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Objectives: Sosihotang (SSH) is an herbal medicine traditionally used against the common cold, and hepatic and gastric diseases, in Northeast Asia. In this study, we investigated whether SSH extract can protect against UVB‐induced skin damage and photoageing. Methods: HaCaT cells were treated with SSH extract and exposed UVB irradiation at 20 mJ/cm2. Hairless mice were orally administered SSH extract (100 mg/kg per mouse) as UVB irradiation was increased from 60 to 120 mJ/cm2 over the course of 12 weeks. Key findings: Treatment with SSH extract inhibited the upregulation of MMP‐1 and MMP‐9 expression in UVB‐irradiated HaCaT cells. In UVB‐irradiated hairless mice, treatment with SSH extract restored the levels of factors instrumental in skin hydration (TEWL, capacitance, HA and TGF‐β) and those regulating collagen content (procollagen, MMP‐1 and MMP‐9). This activity inhibited epidermal thickening and disorganization of collagen fibres. Administration of SSH extract also ameliorated the expression of UVB‐induced pro‐inflammatory cytokines (TNF‐α, IL‐1β and IL‐6) and phosphorylation of MAPK family members (MEK, JNK, ERK and p38) by upregulating the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, Nrf‐2, HO‐1 and NQO‐1). Conclusions: These results indicate that SSH extract can be used therapeutically for the treatment of UVB‐induced skin damage and photoageing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Modified Bo-Yang-Hwan-O-Tang (mBHT) is an improved herbal formula of BHT, which has been widely used to treat ischaemic stroke in East Asia, by the addition of five herbs having anti-ischaemic properties. In this study, we investigated whether mBHT would reduce cerebral ischaemic injury in rats. Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a 90-min middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and subsequent 22-h reperfusion. mBHT was administered either intraperitoneally twice 15 min before and 15 min after, or orally once 30 min or 120 min after the onset of MCAO (50 or 200 mg/kg each). Key findings Intraperitoneal administration of mBHT markedly reduced the cerebral infarct size and neurological deficit caused by MCAO/reperfusion. mBHT treatment also significantly improved long-term survival rate after cerebral ischaemic injury. Oral administration of mBHT 30 min after ischaemia also markedly reduced the infarct size after cerebral ischaemia. The anti-ischaemic effect of mBHT was significantly, but not fully, reduced when mBHT-induced hypothermia was abolished. In cultured cortical neurons, we further found that mBHT decreased oxygen-glucose deprivation/re-oxygenation-evoked neuronal injury by inhibiting production of reactive oxygen species, decrease in mitochondrial transmembrane potential, and activation of caspase-3. However, mBHT did not inhibit N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated excitotoxicity. Conclusions Taken together, our data suggest that mBHT has multiple anti-ischaemic properties and would be a good therapeutic herbal prescription for the treatment of cerebral ischaemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the role of Laurus nobilis (bay leaves) chloroform fraction (LNCF) in oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced cerebral ischemia neuronal damage. It says that cultured human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells and brain slices from model rats were exposed to OGD and reoxygenation respectively with or without LNCF. It shows that LNCF has increased the viabilities of SH-SY5Y cells and brain slices and inhibited death-associated protein kinase (DAPK) dephosphorylation.