Phycocyanin (Pc) is one of the active pigment constituents of Spirulina microalgae. It has been used for its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the protective effects of Pc against ultraviolet-B (UVB)-induced primary skin cells damage are still undefined. In the present study, we investigated whether Pc prevented UVB-induced apoptotic cell death in human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) and human epidermal keratinocytes (HEK). Pc induced the transcription of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Furthermore, Pc treatments resulted in a marked increase in nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2 (NF-E2)-like 2 (Nrf-2) nuclear translocation. Also, Pc protected UVB induced apoptosis and reduced the p53 and Bax levels, as well as caspase-3 activation. Pc treatment showed a significantly enhanced effect on the phosphorylation of protein kinase C (PKC) α/β II, but not that of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) or Akt. Induction of HO-1 induced by Pc was suppressed by Go6976, a selective inhibitor of PKC α/β II. In addition, knockdown of HO-1 by small interfering (siRNA) caused a significant increase in poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) cleavage and caspase-3 activation after Pc pretreatment. Taken together, our results demonstrate that Pc-induced expression of HO-1 is mediated by the PKC α/β II-Nrf-2/HO-1 pathway, and inhibits UVB-induced apoptotic cell death in primary skin cells.
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the protective effect of red ginseng (RG) according to steaming time on 150 mM HCl/60 % ethanol induced gastric ulcer models in mice. The sample was divided into 3 groups-G (dried ginseng), RG 4 (steamed 4 h and dried ginseng), RG 6 (steamed 6 h and dried ginseng), and determined through in vitro experiments, such as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid radical scavenging activity, HPLC analysis, total polyphenol, and flavonoid contents. In vitro experiment results were depended on steaming hours. Based on the results, we chose two samples (G, RG 6) and conducted in vivo experiments. Mice were divided into 5 groups: Nor (normal group), Con (acute gastritis mice treated with distilled water), G (gastris induced by HCl/Ethanol treated with 100 mg/kg G), RG 6 (gastris induced by HCl/ethanol treated with 100 mg/kg RG 6), and SC (gastris induced by HCl/Ethanol treated with 10 mg/kg sucralfate). In our results revealed that RG 6 suppressed elevated reactive oxygen species, and inflammatory related makers, such as cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin-1 beta. In addition, gastric lesion area was improved. These results suggest that RG 6 protects the stomach by attenuating oxidative stress and inflammatory response under gastric ulcer conditions. Therefore, RG 6 should be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of acute gastric ulcer.
Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the nasal mucosa of the upper airways. Herein, we investigated the effects of extracts from Gardenia jasminoides (GJ), a traditional herbal medicine with anti-inflammatory properties, on AR-associated inflammatory responses that cause epithelial damage. We investigated the inhibitory effects of water- and ethanol-extracted GJ (GJW and GJE, respectively) in an ovalbumin-induced AR mouse model and in splenocytes, differentiated Th2 cells, and primary human nasal epithelial cells (HNEpCs). Administering GJW and GJE to ovalbumin-induced AR mice improved clinical symptoms including behavior (sneezing and rubbing), serum cytokine levels, immune cell counts, and histopathological marker levels. Treatment with GJW and GJE reduced the secretion of Th2 cytokines in Th2 cells isolated and differentiated from the splenocytes of these mice. To investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms of AR, we treated IL-4/IL-13-stimulated HNEpCs with GJW and GJE; we found that these extracts significantly reduced the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species via the uncoupling protein-2 and periostin, a biomarker of the Th2 inflammatory response. Our results suggest that GJ extracts may potentially serve as therapeutic agents to improve the symptoms of AR by regulating the Th2 inflammatory response of the nasal epithelium.
The skin aging process is governed by intrinsic and extrinsic factors causing skin wrinkles, sagging, and loosening. The 1-monoeicosapentaenoin (1-MEST) is a component isolated from Micractinium, a genus of microalgae (Chlorophyta, Trebouxiophyceae). However, the anti-wrinkle effects of 1-MEST are not yet known. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-wrinkle effects of 1-MEST in vitro and in clinical trials. The cytotoxicity of 1-MEST was investigated in vitro using the MTS assay in human epidermal keratinocytes (HEKs). Expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and MMP-9 was determined by ELISA in HEKs irradiated with UVB after treatment with 1-MEST. A split-face randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of 1-MEST. The study evaluated wrinkle parameters and visual assessment, self-efficacy and usability questionnaires, and adverse events. The study showed that the 1-MEST was not cytotoxic in HEKs, suppressed MMP-1 secretion and MMP-9 protein expression in HEKs irradiated with UVB. The wrinkle parameters and mean visual assessment score were significantly decreased in the test group after 12 weeks and differed from the control group. There were no significant differences in efficacy and usability. Adverse effects were also not observed. The 1-MEST showed anti-wrinkle properties to slow down or prevent skin aging.
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