• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.98-106
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• 2007

포공영(蒲公英)은 예로부터 청열해독약(淸熱解毒藥)으로 사용되어 왔으며 NO가 염증의 한 요인이기 때문에 포공영의 항염증 작용기작을 밝히기 위하여 LPS로 자극된 대식세포주 RAW264.7 세포에서 포공영 열수 추출물 (AETM)의 NO 생성에 미치는 효과를 조사하였다. 포공영은 NO 생성 및 iNOS 단백질 발현, iNOS mRNA 발현을 저해하였으며, 전사인자인 $NF-kB$의 핵으로의 이동을 억제하였다. 또한 LPS에 의해서 활성화되는 ERK/MAPK 효소의 활성을 현저히 억제하였다. 이 결과들로 보아 포공영의 항염증 작용이 ERK/MAPK 활성 저해 및 $NF-kB$ 활성 저해로 인한 iNOS 발현의 억제 때문인 것으로 사료된다.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.147-155
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• 2020

PURPOSE : Andrographis Herba is used as a traditional herbal medicine in the Asian countries for the treatment common cold, fever, diabetes, hypertension, hepatitis, skin infections, snake bite, and other diseases. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of MeOH extract of Andrographis Herba (AHME) on LPS-activated Raw 264.7 cells. METHODS : Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Nitric oxide (NO) production was determined by Griess reagent. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expression levels of pro-inflammatory proteins were determined by Western blot analysis. RESULTS : Production of NO in LPS activated Raw 264.7 cells, was significantly decreased by pre-treatment with 3-30 ㎍/mL of AHME. Production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as TNF-α and IL were significantly decreased by AHME 30 ㎍/mL pre-treatment. AHME significantly decreased p-IκB and NF-κB expression. CONCLUSION : The results of this study indicate that AHME could inhibit the acute inflammatory response, via modulation of NF-κB activation.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.622-626
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• 2020

Recent studies have suggested that Canavalia gladiate, a dietary food and traditional folk medicine, has promising pharmaceutical potential, but the effects have mostly been demonstrated using its organo-soluble extract. To date, its immunomodulatory effect depending on the extraction method is unclear. Here, the immune responses of macrophages to C. gladiate and the underlying mechanisms were studied. C. gladiate hot water extract (CGW) induced cytokine production in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) in a dose-dependent manner, whereas its ethanolic extract (CGE) did not. Immunoblotting analysis also showed that CGW activated nuclear factor (NF)-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Moreover, an inhibitor assay revealed the involvement of NF-κB, p38, and JNK, but not ERK, in CGW-induced cytokine production. CGE inhibited lipopolysaccharide-stimulated production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and activation of NF-κB and MAPKs in BMDMs. The results suggest that C. gladiate regulates the immune responses of macrophages differently depending on the extraction method.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.267-274
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• 2020

The larva of Protaetia brevitarsis Lewis (P. brevitarsis), edible insect, is traditionally consumed as alternative source of nutrients and has various health benefits. However, the exact pharmaceutical effects of P. brevitarsis on inflammatory response are still not well understood. Thus, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of P. brevitarsis in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. We investigated the effects of P. brevitarsis on the expression levels of inflammatory-related genes, including inflammatory cytokines, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. To understand the anti-inflammatory mechanism of P. brevitarsis, we explored the regulatory effect of P. brevitarsis on nuclear factor (NF)-κB and caspase-1 activation. The findings of this study demonstrated that P. brevitarsis inhibits the LPS-induced inflammatory cytokine and PGE2 levels, as well as COX-2 and iNOS expression. Moreover, we confirmed that the anti-inflammatory effect of P. brevitarsis occurs via suppression of the activation of NF-κB and caspase-1. Conclusively, these findings provide experimental evidence that P. brevitarsis may be useful candidate for the treatment of inflammatory-related diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.513-520
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• 2023

Cornuside is a secoiridoid glucoside compound extracted from the fruits of Cornus officinalis. Cornuside has immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties; however, its potential therapeutic effects on diabetic nephropathy (DN) have not been completely explored. In this study, we established an in vitro model of DN through treating mesangial cells (MMCs) with glucose. MMCs were then treated with different concentrations of cornuside (0, 5, 10, and 30 μM). Cell viability was determined using cell counting kit-8 and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assays. Levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and IL-1β were examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were performed to detect the expression of AKT and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)-associated genes. We found that cornuside treatment significantly reduced glucose-induced increase in MMC viability and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, cornuside inhibited glucose-induced phosphorylation of AKT and NF-κB inhibitor alpha, decreased the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and cyclin D1, and increased the expression of p21. Our study indicates that the anti-inflammatory properties of cornuside in DN are due to AKT and NF-κB inactivation in MMCs.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.899-907
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• 2022

Quercetin is one of bio-flavonoids which are abundant in fruits and vegetables and has been reported to have various pharmacological potentials such as anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, and anti-virus effects. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory effects and its working molecular mecha- nism of quercetin were investigated in mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Quercetin significantly inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production in a dose-dependent manner without affecting cell viability and decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, quercetin decreased phosphorylation of p38, JNK, and ERK, and inhibited phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 protein and its inhibitor IκBα indicating that quercetin has the anti-inflammatory effects via regulation of MAPKs and NF-κB signaling pathway. We also detected expression changes of four kinds of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes (CSF2, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) with quantitative real-time PCR. The results showed that quercetin decreased the expression of four pro-inflammatory genes in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Overall, our results showed that quercetin effectively suppressed inflammation responses induced by LPS in RAW264.7 cells via regulating MAPK and NF-κB pathway and down-regulating the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.38-43
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• 2006

Ilekudinol B is one of the flavonoids isolated from Weigela subsessilis (Caprifoliaceae). In the present study, the suppression effect of ilekudinol B on tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}-induced$ cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression was investigated in human colon epithelial cell line HT-29. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) production and prostaglandin $E_2\;(PGE_2)$ secretion was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). COX-2 and nuclear factor $(NF)-{\kappa}B$ expression were determined by Western blot analysis. Ilekudinol B significantly inhibited $TNF-{\alpha}-induced$ secretion of IL-8 and prostaglandin $E_2\;(PGE_2)$ from the human colon epithelial cell line HT-29 in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, ilekudinol B remarkably diminished $TNF-{\alpha}-induced$ COX-2 expression and $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 subunit translocation to the nucleus. In conclusion, our results indicate that ilekudinol B may have anti-inflammatory activity on $TNF-{\alpha}-dependent$ colonic inflammation.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.149-156
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• 2009

Equisetum hyemale Linne. (EH) (Equisetaceae) has been used for the treatment of eye and skin disease, chronic eczema, pneumoconiosis and asthma in Korea and China. Human leukemic mast cells are widely distributed in the connective tissues of mammals and other vertebrates. Phorbol 12-myristrate 13-acetate (PMA) and calcium ionophore A23187 stimulated Human leukaemic mast cell line-1 (HMC-1) can produce a variety of inflammatory mediators and several pro-inflammatory and chemotactic cytokines such as TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 and IL-8. Since TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 and IL-8 are major factors during the inflammatory process, we studied the effects of EH on TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 and IL-8 release in HMC-1 stimulated with PMA and A23187. The result of this study indicate that EH inhibits TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 and IL-8 in activated HMC-1 cells via $I{\kappa}B$/Nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ pathway. Therefore, EH might contribute significantly to the prevention or treatment of mast-cell mediated inflammatory diseases and EH has potential use in the therapy of chronic allergic inflammation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.354-360
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• 2021

Background: Protopanaxatriol (PPT) is a secondary intestinal metabolite of ginsenoside in ginseng. Although the effects of PPT have been reported in various diseases including cancer, diabetes and inflammatory diseases, the skin protective effects of PPT are poorly understood. Methods: HaCaT cells were treated with PPT in a dose-dependent manner. mRNA and protein levels which related to skin barrier and hydration were detected compared with retinol. Luciferase assay was performed to explore the relative signaling pathway. Western blot was conducted to confirm these pathways and excavated further signals. Results: PPT enhanced the expression of filaggrin (FLG), transglutaminase (TGM)-1, claudin, occludin and hyaluronic acid synthase (HAS) -1, -2 and -3. The mRNA expression levels of FLG, TGM-1, HAS-1 and HAS-2 were suppressed under NF-κB inhibition. PPT significantly augmented NF-κB-luc activity and upregulated Src/AKT/NF-κB signaling. In addition, PPT also increased phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) ERK, JNK and p38 and upstream MAPK activators (MEK and MKK). Furthermore, transcriptional activity of AP-1 and CREB, which are downstream signaling targets of MAPK, was enhanced by PPT. Conclusion: PPT improves skin barrier function and hydration through Src/AKT/NF-κB and MAPK signaling. Therefore, PPT may be a valuable component for cosmetics or treating skin disorders.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.90-97
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• 2015

Water chestnut (Trapa japonica Flerov.) is an annual aquatic plant. In the present study, we showed that the treatment of water chestnut extracted with boiling water resulted in a significant increase 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity and decrease the intracellular $H_2O_2$-induced accumulation of reactive oxygen species. In addition, water chestnut extract (WCE) inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide production and suppressed mRNA and protein expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase gene. The cytokine array results showed that WCE inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion. Also, WCE reduced tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$- and interleukin-6-induced nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ activity. Furthermore, during sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)-induced irritation of human skin, WCE reduced SLS-induced skin erythema and improved barrier regeneration. These results indicate that WCE may be a promising topical anti-inflammatory agent.