• Toxicological Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.223-227
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• 1995

This study was conducted to investigate the metallothionein (MT) induction by Lonicerae rios in cadmium chloride intoxication. The results were as follows: Generally, detoxication effects by Lonicerae fios extract increased to the increase of extract concentrations. When 90 mg/kg dosage of Lonicerae fios extract was administered, it showed the highest antitoxic effects in metallothionein induction. From the above results, Lonicerae rios extract increased metallothionein concentration and decreased the toxicity of cadmium in liver.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 1996

This study was conducted to investigate the antitoxic component in methanol fraction of Lonicerae fios. The results were as follows: 1. When a 500 ppm of water soluble fraction of Lonicerae flos was administered, it showed the highest antitoxic effect. 2. Generally, detoxication effects of methanol fraction of Lonicerae fios increased. 'When the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of Lonicerae fios was administered, it exhibited the highest antitoxic effect against the toxicity of cadmium in spleen.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.145-154
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• 2003

Background : Production of cytokines by bronchial epithelial cells may contribute to the local accumulation of inflammatory cells in patients with bronchial asthma. In many recent studies, molecular biological methods have been used to investigate the role of cytokines in pathogenesis and new therapeutic targets of asthma. Objective : We aimed to identify the dose-dependent inhibitory effects of Lonicerae Flos and Paeoniae Radix on the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-16, and GM-CSF involved in the asthma model. Materials and Methods : In the study BEAS-2B cell lines, human epithelial cells were used. These cells were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-\alpha$ for artificial inflammatory expression. ${\beta}-actin$ messenger RNA (mRNA) was used for internal standard. After 24 hours of Lonicerae Flos, Paeoniae Radix, total cellular RNAs were collected treating RNA zol directly on the living cells. Then the transcriptional activities of IL-6, 16, GM-CSF were measured by RT- PCR with electrophoresis. Results : In the Lonicerae Flos study, the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-16 and GM-CSF was showed no inhibitory effect compared to the control group in all concentrations. In the Paeoniae Radix study, the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-l6 and GM-CSF was showed no inhibitory effect compared to the control group in all concentrations. Conclusion : This study shows that Lonicerae Flus and Paeuniae Radix have no inhibitory effects on the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-16 and GM-CSF in BEAS-2B cell lines, human epithelial cells. Advanced studies are required to investigate the other mechanisms of inhibitory effect by Lonicerae Flus and Paeoniae Radix in the asthma model.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.35-46
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• 2011

Objectives This study was designed to examine antimicrobial effects of Fermented Coptidis rhizoma and Lonicerae Flos against pathogens. Methods Lactobacilli MRS broth was added to 200mL glass bottle containing 20% herb powder(w/v) followed by 30 minute sonication and then shaking at 70 rpm in $70^{\circ}C$ water bath for 3 hours in order to extract fermented herb. Fermented herb extract was autoclaved at $121^{\circ}$ for 15minutes. $2{\times}10^7$ CFU/mL subcultured bacteria was inoculated and cultured for 24 hours and centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 5 minutes. After transferring to 15 mL conical tube, the viable cells were counted. Results and Conclusion Fermented Coptidis rhizoma and Lonicerae Flos both showed antimicrobial effect on pathogens especially when Fermented Coptidis rhizoma was experimented against Staphylococcus aureus.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.121-132
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• 2010

Inflammatory reaction is characterized by over-production of inflammatory mediators due to an up-regulation of inflammatory pathways, which produce pro-inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin-1beta (IL-$1{\beta}$), IL-6, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-$\alpha$), prostaglantin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), and nitric oxide (NO) in U937 cells. We investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of water extracts from Lonicerae Flos and Scutellariae Radix in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated U937 cells. Each extract suppressed the production of inflammatory mediators (NO, IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-$\alpha$, and $PGE_2$) and the expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in LPS- stimulated U937 cells in a dose-dependent manner. These suppressive effects were synergistically increased by their combination. Their combination extract also inhibited NF-${\kappa}B$-DNA complex of NF-${\kappa}B$ binding activity and translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ from cytosol to nucleus. These results suggest that the combination of water-extractable components of Lonicerae Flos and Scutellariae Radix may be useful for therapeutic drugs against inflammatory immune diseases, probably by suppressing the production of inflammatory mediators.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.261-268
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• 1999

Lonicerae flos aqua-acupuncture solution (LFAS) and Lonicerae flos water-extracted solution (LFWS) were prepared and tested for chemopreventive potentials. Three biomarkers [quinone reductase (QR), ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), glutathione(GSH)] were used to test chemopreventive potential of LFAS. LFAS was potent inducer of QR activity in Hepa1c1c7 murine hepatoma cells, whereas LFWS is less potent. LFAS and LFWS were also induced QR activities in cultured human hepatoma Hep3B cells. The effect of LFAS and LFWS were tested on the growth of Acanthamoeba castellanii. Proliferation of Acanthamoeba castellanii was inhibited by LFAS and LFWS at concentrations of $0.1{\times},\;0.5{\times}\;1{\times},\;and\;3{\times}.$ In addition, GSH levels were increased about 2-fold with LFAS and 1.5-fold with LFWS in cultured murine hepa1c1c7 cells. LFAS and LFWS were also shown to increase GSH levels in human Hep3B cells. These results suggest that LFAS has chemopreventive potential by inducing QR activity, inhibition of ODC activity and increasing GSH levels.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.183-199
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• 2010

Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by the focal loss of cartilage due to an up-regulation of inflammatory pathways, which produce inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin-1beta(IL-$1{\beta}$), IL-6, tumour necrosis factor alpha(TNF-$\alpha$), prostaglandin, and nitric oxide(NO). We investigated the anti-arthritic effects of water extract from FLOS LONICERAE(FLWE) in vitro and in vivo. Extract inhibited the production of inflammatory mediators(NO, IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-$\alpha$, and prostaglandin $E_2$) and the expression of inducible NO synthase(iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. FLWE also inhibited TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and $PGE_2$ production as well as COX activity in collagen-induced mouse arthritis. Moreover, FLWE significantly suppressed collagen-induced mouse arthritis. These results suggest that FLOS LONICERAE may be useful for therapy against inflammatory immune diseases and rheumatoid arthritis, probably by suppressing the production of inflammatory mediators.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.970-975
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• 2010

Because Lonicerae Flos has effects of antiinflammatory and antioxidant, we studied an effect of Lonicerae Flos on reflux esophagitis (RE) through those effects. Rats were treated with three different dosages of LF (500, 250 and 125 mg/kg) orally for 14 days before pylorus and forestomach ligation. Six hrs after pylorus and forestomach ligation, we dissected a stomach and examined a stomach volume, gastric acid output, pepsin release in the stomach, total hexose, sialic acid in stomach tissue and histamine contents of sera. The results were compared with an ${\alpha}$-tocopherol (once orally, 1hr before operation, 30 mg/kg) treated group in which the effects on RE were already confirmed. Lonicerae Flos extract (LE) reduced gastric volumes compared to RE control. This indicate that LE protect a stomach mucosa by depressing of gastric acid release and corresponse with a reducing histamine content of serum. And LE decreasd a volume of pepsin in stomach compraed to RE control, LE increased contents of total hexose and sialic acid based on esophageal and gastric mucus. This indicated that an increased mucus by LE protected inflammation of esophagus mucosa and gastric mucosa induced by gastric acid. So, LE suppressed a gasric acid by decreasing a pepsin release in stomach, suppressed an injury of esophagus inducted by gastric acid with increasing esophageal mucus and a minimum dose of LE to RE was 250 mg/kg. The results suggest that antioxidant effects of LF could attenuate the severity of reflux esophagitis and prevent the esophageal mucosal damage, and validate its therapeutic use in esophageal reflux disease.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.242-248
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• 2010

The present study was designed in order to determine whether Lonicerae flos (LF) could mitigate rheumatoid arthritis through inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 by regulation of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). We found that MIF mRNA expression in synoviocytes stimulated with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate dose-dependantly decreased by LF extract treatment (0.4 - 1.0 mg/$m{\ell}$). The distribution of MIF, COX-2 and MMP-9 positive reacted cells in LPS induced arthritis of mice were decreased by LF (45 mg/kg/day) treatment for 28 days. These data likely indicate that LF may act as MIF inhibitor and may be possible to develop useful agent for rheumatoid arthritis.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.39-45
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• 2010

Objectives : This study was undertaken to compare the effect of Foeniculi Fructus and Lonicerae Flos extract on the cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in rats. Methods : Acute pancreatitis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of cerulein. Foeniculi Fructus extract (FE; 300 mg/kg) and Lonicerae Flos extract (LE; 300 mg/kg) were injected 2hr before induction of acute pancreatitis. Rats were sacrificed 6hr after first injection of cerulein. The severity of pancreatitis was assessed by measuring pancreatic weight/body weight ratio, neutrophil, lymphocyte, serum amylase activity, platelet activating factor (PAF) activity, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) activity, interleukin 6 (IL-6) activity and by histological assessments of inflammatory cell infiltration. Results : 1. The pancreatic weight/body weight ratios of FE and LE group compared with the control group were decreased significantly. 2. The neutrophil content ratio of FE and LE group compared with the control group were decreased. 3. The lymphocyte content ratio of FE and LE group compared with the control group were increased significantly. 4. The activities of serum amylase of FE and LE group compared with the control group were decreased significantly. 5. The activities of serum PAF of FE and LE group compared with the control group were decreased significantly. 6. The activities of TNF-${\alpha}$ of FE and LE group compared with the control group were decreased significantly. 7. The activities of IL-6 of FE and LE group compared with the control group were decreased significantly. 8. The pancreas injected with FE and LE showed reduction of swelling of acinar cells, inflammation and vacuolization than the control group on light microscopic observation. Conclusions : These results suggest that Foeniculi Fructus and Lonicerae Flos extract have an effect to suppress inflammation on cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in rats. But there are no significant differences between Foeniculi Fructus extract and Lonicerae Flos extract.