• Journal of Evidence-Based Herbal Medicine
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.17-24
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• 2009

Poria cocos has been traditionally used for the treatment of edema, scanty urine, dizziness due to retention of fluid, reduced appetite due to asthenia of spleen, loose stool, diarrhea, distraction, sudden palpitation and insomnia in East Asia. The aim of this study was to confirm whether Poria cocos wonfire whethe(PCWE) and Poria cocos ointment (PCO) have a preventive e of ter Pthe development of afire wdethe(PCWE (AD) in 2,4-Diniwhochlorobenzene (oria)-applied Balb/ wme e. Oral administration (12.5wmg/kg, 25wmg/kg) of PCWE and fire al application (O.5wmg/mouse, 1.0mg/mouse) of PCO decreased the development of AD-like skin lesions, ear swelling, spleen weight, total serum IgE. PCWE and PCO significantly also inhibited the infiltration of mast cells in the dorsal skin.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.71-85
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• 2014

Objectives In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of Samhwangsasim-tang (S.H) on the allergic response caused by ovalbumin(OVA) sensitization and challenge in BALB/c mice. Methods The experimental animals were divided into five groups; 1) normal as negative control, 2) OVA-sensitized mice, 3) OVA-sensitized mice treated with 200 mg/kg of S.H 200, 4) OVA-sensitized mice treated with 400 mg/kg of S.H 400, and 5) OVA-sensitized mice treated with 5 mg/kg of Dexamethasone (Dex). Antigen sensitization for allergic mouse model was performed with twice injection of OVA for 2 weeks. After secondary injection, S.H was administrated orally into mice every day for 13 days and the inhibitory effect of S.H on allergic responses was evaluated. Results Treatment of S.H into allergic mice reduced significantly ear edema and infiltration of immune cells in ear tissues induced with OVA challenge in a dose-dependent manner. S.H reduced significantly the serum levels of Total Immunoglobulin(Ig)G and IgE, and particularly inhibited the production of OVA-specific IgE, but not OVA-specific IgG. The serum level of proinflammatory cytokine TNF-${\alpha}$ and Th2-associated cytokine IL-4 also were significantly decreased by S.H adminstration in a dose denpendent manner. S.H attenuated OVA-induced secretion of IFN-${\gamma}$, but not IL-12 which is a cytokine inducing the development of Th1 cells. It also reduced significantly the secretion of IL-4, which is a cytokine inducing the development of Th2 cells, after splenocytes were stimulated with OVA. However the secretion of IL-5 and IL-13 was influenced weakly or a little. Conclusions These results indicate that S.H could reduce the allergic response through inhibition of antigen-specific IgE and Th2-inducing cytokines. It suggest that S.H may be available clinically for the treatment of allergic patients.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.45-55
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• 2015

This study was carried out to demonstrate the anti-inflammatory effect of tuna oil (TO) using LPS-induced inflammation responses and mouse models. First, nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines levels were suppressed up to 50% with increasing concentrations of TO without causing any cytotoxicity. Also, the expression of a variety of proteins, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), was suppressed in a dosedependent manner by treatment with TO. Furthermore, TO also inhibited the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and p38 protein kinase (p38). Moreover, in in vivo testing the formation of ear edema was reduced at the highest dose tested compared to that in the control, and a reduction of ear thickness and the number of mast cells was observed in histological analysis. In acute toxicity test, no mortalities occurred in mice administrated 5,000 mg/kg body weight of TO over a two-week observation period. Our results suggest that TO has a considerable anti-inflammatory property through the suppression of inflammatory mediator productions and that it could prove to be useful as a potential anti-inflammatory therapeutic material.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.97-107
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• 2015

Objectives Hataedock is the treatment that dispels toxic heat and meconium gathered at the fetus for the new born baby by orally administered herbal extracts. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether Hataedock alleviate inflammatory skin damages in AD-induced NC/Nga mice through regulating of skin barrier maintain and Th2 differentiation. Methods We established an AD model in the 3-week-old NC/Nga mice through the repeated application of DNFB (dinitrochlorobenzene) on days 28, 35, 42 after Hataedock treatment which was orally administered. We identified the changes of skin barrier and Th2 differentiation through the histological and immunohistochemical changes of protein kinase C (PKC), interleukin (IL)-4, degranulated mast cell, Substance P and MMP-9. Results Our results suggested that Hataedock treatment significantly down-regulated levels of PKC by 82% (p < 0.001), as well as IL-4 by 56% (p < 0.001). Hataedock also suppressed mast cell infiltration, ear edema formation. and Substance P in the tissue of NC/Nga mice were decreased by 57% (p < 0.001), and MMP-9 by 55% (p < 0.001). Conclusions These results suggest that Hataedock alleviates AD through the down-regulation of PKC and Th2 cytokines, which are involved in the initial steps of AD development. Hataedock have potential application for the treatment of AD.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.852-856
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• 2012

Dichloromethane, ethanol, and boiling water extracts of the green seaweed Codium fragile, used as an herbal medicine and known as an invasive species over the world, were examined for anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and analgesic activities in mice. The dichloromethane and ethanol extracts inhibited inflammatory symptoms of mouse ear edema and erythema by 74% or higher. The extracts also demonstrated inhibition of pyrexia, similar to that of acetyl salicylic acid. Eicosapentaenoic acid was isolated from the seaweed as the main active anti-inflammatory compound. These findings are consistent with various claims that the seaweed can be used as remedies for inflammation-related symptoms.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.810-814
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• 2008

Most inflammatory disorders are usually treated using anti-inflammatory drugs including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (SAID). Prolonged uses of NSAIDs and SAIDs may frequently cause adverse side-effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, decreased appetite, kidney and liver failure, ulcers, and prolonged bleeding after an injury or surgery. Thus, it is necessarily required to develop a new anti-inflammatory drug with little side-effects. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) possesses the therapeutic abilities to eliminate body heat and toxins and to remove swelling and inflammation. In order to verify the anti-inflammatory activity of dandelion, TPA(12-O-tetra decanoylphorbol-acetate)-induced or croton oil-induced acute edema was developed in the mouse ears, and dandelion extract dissolved in acetone was applied to both sides of inflamed ears. It was found that dandelion could significantly reduce the ear swelling, compared to that of non-treated control. In the case of $20{\mu}{\ell}$ application of $100mg/m{\ell}$ dandelion solution (DA-100), its anti-inflammatory effect was comparable to that of indomethacin, a non - steroidal anti-anflammatory drug. Taken together, it could be concluded that topically applied dandelion extract exhibited its potentials as a new drug candidate with an effective anti-inflammatory activity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 2010

Skin irritation caused by retinol and retinoic acid results in mild erythema called as retinoid dermatitis. To develop compounds modulating the retinoid dermatitis, we tried to establish the screening method for retinoid dermatitis. At first we examined the inflammatory cytokine profile in neonatal human dermal fibroblasts which are known to be one of main site of retinoid action. As a result, interleukin-8 (IL-8) and monocytes chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were significantly produced by all trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and all trans retinol (ATROL) in dermal fibroblasts. Especially the production of MCP-1 was more than that of IL-8. The production of MCP-1 by retinoid was dose-dependently increased, continuing up to 24 hrs. After then using ethacrynic acid (ECA) known to reduce mouse ear edema induced by ATRA, we checked whether ECA suppressed the production of MCP-1. As a result, ECA effectively suppressed the production of MCP-1 in the ATRA- or ATROL-treated-fibroblasts. These results suggested that screening method effectively reflects the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of ECA. It was reported that citral inhibited the enzyme involved in the conversion of ATROL to ATRA. We showed that citral suppressed the production of MCP-1 in ATROL-treated fibroblasts. We expect these finding might be helpful to find useful compounds modulating the side effects of retinoid or retinoid dermatitis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.866-874
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• 2006

Atopic dermitiis(AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, which requires safe and effective medicinal therapy. Over production of Th2 cytokines and chemokines as well as IgE, which are mediated by highly activated immune cells, have been considered as pathologic factors in this disease. We found that Gamipaidok-san(GPDS), which is a traditional herbal medicine clinically prescribing for atopic dermitis patients in the hospital, has suppressive effects on the development of DNC8 induced dermatitis in Nc/Nga atopic model. Oral administration of GPDS at the concentration of 250 mg/Kg for 12 weeks significantly suppressed the clinical severity of the dermatitis including pruities, edema, eczematous and dryness. Histological examination revealed that thickness of dermis and epidermis were considerably reduced, and the number of infiltrated inflammatory immune cells including mast cells, CCR3+, and CD4+ T cells were decreased in the affected skin and ear, and consistantly, the number of CD3+/CCR3+ cells in Iymph nodes were decreased. The levels of Th2 cytokines produced by activated splenocyte from atopic mice were also down-regulated by GPDS. Furthermore, the serum levels of IgE were considerably reduced, which accompanied by a decrease in the number of B220+IgE+ B cells in the Iymph nodes. Taken together, these results suggested that oral administration of GPDS, a traditional herbal medicine, has suppressive effects on atopic dermitis of Nc/Nga mouse by the modulation of the immune system, therefore GPDS has potential as a natural therapeutic for treatment of atopic dermatitis.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.325-332
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• 2017

3-Bromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (BDB) is a natural bromophenol compound that is most commonly isolated from red algae. The present study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory properties of BDB on atopic dermatitis (AD) in mice induced by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) and on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine macrophages. BDB treatment (100 mg/kg) resulted in suppression of the development of AD symptoms compared with the control treatment (induction-only), as demonstrated by reduced immunoglobulin E levels in serum, smaller lymph nodes with reduced thickness and length, a decrease in ear edema, and reduced levels of inflammatory cell infiltration in the ears. In RAW 264.7 murine macrophages, BDB (12.5, 25, 50, and $100{\mu}M$) suppressed the production of interleukin-6, a proinflammatory cytokine, in a dose-dependent manner. BDB also had an inhibitory effect on the phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-${\kappa}B$) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1; Tyr 701), two major signaling molecules involved in cellular inflammation. Taken together, the results show that BDB treatment alleviates inflammatory responses in an atopic dermatitis mouse model and RAW 264.7 macrophages. These results suggest that BDB may be a useful therapeutic strategy for treating conditions involving allergic inflammation such as atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.8
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• pp.1128-1136
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• 2015

This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of ethanol extract from Grateloupia elliptica Holmes (GEHEE) on the lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response. Anti-inflammatory effects were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. There were no cytotoxic effects on proliferation of macrophages treated with GEHEE compared to the control. GEHEE remarkably suppressed NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, and $interleukin-1{\beta}$) production and reduced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) proteins in a dose-dependent manner. GEHEE also significantly reduced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). The formation of edema in mouse ears was reduced at the highest dose compared to the control. GEHEE also reduced dermal thickness and mast cell numbers based on histological analysis. These results suggest that GEHEE exerts significant anti-inflammatory activity via inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$ and MAPKs activation and may be a potential anti-inflammatory therapeutic material.