• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.490-495
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• 2004

Brain cells produce cytokines and chemokines during the inflammatory process of many neuronal diseases both in animal models and in patients. Inflammatory cytokines are the main responsible for the onset of inflammatory cascade. During the past decade, a growing corpus of evidence has indicated an important role of these cytokines in the development of brain damage. ZhenganXifeng-tang (ZGXFT) is a Korean herbal prescription, which has been successfully applied for the treatment of various neuronal diseases. However, its effect in experimental models remains unknown. Astrocytes are predominant neuroglial cells of the central nervous system and are actively involved in cytokine-mediated events in inflammatory disease. An inflammatory response associated with β-amyloid (Aβ) and interleukin (IL)-1β is responsible for the pathology of inflammation disease. To investigate the biological effect of ZGXFT, the author examined cytotoxicity, effect of cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8) secretion and expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) on human astrocytoma cell line U373MG stimulated with IL-1β plus M fragment 25-35 (Aβ [25-35]). ZGXFT by itself had no effect on cell viability on human astrocytoma cells. The secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 was inhibited by pre-treatment with ZGXFT in human astrocytoma cells. In addition, the expression of COX-2 was induced by IL-1β plus AB[25-35] and was partially inhibited by treatment with ZGXFT. The author demonstrates the regulatory effects of inflammatory reactions by ZGXFT in human astrocytes for the first time and suggest the anti-inflammatory effect of ZGXFT may reduce and delay pathologic events of inflammatory disease.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.1258-1266
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• 2005

The present study was carried out in order to assess the protective effects of calycosin-7-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside, isolated from Astragali radix (AR), on hyaluronidase (HAase) and the recombinant human interleukin-$1\beta$ (IL-$1\beta$)-induced matrix degradation in human articular cartilage and chondrocytes. We isolated the active component from the n-butanol soluble fraction of AR (ARBu) as the HAase inhibitor and structurally identified as calycosin-7-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside by LC-MS, IR, ${1}^H$ NMR, and ${13}^C$ NMR analyses. The $IC_{50}$ of this component on HAase was found to be 3.7 mg/ml by in vitro agarose plate assay. The protective effect of ARBu on the matrix gene expression of immortalized chondrocyte cell line C28/I2 treated with HAase was investigated using a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and its effect on HAase and IL-$1\beta$-induced matrix degradation in human articular cartilage was determined by a staining method and calculating the amount of degraded glycosaminoglycan (GAG) from the cultured media. Pretreatment with calycosin-7-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside effectively protected human chondrocytes and articular cartilage from matrix degradation. Therefore, calycosin-7-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside from AR appears to be a potential natural ant-inflammatory or antii-osteoarthritis agent and can be effectively used to protect from proteoglycan (PG) degradation.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.304-308
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• 2004

Immune enhancing activities of water and ethanol extracts of Hypericum perforatum L. (HP) were examined. HP extracts inhibited the growth of human hepatocarcinoma, human gastric cancer cell and human breast cancer cells in concentration-dependent mammers over a concentration range of $0.05{\sim}1.0\;mg/ml$, showing inhibiton of more than 80% with the concentration of 1.0 mg/ml. However, HP the same concentration. Overall selectivity of the extracts on the three human cancer lines was over 3.5, which is higher than those from the conventional herbs. The growth of human immune B and T cells was enhanced up to 1.4 to 2.0 folds by the addition of the extracts for 4 days, compared to controls. Ethanol extracts of HP after 6 days incubation increased the secretions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha $(TNF-{\alpha})$ from T cells and interleukin-6 (IL-6) from B cells to 6.7 pg/cell and 6.8 pg/cell, respectively. These results suggest that HP has a potent immune enhancing effect.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.39-44
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• 2013

Objectives : Allergy is an immune dysfunction caused by degranulation from mast cells in the early phase of allergic disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-allergic effect of fermented Angelicae gigantis Radix in human mast cell line, HMC-1. Method : The Angelicae gigantis Radix was fermented by Lactobacillus acidophilus. The cell toxicity of fermented Angelicae gigantis Radix(FAGR) was determined by MTT assay. The release of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase from HMC-1 stimulated by phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus A23187 was determined by ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase assay. Also, the concentrations of cytokines (interleukin-$1{\beta}$, -6, -8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The gene expression of COX-2 from HMC-1 stimulated by phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus A23187 was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The release of histamine on substance P-stimulated HMC-1 was measured by histamine assay. Result : The FAGR suppressed the release of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase, a marker of degranulation, from HMC-1 stimulated by PMA plus A23187. The FAGR inhibited the production of interleukin-$1{\beta}$, -6, -8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. The FAGR inhibited the expression of COX-2 mRNA. The FAGR suppressed the release of histamine on substance P-stimulated HMC-1. Conclusion : These results provide that FAGR may be beneficial in the treatment of allergic inflammatory disease.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.14-22
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• 2019

[Purpose] Here, we aimed to determine the effect of Polygonum cuspidatum stem extract (PSE) on exorbital lacrimal gland-excised rat models and hyperosmotic stress-stimulated human conjunctival cells (HCCs). [Methods] Seven week old male Wistar rats were divided into six groups. Only the rats in the control group (NOR, n=5) did not undergo surgery. Three days after the surgery, the exorbital lacrimal gland-excised rats were randomly allocated to five groups: (1) vehicle-treated dry-eyed rats (DED, n=5); (2) PSE (10 mg/kg) treated DED rats (PSE-10, n=5); (3) PSE (100 mg/kg) treated DED rats (PSE-100, n=5); and (4) PSE (250 mg/kg) treated DED rats (PSE-250, n=5). In addition, the HCC line was co-treated with hyperosmolar media (528 mOsm) and PSE (1-100 μg/ml). [Results] PSE treatment restored the tear volume and goblet cell density by inhibiting severe corneal irregularities and damage. The treatment with PSE significantly attenuated the hyperosmolar stress-induced inflammation and cell death through the suppression of mRNA expression levels of Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and the expression of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) as well as the activation of caspase-3 in vitro. [Conclusion] The inhibitory effects of PSE treatment on dry eye disease indicate the potential of nutritional intervention by PES against inflammatory diseases without adverse effects.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 2008

In order to investigate the potential of a Angelica keiskei Koidzumi extract and its fractions as an active ingredient for whitening cosmetics, we prepared Angelica keiskei Koidzumi extract(70% ethanol), and the aqueous suspension was successively extracted with hexane, ethyl acetate(EA), and n-butanol fraction. We measured their inhibitory effects on mushroom tyrosinase and melanin synthesis in B16 melanoma cells and normal human kerationocytes in vitro. They did not show inhibitory activity against mushroom tyrosinase and the melanin synthesis except hexane and EA fractions. Hexane and EA fractions markedly inhibited cellular tyrosinase activity at a lower concentration(25 and 5 ${\mu}g/mL$, respectively) than arbutin(250 ${\mu}g/mL$). We also quantified the released amount of endothelin-1(ET-1), a mitogen of melanocyte, and interleukin-$1{\alpha}$(IL-$1{\alpha})$, a mediator of UVB-induced inflammation. Hexane and EA fractions did not affect IL-$1{\alpha}$ production, but they decreased UVB-induced ET-1 production in normal human keratinocytes in a dose dependant manner. As a result, hexane and EA fractions could inhibit the melanogenesis through the inhibition of UVB-induced ET-1 production in normal human keratinocytes. This result suggests that hexane and EA fractions of Angelica keiskei Koidzumi extract could be used as an active ingredient for cosmetics.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.104-113
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• 2003

Background : Rhinovirus(RV) infections frequently trigger dyspnea and paroxysmal cough in adult patients with asthma and are the most prevalent cause of the common cold. However, the mechanisms of a RV-induced airway inflammation is unclear. Since the RV does not directly destroy the airway epithelium, it is presumed that the immune response to the RV contributes to the pathogenesis of the respiratory symptoms. In order to test this hypothesis, this study characterized the time-sequenced alterations in interleukin(IL)-8 elaboration from the human bronchial epithelial cells and evaluated the role of NF(nuclear factor)-${\kappa}B$ in the RV-induced IL-8 production by pretreating the inhibitors of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. Methods : The ability of RV-infected human bronchial epithelial cells and BEAS-2B cells to produce the IL-8 was compared with the controls. This study infected BEAS-2B cells with the RV14 obtained from the American Type Culture Collection. The supernatants were harvested from the RV infected BEAS-2B cells and the controls at 2hr, 4hr, 6hr, 12hr, 24hr, 48hr from the inoculation time. This study measured the IL-8 concentration using the ELISA kits. In order to elucidate the role of NF-${\kappa}B$ in the RV-induced IL-8 production, the effect of the NF-${\kappa}B$ inhibitors was evaluated on RV-induced IL-8 production. Results: The BEAS-2B cells produced small amounts of IL-8 that accumulated slowly with time in the culture. The RV was a potent stimulator of the IL-8 proteins production by BEAS-2B human bronchial epithelial cells. Antioxidants, N-acetyl-L-cysteine(NAC),\ and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate(PDTC), blocked the IL-8 elaboration by the RV-infected BEAS-2B cells, which was dose-dependent, but N-Tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone(TPCK) did not. Conclusion: Some antioxidants inhibited the RV-induced IL-8 production by blocking the NF-${\kappa}B$, which may have a therapeutic potential in asthma.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.54-59
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• 2002

We have used cDNA microarray hybridization to identify gene regulated in response to gamma-irradiation in U-937 cell. The cDNA-chip was composed entirely of 1,000 human cancer related gene including apoptosis and angiogenesis etc. In gamma-irradiated U-937 cell, highly charged protein, ribosomal protein L32, four and a half LIM domains 3, lipocalin 2 (oncogene 24p3) and interleukin 15, ataxia telangiectasia mutated (includes complementation groups A, C and D) genes showed increased level of its transcription, and cell division cycle 25A, dihydrofolate reductase, topoisomerase (DNA) II beta(180kD), kinase suppressor of ras and strarigin genes showed reduced level of its transcription compared to untreated U-937 cell. The significant change of level of transcription was not found in well-known ionizing radiation(IR)-responsive gene, such as transcription factor TP53 and p53 related gene, except ataxia telangiectasia mutated gene.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.86-95
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• 2019

In the present study, the effect of Z. jujuba Miller var. inermis Rehder extracts on the secretion of atopic dermatitis (AD)-related cytokines and hyaluronidase activity was investigated. We prepared four fractions, butylene glycol (JB), ethanol (JE), and water (JW), with Z. jujuba Miller var. inermis extracts. JW significantly reduced the secretion of interleukin-8 and JE reduced the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. Also, hyaluronidase activity was measured by enzyme assay and the fractions inhibited the activity in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the human dermal fibroblast, HDF-n cells were treated with the extracts and antioxidant activities were measured. The results showed that the extracts increased the free radical scavenging activity and the superoxide dismutase activity. Taken together, Z. jujuba Miller var. inermis extracts reduced the secretion of AD-related cytokines and inhibited the hyaluronidase. In addition, the extracts showed antioxidant activity.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.124-129
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• 2005

Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interleukin $(IL-1)-{\beta}$, play a key role in causing inflammatory diseases, which are rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and sepsis. Accumulating evidences suggest that low level laser irradiation (LLLI) may have an anti-inflammatory action. However, there are few data regarding down regulation of Th1 immune response by using the diod typed laser emitting device for human patients. As a fundamental step in order to address this issue, we investigated immunological impact of the low level laser irradiation (10 mw laser diode with a wavelength of 630 nm) on expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in murine immunocytes (splenocytes and peritoneal macrophages) in vitro. The LLLI on lipopolysaccharide (LPS 100 ng/ml)-stimulated murine splenocytes and macrophages, clearly down regulated mRNA expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-12 in dose-dependent manner. In addition, LLLI significantly inhibits the NO production in the LPS-stimulated murine macrophages. This data suggests that LLLI (wavelength of 630 nm) may exert an anti-inflammatory action via modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine and NO production pathway.