Piperine ameliorates the severity of cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis by inhibiting the activation of mitogen activated protein kinases

Piperine inhibits fungal growth and protects against pyroptosis in Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis by regulating the mTOR/HIF-1α pathway

PURPOSE

To confirm the antifungal ability of piperine (PIP) and to assess its therapeutic potential in the treatment of Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) keratitis.

METHODS

The toxicity of PIP was measured to determine the optimal therapeutic concentration both in human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs), RAW264.7 cells and mice fungal keratitis models. The antifungal efficacy of PIP was confirmed through the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test, biofilm formation inhibition test, Calcofluor white and PI staining, and anti-adhesion of A. fumigatus conidia test. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, corneal fungal load assay, RT-qPCR, western blot, and Elisa were used to assess the therapeutic effect and anti-inflammatory ability of PIP in fungal keratitis. The significance of the mTOR/HIF-1α signal pathway after PIP treatment of A. fumigatus keratitis was evaluated.

RESULTS

PIP had no obvious toxicity to HCECs, RAW 264.7 cells, or mouse cornea at the concentration of 30 µg/mL. PIP effectively inhibited A. fumigatus from growing and showed synergistic effects when combined with NATA. PIP not only reduced fungal load and the aggregation of inflammatory cells, but also dramatically reduced the expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, cleaved caspase-1, GSDMD, GSDMD-N, IL-18, and IL-1β, which were linked to pyroptosis. Additionally, PIP decreased mTOR phosphorylation and HIF-1α expression. The pretreatment with mTOR agonists reversed the inhibition of NLRP3, caspase-1, cleaved caspase-1, GSDMD, GSDMD-N, IL-18, and IL-1β protein levels caused by PIP.

CONCLUSION

PIP exhibited antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties, and alleviated pyroptosis in A. fumigatus keratitis via inhibiting the mTOR/HIF-1α signaling pathway.

Elucidating the mechanism of stigmasterol in acute pancreatitis treatment: insights from network pharmacology and in vitro/in vivo experiments

INTRODUCTION

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a severe inflammatory disease of the pancreas that could trigger a systemic inflammation and multi-organ dysfunction. Stigmasterol, a natural plant sterol found in various herbs and vegetables, exhibits a significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cholesterol-lowering effects. However, its therapeutic potential in AP have not been thoroughly investigated.

METHODS

The present study employed network pharmacology combined with experimental verification to explore the protective effect of stigmasterol on AP and its molecular mechanism in a sodium taurocholate (STC)-induced AP mouse model.

RESULTS

Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis pinpointed out MAPK3, also named as ERK1, as a promising stigmasterol target in AP therapy. Molecular docking analysis further revealed a strong binding capacity of stigmasterol to ERK1 (-6.57 kL/mol). Furthermore, both in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated that stigmasterol treatment notably attenuated STC-induced pancreatic injury, as evidented by decreased serum levels of lipase and amylase, improved systemic inflammation, and reduced acinar cell necrosis. At the molecular level, stigmasterol treatment exhibited a significant inhibition on STC-induced activation of ERK signaling pathway in pancreatic acinar cells, leading to the transition of acinar cell death from necrosis to apoptosis, thereby preventing acinar cell necrosis-induced systemic inflammation.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that stigmasterol exhibits a significant protective effect aganist AP, at least in part through enhancing acinar cell apoptosis via modulating the ERK signaling pathways.

Natural Compounds for the Treatment of Acute Pancreatitis: Novel Anti-Inflammatory Therapies

Acute pancreatitis remains a serious public health problem, and the burden of acute pancreatitis is increasing. With significant morbidity and serious complications, appropriate and effective therapies are critical. Great progress has been made in understanding the pathophysiology of acute pancreatitis over the past two decades. However, specific drugs targeting key molecules and pathways involved in acute pancreatitis still require further study. Natural compounds extracted from plants have a variety of biological activities and can inhibit inflammation and oxidative stress in acute pancreatitis by blocking several signaling pathways, such as the nuclear factor kappa-B and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. In this article, we review the therapeutic effects of various types of phytochemicals on acute pancreatitis and discuss the mechanism of action of these natural compounds in acute pancreatitis, aiming to provide clearer insights into the treatment of acute pancreatitis.

Spices and Biomarkers of COVID-19: A Mechanistic and Therapeutic Perspective

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people around the world have increased their healthy behaviors to prevent transmission of the virus and potentially improve their immune systems. Therefore, the role of diet and food compounds such as spices with bioactive and antiviral properties may be important in these efforts. In this chapter, we review the efficacy of spices such as turmeric (curcumin), cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, saffron, capsaicin, and cumin by investigating the effects of these compounds of COVID-19 disease severity biomarkers.

Piperine alleviates acute pancreatitis: A possible role for FAM134B and CCPG1 dependent ER-phagy

BACKGROUND

Acute pancreatitis was a common acute abdominal disease characterized by pancreatic acinar cell death and inflammation. Endoplasmic reticulum autophagy (ER-phagy) coud maintain cell homeostasis by degrading redundant and disordered endoplasmic reticulum and FAM134B and CCPG1 was main ER-phagy receptors. As a natural alkaloid, piperin is found in black pepper and has anti-inflammatory properties, whose effect on ER-phagy in pancreatitis has not been studied.

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to demonstrate the pivotal role of FAM134B and CCPG1 dependent ER-phagy for alleviating acute pancreatitis and explore the molecular mechanism of piperine in alleviating acute pancreatitis.

METHOD

In this study we investigated the role of ER-phagy in acute pancreatitis and whether piperine could alleviate pancreatitis through ER-phagy regulation. We first detected endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER-stress) and ER-phagy in different degrees of acute pancreatitis. Then we used ER-stress and autophagy regulators to explore the relationship between ER-stress and ER-phagy in acute pancreatitis and their regulation of cell death. Through using FAM134B^-/- and CCPG1^-/-, we investigated the mechanism of piperine in the treatment of acute pancreatitis.

RESULTS

In this study, we confirmed that with the progression of acute pancreatitis, the pancreatic endoplasmic reticulum stress increased continuously, but the ER-phagy increased first and then was inhibited. Meanwhile, in acute pancreatitis, ER-stress and ER-phagy interacted: endoplasmic reticulum stress can induce ER-phagy, but serious ER-stress would inhibit ER-phagy; and ER-phagy could alleviate ER-stress. Next, we found that piperine reduced ER-stress by enhancing FAM134B and CCPG1 dependent ER-phagy, thereby alleviating pancreatic injury.

CONCLUSION

Impaired ER-phagy was both a cause and a consequence of ER-stress in AP mice, which contributed to the transition from AP to SAP. Piperine targeting ER-phagy provided a new insight into the pharmacological mechanism of piperine in treating AP.

Health Benefits and Risks of Consuming Spices on the Example of Black Pepper and Cinnamon

The aim of this study is to present the benefits and risks associated with the consumption of black pepper and cinnamon, which are very popular spices in Poland. The article presents the current state of knowledge about health properties and possible dangers, such as liver damage, associated with their consumption. The experimental part presents the results of the research on the antioxidant properties against the DPPH radical, which was 80.85 ± 3.84-85.42 ± 2.34% for black pepper, and 55.52 ± 7.56-91.87 ± 2.93% for cinnamon. The total content of polyphenols in black pepper was 10.67 ± 1.30-32.13 ± 0.24 mg GAE/g, and in cinnamon 52.34 ± 0.96-94.71 ± 3.34 mg GAE/g. In addition, the content of piperine and pepper oil in black pepper was determined, as well as the content of coumarin in cinnamon. The content of piperine in the black pepper samples was in the range of 3.92 ± 0.35-9.23 ± 0.05%. The tested black pepper samples contained 0.89 ± 0.08-2.19 ± 0.15 mL/100 g d.m. of essential oil. The coumarin content in the cinnamon samples remained in the range of 1027.67 ± 50.36-4012.00 ± 79.57 mg/kg. Taking into account the content of coumarin in the tested cinnamon samples, it should be assumed that the majority of cinnamon available in Polish retail is Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J. Presl.

Rational Design and Identification of Novel Piperine Derivatives as Multichitinase Inhibitors

Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis) is one of the most destructive pests in agriculture. Three chitinases OfChtI, OfChtII, and OfChi-h are regarded as potential targets for discovering novel agrochemicals to control O. furnacalis. In this study, piperine (K_i = 43.78∼83.03 μM) was first shown to exhibit inhibitory activities against all three chitinases. Subsequently, 19 novel piperine derivatives were rationally designed based on the conserved aromatic residues of three chitinases and then synthesized. Among them, Compound 5k (K_i = 11.78∼22.82 μM) was identified as the most effective multichitinase inhibitor and indeed displayed higher insecticidal activity against O. furnacalis than dual- or single-chitinase inhibitors. Molecular mechanism studies clarified that Compound 5k interacted with two conserved TRP and TYR of three chitinases in identical modes through hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic, and π-π interactions. Moreover, the microinjection experiment indicated that Compound 5k exhibited substantial sublethal effects against O. furnacalis by regulating its growth and development. This study provides evidence of multichitinase inhibitors to be applied in the control of O. furnacalis.

Modulation of neutrophil (dys)function by Ayurvedic herbs and its potential influence on SARS-CoV-2 infection

For centuries, traditional medicines of Ayurveda have been in use to manage infectious and non-infectious diseases. The key embodiment of traditional medicines is the holistic system of approach in the management of human diseases. SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection is an ongoing pandemic, which has emerged as the major health threat worldwide and is causing significant stress, morbidity and mortality. Studies from the individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection have shown significant immune dysregulation and cytokine overproduction. Neutrophilia and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio has been correlated to poor outcome due to the disease. Neutrophils, component of innate immune system, upon stimulation expel DNA along with histones and granular proteins to form extracellular traps (NETs). Although, these DNA lattices possess beneficial activity in trapping and eliminating pathogens, NETs may also cause adverse effects by inducing immunothrombosis and tissue damage in diseases including Type 2 Diabetes and atherosclerosis. Tissues of SARS-CoV-2 infected subjects showed microthrombi with neutrophil-platelet infiltration and serum showed elevated NETs components, suggesting large involvement and uncontrolled activation of neutrophils leading to pathogenesis and associated organ damage. Hence, traditional Ayurvedic herbs exhibiting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties may act in a manner that might prove beneficial in targeting over-functioning of neutrophils and there by promoting normal immune homeostasis. In the present manuscript, we have reviewed and discussed pathological importance of NETs formation in SARS-CoV-2 infections and discuss how various Ayurvedic herbs can be explored to modulate neutrophil function and inhibit NETs formation in the context of a) anti-microbial activity to enhance neutrophil function, b) immunomodulatory effects to maintain neutrophil mediated immune homeostasis and c) to inhibit NETs mediated thrombosis.

COVID-19, cytokines, inflammation, and spices: How are they related?

BACKGROUND

Cytokine storm is the exaggerated immune response often observed in viral infections. It is also intimately linked with the progression of COVID-19 disease as well as associated complications and mortality. Therefore, targeting the cytokine storm might help in reducing COVID-19-associated health complications. The number of COVID-19 associated deaths (as of January 15, 2021; https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/) in the USA is high (1199/million) as compared to countries like India (110/million). Although the reason behind this is not clear, spices may have some role in explaining this difference. Spices and herbs are used in different traditional medicines, especially in countries such as India to treat various chronic diseases due to their potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

AIM

To evaluate the literature available on the anti-inflammatory properties of spices which might prove beneficial in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 associated cytokine storm.

METHOD

A detailed literature search has been conducted on PubMed for collecting information pertaining to the COVID-19; the history, origin, key structural features, and mechanism of infection of SARS-CoV-2; the repurposed drugs in use for the management of COVID-19, and the anti-inflammatory role of spices to combat COVID-19 associated cytokine storm.

KEY FINDINGS

The literature search resulted in numerous in vitro, in vivo and clinical trials that have reported the potency of spices to exert anti-inflammatory effects by regulating crucial molecular targets for inflammation.

SIGNIFICANCE

As spices are derived from Mother Nature and are inexpensive, they are relatively safer to consume. Therefore, their anti-inflammatory property can be exploited to combat the cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients. This review thus focuses on the current knowledge on the role of spices for the treatment of COVID-19 through suppression of inflammation-linked cytokine storm.

Ayurveda Rasayana as antivirals and immunomodulators: potential applications in COVID-19

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization with rapid spread across 216 countries. COVID-19 pandemic has left its imprints on various health systems globally and caused immense social and economic disruptions. The scientific community across the globe is in a quest for digging the effective treatment for COVID-19 and exploring potential leads from traditional systems of healthcare across the world too. Ayurveda (Indian traditional system of medicine) has a comprehensive aspect of immunity through Rasayana which is a rejuvenation therapy. Here we attempt to generate the potential leads based on the classical text from Ayurveda in general and Rasayana in particular to develop effective antiviral and/or immunomodulator for potential or adjunct therapy in SARS-CoV-2. The Rasayana acts not only by resisting body to restrain or withstand the strength, severity or progression of a disease but also by promoting power of the body to prevent the manifestation of a disease. These Rasayana herbs are common in practice as immunomodulator, antiviral and protectives. The studies on Rasayana can provide an insight into the future course of research for the plausible development of effective management of COVID-19 by the utilization and development of various traditional systems of healthcare. Keeping in view the current pandemic situation, there is an urgent need of developing potential medicines. This study proposes certain prominent medicinal plants which may be further studied for drug development process and also in clinical setup under repurposing of these herbs.

A Piperine-Based Scaffold as a Novel Starting Point to Develop Inhibitors against the Potent Molecular Target OfChtI

The insect chitinase OfChtI from the agricultural pest Ostrinia furnacalis (Asian corn borer) is a promising target for green insecticide design. OfChtI is a critical chitinolytic enzyme for the cuticular chitin degradation at the stage of molting. In this study, piperine, a natural amide compound isolated from black pepper, Piper nigrum L., was discovered for the first time to have inhibitory activity toward OfChtI. The compound-enzyme interaction was presumed to take place between the piperine benzo[d][1,3] dioxole skeleton and subsite -1 of the substrate-binding pocket of OfChtI. Hence, on the basis of the deduced inhibitory mechanism and crystal structure of the substrate-binding cavity of OfChtI, compounds 5a-f were designed and synthesized by introducing a butenolide scaffold into the lead compound piperine. The enzymatic activity assay indicated that compounds 5a-f (K_i = 1.03-2.04 μM) exhibited approximately 40-80-fold higher inhibitory activity than the lead compound piperine (I) (K_i = 81.45 μM) toward OfChtI. The inhibitory mechanism of the piperonyl butenolide compounds was elucidated by molecular dynamics, which demonstrated that the introduced butenolide skeleton improved the binding affinity to OfChtI. Moreover, the in vivo activity assay indicated that these compounds also displayed moderate insecticidal activity toward O. furnacalis. This work introduces the natural product piperine as a starting point for the development of novel insecticides targeting OfChtI.

Piperine from Black Pepper Decreased the Expression of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 in Macrophages

BACKGROUND

Macrophages are the main players involved in inflammation. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) facilitates macrophage polarization prior to extravasation into inflamed tissue. Piperine, a natural product derived from black pepper, possesses useful biological and pharmacological activities. In the current study, the possible anti-inflammatory effect of piperine on the expression of ICAM-1 on J774.1 murine macrophage cell line was investigated.

METHODS

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated J774.1 cells were cultured in the presence of different concentrations of piperine to examine the changes in ICAM-1 expression by real-time PCR and flow cytometry.

RESULTS

We found that piperine decreased ICAM-1 gene expression level from 2.4 ± 0.25 RFC (relative fold change) in LPS-only treated cells to 0.85 ± 0.525 RFC at 1µg/ml (p<0.05), 0.43 ± 0.27 RFC at 10µg/ml (p<0.01), and 0.26 ± 0.25 RFC at 20µg/ml (p<0.01). In flow cytometry, piperine at all concentrations significantly decreased ICAM-1 surface expressions (P<0.05). The geometric mean fluorescence intensity (g-MFI) in LPS-only treated cells (792 ± 57.3) decreased to 482±70 g-MFI at 20 μg/ml piperine.

CONCLUSION

According to the results of this study, by decreasing the expression of ICAM-1, piperine has been suggested to reduce inflammation and have the potential to provide therapeutic benefits for immune-mediated diseases.

Piperine protects LPS-induced mastitis by inhibiting inflammatory response

Mastitis, inflammation in the breast, affects breastfeedingwomenin the postpartumperiod. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of piperine against mastitis using a mouse mastitis model. LPS-induced mastitis was established by injecting LPS into the canals of the mammary gland. Piperine was given intraperitoneally 1 h before and 12 h after LPS treatment. The results showed that the LPS-induced mammary histopathological changes and MPO activity were attenuated by piperine. LPS-induced inflammatory cytokines TNF-α andIL-1β were also inhibited by piperine. Furthermore, LPS-induced NF-κB activation was suppressed by the treatment with piperine. In addition, we found piperine dose-dependently increased the expression of PPARγ. All of these results suggested that piperine had protective effects against LPS-induced mastitis and that the mechanism may be mediated through the activation of PPARγ.

Calcio-herbal formulation, Divya-Swasari-Ras, alleviates chronic inflammation and suppresses airway remodelling in mouse model of allergic asthma by modulating pro-inflammatory cytokine response

Asthma is a chronic allergic respiratory disease with limited therapeutic options. Here we validated the potential anti-inflammatory, anti-asthmatic and immunomodulatory therapeutic properties of calcio-herbal ayurvedic formulation, Divya-Swasari-Ras (DSR) in-vivo, using mouse model of ovalbumin (OVA) induced allergic asthma. HPLC analysis identified the presence of various bioactive indicating molecules and ICP-OES recognized the presence of Ca mineral in the DSR formulation. Here we show that DSR treatment significantly reduced cardinal features of allergic asthma including inflammatory cell accumulation, specifically lymphocytes and eosinophils in the Broncho-Alveolar Lavage (BAL) fluids, airway inflammation, airway remodelling, and pro-inflammatory molecules expression. Conversely, number of macrophages recoverable by BAL were increased upon DSR treatment. Histology analysis of mice lungs revealed that DSR attenuates inflammatory cell infiltration in lungs and thickening of bronchial epithelium. PAS staining confirmed the decrease in OVA-induced mucus secretion at the mucosal epithelium; and trichrome staining confirmed the decrease in peribronchial collagen deposition upon DSR treatment. DSR reduced the OVA-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α) levels in BALF and whole lung steady state mRNA levels (IL-4, -5, -33, IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-1β). Biochemical assays for markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant defence mechanism confirmed that DSR increases the activity of SOD, Catalase, GPx, GSH, GSH/GSSG ratio and decreases the levels of MDA activity, GSSG, EPO and Nitrite levels in whole lungs. Collectively, present study suggests that, DSR effectively protects against allergic airway inflammation and possess potential therapeutic option for allergic asthma management.

Eupatilin Ameliorates Cerulein-Induced Pancreatitis Via Inhibition of the Protein Kinase D1 Signaling Pathway In Vitro

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of eupatilin on protein kinase D1 (PKD1) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways in cerulein-induced in vitro pancreatitis.

METHODS

We used collagenase digestion to isolate pancreatic acinar cells from male C57BL/6 mice. In vitro acute pancreatitis was induced by treatment with a supramaximal dose of cerulein. Eupatilin was pretreated before stimulation with cerulein.

RESULTS

Eupatilin significantly reduced cerulein-induced amylase release in pancreatic acini. Eupatilin treatment downregulated cerulein-induced expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and CC chemokine ligands 2 and 5, but it upregulated expression of IL-4 and IL-10. We demonstrated that eupatilin pretreatment attenuated cerulein-induced necrosis in isolated pancreatic acinar cells. This effect of eupatilin was confirmed by lactic dehydrogenase assay, fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis, and cytopathologic analysis. Eupatilin inhibited cerulein-induced activation of PKD1/NF-κB and the nuclear translocation of NF-κB.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data demonstrated that eupatilin is a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of pancreatitis through its ability to reduce cellular necrosis and inflammatory responses by inhibition of the PKD1/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Piperine ameliorates the severity of fibrosis via inhibition of TGF‑β/SMAD signaling in a mouse model of chronic pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is characterized by recurrent pancreatic injury, resulting in inflammation and fibrosis. Currently, there are no drugs for the treatment of pancreatic fibrosis associated with CP. Piperine, a natural alkaloid found in black pepper, has been reported to show anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and antitumor activities. Although piperine exhibits numerous properties in regards to the regulation of diverse diseases, the effects of piperine on CP have not been established. To investigate the effects of piperine on CP in vivo, we induced CP in mice through the repetitive administration of cerulein (50 µg/kg) six times at 1-h intervals, 5 times per week, for a total of 3 weeks. In the pre-treatment groups, piperine (1, 5, or 10 mg/kg) or corn oil were administrated orally at 1 h before the first cerulein injection, once a day, 5 times a week, for a total of 3 weeks. In the post-treatment groups, piperine (10 mg/kg) or corn oil was administered orally at 1 or 2 week after the first cerulein injection. Pancreases were collected for histological analysis. In addition, pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) were isolated to examine the anti-fibrogenic effects and regulatory mechanisms of piperine. Piperine treatment significantly inhibited histological damage in the pancreas, increased the pancreatic acinar cell survival, reduced collagen deposition and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. In addition, piperine treatment reduced the expression of fibrotic mediators, such as α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen, and fibronectin 1 in the pancreas and PSCs. Moreover, piperine treatment reduced the production of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β in the pancreas and PSCs. Furthermore, piperine treatment inhibited TGF-β-induced pSMAD2/3 activation but not pSMAD1/5 in the PSCs. These findings suggest that piperine treatment ameliorates pancreatic fibrosis by inhibiting TGF-β/SMAD2/3 signaling during CP.

Effectiveness and therapeutic value of phytochemicals in acute pancreatitis: A review

BACKGROUND

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disorder of the pancreas that can lead to local and systemic complications. Repeated attacks of AP can lead to chronic pancreatitis, which markedly increases the probability of developing pancreatic cancer. Although many researchers have attempted to identify the pathogenesis involved in the initiation and aggravation of AP, the disease is still not fully understood, and effective treatment is limited to supportive therapy.

METHODS

We aim to summarize available literature focused on phytochemicals (berberine, chlorogenic acid, curcumin, emblica officinalis, ellagic acid, cinnamtannin B-1, resveratrol, piperine and lycopene) and discuss their effectiveness and therapeutic value for improving AP.

RESULTS

This study is based on pertinent papers that were retrieved by a selective search using relevant keywords in PubMed and ScienceDirect databases.

CONCLUSIONS

Many phytochemicals hold potential in improving AP symptoms and may be a valuable and effective addition to standard treatment of AP. It has already been proven that the crucial factor for reducing the severity of AP is stimulation of apoptosis along with/or inhibition of necrosis. Supplementation of phytochemicals, which target the balance between apoptosis and necrosis can be recommended in ongoing clinical studies.

Fraxinellone inhibits inflammatory cell infiltration during acute pancreatitis by suppressing inflammasome activation

Inflammasomes promote the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18, which are the representative mediators of inflammation. Abnormal activation of inflammasomes leads to the development of inflammatory diseases such as acute pancreatitis (AP). In this study, we demonstrate the inhibitory effects of a new natural compound fraxinellone on inflammasome formation and examine the role of inflammasomes in a mouse model of AP. AP was induced with hourly intraperitoneal injections of supramaximal concentrations of the stable cholecystokinin analogue cerulein (50 μg/kg) for 6 h. Mice were sacrificed 6 h after the final cerulein injection. Blood and pancreas samples were obtained for further experiments. Intraperitoneal injection of fraxinellone significantly inhibited the pancreatic activation of multiple inflammasome molecules such as NACHT, LRR and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3), PY-CARD, caspase-1, IL-18, and IL-1β during AP. In addition, fraxinellone treatment inhibited pancreatic injury, elevation in serum amylase and lipase activities, and infiltration of inflammatory cells such as neutrophils and macrophages but had no effect on pancreatic edema. To investigate whether inflammasome activation leads to the infiltration of inflammatory cells, we used parthenolide, a well-known natural inhibitor, and IL-1 receptor antagonist mice. The inhibition of inflammasome activation by pharmacological/or genetic modification restricted the infiltration of inflammatory cells, but not edema, consistent with the results observed with fraxinellone. Taken together, our study highlights fraxinellone as a natural inhibitor of inflammasomes and that inflammasome inhibition may lead to the suppression of inflammatory cells during AP.

Systemic administration of curcumin or piperine enhances the periodontal repair: a preliminary study in rats

OBJECTIVES

Studies have documented the anti-inflammatory effects of spices, which may be related to treatment of chronic diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of curcumin and piperine and their association on experimental periodontal repair in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Periodontitis was induced via the installation of a ligature around the first molar. After 15 days, the ligatures were removed, and the rats were separated into groups (12 animals per group): (i) curcumin, (ii) piperine, (iii) curcumin+piperine, (iv) corn oil vehicle, and (v) control group (animals had ligature-induced periodontitis but were not treated). The compounds were administered daily, for 15 days by oral gavage. Animals were euthanized at 5 and 15 days, and hemimaxillae and gingival tissues were harvested. Bone repair was assessed by μCT (microcomputer tomography). Histological sections were stained with hematoxylin/eosin (H/E) for the assessment of cellular infiltrate or picrosirius red for quantification of collagen content, and subjected to immunohistochemistry for detecting NF-ĸB. Gingival tissues were used to evaluate levels of TGF-β and IL-10 (ELISA).

RESULTS

Curcumin and piperine increased the TGF-β level, significantly improved the collagen repair, and decreased the cellularity and activation of NF-ĸB in the periodontal tissues, but only curcumin caused a significant increase in early bone repair.

CONCLUSION

Curcumin and piperine promoted a substantive effect on tissue repair; however, there was not synergistic effect of compounds administered in combination.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Curcumin and piperine stimulates the tissue repair and may be potential candidates for the treatment of periodontal disease.

Melatonin attenuated inflammatory reaction by inhibiting the activation of p38 and NF‑κB in taurocholate‑induced acute pancreatitis

The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective mechanism underlying of melatonin in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). A total of 64 male Sprague‑Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: The sham operation (SO) group, SAP group, melatonin treatment (MLT) group and p38 inhibitor (SB203580) treatment (SB) group. Acute pancreatitis was induced by 5% taurocholate through retrograde infusion into the biliopancreatic ducts. The melatonin and SB203580 treatment groups were administered with MLT and SB 30 min before operation the induction of SAP. Rats in each group were euthanized at 6 and 12 h following SAP induction. Blood and pancreatic tissues were removed for inflammatory examination. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated following sacrifice to measure the phosphorylation of p38 and nuclear factor‑κB (NF‑κB was measured as p65 and phosphorylation of p65). The pretreatment of melatonin significantly attenuated the severity of pancreatitis. In addition, melatonin also reduced serum amylase and proinflammatory cytokine levels, including tumor necrosis factor‑α, interleukin (IL)‑1 and IL‑6. The mean pathological scores for pancreatic tissues in the MLT group were higher than those for samples in the SO group, but were lower than those for samples in the SAP group at each time-point. Phosphorylation of p38 and p65 levels in the melatonin treatment group were lower than that in the SAP group, and higher in the SAP group than in the SO group, and the SB203580 treatment group. Furthermore, melatonin significantly inhibited the activation of p38 and NF‑κB in PBMCs. The authors revealed that melatonin may attenuate inflammatory reactions by inhibiting the activation of p38 MAPK and NF‑κB in both acute pancreatitis rats and PBMCs. SAP is a severe disease with a high risk of morbidity and mortality. It is important to attenuated inflammatory reaction in acute pancreatitis. Thus, the authors studied melatonin, which is synthesized by the pineal gland and released into the blood. Previous studies have shown that melatonin serves a protective role in the early course of human acute pancreatitis, and melatonin concentration variations are closely related to the severity of acute pancreatitis. It may be concluded that melatonin may attenuates inflammatory reactions by inhibiting the activation of p38 MAPK and NF‑κB in both acute pancreatitis rats and PBMCs.

Piperine ameliorates collagenase-induced Achilles tendon injury in the rat

Tendinopathy is a common clinical pathology found in athletes and workers with mixed treatment results. Piperine, a major alkaloid found in the black and long pepper, has been demonstrated to have variety of pharmacological properties such as analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of piperine on collagenase-induced Achilles tendon injury. Rats were intratendineously injected with collagenase in the right Achilles tendon, followed by intragastrical administration of piperine (100 mg/kg). Morphological structure and biochemical analysis of glycosaminoglycans, hydroxyproline, collagen III, and the activity of matrix metallopeptidases in the tendon tissues were performed. Our results showed that collagenase injection resulted in clear degenerative changes in the tendon. Administration of piperine improved the morphological structure of tendon, increased glycosaminoglycans and hydroxyproline levels, and inhibited the expression and activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Furthermore, piperine inhibited the activation of ERK and p38 signaling pathways in injured tendon. These results indicate a beneficial role of piperine against collagenase-induced tendon injury.

Effects of Berberine on Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis and Associated Lung Injury

OBJECTIVES

We set out to examine whether berberine (BBR) might affect the severity of pancreatitis and pancreatitis-associated lung injury in choline-deficient ethionine-supplemented (CDE) diet-induced severe acute pancreatitis.

METHODS

Severe acute pancreatitis was induced by feeding a CDE diet for 3 days. Berberine was administered intraperitoneally during CDE diet. Mice were killed on days 1, 2, and 3 after the onset of CDE diet. The severity of pancreatitis was assessed by evaluating changes to the pancreas and lung and survival rate. Blood, pancreas, and lung were harvested for further examination. Furthermore, the regulating mechanisms of BBR were evaluated on the pancreas.

RESULTS

Administration of BBR significantly inhibited histological damage to the pancreas and lung and decreased serum level of amylase and lipase, myeloperoxidase activity, cytokine production, and the mortality rate. Furthermore, administration of BBR inhibited activation of nuclear factor kappa B, c-Jun N-terminal kinases, and p38 in the pancreas during CDE diet.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that BBR attenuates the severity of pancreatitis by inhibiting activation of nuclear factor kappa B, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and p38 and that BBR could be used as a beneficial agent to regulate AP.

Characterization of piperine metabolites in rats by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization quadruple time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

Piperine is a major constituent of Piper nigrum L. and is a naturally bioactive alkaloid. Structural changes in piperine have been shown to result in different biological effects. The present study aims to investigate piperine metabolites in rat plasma, bile, urine, and feces after oral administration.

METHODS

The metabolic pathway of piperine in vivo was investigated using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHLPC) combined with electrospray ionization quadruple time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (QTOF-MS). Piperine metabolites were found and identified by fragmentation patterns and accurate mass measurements.

RESULTS

The 12 metabolites detected and identified were divided into three groups: methylenedioxycyclic ring-opening metabolites (M01-M08), methylenedioxycyclic ring-oxidizing metabolites (M09-M11), and piperidine ring-cleavage metabolites (M12). Seven piperine metabolites, including M02, M03, M04, M05, M09, M10 and M11, were reported for the first time in the literature.

CONCLUSIONS

Results showed that the principal metabolism pathways of piperine in rat were reduction and demethylation after ring-opening, and that UHPLC/QTOF-MS can serve as an important analytical platform to gather the piperine metabolism profile. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Piperine and Its Various Physicochemical and Biological Aspects: A Review

Piper nigrumL. is examined as the king of species worldwide by virtue of its principle piperine. In Ayurveda, since from the ancient times, it is known as “Yogvahi”. It is one of the important alkaloids of Pepper fruits (Family Piperaceae) and has been found to have numerous medicinal properties such as antioxidant, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, hepatoprotective, antithyroid, antitumor, antiasthmatic activity and also have significant role as fertility enhancer. The present review discusses the biosynthetic pathway, extraction process, chemistry and various analytical methods of piperine. It also describes the structural modification of piperine and its various effects on biological system. The utility of piperine as a bioenhancer for certain antibacterial- antibiotics and a potent inhibitor of drug metabolism are also discussed. Thus, review provides knowledgeable erudition on the piperine which paves way for further work.

Piperine Ameliorates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury via Modulating NF-κB Signaling Pathways

Piperine, one of the active components of black pepper, has been reported to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the effects of piperine on lipolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) have not been reported. Thus, the protective effects of piperine against LPS-induced ALI were investigated in this study. LPS-induced lung injury was assessed by histological study, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and inflammatory cytokine production. Our results demonstrated that piperine attenuated LPS-induced MPO activity, lung edema, and inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β production. Histological studies showed that piperine obviously attenuated LPS-induced lung injury. In addition, piperine significantly inhibited LPS-induced NF-κB activation. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that piperine had a protective effect on LPS-induced ALI. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of piperine is through inhibition of NF-κB activation. Piperine may be a potential therapeutic agent for ALI.

Piperine Suppresses Pyroptosis and Interleukin-1β Release upon ATP Triggering and Bacterial Infection

Piperine is a phytochemical present in black pepper (Piper nigrum Linn) and other related herbs, possessing a wide array of pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory effects. Previously, we demonstrated that piperine has therapeutic effects on bacterial sepsis in mice, but the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the influences of piperine on pyroptosis in murine macrophages. The results showed that piperine dose-dependently inhibited ATP-induced pyroptosis, thereby suppressing interleukin-1β (IL-1β) or high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) release in LPS-primed bone marrow-derived macrophages and J774A.1 cells. Accompanying this, ATP-induced AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation was greatly suppressed by piperine, whereas AMPK agonist metformin counteracted piperine’s inhibitory effects on pyroptosis. Moreover, piperine administration greatly reduced both peritoneal and serum IL-1β levels in the mouse model intraperitoneally infected with Escherichia coli, suggestive of suppressing systemic inflammation and pyroptosis. Our data indicated that piperine could protect macrophages from pyroptosis and reduced IL-1β and HMGB1 release by suppressing ATP-induced AMPK activation, suggesting that piperine may become a potential therapeutic agent against bacterial sepsis.

Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Pharmacological Inhibition Ameliorates Experimental Acute Pancreatitis in Mice

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disease, and is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders worldwide. Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH; encoded by Ephx2) deficiency and pharmacological inhibition have beneficial effects in inflammatory diseases. Ephx2 whole-body deficiency mitigates experimental AP in mice, but the suitability of sEH pharmacological inhibition for treating AP remains to be determined. We investigated the effects of sEH pharmacological inhibition on cerulein- and arginine-induced AP using the selective sEH inhibitor 1-trifluoromethoxyphenyl-3-(1-propionylpiperidin-4-yl) urea (TPPU), which was administered before and after induction of pancreatitis. Serum amylase and lipase levels were lower in TPPU-treated mice compared with controls. In addition, circulating levels and pancreatic mRNA of the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin Il-1β, and Il-6 were reduced in TPPU-treated mice. Moreover, sEH pharmacological inhibition before and after induction of pancreatitis was associated with decreased cerulein- and arginine-induced nuclear factor-κB inflammatory response, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and cell death. sEH pharmacological inhibition before and after induction of pancreatitis mitigated cerulein- and arginine-induced AP. This work suggests that sEH pharmacological inhibition may be of therapeutic value in acute pancreatitis.

Guggulsterone attenuates cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis via inhibition of ERK and JNK activation

Guggulsterone (GS), a plant steroid and a compound found at high levels in Commiphora myrrha, exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and cholesterol-lowering effects. However, the potential of GS to ameliorate acute pancreatitis (AP) is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of GS on cerulein-induced AP. AP was induced by intraperitoneally injecting supramaximal concentrations of the stable cholecystokinin analog cerulein (50 μg/kg) hourly for 6 h. In the GS-treated group, GS was administered intraperitoneally (10, 25, or 50mg/kg) 1 h before the first cerulein injection. Mice were sacrificed 6 h after the final cerulein injection. Blood samples were collected to measure serum lipase levels and evaluate cytokine production. The pancreas and lung were rapidly removed for morphologic and histological examinations, flow cytometry analysis, myeloperoxidase (MPO) assay, and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis. Pre-treatment with GS attenuated cerulein-induced histological damage, reduced pancreas weight/body weight ratio, decreased serum lipase levels, inhibited infiltrations of macrophages and neutrophils, and suppressed cytokine production. Additionally, GS treatment suppressed the activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in the pancreas in cerulein-induced pancreatitis. In conclusion, our results suggest that GS attenuates AP via deactivation of ERK and JNK.

Piperine inhibit inflammation, alveolar bone loss and collagen fibers breakdown in a rat periodontitis model

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Piperine exhibits anti-inflammatory activity, and has a long history of medicinal use. The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effects of piperine on inflammation, alveolar bone and collagen fibers in experimental periodontitis. We evaluated the related expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8 and MMP-13 to enhance insight into these effects.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Thirty-two Wistar rats were divided into four groups of eight animals each: control group, periodontitis group, periodontitis plus 50 mg/kg piperine group and periodontitis plus 100 mg/kg piperine group. Histopathologic changes were detected by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Alveolar bone loss and trabecula microstructures were evaluated by micro-computed tomography. Changes in collagen fibers were assessed by picrosirius red staining. Western blot analysis was conducted to determine the levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, MMP-8 and MMP-13.

RESULTS

Piperine clearly inhibited alveolar bone loss and reformed trabecula microstructures in a dose-dependent manner. Histological staining showed that piperine significantly reduced the infiltration of inflammation in soft tissues. Both doses of piperine limited the fractions of degraded areas in collagen fibers. Piperine (100 mg/kg) significantly downregulated the expressions of IL-1β, MMP-8 and MMP-13 in periodontitis, but not that of TNF-α.

CONCLUSION

Piperine displays significantly protective effects on inflammation, alveolar bone loss, bone microstructures and collagen fiber degradation in experimental periodontitis. The effects may be ascribed to its inhibitory activity on the expressions of IL-1β, MMP-8 and MMP-13.

Astragaloside IV ameliorates acute pancreatitis in rats by inhibiting the activation of nuclear factor-κB

This study aimed to investigate the effects of astragaloside IV (AS-IV; 3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-6-O-β-D-glucopyranosylcycloastragenol), which has been reported to have comprehensive pharmacological functions, on sodium taurocholate (NaTc)/L-arginine (L-Arg)-induced acute pancreatitis (AP) in rats in vivo and in rat pancreatic acinar cells in vitro. NaTc-induced experimental AP was induced in rats by injecting 4% NaTc (0.1 ml/100 g) in the retrograde direction of the biliopancreatic duct. L-Arg-induced experimental AP was induced in rats by 2 intraperitoneal injections of 20% L-arg (3 g/kg), with an interval of 1 h between the injections. The rats were pre-treated AS-IV (50 mg/kg) or the vehicle (DMSO) 2 h prior to the induction of AP. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, H&E staining, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the effects of AS-IV on AP. The results revealed that treatment with AS-IV significantly reduced serum amylase and lipase levels, pancreatic pathological alterations, the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, MPO activity, and the protein expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in vivo. Moreover, pre-treatment with AS-IV significantly increased the expression levels of manganese superoxide dismutase and cuprum/zinc superoxide dismutase. In the in vitro experiment, treatment of the cells with AS-IV aslo reduced rat pancreatic acinar cell necrosis and nuclear NF-κB activity, and enhanced the protein expression of superoxide dismutase. In conclusion, this study indicates that the protective effects of AS-IV on experimental AP in rats may be closely related to the inhibition of NF-κB. In addition, our results indicate that AS-IV may exert potential antioxidant effects on AP. Therefore, AS-IV may be an effective therapeutic agent for AP.

Protective Effects of Lithospermum erythrorhizon Against Cerulein-Induced Acute Pancreatitis

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and inhibitory effects of Lithospermum erythrorhizon (LE) on cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis (AP) in a mouse model.

METHODS

Acute pancreatitis was induced via intraperitoneal injection of cerulein (50 μg/kg) every hour for 6 times. In the LE, water extract (100, 250, or 500 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally 1 hour before the first injection of cerulein. Six hours after AP, blood, the pancreas, and the lung were harvested for further examination. In addition, pancreatic acinar cells were isolated using a collagenase method, and then, we investigated the acinar cell viability and cytokine productions.

RESULTS

Treatment with LE reduced pancreatic damage and AP-associated lung injury and attenuated the severity of AP, as evidenced by the reduction in neutrophil infiltration, serum amylase and lipase levels, trypsin activity, and proinflammatory cytokine expression. In addition, treatment with LE inhibited high mobility group box 1 expression in the pancreas during AP. In accordance with in vivo data, LE inhibited the cerulein-induced acinar cell death, cytokine productions, and high-mobility group box 1 expression. Furthermore, LE also inhibited the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that LE plays a protective role during the development of AP by inhibiting the activation of p38.

Effects of soluble epoxide hydrolase deficiency on acute pancreatitis in mice

Background

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a frequent gastrointestinal disorder that causes significant morbidity, and its incidence has been progressively increasing. AP starts as a local inflammation in the pancreas that often leads to systemic inflammatory response and complications. Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is a cytosolic enzyme whose inhibition in murine models has beneficial effects in inflammatory diseases, but its significance in AP remains unexplored.

Methodology/Principal Findings

To investigate whether sEH may have a causal role in AP we utilized Ephx2 knockout (KO) mice to determine the effects of sEH deficiency on cerulein- and arginine-induced AP. sEH expression increased at the protein and messenger RNA levels, as well as enzymatic activity in the early phase of cerulein- and arginine-induced AP in mice. In addition, amylase and lipase levels were lower in cerulein-treated Ephx2 KO mice compared with controls. Moreover, pancreatic mRNA and serum concentrations of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1B and IL-6 were lower in cerulein-treated Ephx2 KO mice compared with controls. Further, Ephx2 KO mice exhibited decreased cerulein- and arginine-induced NF-κB inflammatory response, MAPKs activation and decreased cell death. Conclusions -These findings demonstrate a novel role for sEH in the progression of cerulein- and arginine-induced AP.

Catalpol ameliorates sodium taurocholate-induced acute pancreatitis in rats via inhibiting activation of nuclear factor kappa B

Catalpol, an iridoid glucoside extracted from the traditional Chinese herbal medicine, Rehmannia glutinosa, is reported to exert neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and anti-apoptotic effects. The main aim of the present study was to investigate whether catalpol ameliorates experimental acute pancreatitis (AP) induced by sodium taurocholate (STC). AP was induced in rats via retrograde injection of 4% STC (0.1 mL/100 g) into the biliopancreatic duct. Rats were pre-treated with saline or catalpol (50 mg/kg) 2 h before STC injection. At 12, 24 and 48 h after injection, the severity of AP was evaluated using biochemical and morphological analyses. Pretreatment with catalpol led to a significant reduction in serum amylase and lipase activities, pancreatic histological damage, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α levels, and activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). Moreover, administration of catalpol increased the viability of pancreatic acinar cells and inhibited NF-κB expression in vitro. Our results collectively support the potential of catalpol as a highly effective therapeutic agent for treatment of AP.

Pancreatic T cell protein-tyrosine phosphatase deficiency ameliorates cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis

Background

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common clinical problem whose incidence has been progressively increasing in recent years. Onset of the disease is trigged by intra-acinar cell activation of digestive enzyme zymogens that induce autodigestion, release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and acinar cell injury. T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TCPTP) is implicated in inflammatory signaling but its significance in AP remains unclear.

Results

In this study we assessed the role of pancreatic TCPTP in cerulein-induced AP. TCPTP expression was increased at the protein and messenger RNA levels in the early phase of AP in mice and rats. To directly determine whether TCPTP may have a causal role in AP we generated mice with pancreatic TCPTP deletion (panc-TCPTP KO) by crossing TCPTP floxed mice with Pdx1-Cre transgenic mice. Amylase and lipase levels were lower in cerulein-treated panc-TCPTP KO mice compared with controls. In addition, pancreatic mRNA and serum concentrations of the inflammatory cytokines TNFα and IL-6 were lower in panc-TCPTP KO mice. At the molecular level, panc-TCPTP KO mice exhibited enhanced cerulein-induced STAT3 Tyr705 phosphorylation accompanied by a decreased cerulein-induced NF-κB inflammatory response, and decreased ER stress and cell death.

Conclusion

These findings revealed a novel role for pancreatic TCPTP in the progression of cerulein-induced AP.

Opuntia humifusa ameliorated cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Opuntia humifusa (OH) on cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis (AP).

METHODS

Acute pancreatitis was induced via intraperitoneal injection of cholecystokinin analog cerulein (50 μg/kg). In the OH pretreatment group, OH was administered intraperitoneally (100, 250, or 500 mg/kg) 1 hour before first cerulein injection. In the posttreatment group, OH was administered intraperitoneally (500 mg/kg) 1 hour after the first cerulein injection. Furthermore, we isolated the pancreatic acinar cells using collagenase method, then investigated the acinar cell viability, cytokine productions, and the regulating mechanisms.

RESULTS

The both pretreatment and posttreatment of OH treatment attenuated the severity of AP, as shown by the histology of the pancreas and lung, and inhibited neutrophil infiltration; serum amylase and lipase activities; proinflammatory cytokine expression such as interleukin 1, interleukin 6, and tumor necrosis factor α; and cell death including apoptosis and necrosis. Furthermore, OH inhibited the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that OH reduces the severity of AP by inhibiting acinar cell death through c-Jun N-terminal kinases.

Apamin attenuated cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis by inhibition of JNK pathway in mice

BACKGROUND/AIM

We have previously reported that bee venom (BV) has a protective role against acute pancreatitis (AP). However, the effects of apamin, the major compound of BV, on AP have not been determined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of apamin on cerulein-induced AP.

METHODS

AP was induced via intraperitoneal injection of supramaximal concentrations of the stable cholecystokinin analogue cerulein (50 μg/kg) every hour for 6 times. In the apamin treatment group, apamin was administered subcutaneously (10, 50, or 100 μg/kg) at both 18 and 1 h before the first cerulein injection. The mice were sacrificed at 6 h after the final cerulein injection. Blood samples were obtained to determine serum amylase and lipase levels, as well as cytokine production. The pancreas and lung were rapidly removed for morphologic and histological examination, myeloperoxidase (MPO) assay, and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, we isolated the pancreatic acinar cells to specify the role of apamin in AP.

RESULTS

Pre-treatment with apamin inhibited histological damage, pancreatic weight/body weight ratio, serum level of amylase and lipase, MPO activity, and cytokine production. In addition, apamin treatment significantly inhibited cerulein-induced pancreatic acinar cell death. Furthermore, apamin treatment inhibited the cerulein-induced activation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinases (JNK).

CONCLUSIONS

These results could suggest that apamin could protect against AP by inhibition of JNK activation.

Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans protected the cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis by inhibiting high-mobility group box protein-1

AIM: To evaluate the inhibitory effects of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans (SSM) on cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis (AP) in a mouse model.

METHODS: SSM water extract (0.1, 0.5, or 1 g/kg) was administrated intraperitoneally 1 h prior to the first injection of cerulein. Once AP developed, the stable cholecystokinin analogue, cerulein was injected hourly, over a 6 h period. Blood samples were taken 6 h later to determine serum amylase, lipase, and cytokine levels. The pancreas and lungs were rapidly removed for morphological examination, myeloperoxidase assay, and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. To specify the role of SSM in pancreatitis, the pancreatic acinar cells were isolated using collagenase method. Then the cells were pre-treated with SSM, then stimulated with cerulein. The cell viability, cytokine productions and high-mobility group box protein-1 (HMGB-1) were measured. Furthermore, the regulating mechanisms of SSM action were evaluated.

RESULTS: The administration of SSM significantly attenuated the severity of pancreatitis and pancreatitis associated lung injury, as was shown by the reduction in pancreatic edema, neutrophil infiltration, vacuolization and necrosis. SSM treatment also reduced pancreatic weight/body weight ratio, serum amylase, lipase and cytokine levels, and mRNA expression of multiple inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β. In addition, treatment with SSM inhibited HMGB-1 expression in the pancreas during AP. In accordance with in vivo data, SSM inhibited the cerulein-induced acinar cell death, cytokine, and HMGB-1 release. SSM also inhibited the activation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, p38 and nuclear factor (NF)-κB.

CONCLUSION: These results suggest that SSM plays a protective role during the development of AP and pancreatitis associated lung injury via deactivating c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, p38 and NF-κB.