• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.273-279
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• 2016

This study evaluates the tyrosinase, elastase inhibitory and antioxidant activities of isolated Lactobacillus rhamnosus fermented extracts of Phragmites communis Trinius. After culture for 4 days at $30^{\circ}C$ using 1% P. communis extract, the cell mass of L. rhamnosus reached $1.4{\times}10^{10}CFU/mL$. The number of cells on P. communis extract and MRS medium was similar. This results indicated that P. communis extract can be used as an economical medium for industrial lactic acid bacteria production. The fermented P. communis extract exhibited 4 fold higher tyrosinase inhibitory effect than non fermented P. communis extract. The non fermented P. communis extract has no inhibitory effect on elastase. However the fermented P. communis extract show high inhibitory effect on elastase ($IC_{50}$; $249{\mu}g/mL$). These results indicated that the fermented P. communis extract can potentially be used for developing new cosmetic or health food ingredients.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.307-314
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• 2011

Cordyceps (vegetable wasp and plant worm), an entomopathogenic fungi, has been used as a herbal medicine in Asian countries since ancient times. Cordyceps nutans is common but there is little research on this species. This study investigated the optimal culture conditions of C. nutans and the inhibitory effect on nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cell treated culture broth. The optimal conditions for the mycelial growth were $25^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.0-8.0. Mycelial growth was highest on mushroom complete medium (MCM), V8 juice agar (V8A), and yeast malt dextrose (YMD) medium. Mycelial growth on mushroom minimal medium (MMM) did not occur, so nutrient source was essential. Dextrose and sucrose as carbon sources, and ammonium citrate as a nitrogen source were satisfactory for mycelial growth. Cytotoxicity of C. nutans culture broth was not found in RAW 264.7 cells. C. nutans culture broth suppressed NO production of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cell in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, our results provided the optimal conditions for cultivation of C. nutans and showed that C. nutans may have excellent physiological activities.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.108-114
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• 2022

In this study, the antioxidant effect of black sea ginseng containing a large amount of eicosapentaenoic acid, a natural physiologically active substance, was investigated, and its superiority as a functional cosmetic raw material was presented. The ability of the sea cucumber extract to remove active oxygen was evaluated for the inhibitory effect on intracellular nitric oxide (NO) production. The physiologically active substances of sea cucumber have an antioxidant effect that removes free radicals, and as a result of evaluation, it was confirmed that excellent NO production was suppressed. Studies have shown that bioactive substances are involved in antioxidant effects, immune and inflammatory response regulation by showing high antioxidant efficacy even at low concentrations. It is thought that the antioxidant removal ability of sea cucumber greatly contributes to the antioxidant efficacy of phenolic components containing EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) of the sea cucumber extract. It was found to be similar to the report that the antioxidant component of sea cucumber works. In addition, it is excellent for wound healing with the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) component contained in a large amount of sea cucumber extract, which has been proven to be involved in the inhibitory effect of inflammatory activity. As a result of this study, it was confirmed that the effect of the phenol component contained in the sea cucumber extract had a close causal relationship with the antioxidant activity.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2008

Antioxidant and anti-rheumatoid activities of Cirsium japonicum leaf extract (CJLE) were investigated in this study. CJLE had similar DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power to ascorbic acid and several flavonoids. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory tissue-destructive disease, partly related with functions of hyaluronidases (HAases) and collgenases. CJLE ($1,000\;{\mu}g/mL$) had approximately 60.7 and 31.9% inhibition of HAase and collagenase activity, respectively. Also, CJLE inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitrite production in a dose-dependent manner, and CJLE ($1,000\;{\mu}g/mL$) suppressed approximately 70% of LPS-induced nitrite production effectively in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. CJLE had inhibitory effects on the adherence of monocytic THP-1 to human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) monolayers to the basal level. Inhibitory effect of CJLE on the adhesion was caused by suppression of tumor necrosis factor-a-upregulated expression of vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and E-selectin. We expect that CJLE may alleviate the inflammatory process in rheumatoid synovium, and these findings will raise the possibility of the usage of C. japonicum as a traditional pharmaceutical of anti-rheumatoid arthritis.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.36 no.4 s.143
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• pp.338-343
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• 2005

Inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}\;(TNF-{\alpha}),\;interferon-{\gamma}\;(IFN-{\gamma})$ and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are thought to play major roles in joint diseases such as a rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and there is considerable evidence playing a role for these cytokines in osteoarthritis (OA). Therefore, we have studied the effects on anti-inflammation and analgesic by ethyl acetate fraction from 70% ethanol extract of Artemisia capillaries (EAC). As a positive control, apigenin, which is known as an anti-inflammatory agent as an iNOS inhibitor, was used and showed the dose-dependent inhibitory effect. EAC showed strong inhibitory efficacy against cytokine-induced proteoglycan degradation, $PGE_2$ production, nitric oxide (NO) production, and matrix-matalloproteinases (MMPs) expression in rabbit articular chondrocyte. In the writhing test induced by acetic acid, EAC $(200{\sim}400\;mg/kg)$ exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of writhing. The results indicate that EAC have anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities, and could be a good herbal medicine candidate for curing of RA and/or OA.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2005

Cobrotoxin, a venom of Vipera lebetina turanica, is a group of basic peptidescomposed of 233 amino acids with six disulfide bonds formed by twelve cysteins. NF-kB is activated by subsequent release of inhibitory IkB and translocation of p50. Since sulfhydryl group is present in kinase domain of p50 subunit of NF-kB, cobrotoxin could modify NF-kB activity by protein-protein interaction. We therefore examined effect of cobrotoxin on NF-kB activities in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-stimulated Raw 264.7 mouse macrophages. Cobrotoxin suppressed the LPS and SNP-induced release of IkB and p50 translocation resulted in inhibition of DNA binding activity of NF-kB. Inhibition of NF-kB resulted in reduction of the LPS and SNP-induced production of inflammatory mediators NO and PGE2 generation. The inhibitory effect of cobrotoxin on the NF-kB activity were blocked by addition of reducing agents dithiothreitol and glutathione. These results demonstrate that cobrotoxin inhibits activation of NF-kB, and suggest that pico to nanomolar range of cobrotoxin could inhibit the expression of genes in the NF-kB signal pathway.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.476-481
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• 2007

A polymorphic fungus, Candida albicans, causes various forms of infections such as disseminated candidiasis and vaginitis. Recent reports indicate that the fungus is a main etiological agent for the arthritis. In search of new sources for treatment of the fungal arthritis, we examined $18{\beta}$-glycyrrhetinic acid ($18{\beta}$-GA) against C. albicans-caused septic arthritis. The compound is isolated from Glycyrrhizae Radix that is known to have various immunomodulating activities and is one of the most popular herbal medicines. For induction of animal model of a septic arthritis, mice were given an emulsion form of C. albicans cell wall mixed with Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) via footpad-injection. To determine prophylactic and therapeutic effects, the component was given to the animals before or after the induction of the arthritis, respectively. Data showed that intraperitoneal administration of $18{\beta}$-GA resulted in reduction of the inflammation, indicating the component had both prophylactic and therapeutic activities. For investigation of mechanism of the $18{\beta}$-GA, inhibitory effects on NO (nitiric oxide) and on T-lymphocyte proliferation were determined. Results demonstrated that $18{\beta}$-GA suppressed NO production from LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-treated macrophages and also inhibited proliferation of Con A (concanavalin A)activated T-cells. Taken together, $18{\beta}$-GA, a pentacyclic triterpene, has anti-arthritic activity against C. albicans-caused septic arthritis, possibly by blocking NO production and T-cell suppression.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.163-173
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• 2004

Chelidonii Herba (CHE, Baek-gul-chae in Korean), which has its original description in Gu-Hwang-Bon-Cho, a classic book of oriental Herbal book, is widely used in the treatment of stomach cancer, jaundice, gasrtic ulcer, edema and stomach pain, in Korea, Japan and China. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of CHE on the nitric oxide (NO) production, iNOS and COX-2 expression in lipopolysaccharide - activated Raw 264.7 cells. After the treatment of CHE, NO production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium, cell viability was measured by MIT assay. COX-2 and iNOS were determined by lmmunoblot analysis. The production of nitric oxide was significantly inhibited by pretreatment (1h) with CHE (0.1-0.3 mg／ml) on LPS-activated Raw264.7 cells. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) protein were up-regulated by LPS, but the increased levels of iNOS and COX-2 were inhibited by pretreatment of CHE (0.1-0.3 mg／ml), respectively. Thus, the present data suggest that CHE may play an important role in adjunctive therapy in Gram-negative bacterial infections.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.28-38
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• 2008

In traditional oriental medicine, Gentianae Radix has been used clinically for clearing away 'heat', removing dampness and purging fire in the liver and gall bladder. However, there has been a lack of studies regarding the effects of Gentianae Radix on the immunological activities. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Gentianae Radix on the regulatory effects of cytokines and nitric oxide(NO) for the immunological activities in Raw 264.7 cells. After the treatment of Gentianae Radix MeOH extract, cell viability was measured by MTT assay, and NO production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium. The expression of COX-2 and iNOS was determined by immunoblot analysis, and the content of levels of cytokines in media was analyzed by ELISA kit. Results provided evidence that Gentianae Radix inhibited the production of nitrite and nitrate (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), $interleukin-l{\beta}$ $(IL-l{\beta})$ and IL-6, and the activation of phospholylation of inhibitor ${\kappa}B{\alpha}$ ($p-I {\kappa}B{\alpha}$) in Raw 264.7 cells activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). These findings suggest that Gentianae Radix can make anti-inflammatory effect, which may playa role in adjunctive therapy.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.7-16
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• 2005

Objectives : Scrophulariae Radix (SRE) is commonly used in combination with other herbs as a nutrient and health strengthening agent, and to remove 'heat' and replenish vital essence. The water-based extract of this herb can lower blood pressure in both anesthetized and concious animals, and exhibits an anti-inflammatory activity. But, there is lack of studies regarding the effects of SRE on the immunological activities in molecular levels. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of SRE on the regulatory mechanism of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) in Raw 264.7 cells. Method : After the treatment of Scrophulariae Radix methanol extract, cell viability was measured by MTT assay, NO production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium. COX-2 and iNOS were determined by Immunoblot analysis, and levels of cytokine were analyzed by sandwich immunoassays. Results : Results provided evidence that SRE inhibited the production of nitrite and nitrate (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), $interleukin-1{\beta}\;(IL-1{\beta})$ and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the activation of phospholylation of inhibitor ${\kappa}B{\alpha}\;(p-I{\kappa}B{\alpha})$ in Raw 264.7 cells activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Conclusion : These findings suggest that Scrophulariae Radix can produce anti-inflammatory effect, which may playa role in adjunctive therapy in Gram-negative bacterial infections.