensis, has antioxidant, diuretic, cardio-protective and hypoglycaemic properties. Since its effect on the pancreatic islets remains unclear, we evaluated insulin sensitivity and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in rats consuming YM or tap water (C) for 21 days. Glucose tolerance, glycemia, triglyceridemia, insulinemia, TBARS and FRAP serum levels were evaluated. GSIS and mRNA levels of insulin signaling pathway and inflammatory markers were measured in isolated pancreatic islets from both groups. In C rats, islets were incubated with YM extract or its phenolic components to measure GSIS. YM improved glucose tolerance, enhanced GSIS, increased FRAP plasma levels and islet mRNA levels of IRS-1 and PI3K (p110), and decreased TBARS plasma levels and islet gene expression of TNF-α and PAI-1. Islets from C rats incubated with 100 µg/mL dry YM extract, 1 µM chlorogenic acid, 0.1 and 1 µM rutin, 1 µM caffeic acid or 1 µM quercetin showed an increase in GSIS. Our results suggest that YM enhances glucose tolerance because of its positive effects on GSIS, oxidative stress rate and insulin sensitivity in rat islets, suggesting that long-term dietary supplementation with YM may improve glucose homeostasis in pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes

Interleukin-6 and Cyclooxygenase-2 downregulation by fatty-acid fractions of Ranunculus constantinopolitanus

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Medicinal plants represent alternative means for the treatment of several chronic diseases, including inflammation. The genus <it>Ranunculus</it>, a representative of the Ranunculaceae family, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiviral, antibacterial, antiparasitic and antifungal activities, possibly due to the presence of anemonin and other. Different studies have shown the occurrence of unusual fatty acids (FAs) in Ranunculaceae; however, their therapeutic role has not been investigated. The purpose of this study is to characterize potential anti-inflammatory bioactivities in <it>Ranunculus constantinopolitanus </it>D'Urv., traditionally used in Eastern Mediterranean folk medicine.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The aerial part of <it>R. constantinopolitanus </it>was subjected to methanol (MeOH) extraction and solvent fractionation. The bioactive fraction (I.2) was further fractionated using column chromatography, and the biologically active subfraction (Y₂₊₃) was identified using infrared (IR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The effects of I.2 and Y₂₊₃on cell viability were studied in mouse mammary epithelial SCp2 cells using trypan blue exclusion method. To study the anti-inflammatory activities of I.2 and Y₂₊₃, their ability to reduce interleukin (IL)-6 levels was assessed in endotoxin (ET)-stimulated SCp2 cells using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, the ability of Y₂₊₃to reduce cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression was studied in IL-1-treated mouse intestinal epithelial Mode-K cells via western blotting. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Student-Newman-Keuls (SNK), Tukey HSD, two-sample t-test and Dunnett t-tests for multiple comparisons.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The chloroform fraction (I.2) derived from crude MeOH extract of the plant, in addition to Y₂₊₃, a FA mix isolated from this fraction and containing palmitic acid, C18:2 and C18:1 isomers and stearic acid (1:5:8:1 ratio), reduced ET-induced IL-6 levels in SCp2 cells without affecting cell viability or morphology. When compared to fish oil, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and to individual FAs as palmitic, linoleic, oleic and stearic acid or to a mix of these FAs (1:5:8:1 ratio), Y₂₊₃exhibited higher potency in reducing ET-induced IL-6 levels within a shorter period of time. Y₂₊₃ also reduced COX-2 expression in IL-1-treated Mode-K cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our studies demonstrate the existence of potential anti-inflammatory bioactivities in <it>R. constantinopolitanus </it>and attribute them to a FA mix in this plant.</p

Anti-Inflammatory properties of Salograviolide A purified from Lebanese plant Centaurea ainetensis

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