• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.35-44
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• 2020

Objectives : The objective of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of Corni Fructus 30% ethanol extract (CFE) on the monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis rats. Methods : The subjects were divided into 4 groups ; Normal group (N, n=10), MIA-induced osteoarthritis control group (Con, n=10), indomethacin 5 mg/kg treated group (INDO, n=10), CFE 200 mg/kg treated group (CFE, n=10). Blood and articulation tissues were collected after two weeks of drug administration. Oxidative stress was analyzed with reactive oxygen species (ROS), peroxynitrite (ONOO-). And the Nuclear factor erythroid-2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase-1/2 (GPx-1/2), Nuclear Factor Kappa B p65 (NF-κBp65), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin 1β (IL-1β), matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) were investigated by western blot. Results : The administration of CFE showed a significant reduction of changes in relative hind paw weight distribution. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and peroxy nitrite (ONOO-) levels of articulation tissues were significantly decreased in CFE compared to the control group. Western blot measurements of Nrf2, HO-1, SOD, catalase, GPx-1/2 showed that the CFE group was increased compared to the Con group. And western blot measurements of NF-κBp65, COX-2, iNOS, TNFα, IL-6, IL-1β showed that the CFE group was reduced compared to the Con group. Also CFE group decreased MMP-1 and increased TIMP-1. Conclusion : Based on the above results, it can be seen that osteoarthritis is improved when Corni Fructus 30% ethanol extract treated.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.187-192
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of herbal medicine complex (HMC) containing Camellia sinensis L., Duchoesna chrysantha, Houttuynia cordata Thunberg, Poncirus trifoliata Rafinesque on skin inflammation and atopic dermatitis. First, we examined the anti-inflammatory effect of HMC in TNF-α induced human keratinocytes (HaCaT cell). Real-time PCR and western blotting were performed to evaluate the expression of inflammatory cytokines (e.g., iNOS, COX-2, IL-6, IL-8) mRNA and protein. Four-weeks old male NC/Nga mice were treated with 1% 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) solution and used as an atopic dermatitis mice model. And, HMC (200 mg/kg or 400 mg/kg) was administered directly into the stomach of mice for 4 weeks, and blood or serum analysis, tissue staining were performed after oral gavage. As a result HMC inhibited the mRNA expression of iNOS, COX-2, IL-6, and IL-8, which had been increased by TNF-α in HaCaT cells. In addition, the protein expression was also significantly suppressed in the same way as the mRNA expression results. The in vivo experiment results showed that, HMC administration reduced thickening of the epidermis and infiltration of eosinophil into the skin stratum basale compared to DNCB treatment. In addition, HMC administration significantly reduced the inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-13) production and immunocyte (white blood cell, lymphocyte, neutrophil, and eosinophil) count compared to DNCB treatment. Moreover, the serum IgE and histamine level was decreased by HMC administration. These results suggest that HMC can be used as effective herbal medicine extract for skin inflammation and atopic dermatitis. And this study may contribute to the development of the herbal medicine-based drug for the treatment of skin inflammation and atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.251-259
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• 2024

This study evaluated the potential of hemp seed oil (Cannabis sativa L. seed oil, CSO) and hemp seed oil complex (Cannabis sativa L. seed oil complex, CSOC) as an anti-inflammatory material through comparative analysis. Anti-inflammatory effects of CSO and CSOC were confirmed through lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 model. As a result of confirming the inhibition of lipid oxidation through lipoxygenase inhibitory activity, CSO was not inhibited, but COSC was inhibited by more than 70%. As a result of confirming cytotoxicity through MTT analysis, CSO did not show cytotoxicity, but CSOC showed cytotoxicity at over 200 ㎍/ml. In LPS-induced RAW264.7, the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the production of nitric oxide (NO) were significantly inhibited by CSOC compared to CSO. Additionally, CSOC significantly inhibited the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and the production of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂). Through this study, we confirmed that CSOC has superior anti-inflammatory effects than CSO and has the potential to be used as an anti-inflammatory material.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.155-179
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• 2024

Objective : Danggwisu-san (DGSS) is an herbal formula that has been mainly used in the East Asia for the treatment of bruise, sprain and external injury. The cause of this pain is that Qi and blood become tangled and do not circulate well. DGSS can improve the tangled situation and make it well-circulated. The present study evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of DGSS on Raw 264.7 cells and in rats with paw edema. Methods : Cell viability was measured using the MTT assay. The amount of nitric oxide (NO) production was measured the amount of nitrite content in the cultured medium using Griess reagent. The amount of tumor necrosis factor-α, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, interleukin (IL)-1βand IL-6 in the cultured supernatant were measured by ELISA kit. Proteins expression were detected by Western blot. Furthermore, the effect of DGSS on acute inflammation was observed in rat paw edema model. Results : The DGSS ameliorates the lipopolysaccharide-activated changes in NO production, iNOS expression and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, DGSS significantly suppressed expression of p-JNK, p-ERK and nuclear NF-κB. As expected, in rat paw edema study, 1.0 g/kg of DGSS significantly reduced the carrageenan-induced paw edema and iNOS expression for 1-4 h. Moreover, administration of 1.0 g/kg (4 days) of DGSS used in this study did not show any significant change on ALT and AST. Conclusion : These results demonstrate that DGSS has anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, this present study can put scientific evidences up for the anti-inflammatory effect of DGSS.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, involves chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Previously, Sasa quelpaertensis leaves have been shown to mediate anti-inflammation and anti-cancer effects, although it remains unclear whether Sasa leaves are able to attenuate inflammation-related intestinal diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Sasa quelpaertensis leaf extract (SQE) using an in vitro co-culture model of the intestinal epithelial environment. MATERIALS/METHODS: An in vitro co-culture system was established that consisted of intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells and RAW 264.7 macrophages. Treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to induce inflammation. RESULTS: Treatment with SQE significantly suppressed the secretion of LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), IL-6, and IL-$1{\beta}$ in co-cultured RAW 264.7 macrophages. In addition, expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ were down-regulated in response to inhibition of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ phosphorylation by SQE. Compared with two bioactive compounds that have previously been identified in SQE, tricin and P-coumaric acid, SQE exhibited the most effective anti-inflammatory properties. CONCLUSIONS: SQE exhibited intestinal anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting various inflammatory mediators mediated through nuclear transcription factor kappa-B (NF-kB) activation. Thus, SQE has the potential to ameliorate inflammation-related diseases, including IBD, by limiting excessive production of pro-inflammatory mediators.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.7011-7016
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• 2013

Background: The liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini, and the associated incidence of subsequent cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) are still a public health problem in Thailand, and praziquantel (PZQ) remains the antihelminthic drug of choice for treatment. Evidence in hamsters shows that repeated infection and PZQ treatments could increase the risk of CCA. However, the existing evidence in humans is inconclusive regarding increased risk of CCA with frequency of PZQ intake. Objectives: To investigate the relationship between number of repeated PZQ treatments and CCA in patients with O viverrini infection. Materials and Methods: The reviewed studies were searched in EMBASE, MEDLINE, ProQuest, PubMed and SCOPUS from inception to October, 2012 using prespecified keywords. The risk of bias (ROB) of included studies was independently assessed by two reviewers using a quality scale from the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Risk effect of PZQ was estimated as a pooled odds ratio (OR) with its 95% confidence interval (95%CI) in the random-effects model using DerSimonian and Laird's estimator. Results: Three studies involving 637 patients were included. Based on the random effects model performed in two included studies of 237 patients, the association between PZQ treatments and CCA was not statistical significant with a pooled OR of 1.8 (95%CI; 0.81 to 4.16). Conclusions: The present systematic review and meta-analysis provides inconclusive evidence of risk effect of PZQ on increasing the risk of CCA and significant methodological limitations. Further research is urgently needed to address the shortcomings found in this review, especially the requirement for histological confirmation.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.55-68
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• 2020

Objectives : We observed the possibilities that blue honeysuckle has favorable analgesic or refinement effects on the Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) in rats. Methods : Estradiol benzoate and oxytocin were used to induce the PD rat model. And Blue honeysuckle concentration lyophilized powders (BH) 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of Lonicerae Flos aqueous extract lyophilized powders (LF) were orally administered, once a day for 10 days at 30 min after each estradiol benzoate treatment. Then the changes on the body weights and gains during experimental periods, abdominal writhing response for analgesic activities, uterine weights, uterus lipid peroxidation, antioxidant defense system - glutathione contents, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, NF-κB and COX-2 mRNA expressions were monitored with uterus histopathology including immunohistochemistry for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS).. Results : Inflammatory and oxidative stress mediated PD signs were favorably and dose-dependently inhibited by 10 days continuous oral administration of three different dosages of BH - 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg as comparable to those of indomethacin(IND) 5 mg/kg treated rats in BH 500 mg/kg administered PD rats, and similar to those of LF 500 mg/kg in BH 125 mg/kg, at least in a condition of the present PD rat model. Conclusions : The results suggest that BH has favorable analgesic and refinement activities on the estradiol benzoate and oxytocin treatment-induced PD signs through anti-inflammatory and antioxidative potentials.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Lycii fructus and Astragalus membranaceus mixed extracts on immunomodulators and prevention in a streptozotocin-induced diabetes rat model. A total of 28 male rats were divided into four dietary groups and fed a commercial diet (A), commercial diet plus induced diabetes by a streptozotocin (STZ) injection (B), induced diabetes by STZ plus medicinal crop extracts(I&$H^{(R)}$) diet (C), and medicinal crop extracts (I&$H^{(R)}$) diet (D). Immunoblotting analyses revealed cytokine expression, and ELISA analyses revealed immunoglobulin E and nitric oxide production. As a results, the tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) as a inflammatory cytokine were decreased. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and signal transducer and activation of transcription 3 (STAT3) cytokine related in diabetes expression through JAK/STAT3 pathway were also decreased. Furthermore, immunoglobulin E and nitric oxide production were decreased in the serum and lens, respectively. These results suggest that Lycii fructus and Astragalus membranaceus mixed extracts provide positive effects on immunomodulators and prevention in diabetes and eye disease complications.

• Journal of Chitin and Chitosan
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.185-193
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• 2017

Red tide Heterosigma akashiwo (H. akashiwo), a microscopic alga of the class Raphidophyceae, causes extensive damage to all marine ecosystems. It is essential to reduce the damage to marine ecosystems for them to be used as a resource. In this study, we used organic solvent fractionation to obtain an ethyl acetate-methanol extract from H. akashiwo (HAEM80) and then evaluated its anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and a zebrafish model. HAME80 markedly inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$). It also down-regulated the protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and decreased the secretion of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. HAME80 reduced yolk edema and improved the survival rate of LPS-stimulated zebrafish embryos; in addition, the extract significantly reduced the production of ROS and NO and attenuated cell death in this model. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of the extract was used to confirm the identity of peaks 1-20. Taken together, our data suggest that H. akashiwo is a beneficial anti-inflammatory agent.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.575-582
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• 2021

Background: In ginseng, there exists a glycolipoprotein complex with a special form of lipid LPAs called Gintonin. The purpose of this study is to show that Gintonin has a therapeutic effect on rheumatoid arthritis through LPA2 receptors. Methods: Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) were treated with Gintonin and stimulated with interleukin (IL)-1β. The antioxidant effect of Gintonin was measured using MitoSOX and H₂DCFDA experiments. The anti-arthritic efficacy of Gintonin was examined by analyzing the expression levels of inflammatory mediators, phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, and translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)/p65 into the nucleus through western blot. Next, after treatment with LPAR2 antagonist, western blot analysis was performed to measure inflammatory mediator expression levels, and NF-κB signaling pathway. Carrageenan/kaolin-induced arthritis rat model was used. Rats were orally administered with Gintonin (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) every day for 6 days. The knee joint thickness, squeaking score, and weight distribution ratio (WDR) were measured as the behavioral parameters. After sacrifice, H&E staining was performed for histological analysis. Results: Gintonin significantly inhibited the expression of iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6 and COX-2. Gintonin prevented NF-κB/p65 from moving into the nucleus through the JNK and ERK MAPK phosphorylation in FLS cells. However, pretreatment with an LPA2 antagonist significantly reversed these effects of Gintonin. In the arthritis rat model, Gintonin suppressed all parameters that were measured. Conclusion: This study suggests that LPA2 receptor plays a key role in mediating the anti-arthritic effects of Gintonin by modulating inflammatory mediators, the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways.