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Context: Ephedrae Herba (EH), the dried stems and leaves of Ephedra sinica Stapf., E. intermedia Schrenk et C. A. Mey., or E. equisetina Bge. (Ephedraceae [Ephedra]) is used to treat respiratory diseases. Recently, especially in the Republic of Korea, EH has also been used for weight reduction. Objective: We evaluated the effects and molecular targets of methanol EH extract (EHM) on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemic ICR mice. Materials and methods: EHM was orally administered (100 mg/kg body weight/day) for 3 weeks. We observed changes in body weight (BW), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and triglycerides to evaluate the physiological changes induced by HFD or EHM administration. To evaluate lipid peroxidation and liver toxicity, malondialdehyde and blood alanine aminotransferase levels were measured. In addition to analyzing liver gene expression profiles, EHM target proteins were identified using a protein interaction database. Results: EHM administration for 3 weeks significantly (p < 0.05) decreased TC and triglyceride levels without altering BW in mice, and gene expression levels in the livers of EHM-treated mice were restored at 34.0% and 48.4% of those up-or down-regulated by hyperlipidaemia, respectively. Proteins related to DNA repair and energy metabolism were identified via protein interaction network analysis as molecular targets of EHM that play key roles in ameliorating hyperlipidaemia. Discussion and conclusions: EHM regulated hyperlipidaemia by decreasing total blood lipid and triglyceride levels in hyperlipidaemic mice. EHM showed preventive effects against hyperlipidaemia in mice, possibly via the regulation of DNA repair and the expression of energy metabolism-related genes and proteins.

Context Traditionally, the root of Angelica gigas Nakai (Umbelliferae), has long been used to treat ischaemic diseases and is considered safe in humans. Objective To investigate the neuroprotective effects of a methanol extract of A. gigas root (AGmex) on the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-induced brain injury in mice, and the underlying mechanisms. Materials and methods Two hours of transient MCAO (tMCAO) was induced in C57BL/6 mice (MCAO control group and AGmex groups), AGmex was administered to the AGmex group at 300-3,000 mg/kg bw at 1, 1, and 24 h before tMCAO or at 1000 mg/kg bw at 1 h before and after tMCAO. Infarction volumes, tissue staining, and western blotting were used to investigate the mechanism underlying the neuroprotective effects of AGmex. Results The median effective dose (ED 50 ) could not be measured because the AGmex treatment did not reduce the infarction volume caused by 2 h of tMCAO to within 50%; however, pre-treatment with AGmex twice at 1,000 mg/kg bw before tMCAO significantly reduced the infarction volumes. The proteins related to cell growth, differentiation, and death were upregulated by this treatment, and the major recovery mechanisms appeared to involve the attenuation of the mitochondrial function of Bcl-2/Bax and activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK signalling pathways in ischaemic neurons. Conclusions This study provides evidence supporting the use of A. gigas root against ischaemic stroke and suggests a novel developmental starting point for the treatment of ischaemic stroke.

Background: The dried fruit of Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl. (Oleaceae) are better known by their herbal name Forsythiae Fructus, and have a bitter taste, slightly pungent smell, and cold habit. FF has been widely used to treat symptoms associated with the lung, heart, and small intestine. Recently, bioactive compounds isolated from hydrophobic solvent fractions of FF have been reported to have anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, and anti-cancer effects. Traditionally, almost all herbal medicines are water extracts, and thus, extraction methods should be developed to optimize the practical efficacies of herbal medicines. Materials and Methods: In this study, the anti-inflammatory effects of the ethyl acetate fraction of the methanol extract of FF (FFE) were assessed by measuring NO and PGE2 production byand intracellular ROS and protein levels of iNOS and COX-2in RAW 264.7 cells. Results: FFE inhibited COX-2 expression in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Conclusion: In summary, FFE effectively reduced intracellular ROS and NO levels and inhibited PGE2 production by down- regulating COX-2 levels.

Objectives : It had been reported that herbal medicines containing polyphenol and flavonoid have been shown to be associated with decreased the cause of aging and variety of disease such as reactive nitrogen species and reactive oxygen species in several recent studies. Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix, origined from Salvia miltiorrhiza BGE., is one of popular traditional herbal medicines that is commonly used by traditional medicine practitioners. To this date, Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix has more than 2000-year history of mature application. This study was conducted to investigate whether the Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix methanol extract has an inhibitory effect association with oxidation or inflammation. Methods : Cytotoxic activity of Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix methanol extract on RAW264.7 cells was evaluated by using 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide solution. Nitric oxide production was measured using griess reagent system. Western blot analysis and measurement for changes of protein expression, nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2, also performed. Results : The medicinal plant, Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix, does not impair the cell viability in tested concentration (25-100 µg/ml). SMR showed anti-oxiative effects in vitro by decreasing electron donating ability, and also showed anti-inflammatory effects suppressing NO and COX-2 expressin in LPS induced RAW264.7 activation. SMR inhibited the generation of intracellular ROS production as dose dependant manner. Conclusions : These results indicate that Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix methanol extract has an anti-inflammatory activities via anti-oxidative effects, and the anti-inflammatory effect was presentedd as dose dependant manner.