• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.566-570
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• 2006

Exposure to ultraviolet B(UVB) radiation causes skin inflammation such as pigmentation and the induction of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) gene expression. In this study, we investigated the effect of natural extracts from Tea, EGb 761 and Korean red ginseng(KRG), on the pigmentation and expression of COX-1 and COX-2 mRNA in UVB-irradiated C57BL/6 mice. Before UVB irradiation, the skin color was significantly showed the lightening effect by topical application of natural compounds (p<.05). In the case of UVB irradiated mice, we observed a decrease in pigmentation by compounds (p<.05). In irradiated skin, COX-1 mRNA expression is not changed following UVB irradiation, but COX-2 gene increases. Also, natural compounds lowered mRNA levels of COX-2. Therefore, these results suggest that COX-2 mRNA increases by UVB irradiation. Also, Tea, EGb 761 and KRG as a topical application may inhibit skin pigmentation and modulate COX-2 mRNA level.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 2002

Inflammation is a disease that continues to afflict large numbers of people and may cause other diseases, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, colon cancer, etc. prostaglandins(PGs), one of arachidonic acid metabolites, are major chemical mediators in the process of inflammation. In traditional herbal medicine, many kinds of herbal drugs have been widely used for the treatment of inflammation. So, we analyzed many publications until 2001 which worked on inhibition of $PGE_2$ synthesis by cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) with herbs and herb oriented single compounds. And then we tried to make interpretations of herbal traditional prescriptions for inflammation. There are significant correlations between herbal medicine prescribed and inhibitions of COX-2 activity. From our efforts and further researches, we expect to develop new-inflammatory herbal drugs which have more efficacy and fewer side effects.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.347-351
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• 2008

Several lines of evidence indicate that the oxidative modification of protein and the subsequent accumulation of the modified proteins have been found in cells during aging, oxidative stress, and in various pathological states including premature diseases, muscular dystrophy, rheumatoid arthritis, and atherosclerosis. The important agents that give rise to the modification of a protein may be represented by reactive aldehydic intermediates, such as ketoaldehydes, 2-alkenals and 4-hydroxy-2-alkenals. These reactive aldehydes are considered important mediators of cell damage due to their ability to covalently modify biomolecules, which can disrupt important cellular functions and can cause mutations. Furthermore, the adduction of aldehydes to apolipoprotein B in low-density lipoproteins (LDL) has been strongly implicated in the mechanism by which LDL is converted to an atherogenic form that is taken up by macrophages, leading to the formation of foam cells. During the search for an endogenous inducer of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), an inducible isoform responsible for high levels of prostaglandin production during inflammation and immune responses, 4-hydroxy-2-noennal (HNE), one of the most representative lipid peroxidation product, has been identified as the potential inducer of COX-2. In addition, the following study on the molecular mechanism of the COX-2 induction by HNE has unequivocally established that a serum component, which is eventually identified to be denatured LDL, is essential for COX-2 induction. Here I review current understanding of the mechanisms by which HNE in cooperation with the serum component activates gene expression of COX-2.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.245.1-245.1
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• 2002

It has been known that resveratrol, a phytoalexin present in grapes mainly, has antioxidant. anti-inflammatory, and cancer chemopreventive activity. One mechanism of its anti-inflammation and cancer prevention is considered to modulate cyclooxygense-2 (COX-2) activity. Since COX-2 plays an important role in inflammation and carcinogenesis, the potential COX-2 inhibitors have been considered as anti-inflammatory or cancer chemopreventive agents. (omitted)

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.348-352
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• 2007

Inflammation is a complex process resulting from a variety of mechanisms. Combined inhibition of the activities of enzymes involved in the process may therefore be considered more important in anti-inflammatory property of plant extracts than any single contribution. In this study, the inhibitory effects of the ethanol extracts of thirty plant foods on the activities of secretory phospholipase $A_{2}$ ($sPLA_{2}$), cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and 12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX) were examined. Several legumes, mungbean sprout and some leaf vegetables inhibited the activity of $sPLA_2$, upstream enzyme of inflammation pathway. Only soybean sprout and mungbean sprout significantly inhibited 12-LOX activity. Although most of extracts inhibited the activities of both COX-1 and COX-2, water dropwort and amaranth showed selectivity for the inhibition of COX-2 over COX-1. Especially, mungbean showed anti-inflammatory property at both upstream and downstream of inflammation pathway with relatively low $IC_{50}$ values for $sPLA_{2}$ and COX-2 enzymes. Mungbean sprout exhibited inhibitory effects on all enzymes related to early and late inflammation and soybean sprout suppressed 12-LOX and COX-2 simultaneously, although the activities of these plants were showed at relatively high concentration. Therefore, mungbean, mungbean sprout, and soybean sprout appear to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects by combined inhibition of inflammatory enzymes.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3 s.63
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• pp.215-227
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• 2005

Objectives : This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Pyungjintang on indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal lesions of mire. Methods : Experimental mice were classified into not-treated group (NOR group), gastro-inflammation elicitated group (CON group), misoprostol-administered group after gastro-inflammation elicitation (MA group), and Pyungjintang-administered group after gastro-inflammation elicitation (PA group). This study examined the morphological change, distribution of mast cells, mucus surface cells, neutral mucus secreting cells, acid mucus secreting cells, PNA reaction, angiogenesis (MIP-2), COX-1, Hsp70, NF-kB p50, COX-2IL-12B, ICAM-1, BrdU and apoptotic cells of gastric mucosa. Results : 1. The scars of diapedesis, dilatation of right gastric artery and the hemorrhagic erosions of gastric mucosa were reduced in the MA and PA groups. 2. Gastric perforation was observed in the gastro-inflammation elicitated group, but not in the MA and PA groups. 3. The COX-1 positive cellsl, cell proliferation of gastric mucosa, neutral mucus secreting ce31s, acid mucus secreting cells and PNA positive reaction of surface mucus cells were increased in the MA and PA groups. 4. The distribution of apoptotic cells, mast cells, MIP-2, Hsp70, NF-kB p50, COX-2, IL-l2B and ICAM-1 were decreased in the MA and PA groups. Conclusions : Pyungjintang had excellent effects on indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal lesions in mice.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.96-96
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• 2003

Previously, wogonin (5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone) was found to suppress proinflammatory enzyme expression including cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), contributing to in vivo anti-inflammatory activity against skin inflammation. However, the detailed effect on each skin cell type has not been understood. Therefore, present investigation was carried out to find the effect of wogonin on inflammation-associated gene expression from skin fibroblasts in culture using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. As a result, it was found that wogonin (10 - 100 ${\mu}$M) clearly down-regulated COX -2 expression from NIH/3T3 cells treated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, interleukin-1${\beta}$ or tumor necrosis factor-a. But, the expression levels of COX-1, interleukin-1${\beta}$ and fibronectin were not significantly affected. This finding was well correlated with significant reduction of prostaglandin E$_2$(PGE$_2$) production by wogonin. As a comparison, NS-398 (selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor) did not suppress COX -2 expression and other gene levels, while PGE$_2$production was potently reduced at 0.1 - 10 ${\mu}$M. All these results suggest that COX -2 down-regulation of skin fibroblasts may be, at least in part, one of anti-inflammatory mechanisms of wogonin against skin inflammation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2004

Objectives : This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Samooltang (SMT) on the injury of gastric mucous membrane by ethanol in mice. Methods : The normal group was mice with no inflammation. The control group was mice with gastro-inflammation elicited by ethanol. The sample group was SMT-administered mice before gastro-inflammation elicitation. Results : In the immunohistochemical change, the distribution of SBA and COX-1 treated with SMT noticeably increased over the control group (p<0.05). The distribution of NF-κB P50, COX-2, and TUNEL treated with SMT noticeably decreased over the control group (p<0.05). The distribution of SMT was the same as the normal group. Conclusions : According to the above results, it is supposed that SMT would be helpful against gastritis and gastric ulcer caused by alcoholic drinks.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.103-104
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• 2002

Cyclooxygenase (COX), an important enzyme involved in mediating the inflammation, catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the formation of prostaglandins from arachidonic acid. There are two isoforms of COX, designated as COX-1 and COX-2. While COX-1 is constitutively expressed in most tissues, COX-2 can be induced transiently by proinflammatory cytokines, endotoxins, growth factors, oncogenes, UV and mitogens.(omitted)

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.293-300
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• 2012

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) are important inflammatory mediators implicated in pathogenesis of inflammation and certain types of human cancers. The present study was designed to determine whether Red Ginseng (RG) could modulate $I{\kappa}B$-kinase, iNOS and COX-2 gene expression and immune responses in RAW 264.7 macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). RG extract suppressed the expression of LPS-induced $I{\kappa}B$, iNOS, COX-2, and immune responses in a dose-dependent manner. It also showed an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting NF-${\kappa}B$ immune response induced by LPS treatment. Inhibitory effect of RG on LPS-induced inflammation was mediated by suppressed phosphorylation of ERK, JNK and p38 through the regulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway leading to a decreased production of NO, iNOS, COX-2 and NF-${\kappa}B$. The results implied the role of RG as an inflammation regulator and its possible application for curing inflammatory diseases.