• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.208-221
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• 2014

Purpose : Banhasasim-tang (BHSST) has been applied for treating the symptom of gastric stuffiness, which is similar to dyspepsia. The object of this study was to observe the healing effect of BHSST on the indomethacin (IND)-induced gastric ulcer in rats. Methods : Three different dosages of BHSST (400, 200 and 100 mg/kg) were orally administered 30 min before IND treatment; 6 hrs after IND treatment, the changes on the gross lesion scores, fundic histopathology, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense system (glutathione contents, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities) were observed, and compared with the activity of the synthetic anti-ulcer drug, a representative proton pump inhibitor omeprazole (OME) 10 mg/kg. Results : All three different dosages of BHSST treatment in the IND-induced gastric ulcer rats, significant and dose dependent decreased gastric damages - hemorrhagic gross lesions, gastric mucosa MPO levels and histopathological gastric ulcerative lesions - were detected as compared with the IND treated control rats. BHSST also strengthened the antioxidant defense systems - decreased the level of lipid peroxidation and CAT activity but increased the level of GSH and SOD activity, and BHSST 200 mg/kg showed similar anti-ulcerative effect as compared with OME 10 mg/kg. Conclusions : The results obtained in this study suggest that BHSST has favorable effects against IND-induced gastric damages, through significant and dose-dependent decreasing gastric damages and the strengthening of the body's antioxidant defense systems with direct anti-inflammatory effects.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.6061-6066
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• 2015

Methotrexate (Mtx), used for its anticancer and immunsuppresive properties, is known to be a nephrotoxic agent. We aimed to investigate the effects of lycopene (Lyc) alone or combined with melatonin (Mel) on Mtxinduced nephrotoxicity since both of these agents have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Nephrotoxicity was induced by intraperitoneal administration of methotrexate at a dose of 20 mg/kg. Treatment both with Lyc alone and Lyc combined with Mel provided significant reduction in tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin 1-beta and ceruloplasmin levels in Mtx administered rats. Hovewer, Lyc combined with Mel provided a significant reduction also in NO levels. Hstopathological examination showed that there was an obvious improvement in the degenerative changes compared to Mtx administrated group with the Lyc combined Mel group giving best protection. In conclusion Lyc alone and combined with Mel provided significant improvement against renal damage caused by Mtx, preseumably via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.467-473
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• 2024

In this study, we investigated the potential protective effects of (+)-afzelechin (AZC), a natural compound that is derived from Bergenia ligulata, on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses. AZC is known to have antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, and cardiovascular protective properties. However, knowledge regarding the therapeutic potential of AZC against LPS-induced inflammatory responses is limited. Thus, we investigated the protective attributes of AZC against inflammatory damage caused by LPS exposure. We examined the effects of AZC on heme oxygenase (HO)-1, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in LPS-activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In addition, the effects of AZC on the expression of iNOS, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-1β were analyzed in the lung tissues of LPS-injected mice. Data revealed that AZC promoted the production of HO-1, inhibited the interaction between luciferase and nuclear factor (NF)-κB, and reduced the levels of COX-2/PGE2 and iNOS/NO, thereby leading to a decrease in the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-1 phosphorylation. Moreover, AZC facilitated the nuclear translocation of Nrf2, increased the binding activity between Nrf2 and the antioxidant response elements (AREs), and lowered the expression of IL-1β in the LPS-treated HUVECs. In the animal model, AZC significantly reduced the expression of iNOS in the lung tissue structure and the TNF-α level in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. These findings demonstrate that AZC possesses anti-inflammatory properties that regulate iNOS through the inhibition of both NF-κB expression and p-STAT-1. Consequently, AZC has potential as a future candidate for the development of new clinical substances for the treatment of pathological inflammation.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.37-44
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• 2015

Objectives : The present study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress activities through regulation of Nrf2-mediated genes by Rhei rhizoma and Glycyrrhiza rhizoma combined extract (RGE) in reflux esophagitis.Methods : The antioxidant activity of RGE in vitro was measured in terms of radical scavenging capacity such as DPPH and ABTS. RGE was administered at 350 mg/kg body weight prior to induction of reflux esophagitis. Reflux esophagitis was induced that tied the pylorus and the transitional junction between the forestomach and the corpus in Sprague-Dawley rats.Results : RGE scavenged DPPH and ABTS effectively and IC₅₀of RGE each were 4.9 μg/ml and 45.6 μg/ml. Our results show that RGE administration markedly ameliorated mucosal damage upon histological evaluation. In serum and esophagus tissue, RGE significantly suppressed the oxidative stress biomarkers. Reflux esophagitis induced rats exhibited down-regulation of antioxidant-related proteins in the esophagus; however, the levels with treatment of RGE were significantly higher than those of vehicle reflux esophagitis rats. RGE treatment caused significant reductions in activation of NF-κB transcription factor. Thus, RGE significantly exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activities by suppressing the protein expression levels of pro-inflammatory proteins such as COX-2 and iNOS and inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-αin the esophagus tissue.Conclusions : Reflux esophagitis caused considerable levels of oxidative stress in the esophageal mucosa and the administration of RGE reduced the esophageal mucosa damage through the regulation of Nrf2 and NF-κB pathways. Our findings can considered as supplementary therapy in the prevention or treatment of reflux esophagitis.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.211-219
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• 2023

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is an active component of propolis obtained from honeybee hives. CAPE possesses anti-mitogenic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities in diverse systems, which know as displays antioxidant activity and inhibits lipoxygenase activities, protein tyrosine kinase, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation. This study aimed to investigate the effect of CAPE on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced human neutrophil phagocytosis. Human neutrophils were cultured with various concentrations of CAPE (1, 10, and 100 µM) with or without LPS. The pro-inflammatory proteins (tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α], interleukin [IL]-6 and IL-8) levels were measured after 4 h incubation. To investigate the intracellular signaling pathway, we measured the levels of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), including phosphorylation of p38, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Next, to evaluate the potential phagocytosis, neutrophils were labeled with iron particles of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs, 40 nm) for 1 h in culture medium containing 5 mg/mL of iron. The labeling efficiency was determined by Prussian blue staining for intracellular iron and 3T-wighted magnetic resonance imaging. CAPE decreased the activation of intracellular signaling pathways, including ERK1/2 and c-Jun, and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α and IL-6, but had no effect on the signaling pathways of p38 and cytokine IL-8. Furthermore, images obtained after mannan-coated SPION treatment suggested that CAPE induced significantly higher signal intensities than the control or LPS group. Together, these results suggest that CAPE regulates LPS-mediated activation of human neutrophils to reduce phagocytosis.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.299-306
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• 2016

Purpose: Curcuma aromatica Salisb., commonly known as turmeric, has long been used as a powerful health-promoting anti-inflammatory or antioxidant that supports cellular health of the human body. The objective of this study was to compare the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the samples with or without fermentation. Methods: Antioxidant activities of the samples were compared using total phenol, flavonoid contents, 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) cation radical scavenging activity and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. Antimicrobial activities were also examined using the paper disc method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Results: Organic acid content of the C. aromatica Salisb. fermented with Aspergillus oryzae (FCAS) showed a significantly higher value of 0.41% than that of the typical sample without fermentation (CAS) which showed a value of 0.27% (p<0.001). Total phenol and flavonoid contents of the CAS and FCAS did not show significant differences. However, ABTS cation radical scavenging activity and DPPH radical scavenging activity were significantly increased in the samples with fermentation (p<0.001, p<0.01), respectively. The samples of the disc showed inhibited growth of gram positive Bacillus cereus (FCAS 3.70 cm and CAS 2.73 cm) and Staphylococcus aureus (FCAS 2.70 cm and CAS 1.97 cm). MIC of the FCAS (0.25-0.50, 0.5-1.00 mg/mL) was higher than that of the CAS (1.00-2.00, 2.00-3.00 mg/mL), respectively. Conclusion: C. aromatica Salisb. with fermentation showed higher antioxidant and antimicrobial activities in this study. Thus we conclude that fermentation can be a helpful process for more effective application of C. aromatica Salisb. with fermentation in the health-promoting food industry.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.109-115
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• 2012

This study was designed to investigate the inhibitory effects of Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton var. frutescens extract on the production of inflammation-related mediators (NO, ROS, NF-${\kappa}B$, iNOS and COX-2) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6) in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Perilla frutescents (L.) Britton var. frutescens was air-dried and extracted with ethanol. The extract dose-dependently decreased the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and dose-dependently increased antioxidant enzyme activities, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in lipopolysaccharide stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Also, Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton var. frutescens extract suppressed NO production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6), NF-${\kappa}B$, iNOS and COX-2 were inhibited by the treatment with the extract. Thus, this study shows the Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton var. frutescens extract could be useful for inhibition of the inflammatory process.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.68.2-68.2
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• 2008

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2017

Background: Ganoderma lucidum cultured on hulled barley was investigated as a potential natural source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. Methods and Results: The yields from Ganoderma lucidum cultured on hulled barley water and ethanol extract were 17.69% and 25.77%, respectively. The antioxidant activity of Ganoderma lucidum cultured on hulled barley extracts was confirmed by various methods including assayss of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzo thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), nitrite radical scavenging, and $Fe^{3+}$ to $Fe^{2+}$ reducing power activity. The ethanol extract of Ganoderma lucidum cultured on hulled barley showed improved DPPH, ABTS and nitrite radical scavenging activity compared with the water extract. After treatment of RAW264.7 cells with Ganoderma lucidum cultured on hulled barley ethanol extracts, the cell viability compared with the control was 92.82%, even at a concentration of $3,000{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. The ethanol extract inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in RAW264.7 cells stimulated with $H_2O_2$, even at low concentrations. In addition, the ethanol extract showed an inhibitory effects on the production of lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide (NO) in RAW264.7 cells. Conclusions: This study suggests that the extract of Ganoderma lucidum cultured on hulled barley is a potential source of natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.273-282
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• 2020

Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) has been used since ancient times to improve various skin diseases such as burns, wounds, and eczema. It has been reported that Aloe vera contains vitamin, enzyme, mineral, sugar, phenolic compound, fatty acid and amino acid. Aloe vera changes its color from green to red under the extreme thermal and arid climate to protect itself. These morphological changes induce variation of composition such as increasing of aloe-emodin content. Aloe-emodin is one of the major anthraquinone in aloe family plants. Since aloe-emodin contains a polyphenolic structure, this compound may be responsible for the reported antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of aloe. However, there is no research on the process of increasing the compounds of Aloe vera. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop a pink aloe manufacturing process that increases the aloe-emodin content and enhances the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of aloe. As a result of heating aloe under appropriate conditions, pink aloe increased aloe-emodin content compared to general aloe, and exhibited effects such as increasing antioxidant activity, inhibiting NO production, and promoting cell regeneration. Through this study, the applicability of pink aloe as a new anti-aging material in the cosmetic field was confirmed.