lignans and Psoriasis

Psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease, is characterized by the excessive proliferation and impaired differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes and is accompanied by the increased infiltration of inflammatory cells. The condition requires long‑term treatment and has no definitive cure. Hence, supplements and therapeutic agents have been intensely investigated. Gomisin M2 (GM2), a lignan extracted from

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Cell Line; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Female; Humans; Imiquimod; Inflammation; Interferon-gamma; Keratinocytes; Lignans; Mice, Inbred C57BL; NF-kappa B; Psoriasis; Signal Transduction; STAT1 Transcription Factor; Th1 Cells; Th17 Cells; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Honokiol (HK), a biphenolic neolignan isolated from Magnolia officinalis, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic activaties. In this study, our aim was to investigate anti-psoriatic activities of HK and the involved mechanisms. In vitro, the effects of HK on the regulation of Th1/Th2 and TNF-α-induced NF-κB (p65) activation were analyzed by respective FCS and immunofluorescence. Additionally, the K14-VEGF transgenic model was used for the in vivo study. ELISA and Q-PCR were performed to evaluate serum levels of Th1/Th2 cytokines and their corresponding mRNA expressions. Effects on VEGFR-2 and p65 activation, as well as other angiogenic and inflammatory parameters were studied by immunostainings. Importantly, we found that HK significantly decreased the ratio of Th1/Th2-expression CD4(+) T cells and inhibited TNF-α-induced activation of NF-κB. The morphology and histological features of psoriasis were effectively improved by HK treatment. The expression of TNF-α and IFN-γ, and their corresponding mRNA levels were down-regulated and the expression of nuclear p65, VEGFR-2, as well as related phosphorylated proteins (p-VEGFR-2, p-ERK1/2, p-AKT and p-p38) were also suppressed. Overall, these results in our study suggested that HK exhibits anti-psoriatic effects through the inhibition of NF-κB and VEGFR-2.

Topics: Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Biphenyl Compounds; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Cells, Cultured; Disease Models, Animal; Down-Regulation; Gene Expression; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; Humans; Lignans; Magnolia; Mice, Transgenic; Molecular Targeted Therapy; NF-kappa B; Phosphorylation; Phytotherapy; Psoriasis; Th1-Th2 Balance; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2

Seven compounds were isolated from roots and stems of Oplopanax elatus, of which compounds 3, 4, 5 and 6 were isolated for the first time from the title plant; compounds 1 and 2 are new compounds and characterised to be 3,3'-dimethoxy-4,9,9'-trihydroxy-4',7-epoxy-5'8-lignan-4,9-bis-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside and 5-methoxylariciresinol-4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside on the basis of NMR spectra and CD spectrum.

Topics: Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Glucosides; Lignans; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Molecular Structure; Oplopanax; Plant Roots; Plant Stems; Psoriasis