• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1438-1447
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• 2018

We investigated the anti-inflammatory activities of various organic solvent extracts with and without Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation of Aralia continentalis Kitagawa which has hypotensive effects in addition to excitatory effects on the central nervous system. It has been used to treat arthritis, colds, neuralgia, rheumatism, and itchy skin. Our extracts were tested for their anti-inflammatory potential on NO production and the expression of inflammatory factors in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Extracts with and without L. plantarum fermentation were prepared using water, ethanol, hexane, ethyl acetate, and butanol. The RAW264.7 cells were tested for toxicity and the anti-inflammatory activity of each extract was determined at a concentration with no toxicity to the cells. The extracts used in this study significantly inhibited both the production of NO and the mRNA expression of COX-2 and iNOS, the major inflammatory factors. The production of inflammation-related cytokines $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and $TNF-{\alpha}$ was also significantly reduced. These results suggest that the extracts involving fermentation by L. plantarum can inhibit cytokines by controlling the expression of inflammatory cytokine genes. It is considered that the water, ethanol, and butanol extracts after fermentation with L. plantarum could be useful as functional natural materials with anti-inflammatory effects.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.89-101
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• 2019

In recent times, the number of men with late-onset hypogonadism has increased, and interest on this topic has also increased. This study was conducted to investigate effects of the mixture extract of Fructus amomi Amari, Eucommiae cortex, Bombyx batryticatus on improve late-onset hypogonadism. The experimental subjects consisted of three groups: a control group consisting of 8-week-old male ICR mice that had undergone no treatment, an aging-elicited group (AE group) consisting of 50-week-old ICR male mice that had undergone no treatment, and a Mixed herbal extract treatment group (MT group) consisting of 50-week-old ICR male mice that had undergone the mixture extract of Fructus amomi Amari, Eucommiae cortex, Bombyx batryticatus treatment (0.1 g/kg/day) for 6 months. After the experiment, the mice from all the experimental groups were dissected, and they were analyzed through histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. The mixture extract of Fructus amomi Amari, Eucommiae cortex, Bombyx batryticatus reduces aging-induced cell damage and oxidative stress and increases the secretion of serotonin and B-endorphin in aged mice, and promotes spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules and reduces apoptosis and oxidative stress, and increases androgen receptor, $17{\beta}-HSD$ and GnRH, increases the ratio of smooth muscle to collagen fibers in the corpus cavernosum, increases eNOS, decreases PDE-5 and oxidative stress in aged mice, so it improves depression, reproductive, sexual problems caused by Late-onset hypogonadism. the mixture extract of Fructus amomi Amari, Eucommiae cortex, Bombyx batryticatus inhibits the induction of osteoporosis by increasing decreased bone matrix distribution due to aging, increasing the activities of OPC and OPN, which are produced in osteoblasts, and decreasing RANKL, MMP-3 activity, increasing OPG activity. It also reduces muscle damage, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis of muscle tissue, and increases Myo-D in the sartorius muscle of aged mice for improving muscle atrophy caused by by Late-onset hypogonadism.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1501-1507
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• 2021

Lagerstroemia ovalifolia Teijsm. & Binn. (LO) (crape myrtle) has reportedly been used as traditional herbal medicine (THM) in Java, Indonesia. Our previous study revealed that the LO leaf extract (LOLE) exerted anti-inflammatory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Based on this finding, the current study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of LOLE in a mouse model of LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI). The results showed that treatment with LPS enhanced the inflammatory cell influx into the lungs and increased the number of macrophages and the secretion of the inflammatory cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of mice. However, these effects were notably abrogated with LOLE pretreatment. Furthermore, the increase of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression in the lung tissues of mice with ALI was also reversed by LOLE. In addition, LOLE significantly suppressed the LPS-induced activation of the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway and led to heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) induction in the lungs. Additionally, in vitro experiments showed that LOLE enhanced the expression of HO-1 in RAW264.7 macrophages. The aforementioned findings collectively indicate that LOLE exerts an ameliorative effect on inflammatory response in the airway of ALI mice.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.17-26
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• 2018

Objective : In this study, we investigated the effect of SAL5(mixing extracts of Schisandra chinensis Baillon, Artemisia capillaris Thunb., and Aloe vera Linne) on chronic ethanol-induced fatty liver model. Methods : Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed Liber-DeCarli (normal), ethanol liquid diet (control), SAL5 (200 mg/kg). We administrated the SAL5 on chronic ethanol-induced fatty liver model for 5 weeks. We measured alkaline phosphtase (ALP), alanine transminase (ALT), aspartate transminase (AST) and ${\gamma}-glutamyl$ transpeptase (${\gamma}-GTP$) in serum and triglyceride (TG), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) level in liver. Liver histopathology was examined by Hematoxylin-eosin and Oil red O staining of the fixed liver tissues. Real-time PCR was performed to measure the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines and MMP-2, MMP-9. Results : SAL5 administration resulted in significantly decreased liver marker enzymes activities of alanine transminase (ALT), ${\gamma}-glutamyl$ transpeptase (${\gamma}-GTP$) in serum and triglyceride (TG) activities in liver. The control group decreased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) with the reduced level of glutathione (GSH) in liver. On the other hand, SAL5 group increased the activities of SOD, CAT and the level of GSH. SAL5 delayed the development of an alcoholic fatty liver by reversing fat accumulation in the liver, as evidenced in histological observations. The gene expression of mRNA were significantly decreased at the $IL-1{\beta}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, NOS-II and MMP-2 by SAL5. Conclusions : These results indicate that SAL5 might have protective effect chronic ethanol-induced fatty liver models.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 2022

Objectives : Although the pharmacological effects of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidzumi water extract (AM) have been proven from many studies, reports on the antioxidant effect of AM on ulcerative colitis (UC) are scarce. Therefore, we aimed at evaluating the anti-oxidant effect of AM on the DSS-induced UC model. Methods : To induce ulcerative colitis, 8-week-old male Balb/c mice received 5% DSS in drinking water for 1 week. After 1 week of adaptation, mice were divided into four groups (n=8 each) for use as normal (Normal), DSS Control (Control), DSS + AM 100 mg/kg (AM100)-treatment, DSS + AM 200 mg/kg (AM200)-treatment. After 1 week of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed, and the extracted colon tissue was analyzed for protein through western blot. Results : As a result of confirming the macroscopic changes in colon tissues to confirm the therapeutic effects of AM, the decrease in colon length was suppressed in the AM treatment group compared to the control group. In addition, as a result of biochemical analysis, AM administration significantly reduced serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvate transaminase levels and tissue malondialdehyde levels. As a result of confirming the protein expression level through western blot, AM administration significantly decreased the expression of NADPH-related proteins such as NOX2, p22^phox, and iNOS, but significantly increased the expression of SOD, catalase, and GPx-1/2. Conclusions : AM may improve DSS-induced UC in mice by modulating NADPH and antioxidant-related proteins. In conclusion, AM showed an antioxidant effect through the improvement of oxidative stress on UC.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.166-182
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• 2022

Deer antler velvet is widely used in traditional medicine for its anti-aging, antioxidant, and immunity-enhancing effects. However, few studies have reported on the discovery of probiotic strains for deer antler fermentation to increase functional ingredient absorption. This study evaluated the ability of probiotic lactic acid bacteria to enhance the concentrations of bioactive molecules (e.g., sialic acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid [GABA]) in extracts of deer antler velvet. Seventeen strains of Lactobacillus spp. that were isolated from kimchi and infant feces, including L. sakei, L. rhamnosus, L. brevis, and L. plantarum, and those that improved the life span of Caenorhabditis elegans were selected for evaluation. Of the 17 strains, 2 (L. rhamnosus LFR20-004 and L. sakei LFR20-007) were selected based on data showing that these strains increased both the sialic acid and GABA contents of deer antler extract after fermentation for 2 d and significantly improved the life span of C. elegans. Co-fermentation with both strains further increased the concentrations of sialic acid, GABA, and metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids and amino acids. We evaluated the biological effects of the fermented antler velvet (FAV) on the antibacterial immune response in C. elegans by assessing worm survival after pathogen infection. The survival of the C. elegans conditioned with FAV for 24h was significantly higher compared with that of the control worm group fed only normal feed (non-pathogenic E. coli OP50) exposed to E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella typhi, and Listeria monocytogenes. To evaluate the protective effects of FAV on immune response, cyclophosphamide (Cy), an immune-suppressing agent was treated to in vitro and in vivo. We found that FAV significantly restored viability of mice splenocytes and immune promoting-related cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-10, inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS], interferon [IFN]-γ, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α) were activated compared to non-fermented deer antlers. This finding indicated the protective effect of FAV against Cy-induced cell death and immunosuppressed mice. Taken together, our study suggests that immune-promoting antler velvet can be produced through fermentation using L. rhamnosus LFR20-004 and L. sakei LFR20-007.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.97-107
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• 2023

Aristolochic acid (AA), extracted from Aristolochiaceae plants, plays an essential role in traditional herbal medicines and is used for different diseases. However, AA has been found to be nephrotoxic and is known to cause aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN). AA-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) is a syndrome in AAN with a high morbidity that manifests mitochondrial damage as a key part of its pathological progression. Melatonin primarily serves as a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant. However, its mitochondrial protective role in AA-induced AKI is barely reported. In this study, mice were administrated 2.5 mg/kg AA to induce AKI. Melatonin reduced the increase in Upro and Scr and attenuated the necrosis and atrophy of renal proximal tubules in mice exposed to AA. Melatonin suppressed ROS generation, MDA levels and iNOS expression and increased SOD activities in vivo and in vitro. Intriguingly, the in vivo study revealed that melatonin decreased mitochondrial fragmentation in renal proximal tubular cells and increased ATP levels in kidney tissues in response to AA. In vitro, melatonin restored the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in NRK-52E and HK-2 cells and led to an elevation in ATP levels. Confocal immunofluorescence data showed that puncta containing Mito-tracker and GFP-LC3A/B were reduced, thereby impeding the mitophagy of tubular epithelial cells. Furthermore, melatonin decreased LC3A/B-II expression and increased p62 expression. The apoptosis of tubular epithelial cells induced by AA was decreased. Therefore, our findings revealed that melatonin could prevent AA-induced AKI by attenuating mitochondrial damage, which may provide a potential therapeutic method for renal AA toxicity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.170-178
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• 2024

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are capable of differentiation into multiple lineages of cells, which has attracted attention for clinical therapy. However, ADSCs have poor proliferation capacity and a short life span in culture, which is an impediment in the application to clinical use. Previously, to overcome growth disadvantages, we had established an immortalized ADSC line (ADSC-T) by introducing the SV40 T antigen coding gene into primary human ADSC. In the present study, we evaluated the differentiation potential of this cell line and assessed the anti-inflammatory effect of its conditioned medium (CM). ADSC-T appeared to maintain the differentiation potential into adipocyte and chondrocyte. The CM of ADSC-T suppressed the NF-κB activity and its target gene expression of COX-2 and iNOS. Furthermore, the phosphorylations of MAPKs, including ERK, JNK and p38, were suppressed by the ADSC-T CM. The expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TGF-β, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-13 were also suppressed by the CM of ADSC-T. In the Nc/Nga atopic model mice, the CM showed therapeutic effect on DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis. These results indicate that the immortalized ADSC-T maintains the beneficial properties of primary ADSC and could be a versatile cell source for not only research into ADSC but also for production of CM suitable for clinical application.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1268-1277
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• 2023

In this study, to evaluate the possibility of utilizing Chamaecyparis obtusa (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. (C. obtusa) leaf fractions as anti-inflammatory functional materials, C. obtusa extract extracted with 99% ethanol (CO99EL) was fractionated with hexane (CO99EL-H), chloroform (CO99EL-C), ethyl acetate (CO99EL-E), butanol (CO99EL-B) and distilled water (CO99EL-W). The anti-inflammatory effects of each fraction was performed using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 mouse macrophages. Cytotoxicity was highest in CO99EL-H and CO99EL-C and lowest in CO99EL-W. Interestingly, LPS-induced iNOS expression and NO production were significantly reduced by CO99EL-H and CO99EL-E, and COX-2 expression was significantly reduced by CO99EL-B and CO99EL-W. In addition, interleukin (IL)-1𝛽, an inflammatory cytokine increased by LPS, was significantly reduced by CO99EL-C, CO99EL-E, CO99EL-B and CO99EL-W, and IL-6 was significantly reduced by CO99EL-B and CO99EL-W. Therefore, the janus kinase (JAK)/signaling transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway activated by LPS was significantly reduced by CO99EL-H and CO99EL-C, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway was slightly reduced by CO99EL-H and CO99EL-C. However, nuclear factor (NF)-𝜅B activity was not reduced by any fractions. Based on the results of this study, it was confirmed that CO99EL fractions have different anti-inflammatory mechanisms depending on the solvent used for fractionation.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.289-298
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• 2006

Objectives : Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental spectrum disorder with a strong genetic component. Previous neurochemical and genetic studies suggested the possible involvement of glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate(NMDA) receptor in autism. The aim of study was to investigate the association between the NMDA2B receptor gene(GRIN2B) and autism spectrum disorders(ASD) in the Korean population. Methods : The patients with ASD were diagnosed with Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule based on DSM-IV diagnostic classification. The present study was conducted with the detection of four single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) in GRIK2 and family-based association analysis of the single nucleotide polymorphisms in Korean ASD trios using transmission disequilibrium test (TDT). Results : One hundred twenty six patients with ASD and their biological parents were analyzed. 86.5% were male and 85.1% were diagnosed as autistic disorder. The mean age was $71.9{\pm}31.6$ months(range : 26-185 months). We found that rs1805247 showed significantly preferential transmission(TDT ${\chi}^2$=12.8, p<0.001) in ASD. Conclusion : One SNP in GRIN2B gene was significantly associated with ASD in the Korean population. This result suggests the possible involvement of glutamate NMDA receptor gene in the development of ASD.