Objectives: Terminalia chebula Retzins (TC) has been used as a traditional remedy to treat gastrointestinal infectious and inflammatory diseases. However, the protective effect of TC on acute pancreatitis (AP) has not been studied. In this study, we tried to investigate the protective effect of TC water extract on cerulein-induced AP. Methods: To measure the protective effect of TC on AP, mice were injected with cerulein (50 ㎍/kg) hourly for 6 times. TC water extract (200 or 400 mg/kg) or saline was administered orally 1 h before the first injection of cerulein. The mice were sacrificed at 6 h after the last injection of cerulein. Pancreas tissues were taken for further analysis. Results: The administration of TC water extract showed an inhibitory effect on the increase of pancreas weight/body weight ratio and mitigated pancreatic damage in mice. Also, mRNA level of pro-inflammatory cytokines was inhibited by administration of TC water extract. Conclusion: Taken together, we found that administration of TC water extract ameliorates the severity of cerulein-induced AP, which suggests the potential to be an effective treatment on AP.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-obesity effects of the aqueous extract of Schizandra chinensis (SC) in menopausal mice. Methods: To induce menopausal obesity, female mice were ovariectomized (OVX) and fed a high-fat diet (HFD; 60% fat, 28% carbohydrates, 14% protein) for 12 weeks. The mice were divided into 6 groups (n = 8): NOR (sham-operated and vehicle-treated), HFD+OVX (vehicle-treated), E2 (17-beta estradiol 50 ㎍/kg-treated), SC1 (1 mg/kg SC-treated), SC10 (10 mg/kg SC-treated), and SC100 (100 mg/kg SC-treated). Samples were orally administered for 6 weeks, after which all experimental mice were sacrificed. Body weight, feeding efficiency, white adipose tissue weight, adipocyte diameter, and fat vacuoles in liver were analyzed. Results: By treating with SC extract, the body weight and feeding efficiency of mice were significantly decreased. The weight of visceral fat tissues was decreased in the SC10 and SC100 groups. Histopathology showed that fat cell diameters of white adipose tissue were also decreased in the SC10 and SC100 groups. Additionally, SC extract regenerated the hepatocyte damage and decreased the size and number of follicular adipocytes Conclusion: In summary, these results suggest that SC has inhibitory effects against menopausal obesity. Schizandra chinensis may be a potential alternative for obesity among female menopausal diseases.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the anti-atopic properties of Glechoma hederacea var. longituba extracts (GHE) in murine atopic dermatitis model. Methods: BALB/c mouse ear stimulated with oxazolone (OX) for 4 weeks, then 1% GHE was topically applied every two days for 3 weeks to mouse. Ear thickness was measured by a digital thickness gauge. The ears tissues were collected and subjected to hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and toluidine blue (TB) staining. Results: Treatment with GHE successfully alleviated the symptoms of atopic dermatitis, such as erythema, horny substance, and swelling. The infiltration of lymphocytes and mast cells were significantly reduced following GHE treatment. Conclusion: Taken together, our results showed that GHE possessed the potential to be a novel immunomodulatory drug against atopic dermatitis.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ameliorative effects of the Epimedium koreanum Nakai (EK) on menopausal obesity in mice. Methods: To induce the menopausal obesity, female C57BL/6J mice were ovariectomized and fed with high fat diet for 12 weeks. 17β-estradiol was injected as a positive control and the extract of EK was orally administered 5 times per week for 6 weeks. Body weight, uterine weight and visceral fat weight were measured. The size of the adipocyte in visceral fat tissues was estimated by Hematoxylin and eosin staining. Fasting glucose level was estimated in serum. Results: Body weight and visceral fat weight were significantly decreased by EK treatment, while the uterine weight/body weight was increased in high fat diet-fed ovariectomized mice. The diameter of adipocyte in the visceral fat tissues was markedly reduced in EK-treated menopausal obese mice. In addition, the fasting blood glucose level was inhibited by oral EK administration. Conclusion: In conclusion, these results showed that EK has ameliorative effects on overweight after menopause. EK could be one of the alternative therapy for treating menopausal obesity.