• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.922-931
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• 2000

Background : It has been well known that bronchia1 asthma is a chronic airway inflammatory disorder. Recently, sputum induced with hypertonic saline was introduced as a simple and useful nonivasive medium to investigate airway inflammation and symptom severity in patients with asthma. We examined the eosinophil, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), interleukin(IL)-3, IL-5, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating facta (GM-CSF), and nitric oxide (NO) derivatives in induced sputum from patients with bronchia1 asthma in order to determine the role of NO and various inflammatory cytokines as a useful markers of airway inflammation or changes in pulmonary function tests and symptoms. Methods : A total 30 patients with bronchia1 asthma received oral prednisolone 30 mg daily for 2 weeks. Forced expiratory volume in one second ($FEV_1$), total blood eosinophil count and induced sputum eosinophil count, ECP, IL-3, IL-5, GM-CSF, and NO derivatives were determined before and after the administration of prednisolone. Results : Of the 30 patients, 13 (43.3%) were male and 17 (56.7%) were female. The mean age of patients was 41.8 years (range 19-64 years). Two patients could not produce sputum at the second study and 3 could not be followed up after their first visit. Two weeks after the prednisolone administration, there was a significant increase in $FEV_1$ (% of predicted value) from 78.1$\pm$20.6 % to 90.3$\pm$ 18.3 % (P<0.001). The eosinophil percentages in induced sputum were significantly decreased after treatment with prednisolone, with values of 56.1$\pm$27.2 % versus 29.6$\pm$21.3 % (P<0.001), and ECP were $134.5\pm68.1\;{\mu}g/L$ versus $41.5\pm42.4\;{\mu}g/L$ (P<0.001) respectively. After the prednisolone treatments, the eotaxin concentration also showed a decreasing tendency from 26.7$\pm$12.8 pg/ml to 21.7$\pm$8.7 pg/ml. There was a decreasing tendency but no significant differences in total blood eosinophil count (425.7$\pm$265.9 vs 287.7$\pm$294.7) and in the concentration of NO derivatives ($70.4\pm44.6{\mu}mol/L$ vs $91.5\pm48.3\;{\mu}mol/L$) after the prednisolone treatments. IL-3, IL-5, GM-CSF were undetectable in the sputum of most subjects either before the prednisolone treatments or after the treatments. Before the prednisolone treatments, a significant inverse correlation was observed between FEV1 and sputum ECP (r=-D.364, P<0.05) and there was a significant correlation between sputum eosinophils and eotaxin (r=0.369, P<0.05) Conclusion : The eotaxin and ECP concentration in induced sputum may be used as markers of airway inflammation after treatments in bronchia1 asthma. In addition, the measurement of sputum eosinophil percent ages is believed to be a simple method displaying the degree of airway inflammation and airway obstruction before and after the prednisolone treatment in bronchia1 asthma. However, unlike exhaled NO, the examination of NO derivatives with Griess reaction in induced sputum is considered an ineffective marker of changing airway inflammation and obstructing symptoms.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.21-26
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• 2014

Objectives : Taraxacum coreanum (TC) have been used as a traditional medicine to treat inflammatory diseases and anti-oxidant effect in Korea. However, the anti-inflammatory effect of TC water extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation is not well-known. Therefore, this study was performed to identify the anti-inflammatory effect of TC on LPS induced inflammatory. Methods : RAW 264.7 cells were treated with 500 ng/mL of LPS. Water extracts of TC (0.1, 0.25, 0.5 mg/ml) was treated 1 h prior to LPS. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Levels of nitric oxide (NO) were measured with Griess reagent and pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). We also examined molecular mechanisms such as mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor-B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) activation by western blot. Results : Water Extract from TC itself did not have any cytotoxic effect in RAW 264.7 cells. TC treatment inhibited the production of NO production, and pro-inflamamtory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6 and $IL-1{\beta}$ on protein and mRNA levels. In addition, TC treatment inhibited the LPS-induced activation of MAPKs such as extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2), p38 kinases (p38), c-Jun $NH_2$-terminal kinase (JNK) and $NF-{\kappa}B$. Conclusions : In summary, our result suggest that treatment of TC could reduce the LPS-induced inflammation. Thereby, TC could be used as a protective agent against inflammation. Also, this study could give a clinical basis that TC could be a drug or agent to prevent inflammation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1364-1369
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• 2011

Mast cells, the central effector cells involved in the allergic response, release histamine, arachidonic acid, and proinflammatory cytokines. We investigated the effect of the ethyl acetate fraction (EA), derived from Korean rice wine lees, on RBL-2H3 cell degranulation and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in an animal model. The EA fraction suppressed the release of beta-hexosaminidase, a marker of degranulation, and the mRNA expression of interleukin-3 (IL-3) and IL-13. EA also successfully suppressed the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction in mice in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that EA can inhibit mast cell degranulation through the inhibition of IL-3 and IL-13 mRNA expression, and that EA may potentially serve as an anti-allergic agent.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.429-437
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relaxant and anti-inflammatory effects of two thalidomide analogs as phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4) inhibitors in pregnant rat uterus. Uteri from Wistar female rats were isolated at 19 day of pregnancy. Uterine samples were used in functional studies to evaluate the inhibitory effects of the thalidomide analogs, methyl 3-(4-nitrophthalimido)-3-(3,4- dimethoxyphenyl)-propanoate (4NO2PDPMe) and methyl 3-(4-aminophthalimido)- 3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-propanoate (4APDPMe), on prostaglandin-$F2{\alpha}$ ($PGF2{\alpha}$)-induced phasic, $K^+$-induced tonic, and $Ca^{2+}$-induced contractions. Accumulation of cAMP was quantified in uterine homogenates by ELISA. Anti-inflammatory effect was assessed by using ELISA for determination of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ ($TNF{\alpha}$) and interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, and anti-inflammatory IL-10, from uterine explants stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Nifedipine, forskolin and rolipram were used as positive controls where required. Both thalidomide analogs induced a significant inhibition of the uterine contractions induced by the pharmaco- and electro-mechanic stimuli. Nifedipine and forskolin were more potent than the analogs to inhibit the uterine contractility, but these were more potent than rolipram, and 4APDPMe was equieffective to nifedipine. Thalidomide analogs increased uterine cAMP-levels in a concentration-dependent manner. The LPS-induced $TNF{\alpha}$ and $IL-1{\beta}$ uterine secretion was diminished in a concentration-dependent fashion by both analogs, whereas IL-10 secretion was increased significantly. The thalidomide analogs induced utero-relaxant and anti-inflammatory effects, which were associated with the increased cAMP levels as PDE-4 inhibitors in the pregnant rat uterus. Such properties place these thalidomide analogs as potentially safe and effective tocolytic agents in a field that urgently needs improved pharmacological treatments, as in cases of preterm labor.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.656-663
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• 2011

Licochalcone, a major phenolic constituent of the licorice species Glycyrrhiza inflata, a constituent of licorice, exhibits various biological properties, including chemopreventive-, antibacterial-, and anti-spasmodic activities. Recently, Licochalcone E (LicE) was isolated from the roots of Glycyrrhiza inflate, however its biological functions have not been fully examined. In the present study, we investigated the ability of LicE to regulate inflammation reactions in macrophages. Our in vitro experiments using murine macrophages, RAW264.7 cells, showed that LicE suppressed not only nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ generation, but also the expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Similarly, LicE inhibited the release of proinflammatory cytokines induced by LPS in RAW264.7 cells, including tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and interleukin-6. The underlying mechanism of LicE on anti-inflammatory action correlated with down-regulation of the nuclear factor-${\kappa}$B. Our data collectively indicate that LicE inhibited the production of several inflammatory mediators and might be used in the treatment of various inflammatory diseases.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1753-1759
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• 2008

Forty weanling piglets ($5.6{\pm}0.5kg$ and 26 to 30 d of age) were used in a 28-d experiment to determine the effects of ${\beta}$-glucan from Paenibacillus polymyxa and L-theanine on growth performance. Piglets were randomly allotted to four groups (n = 10, 2 animals per pen) provided with the basal feed (control), ${\beta}$-glucan 400 mg/kg feed, L-theanine 80 mg/kg feed or ${\beta}$-glucan plus l-theanine (combination of the above-mentioned concentrations). Body weight and feed consumption were recorded during four weeks. Subsequently, the immunomodulatory effects of ${\beta}$-glucan and L-theanine were investigated for lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cytokine production in vitro and in vivo on day 28. Although there were no significant differences in the growth performances among the treatment groups, ${\beta}$-glucan plus L-theanine had 5.6% greater ADG (p = 0.074) on day 21 to 28. ${\beta}$-Glucan alone or plus L-theanine increased interleukin (IL)-10 levels and decreased interferon (IFN)-$\gamma$ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ levels in cultured medium by LPS treatment (p<0.05). Plasma IL-10 levels were also increased in the piglets fed with ${\beta}$-glucan alone or plus L-theanine after LPS challenge ($25{\mu}g/kg$, i.p.), whereas plasma IFN-$\gamma$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ levels were decreased (p<0.05). The levels of IFN$\gamma$ in piglets fed with ${\beta}$-glucan plus L-theanine showed the greatest inhibition after LPS challenges. In conclusion, treatment of ${\beta}$-glucan alone or plus L-theanine might lessen inflammatory responses against Gram-negative bacterial infection via the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine production and enhancement of anti-inflammatory cytokine production. Further studies are needed to determine an optimal concentration of ${\beta}$-glucan and L-theanine for improved growth performance.

• 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.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.750-756
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• 2010

Two trials were conducted to study the effects of two Chinese herbal polysaccharides, Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) and Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharides (ABPS), and one Chinese herbal saponin, Acantbepanax senticosus saponin (ASS), on the immunity and growth performance of weaned pigs. Experiment 1 was a 14-day growth assay, in which 32 weaned pigs were randomly allocated to one of four dietary treatments: i) 0.05% talcum powder control; ii) 0.05% APS; iii) 0.05% mixture of APS and ASS in a 1:1 ratio by weight; and iv) 0.05% mixture of APS, ASS, and ABPS in a ratio of 1:1:1 by weight. Blood samples were collected on day 14 to determine plasma parameters. Feed intake, body weight gain, and feed efficiency were also determined. Experiment 2 was a 21-day immunity assay, in which 16 weaned pigs were randomly allotted to one of two dietary treatments: i) 0.05% talcum powder control; and ii) 0.05% mixture of APS and ASS in a 1:1 ratio by weight. On day 21, pigs were challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and 3 h later blood samples were collected and analyzed for lymphocyte proliferation as well as interleukin 6 (IL-6), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), growth hormone (GH), and cortisol levels. In Experiment 1, feeding Chinese herbal polysaccharides and saponin increased growth performance of the pigs. The effects of the mixture of APS and ASS were especially notable, as there was a significant improvement in growth performance compared with the control (p<0.05). The plasma concentration of immunoglobulin G (IgG), nitric oxide (NO), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) were increased in all treatments groups, with the mixture of APS and ASS increasing the level of IgG and NOS significantly (p<0.05), compared with the control. There was no difference in the NO level between the control and treatment groups (p>0.05). In Experiment 2, Chinese herbal polysaccharides and saponin showed immunostimulating effects. The level of cortisol, GH, and IGF-I were significantly increased (p>0.05), and the level of IL-6 showed a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the APS and ASS treatment after the LPS challenge. The mixture of APS and ASS could stimulate the blood lymphocyte proliferation significantly whether the LPS was injected or not (p<0.05). These results show that Chinese herbal extracts can improve growth performance and stimulate immunity of weaned pigs. A mixture of APS and ASS, compared with APS alone, could be a new kind of immunostimulant for weaned pigs, which could result in greater positive effects on their growth performance and immunity.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.87-98
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• 2017

Objectives : The objective of present study is to evaluate anti-arthritic effects of dried pomegranate concentrate powders (PCP), Eucommiae Cortex aqueous (EC) and ethanolic (ECe) extracts, Achyranthis Radix aqueous (AR) and ethanolic (ARe) extracts on the primary cultured rat articular chondrocytes. Methods : MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium Bromide) assay was performed cytotoxic effect of test substances. In addition, anti-inflammatory effects were also observed on the lipopolysaccaride (LPS) treated chondrocytes through prostaglandin $E_2\;(PGE_2)$ production and 5-lipoxygenase (LPO) activities, and inhibitory effects on metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 activities were observed on the recombinant human interleukin $(rhIL)-1{\alpha}$ treated chondrocytes with their extracellular matrix (ECM) related mRNA expressions - collagen type II, SOX9 and aggrecan. Results : As results, ECe and ARe showed obvious cytotoxicity against primary cultured rat articular chondrocytes at a dose level of 10 mg/ml, respectively. However, no obvious cytotoxic effects of PCP, EC and AR were demonstrated at a dose level of 10 mg/ml, on the primary cultured rat articular chondrocytes. In addition, treatment of LPS $50{\mu}g/ml$ induced significant increases of $PGE_2$ contents and 5-LPO activities indicating inflammatory responses of the primary cultured rat articular chondrocytes, and also decreases of cell viabilities, increases of MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities with decreases of extracellular matrix (ECM) related collagen type II, SOX9 and aggrecan mRNA expressions were observed by treatment of $rhIL-1{\alpha}$ 50 ng/ml, suggesting damages on the primary cultured rat articular chondrocytes and related ECM degradations. However, these inflammatory responses and related ECM degradations were inhibited by pretreatment of all test substances, in order of PCP > ECe > ARe > EC > AR, and $rhIL-1{\alpha}$ induced chondrocytes deaths are inhibited by treatment in order of PCP > EC > AR > ECe > ARe. Conclusions : Taken together, it is expected that mixed formulation of PCP as main components with appropriate proportion of EC and AR as additional components will be achieved a potent alternative medicinal food for osteoarthritis.

• 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.