A potential suppressor of TGF-beta delays catagen progression in hair follicles.
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TGF-beta plays important roles in the induction of catagen during the hair cycle. We examined whether TGF-beta2 could activate a caspase in human hair follicles. Using active caspase-9 and -3 specific antibodies, we found that TGF-beta2 activated these caspases in two regions, the lower part of the hair bulb and the outer layer of the outer root sheath. In addition, we searched for a plant extract that can effectively suppress TGF-beta action. We found that an extract of Hydrangea macrophylla reduced synthesis of a TGDbeta-inducible protein. We confirmed that the extract has a potential to promote hair elongation in the organ culture system. Furthermore, it delayed in vivo progression of catagen in a mouse model. Our results suggest that the induction of catagen by TGF-beta is mediated via activation of caspases and that a suppressor of TGF-beta could be effective in preventing male pattern baldness. (+info)
Suppression by Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium of D-galactosamine-induced liver injury in vitro and in vivo.
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Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium, the fermented and dried leaves of Hydrangea macrophylla SER. var. thunbergii MAKINO, suppressed D-galactosamine-induced liver injury by 85.2% when added to the diet at 1% and fed to rats for fifteen days. The hepatoprotective effect is more potent than that of a milk thistle extract and turmeric powder. Some fractionated extracts showed hepatoprotective activity in the D-galactosamine-induced in vitro liver injury model. (+info)
Inhibitory effects of thunberginols A, B, and F on degranulations and releases of TNF-alpha and IL-4 in RBL-2H3 cells.
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Thunberginols A, B, and F from the processed leaves of Hydrangea macrophylla var. thunbergii (Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium) substantially inhibited the degranulations by antigen and calcium ionophore A23187, and the releases of TNF-alpha and IL-4 by antigen in RBL-2H3 cells. Phyllodulcin and hydrangenol also showed significant inhibition for the antigen-induced degranulations, but their effects were weaker than those of thunberginols A, B, and F. Among them, thunberginol B showed the most potent activity. With regard to structural requirements of thunberginols for the activity, the 3,4-double bond was essential for the strong activity and the 6-hydroxyl group and lactone ring enhanced the activity. Thunberginols A, B, and F inhibited increase in intracellular free Ca2+ levels, which is an essential process for the degranulation and production of cytokines, in RBL-2H3 cells induced by antigen, but not by calcium ionophore A23187. These results suggested that these active compounds inhibited the degranulation processes both before and after increase in intracellular free Ca2+ levels. (+info)
Three new glycosides from the leaves of Hydrangea macrophylla subsp. serrata (THUNB.) MAKINO.
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Three new glycosides, 7-deoxyloganic acid beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (1), (3R)-hydrangenol 8,4'-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), and (6R,7E,9R)-megastigma-4,7-dien-3-one 9,13-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), have been isolated from the leaves of Hydrangea macrophylla subsp. serrata (THUNB.) MAKINO (Saxifragaceae). The structures of 1-3 were elucidated on the basis of spectral data and chemical evidence. (+info)
Identification of aluminum species in an aluminum-accumulating plant, hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla), by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.
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The use of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) in negative ion mode was investigated as a direct probe for identifying Al species in Al-accumulating hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) samples. Cell sap solutions of hydrangea leaves were purified using Sephadex G-10 liquid chromatography and each fraction was analyzed using ESI-MS and ESI-MS/MS to identify Al species. In hydrangea leaves, a 1:1 Al-citrate complex was found as [AlH(-1)cit](-) (m/z 215), where H(3)cit denotes citric acid. This result is consistent with that of Ma et al. who used (27)Al-NMR. (+info)
Synthesis of 3-substituted isocoumarins and their inhibitory effects on degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells induced by antigen.
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Eleven 3-substituted isocoumarins and a benzylidenephthalide were synthesized through thermal cyclization reaction of delta- and gamma-ketoamides, respectively. Subsequent deprotection of the hydroxyl groups of the resulting isocoumarin and benzylidenephthalide compounds afforded thunberginols A, B, and F, respectively, which originated from the processed leaves of Hydrangea macrophylla SERINGE var. thunbergii MAKINO. The synthesized isocoumarins and thunberginols were evaluated for their anti-allergic activity, in which thunberginol B exhibited the highest inhibitory potency on the degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells induced by antigen. Structure-activity relationship studies were carried out to determine the necessary substituents on the 3-phenylisocoumarin skeleton for inhibitory activity. (+info)
Cloning and characterization of the antigenic membrane protein (Amp) gene and in situ detection of Amp from malformed flowers infected with Japanese hydrangea phyllody phytoplasma.
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Improvement of diabetic complication by hydrangea dulcis folium in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
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The improvement of diabetic complications such as lipid lowering and anti-oxidative potential of Hydrangea Dulcis Folium (HDF) was studied in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups after induction of streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetes: normal control; diabetic control; diabetic-HDF supplement (hot water extract 40 g/kg diet); and fed experimental diets for 3 weeks. Serum glucose and insulin concentrations, serum lipid profile, intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test, and liver cytosolic antioxidant enzyme levels were measured. The HDF supplement significantly decreased serum glucose concentration, increased insulin level, and improved glucose homeostasis in diabetic control rats. The total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in the serum and liver were markedly reduced by HDF treatment in STZ-diabetic rats. Moreover, low density lipoprotein (LDL)-, VLDL-, and high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels were ameliorated in HDF supplemented diabetic rats. Decreased fecal excretions of cholesterol, triglyceride, and bile acid in diabetic rats were significantly increased by HDF consumption. HDF supplement reversed the effects of the oxidative stress system of liver in diabetic rats. Lipid peroxidation of diabetic rats, assessed by thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were significantly increased, and glutathione contents were decreased in diabetic rats. HDF supplement reverted these parameters to near normal value. Our data suggest that HDF supplement could be used to improve the glucose and lipid metabolism as well as to reduce the imbalance between the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the scavenging enzyme activity in preventing diabetic complications. (+info)