Lonicera japonica Thunb. (Caprifoliaceae) is a traditional herbal medicine and has been used to treat diabetic symptoms. Notwithstanding its use, the scientific basis on anti-diabetic properties of L. japonica is not yet established. This study is designed to investigate anti-diabetic effects of L. japonica in type 2 diabetic rats. L. japonica was orally administered at the dose of 100 mg/kg in high-fat diet-fed and low-dose streptozotocin-induced rats. After the treatment of 4 weeks, L. japonica reduced high blood glucose level and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance in diabetic rats. In addition, body weight and food intake were restored by the L. japonica treatment. In the histopathologic examination, the amelioration of damaged β-islet in pancreas was observed in L. japonica-treated diabetic rats. The administration of L. japonica elevated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and insulin receptor subunit-1 protein expressions. The results demonstrated that L. japonica had anti-diabetic effects in type 2 diabetic rats via the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma regulatory action of L. japonica as a potential mechanism.
PLG attenuated the symptoms of AD by suppressing cytokines production, the phosphorylation of MAPKs and the activation of NF-κB signaling. These data suggest that PLG may be an effective natural compound for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases.
Phlomis umbrosa Turcz (labiatae) has been suggested to promote bone growth. However, the anti-osteoporotic effects of P. umbrosa have not yet been elucidated. In the present study, the osteogenic effects of P. umbrosa were investigated in an osteoporosis model. ICR female mice were ovariectomized (OVX) to induce osteoporosis for 7 weeks. Treatment with 1, 10 and 100 mg/kg P. umbrosa was administrated orally to the OVX mice for 6 weeks. At the end of experiment, the microstructure of the capital femoral epiphysis was investigated. The levels of bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC) and serum osteocalcin concentration were evaluated. In addition, mineralized Saos-2 osteoblast cells were treated with 0.01, 0.1 and 1 µg/ml P. umbrosa to analyze the expression of osteoblast differentiation-associated factors. Hyperplasia of the growth plate in the femur was recovered by P. umbrosa treatment. BMD and BMC were significantly increased in P. umbrosa-treated femurs. Serum calcium concentration was increased following P. umbrosa treatment. In addition, the ratio of mineralization was markedly increased in P. umbrosa-treated differentiated osteoblasts along with increases in Runx2 levels. P. umbrosa conferred its osteogenic effects by upregulating Runx2 in osteoporosis. P. umbrosa may be a potential therapeutic material for the treatment of osteoporosis.
Background
The human placenta (HP) is a complex organ used to alleviate tiredness and promote wound healing. Previous research showed the hair growth-promoting effect of HP. However, no reports have addressed the effects of HP on hair regrowth in chemotherapy-induced alopecia. In this study, we investigated the effects of HP on the apoptosis and proliferation of hair follicles in chemotherapy-induced alopecia.
Methods
Male C57BL/6 mice in telogen were depilated to enter anagen. After 9 days, dystrophic catagen was induced by the intraperitoneal injection of 150 mg/kg cyclophosphamide. During 9 to 16 days, 0.1 and 1 mg/mL HP were topically applied to depilated dorsal skin.
Results
Dystrophic hair follicles by cyclophosphamide were recovered by HP treatment. New hair shafts containing hair fibers appeared to be straight after HP treatment. Immunohistological staining revealed a significant increase of Ki67-positive cells in hair follicles treated with 1 mg/mL HP. Topical HP treatment increased the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax, while it attenuated the expression of pro-apoptotic Bax, p53, and cytochrome c with caspase-9 and -3. In addition, the expression of KGF and the phosphorylation of AKT were upregulated by HP treatment.
Conclusion
These results suggest that HP treatment induced hair growth by inhibiting apoptosis and promoting the proliferation of hair follicles. HP may be useful for treating chemotherapy-induced alopecia.
PurposeThe aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of a herbal formula, PerioH-035, containing Angelica sinensis, steamed Rehmannia glutinosa, Angelica dahurica, Cimicifuga heracleifolia, and Zanthoxylum piperitum on the periodontal breakdown in a well-established ligature-induced periodontitis model in rats.MethodsSprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: NL (non-ligatured), L (ligatured), P1 (ligatured and treated with 1 mg/mL PerioH-035), P100 (ligatured and treated with 100 mg/mL PerioH-035). Periodontitis was induced by placing a ligature around the mandibular first molars. PerioH-035 was topically applied to both sides of the first molar for 2 weeks. The right side of the mandibles was retrieved for micro-computed tomography (CT) and methylene blue staining to analyze alveolar bone loss. The left side of the mandibles was histologically analyzed by TRAP and H&E staining. The MMP-9 mRNA level in gingival tissue was investigated by RT-PCR.ResultsAlveolar bone resorption was significantly reduced in the PerioH-035-treated groups. The number of dense multi-nucleated cells found to be TRAP-positive by staining in the ligatured rats was markedly decreased by PerioH-035 application. In addition, periodontal tissue destruction, especially cementum demineralization, was ameliorated in the P1 and P100 groups. Moreover, gingival tissue from the PerioH-035-treated group showed a decrease in the MMP-9 mRNA level, resulting in recovery of collagen degradation.ConclusionsThese results suggest that PerioH-035 has therapeutic effects on periodontitis, and thus, PerioH-035 shows promise as a treatment for periodontitis.Graphical Abstract
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