Morin is a flavonoid isolated from certain fruits and Chinese herbs and is known to possess various medicinal properties. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of morin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced microglial activation, both in vitro and in vivo. We found that morin inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Furthermore, morin suppressed the microglial activation and cytokine expression in the brains of LPS-stimulated mice. Subsequent mechanistic studies revealed that morin inhibited the action of LPS-activated mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), protein kinase B (Akt) phosphorylation, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and activating protein-1 (AP-1). Further, the phosphorylation and DNA binding activity of cAMP responsive element binding protein (CREB) was enhanced by morin. Moreover, morin suppressed the LPS-induced expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase subunits, while it increased heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activation. Therefore, our data suggest that morin exerts anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-stimulated microglia by downregulating MAPK and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathways while upregulating protein kinase A (PKA)/CREB and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways.

BACKGROUND The ability of heat treatment with a soaking solvent to increase soluble phenolic compounds due to the liberation or breakdown of the cell matrix has been investigated in various plants. This study investigated the changes in phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities of 12 sweet potato cultivars after heat treatment with distilled water or prethanol A. RESULTS The highest total polyphenol content (134.67 mg gallic acid equivalents/g extract residue) and flavonoid content (65.43 mg catechin equivalents/g extract residue) was observed in the ‘Jami’ (JM) cultivar after heat treatment with prethanol A. Higher polyphenol and flavonoid content was generally observed in the purple sweet potato cultivars. Salicylic acid was the major phenolic acid, followed by protocatechuic acid or chlorogenic acid in almost all untreated sweet potato cultivars. The salicylic acid, vanillic acid, gallic acid, and caffeic acid content of the sweet potatoes increased after the heat treatment, whereas the protocatechuic acid and chlorogenic acid content decreased. The highest 1,1‐Diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2‐azinobis(3‐ethyl benzothiazoline)‐6‐sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activity levels were observed in the JM cultivar subjected to heat treatment with prethanol A (48.15 and 80.00 mg TE/g extract residue, respectively). CONCLUSION These results suggest that heat treatment with a soaking solvent is an efficient method to enhance the antioxidant characteristics of Korean sweet potato cultivars. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

Ginsenoside Rh3 is a bacterial metabolite of Rg5, which is the main constituent of heat-processed ginseng. The present study was undertaken to examine the anti-inflammatory effect of ginsenoside Rh3 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated microglia. Rh3 inhibits the expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6, at mRNA and protein levels, while Rh3 enhanced anti-inflammatory hemeoxygenase-1 expression. Moreover, Rh3 inhibited nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) by upregulation of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and enhanced Nrf2 DNA-binding activities. Analysis of signaling pathways revealed that Rh3 enhanced the phosphorylation of 5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and inhibited Akt and janus kinase 1 (JAK1)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) induced by LPS. By treatment of BV2 cells with AICAR (a pharmacological activator of AMPK), we found that AMPK is an upstream regulator of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and JAK1/STAT1. Furthermore, AMPK knockdown experiments demonstrated the anti-inflammatory role of AMPK in LPS/Rh3-treated BV2 microglia. Our data collectively suggest that Rh3 exerts an anti-inflammatory effect in microglia by modulating AMPK and its downstream signaling pathways.

This study investigated the relationships between the supervisory working alliance and supervision outcome variables using meta‐analysis. The authors reviewed 27 articles, dissertations, and theses published between 1990 and 2018. The authors used the MIX program to calculate the meta‐analyses. The results indicate that the supervisory working alliance is positively related to supervision outcome variables. Supervisees’ perceived relationship with the supervisor was positively related to the relationship with the client. This shows that the phenomenon of isomorphism is a repeated pattern in the relationships in supervision and counseling. The authors discuss the limitations and implications.

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Black soybeans are functional foods containing a variety of bioactives such as isoflavones, carotenoids, tocopherols, phenolic acid as well as anthocyanins. Here, we examined whether Cheongja#3 black soybean extract has a protective effect on oxidative stress‐induced cell death in human keratinocytes HaCaT. First, we identified fat‐soluble bioactives in three varieties of soybean extracts (Saedanbaek, Daechan, and Cheongja#3). In particular, black soybean Cheongja#3 had high amounts of lutein than other varieties. We demonstrated that Cheongja#3 extract reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species levels in HaCaT cells. Furthermore, Cheongja#3 protected cells from hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)‐induced oxidative stress and triggered cell death determined by cell viabilities and apoptotic caspase activities. Next, we identified the underlying mechanism is due to increased Nrf2 antioxidant system by Cheongja#3, thus increasing the expression of heme oxygenases (HO)‐1. These results indicated that Cheongja#3 soybean extract has protective role against oxidative stress by upregulating the Nrf‐2 antioxidant system in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells.

Total tocopherol content was higher in soybean landraces as compared with modern cultivars developed by cross-breeding. These results suggest that soybean breeding is necessary to increase tocopherol levels.

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