• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.333-338
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• 2015

Our previous report showed that the extract from cuttlebone (CB) had wound healing effect in burned lesion of rat and the extract was identified as chitin by HPLS analysis. We herein investigated the morphology in CB extract using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Chitin was used as a control. There is no difference in morphology between CB extract and chitin. We also assessed the role of CB extract on the production of inflammatory mediators using murine macrophages and the migration of inflammatory cells. The extract induced the production of nitric oxide (NO) in macrophages. While the extract of CB itself stimulated macrophages to increase the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6, CB extract suppressed the production of those cytokines by LPS. CB extract also induced the production of mouse IL-8 which is related to the cell migration, and treatment with CB enhanced fibroblast migration and invasion. Therefore, our results suggest that CB activates inflammatory cells to enhance the cell migration.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.04a
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• pp.115-115
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• 2019

Arctium minus (AM), commonly known as lesser burdock, is a dried fruit (seed) of Aructium lappa L. that belong to Asteraceae. It has been used traditionally as herbal medicine because of its anti-inflammatory effects, and it has been applied to treat various diseases like allergies, skin aging, hyperlipidemia and urinary stone. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of AM on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Pre-treatment of the RAW 264.7 cells with AM considerably inhibited and reduced production of Nitric Oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), and also shows suppression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) translocation. In addition, AM treatment considerably reduced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Our results indicate that the AM has potential to inhibit inflammation through suppressing production of inflammatory mediators via both the NF-${\kappa}B$ and MAPK signaling pathway. We therefore suggest that AM might be effective therapeutics for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.147-157
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• 2020

Abalone, a marine organism inhabiting the west coast of Korea, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and is a resource with potential to be used in various industries such as antibiotic development and cosmetic raw materials. In this study, we chose abalone among various marine lives on the west coast. Antibacterial peptide (AMP) was separated from abalone and its derivative Ab4-7 was identified and its physiological activity was studied. The treatment of Ab4-7 in inflammatory RAW 264.7 to check the anti-inflammatory efficacy nhibited inflammatory cytokines, TLR4, TNF-α, IL-1β, COX-2, and iNOS and increased mRNA manifestation of HO-1, genes related to antioxidants. Based on the strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Ab4-7, the effects of Ab4-7 in the inflammatory RAW 264.7 cells were identified through RT-PCR, which regulates the gene Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMPs) that induces a variety of inflammatory skin diseases by engaging in the decomposition of the extrocellular matrix metalloproteinase (ECM). Taken together, it is concluded that Ab4-7 has a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect and can be used as a functional material for various inflammatory skin disease treatments by controlling the genes associated with matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs).

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.25-30
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• 2010

For centuries, probiotics have been known to promote health and prevent diseases. In recent times, modulation of diseases related to the immune function by probiotics has been recognized as very important to the health of the host's gut. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are the most frequently studied diseases in which probiotic administration has been tested as a potential therapy. Various in vitro and in vivo studies have been performed. The studies discussed in this review suggest several mechanisms: probiotics could modulate the gut microflora by competing with disease-causing pathogenic bacteria and could directly regulate the mucosal immune system, which activates the innate and adaptive immune systems. In addition, human clinical trials have shown alleviation of disease symptoms of ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn's disease, etc. This study aimed to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying immune modulation by probiotics and review studies on the functional aspect of IBD alleviation by probiotics. With more scientific studies confirming the effect of probiotics, this therapy holds promise for use in alternative medicine and/or pharmaceutical preparations, given the long history of safe consumption of probiotics.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.373-385
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• 2020

Inflammation is an immune response that protects against pathogens and cellular stress. The hallmark of inflammatory responses is inflammasome activation in response to various stimuli. This subsequently activates downstream effectors, that is, inflammatory caspases such as caspase-1, 4, 5, 11, and 12. Extensive efforts have been made on developing effective and safe anti-inflammatory therapeutics, and ginseng has long been traditionally used as efficacious and safe herbal medicine in treating various inflammatory and inflammation-mediated diseases. Many studies have successfully shown that ginseng plays an anti-inflammatory role by inhibiting inflammasomes and inflammasome-activated inflammatory caspases. This review discusses the regulatory roles of ginseng on inflammatory caspases in inflammatory responses and also suggests new research areas on the anti-inflammatory function of ginseng, which provides a novel insight into the development of ginseng as an effective and safe anti-inflammatory herbal medicine.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.71-80
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• 2008

Objective: There is increasing evidence that chronic non-bacterial prostatitis is recognized to be a local inflammatory disease, and there is substantiating evidence to support the role of the inflammatory responses in its pathogenesis, and clinical value in the evaluation of therapeutic efficacy. Prunella vulgaris has been traditionally used in treatment of inflammatory diseases, including of scrofula, goiter, and allergy diseases. In this study, we investigated the effects of Prunella vulgaris on inflammatory cytokines and cytopathological alternation in the rat model of non-bacterial prostatitis induced by castration and $17{\beta}-estradiol$ treatment. Methods: Two-month-old rats were treated with $17{\beta}-estradiol$ after castration for induction of experimental non-bacterial prostatitis, which is similar to human chronic prostatitis in histopathological profiles. Prunella vulgaris as an experimental specimen, and testosterone as a positive control, were administered orally. The prostates were evaluated by histopathological parameters including the epithelial score and epithelial-stromal ratio for glandular damage, and the expression of inflammatory cytokine genes including the interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, IL-5, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$. Results: While prostates of control rats revealed severe acinar gland atrophy and stromal proliferation, the rats treated with Prunella vulgaris showed a diminished range of tissue damage. Epithelial score was improved in Prunella vulgaris over that of the control (P<0.05). The epithelial-stromal ratio was lower with Prunella vulgaris when compared to that of the control (P<0.05). In the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of inflammatory cytokine genes, Prunella vulgaris inhibited the expression of $IL-1{\beta}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$ genes, while it modulated the expression of IL-5, which is an anti-inflammatory cytokine. Conclusions: These findings suggest that Prunella vulgaris may protect the glandular epithelial cells and also inhibit stromal proliferation in association with the immune modulation including the suppression of inflammatory cytokines and promotion of anti-inflammatory cytokine. From theses results, we suggest that Prunella vulgaris could be a useful remedy agent for treating chronic non-bacterial prostatitis.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.150-162
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• 2009

Objectives: Inflammatory mediators, such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 ($PGE_2$) and pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ playa critical role in inflammatory immune response. Therefore, intervention of inflammatory mediator production promises therapeutic benefit for treatment of many chronic inflammatory diseases, such as allergic asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, septic shock and neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, the pharmacological effects of the flower MeOH extract Panax notoginseng (Notoginseng Flos; NF) on inflammation were investigated to address potential therapeutic or toxic effects. Methods: RA W264.7 cells were treated with different concentrations of NF methanol (NF-M) extract in the presence or absence of LPS ($1{\mu}g/m{\ell}$). Results: NF-M extract significantly inhibited LPS-induced production of NO, $PGE_2$ and pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, NF-M extract suppressed mRNA expressions and protein levels of iNOS, COX-2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines in LPS-stimulated RA W264.7 cells. Conclusion: These results indicated that NF-M extract inhibits LPS-induced production of inflammatory mediators in macrophages and demonstrated that NF-M extract possesses anti-inflammatory properties in vitro.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.283-288
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• 2013

The pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF${\alpha}$) and interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ are crucial mediators involved in chronic inflammatory diseases. Inflammatory signal pathways regulate inflammatory cytokine expression-mediated by p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38MAPK). Therefore, considerable attention has been given to p38MAPK as a target molecule for the development of a novel anti-inflammatory therapeutics. BIRB 796, one of p38MAPK inhibitor, is a candidate of therapeutic drug for chronic inflammatory diseases. In this study, we investigated the effect of BIRB 796 on inflammatory cytokine productions by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in different immune cell types. BIRB 796 reduced LPS-mediated IL-8 production in THP-1 cells but not in Raw 264.7 cells. Further analysis of signal molecules by western blot revealed that BIRB 796 sufficiently suppressed LPS-mediated phosphorylation of p38MAPK in both cell types whereas it failed to block inhibitor of kappa B (I-${\kappa}B$) degradation in Raw 264.7 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that the anti-inflammatory function of BIRB 796 depends on cell types.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1320-1331
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• 2009

Oxidative stress and inflammation are important events in the development of chronic inflammatory diseases including arthritis, atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension. Cynomorium songaricum (CS) has been used as a traditional Korean herbal medicine, and it is currently used in traditional clinics to treat frequent urination, spermatorrhea, weakness of the sinews and constipation in the folk medicine. The aim of this study was to determine whether fractionated extracts of CS inhibit free radical generation such as DPPH radical, superoxide radical, nitric oxide and peroxynitrite, production of nitrite an index of NO, $PGE_2$, iNOS, COX-2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Cytotoxic activity of extracts on RAW 264.7 cells was measured using 5-(3-caroboxymeth-oxyphenyl)-2H-tetra-zolium inner salt (MTS) assay. Our results indicated that the most superior extract which scavenged DPPH radical, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and RNS was CS ethyl acetate extract (CSEA). Moreover, CSEA significantly inhibited the LPS-induced NO, $PGE_2$ production and iNOS, COX-2 expression accompanied by an attenuation of TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 formation in macrophages. Furthermore, CSEA treatment also blocked LPS-induced intracellular ROS production and the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$. These findings indicate that CSEA inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines via the suppression of ROS production and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. Take together, these results indicate that CSEA has the potential for use as an natural anti-oxidant and an agent of anti-chronic inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.138-144
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• 2024

Crocin is a major carotenoid of the Gardenia jasminoides fruit and Crocus sativus stigma (saffron), which are used in various cuisines as flavoring and coloring agents, as well as in phytomedicine for the treatment of several disorders, including headache, fever, edema, fatty liver, viral hepatitis, respiratory disease, menstruation disorders, insomnia, and hypertension. Crocin (C₄₄H₆₄O₂₄) is a chemical diester composed of the dicarboxylic acid crocetin and disaccharide gentiobiose. Many in vitro and in vivo studies have been conducted about the biological and pharmacological function and toxicity of crocin. Crocin has been revealed to have no genotoxicity and pathological manifestation. Crocin acts as an antioxidant, anti-cancer, memory enhancer, anxiolytic, antidepressant, aphrodisiac, anti-atherosclerotic, cardioprotector, and hepatoprotector. Here, an inclusive review of crocin is introduced based on previously explored studies referred to in the literature. Different studies have confirmed the protective role of crocin in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases, gastritis, asthma, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and depression. It is surmised that crocin suppresses inflammatory, antioxidant, and apoptotic processes through multiple mechanisms. Crocin is considered a safe and effective therapeutic choice for patients with inflammatory conditions, although more research investigating its mechanisms and results acquired in clinical trials are needed.