Amomum villosum Lour extract (AVE) has been traditionally known for its therapeutic properties. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of AVE on HT-29 colon epithelial cells to evaluate its potential application for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The MTT assay demonstrated that AVE did not induce cytotoxicity across a wide range of concentrations, confirming its safety for cell viability. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) revealed that AVE significantly reduced the secretion of inflammatory cytokines IL-8 and TNF-α, while MCP-1 levels decreased even at low concentrations (100 ㎍/ml) and remained consistently low at higher concentrations. RT-PCR and Western blot analyses further confirmed the suppression of inflammatory markers (iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α) and the upregulation of mucosal barrier proteins (ZO-1, Occludin). These findings suggest that AVE modulates LPS-induced inflammatory signaling pathways and enhances mucosal barrier integrity, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent for IBD.

Scutellaria barbata D. Don has traditionally been used in Korean medicine for its anti-cancer properties. However, most studies on its anti-cancer effects have focused primarily on its direct actions on cancer cells. In this study, we aimed to explore the anti-cancer effects of the ethanolic extract of Scutellaria barbata D. Don (ESBD), with a particular focus on its regulatory impact on tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Our results showed that ESBD inhibited the migration of RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages toward conditioned medium (CM) derived from mouse Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells, which suggests that ESBD might reduce macrophage infiltration into tumor sites. Furthermore, ESBD suppressed the IL-6-induced expression of M2 macrophage markers, including CD206, arginase-1, and IL-10, indicating that ESBD suppresses M2 macrophage polarization in RAW 264.7 cells. Additionally, ESBD decreased the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), a transcription factor activated by the IL-6 signaling pathway and associated with M2 polarization. Transwell migration assays further showed that CM from M2-polarized RAW 264.7 cells enhanced LLC cell migration, whereas CM from RAW 264.7 cells co-treated with ESBD and IL-6 significantly diminished LLC cell migration. In summary, our findings demonstrate that ESBD attenuates lung cancer cell migration by impairing macrophage recruitment and preventing M2 macrophage polarization.

This study, we aimed to analyze the effect of treatment of Liriope platyphylla(L.platyphlla) extract on the protection of hepatotoxicity in a model of thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver toxicity. Male 6-week-old Sprague Dawley (SD) rats (Raonbio, Gyeonggi, Korea) weighing 206.4±9.0 g were used after acclimatization for 1 week. The rats were categorized into six groups: normal control (Nomal), hepatotoxicity-induced (TAA), positive control (TAA+Sylimarin (SLM) 50 mg/kg,bw), and low, medium, and high concentration of Liriope platyphylla extract (TAA+LPE 100, 200, 300 mg/kg,bw) (n=7). The animals were orally administered 1 mL of the test substance once/day at a fixed time for a total of 14 days, and five experimental groups, except the normal control group, were intraperitoneally administered 0.1 mL of TAA (200 mg/kg,bw) to induce acute liver toxicity. As a result, liver weight was significantly increased in all TAA treated groups compared to the normal control group (p<0.001). H&E staining of liver tissue showed vacuolization of nuclei and cytoplasm, hepatocyte necrosis, and vesicular lesions of liver tissue in the TAA alone group (p<0.05), which were ameliorated by Liriope platyphylla extract treatment. Furthermore, a significant concentration-dependent decrease in caspase-3 expression was observed in the SLM group compared to TAA alone (p<0.05). Based on the results of this study, if further research is conducted on the antioxidant effect and mechanism of action, it is expected that SLM can be effective as a hepatoprotectant for liver function of natural products.

Juk-Yeo (JY: 竹茹), an extract of the inner bark of Phyllostachys nigra var. henosis (Milford) Rendle (Poaceae), has been prescribed to clear heat and resolve phlegm in traditional Korean medicine, suggesting that JY has anti-inflammatory activity. While studying how JY regulates inflammation, we encountered unexpected findings regarding JY. Here, we provide evidence that JY decreased the intracellular levels of lamin B1, lamin B2, and A-type lamins. When treated with JY, A549 cells showed a reduced level of lamin B1 without altering the expression of YY1 and histone H3, well-documented nuclear proteins. Confocal analysis revealed that JY decreased lamin B1 in the nucleoplasm. Western blot analyses showed that JY could lower lamin B1 in many other cell types. As evidenced by RT-PCR analyses of lamin B1 mRNA and by unresponsiveness to protease inhibitors, such as E64d/PepA or MG132, JY neither blocks mRNA synthesis nor enhances protein degradation of lamin B1. Lamin B1 was under-detectable in exosomes, an extracellular vesicle that harbors various RNAs and proteins to be excreted. However, an anti-lamin B1 antibody precipitated lamin B1 in the media, in which JY-treated cells were cultured. Collectively, our findings suggest that JY excretes lamin B1 from cells, resulting in the decreased level of lamin B1. Lamins are part of the structural protein, providing the integrity of the nuclear membrane. Since abnormalities in lamins are found among the aged and in patients with rare diseases including Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) and Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy (EDMD), our results suggest that JY can be explored as therapeutics to ease symptoms associated with aging or lamin disorders.

The aim of this study is to report the effect of acupotomy and Korean medicine treatments on Kienböck's disease. The patient was treated by Korean medicine, including ultrasound-guided acupotomy, acupuncture, herbal medicine. These treatment methods have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Specifically, acupotomy has the effect of releasing adhered tissues and improving blood circulation, which may help in improving the restricted joint range of motion and blood circulation in Kienböck's disease. The effect of treatment was assessed by visual analog scale(VAS), disability of the arm, shoulder and hand score(DASH), Cooney's wrist funcion score(Cooney score), and range of motion(ROM). As a result of acupotomy and other Korean medicine treatments, VAS was decreased from 7 to 3, DASH was decreased from 76 to 17, Cooney score was increased from 40 to 70, ROM was increased from flexion/extension 20/10 to 60/60. In addition, as a result of about 1 year of follow-up, it was observed that the condition improved or maintained without any deterioration. This study suggests that acupotomy and Korean medicine treatment may be effective in treating and maintaining Kienböck's disease.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between academic and exercise stress, quality of life (QoL), various biomarker and mibyeong in college students majoring in physical education. 103 college students majoring in physical education was divided to 63 athletic student and 40 non-athletic student group. Subjects was measured academic and exercise stress, QoL, mibyeong score and various biomarkers by three times at 12-week intervals. In athletic student group, factor that showed a significant correlation with mibyeong were exercise stress about the game and athletic ability, and a decline in QoL about physical functioning, role physical, role emotional. Otherwise in non-athletic student group, factor that showed a significant correlation with mibyeong were academic stress about emotional exhaustion and lack of professional efficacy, and a decline in QoL about role emotional. There was no biomarker that showed a significant correlation with mibyeong in both athletic and non-athletic student group. Academic & exercise stress, QoL factors related to mibyeong in college students majoring in physical education were identified, however biomarkers need to be discovered through further investigation.