• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.63-71
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• 2014

Objectives : Lonicerae japonicae Flos(LJF) has been reported to exhibit anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-rheumatoid properties. However, it is still largely unknown whether LJF inhibits the ultraviolet(UV)B-induced oxidative damage in human HaCaT keratinocytes. Therefore in this paper, we investigated the anti-oxidative capacity and protective effect of LJF against UVB-induced oxidative demage in human HaCaT keratinocytes. Methods : To evaluate the anti-oxidative activity of LJF extracts, we measured total phenolic contents, total flavonoid contents, antioxidant capacity, and superoxide scavenging activity. To give an oxidative stress to HaCaT cells, UVB was irradiated with $200mJ/cm^2$ to HaCaT cells. To detect the protective effect of LJF against UVB, we measured cell viability, DNA fragmentation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In addition, we performed high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis to find a major component of LJF. Results : LJF contained phenolic and flavonoid contents, and showed the anti-oxidant and superoxide scavenging activity. The UVB-induced oxidative conditions led to the cell death, DNA fragmentation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. However, pretreatment with LJF reduced oxidative conditions, including inhibition of cell death, DNA fragmentation and ROS production. In addition, we found out chlorogenic acid as major component of LJF. Conclusions : These results could suggest that LJF contained anti-oxidative contents and exhibited protective effects against UVB on human HaCaT keratinocytes. And the effective compound of LJF which could show protective activities against UVB is chlorogenic acid. Thus, LJF and chlorogenic acid would be useful for the development of drug or cosmetics treating skin troubles.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.519-529
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• 2017

Sodium butyrate (SB) has various metabolic actions. However, its effect on dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) needs to be studied further. We aimed to evaluate the metabolic actions of SB, considering its physiologically relevant concentration. We evaluated the effect of SB on regulation of DPP-4 and its other metabolic actions, both in vitro (HepG2 cells and mouse mesangial cells) and in vivo (high fat diet [HFD]-induced obese mice). Ten-week HFD-induced obese C57BL/6J mice were subjected to SB treatment by adding SB to HFD which was maintained for an additional 16 weeks. In HepG2 cells, SB suppressed DPP-4 activity and expression at sub-molar concentrations, whereas it increased DPP-4 activity at a concentration of $1,000{\mu}M$. In HFD-induced obese mice, SB decreased blood glucose, serum levels of insulin and $IL-1{\beta}$, and DPP-4 activity, and suppressed the increase in body weight. On the contrary, various tissues including liver, kidney, and peripheral blood cells showed variable responses of DPP-4 to SB. Especially in the kidney, although DPP-4 activity was decreased by SB in HFD-induced obese mice, it caused an increase in mRNA expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, and $IL-1{\beta}$. The pro-inflammatory actions of SB in the kidney of HFD-induced obese mice were recapitulated by cultured mesangial cell experiments, in which SB stimulated the secretion of several cytokines from cells. Our results showed that SB has differential actions according to its treatment dose and the type of cells and tissues. Thus, further studies are required to evaluate its therapeutic relevance in metabolic diseases including diabetes and obesity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2016

The aim of the present study is to investigate the hypotensive effect of Mantidis ootheca (WMO), Rosa laevigata (WIC), and Imperata cylindrica (WRL) in renovascular hypertension rats. Experimental hypertension model is 2-kidney and 1-clip (2K1C) induced rats. 2K1C rats were treated with WMO, WIC, and WRL at dose of 100 mg/kg/day orally for 3 weeks, respectively. Treatment groups with WMO, WIC, and WRL significantly lowered blood pressure. Interestingly, WMO, WIC, and WRL ameliorated endothelium-dependent and independent vascular relaxation in the phenylephrine-precontracted thoracic aorta in hypertension models. In addition, 2K1C-induced hypertension model increased plasma renin activity, however, WMO, WIC, and WRL attenuated those activities. These results suggest that WMO, WIC, and WRL ameliorates vascular dysfunction in 2K1C-induced hypertension models via the regulation of nitric oxide and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2016

The aerial part of Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. (Cucurbitaceae), has long been used in traditional Korean and Chinese medicines for the treatment of heatstroke. We isolated and identified three flavones, luteolin-7-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside(1), luteolin-4'-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside(2), luteolin(3) from its methanolic extract. In the present study, we found that luteolin attenuates the lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced inflammation in BV2 microglial cells. Luteolin significantly inhibited LPS-induced production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide(NO) and prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$ in BV2 microglia in a concentration-dependent manner without cytotoxic effect. Luteolin dose-dependently suppressed the protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2). In addition, luteolin also showed significant induction of heme oxygenase(HO)-1. These results suggest that both the aerial part of T. kirilowii and luteolin may be good candidates to regulate LPS-induced inflammatory response.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.44-54
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• 2013

To determine the potential function of Rhus javanica in Korean medicine, it was fermented with each strain of Lactobacillus spp. Each strain of Lactobacillus spp. was inoculated in lactobacilli MRS broth, and 5 mg/ml of methanol extract of Rhus javanica was added. In mouse hippocampal HT22 cells, ethyl acetate extract of R. javanica fermented with L. brevis KCTC 3498 induced heme oxygenase-1 expression and showed a significant cytoprotective effect on glutamate-induced oxidative damage. The cytoprotective effect was related to the transcription of the nuclear factor E2-related factor2 (Nrf2), which is responsible for the induction of heme oxygenase-1 within the nucleus. The antimicrobial, antioxidant, and heme oxygenase-1 expression activities of fermented R. javanica were measured after extraction with ethyl acetate. R. javanica fermented with L. plantarum subsp. plantarum KCTC 3108, L. fermentum KCTC 3112, and L. brevis KCTC 3498 had higher antioxidant activity than nonfermented R. javanica. The fermented R. javanica with L. plantarum subsp. plantarum KCTC 3108, L. casei KCTC 3109 after ethyl acetate extraction showed antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis PCI 219, Escherichia coli KCTC 1682, Shigella flexneri KCTC 2517, Vibrio parahaemolyticus KCTC 7471, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa KCTC 2004. An ethyl acetate extract of the fermented R. javanica with Lactobacillus brevis KCTC 3498 exhibited stronger antibacterial activity than a nonfermented one against strains of B. subtilis PCI 219, E. coli KCTC 1682, S. flexneri KCTC 2517, and V. parahaemolyticus KCTC 7471.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.21-25
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• 2012

Objective : This study was performed to estimate the effects of OMC-2010 extract on cytokine production in mouse spleen cells. Methods : Mouse spleen cells were pre-treated with ethanol and water extract of OMC-2010 for 1 h, then stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 ${\mu}g/ml$) for 48 h. Then the cells were harvested for real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to detect cytokines. Results : OMC-2010 ethanol extract significantly inhibited the LPS-induced interleukin (IL)-1beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and IL-5 mRNA expressions, but not shown such changes in IL-6, IL-4, IL-13. OMC-2010 water extract significantly inhibited the LPS-induced TNF-alpha, and IL-5 mRNA expressions, but not shown such changes in IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-4, IL-13. Conclusions : Theses results could suggest that both ethanol and water OMC-2010 extract could inhibit the TNF-alpha and IL-5 mRNA expression.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2021

Objectives : Forsythiae Fructus has been reported to have anti-inflammatory effects in many diseases, and Corydalis Tuber has been used as a pain suppressor in Eastern Asia. However, the protective effects of individual water extract of Forsythiae Fructus (FF) and Corydalis Tuber (CT) and the mixture of FF and CT (FC) on chronic pancreatitis (CP) were not well-investigated. Therefore, we investigated the protective effects of FF, CT, and FC on CP in mice. Methods : To induce CP, cerulein was injected 6 times a day, 4 times a week for 3 weeks. 1 h before the every cerulein injection, 200 mg/kg of FF, CT, or FC was intraperitoneally injected to mice. Histological analysis of pancreas was examined by hematoxylin and eosin stain and collagen deposition was examined by Masson's trichrome stain. Fibrogenic parameters such as α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, and fibrotic cytokines such as transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) were also analyzed by immunofluorescence stain and real-time PCR. Results : Histological damages in pancreas were inhibited by pre-treatment of FF or FC but not CT. α-SMA and ECM in pancreas were inhibited by pre-treatment of CT or FC but not FF. Moreover, the expression of TGF-β1 and PDGF in pancreas were inhibited by FF, CT or FC. Conclusions : Our results suggest that FC have protective effect on CP in mice through inhibition of α-SMA, ECM, TGF-β1 and PDGF in pancreas, and these findings could suggest new clinical strategy for CP.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.49-54
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• 2012

Objective : We recently reported that OMC-2010 has an immuno-modulatory effects via inhibiting tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-5. However, we did not find out which constituents play an important role in immuno-modulatory effect of OMC-2010. Thus, this study was performed to estimate the effects of constituents of OMC-2010 on cytokine production in mouse spleen cells, then ultimately reach to find out effective constituents regulating splenic cytokine production. Methods : Mouse spleen cells were pre-treated with water and ethanol extract of constituents of OMC-2010 such as Rehmannia glutinosa (RG), Pinellia ternata (PT), Citrus unshiu Markovich (CUM), Glycyrrhiza uralensis (GU), Platycodon grandiflorum (PG), Schisandra chinensis (SC). After 1 h, the cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 ${\mu}g/ml$) for 48 h. Then the cells were harvested for real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to detect cytokine productions. Results : The water extract of RG extract significantly inhibited the LPS-induced inTNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-5 mRNA expressions, but the water extract of PT, CUM, GU, PG, and SC did not. The ethanol extract of RG, PT, and SC significantly inhibited the LPS-induced TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-5 mRNA expressions, but the ethanol extract of CUM, GU, and PG did not. Conclusions : Theses results could suggest that the water extract of RG and the ethanol extract of RG, PT, and SC inhibited the expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-5, which means that the possible candidate of OMC-2010 water extract's action might be RG, and ethanol extract's action might be RG, PR, and SC.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 1998

The water extracts of oriental herbal medicines which have been clinically used to treat bacterial infections in Korea were screened for in vitro antibacterial activity by the paper disc assay method. Two Gram positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus SG511, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 and two Gram negative bacteria, Escherichia coli 055, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 9027 were used as test organisms. Among 83 of the extracts tested, 25 were active against Staphylococcus aureus SG511, 9 were active against Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, while none showed inhibitory activity against Eschelichia coli 055 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 9027. Among them, Hwangyonhaedoktang plus hwangyon, Chongwisan, and Ssangbaksan showed remarkably potent antibacterial activity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.848-853
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• 2010

Bone maintains its homeostasis through balance between bone resorbing osteoclasts and bone forming osteoblasts. Thus, unusual balance between osteoclasts and osteoblasts leads to pathological bone diseases, such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune arthritis, periodontitis. Schisandra chinensis well known traditional herbal has been used for treatment of diseases in China, Korea, Japan, andothers. Recently, research studies have demonstrated that the lignans found in Schisandra chinensis stimulate osteoblasts and suggest that it may be helpful against osteoporosis. However, the inhibitory effect of water extract of Schisandra chinensis on osteoclast differentiation remains largely unknown. In this study, Water extract of Schisandra chinensis markedly suppressed RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation in cultures of BMMs without cytotoxicity. The mRNA expression of c-Fos, NFATc1, and TRAP induced by RANKL was inhibited by water extract of Schisandra chinensis. It also suppressed c-Fos and NFATc1 protein expression. Taken together, these results suggest that water extract of Schisandra chinensis has the potential to serve as a treatment of bone disease such as osteoporosis.