Anti-melanogenic activity of the novel herbal medicine, MA128, through inhibition of tyrosinase activity mediated by the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases and protein kinase signaling pathway in B16F10 cells

Mechanisms of autophagy and their implications in dermatological disorders

Autophagy is a highly conserved cellular self-digestive process that underlies the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Autophagy is classified into three types: macrophage, chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) and microphagy, which maintain cellular homeostasis through different mechanisms. Altered autophagy regulation affects the progression of various skin diseases, including psoriasis (PA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), vitiligo, atopic dermatitis (AD), alopecia areata (AA) and systemic sclerosis (SSc). In this review, we review the existing literature focusing on three mechanisms of autophagy, namely macrophage, chaperone-mediated autophagy and microphagy, as well as the roles of autophagy in the above six dermatological disorders in order to aid in further studies in the future.

Discovery of Resorcinol-Based Polycyclic Structures as Tyrosinase Inhibitors for Treatment of Parkinson's Disease

Tyrosinase is involved in the synthesis of neuromelanin in the substantia nigra, which is closely correlated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. Herein, we identified S05014 (l-Tyr, IC₅₀ = 6.25 ± 1.43 nM; l-Dopa, IC₅₀ = 0.64 ± 0.40 μM) as a highly effective tyrosinase inhibitor. It could inhibit the tyrosinase function from different origins and decrease the expression of tyrosinase. S05014 presented good medication safety and inhibited melanogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, as a resorcinol derivative, S05014 could scavenge the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical and significantly reduce the overproduction of LPS-induced reactive oxidative species (ROS), indicating its antioxidative profile. S05014 exhibited an excellent neuroprotective effect against methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) impairment in vitro and could remarkably alleviate movement abnormalities and exploratory activities in vivo. Altogether, S05014 is considered as a promising inhibitor for tyrosinase, melanogenesis, and oxidative stress and has great potential to be utilized in anti-Parkinsonian syndrome. From this point of view, tyrosinase inhibition has been further confirmed to be a novel strategy to improve locomotor capacity and treat Parkinson's disease.

Potent anti-melanogenic activity and favorable toxicity profile of selected 4-phenyl hydroxycoumarins in the zebrafish model and the computational molecular modeling studies

7-Hydroxy-4-phenylcoumarin (7C) and 5,7-dihydroxy-4-phenylcoumarin (5,7C) have been evaluated as potential anti-melanogenic agents in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) model in comparison to commercially utilized depigmenting agents hydroquinone and kojic acid. 7C and 5,7C decreased the body pigmentation at 5 µg/mL, while did not affect the embryos development and survival at doses ≤50 µg/mL and ≤25 µg/mL. Unlike hydroquinone and kojic acid, 4-phenyl hydroxycoumarins were no melanocytotoxic, showed no cardiotoxic side effects, neither caused neutropenia in zebrafish embryos, suggesting these compounds may present novel skin-whitening agents with improved pharmacological properties. Inhibition of tyrosinase was identified as the possible mode of anti-melanogenic action. Molecular docking studies using the homology model of human tyrosinase as well as adenylate cyclase revealed excellent correlation with experimentally obtained results.

Fermented herbal formula KIOM-MA-128 protects against acute colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate in mice

BACKGROUND

Colitis is a well-known subtype of inflammatory bowel disease and is caused by diverse factors. Previous research has shown that KIOM-MA elicits anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects on various diseases. KIOM-MA-128, our novel herbal formula, was generated from KIOM-MA using probiotics to improve the therapeutic efficacy. We investigated whether KIOM-MA-128 has protective activity in a mouse model of acute colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS).

METHODS

Colitis was induced by DSS administered to ICR mice in drinking water. KIOM-MA-128 (125 or 250 mg/kg) was orally administered once per day. The body weights of the mice were measured daily, and colonic endoscopies were performed at 5 and 8 days. Colon length as well as histological and cytokine changes were observed at the end of drug administration.

RESULTS

KIOM-MA-128 has pharmacological activity in an acute colitis model. KIOM-MA-128 reduced the loss of body weight and disease activity index (DAI) and inhibited the abnormally short colon lengths and the colonic damage in this mouse model of acute colitis. Moreover, KIOM-MA-128 suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and maintained the integrity of the tight junctions during DSS-induced colitis.

CONCLUSION

The results indicated that KIOM-MA-128 protects against DSS-induced colitis in mice and suggested that this formula might be a candidate treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Fermented Herbal Formulas KIOM-MA128 Ameliorate IL-6-Induced Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction in Colon Cancer Cell Line

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). IBD increases the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), depending on the extent and duration of intestinal inflammation. Increased IL-6 expression has been reported in IBD patients, which may be associated with intestinal barrier function through discontinuous tight junction (TJ). KIOM-MA is a specific agent for allergic diseases and cancer, and it is composed of several plants; these herbs have been used in traditional oriental medicine. We fermented KIOM-MA, the product of KIOM-MA128, using probiotics to improve the therapeutic efficacy via the absorption and bioavailability of the active ingredients. In this study, we demonstrated that KIOM-MA/MA128 exhibited anticolitis effects via the modulation of TJ protein. Interleukin-6 resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in the TER and an increase in the FITC-dextran permeability; however, pretreatment with 400 µg/ml KIOM-MA/MA128 resulted in a significant increase in the TER and a decrease in the FITC-dextran permeability via IL-6 induction. Furthermore, protein and mRNA TJ levels remained stable after pretreatment with 400 µg/ml KIOM-MA/MA128. Moreover, KIOM-MA/MA128 suppressed the expression of PLCγ1 and PKC. Taken together, these findings suggest novel information and clue of the anticolitis effects of KIOM-MA128 via regulation of tight junction.

The Herbal Medicine KIOM-MA128 Inhibits the Antigen/IgE-Mediated Allergic Response in Vitro and in Vivo

KIOM-MA128, a novel herbal medicine, has been reported to exert some beneficial effects on various biological events, such as atopic dermatitis, inflammation and cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate how KIOM-MA128 regulates the allergic response. We measured the activity of β-hexosaminidase and the levels of allergic mediators in the conditioned media of antigen/IgE (Ag/IgE)-activated RBL-2H3 mast cells. We examined the levels of proteins associated with both the FcεRI and arachidonate cascades. Finally, we established the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) model in mice to confirm the anti-allergic effects of KIOM-MA128 in vivo. KIOM-MA128 dose-dependently inhibited degranulation and the production of the allergic mediators described above, with no significant cytotoxicity. In the arachidonate cascade, KIOM-MA128 significantly reduced both cytosolic phospholipase A₂ (cPLA₂) phosphorylation and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. Moreover, in the FcεRI cascade, KIOM-MA128 not only inhibited activation of LYN, FYN and SYK, known as the rate-limiting proteins of the FcεRI cascade, but also suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK, p38 and JNK, which is related to cytokine expression. Finally, 50 to 100 mg/kg KIOM-MA128 significantly attenuated the Ag/IgE-induced PCA reaction in mice. These findings provide novel information and improve our understanding of the anti-allergic effects of KIOM-MA128 on allergic diseases.

Jaeumganghwa-Tang Induces Apoptosis via the Mitochondrial Pathway and Lactobacillus Fermentation Enhances Its Anti-Cancer Activity in HT1080 Human Fibrosarcoma Cells

Jaeumganghwa-tang (JGT, Zi-yin-jiang-huo-tang in Chinese and Jiin-koka-to in Japanese) is an oriental herbal formula that has long been used as a traditional medicine to treat respiratory and kidney diseases. Recent studies revealed that JGT exhibited potent inhibitory effects on allergies, inflammation, pain, convulsions, and prostate hyperplasia. Several constituent herbs in JGT induce apoptotic cancer cell death. However, the anti-cancer activity of JGT has not been examined. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer effects of JGT using highly tumorigenic HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cells and elucidated the underlying mechanisms. In addition, we examined whether the Lactobacillus fermentation of JGT enhanced its anti-cancer activity using an in vivo xenograft model because fermentation of herbal extracts is thought to strengthen their therapeutic effects. Data revealed that JGT suppressed the growth of cancer cells efficiently by stimulating G1 cell cycle arrest and then inducing apoptotic cell death by causing mitochondrial damage and activating caspases. The phosphorylation of p38 and ERK also played a role in JGT-induced cell death. In vitro experiments demonstrated that JGT fermented with Lactobacillus acidophilus, designated fJGT162, elicited similar patterns of cell death as did non-fermented JGT. Meanwhile, the daily oral administration of 120 mg/kg fJGT162 to HT1080-bearing BALB/c nude mice suppressed tumor growth dramatically (up to 90%) compared with saline treatment, whereas the administration of non-fermented JGT suppressed tumor growth by ~70%. Collectively, these results suggest that JGT and fJGT162 are safe and useful complementary and alternative anti-cancer herbal therapies, and that Lactobacillus fermentation improves the in vivo anti-cancer efficacy of JGT significantly.

Molecular docking studies and biological evaluation of chalcone based pyrazolines as tyrosinase inhibitors and potential anticancer agents

A series of synthetic chalcones and pyrazoline derivatives showed antityrosinase, anticancer and considerable tubulin polymerization activity.