• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.206-213
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• 2009

Sophora flavescens, as a traditional herbal medicine, has been used to treat with a variety of disesases, In previous reports, S. flavescens and sophoraflavanone G (a prenylated flavonoid from S. flavescens) inhibited cytokines productions in LPS-induced Raw 264.7 macrophages cells and BV2 microglial cells. We examined on the anti-allergic effect of S. flavescens on the PMA plus A23187-induced rat leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells. S. flavescens inhibited the release of $\beta$-hexosaminidase and productions and expressions of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$, interleukin (IL)-4 and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in a dose-dependent manner on stimulated RBL-2H3 cells, however, S. flavescens not affect cell viability. The protein expression level of nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$ (p65) was decreased in the nucleus and suppressed the degradation of inhibitory protein $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ protein, the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) by S. flavescens. These results suggest that S. flavescens could be involved anti-allergic effect by control of $NF-{\kappa}B$ (p65) translocation into the nucleus through inhibition of $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ degradation and suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines expression.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1364-1369
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• 2011

Mast cells, the central effector cells involved in the allergic response, release histamine, arachidonic acid, and proinflammatory cytokines. We investigated the effect of the ethyl acetate fraction (EA), derived from Korean rice wine lees, on RBL-2H3 cell degranulation and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in an animal model. The EA fraction suppressed the release of beta-hexosaminidase, a marker of degranulation, and the mRNA expression of interleukin-3 (IL-3) and IL-13. EA also successfully suppressed the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction in mice in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that EA can inhibit mast cell degranulation through the inhibition of IL-3 and IL-13 mRNA expression, and that EA may potentially serve as an anti-allergic agent.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.236-251
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• 2015

Objectives: To investigate the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-pyretic and anti-histamine activities of 20 herbal medicines to test their efficacy in common cold treatment. Methods: For all experiments, the herbal medicines were extracted with 80% ethanol and freeze-dried. To determine the anti-oxidative properties, we tested DPPH-free radical-scavenging activity and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity. To determine anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential, we investigated acetic acid-induced vascular permeability and writhing test in ICR mice. For anti-pyretic activities, an LPS-induced pyrexia study was conducted in rabbits. To evaluate the anti-histamine activity, we examined compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylaxis in ICR mice and the release of β-hexosaminidase on rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells. Results: Ephedrae herba, Forsythiae fructus, Cinnamomi ramulus, and Cimicifugae rhizome showed potent free-radical scavenging activities. Gentianae macrophyllae radix inhibited acetic acid-induced vascular permeability. Schizonepetae spica and Cimicifugae rhizome inhibited acetic acid. Cinnamomi ramulus and Angelicae decursivae radix inhibited LPS-induced pyrexia. Angeliace dahuricae radix and Asari radix inhibited compound 48/80. Scutellariae radix, Cinnamomi ramulus, Ephedrae herba, and Zingiberis rhizoma crudus potently inhibited the release of β-hexosaminidase. Conclusions: We examined the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-pyretic and anti-histamine activities of 20 herbal medicines;We examined the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-pyretic and anti-histamine activities of 20 herbal medicines Codonopsis pilosulae radix, Zingiberis rhizoma crudus, and Cinnamomi ramulus showed novel efficacy. These results suggest that some of herbal medicines may be very effective in treating common cold.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1118-1126
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to examine the anti allergic effect in vivo and in vitro, and to observe single and four weeks repeated toxicity in mice of Bangpung-galgeun-tang (BGT). We investigated anti DNP IgE-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in rodents and compound 48/80-induced active systemic anaphylatic shock in mice after oral administration with BGT of 0.4 g/kg and 0.8 g/kg for 8 days, and also examined MTT assay, ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$ activity, IL-4 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ from RBL-2H3 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ from Raw264.7 after pre-treatment with BGT of 0.25 mg/ml, 0.5 mg/ml, 1 mg/ml and 2 mg/ml. To ascertain safety and toxicity of BGT, we divided into single and four weeks repeated administration test. In single test, three groups were administrated different dosages and routes (2 g/kg/i.p., 4 g/kg/i.p. and 15 g/kg /p.o.) of BGT, and in four weeks repeated test, 0.8 g/kg BGT was administrated. Control groups were administrated with only saline according to on Korean Food and Drug Administration, respectively. We observed attentively motality, abnormal clinical sign, body weight change, organ weight, AST and ALT of mice after BGT administration. BGT inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis and active systemic anaphylatic shock by oral administration. All the concentrations of BGT from 0.25 to 2 mg/ml didn't have an effect on cell viability and cytotoxicity. In RBL-2H3, ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$ release, IL-4 and $TNF-{\alpha}$, and in Raw264.7, $TNF-{\alpha}$ were significantly reduced by treated all concentrations of BGT. During toxicity experiment period, there was no difference in body weight change, organ weight, AST and ALT among different dose groups. Death were found 3 mice from day 2 to day 3 in single test i.p. group. (2 g/kg, 4 g/kg). Several individuals of single test i.p. group were observed that decreased locomotor activity, exophthalmos, bloodshot eyes, loss of eyesight and so on in early period after administration. But there was no difference in clinical signs among p.o. group. These results indicate that BGT have inhibition effects on allergy and suggest that no observable effect level of the test orally administration was considered to be more than 2 g/kg in mice under the conditions employed in this study.

• BMB Reports
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.313-319
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• 2002

N-Acetyl-$\beta$-D-hexosaminidase ($\beta$-HexNAc'ase) (EC 3.2.1.52) was purified from rice seeds (Oryza sative L. var. Dongjin) using ammonium sulfate (80%) precipitation, Sephadex G-150, CM-Sephadex, and DEAE-Sephadex chromatography, sequentially. The activities were separated into 7 fractions($F_1-F_7$) by CM-Sephadex chromatography. Among them, F6 was further purified to homogeneity with a 13.0% yield and 123.3 purification-fold. The molecular mass was estimated to be about 52 kDa on SDS-PAGE and 37.4 kDa on Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration. The enzyme catalyzed the hydrolysis of both p-nitrophenyl-N-acetyl-$\beta$-D-hexosaminide (pNP-GlcNAc) and p-nitrophenyl-N-acetyl-$\beta$-D-hexosaminide (pNP-GalNAc) as substrates, which are typical properties of $\beta$-HexNAc'ase. The ratio of the pNP-GlcNAc'ase activity to the pNP-GalNAc'ase activity was 4.0. However, it could not hydrolyze chitin, chitosan, pNP-$\beta$-glucopyranoside, or pNP-$\beta$-glucopyranoside. The enzyme showed $K_m$, $V_{max}$ and $K_{cat}$ for pNP-GlcNAc of 1.65 mM, $79.49\;mM\;min^{-1}$, and $4.79{\times}10^6\;min^{-1}$, respectively. The comparison of kinetic values for pNP-GlcNAc and pNP-GalNAc revealed that the two enzyme activities are associated with a single binding site. The purified enzyme exhibited optimum pH and temperature for pNP-GlcNAc of 5.0 and $50^{\circ}C$, respectively. The enzyme activity for pNP-GlcNAc was stable at pH 5.0-5.5 and $20-40^{\circ}C$. The enzyme activity was completely inhibited at a concentration of 0.1 mM $HgCl_$ and $AgNO_3$, suggesting that the intact thiol group is essential for activity. Chloramine T completely inhibited the activity, indicating the possible involvement of methionines in the mechanism of the enzyme.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.548-556
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• 2006

This study was to evaluate the effect of Samjayangchin-tang (STYCT) on mouse Th1 and Th2 cells' differentiation and ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic inflammation. The proliferation of mouse CD4 T cells and the secretion of Th1/Th2 cytokines under the influence of STYCT extract were measured as well as the amount of ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$ in RBL-2H3 cells and the levels of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 secretion in Raw264.7 cells. BALB/c mice were orally administered with STYCT extract and simultaneously inoculated with OVA to induce allergic reaction and measure the level of total IgE, OVA-specific IgE and the production of IFN- g, IL-4, IL-5 by the spleen cells. When mouse CD4 T cell were stimulated with anti-CO3 and anti-CD28 for 48 hours in various concentrations of STYCT extract, it decreased proliferation of CD4 cells. CD4 T cells under Th1/Th2 polarizing conditions for 3 days with STYCT resulted in mild decrease of IFN- g in Th1 cells and significant decrease of IL-4 in Th2 cells. STYCT extract had a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on antigen-induced release of ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$ in RBL-2H3 cells. Treatment of STYCT extract on LPS stimulated Raw 264.7 cells showed dose-dependent decrease in IL-6 production. Oral administration of STYCT extract on OVA-induced allergic mice showed an inhibitory effect on the levels of total serum IgE and OVA-specific IgE by 53% and 44%, respectively. Culture of spleen cells with OVA resulted in significant increase of IFN- g by 54% and significant decrease of IL-4 and IL-5 by 42%, and 29%, respectively. The results show that STYCT does not strongly induce mouse T cells to transform into Th1 or Th2 but it has an anti-allergic effect in vitro, and that it also corrects the unbalance between the reactions of Th cells in allergic diseases.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.109-114
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• 2010

The in vivo and in vitro effects of oriental herb extracts of Cassia obtusifolia, Taraxacum platycarpum and Ulmusmacrocarpa on anti-atopic allergic reaction were evaluated in this study. A mixture of these extracts exhibited more potent anti-allergic activities in human mast cells than those from individual extracts. The herbal mixture significantly inhibited the release of compound 48/80-induced $\beta$-hexosaminidase release in the human mast cell line, HMC-1. The mixture also suppressed the production of PMA and A23187-induced inflammatory cytokines in HMC-1 cells. To further investigate the in vivo effects of the herbal mixture, a Dermatophagoides farinae (DF)-induced atopic dermatitis mouse model was utilized. Oral administration of the herbal mixture significantly decreased the ear thickness and swelling in DF treated NC/Nga mice in a dose dependent manner. Furthermore, serum levels of IgE and interleukin-4 (IL-4) were significantly decreased, whereas interferon-gamma (IFN-$\gamma$) levels were increased in the mixture administrated groups when compared to the control. Taken together, our data indicate the possibility of using a mixture of the oriental herb extract to relieve symptoms of atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.569-577
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• 2013

Soy sauce is a traditional fermented seasoning in several oriental countries, such as Korea and Japan, and recently it has been reported to have biological activities. In Korean soy sauce, soybeans and wheat are the two main raw materials. Polysaccharides that originate from the cell wall of soybeans are resistant to enzymatic hydrolysis. These polysaccharides remain in the soy sauce even after fermentation and are termed Kanjang polysaccharides (KPS). In this study, polysaccharides were obtained from dialysate of different soy sauces labeled as A~T and manufactured by fermentation or the acid-hydrolyzate method. We investigated anti-inflammatory activities by examining the effects of these KPS on proinflammatory cytokine release and mRNA expression in mast cells. Histamine and ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase release were strongly decreased by the KPS treatment in RBL-2H3 cells. Treatment with KPS clearly reduced mRNA expression and the release of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) in PMACI-stimulated HMC-1 cells. In particular, KPS derived from fermented Kanjang products showed a significant anti-inflammation effect on mast cells compared to the acid-hydrolyzed Kanjang products. This study suggests that KPS appear to be effective in suppressing allergic inflammatory reactions.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2019

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the effect for allergic-inflammation of Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus (FTB) on HaCaT cells and RBL2H3 cells. Methods : To investigate the effects of FTB for anti-inflammation in HaCaT cells, the cells were pretreated with FTB for 1h and then stimulated with $TNF-{\alpha}/IFN-{\beta}$ for 24h. Then thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) and Macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) levels were analyzed with ELISA kit. Also to investigate the effect of skin barrier protein, the cells were treated with FTB of various concentrations, and then cells were harvested, expressions of skin barrier protein were measured with RT-PCR. To investigate the effects of FTB for anti-allergy in RBL2H3 cells, the cells were pre-treated with FTB for 1h, and then stimulated with A23187 for 30 min. ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase, IL-4 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ were measured using cultured media. The cells were harvested to analyze the mechanism of the effect for FTB via Western blot. Results : FTB did not show cytotoxicity in HaCaT and RBL2H3. In HaCaT cells, FTB significantly suppressed the expression of TARC, MDC at a dose-dependent manner and markedly increased formation of the skin barrier proteins. In RBL2H3 cells, FTB decreased release of the ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase, IL-4 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ in RBL2H3 through inhibition of the phosphorylation of JNK and p38, which are include in the signaling mechanism of MAPK Conclusion : These results indicate that FTB has an anti-inflammatory effect on the allergic response through blocking MAPK pathway. This suggest that FTB could be a therapeutic agent for allergic response.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.176-182
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• 2023

The stems of Dendrobium moniliforme are used in traditional Oriental medicine as a Yin tonic to nourish the stomach, promote the production of body fluid, and reduce fever. This study investigated the effects of the aqueous extract of D. moniliforme stems (DME) on mast cell degranulation and the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and histamine-synthesizing enzyme histidine decarboxylase (HDC). We used rat mast cell line RBL-2H3 cells and stimulated them with PMA plus calcium ionophore (PMACI). Pretreatment with DME significantly inhibited PMACI-induced β-hexosaminidase release and the expression of TNF-α, IL-4, and HDC. Furthermore, DME suppressed PMACI-induced nuclear translocation of the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and activator protein 1 (AP-1). In addition, HDC expression was inhibited by SP600125 (JNK inhibitor), PD98059 (ERK inhibitor), and SB203580 (p38 kinase inhibitor). Finally, the phosphorylation of p38 kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) was inhibited by pretreatment with DME. These results suggest that DME has inhibitory effects against degranulation, cytokine (TNF-α and IL-4) and HDC expression, and that HDC expression is mediated by MAPK signaling. These findings suggest that DME may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of hypersensitive and inflammatory diseases.