• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.65-82
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• 2012

Objectives : The aim of this study was verification of the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of Odukhwan(ODH) and Sasinhwan(SSH) in mouse macrophage, RAW264.7 cells. Methods : To investigate the anti-oxidative effect and scavenging activities of DPPH radical, superoxide anions, nitric oxide and peroxynitrite were measured. Cytotoxic activity of extract of ODH and SSH on RAW264.7 cells was measured using MTS assay. To proof the reductive activity of intracellular oxidation, DCFH-DA assay was performed. The nitric oxide(NO) production was measured and pro-inflammatory cytokines and $PGE_2$ were measured by ELISA kit. The levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) and nuclear NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 expression were detected by western blot. Results : After those analyses, we bring to a conclusion as follows. Both herbal formulations scavenged DPPH radical and nitric oxide. But ODH had no scavenging activity of superoxide anions and SSH had low scavenging activity in peroxynitrite. And the results indicated that ODH and SSH inhibited the LPS-induced NO, $PGE_2$ production and iNOS, COX-2 expression accompanied by an attenuation of IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 production in RAW264.7 cells. They also have suppression effects of LPS-induced NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. Conclusions : ODH and SSH have anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects and they may be a part of database for development of new anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory drugs.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.7-16
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• 2005

Objectives : Scrophulariae Radix (SRE) is commonly used in combination with other herbs as a nutrient and health strengthening agent, and to remove 'heat' and replenish vital essence. The water-based extract of this herb can lower blood pressure in both anesthetized and concious animals, and exhibits an anti-inflammatory activity. But, there is lack of studies regarding the effects of SRE on the immunological activities in molecular levels. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of SRE on the regulatory mechanism of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) in Raw 264.7 cells. Method : After the treatment of Scrophulariae Radix methanol extract, cell viability was measured by MTT assay, NO production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium. COX-2 and iNOS were determined by Immunoblot analysis, and levels of cytokine were analyzed by sandwich immunoassays. Results : Results provided evidence that SRE inhibited the production of nitrite and nitrate (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), $interleukin-1{\beta}\;(IL-1{\beta})$ and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the activation of phospholylation of inhibitor ${\kappa}B{\alpha}\;(p-I{\kappa}B{\alpha})$ in Raw 264.7 cells activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Conclusion : These findings suggest that Scrophulariae Radix can produce anti-inflammatory effect, which may playa role in adjunctive therapy in Gram-negative bacterial infections.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.603-608
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• 2006

In activated macrophage, large amounts of nitric oxide (NO) are generated by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), resulting in acute or chronic inflammatory disorders. In Raw 264.7 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mimic inflammation, water extracts from the fruit of Chaenomeles sinensis, the root of Polygonum cuspidatum and Boswellia carterii inhibited the LPS-induced NO production in a parallel dose-dependent manner. To investigate the mechanism by which those extracts inhibits NO production, we examined the expression of iNOS and COX-2 in both mRNA and protein levels. We observed a significant change in the iNOS expression between LPS alone and LPS plus those extracts-treated cells. However, water extracts from Chaenomeles sinensis, Polygonum cuspidatum and Boswellia carterii did not inhibit COX-2 expression which was induced by LPS treatment in Raw 264.7 cells. These data suggest that water extracts from Chaenomeles sinensis, Polygonum cuspidatum and Boswellia carterii can modulate anti-inflammatory immune response, which may be in part associated with the regulation of NO synthesis through the regulation of iNOS expression in mouse macrophage cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.491-497
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• 2007

Hyeonggaeyeongyo-tang (HYT; Jingjielianqiao-tang), is known to be effective in lowering wind-heat blended as a pathogen of kidney. HYT has been traditionally used for the treatment of a syndrome in kidney meridian, due to invasion of pathogenic wind and heat. Nowadays, this prescription is used to treat diseases marked by excessive wind and heat in the kidney meridian, such as acute otitis media, empyema, hypertrophic rhinitis, nasal bleeding, nasal obstruction, acne and tonsillitis. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of HYT on the regulatory mechanism of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) for the immunological activities in Raw 264.7 cells. After the treatment of HYT water extract, cell viability was measured by MTT assay, NO production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2_ and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were determined by immunoblot analysis, and levels of cytokine were analyzed by sandwich immunoassays. The production of No was significantly inhibited by pre-treatment (1h) with HYT(0.1-0.3 mg/ml) on LPS-activated Raw264.7 cells. The expression of iNOS and COX-2 protein were up-regulated by LPS, but the increased levels of iNOS and COX-2 were inhibited by pre-treatment of HYT (0.3-1.0 mg/ml), respectively. And the level of interleukin-6 (IL-6), cytokine released from macrophage, was reduced by HYT pre-treatment (0.3-1.0 mg/ml). Thus, the present data suggest that HYT may play an important role in adjunctive therapy in Gram-negative bacterial infections.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.385-389
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• 2008

Nitric oxide (NO) has been suggested to play an important role in endotoxin-mediated shock and inflammation. In this study, we investigated the effect of Rosa laevigata Michx. (Rosaceae) on the production of NO and the molecular mechanism of its action. Rosa laevigata inhibited NO generation and iNOS expression in LPS-stimulated murine macrophages. Activity of nuclear $factor{-\kappa}B\;(NF{-\kappa}B)$ and the degradation of $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ were suppressed by Rosa laevigata. Furthermore, extracellular signal-stimulated kinase (ERK), which is known to be involved in $NF{-\kappa}B$ activation, is inhibited by Rosa laevigata. These results suggest that Rosa laevigata could exert its anti-inflammatory actions by suppressing the synthesis of NO through inhibition of $NF{-\kappa}B$ activity.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.691-696
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• 2002

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an active and broad spectrum chemotherapeutic agent. Increased inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression and/or activity have been reported in several human tumors. While the relationship between DOX treatment and the enzymatic activity of endothelial NOS has been well characterized, little is known about the effects of DOX on the expression of iNOS in human cancer cells. In the present study, we characterized the effects of DOX on the nitric oxide (NO) production by colorectal cancer cells, DLD-1. IFN-${\gamma}$/IL-1$\beta$ (CM) increased the production of NO, whereas pretreatment of DOX inhibited the production of NO in response to CM in a dose dependent manner. The increased expressions of iNOS mRNA and protein by CM were completely blocked by DOX without affecting the iNOS mRNA stability. However, DOX activated nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) in response to CM. Furthermore, the expression of inhibitor kB$\alpha$ was reduced by DOX in a dose dependent manner. Collectively, DOX inhibited the production of NO by DLD-1 cells, which is not linked to well known transcription factor, NF-kB. Therefore, further studies on the possible mechanisms of inhibitory effects of NO production by DOX would be worth pursuing.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1220-1225
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• 2004

The overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is known to be responsible for vasodilation and hypotension observed in septic shock and inflammation. Inhibitors of iNOS, thus, may be useful candidates for the treatment of inflammatory diseases accompanied by overproduction of NO. In the course of screening oriental anti-inflammatory herbs for the inhibitory activity of NO synthesis, a crude methanolic extract of Curcuma zedoaria exhibited significant activity. The activity-guided fractionation and repetitive chromatographic procedures with the EtOAc soluble fraction allowed us to isolate three active compounds. They were identified as 1,7-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,4,6-heptatrien-3-one (1), procurcumenol (2) and epiprocurcumenol (3) by spectral data analyses. Their concentrations for the 50% inhibition of NO production $(IC_{50})$ in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages were 8, 75, 77 ${\mu}M$, respectively. Compound 1 showed the most potent inhibitory activity for NO production in LPS-activated macrophages, while the epimeric isomers, compound 2 and 3 showed weak and similar potency. Inhibition of NO synthesis by compound 1 was very weak when activated macrophages were treated with 1 after iNOS induction. In the immunoblot analysis, compound 1 suppressed the expression of iNOS in a dose-dependent manner. In summary, 1,7-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,4,6-heptatrien-3-one from Curcuma zedoaria inhibited NO production in LPS-activated macrophages through suppression of iNOS expression. These results imply that the traditional use of C. zedoaria rhizome as anti-inflammatory drug may be explained at least in part, by inhibition of NO production.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.30-39
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• 2020

Background: This study examined the effects of gabexate mesilate on spinal nerve ligation (SNL)-induced neuropathic pain. To confirm the involvement of gabexate mesilate on neuroinflammation, we focused on the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and consequent the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used for the study. After randomization into three groups: the sham-operation group, vehicle-treated group (administered normal saline as a control), and the gabexate group (administered gabexate mesilate 20 mg/kg), SNL was performed. At the 3rd day, mechanical allodynia was confirmed using von Frey filaments, and drugs were administered intraperitoneally daily according to the group. The paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) was examined on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th day. The expressions of p65 subunit of NF-κB, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and iNOS were evaluated on the 7th and 14th day following SNL. Results: The PWT was significantly higher in the gabexate group compared with the vehicle-treated group (P < 0.05). The expressions of p65, proinflammatory cytokines, and iNOS significantly decreased in the gabexate group compared with the vehicle-treated group (P < 0.05) on the 7th day. On the 14th day, the expressions of p65 and iNOS showed lower levels, but those of the proinflammatory cytokines showed no significant differences. Conclusions: Gabexate mesilate increased PWT after SNL and attenuate the progress of mechanical allodynia. These results seem to be involved with the antiinflammatory effect of gabexate mesilate via inhibition of NF-κB, proinflammatory cytokines, and nitric oxide.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.721-727
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• 2007

Scorpion (SCP) has been clinically used for the treatment of endogenous wind to relieve convulsion, clearing away toxins, resolving hard masses and removing obstruction in the collaterals to relieve pain. Recent studies showed that scorpion toxins that affect the activating mechanism of sodium channels and indian black scorpion venom induced anti-proliferative and apoptogenic activity against human leukemic cell lines U937 and K562. There is lack of studies regarding the effects of SCP on the immunological activities. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of SCP on the regulatory effects of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) for the immunological activities in Raw 264.7 cells. After the treatment of SCP MeOH extract dissolved in media for 1 h prior to the addition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS: 1 ${\mu}$g/ml), cell viability was measured by MTT assay, NO production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was determined by immunoblot analysis, and levels of cytokine were analyzed by sandwich immunoassays. As results, SCP inhibited the production of nitrite and nitrate (0.3 and 1.0 mg/ml), iNOS and p-$I_KB_{\alpha}$ protein, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (0.3 and 1.0 mg/ml), interleukin-1${\beta}$ (0.3 and 1.0 mg/ml) and interleukin-6 (1.0mg/ml) in Raw 264.7 cells activated with LPS. These findings suggest that SCP can produce anti-inflammatory effect, which may play a role in adjunctive therapy in Gram-negative bacterial infections.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2022

Objectives: To investigate the protective effect of hesperidin and hesperetin against oxidative stress in 2,2'-azobis (2-aminopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced liver toxicity in rats. Methods: Hesperidin or hesperetin (200 mg/kg/day, respectively) was orally administered for 7 days once daily in rats. Subsequently, AAPH (50 mg/kg/day) was administered intraperitoneally. Lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide production, catalase activity, and protein expressions of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the liver tissues were measured. Results: Administration of hesperidin and hesperetin significantly decreased serum aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase levels in AAPH-induced oxidative stress liver tissues compared with control group. Lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide (NO) production were also significantly reduced by hesperidin and hesperetin in AAPH-induced oxidative stress liver tissues. In particular, lipid peroxidation levels of hesperetin-administered group significantly decreased to 5.02 nmole/mg protein in oxidative stress rats. Hesperidin and hesperetin significantly increased antioxidant activity, such as that of catalase. Furthermore, administration of hesperidin and hesperetin substantially down-regulated the expression of NF-κB and iNOS in liver tissues. Administration of hesperidin reduced NO levels and iNOS expression more than in the hesperetin-administered group. Conclusions: Administration of hesperidin and hesperetin led to a reduction in AAPH-induced liver toxicity by regulating oxidative stress.