• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1869-1880
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• 2004

In the oriental medicine, a mixture of herbs has been commonly used as important components to control allergic and inflammatory diseases. In the present study, we prepared a mixture of Dictamni Radicis Cortex(Baiksunpee), Houttuyniae Herba(Uhsungcho), and Aurantii Immaturus Fructus(Jisil) to examine its anti-allergic effects in activated mouse splenic cells and found that Mix-1 is involved in regulating levels of B cell activating factors (CD23 and CD11a), IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and 1gE as well as HRF expression. It was observed that Mix-1 did not have cytotoxic effects on mLFC. Mix-1 showed inhibition of CD23 and CD11 alpaha expression in mouse B cells, and also decreased the production of IL-6, TNF-α, and 1gE. Both RT-PCR and ELISA analyses indicated that IL-6 and TNF alpha production were regulated at the gene expression level. In contrast, IL-10 mRNA and protein levels were increased in activated B cells by Mix-1 treatment. We also found that Mix-1 inhibited B cell proliferation and inhibited histamine releasing factor(HRF) expression, suggesting its inhibitory effect on histamine secretion. These data indicated that Mix-1 has an anti-allergic effect in activated macrophages and further suggest the possible application of Mix-1 as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of allergy-related diseases.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.302-309
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• 2010

Oxidative stress has been implicated in cutaneous damage in various inflammatory skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis (AD). Atoberry is the herb medicine extract which is composed with Spirodelae Herba, Xanthii Fructus, Houttuyniae Herba, Taraxaci Herba, Retinervus Luffae Fructus, Platycodi Radix, and Scutellariae Radix. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Atoberry in AD-like skin lesion NC/Nga mice. Murine AD-like skin lesions were made by painting Dermatophagoides farinse (Df) extract. Atoberry significantly increased electron donating ability (DPPH), nitrite scavenging (NO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in dose dependant. Topically applied Atoberry significantly reduced clinical severity score, ear thickness and histological grade in AD-like skin lesion NC/Nga mice. In addition, the serum levels of IgE, NO and prostaglandin E2 were significantly reduced by Atoberry. Futhermore, skin tissue levels of SOD, catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were significantly reduced by Atoberry. These results demonstrate that topical application of Atoberry may be improve the AD-like skin lesion by antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.334-347
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• 2008

Background and Objective : Haeyeol-tang, composed of Houttuyniae Herba, Lonicerae Flos, Taraxaci Herba, and Scrophulariae Radix, is widely used for alleviating the symptom of various kinds of inflammatory pulmonary disease, including asthma and COPD. We want to know whether Haeyeol-tang has an anti-inflammatory effect by analyzing expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Materials and Methods : We differentiated the THP-1 cells into macrophage-like cells by treatment with PMA. Inflammation was induced by treatment with LPS and PMA. We found the safe concentration of Haeyeol-tang by using MTS assay and used PD98059 as a negative control for comparison of anti-inflammatory effect of Haeyeol-tang. Results : The RT-PCR analysis results show that the cell survival rate is over 100% within 1 ng/mL to 1 ug/mL of Haeyeol-tang and begins to decrease under 100% at 10 ug/mL. The gene expression of $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $TGF-{\beta}$ levels were down-regulated when Haeyeol-tang was treated at concentrations between 1 ng/mL an 1 ug/mL on monocyte-derived macrophages. Interestingly, 1 ug/mL Haeyeol-tang-treated samples showed that the transcriptional activities of IL-8, $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-10 and $TGF-{\beta}$ were more down-regulated than those of PD098059 $(TNF-{\alpha}$ inhibitor). At protein level, the ELISA analysis results showed that there were more remarkable (p<0.001) decreases in expression of $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-8 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ on both the 1 ug/mL Haeyeol-tang-treated group and the PD98059-treated group than the LPS-treated group. Conclusion : We conclude that Haeyeol-tang has an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines at mRNA and protein levels. These results may provide us a promising way to care for general inflammatory diseases as well as inflammatory pulmonary disease, including asthma and COPD, with further clinical study.