• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.942-949
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• 2010

Morus alba L., a kind of Oriental medicinal herbs, has been traditionally used to treat pulmonary asthma and congestion. According to recent studies, extracts of M. alba L. have showed anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-tumor and hypoglycemic effects. However, the molecular mechanisms on how it acts as a death-inducer in cancer cells have not been fully understood. In this study, we investigated the cell death effects of methylene chloride extracts of M. alba L. (MEMA) in A549 human lung carcinoma cells. It was shown that MEMA induced the apoptotic cell death proved by increased sub-G1 phase cell population, apoptotic body formation and chromatin condensation. MEMA treatment induced the expression of death receptor-related proteins such as death receptor (DR) 4, DR5, Fas and FasL, which further triggered the activation of caspase-8 and the cleavage of Bid in a concentration-dependent manner. However, MEMA reduced anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expression which contributed to the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and the activations of caspase-9 and caspase-3. Meanwhile, the morphological study indicated a characteristic finding of autophagy, such as the formation of autophagosomes in MEMA-treated cells. Furthermore, markers of autophagy, namely, the increased MDC-positive cells, conversion of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)-I to LC3-II and increased beclin-1 accumulation, were observed. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that MEMA triggered both autophagy and apoptosis in A549 cancer cells. They might suggest that M. alba L. could be a prospective clinical application to treat human lung cancers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.503-509
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• 2022

Methylglyoxal is a highly reactive precursor which forms advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGEs and methylglyoxal are known to induce various diseases such as diabetes, vascular disorders, Diabetes Mellitus (DM), and neuronal disorders. Juglans regia L is an important food commonly used worldwide, having nutritious components, including phenolic compounds. Since ancient times, Juglans regia L have been differently applied by various countries for health and in diverse diseases, including arthritis, asthma, skin disorders, cancer, and diabetes mellitus. However, the effect of diabetes-induced renal damage against AGEs remains unclear. This study evaluates the anti-glycation and renal protective effects of ethanol extract of Juglans regia L against methylglyoxal-induced renal tubular epithelial cell death. Exposure to methylglyoxal resulted in reduced cell viability in NRK-52E cells, but co-treatment with Juglans regia L extracts significantly increased the cell viability. In addition, we examined the anti-glycation effect of Juglans regia L extracts. Compared to the positive control aminoguanidine and Alagebrium, treatment with Juglans regia L extracts significantly inhibited the formation of AGEs, collagen cross-linking, and breaking collagen cross-linking. Taken together, our results indicate that Juglans regia L is a potential therapeutic agent for regulating diabetic complications by exerting anti-glycation and renal protective activities.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.9-15
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• 2013

Objectives : The root of Codonopsis pilosula (Fr.) Nannf. (Codonopsis Pilosulae Radix) has been traditionally used as a oriental medicine with an anti-thrombotic, antidiabetic, anticancer, and anti-gastric ulcer effects and immunological adjuvant. In this study, we investigated the effect of 70% ethanol extract of Codonopsis Pilosulae Radix (CPR-E) on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic responses in mice. Methods : Mice were sensitized (1, 8, and 15 days) with OVA and airway challenged(22, 24, 26, 28, and 30 days) to induced allergic responses. CPR-E extract at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg/body weight was orally administered from days 21 to 30 consecutively. The levels of allergic mediators such as histamine, OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E, and Th1/Th2 cytokines such as IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-4 were measured in the sera of mice by ELISA. The histological change of lung tissue was observed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Results : CPR-E extract significantly decreased the serum levels of histamine, OVA-specific IgE, and IL-4 compared with those of OVA control group, but significantly increased the serum level of IFN-${\gamma}$. Based on H&E staining, CPR-E extract inhibited the infiltration of inflammatory cells into lung tissues with histological changes. Conclusions : These results indicate that CPR-E extract has anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic responses through regulating the cytokine balance, suggesting that the extract may be useful for the treatment of allergic inflammatory diseases such as bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.341-347
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• 2010

In the present study, we investigated whether Houttuynia cordata Thumb (Saururaceae; HC) extracts have an anti-inflammatory effect in human monocytic THP-1 cells and human eosinophilic EoL-1 cells. The dried and powdered whole plants of HC were extracted with 80% EtOH. The combined extract (HC-1) was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was diluted with water, and then successively partitioned with n-hexane, EtOAc, and BuOH to produce the n-hexane (HC-2), EtOAc (HC-3), BuOH (HC-4), and the water-soluble fractions (HC-5), respectively. HC extracts have no cytotoxicity on THP-1 cells and EoL-1 cells at a high concentration of $10\;{\mu}g/ml$ for 24 h, except HC-2 extract ($10\;{\mu}g/ml$). Interleukin-6, Interleukin-8 and Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in THP-1 cells were increased after the treatment with the extract from house dust mite or LPS. The increase of cytokine production was strongly suppressed by HC-3 extract, in comparision with other extracts. HC-3 also had inhibitory effect on Interleukin-6 production increased by mite extract and LPS in EoL-1 cells. However, HC-3 extract increased Interleukin-8 production induced by mite extract and LPS in EoL-1 cells. These results suggest that HC extracts may be used as useful agents for treating allergic disorders such as asthma and atopic dermatitis.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.339-345
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• 2012

The marine carotenoid fucoxanthin can be found in marine brown seaweeds, macroalgae, diatoms, and microalgae, and has remarkable biological properties. Numerous studies have shown that fucoxanthin has considerable potential and promising applications in human health, but the underlying mechanisms involved in its anti-allergic activity are not fully understood. We here investigated the mechanisms by anti-allergic activity of fucoxanthin fraction from Eisenia bicyclis in immunoglobulin E-antigen complex (IgE/DNP-BSA)-stimulated RBL-2H3 mast cells. This study we found that the fucoxanthin inhibits the release of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase and suppressed not only transcriptional activation of NF-${\kappa}B$, but also phosphorylation of ERK and JNK in IgE/DNP-BSA-treated RBL-2H3 cells. Fucoxanthin may be useful for preventing allergic diseases, including asthma and atopic dermatitis.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.192-194
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• 2022

The trophic factor Neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) plays a critical role in the development of the peripheral nervous system and the repair of nerve injuries. The regulation of neutrophil apoptosis by cytokine secretion from structural cells is an important process in inflammatory diseases, including asthma. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between NRG-1 and the alteration of neutrophil apoptosis by the regulation of cytokine release in the human lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) induce the increase in the release of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). NRG-1 alone had no effect on the secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1. However, co-treatment of TNF-α and IFN-γ with NRG-1 inhibited the secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 that had been increased by TNF-α and IFN-γ. Treatment with NRG-1 did not have a direct effect on neutrophil apoptosis. Co-treatment of TNF-α and IFN-γ with NRG-1 was not effective on suppression of neutrophil apoptosis due to TNF-α and IFN-γ. The supernatant of BEAS-2B cells after co-treatment of TNF-α and IFN-γ with NRG-1 suppressed the inhibition of neutrophil apoptosis that had been caused due to the supernatant treated with TNF-α and IFN-γ. Taken together, NRG-1 has an anti-inflammatory effect in an inflammatory milieu by the regulation of cytokine secretion and neutrophil apoptosis.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.214-219
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• 2007

The roots of Pseudarthria viscida (L.) Wight and Arnott. (Leguminosae) are used against various disorders in Indian systems of medicine, namely as anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, cardiotonic, aphrodisiac, rejuvenating, tonic and as a remedy for cough, asthma, tuberculosis, diarrhoea and alternate fever. The present communication deals with the detailed pharmacognostical evaluation of the root sample using light and confocal microscopy, WHO recommended physico-chemical determinations and authentic phytochemical procedures. he physico-chemical, morphological and histological parameters presented in this paper may be proposed as parameters to establish the authenticity of P. viscida root and may possibly help to differentiate the drug from its other species.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.99-101
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• 2004

An important aspect of indigenous medicine is the ability of traditional societis to manipulate the environment for their own benefit, for example for their health care. In Indonesia, this indigenous medicine is called Jamu. Jamu mostly consists of a mixture of herbals of the genus Curcuma, Zingiberaceae. There are 19 species of curcuma grown in Indonesia. Eleven of them are popular in the jamu preparations. Ethnopharma-cological surveys have shown that 50% of these species are used for post partum protection, dismenorrhea, 30% are used for the treatment of stomache and as cosmetics, 20% for the treatment of various diseases such as fever, worms, asthma, etc. Chemical studies show that they contain curcuminoids, volatile oils, flavonoids, starch, and resinous substance. Pharmacological studies of extracts and isolated bioactive compounds have shown that they have a broad pharmacological activity such as antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, choleretic, antihepatotoxic, antitumor, antioxidant, and antihyperlipidemic activity.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.139-143
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• 2009

The anaphylactic allergic reaction is involved in many allergic diseases such as asthma and allergic rhinitis. In this report, I investigated the effect of ripe fruits of Rubus coreanus Miq. (Rosaceae) (RFRC) on the anaphylactic allergic reaction and studied its possible mechanisms of action. RFRC inhibited compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylactic reaction in mice. RFRC dose-dependently decreased the IgE-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. In addition, RFRC decreased the gene expression and production of tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) and interleukin (IL)-6 in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus calcium ionophore A23187 (A23187)-stimulated human mast cells. These findings provide evidence that RFRC could be a candidate as an anti-allergic agent.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.299.3-300
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• 2002

Both of Semen (OF-Se) or stem (OF-Sf) of Opuntia ficus-indica Semen have been used as a healthful food or folk medicine in korea for the treatment of asthma. diabetes mellitus. aging, osteoporosis, rheumatic arthritis. constipation, cancer. gastric ulcer. constipation. toxic state, edema, etc, There are many reports that OF have the anti-gastric damage, wound healing, diabetes mellitus, monoamine oxidase B inhibitor etc. (omitted)