• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate the effects of root of Scutellariae Radix(SR) water extract against inflammatory response in the spinal cord injury(SCI). Methods : SCI was induced by mechanical contusion following laminectomy of 10th thoracic vertebra in Sprague-Dawley rat. SR was orally given once a day for 7days after SCI. Myeloperoxidase(MPO) positive neutrophils infiltration was examined. Inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$) expressions were observed with immunohistochemistry. Glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) positive astrocytes were examined using immuno-fluorescence. Results : 1. SR reduced MPO-positive neutrophils infiltration in peri-damage regions of the contusive SCI-induced rats. 2. SR reduced iNOS positive cells in the white matter of the contusive SCI-induced rats. 3. SR reduced TNF-${\alpha}$ positive cells in the gray and white matter of the contusive SCI-induced rats. 4. SR reduced cell number and size of astrocytes in peri-damage regions of the contusive SCI-induced rats. Conclusions : These results suggest that SR plays an inhibitory role against inflammatory response in the SCI.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.206-212
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• 2018

Depression is a type of mood disorder characterized by hypochondriasis, decreased appetite, and insomnia. Depression is a disease that affects more than 100 million people worldwide. 2-Nonadecanone (NAC) is a bioactive substance that constitutes Fomes fomentarius, and NAC is expected to have an antidepressant effect. By using the forced swimming test (FST), we investigated the effects of treatment with NAC on immobility subacutely in rats after oral dosing once a day for 2 days. Serum levels of cytokine interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Nuclear factor-2 (Nrf-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthases (iNOS) were analyzed by western blot method. NAC dose-dependently decreased immobility in the FST. NAC dosedependently decreased FST-induced increase of cytokine levels, as manifested by significantly stronger effects on $IL-1{\beta}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$ levels at higher doses than the lowest dose of NAC. Western blot analysis showed that Nrf-2 was significantly lower in the NAC-treated group than in the disease-induced group. The iNOS results were also significantly lower in the NAC-treated group than in the other groups. Considering FST results, the antidepressant effect of NAC is effective. Considering the results of cytokine and protein expression, this anti-depressant effect may be related to the anti-inflammatory effect. Therefore, it can be said that the anti-inflammatory effect of NAC increases the antidepressant effect in the FST experiment.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2005

Objective: In this study, the effects of Liriope Platyphylla against LPS-induced inflammation was investigated. Methods: Cell viability was determined using the MTT assay. To identify expressions of COX-2 and iNOS mRNA, RT-PCR was performed. Assessment of PGE2 synthesis was performed using the PGE2 immunoassay. Measurement of NO synthesis was performed using the NO detection. Result : The MTT assay revealed that Liriope Platyphylla exerted no significant cytotoxicity in the microglial BV2 cells. RT-PCR analysis revealed that the mRNA levels of COX-2 and iNOS were significantly decreased in the LPS- and 5 mg/ml Liriope Platyphylla treated group. From the PGE2 immunoassay and NO detection, PGE2 and NO synthesis was significantly suppressed in the LPS- and 5 mg/ml Liriope Platyphylla treated group. Conclusion : In these study, Liriope Platyphylla was shown to suppress PGE2 and NO production by inhibiting LPS-stimulated enhancement of COX-2 enzyme activity and iNOS expression. It is very possible that Liriope Platyphylla can offer a valuable mode of therapy for the treatment of brain inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2015

Objectives : This study was performed to inquire into the protective effects of acupuncture on oxidative stress caused by cadmium accumulation in the kidney. Methods : Sprague-Dawley male($150{\pm}30g$) rats were stabilized for 1 week and divided into 5 groups: normal, control, $LR_3$ acupuncture, $BL_{23}$ acupuncture and sham acupuncture. For three days experimental groups received oral doses of cadmium 2 mg/kg twice a day. Acupuncture was applied bilaterally at each point 10 times for two weeks. The depth of stimulation was 1 mm at right angles and torsion of acupuncture was produced 2 times per second for 1 minute. The kidneys were extracted and weighed after two weeks, and renal function was confirmed through blood urea nitrogen(BUN). We measured reactive oxygen species of the serum and kidney, and compared expression levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase(Gpx), nuclear factor erythroid derived 2-related factor 2(Nrf-2), heme oxygenase-1(HO-1), nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$(NF-${\kappa}B)$, cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), Bax and Cytochrome c. Results : The $LR_3$ acupuncture group and $BL_{23}$ acupuncture group experienced significantly increased kidney weight, and decreased BUN compared to control group. In terms of oxidative stress, the $LR_3$ acupuncture group and $BL_{23}$ acupuncture group experienced significantly reduced reactive oxygen species compared to the control group. Conclusions : The $LR_3$ acupuncture group and $BL_{23}$ acupuncture group experienced showed the effects of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and apoptosis protection. The $BL_{23}$ acupuncture group was more effective than $LR_3$ acupuncture group.

• Mycobiology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.319-326
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• 2015

Fomes fomentarius is a fungus of the Polyporaceae family and is used in traditional oriental therapies. Although the anti-inflammatory activities of this species have been previously reported, the identity of the bioactive compounds responsible for this activity remains unknown. Here, we investigated whether methyl 9-oxo-(10E,12E)-octadecadienoate (FF-8) purified from F. fomentarius exerts anti-inflammatory activity in murine macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). FF-8 suppressed secretion of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ through downregulation of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression induced by LPS. In addition, pretreatment of cells with FF-8 led to a reduction in levels of secreted inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and interleukin-6 in macrophages stimulated with LPS. Conversely, FF-8 did not affect nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$, p38, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathways. Instead, FF-8 specifically interfered with signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation induced by LPS. Collectively, this study demonstrated that FF-8 purified from F. fomentarius suppresses inflammatory responses in macrophages stimulated with LPS by inhibiting STAT3 activation. Further studies will be required to elucidate the anti-inflammatory effect of FF-8 in vivo.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-22
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• 1998

During the last few years, nitric oxide(NO) as a potent macrophage-derived effector molecule against a variety of bacteria, parasites, and tumors has received increasing attention. More recent studies suggest that NO also has antiviral effects in both murine and human cells. The objective of the current study was to determine the effect of Yongdamsagantang(YST) on the production of NO. Stimulation of mouse peritoneal macrophages with YST after the treatment of recombinant $interferon-{\gammer}(rlFN-{\gammer})$ resulted in the increased NO synthesis. YST had no effect on NO synthesis by itself. When YST was used in combination with $rIFN-{\gammer}$, there was a marked cooperative induction of NO synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. The optimal effect of YST on NO synthesis was shown 6 hour after treatment with $rIFN-{\gammer}$. This increase in NO synthesis was reflected as increased amount of inducible NO synthase(iNOS) protein. NO production was inhibited by $N^G-monomethyl-L-arginine$. The increased production of NO from $rIFN-{\gammer}$ plus YST-stimulated cells was decreased by the treatment with staurosporin. In addition, synergy between $rIFN-{\gammer}$ and YST was mainly dependent on YST-induced tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}(TNF-{\alpha})$ secretion. These results suggest that the capacity of YST to increase NO production from $rIFN-{\alpha}-primed$ mouse peritoneal macrophages is the result of YST-induced $TNF-{\alpha}$ secretion.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.298-306
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• 2017

Background: Compound K (CK) is a bioactive derivative of ginsenoside Rb1 in Panax ginseng (Korean ginseng). Its biological and pharmacological activities have been studied in various disease conditions, although its immunomodulatory role in innate immunity mediated by monocytes/macrophages has been poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the regulatory role of CK on cellular events mediated by monocytes and macrophages in innate immune responses. Methods: The immunomodulatory role of CK was explored by various immunoassays including cell-cell adhesion, fibronectin adhesion, cell migration, phagocytic uptake, costimulatory molecules, reactive oxygen species production, luciferase activity, and by the measurement of mRNA levels of proinflammatory genes. Results: Compound K induced cell cluster formation through cell-cell adhesion, cell migration, and phagocytic activity, but it suppressed cell-tissue interactions in U937 and RAW264.7 cells. Compound K also upregulated the surface expression of the cell adhesion molecule cluster of differentiation (CD) 43 (CD43) and costimulatory molecules CD69, CD80, and CD86, but it downregulated the expression of monocyte differentiation marker CD82 in RAW264.7 cells. Moreover, CK induced the release of reactive oxygen species and induced messenger RNA expression of proinflammatory genes, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha by enhancing the nuclear translocation and transcriptional activities of nuclear factor kappa-B and activator protein-1. Conclusion: Our results suggest that CK has an immunomodulatory role in innate immune responses through regulating various cellular events mediated by monocytes and macrophages.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2010

Gardenia jasminoides is one of the most widely used herbal preparations for the treatment of liver disorders. This study evaluated the potential beneficial effect of G. jasminoides in a mouse model of carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced liver injury. The mice were treated intraperitoneally with $CCl_4$ (10 ${\mu}l$/kg). They received G. jasminoides (30, 100, 300 mg/kg) 48 h, 24 h and 2 h before and 6 h after administering $CCl_4$. The serum activities of aminotransferase and the hepatic level of malondialdehyde were significantly higher 24 h after the $CCl_4$ treatment, while the concentration of reduced glutathione was lower. These changes were attenuated by G. jasminoides. $CCl_4$ increased the level of circulating tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) markedly, which was reduced by G. jasminoides. The levels of hepatic inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expression were markedly higher after the $CCl_4$ treatment. G. jasminoides diminished these alterations. $CCl_4$ increased the level of TNF-$\alpha$, iNOS and COX-2 mRNA expressions, and these increases were attenuated by G. jasminoides. These results suggest that G. jasminoides alleviates $CCl_4$-induced liver injury, and this protection is likely due to the reduced oxidative stress and the downregulation of proinflammatory mediators.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.907-915
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• 2007

In this study the effect of water extract of Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep (RST) was investigated on the growth of human lung carcinoma A549 cells. Exposure of A549 cells to RST resulted in the growth inhibition in a dose-dependent manner as measured by MTT assay. The antiproliferative effect by RST treatment in A549 cells was associated with morphological changes such as membrane shrinking and cell rounding up. RST treatment did not induce the cell cycle arrest and the levels of tumor suppressor p53 as well as cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(WAF1/CIP1). It was found that RST treatment decreased the levels of cyclooxygenase (COX) -2 mRNA and protein expression without significant changes in the expression of COX-1 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which was correlated with a decrease in prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis. RST treatment also slightly inhibited the levels of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA and protein expression, and the activity of telomerase. Taken together, these findings suggested that RST-induced inhibition of human lung carcinoma A549 cell growth was aoosciated with the inhibition of COX-2 expression and PGE2 production. These results provided important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of RST.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.395-402
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• 2020

This study has investigated the effect of a potent bioflavonoid, troxerutin, on diabetes-induced changes in pro-inflammatory mediators and expression of microRNA-146a and nuclear factor-kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway in aortic tissue of type-I diabetic rats. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 6/each): healthy, healthy-troxerutin, diabetic, and diabetic-troxerutin. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection (60 mg/kg; intraperitoneally) and lasted 10 weeks. Troxerutin (150 mg/kg/day) was administered orally for last month of experiment. Inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, as well as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM), cyclooxygenase-II (COX-II), and inducible-nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were measured on aortic samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Gene expressions for transcription factor NF-κB, interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-1 (IRAK-1), TNF receptor-associated factor-6 (TRAF-6), and microRNA-146a were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Ten-week diabetes significantly increased mRNA levels of IRAK-1, TRAF-6, NF-κB, and protein levels of cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, adhesion molecules ICAM-1, VCAM, and iNOS, COX-II, and decreased expression of microRNA-146a as compared with healthy rats (p < 0.05 to p < 0.01). However, one month treatment of diabetic rats with troxerutin restored glucose and insulin levels, significantly decreased expression of inflammatory genes and pro-inflammatory mediators and increased microRNA level in comparison to diabetic group (p < 0.05 to p < 0.01). In healthy rats, troxerutin had significant reducing effect only on NF-κB, TNF-α and COX-II levels (p < 0.05). Beside slight improvement of hyperglycemia, troxerutin prevented the activation of NF-κB-dependent inflammatory signaling in the aorta of diabetic rats, and this response may be regulated by microRNA-146a.