In the present study, antioxidant activity of crude extract and its solvent-partitioned subfractions (n-hexane, 85% aqueous methanol, n-butanol, and water) obtained from Atriplex gmelinii was investigated using several different antioxidant assays. The tested samples possessed different antioxidant and radical-scavenging activities in different assays. nbutanol fraction showed the most potent radical-scavenging activity on reducing power while 85% aqueous methanol fraction exhibited the highest radical-scavenging activity on DPPH radicals and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). On the otherhand, n-BuOH and 85% aqueous methanol revealed the similar inhibitory effect on peroxynitrite-scavenging and genomic DNA oxidation. These results suggest that the Atriplex gmelinii can be used as the valuable source for developing a natural antioxidant.

Dried samples of Ligustrum japonicum were extracted twice: with methylene chloride and with methanol (MeOH), respectively. The combined crude extracts were successively fractionated into n-hexane, 85% aqueous methanol (85% aq.MeOH), n-butanol (n-BuOH), and water fractions by liquid-liquid partition. Antioxidant activities of crude extract and its solvent fractions were evaluated by measuring authentic ONOO -, and ONOO -generated from 3-morpholinsydnonimine (SIN-1) as well as degree of occurrence of intracellular ROS in HT 1080 cells, and genomic DNA oxidation. The 85% aq.MeOH and n-BuOH fractions exhibited the good antioxidant activity. Further purification of the 85% aq.MeOH fracition led to the isolation of Oleanolic acid (1), Maslinic acid (2), and Ursolic acid (3). All compounds showed the significant antioxidant effects in all assay systems.

As a part of ongoing research to elucidate and characterize antiinflammatory nutraceuticals, the crude extracts from Atriplex gmelinii C. A. Mey. and their solvent-partitioned fractions were tested for their antiinflammatory potential in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages. The crude extracts of A. gmelinii C. A. Mey. were fractioned according to polarity with n-hexane, 85% aqueous methanol (85% aq. MeOH), n-butanol, and H2O. Their antiinflammatory activities were investigated in LPS-induced inflammation in mouse macrophages by measuring nitric oxide (NO) generation and mRNA expression of inflammation mediators, namely, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6. As a result, we confirmed that the crude extracts of A. gmelinii C. A. Mey. inhibited LPS-stimulated NO production and mRNA expression of iNOS and COX-2 as important inflammatory factors. The inhibition of NO production through the downregulation of important inflammatory factors such as iNOS, COX-2, IL-1β, and IL-6 was found by treatment with all solvent-partitioned fractions. Among all tested fractions, 85% aq. MeOH showed the strongest antiinflammatory response. Based on the current results, A. gmelinii C. A. Mey. was suggested to possess natural antiinflammatory components, indicating that it could be used as a valuable source of antiinflammatory substances.

An uncommon female-limited intractable epilepsy, protocadherin (PCDH) 19-related epilepsy, is characterized by mutations in the PCDH 19 gene, located on chromosome X. Clinical symptoms include early onset, fever sensitivity, focal seizures and psychomotor retardation. PCDH 19-related epilepsy is unresponsive to conventional antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), but corticosteroid is reported to be effective in a few cases. We report a case of a 25-month-old girl who was admitted to our hospital due to developmental regression, accompanied by aggravated seizures with fever. Although several conventional AEDs were administered, the frequency and severity of seizures increased with mild fever, and the symptoms did not improve. Considering possible immune, and inflammatory involvement in seizure generation, the patient was administered corticosteroid treatment during the acute phase. Corticosteroid dramatically improved seizures and her development gradually. The patient was finally diagnosed with PCDH 19-related epilepsy in genomic evaluation. We observed the effect of corticosteroid on intractable epilepsy in patient with PCDH 19 mutation. If a female patient whose seizures are resistant to conventional AEDs or easily provoked by mild fever, has developmental delay or developmental regression, this may be an important clinical clue to the early diagnosis of PCDH 19related epilepsy

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