Bioconversion ofGentiana scabraBunge increases the anti-inflammatory effect in RAW 264.7 cells via MAP kinases and NF-κB pathway

Abstract

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases play an important role in cell growth and differentiation, as well as the modulation of proinflammatory cytokines. The objective of this study was to examine the increase in the anti-inflammatory effect of Gentiana scabra Bunge (GSB), due to bioconversion with the Aspergillus kawachii crude enzyme, via inhibition of the NF-κB signaling and MAP kinase pathways in RAW 264.7 cells. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 in RAW 264.7 cells treated with the GSB ethyl acetate fraction bioconverted with A. kawachii crude enzyme (GE-BA), was dramatically suppressed as compared to GSB ethyl acetate fraction non-bioconverted with the A. kawachii crude enzyme (GE-UA). The phosphorylation of p38, extracellular signalregulated kinases, and inhibitory κB in RAW 264.7 cells treated with GE-BA was further suppressed, as compared to exposure to GE-UA. Moreover, the mRNA expression of interleukin 6, interleukin 1-beta, and tumor necrosis factor-α was further suppressed by GE-BA, compared to GE-UA. Similarly, antioxidant activities, such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical scavenging activity, of GE-BA were further increased compared to GE-UA. These observations demonstrate that the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of GSB ethyl acetate fraction increases as a result from bioconversion with the A. kawachii crude enzyme.

Bioconverted Fruit Extract of Akebia Quinata Exhibits Anti-Obesity Effects in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Rats

“…FE and BFE were obtained from the National Development Institute of Korean Medicine. The extraction process was performed as previously described [ 23 , 24 ]. Briefly, A. quinata was refluxed with 70% MeOH, filtered through filter paper, concentrated using a rotary evaporator, bioconverted using the enzyme isolated from the soybean paste fungi Aspergillus kawachii , and then fractionated sequentially in butanol (BuOH) [ 25 ].…”

Systems pharmacology to reveal multi-scale mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine for gastric cancer

“…Then, previous researches have shown that Rheum palmatum L. and Radix Aucklandiae could inhibit cancer cell metastasis and induce apoptosis by regulating the expression of apoptosis-related proteins 6 , 7 . Reports in the literatures indicated that Gentiana scabra Bunge and Citrus aurantium L. have been commonly applied on diseases for their anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and anti-oxidant properties 8 , 9 . For PRGRC, due to its complex composition, the molecular mechanism on gastric cancer was not yet clear.…”