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Aim: To evaluate the anti-invasive effect of ethanol extracts of rhizome of Dryopteris crassirhizoma (EEDC) in matrix invasion and formation of functional invadopodia and to determine the anti-tumor effect of EEDC in a mouse model of mandibular invasion by gingival squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)., Methods: The rhizome of D crassirhizoma was extracted in ethanol. The anti-invasive effect of EEDC was analyzed with a Matrigel-coated transwell invasion and 3D culture system. Crucial factors related to the control of cancer cell invasion by EEDC were determined using a human protease array. Molecular evidence supporting the anti-invasive effect of EEDC in oral SCC (OSCC) cells used an invadopodia-mediated extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation; an in vivo athymic mouse model was also provided., Results: EEDC treatment (10 µg/mL) suppressed transwell migration and invasion of HSC-3 OSCC cells without cytotoxicity. Decreased levels of matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-7, kalikrein 10, cathepsin V, MMP-2, and cathepsin D were also found in EEDC-treated HSC-3 cells based on human protease array. The anti-invasive effects of EEDC involved the suppression of invadopodia-mediated ECM degradation via inhibition of globular-actin elongation. The anti-invasive effect resulting from disturbance of functional invadopodia formation by EEDC was observed even at a low concentration of 5 µg/mL. The phosphorylation of cortactin involved in functional invadopodia formation was decreased at EEDC concentrations that inhibited invadopodia formation. The anti-tumor effect of EEDC was also observed in a mouse xenograft model. Administration of EEDC resulted in inhibition of tumor growth and progression., Conclusions: EEDC represents a potential anti-invasive and anti-tumor agent in cancer control.

Background: The fruit of the Terminalia chebula tree has been widely used for the treatment of various disorders. Its anti-diabetic, anti-mutagenic, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral effects have been studied. Dental plaque bacteria (DPB) are intimately associated with gingivitis and periodontitis. In the quest for materials that will prove useful in the treatment and prevention of periodontal disease, we investigated the preventive effects of an ethanol extract of Terminalia chebula (EETC) on DPB-induced inflammation and bone resorption., Methods: The anti-bacterial effect of EETC was analyzed using the disc diffusion method. The anti-inflammatory effect of EETC was determined by molecular biological analysis of the DPB-mediated culture cells. Prevention of osteoclastic bone resorption by EETC was explored using osteoclast formation and pit formation assays., Results: EETC suppressed the growth of oral bacteria and reduced the induction of inflammatory cytokines and proteases, abolishing the expression of PGE2 and COX-2 and inhibiting matrix damage. By stimulating the DPB-derived lipopolysaccharides, EETC inhibited both osteoclast formation in osteoclast precursors and RANKL expression in osteoblasts, thereby contributing to the prevention of bone resorption., Conclusions: EETC may be a beneficial supplement to help prevent DPB-mediated periodontal disease.

Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) α/γ is known to inhibit the increases in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by ultraviolet light (UV). Extracts of natural herbs, such as Kochia scoparia and Rosa multiflora , have a PPAR α/γ dual agonistic effect. Therefore, we investigated whether and how they have an antiaging effect on photoaging skin. Eighteen-week-old hairless mice were irradiated with UVA 14 J/cm² and UVB 40 mJ/cm² three times a week for 8 weeks. A mixture of extracts of Kochia scoparia and Rosa multiflora (KR) was topically applied on the dorsal skin of photoaging mice twice a day for 8 weeks. Tesaglitazar, a known PPAR α/γ agonist, and vehicle (propylene glycol:ethanol = 7:3, v / v ) were applied as positive and negative controls, respectively. Dermal effects (including dermal thickness, collagen density, dermal expression of procollagen 1 and collagenase 13) and epidermal effects (including skin barrier function, epidermal proliferation, epidermal differentiation, and epidermal cytokines) were measured and compared. In photoaging murine skin, KR resulted in a significant recovery of dermal thickness as well as dermal fibroblasts, although it did not change dermal collagen density. KR increased the expression of dermal transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. The dermal effects of KR were explained by an increase in procollagen 1 expression, induced by TGF-β, and a decrease in MMP-13 expression. KR did not affect basal transepidermal water loss (TEWL) or stratum corneum (SC) integrity, but did decrease SC hydration. It also did not affect epidermal proliferation or epidermal differentiation. KR decreased the expression of epidermal interleukin (IL)-1α. Collectively, KR showed possible utility as a therapeutic agent for photoaging skin, with few epidermal side effects such as epidermal hyperplasia or poor differentiation., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Melanogenesis is a physiological process that results in the synthesis of melanin pigments, which play a crucial protective role against skin photocarcinogenesis. We investigated the effects of a Polygoni Multiflori Ramulus extract on melanogenesis and isolated emodin from Polygoni Multiflori as an active compound. In addition, the possible mechanisms of action were examined. We found that emodin inhibited both melanin content and tyrosinase activity concentration and time dependently. Tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1, and TRP-2 mRNA levels decreased following emodin treatment. However, while the mRNA levels of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) were not affected by emodin, emodin reduced MITF protein levels. Furthermore, expression of the liver X-receptor (LXR) α gene, but not the LXR β gene was upregulated by emodin. Moreover, emodin regulated melanogenesis by promoting degradation of the MITF protein by upregulating the LXR α gene. The emodin effects on MITF was found to be mediated by phosphorylation of p42/44 MAPK. Taken together, these findings indicate that the inhibition of melanogenesis by emodin occurs through reduced MITF protein expression, which is mediated by upregulation of the LXR α gene and suggest that emodin may be useful as a hyperpigmentation inhibitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]