Abstract To explore the protective activity of ginger (Zingiber officinale) root ethanol extract (GRE) on the neuroinflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide in microglial cells. Ginger has been investigated as a neuroprotective and anti-aging agent. Nevertheless, ginger extract attenuates neuroinflammation in microglia have not been discovered in depth. The results showed that GRE had high total phenolic and (55.63 ± 0.16 mg GAE/g) and total flavonoid content (4.33 ± 0.17 mg QUE/g), and antioxidant activity. GRE inhibited the release of cytokines and inflammatory mediators including COX-2, PGE2, Nitric oxide, interleukin-6, TNF-α, and iNOS. GRE ameliorated microglia-mediated neuronal insults via upregulating the expression of Bax and reducing the expression of Bcl-2. GRE suppressed NF-κB and AKT/STAT3, and the MAPK pathway in the neuroinflammatory response. In conclusions, GRE positively affected anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective activity without serious side effects, which might be used as a functional food additive and/or therapeutic material for the management and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract The objective of the current study was to assess the antioxidant activity of different solvents containing Humulus japonicus extract (HJE) and their antioxidant effects on neurons. H. japonicus ethanol extracts (HEEs) together with H. japonicus water extracts (HWEs) were generated via extraction of H. japonicus leaves with 30%, 50%, and 80% ethanol solutions under a hot water temperature of 121 °C. HEEs showed higher levels of bioactive compounds, such as total flavonoids and polyphenols, with stronger antioxidant activities in contrast to HWEs. HEE (80%) showed the highest content of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity. Next, we used a H2O2-induced rat model of pheochromocytoma PC12 cells to investigate the antioxidant activity and cellular signal regulation of 80% HEEs. The results showed that HJEs resisted oxidative stress via MAPK and/or AKT-NRF2 and NF-kappa B signaling pathways and upregulated antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, catalase, HO-1, and OGG1, thereby reducing intracellular ROS levels. Further, HJE promoted neuronal survival by upregulating sirtuin 1 expression. This study provides evidence supporting the potential benefits of HJE in preventing oxidative stress in PC12 cells, suggesting its application as a promising functional food additive or therapeutic agent for the prevention and the treatment of oxidative stress-related neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effect and mechanism of collagen degradation by Pectinase-assisted Halophyte Complex Extract (PHCE) in hairless mice. Collagen expression in vitro was measured using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Western blotting. After collecting mice skin in vivo, histological analysis was performed with Hematoxylin & Eosin (H & E) and trichrome stain. Molecular expression was measured by western blot analysis. In HaCaT cells, the collagen expression level was increased compared to the positive control group. Epidermal thickness inhibition and collagen expression levels were also increased in the skin of a hairless mouse model. Western blot analysis confirmed the increase in collagen and elastin by inhibiting phosphorylation of NF-κB and decreasing the expression of matrix metalloproteinases-1 (MMP-1) and matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9). The skin protective effect of PHCE is considered to be due to inhibition of MMPs expression through inhibition of NF-κB activation. Therefore, PHCE can be considered as a candidate material as a food material that can improve skin damage caused by UV rays.

Abstract Humulus japonicus (HJ) is administered to patients with pulmonary disease and skin disease owing to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Lately, HJ has been shown to exert impacts on protection against neurodegenerative sickness. Nevertheless, its impacts on microglia have not been discovered in depth. As a result, anti-inflammatory impacts of HJ ethanol extract (HJE) and its active compound luteolin on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated SIM-A9 cells were investigated. The results showed that HJE luteolin inhibited generation of interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, nitric oxide, interleukin-6, together with prostaglandin E2, iNOS, COX-2 along with HO-1 induction. Furthermore, HJE and luteolin reduced degrees of NF-κB pathway components within cytoplasm and nucleus, while reducing cytoplasmic MAPK levels and increasing Nrf2 levels in the cytoplasm and nucleus. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that HJE might exhibit neuroprotective effects and could be used as a novel drug for various neurological diseases.

Abstract In today's society, hair is not only used to protect the body and maintain body temperature, but to play an aesthetic role. Therefore, interest in natural products that can improve hair loss is increasing. In this study, the hair loss improvement effect of a mixture of Chrysanthemum zawadskii, peppermint and Glycyrrhiza glabra (FHH-CZ) was investigated in Human follicle dermal papilla cell (HFDPC) and C57BL/6 mice. ELISA, Western blot, RT-PCR and animal experiments were performed. The results showed that FHH-CZ suppressed the expression of 5α-reductase type 2 and androgen receptor in testosterone-treated HFDPC. In addition, pretreatment with FHH-CZ reduced the Bax/Bcl2 expression ratio through inhibition of Dkk-1 expression in testosterone-treated HFDPC. In animal experiments, FHH-CZ promoted hair growth and increased the number of hair roots in C57BL/6 mice. Therefore, the results of this study suggested that FHH-CZ could be used as a natural material with few side effects to improve hair loss.

Abstract To explore the protective impact of the ginger root ethanol extract (GRE) against the oxidative stress induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) and apoptotic and its mechanism. Parkinson's disease (PD) model was established using 6-OHDA in the cells of rat adrenal pheochromocytoma (PC12). The GRE pretreatment increased PC12 cell viability of injury induced by 6-OHDA. The GRE effectively suppressed 6-OHDA-induced death, apoptosis through decreased Bax and cleaved-caspase 3 expression, and up-regulated expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2). GRE also inhibited 6-OHDA-inducel oxidative stress, decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and up-regulates the heme oxygenase (HO-1), antioxidant enzymes, catalase and, glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), 8-oxoguanine glycosylase1 (OGG1) and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase1 (NQO1). Besides, GRE up-regulating Protein kinase B (Akt), nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), down-regulating nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) translocation, together with the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation. In conclusions, the GRE prevented apoptosis and oxidative stress in 6-OHDA-induced PC12 cells. The ginger ethanol extract could be treatment and prevention of PD.