Characterization of a novel manganese dependent endoglucanase belongs in GH family 5 from Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

The cDNA encoding a putative glycoside hydrolase family 5, which has been predicted to be an endoglucanase (PcEg5A), was cloned from Phanerochaete chrysosporium and expressed in Pichia pastoris. PcEg5A contains a carbohydrate-binding domain and two important amino acids, E209 and E319, playing as proton donor and nucleophile in substrate catalytic domain. SDS-PAGE analysis indicated that the recombinant endoglucanase 5A (rPcEg5A) has a molecular size of 43 kDa which corresponds with the theoretical calculation.

Bee venom ameliorates ovalbumin induced allergic asthma via modulating CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in mice.

Asthma is a potentially life-threatening inflammatory disease of the lung characterized by the presence of large numbers of CD4+ T cells. These cells produce the Th2 and Th17 cytokines that are thought to orchestrate the inflammation associated with asthma. Bee venom (BV) has traditionally been used to relieve pain and to treat chronic inflammatory diseases.

Anti-cancer effect of bee venom in prostate cancer cells through activation of caspase pathway via inactivation of NF-κB.

Background: Bee venom has been used as a traditional medicine to treat arthritis, rheumatism, back pain, cancerous tumors, and skin diseases. However, the effects of bee venom on the prostate cancer and their action mechanisms have not been reported yet.

Methods: To determine the effect of bee venom and its major component, melittin on the prostate cancer cells, apoptosis is analyzed by tunnel assay and apoptotic gene expression.

Berberine inhibits p53-dependent cell growth through induction of apoptosis of prostate cancer cells.

Berberine has anti-tumor properties in some cancer cells including prostate cancer, but the exact mechanisms and in vivo effects are unclear. We investigated anti-cancer activity of berberine in vitro and in vivo, and possible mechanisms in prostate cancer cells. Berberine treatment inhibited cell cancer growth in a concentration (0-50 microM) and time- (0-48 h) dependent manner without any growth inhibition in normal human prostate epithelial PWR-1E cells.

Berberine inhibits human neuroblastoma cell growth through induction of p53-dependent apoptosis.

Berberine, an alkaloid, has anti-tumor properties in some cancer cells, but action mechanisms are not clear yet. We here investigated the anticancer activity of berberine and possible mechanisms in human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH and SK-N-MC cells. The p53-expressing cells, SK-N-SH (IC50=37 microM) were more susceptible to berberine than the p53-deficient cells, SK-N-MC (IC50 > or =100 microM) without cytotoxic effect on the cortical neuronal cells.

The bark of Betula platyphylla var. japonica inhibits the development of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice.

The bark of Betula platyphylla Sukat. var. japonica Hara (Asian White Birch, AWB) is one of the herbs used in Eastern countries for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases including atopic dermatitis (AD).

Inhibitory effects of Saururus chinensis (LOUR.) BAILL on the development of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice.

The present study was performed to examine whether the leaves of Saururus chinensis (LOUR.) BAILL (SC), an herb used for the management of various skin diseases including atopic dermatitis (AD) in Eastern countries, inhibited the development of AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice which was induced by repeated application of picryl chloride (PiCl). The efficacy of SC was judged by measurement of skin severity, itching behavior, histological study, serum IgE levels, IL-4 and IFN-gamma in lymph nodes.

Increase of collagen synthesis by obovatol through stimulation of the TGF-beta signaling and inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase in UVB-irradiated human fibroblast.

Background: Alterations of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is critical in the photo and age-damaged skin. Thus any compounds keep ECM can protected from photo and aged-damaged skin. ECM is predominantly composed of type I and type III collagens in the dermis.

Inhibitory effect of obovatol on nitric oxide production and activation of NF-kappaB/MAP kinases in lipopolysaccharide-treated RAW 264.7cells.

The components of Magnolia obovata are known to have many pharmacological activities. In this study, we investigated the effects of obovatol, a neolignan compound isolated from the leaves of M. obovata, on nitric oxide (NO) production and NF-kappaB activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.

Melittin inhibits inflammatory target gene expression and mediator generation via interaction with IkappaB kinase.

We previously found that bee venom (BV) and melittin (a major component of BV) has anti-inflammatory effect by reacting with the sulfhydryl group of p50 of NF-kappaB. Since the sulfhydryl group is present in IkappaB kinase (IKKalpha and IKKbeta), anti-inflammatory effect of melittin via interaction with IKKs was investigated. We first examined binding of melittin to IKKs using surface plasmon resonance analyzer.

Induction of apoptotic cell death by 2'-hydroxycinnamaldehyde is involved with ERK-dependent inactivation of NF-kappaB in TNF-alpha-treated SW620 colon cancer cells.

2'-Hydroxycinnamaldehyde (HCA) inhibits cell growth of several human cancer cells with unknown mechanisms. We investigated the inhibitory effect of HCA on TNF-alpha-induced cell growth and possible signal pathway in SW620 colon cancer cells. HCA inhibited TNF-alpha-induced SW620 colon cell growth in time- and dose-dependent manner through induction of apoptotic cell death.