Osteoprotective effect of extract from Achyranthes japonica in ovariectomized rats

Vigeo attenuates cartilage and bone destruction in a collagen‑induced arthritis mouse model by reducing production of pro‑inflammatory cytokines

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune and chronic inflammatory disease characterized by articular cartilage destruction, bone destruction and synovial hyperplasia. It has been suggested that Vigeo, a mixture of Eleutherococcus senticosus, Achyranthes japonica and Atractylodes japonica fermented with Korean nuruk, has an anti-osteoporotic effect in a mouse model of inflammation-mediated bone loss. The present study evaluated the therapeutic effects of Vigeo in RA using a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model. DBA/1J mice were immunized with bovine type II collagen on days 0 and 21 and Vigeo was administered daily for 20 days beginning the day after the second type II collagen injection. The mice were sacrificed on day 42 and the joint tissues were anatomically separated and subjected to micro computed tomography and histological analyses. In addition, the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. CIA in DBA/1J mice caused symptoms of RA, such as joint inflammation, cartilage destruction and bone erosion. Treatment of CIA mice with Vigeo markedly decreased the symptoms and cartilage pathology. In addition, radiological and histological analyses showed that Vigeo attenuated bone and cartilage destruction. The serum TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β levels following oral Vigeo administration were also reduced when compared with those in CIA mice. The present study revealed that Vigeo suppressed arthritis symptoms in a CIA-RA mouse model, including bone loss and serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β.

Inhibitory Effects of IL-6-Mediated Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 and -13 by Achyranthes japonica Nakai Root in Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis Mice Models

Achyranthes japonica Nakai root (AJNR) is used to treat osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) owing to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. This study investigated the inhibitory effects of AJNR on arthritis. AJNR was extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide (CO₂), and its main compounds, pimaric and kaurenoic acid, were identified. ANJR’s inhibitory effects against arthritis were evaluated using primary cultures of articular chondrocytes and two in vivo arthritis models: destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) as an OA model, and collagenase-induced arthritis (CIA) as an RA model. AJNR did not affect pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6)-mediated cytotoxicity, but attenuated pro-inflammatory cytokine-mediated increases in catabolic factors, and recovered pro-inflammatory cytokine-mediated decreases in related anabolic factors related to in vitro. The effect of AJNR is particularly specific to IL-6-mediated catabolic or anabolic alteration. In a DMM model, AJNR decreased cartilage erosion, subchondral plate thickness, osteophyte size, and osteophyte maturity. In a CIA model, AJNR effectively inhibited cartilage degeneration and synovium inflammation in either the ankle or knee and reduced pannus formation in both the knee and ankle. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed that AJNR mainly acted via the inhibitory effects of IL-6-mediated matrix metalloproteinase-3 and -13 in both arthritis models. Therefore, AJNR is a potential therapeutic agent for relieving arthritis symptoms.

Acute interstitial nephritis associated with ingestion of Achyranthes japonica extract: a case report

BACKGROUND

The Japanese chaff flower, Achyranthes japonica, is used as complementary medicine to control degenerative arthritis. Although commonly used in South Korea, there has been no report of side effects. We report the first case of acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) that occurred in a woman who ingested A. japonica extract for 4 months.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 56-year-old Korean woman was admitted for deterioration of renal function. She had general weakness and nausea for 1 month. Her initial blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels were 26.3 mg/dL and 3.2 mg/dL, respectively. She acknowledged ingesting A. japonica extract for the past 4 months. Renal histology demonstrated AIN represented by immune cell infiltration into the interstitium, tubulitis, and tubular atrophy, but the glomeruli were intact. A. japonica was discontinued immediately and conservative management was started. Renal function was nearly restored to the baseline level without medication after 13 months.

CONCLUSION

This is a rare case report of AIN associated with a pure A. japonica extract. In the case of unknown etiology of AIN, physicians should ask about the use of herbal medicines, nutraceuticals, and traditional folk medicines including A. japonica.

Effect of Achyranthes japonica Nakai extract on immunity and anti-inflammation in dogs

Achyranthes japonica Nakai (A. japonica) is a medicinal herb found widely distributed throughout Korea. The biological activities of A. japonica are well-documented and include anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and immunity enhancement. The objective of the present study was to investigate the immune-related activities of A. japonica extract in dogs. The extract was acquired by ethanol extraction and purified by filtration. To examine the effect of A. japonica extract on immune cell viability, human lymphocytes, such as Jurkat T-cells and Ramos B-cells, were exposed to the extract. After treatment with the extract, the number of Ramos B-cells was increased, whereas Jurkat T-cells remained unaffected. Griess assay revealed decreased nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse macrophage Raw 264.7 cells after exposure to A. japonica extract. To evaluate the in-vivo effect in dogs, feed containing A. japonica extract was provided to 8 dogs for 2 months. Blood samples were collected before, during, and after consumption of the feed. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from the blood samples and the number of T-cells and B-cells were assessed using flow cytometry with anti-dog fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated CD3 and anti-dog phycoerythrin (PE)-conjugated CD21 antibodies, respectively. We observed a significant increase in the average number of B-cells in the PBMCs during ingestion of the feed containing A. japonica. In addition, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) revealed a decrease in the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, in 3 out of 8 dogs and increased levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10), an anti-inflammatory cytokine, in 4 out of 8 dogs. Taken together, we believe that these changes indicate that A. japonica extract is beneficial in improving the immunity of dogs by stimulating B-cells and inducing production of anti-inflammatory responses.

Anti-Osteoporotic Effects of the Herbal Mixture of Cornus officinalis and Achyranthes japonica In Vitro and In Vivo

Osteoporosis is a porous bone disease caused by bone density loss, which increases the risk of fractures. Cornus officinalis (CO) and Achyranthes japonica (AJ) have been used as traditional herbal medicine for various disorders in East Asia. Although the anti-osteoporotic effects of single extract of CO and AJ have already been reported, the synergistic effect of a combined mixture has not been studied. In this study, we investigated the effects of a CO and AJ herbal mixture on osteoporosis in in vitro and in vivo models. The results demonstrate that treatment with the CO and AJ mixture significantly promoted osteoblast differentiation of MC3T3-E1 mouse preosteoblasts through the upregulation of osteoblastic differentiation-associated genes such as alkaline phosphatase (Alpl), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), and bone gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-containing protein (Bglap), while the mixture significantly inhibited differentiation of osteoclasts isolated from primary-cultured mouse monocytes. In addition, oral administration of CO and AJ mixture significantly prevented bone mineral density loss and trabecular bone structures in an ovariectomy-induced osteoporotic mouse model. These results suggest that the combination treatment of CO and AJ mixture might be a beneficial therapy for osteoporosis.

Anti-Osteoporotic Effects of Combined Extract of Lycii Radicis Cortex and Achyranthes japonica in Osteoblast and Osteoclast Cells and Ovariectomized Mice

Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone density and quality with high risk of bone fracture. Here, we investigated anti-osteoporotic effects of natural plants (Lycii Radicis Cortex (LRC) and Achyranthes japonica (AJ)) in osteoblast and osteoclast cells in vitro and ovariectomized mice in vivo. Combined LRC and AJ enhanced osteoblast differentiation and mineralized bone-forming osteoblasts by the up-regulation of bone metabolic markers (Alpl, Runx2 and Bglap) in the osteoblastic cell line MC3T3-E1. However, LRC and AJ inhibited osteoclast differentiation of monocytes isolated from mouse bone marrow. In vivo experiments showed that treatment of LRC+AJ extract prevented OVX-induced trabecular bone loss and osteoclastogenesis in an osteoporotic animal model. These results suggest that LRC+AJ extract may be a good therapeutic agent for the treatment and prevention of osteoporotic bone loss.

Achyranthes japonica Nakai Water Extract Suppresses Binding of IgE Antibody to Cell Surface FcɛRI

Achyranthes japonica Nakai (AJN) water extract has a variety of physiological properties, including anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-oxidative activities. In the present study, the inhibitory effects of AJN extract were investigated in high affinity immunoglobulin E receptor (FcɛRI)-mediated KU812F cells activation. AJN extract showed suppressive effects on histamine release and intracellular calcium [Ca²⁺]i elevation from anti-FcɛRI antibody (CRA-1)-stimulated cells in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis showed that AJN extract treatment caused a dose-dependent decrease in the cell surface FcɛRI expression and the binding between the cell surface FcɛRI and the IgE antibody. Moreover, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that levels of the mRNA for the FcɛRI α chain was decreased by treatment with AJN extract. These results indicate that AJN extract may exert anti-allergic effects via the inhibition of calcium influx and histamine release, which occurs as a result from the down-regulation of the binding of IgE antibody to cell surface FcɛRI. This mechanism may occur through FcɛRI expression inhibition.