Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative chronic disease that affects various tissues surrounding the joints, such as the subchondral bone and articular cartilage. The onset of OA is associated with uncontrolled catabolic and anabolic remodeling processes of the joints, including the cartilage and subchondral bone, to adapt to local biological and biochemical signals. In this study, we determined whether 70% ethanolic (EtOH) extract of Litsea japonica fruit (LJFE) had beneficial effects on the articular cartilage, including structural changes in the tibial subchondral bone, matrix degradation, and inflammatory responses, in OA by using a rat model of monosodium iodoacetate-induced OA. Our results showed that administration of LJFE increased the bone volume and cross-section thickness, but the mean number of objects per slice in this group was lower than that in the OA control (OAC) group. In addition, the LJFE decreased the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Compared to the OAC group, the group treated with high doses of LJFE (100 and 200 mg/kg) showed a more than 80% inhibition of the expression of matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases. Our results suggest that LJFE can be used as a potential anti-osteoarthritic agent.

A protease inhibitor was fractionated from fish eggs using methods based on protein solubility. Fractionation efficiency was evaluated with regard to percent recovery and total inhibitory activity (U). The fractionation of protease inhibitor (PI) from egg extracts of skipjack tuna (ST, Katsuwonus pelamis), yellowfin tuna (YT, Thunnus albacores), and Alaska pollock (AP, Theragra chalcogramma) was performed by precipitation with cold acetone or ammonium sulfate (AS). Fractions exhibiting the strongest inhibitory activity contained 20-40% (v/v) cold acetone or 40-60% saturated AS fractions. AS fractionation was more effective in isolating PI than was precipitation with acetone. The total inhibitory activity and percent recovery of fraction obtained with AS 40-60% toward trypsin and Nα-benzoyl-Larginine-p-nitroanilide (BAPNA) were 4,976 U and 24.2% for ST, 3,331 U and 38.1% for YT, and 4,750 U and 43.8% for AP, respectively. In comparisons against six commercial proteases, 40-80% AS fractions, made by combining the 40-60% and 60-80% AS fractions from fish egg extract, exhibited the strongest inhibition of trypsin when using a casein substrate. These results suggest that fish eggs act as serine protease inhibitors and may be useful for protease inhibition in foodstuffs.

-This study describes a preliminary evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity of Castanopsis cuspidata extracts. C. cuspidata was extracted using 80% ethanol and then fractionated sequentially with n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate, and butanol. To screen for anti-inflammatory agents effectively, we first examined the inhibitory effect of the C. cuspidata extracts on the production of pro-inflammatory factors and cytokines stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. In addition, we examined the inhibitory effect of C. cuspidata extracts on pro-inflammatory mediators (NO, iNOS, COX-2) in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. The amounts of protein levels were determined by immunoblotting. Of the sequential solvent fractions of C. cuspidata, the n-hexane, dichloromethane and ethylacetate fractions inhibited the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and IL-6), production of NO, and the protein level of iNOS and COX-2. These results suggest that C. cuspidata may have significant effects on inflammatory factors and may be provided as a possible anti-inflammatory therapeutic plant.

For effective utilization of butter clam shell as a natural calcium resource, the optimal conditions for preparation of calcium acetate (BCCA) with high solubility were determined using response surface methodology (RSM). The polynomial models developed by RSM for pH, solubility, and yield were highly effective in describing the relationships between factors (P<0.05). Increased molar ratio of calcined powder (BCCP) from butter clam shell led to reduction of solubility, yield, color values, and overall quality. Critical values of multiple response optimization to independent variables were 2.70 M and 1.05 M for acetic acid and BCCP, respectively. The actual values (pH 7.04, 93.0% for solubility and 267.5% for yield) under optimization conditions were similar to predicted values. White indices of BCCAs were in the range of 89.7∼93.3. Therefore, color value was improved by calcination and organic acid treatment. Buffering capacity of BCCAs was strong at pH 4.88 to 4.92 upon addition of ∼2 mL of 1 N HCl. Calcium content and solubility of BCCAs were 20.7∼22.8 g/100 g and 97.2∼99.6%, respectively. The patterns of fourier transform infrared spectrometer and X-ray diffractometer analyses from BCCA were identified as calcium acetate monohydrate, and microstructure by field emission scanning electron microscope showed an irregular form.

-Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease characterized by the progressive degradation of joint cartilage and is accompanied by secondary inflammation of synovial membranes. The purpose of this study describes a preliminary evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity on test material of Litsea japonica. fruit (LJTM) Also, this study was to evaluate the effects of LJTM on the joint cartilage of rat with OA induced by monosodium iodoacetate (MIA). To study for anti-inflammatory agents effectively, we first examined the inhibitory effect of the LJTM on the production of pro-inflammatory factors and cytokines stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. We identified anti-nociceptive effects of the LJTM by using in vivo peripheral and central nervous pain models. In addition, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects on mRNA expression of MMP-2, -3, -7, -9, -13, TIMP-1 and -2 in cartilage of OA. In the LJTM inhibited production of pro-inflammatory mediators (NO and PGE2) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6). In cartilage, Expression of MMPs and TIMPs mRNA was suppressed in LJTM treatment group than in the control group. This study suggests that LJTM are potential candidates as anti-inflammation and anti-osteoarthritis agents (painkillers) for the treatment of OA. Key words -