• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.68-72
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• 2014

The effect of cordycepin purified from Cordyceps militaris on macrophage activation was investigated in peritoneal macrophages isolated from C57BL6 mice. Lipopolysaccharide-induced mouse peritoneal cells showed that cordycepin treatment increased the expression of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), leading to early inflammation-mediated reactions, the activation of immunological responses, and T lymphocyte activation. T lymphocytes, activated by a greater production of IL-6, resulted in antibody-generating immune reactions, suggesting that cordycepin was effective at inducing immunological responses. Consistent with the increase in the inflammation-mediating factors including nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$), the toxic response of macrophages was activated and effectively induced inflammation. These findings demonstrate that cordycepin is involved in reducing cell injury provoked by inflammatory reactions. Therefore, these results suggest that cordycepin treatment of mouse peritoneal cells induces inflammation-mediated immunological responses and immunostimulation.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.71-78
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• 2011

Biological activities of sarcocarp and calyx of persimmon (Cheongdo Bansi) were investigated. The electron donating ability of the calyx extract was 91% at a 500 ${\mu}g/mL$ level, which was higher than that of the sarcocarp extract (40%). The superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity of calyx extracts was about 22% at a 1,000 ${\mu}g/mL$ level. During the entire experimental period, there was no cytotoxicity found from sarcocarp and calyx up to 50 ${\mu}g/mL$. Our results indicated that sarcocarp and calyx significantly inhibited NO production and iNOS and COX-2 expression accompanied by an attenuation of interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and tumer necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ formation in human keratinocyte. These results suggest that sarcocarp and calyx of persimmon may have significant effect on inflammatory factors and can be used as potential anti-inflammatory agents.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.51-70
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• 2013

Objectives : The object of this study was to observe anticancer and related immunomodulatory effects of Insamyangyoung-tang extracts (ISYYTe) on non-small cell lung carcinoma (squamous epithelial carcinoma), NCI-H520, xenograft Balb/c nu-nu nude mice. Methods : Three different dosages of ISYYTe, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg were orally administered once a day for 42 days from 11 days after tumor cell inoculation. Six groups, which are intact control, tumor bearing control, 5-fluorouracil (FU) 30 mg/kg, ISYYTe 50 mg/kg, ISYYTe 100 mg/kg, ISYYTe 200 mg/kg, each of 8 mice per group were used in the present study. Changes on the body weight, tumor volume and weight, lymphatic organ (spleen and popliteal lymph node), serum interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$ levels, splenocytes NK cell activity and peritoneal macrophage activities, splenic tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and IL-10 contents were observed with tumor mass and lymphatic organ histopathology to detect anticancer and immunomodulatory effects. Results : As results of ISYYTe 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg treatment, decreases in the tumor volumes and weights were detected. At histopathological observations, decreases of tumor cell volumes in tumor masses were dose-dependently decreased mediated by increases of apoptosis among tumor cells by treatment of all three different dosages of ISYYTe. As results of tumor cell inoculation, marked decreases of spleen and popliteal lymph node weights, serum IFN-${\gamma}$, splenic TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-10 contents and splenocytes were observed with histopathological atrophic changes of spleen and popliteal lymph nodes. Conclusions : Over 50 mg/kg of ISYYTe showed favorable anticancer effects on the NCI-H520 cell xenograft with immunomodulatory effects. Although relatively lower anticancer effects were observed in ISYYTe 200 mg/kg treated mice as compared with 5-FU 30 mg/kg treated mice, there are no meaningful favorable immunomodulatory effects were observed after 5-FU treatment in the present study.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.701-709
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• 2011

This study was performed to establish an effective extraction method of pig placenta extract that could be used for a putative functional food supplement with immunomodulatory effects. In the present study, we used different temperatures (4, 37, 60, 80, and $100^{\circ}C$) and different solvents (chloroform, NaOH, and phosphate buffered saline [PBS]) to extract the pig placenta. Among the different placenta extracts yielded by the different extraction methods, placenta extract (PE) in PBS at $80^{\circ}C$ for 30 min (referred to as PE-PBS80) showed a significant increase of nitric oxide production of up to 22.97 ${\mu}M/10^5$ cells at a 1 mg/mL dose (p<0.05 ) in J774A.1 cells than other extracts and control tested. Using PE-PBS80, further animal challenges were performed to identify the immune-enhanced effects. As a result, orally administered PE-PBS80 showed a significant increase in blood T and B cell activities and immunoglobulin (IgG and IgM) production. IgG and IgM levels increased to 41.53 mg/mL at a 20 mg dose on day 7 and to 27.38 mg/mL at a 10 mg dose on day 14, respectively (p<0.05). Furthermore, PE-PBS80 was also able to significantly enhance the immune modulator cytokine levels (p<0.05) compared to the control and vehicle treatments. Among the evaluated cytokines, the tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) level increased to 28.89 pg/mL at extract doses of 20 and 50 mg, the interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$) level increased to 21.52 pg/mL at extract doses of 10, 20, 50 and 75 mg and the interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$ level increased to 18.24 pg/mL at extract doses of 10, 20, and 50 mg. Therefore, this study presents an effective method for extracting pig placenta extracts and also demonstrates that pig placenta extracts had significant immunomodulatory effects not only at the cellular level but also in a mouse model, suggesting that this material could be used as an excellent candidate functional food supplement.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.21-25
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• 2012

Objective : This study was performed to estimate the effects of OMC-2010 extract on cytokine production in mouse spleen cells. Methods : Mouse spleen cells were pre-treated with ethanol and water extract of OMC-2010 for 1 h, then stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 ${\mu}g/ml$) for 48 h. Then the cells were harvested for real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to detect cytokines. Results : OMC-2010 ethanol extract significantly inhibited the LPS-induced interleukin (IL)-1beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and IL-5 mRNA expressions, but not shown such changes in IL-6, IL-4, IL-13. OMC-2010 water extract significantly inhibited the LPS-induced TNF-alpha, and IL-5 mRNA expressions, but not shown such changes in IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-4, IL-13. Conclusions : Theses results could suggest that both ethanol and water OMC-2010 extract could inhibit the TNF-alpha and IL-5 mRNA expression.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.185-195
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• 2012

Purpose: (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects in periodontitis. However, its exact mechanism of action has yet to be determined. The present in vitro study evaluated the anti-in-flammatory effects of EGCG on human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (hPDLFs) and human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) affected by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) extracted from Porphyromonas gingivalis. Methods: hPDLFs and hPDLSCs were extracted from healthy young adults and were treated with EGCG and/or P. gingivalis LPS. After 1, 3, 5, and 7 days from treatment, cytotoxic and proliferative effects were evaluated using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and bromodeoxyuridine assay, respectively. And then, the gene expressions of hPDLFs and hPDLSCs were observed for interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL), and RANKL/OPG using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at 0, 6, 24, and 48 hours after treatment. The experiments were performed with the following groups for hPDLFs and hPDLSCs; 1) No treat, 2) EGCG alone, 3) P. gingivalis LPS alone, 4) EGCG+P. gingivalis LPS. Results: The 20 ${\mu}M$ of EGCG and 20 ${\mu}g/mL$ of P. gingivalis LPS had the lowest cytotoxic effects, so those concentrations were used for further experiments. The proliferations of hPDLFs and hPDLSCs increased in all groups, though the 'EGCG alone' showed less increase. In real-time PCR, the hPDLFs and hPDLSCs of 'EGCG alone' showed similar gene expressions to those cells of 'no treat'. The gene expressions of 'P. gingivalis LPS alone' in both hPDLFs and hPDLSCs were highly increased at 6 hours for IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, RANKL, and RANKL/OPG, except the RANKL/OPG in hPDLSCs. However, those increased gene expressions were down-regulated in 'EGCG+P. gingivalis LPS' by the additional treatment of EGCG. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that EGCG could exert an anti-inflammatory effect in hPDLFs and hPDLSCs against a major pathogen of periodontitis, P. gingivalis LPS.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.57-77
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was to investigate the suppression effects of Sopunghwalhyeol-tang(Shufenghuoxie-tang) on the monosodium iodoacetate-induced osteoarthritis in rats. Methods : Arthritis was induced by injection of monosodium iodoacetate(0.5 mg) into the both knee joints of rats. Arthritic rats were divided into control(n=8) and treated(n=8) group. Control group was taken distilled water for 20 days. Treated group was taken extracts of Sopunghwalhyeol-tang(Shufenghuoxie-tang) by oraly for same duration. Normal group(n=8) was injected with normal saline and was taken distilled water for 20 days. Macroscopic examination and histopathological study on articular cartilage of knee joint were operated at 20 days after injection. Proteoglycan(PG) content of articular cartilages of knee joint was represented by safranine O staining, was measured at 20 days after injection. Tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}(TNF-{\alpha})$, $interleukin-1{\beta}(IL-1{\beta})$, in synovial fluid were measured with enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay(ELISA) kit at 20 days after injection. Immunohistochemical staining of cyclo-oxygenase-2(COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) in knee joints were observed at 20 days after injection. Results : 1. Lymphocytes in peripheral blood the treated group was significantly decreased compared with the control group. 2. PG content in articular cartilage of the treated group was significantly increased compared with the control group. 3. Histopathologically, osteoarthritic scores of the treated group was significantly decreased compared with the control group. 4. $TNF-{\alpha}$ content in synovial fluid of the treated group was significantly decreased compared with the control group. 5. COX-2 revelation index in chondrocytes and synovial membrane of the treated group was significantly decreased compared with the control group. 6. Matrix metalloproteinase-3(MMP-3) revelation index in chondrocytes and synovial membrane of the treated group was significantly decreased compared with the control group. Conclusions : On the basis of these results, we concluded that Sopunghwalhyeol-tang(Shufenghuoxie-tang) has inhibiting effects on the $TNF-{\alpha}$, COX-2 and MMP-3 secretion of chondrocytes and synovial membrane in Monosodium Iodoacetate-induced osteoarthritis model of rats.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Sargassum horneri is an edible brown alga that grows in the subtidal zone as an annual species along the coasts of South Korea, China, and Japan. Recently, an extreme amount of S. horneri moved into the coasts of Jeju Island from the east coast of China, which made huge economic and environmental loss to the Jeju Island. Thus, utilization of this biomass becomes a big issue with the local authorities. Therefore, the present study was performed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of crude polysaccharides (CPs) extracted from S. horneri China strain in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: CPs were precipitated from S. horneri digests prepared by enzyme assistant extraction using four food-grade enzymes (AMG, Celluclast, Viscozyme, and Alcalase). The production levels of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ were measured by Griess assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$, and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) were measured by using western blot. The IR spectrums of the CPs were recorded using a fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectrometer. RESULTS: The polysaccharides from the Celluclast enzyme digest (CCP) showed the highest inhibition of NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells ($IC_{50}$ value: $95.7{\mu}g/mL$). Also, CCP dose-dependently down-regulated the protein expression levels of iNOS and COX-2 as well as the production of inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$, compared to the only LPS-treated cells. In addition, CCP inhibited the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ p50 and p65 and the phosphorylation of MAPKs, including p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase, in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, FT-IR analysis showed that the FT-IR spectrum of CCP is similar to that of commercial fucoidan. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that CCP has anti-inflammatory activities and is a potential candidate for the formulation of a functional food ingredient or/and drug to treat inflammatory diseases.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.119-131
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• 2023

Objectives: Betula Platyphylla(BP) has been used as a analgesic, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant drug in Eastern Asia. However, it is still unknown whether BP ethanol extract could exhibit the inhibitory activities against ultraviolet B(UVB)-induced skin injury on human keratinocytes, HaCaT cells. This study was aimed to investigate the protective activity of BP ethanol extract on UVB-irradiated skin injury in HaCaT cells. Methods: The skin injury model of HaCaT cells was established under UVB stimulation. HaCaT keratinocyte cells were pre-treated with BP ethanol extract for 1 h, and then stimulated with UVB. Then, the cells were harvested to measure the cell viability, production of reactive oxygen species(ROS), pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin(IL) 1-beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-𝛼, hyaluronidase, type 1 collagen, matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)s. In addition, we examined the mitogen activated protein kinases(MAPKs) and inhibitory kappa B alpha(I𝜅;-B𝛼) as inhibitory mechanisms of BP ethanol extract. Results: The treatment of BP ethanol extract inhibited the UVBinduced cell death and ROS production in HaCaT cells. BP ethanol extract treatment inhibited the UVB-induced increase of IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-𝛼. BP ethanol extract treatment inhibited the increase of hyaluronidase, MMP and decrease of collagen. BP ethanol extract treatment inhibited the activation of MAPKs and the degradation of I𝜅-B𝛼. Conclusions: Our result suggest that treatment of BP ethanol extract could inhibit the UVB-induced skin injury via deactivation of MAPKs and nuclear factor kappa B(NF-𝜅B) in HaCaT cells. This study could suggest that BP ethanol extract could be a beneficial agent to prevent skin damage or inflammation.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2005

Background: Interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) ${\alpha}$-deficient mice have small numbers of B cells and ${\alpha}{\beta}$T cells in periphery, they totally lack ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cells. In addition, the V-J recombination and transcription of TCR ${\gamma}$ genes is also severely impaired in IL-7R ${\alpha}$-deficient mice. Stat5, a signaling molecule of the IL-7R, induces germline transcription in the TCR ${\gamma}$ locus, and promotes V-J recombination and ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cell development. However, the roles for IL-7R signaling pathway in thymic or extrathymic ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cell development are largely unknown. Methods: To clarify the role of the IL-7 receptor in proliferation and survival of ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cells, we introduced the TCR ${\gamma}{\delta}$ transgene, $V_{{\gamma}2}/V{\delta}_5$, into IL-7R ${\alpha}$-deficient mice, and investigated the development of ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cells. Results: We found that $V_{{\gamma}2}/V{\delta}_5$ transgene restored ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cells in the epithelium of the small intestine (IEL) but not in the thymus and the spleen. Further addition of a bcl-2 transgene resulted in partial recovery of ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cells in the thymus and the spleen of these mice. Conclusion: Taken together, this study revealed that the IL-7R ${\alpha}$ is indispensable for proliferation and survival mainly in thymic ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cell development.